Living Spirituality and cafe conversations
One of the blogs I like to read for something different, written in a different space to other blogs I read (it's one of my secret blogs - or was - those blogs that I hesitate to mention in certain circles lest people consider me dodgy), is Living Spirituality, by Dr Greg Laughery. Greg is now the Director of Swiss L'Abri, married to one of Francis and Edith Schaeffer's grand-daughters - so just bear in mind the purpose of L’Abri (ie to be a "shelter" and a place where people can go and discuss ideas and ask questions) and the philosophical setting of central Europe. When I was at L'Abri in 2001 Greg was my tutor, who I met with each week to work through Philippians and talk about life. It was good stuff! At the moment, once a week Greg hosts a dialogue session in a cafe in Suisse. Some days I wish I could be there.
Here's why:
We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue.
I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.
For today:
Why is living so unlike telling? Or is it?
Some questions from the past (and if the question sounds simple, I can guarantee you that the discussions wouldn’t be):
Do you see any analogies between learning to ride a bicycle and learning to trust God?
Are we left powerless to talk about truth in the face of seemingly endless interpretations?
Why do you think, in Genesis 2, it was not good for man to be alone?
Do you believe that Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels was a-political?
If Christianity is true, why are so many churches empty?
Do you think the end of the world is close at hand?
What is heaven?
The Bible frequently speaks of hope. What is it?
In what ways do you see yourself taking part in God’s drama of redemption?
What do you wish you could be certain of?
Why are churches turning into coffee houses, apartment buildings, and art museums?
What’s your response to the record high price of oil?
Why do you pray so often or so little?
Can you recommend any good novels?
What’s so compelling about good stories?
What are two significant points of Pentecost for today?
There is a mass exodus from traditional churches going on. What are you doing? Staying in? – getting out?
If you believe in Christ, how do you feel about having a white robe saturated in his blood (Rev. 7) ?
Sun, moon and stars are not divine, but do you think they mark out something of the character of God and the world?
What is an experience of God and is it different than other experiences?
In today’s world that is often described as Post Christian, Post Modern, Post Church, Post – Everything, how are you surviving?
What are three central truths of the content of Christianity?
What are you angry about?
What does it mean to be in community with God?
What role, if any, does imagination have in reading Scripture?
Was Jesus of Nazareth an anarchist?
What do you think are some of the most important things that Christians can be doing in 2008?
Do you think women are undervalued in your church?
Why does so much shaming go on in evangelical churches?
How can we protect ourselves from shaming and abuse without being selfish?
Are there any ways that guilt gets the best of you?
Will a focus on creation give us a better understanding of God?
Is it appropriate for a Christian to drink alcohol?
What are some of the meanings of love and justice?
What role, if any, does the church play in God’s plan to renew and redeem humanity and the world?
How do you see, if at all, a connection between forgiveness and forgetting?
What role does experience play in your belief in God?
What’s your view of body piercing?
What would you see as advantages or disadvantages of self introspection in the Christian life?
If you don’t go to church, why not?
What are several characteristics that you think should identify your church?
We may know very well until someone asks us: What is love?
How do you see imagination pertaining to your belief in God?
Do or should icons have a place in your life?