SIGHT BLOGS

All opinions expressed in Sight's blogs are those of the blog's author...

THE COMMUNITY OF THE FORGIVEN

I love the idea of the church being a community of the forgiven. The truth which is bandied about - and which I used to see on bumper stickers - of Christians being ‘not perfect, just forgiven’ makes me cringe because it is so often seen as an excuse for our own hypocrisy. At the same time however, there is a freedom and attractiveness about the fact that we can be part of a community that genuinely cares. Larry Crabb calls it the safest place on earth and that’s exactly what the church is called to be.

     NILS VON KALM'S blog on faith, life and how it all might fit together...  | more... |

RAINING FISH;  A CONFESSION HOTLINE; AND PUMPKIN SAILING
Forget old sayings about raining cats and dogs, it’s been quite literally raining fish in the Northern Territory. Fish have reportedly fallen twice from the sky in the town of Lajamanu, located about 550 kilometres southwest of Katherine. Local Christine Balmer told the Northern Territory News that “hundreds and hundreds” of small white fish fell from the sky, adding that she was happy it hadn’t rained crocodiles.

     DAVID ADAMS writes about the odder side of life... | more... |

ANCIENT ROAD DISCOVERED IN JERUSALEM

Upon entering Jerusalem’s Old City through the Jaffa Gate, you are enveloped in the bustling and colorful David Street, lined with souvenirs shops and local shopkeepers. Now, an archaeological dig has confirmed that this very street has been on the map, literally, for 1,500 years.

   The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the find earlier this month. At the time, the thoroughfare was 4.5 meters below the current street level. The road dates from the time when Jerusalem became a Christian city in the Byzantine era. While other locations on the Madaba Map have been discovered, the road had remained hidden until now.

     NICOLE JANSEZIAN, of Travelujah, reports for Assist News Service... | more... |

HOW NICE...

I occasionally throw a question out on Facebook to prompt some discussion so thought I'd send it out through the blog too. It may seem a little 'unChristian', perhaps provocative. But I've just been thinking....

     Question: Do I have to be 'nice' 'cos I am a 'Christian'? Can I be honest and respectful and bold? Or do I have to be 'nice'? I don't like nice...It's like a dead fish handshake.

     My anti-nice sentiment at the moment is actually springing out of the fact that I have been disappointed to experience, in Christian community, and even in the wider community, an avoidance of direct commentary or activism on areas of our society and communication that are destructive or anti-Christ.

     ANN WOJCZUK's blog about life, the universe and possibly everything...  | more... |

• For previous posts on Just Been Thinking, go here... | more... |

• For Ann's diary of her 40 Days of Purpose experience, go here... | more... |

A CHURCH EMERGING HAS CLOSED

A CHURCH EMERGING: SEARCHING FOR COMMUNITY

I have been grappling with the issue of community for some time now, but was challenged recently by a response to an article on depression recently posted on this site. The lady who posted the comment expressed that although she had been involved in church life for many years she was in fact very lonely and had also experienced depressive episodes during her life. That really got me thinking. How can someone be a church attender, surrounded by many Christians, and yet still be lonely?

     RUSSELL STUBBINGS' blog about church planting, building community, local mission, and new ways of “doing” church... | more... |

BLOGROLL

Here you'll find links to blogs we've come across that we want to share with others. If you have a weblog you think others may be interested in, please email the full url to links@sightmagazine.com.au

By clicking on the following links you are leaving Sight Magazine. Sight Magazine is not responsible for the content contained on these external links...

Brass tacks

A blog by Rod Benson, an ethicist and public theologian with the Tinsley Institute.

http://rodbenson.com

Footprints Magazine

www.footprintsaustralia.com/blog

Andrew's Version

A blog by Andrew McGowan, Warden of Trinity College, the University of Melbourne, mainly about Anglicanism, early Christianity and theological education.

http://abmcg.blogspot.com/

The Religious Write

A blog by Barney Zwartz, religion editor of The Age newspaper in Melbourne

http://blogs.theage.com.au/thereligiouswrite/

The Living Room

A blog by Melbournian Darren Rowse on the emerging church, blogging, faith and other "general silliness from south of the equator".

www.livingroom.org.au/blog/

signposts

Blog of Melburnians Phil and Dan McCredden, both involved in leadership in the Northern Community Church of Christ.

www.signposts.org.au

Jesus Creed

Blog of US-based scholar Scot McKnight, a widely recognised authority on the New Testament, Christianity and the historical Jesus.

www.jesuscreed.org

Carl Brettle  - Memoirs of a Skinny Welshman

www.carlbrettle.com

Rod Benson's Christian Ethics

http://rodbensonethics.blogspot.com

Ever Thoughtful James

www.wiblog.com/everthoughtfuljames

Speckman's Scratchings

www.speckmansscratchings.blogspot.com