Author: Craig

redemptive stories and success

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I am reading the Summer 2008 publication Perspectives on Language and Literacy of The International Dyslexia Association.  This issue is dedicated to stories of people who have struggled with dyslexia and how they grew through the struggle to achieve success.  I love what Michael Ryan has to say about redemptive narratives from D. P. McAdams’ perspective.  I believe both Ryan and McAdam’s observations have implications for how we each meet God through the Gospel narrative and actually become part of the story of Jesus’ kingdom.  Ryan writes:

McAdams is this country’s preeminent researcher in the area of personal narratives.  He believes that personal narratives (the stories we tell about our lives) are critical to our self-image and our ability to function as successful adults.  He has studied the personal narratives of thousands of individuals and found that the most socially minded people in our society share common themes in their personal narratives.  He labels these themes, “the Redemptive Self.”  These stories of redemption are not necessarily religious in nature, but their essential theme involves overcoming a struggle or a tragedy and growing from it.  McAdams asserts that much of these individuals’ successes are due to these redemptive narratives.  In fact, he goes as far as to suggest that part of our success as a nation grows out of the fact that we have, as a group, many redemptive narratives, such as taming the wilderness and overcoming discrimination and segregation.

It seems to me that one of the major tasks of discipleship is to help people retell the story of Jesus and also tell how their intersection with Him has helped them overcome the world.  They now live His-Story.

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God… This is love for God: to obey his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”  1 John 5:1,3-5 (NIV)

5 reasons i want water for Africa this Christmas

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water-for-christmas

This Christmas Cityview is partnering with World Vision to build a well in Africa.  I want water for Africa this Christmas and here are 5 reasons:

1.  Every 15 seconds a child dies because of water related illness or disease.
2.  1.1 billion people live without access to clean water.
3.  I know that God sees and cares.  I love the story of Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 16 and 21.
4.  I am overwhelmed by immensity of the North American bill for Christmas:  450 billion dollars.
5.  When we give wate we give life.

You can help us.  We are water rich.  Most of us take water for granted and don’t give a second thought to how our lives would change if we did not have easy access to water–and to clean water.  (World Vision in the UK has a video that challenges our water comfort.)  Partner with Cityview by giving and by getting the word out.  God sees and cares.

17 observations from 1 John on the difference knowing Jesus makes

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The writer of 1 John observes differences that knowing Jesus makes in the lives of people.

1.  Loving relationships with God and with other people.   1:1-4
2.  Honesty about sin(s), purfication and forgiveness from sin.  1:5-2:2
3.  Obedience to the commands of Jesus as a lifestyle that reflects that character of Jesus.  2:3-8
4.  Loving “your brother” rather than living in the darkness of “hating your brother.”  2:9-11
5.  Progressive growth;  new beginnings–the delight of being forgiven by your heavenly Father; youthful zeal–the delight of overcoming the evil one through the strength of God and His Word; parental joy–knowing God and passing on the life of faith to others.  2:12-14
6.  A willingness to do the will of God that triumphs over the desire to possess the stuff and powers of this world.  2:15-16
7.  An annointing from God that leads into the truth and ultimately into confidence before Christ.
8.  An Intense desire to live purely and abandon sin, in response to the love of God through Christ that creates a child of God.  2:29-3:10
9.  Love for others even when it brings the Christian into conflict with the world.  Love for others even when it costs.  3:11-20
10.  Effectual prayer life.  3:21-23
11.  Personal awareness of the presence of God via the Holy Spirit.  3:24
12.  Discernment regarding the “source” of messages and their messengers.  4:1-6
13.  Growing maturity in loving and receiving love in and out of the church. 4:7-21
14.  Overcoming the world through faith in Jesus, the Son of God.  5:1-5
15.  Deep conviction of the divinity of the incarnated Jesus Christ and the necessity of knowing Him for eternal life.  5:6-12
15.  Confidence in prayer.  5:13-15
16.  Concern when a brother is caught in sin.  5:16-18
17.  Persistent devotion to Jesus in a world devoted to the evil one.  5:19-21

ilinktoit, 15 Nov 2008

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Ann Graham Lotz, a great preacher and reverent maverick
Is it true?  Why the economy fares better under democrats
Bill Gates Foundation supporting innovation
Getting off the credit train.
Paying attention; Aboriginal education levels a limiting factor.
Exploring the benefits of solitutde.
We are finding ways to cut back.
Abraham Piper gives clues to writing a good blog.
Vancouver made the Christian Science Monitor.
Private Schools, the credit crisis and gardens.
The new truth on stretching.
Nicolas Perrin writes on Sinaiticus digitized.

will bc hydro create a home solar power generation revolution?

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Will BC Hydro create a home solar power revolution?  In contrast to what is happening in Germany we are not harnessing the power of small.  The comment below is from the article, Can BC Make Solar Bloom? in The Tyee the past june.

Solar electricity and the German experience

Chris Bouris
14-07-2008

Germany which has lower average solar energy radiation than we have in Vancouver, has installed approximately 50 % of the worlds’ photovoltaic (solar electric) panels. And why is that? The government of the day chose to make homes micro energy producers, thus reducing the need to build new power plants. They decided that many small hands could make “light work” (sorry for the pun). And that’s what happened.

How did they do it? They used an excellent “feed in” tariff (the rate the utility credited the homeowner for producing the solar power) – but the government of the day went one better. They used a dual metering system which applies credit at the *point of production* – not just “left over” power (like we currently have in BC which pays a trivial rate). BC Hydro buys back surplus power at a lower rate than what it costs customers to buy electricity.

The German homeowner receives a credit at point of production at approximately $0.50 per kilowatt hour, and the homeowner purchases electricity at approximately $0.20 cents per kilowatt hour. Kind of like a credit and debit sheet on the bill. Homeowners – and the nation – win on the balance sheet.

German government subsidized a sustainable resource – not the fossil fuel industry (as we in Canada do).

The upshot? Fewer new power plants were needed for peak power requirements (like for air conditioning systems on hot sunny days). People covered their roofs in solar panels, and are able to pay off their solar systems before the warranties expired. Photovoltaic (PV) system Warranties are usually 20 years. PV systems last far past their warranties. They’re generally warranted to drop 20% in capacity after 20 years. The original solar panel developed in the 50’s is still working.

What happens if every homeowner discovers that environmentalism is fundamentally good for their pocket? That is – good for their health, their children’s and their elders health, and good for the local, provincial and national economy.