One of my great pleasures in life is going out for a first-class meal in a good restaurant.
In the days of high salaries and no kids (I'm horrified to admit I'm now talking about the late 80s / early 90s) eating out was a weekly event. Nowadays, it is a rare treat and all-too-often involves selecting the cheapest item on the menu, rather than opting for a delicious first-choice.
A la carte menus are part of our life and culture. Increasingly, we expect a high level of choice and personalisation in almost every sphere.
This morning, I read a thought-provoking article today evaluating Contemporary Catholicism in Ireland (http://www.catholicireland.net/pages/index.php?nd=198&art=2042) and in the process spotted this desciption:
"A-la-carte Catholics" - those who choose whichever doctrines and moral guidelines suit themselves, while ignoring the remainder
At the same time I received an email from someone highlighting the trend of DIY spirituality.
How much do Christians pick and choose their beliefs? Are we in danger of making our own religion, based on the doctrines and practices that suit us?
I've come across a number of people recently who, in strongly advocating a particular belief or practice, ignore Bible references that contradict their viewpoint. These include people from reformed backgrounds as well as those from emergent thinking. It made me wonder.
Is my faith a-la-carte? Do I conveniently ignore any scripture reference that might challenge my 'pet' theories or opinions? Does selective amnesia kick in when a Bible truth threatens to get in the way of my chosen behaviour?
Food for thought!
RGW
(aka The Editor)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Out Now
The publishing business is a funny thing... for months we have breathed, dreamt, wrestled, wept and celebrated the first edition of VOX magazine within our small team - revelling in shared secrets and fragile hopes.
Suddenly, the landscape has changed. VOX is "out now"... it's a paper-and-ink reality and no longer our private domain.
Taking that first copy in my hands was a special experience. But then came a weird reaction. Not disappointment, it's still pretty exciting actually, but an odd, what-do-I-do-now feeling. After all, I've read ever word, agonised over every page, watched as the magazine took shape from blank screen to full-colour final proof. There is nothing left to read that I don't know, if not by heart then close to it.
Other memebers of the team shared a similar feeling. It's a good thing too. Now I'm totally motivated for edition two while the rest of you (hopefully) enjoy digesting the first.
And so it begins again. This time the blank screen is filling rapidly. Ideas take shape. New contributors are lining up. Watch this space... edition two will be "Out Now" on April 6. Bring it on!
RGW (aka The Editor)
Suddenly, the landscape has changed. VOX is "out now"... it's a paper-and-ink reality and no longer our private domain.
Taking that first copy in my hands was a special experience. But then came a weird reaction. Not disappointment, it's still pretty exciting actually, but an odd, what-do-I-do-now feeling. After all, I've read ever word, agonised over every page, watched as the magazine took shape from blank screen to full-colour final proof. There is nothing left to read that I don't know, if not by heart then close to it.
Other memebers of the team shared a similar feeling. It's a good thing too. Now I'm totally motivated for edition two while the rest of you (hopefully) enjoy digesting the first.
And so it begins again. This time the blank screen is filling rapidly. Ideas take shape. New contributors are lining up. Watch this space... edition two will be "Out Now" on April 6. Bring it on!
RGW (aka The Editor)
Friday, January 9, 2009
Proof Reading
VOX magazine finally goes to print this weekend after weeks of tweaking the design and the painful process of proof-reading.
I'm always amazed (and a little horrified) by the number of mistakes that slip through the cracks. Thankfully, we have a great team of proof readers - so if one person misses a mistake, another one is sure to pick it up.
I've been intrigued by the difference between proof readers. Some people always spot problems with punctuation (missing commas or rogue apostrophes). Others notice a typing error or grammatical mistake. Still others are concerned about design issues and images.
Those same people can be blind to the other mistakes. How can one person spot a missing comma but miss a misspelt word?
(I onced worked for a newspaper that ended up with a mistake in the banner headline on the front page!!)
Anyway, all this proof reading (nit picking?) has got me thinking. What would happen if I began proof reading my life? What mistakes or problems would I notice? What would I miss?
Would I ever dare asking anyone else to evaluate my life? The thought it pretty scary because the chances are they would spot something I missed.
How's this for an invitation from Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)?
"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life."
RGW (aka The Editor)
I'm always amazed (and a little horrified) by the number of mistakes that slip through the cracks. Thankfully, we have a great team of proof readers - so if one person misses a mistake, another one is sure to pick it up.
I've been intrigued by the difference between proof readers. Some people always spot problems with punctuation (missing commas or rogue apostrophes). Others notice a typing error or grammatical mistake. Still others are concerned about design issues and images.
Those same people can be blind to the other mistakes. How can one person spot a missing comma but miss a misspelt word?
(I onced worked for a newspaper that ended up with a mistake in the banner headline on the front page!!)
Anyway, all this proof reading (nit picking?) has got me thinking. What would happen if I began proof reading my life? What mistakes or problems would I notice? What would I miss?
Would I ever dare asking anyone else to evaluate my life? The thought it pretty scary because the chances are they would spot something I missed.
How's this for an invitation from Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)?
"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong — then guide me on the road to eternal life."
RGW (aka The Editor)
Monday, December 1, 2008
The last full stop
I have just finished writing my very first Editorial for the very first edition of VOX magazine. Phew!
For those not in the business, an editorial is the last thing to be written. Once I add the final full stop and press save, that's it. Apart from the fine-tuning of graphic design and the endless nit-picking of proof-reading, VOX magazine is ready to go.
I'm still reeling from the experience. Did I get it right? Are we on the right track? Will anyone like what we've done? Will anyone even read it?
The feeling is akin to the moment when a roller coaster reaches its highest point and pauses for a fraction of a second before a stomach-eliminating plunge.
This evening, I was surfing my favourite website www.despair.com (Yes, I know. It says a lot for my rather warped sense of humour.)
I discovered a new Demotivator®. (If I've lost you at this point, I suggest you visit the site for enlightenment. You will understand better if you see it for yourself).
This latest Demotivator® reads: "Blogging - Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."
Help! Can that be said of this blog? Could that be said of VOX magazine? I sincerely hope not.
RGW (aka The Editor)
For those not in the business, an editorial is the last thing to be written. Once I add the final full stop and press save, that's it. Apart from the fine-tuning of graphic design and the endless nit-picking of proof-reading, VOX magazine is ready to go.
I'm still reeling from the experience. Did I get it right? Are we on the right track? Will anyone like what we've done? Will anyone even read it?
The feeling is akin to the moment when a roller coaster reaches its highest point and pauses for a fraction of a second before a stomach-eliminating plunge.
This evening, I was surfing my favourite website www.despair.com (Yes, I know. It says a lot for my rather warped sense of humour.)
I discovered a new Demotivator®. (If I've lost you at this point, I suggest you visit the site for enlightenment. You will understand better if you see it for yourself).
This latest Demotivator® reads: "Blogging - Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."
Help! Can that be said of this blog? Could that be said of VOX magazine? I sincerely hope not.
RGW (aka The Editor)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Watchmen
In ancient times watchmen were posted at high points on the city walls. Their task was to look out and alert people to impending danger. Keeping watch was an awesome responsibility. If a watchman fell asleep and failed to warn the city of an enemy attack, people could die.
These days, our cities no longer have walls and there are few watchment except in the world's warzones.
As we prepared to launch VOX magazine, I began to think about watchmen. I hope we can revive this key role by looking out across this nation: investigating, researching and inspecting what is happening and then sharing these insights with our readers.
It's a role we can all play. What are the trends in society? Where can we see dangers and pitfalls? Where can we see life and truth?
It is easy to feel safe and comfortable behind our invisible 'walls'. It is easy to turn off the news and shut out the intrusion of society. Yet when we fail as watchmen, people are put at risk.
I like the description of the men of Issachar (one of the 12 tribes of Israel) who served under King David. They "understood the times and knew what Israel should do" (1 Chron. 12:32).
I'm looking out. Will you watch with me? Contact me: editor@voxmagazine.ie
RGW (aka The Editor)
These days, our cities no longer have walls and there are few watchment except in the world's warzones.
As we prepared to launch VOX magazine, I began to think about watchmen. I hope we can revive this key role by looking out across this nation: investigating, researching and inspecting what is happening and then sharing these insights with our readers.
It's a role we can all play. What are the trends in society? Where can we see dangers and pitfalls? Where can we see life and truth?
It is easy to feel safe and comfortable behind our invisible 'walls'. It is easy to turn off the news and shut out the intrusion of society. Yet when we fail as watchmen, people are put at risk.
I like the description of the men of Issachar (one of the 12 tribes of Israel) who served under King David. They "understood the times and knew what Israel should do" (1 Chron. 12:32).
I'm looking out. Will you watch with me? Contact me: editor@voxmagazine.ie
RGW (aka The Editor)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
No labels please!
The world is obsessed with labels - designer tags, fancy-sounding job titles, social groups, personality types, even denominations... It's so easy to put someone in a box marked "geek", "old person", "drunk" or "delinquent".
Listen carefully and you will hear people handing out labels every time they describe someone. "She's a (fill in the blank)" etc. It certainly makes things simple. The label conjures up a picture and helps us find the right mental file for that person.
Those of us who follow Jesus are just as bad. We glibly label things "Christian" and somehow that makes them good??! Stop and think - you can probably recall a dozen other labels you've heard, or even used yourself to describe people.
I do it too. But the more I think about it, the more I want to rebel.
Labels lead to assumptions. We add two and two and we're sure we know the answer. That person must be successful. This person can't be trusted... and so on. We stop trying to understand because we are convinced we already know.
Labels lead to divisions. People in one group are "in"; others are "out". One group won't talk to another group because they bear a different label.
Even Jesus resisted being labelled. When the rich man called Him "Good Teacher", Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."
So in VOX magazine we're going to resist simplistic labels. We recognise that life is complex - and people are more so. We won't always be able to pin everything down. And we don't want to file people away in boxes.
It might make things difficult, but at least we'll be dealing in three dimensions!
Listen carefully and you will hear people handing out labels every time they describe someone. "She's a (fill in the blank)" etc. It certainly makes things simple. The label conjures up a picture and helps us find the right mental file for that person.
Those of us who follow Jesus are just as bad. We glibly label things "Christian" and somehow that makes them good??! Stop and think - you can probably recall a dozen other labels you've heard, or even used yourself to describe people.
I do it too. But the more I think about it, the more I want to rebel.
Labels lead to assumptions. We add two and two and we're sure we know the answer. That person must be successful. This person can't be trusted... and so on. We stop trying to understand because we are convinced we already know.
Labels lead to divisions. People in one group are "in"; others are "out". One group won't talk to another group because they bear a different label.
Even Jesus resisted being labelled. When the rich man called Him "Good Teacher", Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."
So in VOX magazine we're going to resist simplistic labels. We recognise that life is complex - and people are more so. We won't always be able to pin everything down. And we don't want to file people away in boxes.
It might make things difficult, but at least we'll be dealing in three dimensions!
Monday, November 3, 2008
What do you want...?
The British writer and actor, Rob Lacey has had a profound impact on my thinking. In his book "Are we getting through?" Lacey challenges communicators to make the time to communicate creatively and effectively.
He asks a question which has remained with me... "Which do you want more - people to think, or people to know what you think?"
As a communicator, I believe my challenge is to go beyond presenting an arguement or sharing an opinion. I want people to question, to ponder, to reflect... ultimately to come to their own conclusions.
This is risky. It is easier to tell people what we want them to think. The Pharisees were past masters at that - this is wrong, you must do this, you must not do that...
In contrast, Jesus asked questions and told stories. He spoke for "those who have ears to hear" and challenged people's thinking by doing the unexpected (e.g. speaking to a Samaritan woman, touching the leper, etc.)
VOX magazine will not have all the answers neatly packaged and tied with a bow. But I hope we can make people think... and even, perhaps, think again...?
He asks a question which has remained with me... "Which do you want more - people to think, or people to know what you think?"
As a communicator, I believe my challenge is to go beyond presenting an arguement or sharing an opinion. I want people to question, to ponder, to reflect... ultimately to come to their own conclusions.
This is risky. It is easier to tell people what we want them to think. The Pharisees were past masters at that - this is wrong, you must do this, you must not do that...
In contrast, Jesus asked questions and told stories. He spoke for "those who have ears to hear" and challenged people's thinking by doing the unexpected (e.g. speaking to a Samaritan woman, touching the leper, etc.)
VOX magazine will not have all the answers neatly packaged and tied with a bow. But I hope we can make people think... and even, perhaps, think again...?
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