January 13, 2008
A Beautiful Day
Today was a good, no, a beautiful day.
First, we attended Holy Trinity Church Geneva where there was a baptism service. The children were so cute and none of them budged during the service. Furthermore, Micheal French did a great job of describing the purpose and place of rituals and symbols and in our world today. After the baptisms, we prayed this Profession of faith:
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Beautiful.
Then, Laura, David (brother-in-law) and Chelsea (sister-in-law) went to Shema, our community. It was a another rich experience. David and Chelsea played a few songs, and as a community we discussed the nature and place of the gospel in or lives. It was rich. One of the songs David and Chelsea played was Vito’s Ordination Song by Sufjan Stevens. Here are the lyrics:
I always knew you in your mother’s arms
I have called your name
I’ve an idea placed in your mind to be a better man
I’ve made a crown for you, put it in your room
And when bridegroom comes
There will be noise, there will be glad
And a perfect bed…
And when you write a poem
I know the words, I know the sounds
Before you write it down
When you wear your clothes I wear them too,
I wear your shoes, and your jacket too
I always knew you in your mother’s arms
I have called you son
I’ve made amends between father and son
Or if you haven’t one
Rest in my arms, sleep in my bed
There’s a design to all I did and said
Rest in my arms, sleep in my bed
There’s a design….
Finally, the four of us went up to the Saleve for a snow walk. It was so beautiful. Here are a few of the photos. It was so beautiful.
Notice the moon. It was as large as I could get it. I need a new lens I guess?
Again, a beautiful day...and we didn't let it get away.
Amen....
joshua
Posted by joshuacase at 10:19 PM
November 22, 2007
Brian McLaren & Domesticated Jesus...WAKE UP!
I've put these two videos together for a reason. What Brian and Bono have to say ought to go together. In this case, the idea, that we just need some help..that things must change, that there is hope is prevelant.
Both revolutionaries. Both passionaries. Both hoping for what is good! Both to be thankful for!
U2's Peace on Earth
God has showed you, oh mankind, what is good. And what does the one true God require of you? That you would act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
do good...
joshua
Posted by joshuacase at 08:14 AM | Comments (1)
November 19, 2007
Bono- Wave of Sorrow
This is new. Not necessarily the best of Bono or U2, but its new. I am not sure if everyone has seen it, but it was first posted to youtube. And now...it's spreading.
enjoy,
joshua
Posted by joshuacase at 01:19 PM
May 25, 2007
Shema Community's EngaGE
Lammert has put together a great teaser video on the Shema engaGE week. Similar to a Serve the City project, engaGE will provide people from all over, and of all types, to plug into the city of Geneva through practical service.
Make sure to check out this website to register in the next few days (or early next week). If you would like to bring a group, or just come to Geneva to engaGE as an individual please email me here.
We look forward to engaging with you!
Watch this video...
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 11:15 PM
May 21, 2007
U2 Rocks Cannes Film Festival
U2 played a quick conert in Cannes this afternoon for the release of thier '3D' video. Supposedly, its amazing. But hey, when you've seen them live and close...there is not much better!
Read more here.
enjoy....jc
Posted by joshuacase at 12:28 AM
May 17, 2007
Literary Meme- Just for fun
Thanks Mike. Now I've done it, and well, maybe this will teach us: a quote about a quote!
Here's how it works:
1. Grab the nearest book
2. Open it to page 161
3. Find the fifth full sentence
4. Post the text along with these instructions
"We weren't used to people checking our quotes, we were use to them making them up."
Sitting in my little black chair, with U2 by U2 on the shelf behind me. I'm telling you, U2 just follows me;)
Enjoy the mindless experience...could be enlightening!?
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 05:43 PM
April 25, 2007
A New Shema Series and More
In the next few weeks we'll be starting a new series at Shema which we feel has some pretty important implications for how we do life with others in Geneva.
Lammert has been blogging about them here a little and you can follow the Shema blog as well.
I'd also like to add this song as a bit of a teaser/taster for where we'll be headed. Thanks again to our patron Saint.
please....jc
Posted by joshuacase at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2007
Shema Community and Bono...
Shema last night went great. We had a great start to our series on 'The Open Secret'. YOu can see some of what we explored here on the Shema blog. We'll be updating it much more frequently in the coming weeks with thoughts and some reflections on Bible readings.
You'll also see a link to this video. Its a bit long....but dang...its good!
Preach!
Posted by joshuacase at 11:26 PM
February 08, 2007
A tribute to bono...
While many people out there acknowlege that Bono is out to save the world as a rock star, or at least to try to make it a better place. A few people are really trying immortalize him..for better and worse.
Here is a tribute video that someone did. I put this on here because a few of the images really moved me. There is one in particular....it will move you. No question. It's powerful. I am not sure exactly what all this knowledge does for us. What it does for me. But i do know with knowledge comes responsibility and somehow, each of us who gain knowledge of various things in the world are ultimately responsible with what we do with this knowledge. We must do something. We must work towards reversing the wrongs we know of, towards working for justice..we must..
Thanks Bono. And by the way...i know you don't read this blog...but i am still going to drown you out!
Posted by joshuacase at 08:51 AM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2007
Today, Australia became an interesting place...thanks to globalization
So lets see how many Australians, Americans, or English laugh...
Did you know on this day in history in the year 1788, the first convicts arrived in Australia from the UK? It's true.
Speaking of globalization, did you also know that the Zimbabwe dollar has an expiration date and that McDonalds now serves over 54 million customers each day? Yep, its true.
Did you also know that in the time it took you to read this blog alone, at least 10-15 people have died of starvation?
Man, we've got to do something. God, please help!! Yahweh, help those who can make a difference to really make a difference! Allah, bring peace!
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)
December 30, 2006
"Drown me out...drown me out"
Over the course of the last three days I have been doing recruitment at the Urbana conference in Illinois. I have been very pleasantly surprised by the amount of justice and enviromental talk that has been going on. And while I came into the conference excited about recruitment, but not sure what to expect about the conference, I have been pleasantly surprised to the real prophetic voice many have had in front of this crowd of 22'250 people. CRAZY!!
Just a couple of minutes ago, we were greeted with a special message to Urbana from Bono about HIV/AIDS. At the end of his talk he said, "i am not much of a preacher, thanks for listening to me. You know, I'm just a rock star, its my job to make a bunch of noise. But if you hear me, and if this emergency (HIV/AIDS) calls you to action....then drown me out....drown me out."
Bono made several other very prophetic calls to the crowd about our reaction towards this emergency. Saying other things like, "this is our abolitionist moment; this is our civil rights moment".
Ajith Fernando of YFC in Sri Lanka has been the morning speaker. Tonight we heard from Ray Bakke about urban ministry; that is ministry in the city. It was great. But the most amazing talk i have heard so far was by Oscar Muriu. If you are able to get some of his talk from the evening of 28th, DO IT!!! I'm trying to get it so i can use bits of it. Amazing talk about the shoft of the centers of the church to the global south and what that means for the mission of the church in the west. AMAZING!!
A new goal: to drown him out. Bono...I'm coming for you...I'm coming for you!
Posted by joshuacase at 05:13 AM
October 06, 2006
Bono and (RED) Keep on Giving
UPDATE From the Kaiser Network
Product RED, a project created by Irish musician Bono and Bobby Shriver that aims to raise money for the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by donating a portion of profits from a range of branded products, plans to partner with five additional corporations in the next few weeks, Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem said on Thursday, Reuters UK reports (Hirschler, Reuters UK, 10/5). American Express, Converse, Giorgio Armani and Gap were the initial partners in the program -- which was launched in January -- and are distributing credit cards and selling tennis shoes, sunglasses and T-shirts, respectively, carrying the Product RED label. The four partner companies have committed to the brand for five years and have pledged to give an average of 40% of profits from the products to the Global Fund. London's Independent in May announced that it would become the first media outlet to sign on as a partner in the project. In addition, Motorola in May announced that it will partner with Product RED. According to Feachem, Product RED has raised more than $10 million in the United Kingdom from February through September. The funds generated from U.K. sales will be allocated to HIV testing and treatment services for HIV-positive women and children living in Rwanda and to supporting AIDS orphans in Swaziland, Feachem said (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/4). "There are five major corporations today -- I'm guessing there will be eight or nine by the end of the year" that will partner with Product RED, Feachem said. According to Reuters UK, Feachem declined to name the corporations, but said the list includes "iconic" consumer electronic businesses. Product RED products will be launched in U.S. stores and other markets this month and in November, Reuters UK reports (Reuters UK, 10/5).
Posted by joshuacase at 11:01 PM | Comments (1)
May 20, 2006
A link that links to Bono
Mike Todd likes U2 and Bono about as much as I do. And, he is usually a little more political on his blog than I am. Check him out!
Posted by joshuacase at 09:12 PM | Comments (4)
Now I remember..
I was reminded this morning just why i love U2 so much. As i was doing some work around the house, i slipped in the Vertigo Chicago dvd. When the band gets to their intro to the song Miracle drug, bono does one of his normal intros and woos the crowd a little bit closer in. One of the things he says in the monoglue is this: "We don't mind bringing the songs from our past with us, songs like: Pride, One, Where the streets have no name. We don't mind bringing our past with us where we are headed, because we are excited about the future! Yes, we are excited about the future!".
As the prophet that he is, i hope and pray that more people would hear that message. Not the message of escapism or we can't wait to get out this place called earth, but the message that he gives, set in the context of the intro to song where he repeatedly says, "i've had enough of romantic love/I'd give it up for a miracle drug". Bono you see is excited about our future, the one here, the one now, the one we can effect for people and creation. That's the kind of future i too am excited about. As Bill Clinton said, "if we can do something, we must do something".
For those of you who didn't know, Bono is doing quite a bit of speaking around the USA these days trying to raise money to fight poverty, aids, and malaria. He deeply devoted to the One campaign. If you haven't already, get involved!
Posted by joshuacase at 03:52 PM | Comments (1)
March 24, 2006
Prayer for the Edge
U2 recently canceled the last 10 shows on its tour due to the illness of the Edge's daughter. If you are a fan, like me, please keep our friends and their families in your prayers! You can see the official press release from U2 here.
Posted by joshuacase at 08:16 AM