Watch and be amazed.

At conference we had our own particular brand of olympic games going. The distance spitting, shoe tossing and two-person swim all come to mind. It would seem Dwight from the Office had a similar idea: a centathilon.

I'd like to begin a monthly segment on this blog based off our conference and camp discussions. I'll post a statement and in the comments I'd love for you to state whether you agree or disagree with it. If you want extra cool-points you can even state why you agree or disagree. Hopefully we'll get a conversation going.

Agree:Disagree

"You are not truly following Jesus unless you've led someone to Christ."

I love "We Are Winning" by Flobots, a band committed to seeing societal change. You shouldn't just consume music though because I (or your friends) like it. Question it. What is good about this song - musically, stylistically and in its message? What is negative? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thought you might enjoy some of the amusing videos from Conference:

Here is the Bobbing For Sunglasses video. Anyone figure it out yet ;)


Which is related to this video (that I didn't show at Conference) where one of the lads catches sunglasses with his face:


And lest you forget, Europe is a country:


Sheep (Mission) Vs. Cows:


What if Church Was Like the NBA?


Anyone have any other funny vids I should be aware of?

Well, I don't know about you but I'm just now feeling like I've recovered from Conference. I had a great time. Eoin keeps asking where all his GEM-K friends are. There are loads of photos up on Facebook so be sure to check them out if you haven't yet (and if you haven't signed up for a Facebook account yet... now you have an excuse).

Winter Conference is on the horizon. I can't wait to snowboard (and ski) with you in France again. The dates this year are January 5th-10th 2009. So, please save those dates.

Matt

At Conference I used a word we don't often speak in daily conversation: Shalom (remember all those red arrows?). I tried to convey the idea that our personal missions are like windows into the reality of Shalom in this world.

But what is Shalom? We used the word "peace" a lot and Nina at one point defined it as, "the way things are supposed to be." I think both of those are great definitions but if Shalom is so central to the Christian life, we'd better be able to explain it a bit better. So, here are some additional thoughts:

Shalom is Non-Violent:
"And Joshua made peace with them, guaranteeing their lives by a treaty; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them." (Joshua 9:15, NRSV)

Shalom is Right Relationship:
"Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice."" (1 Samuel 16:4-5, NRSV)

Shalom is Prosperity
"And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them; they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it." (Jeremiah 33:9, NRSV)

Shalom is Justice
"These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace, do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD." (Zechariah 8:16-17, NRSV)

Shalom is Central to God's Story in this World:
Numbers 6:24-26 (NRSV)
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.


Isaiah 9:6-7 (NRSV)
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.


Ezekiel 37:24-28 (NRSV)
My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my statutes. They shall live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your ancestors lived; they and their children and their children's children shall live there forever; and my servant David shall be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will bless them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forevermore. My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Then the nations shall know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forevermore.


So, as we saw at Conference, Shalom describes life at the beginning of all things (Gen. 2) and at the end of all things (remember the two trees?). Shalom thus makes its way into all aspects of our life, from how we shop to how we see shopping malls. It changes how we relate to one another and how we relate to ourselves. It calls into question how we treat the planet and how we treat its Creator.

There is much more to say. In many ways defining Shalom helps us see the world anew. I'd love to hear more descriptions from you.