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VOX is a quarterly magazine, looking at what's happening in Ireland and the world today and wondering where God fits in. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @vox_ie
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VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 1
Issue 4 October - December 2009
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TheTransformationIssue
Life Renovations Ex-offenders seize their second chance
Transforming livesMoving stories from India’s broken people
Fairtrade Why bother?
VOXFAITH LIFE REALITY
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editorialIn search of a radical makeover
I’msureyou’veseenit.AwomanappearsonTVwearingashapeless,frumpyoutfitwithherhairamessandherfacedevoidofmake-up.Twohourslater,withthehelpofhairdressers,beauticiansandfashionexperts,sheemergeslooking10yearsyounger.Theaudienceapplaudswildlyasthewomangaspsatherreflectioninthemirror. Popularshowslike60-minuteMakeoverandPimpmyRidedothesameforhomesandcars. Itseemsideal,butthere’sacatch.Makeoversaresuperficial.ThewomanwhodazzlestheTVaudiencewithhernewlookisstillthesameageaswhenshestarted,nomatterhowyoungsheappears. Crashdietplans,make-up,paintorgleaminghubcapsareaquickfix,ashorttermsolution.HereatVOXmagazine,we’vebeenexploringwhatittakestoseefundamental,inside-out,lastingtransformation,whetherinanindividualorinsociety. It’sachangethathastostartwithus(seepage11)buthasthepowertoaffectourcommunity,ournationandeventheworld.It’sachangethathastomakeanimpactonthewholeoflife,notjustonelittleaspectofourappearanceorbehaviour. Interestingly,ourVOXPOPsurvey(seepage25)showsthatmanyinIrelandarehungryforheartchangesratherthancosmeticimprovements.Integrityinpubliclife(anendtocorruption)andamorecaringsocietywerethehighest-scoring‘changes’peoplewantedtosee,accountingfor60%ofoursurveyresponses. Sadly,“religious”ormoralanswerscanbeassuperficialasthemuch-lovedmakeover.Tryingtobegoodorfollowingasetofrulesisnottheanswer.Whenthefocusisonexternals(whatotherssee)wewillalwaysfallshortofrealtransformation. TheprophetJoelcalledonhispeopleto…“rendyourheartsnotyourgarments”(Joel2:13)
orasTheMessageputsit,“Changeyourlife,notjustyourclothes.”Areyour
readyforsomethingradical?
RuthGarvey-WilliamsEditor([email protected])
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4 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
October - December 2009, Issue 4
ISSN: 2009-2253
PublisherSolasPublishing
Layout and OperationsJonnyLindsay
DirectorsTomSlattery(EvangeicalAllianceIreland)MikeMullins(OMIreland)Dr.AbimbolaAfolabi(OasisofLove)
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AllchequesshouldbemadepayabletoSolasPublishing.
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VOXmagazineisaquarterlypublication,broughttoyoubySolasPublishing,ajointprojectofEvangelicalAllianceIreland,OMIrelandandOasisofLove.
VOX MAGAZINEFAITH LIFE REALITY
COVER STORIESLifeRenovations – ex-offenders seize their second chance
Transforminglivesandcommunities – moving stories from India’s broken people
Fairtrade– why bother?
VOX VIEWSItallstartshere - personal transformation
Excuseme.Haveyougotfiveminutestoansweracoupleofquestions...?
TheAbolitionoftheLaity – embracing the priesthood of all believers
CanCapitalismbeHealed?MarketEthicsandtheVirtueofThrift - the 2009 CS Lewis lecture
Spoiltforchoice – using the wealth of Scripture to express our faith
VOX SPORTTheFirstFamilyofIrishBasketball
VOX INTERVIEWSShellPerris – meet the rock chick who is challenging the media’s influence
RonánJohnston – what shaped the new album from Emmaus?
REGULAR FEATURES
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contents
VOX: Shorts
VOX: World News
Your VOX: Letters
It’s all Greek to me
Worldwatch
VOX: POP
Web Watch
VOX: Reviews
Readers' Poll
Classifieds and Event Listings
VOX: P.S.
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2326102930
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VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 5
6 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
VOX:SHORTS
Urban Soul – indiscriminate acts of kindness “Weusuallylockourdoorswhenweseeteenagersaround.Thisweektheseyoungpeoplewerefreetoroaminandoutofmyopendoor,”sharedanelderlywomaninDublin. Herresponsewasmirroredbyothersasover180youngpeopleputtheirfaithintoactionfor“UrbanSoul”inJuly.Actsofkindnessincludedcleaningoffgraffitifromplaygrounds,paintingtheoutsideofayouthclub,creatingcommunitygardens,runningfamilyfundaysandhandingoutlunchestothehomeless. “Tohearanelderlyladyinshelteredhousingexpressherdelightinhavingyoungpeopleworkingnearbywasadreamcometrue,”sharedoneoftheorganisers.Findoutmoreatwww.urbansoul.eu
Teenagers exploited by Ireland’s sex trade Newresearchshowsthatteenagersasyoungas15arebeingtraffickedintoIrelandforsexualexploitation.AndtherearefearsthattherecessioncouldresultinmoreIrishpeopleturningtoprostitutionoutofdesperation. RuhamaisaDublin-basedNGOwhichworkswithwomeninvolvedinprostitutionandotherformsofcommercialsexualexploitation,includingwomenwhoarevictimsofsextrafficking.PublishedinSeptember,itsBiennialReportfor2007and2008highlightedthecloakofinvisibilitythatsurroundstheIrishsextrade. During2007-2008,Ruhamahelped341womenincluding100womentraffickedintoIrelandspecificallyforprostitution(manyfromNigeria).Therehavebeen151investigationsbyGardaioverthepast18monthsintoallegedtraffickingbut,todate,noprosecutionshavetakenplace.Findoutmoreatwww.ruhama.ie
Carrantouhil fundraiser a success! TenACETsupportershikedtothetopofIreland’shighestmountaininAugusttoraisefundsfortheHIV/AIDScharity.Onthesameday,another20fundraiserswalkedaroundtheKillarneyLakes.Checkoutwww.acetireland.com
Big increase in cocaine addiction Thenumberofpeopleaddictedtococainehasrisensharplysince2002,accordingtoanewreportbytheHealthResearchBoard.Thereportclaimstherewasa177percentincreaseincocaineaddictiontreatmentinthefiveyearsleadingupto2007. One-fifthofallcasestreatedforproblemdrugusebetween2002and2007reportedcocaineasaproblemsubstance,withthenumbersrisingfrom954in2002to2,643in2007. Heroinaddictiontreatmentcasesincreasedby31percent,theHealthResearchBoardalsofound.
Suicide and self-harm AnotherdropinthenumberofsuicideslastyearmeansIrelandnowhasthesixth-lowestrateofsuicideintheEU.However,wehavethefourth-highestrateofyouthsuicidebehindLithuania,
FinlandandEstonia.Thefrequencyof
suicideinIrelandisnowhighestamongpeopleintheir20s.Menaged20-24aremostatrisk. There
hasbeenasignificant
increaseintherateofdeliberateself-harm
amongyoungmen.Officialfiguresshowtherewere11,700casesofdeliberateself-harmathospitalemergencydepartmentsin2008,involvingmorethan9,200individuals.
A conversation for young leaders – 5 November 2009 AndyFreeman,24/7Prayerleaderandco-authorof“PunkMonk”,willchallengeagatheringofIrishleaderstoexploresolitudeinchaos–‘theinteriorlifeoftheleader’.Thisisthefinalofaseriesoffoursessionsforyoungleaders. “Emerge”isorganisedbyapartnershipbetween3RockYouth,YouthAliveIreland,ScriptureUnionandtheChurchofIrelandYouthDepartment.EmergewilltakeplaceatCarrigEdeninGreystonesfrom10am–4pmonThursday,5November2009(cost€20).Formoreinformationvisitwww.3rock.netorwww.youthaliveireland.com
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 7
Carry the Cross Fivepeopletooktothehighwaystocarrya12-footwoodencrossfromCorktoRoscommoninJuly.Inspiredbythe40thanniversaryofcross-carryingArthurBlessit,OMIrelanddirectorMikeMullinswasjoinedbyasmallinternationalteamforthetrek. “AttheheartoftheChristianmessageisJesus’deathonthecross,”Mikeexplained.“Asanexampleofsupremesacrificiallove,itconfoundsandconfrontstheselfishnessoftheworldandpresentsaradicalalternative,callingustotakeupourcrossandfollowJesus.” Theteamwasamazedbythepositiveresponseofpeopletheymetenroute.Tofindoutmorelogontowww.ie.om.org
Arthur’s Day – celebrating history or promoting alcohol? Aspublicityforthe250thanniversaryofGuinnesswentintoover-drive,morethan7,000IrishFacebookusersflockedtojoinaGuinnesscampaigntomakeArthur’sDayanationalholiday. Atthesametime,awestofIrelandpriestcalledonthegovernmenttocommemorate“Arthur’sDay”bybanningalcoholadvertising.FrBrendanHobanurgedGuinnesstoresourceeducationprogrammestocombataddictionandhighlighttheconsequencesforindividualsandfamilies. FrHobansaidbanningtheadvertisingofdrinkwouldbe“agoodstart.ItmightrainonArthur’spartybut,aswe’vealllearnedinrecentyears,partyinghasitsconsequencestoo.”
3 Nights, 3 Cathedrals, 3 CountiesAseriesofspecialeventswilltakeplaceinthreeIrishCathedralsinDecemberfeaturingtheband“TheRendCollectiveExperiment”,DJSamStott,gospelchoirsandoriginalshortfilms.GregFromholzandScottEvanswillspeakatthefreeevents,called“WhereNostalgiaBecomesReality”.
Friday, 4 DecemberChristChurchCathedral,Dublin
Saturday, 5 DecemberKilkennyCathedral(tbc)
Sunday, 6 DecemberBelfastCathedral,StAnns
Formoreinformationvisitwww.3rock.net
Civil Partnership
Bill 2009Published in June, the Civil Partnership
Bill provides a statutory civil partnershipregistrationschemeforsame-sexcouplesandlegal
protectionforlong-termcohabitingrelationships. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,
DermotAhernTD,said,“ThisBill…reflectsthemanyformsof relationships in modern Irish society. It provides legalprotectionforcohabitingcouplesandisanimportantstep,particularlyforsame-sexcouples,whoserelationshipshavenotpreviouslybeengivenlegalrecognitionbytheState.” The Dublin-based Iona Institute has raised
concernthatreligiousfreedomcouldbethreatenedif the law is used to prevent‘discrimination’ by
thosewhoespousetraditionalmarriage.
8 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
VOX:WORLD NEWS
One billion people going hungryFoodaidisata20-yearlowdespitethenumberofcriticallyhungrypeoplesoaringtoitshighestlevel.AreportbyUnitedNationsreliefagencypredictsthatthenumberofhungrypeoplewillpass1billionthisyearforthefirsttime.
Imprisoned Iranian women refuse to deny ChristThechurchinIrancontinuestofacesevereopposition.MaryamRostampour(27)andMarziehAmirizadeh(30)havebeenheldatEvinPrisoninTeheranwithoutchargeforoversixmonths.NeitherwomanhascommittedacrimeunderIranianorinternationallaw. AtahearingatTehran’sRevolutionaryCourtinAugust,bothwomenrefusedtorecanttheirChristianfaith.Theyweresubsequentlyreturnedtotheircells,wheretheirhealthisnowrapidlydeterioratingintheovercrowdedconditions.Tosignapetitionfortheirreleasegotowww.thepetitionsite.comandhitthe“HumanRights”section.
Bible Translation Centre for war-ravaged CongoInresponsetopleasfromlocalChristians,WycliffeAssociateshasannouncedplanstobuildaBibletranslationcentreintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo(DRC).ThecentrewillbegintranslatingtheBibleintofivenewlanguages,giving1.6millionpeopleaccesstotheScripturesintheirownlanguageforthefirsttime.Fiveyearsofwarhaveleft3milliondeadinDRC.Estimatesreportalmost1,200peopledieeachday“fromconflict-relatedcauses.”
Forgotten killerEveryday,5,000dieofpoorwater,sanitationandhygiene.Almosthalfthepopulationofthedevelopingworldsuffersfromdiseasesassociatedwithinadequatewaterandsanitation.OneintwogirlswhodropoutofprimaryschoolinAfricahavetowalklongdistancestocollectdrinkingwater.Yet,itispredictedthattheUNwillmissbydecadesits2015targettohalvetheproportionofpeoplewithoutaccesstothesebasicnecessities.
De-baptism on the riseMorethan100,000formerChristianshavedownloaded“certificatesofde-baptism”inabidtopubliclyrenouncetheirfaith,accordingtotheLondon-basedNationalSecularSociety(NSS).Organisersappeartohavestruckachordwithatheistsandonce-devoutchurchmemberswhoareleavingchurchestheyseeasincreasinglyout-of-tunewithmodernlife.AndthemovehasprovedlucrativefortheNSS(eachcertificatecosts£3!!).
Young Christian found dead in Pakistani jailAPakistaniChristianhasbeenfounddeadinprison.RobertDanishwasarrestedandjailedunderblasphemylawsforallegedlydesecratingtheKoran.Whileauthoritiessaytheyoungmantookhisownlife,relativesbelievehewaskilled.PakistanChristianCongress(PCC)isstronglycondemningthekillingofRobertDanishandhasdemandedthearrestofthekillersandjusticeforRobert’sfamily.
Police Bibles for AustraliaThepoliceforceinNewSouthWales,Australia’smostpopulousstate,hasbeenissuedwithitsownspecialPoliceBibleincludinga‘policeprayer’andinformationonpoliceethics,serviceandintegrity.TheneweditionwasproducedbytheBibleSociety,and3,000copieshavealreadybeenprinted.
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 9
YOUR VOXletters to the editor
Curtainsfade,clotheslosecolourwithtime...andwordsgrowdullwithuse.IntheNewTestament,thereisafamilyofwordsthatspeak of being bought back, ransomed or redeemed (e.g. Mark10:45;ICorinthians6:19,20;Galatians4:5;IPeter1:18,19). Thesewords,inGreek,inthefirstcentury,spoketothepeoplethenofreleaseandlibertyfromthehorrorsofbeingaslave,hope-lessly bound through chance, debt or war, condemned to someformoflivingdeath. Ofspecial interest isthefactthatsurvivinginscriptionsaboutliberatedslavesusethephrase“forfreedom…[name]…wassetfree”,theverysamephrasePaulusedtoopenGalatianschapter5,“ItisforfreedomthatChristhassetusfree”.
Butforusthesetermshavebecometame,piousandpredict-able,thesortofwordsweexpecttohearinasermonorsinginahymn.TheNewTestamentwritersusedthesewordsbecausetheyvividly described the freedom Christ brings; they were dramaticpicturesofhope,lifeandsalvation. Today, ifwewillproperlyunderstandandusethem,theycanspeakagainofreleaseandfreedomfromanyoftheenslavements...(tickyourownbox)....ofmodernliving.Warren Nelson, originally from Drogheda, Co. Louth, taught at the Irish Bible School in Co. Tipperary. He now enjoys active retirement and DIY near Tullamore.
It’s all ελληνικά to me ::LessonsfromaGreekTeacher
THE PITFALL OF PREDICTABILITY
Poverty ItsaddensmethattherearesomanypeoplesufferingfrompovertyandallthatitentailswhenweintheWesthavesomuch.ThereisalsoahugesenseinwhichIfeelpowerlesstomakeadifference.Sligo (Age 26-35)
InresponsetoJohntheBaptist'scallto“bringforthfruitinkeepingwithyourrepentance”thepeopleasked,“Whatshouldwedo?”Johnreplied,“Themanwithtwotunicsshouldsharewithhimwhohasnone,andtheonewhohasfoodshoulddothesame.”
Mostofuswouldhavemorethanoneshirt.Mostofushavehadamealtoday.Is
itpossiblethatcollectivelyweactuallyhavethe
resourcesinourownhomestorespondtomuchoftheglobalneed?Ifweareonlywilling…
Dublin (Age 50+)
Moral standards Iknowit’sprobablyvery“unPC”tobemoreconcernedwithmoralsthanpoverty.ButIbelievethatallthoseotherthings
wouldbeaddressedifglobalmoralitywashigher!Dublin (Age 36-50)
Doinguntoothers...loveyourneighbourasyourself...Ifwecouldtrulydesiretodothat,likeJesussaid,alltherestofthelawswouldbefulfilledandIthinkwewouldn’thaveglobalpoverty,humantrafficking,etc.Dublin (Age 36 – 50)
Human traffickingIwishtherewasaChristianorganisationthatdealtwithhumantrafficking.Wehearalotaboutit,butnotmuchisdone.Carlow (Age 18-25)Ed:TheEvangelicalAllianceIrelandhasaworkinggrouptacklingHumanTrafficking. [email protected]
War Whataboutwar?ItseemsitneverendsandallyoueverhearaboutisthewarinIraq.It’sanabsolutedisgraceandweneedtowithdrawtroopsimmediately. What’sthedeal?Therearewars,bigandsmall,allovertheworldanditwouldseemthattheonlywayIcanhearanopiniononitisturningontheradioorthenews(orgoingtoahippyrally).IneverheardChristiansreallygetdeepintoit.Theyseemtoshyawayfromtheissueinmyopinion.Dublin (Age 18-25)
All the above I’mnotsureifoneoftheaboveismoreimportantthananother.Aspeoplewhoaremeanttobringthekingdomtoearthasitisinheaven,IbelievewearemeanttodowhatwefeelGodiscallingusto. AlotofChristiansinvolvedinoneoftheabove,suchasFairtrade,thinkthattheirissueisthemostimportantandconsequentlycanhaveajudgmentalattitudetowardsthosewhodonotsignupforalltheyareconcernedwith.It’snotaboutpickingoneortheother;it’saboutseekingtheheartofGodforwhatHewantsustodo. IthinkwehaveahugeresponsibilityasChristians,butIthinkweneedtoberealisticabouthowmuchwecangetinvolvedin.Dublin(Age 26 – 35)
Ithinkthatyoucouldmakeagoodcaseforanyofthoseissuesbeingvitalandpressingandacauseforconcern.Theyaresymptomsofthefallenworldinwhichwelive.Dublin(Age 36-50)
We are delighted to publish short letters or emails. Recommended length: 50 – 150 words.Email: [email protected] with “Your VOX” in the subject line or write to: Your VOX, VOX Magazine, Solas Publishing, Ulysses House, 22-24 Foley Street, Dublin 1
In our latest Readers' Poll we asked which world issue most concerned you (see results on page 10). Options included poverty, human trafficking, falling moral standards, HIV, the environment and Fairtrade. A number of people added ‘war’ as a huge issue of concern. This is what you had to say about the issues…
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 9
10 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
VOX READERS’ POLLWe asked you: “Which world issue concerns you most?” Here is what you said in our online poll:
Have your say! Take part in our next online Readers' Poll. Ittakesjust30secondstocompleteonlineandyoucanreadtheresultsinthenexteditionofVOX.Gotowww.voxmagazine.ie.andclickontheReaders'Poll.
GLOBALPOVERTY19%FALLINGMORALS19%HUMANTRAFFICKING19%HIV/AIDSPANDEMIC14%
ENVIRONMENTALISSUES10%FAIRTRADE10%WAR5%ALLOFTHEABOVE4%
“Employing Hope” devotional for the unemployed Biblica,formerlyInternationalBibleSociety-SendTheLight,haspublishedonlinedevotionalstohelppeoplewhohavebecomeunemployedintherecession.‘EmployingHope’offers20shortScripture-basedreadings,withreflectionquestionstoconsiderandpracticalstepstotake. ThedevotionalsaimtoaddresstherealityofunemploymentwhilegivingadviceonhowpeoplecanfacetheirfearsanddrawneartoGod. “Peopleneedhopeandencouragementtoremainemotionallyandspirituallystronginthesetoughtimes,”saidBiblicaOutreachDirectorSuesHyde. Downloadthefreedevotionalsatwww.biblica.com/outreach/unemployment
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church ChurchesacrossIrelandwillmarktheInternationalDayofPrayerforthePersecutedChurchonSunday15November.InIreland,ChurchinChainsisfocusingontheUighurpeoplefromXinjiangprovinceinnorth-westChina. UighurChristiansfaceoppositionfromthepredominantlyMuslimUighursocietyandfromtheChinesegovernment.TheUighurchurchiscomparativelysmallbuthasgrowninrecentyears.TheUighursarethelargestpeoplegroupintheworld(9million)withoutafullBibleintheirlanguage. ChurchinChainshasproducedprayercards,aninformationsheetforthoseleadingprayersandathreeminutePowerPointpresentation(onCD)tohelpchurchesparticipateinthedayofprayer.ContactChurchinChainsforthesefreeresourcesforyourchurch:POBox10447,Glenageary,Co.Dublinorbyemail:[email protected]
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 11
T Thethemeoftransformationandrestorationisarguablythegreat-estthemeintheBibleasGodmovestheuniversetowardsanewheavenandnewearth.Christiansintoday’sworldareconcernedabouttrans-formationinchurch,community,cityandcountry. However,whiletheseareallareasinwhichGodwantstobringtrans-formation,thekeybuildingblockispersonaltransformationandres-toration. Our churches, communities, cities or countries will not betransformedunlessithappensatapersonallevel. Personal restoration should not just touch parts of our lives; it isdesignedtobeall-encompassing,affectingourhead,heartandhands.Psalm51givesagoodbasisonwhichtoaddresspersonalrestoration. Davidbecomesawareofhisownneedforrestorationafterheiscon-frontedbyNathanconcerninghisaffairwithBathshebaandhispartinherhusband’sdeath.Whilethisisanextremecasethatwillnotbeexperiencedbymostofus,David’sresponsegivesususefulguidanceasweseektorenewourrelationshipwithGodthroughChrist. Restorationalwaysbeginswithusknowingweareinneedofit.Inverses1-6DavidiskeenlyawareofhowdistantheisfromGod.Heac-knowledgesthathisshamefuldeedsarealwaysbeforehim(v3),thathehasrebelledagainstGodandthatGodisrightinhisjudgements(v4). Davidisawarethathisneedforrestorationisnotjustcosmetic,butstemsfromtheveryheartofwhoheis(v5).However,heisalsoawarethatGodhasgreaterdesiresandplansforhimandthatGodcanbringrestorationinhisinmostplace(v6)–hisveryheartandsoul. Bookshops across the country are full of books that promise self-restorationundertheguiseofself-help.DavidrejectsthisideabecauseheknowsthatonlyGodcanbringtrueandlastingrestoration. As David’s heart cries out in phrases like, ‘cleanse me and washme’, ‘createinmeandrenewinme’, ‘restoretomeandgrantme’,heisfullyawarethattheworkofrestorationmustbeaworkofGodandthatattemptsatself-restorationaredoomedtofailure. Ourinabilitytochangeourheartsorhowwefeelcausesustorecognise,withDavid,thattheonlyresponsetoourrebellionisunconditionalsurrendertoalovingheavenlyfather. AfterourmindsacknowledgeandourheartsbelievethatweareinneedofrestorationandthatGodisthesourceofourhelp,onlythencanwemovetowardstrueaction. Actionsdivorcedfromtrueknowledgeand beliefs are not pleasing to God. He does not delight in sacrificeorburntofferings(v16);butthetruesacrificethatGoddesiresisare-storedheartandspirit,onethatisbrokenandrepentant(v17). AsIwritethesewords,IamlookingoutatworkersrestoringFoleyStreet,andthereareafewlessonslearnedtherewhichmayhelpusonourjourneyofrestoration. Firstly,IfindmyselffrustratedthatitistakinglongerthanIwantorthinkitshould.Butifwearewillingtotakethetimetodigdeepandlayagoodfoundation,itwilltaketime. Secondly,thingsappeartogetworsebeforetheygetbetter. RightnowFoleyStreetisamess,butitisbeingmadenew. Thirdly,engagingintheprocessofrestorationcausesinconveniencesand upset for some people. Some are annoyed that they can’t drivedownFoleyStreetorthatthefootpathisdugup.LikewiseasGodre-storesourlivesitmaydisturbsomearoundus. Finally, it is hard work as there are no quick fixes. Restoration isa lifetime of co-operating with God to appropriate the power of HisWordandSpiritintoourlivessothatHecancontinuallytransformusthroughtherealityofHisrisenSon,andthenthroughustransform,ourchurches,communities,citiesandcountries.
Jacob Reynolds enjoys life with his wife Lori and their four children, Kieran, Ailis, Niamh and Orla. For the past twelve years, he has spent his days working at the Irish Bible Institute as a principal andteacher.
IT ALL
STARTS HERE
“Ourchurches,communities,
citiesorcountrieswillnotbe
transformedunlessithappens
atapersonallevel.”
Photo(FoleyStreet):CarolineConnaughton VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 11
12 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
T Twelve months of recession have leftabitterlegacyforthousandsofIrishpeo-ple. September’s figures show 444,000peopleunemployedandthousandsmorefear for the long-term security of theirjobs. While agencies across the countryhave scrambled to respond, one charityinDublinisalreadymakingadifference.Launched 15 years ago by Paul MooneyandRobinBoles,Jobcarehelpslong-termunemployedpeopleenterorre-entertheworkforce.
Paul Mooney spoke of Jobcare’sgrowth: “We started with six people ona FÁS-sponsored Community Employ-mentscheme.Nowwehave41peopleincommunityemployment.Eachpersonisgivenworkexperience,trainingandper-sonalsupportastheyarehelpedtowardstheirowncareergoals.” Paul's Christian faith has motivatedhiminthiswork:“Jobcareisaboutdem-onstratingKingdomprinciples. IfJesuswerehere,whatwouldHedotohelppeo-plewhoareunemployed?It’snotabout
bashing people over the head with theBible, but about displaying Jesus. It isaboutseeingaliferestored. “Anyonecanteachthestuffweteach,butwhenwedo itoutof thismotivation
LIFE RENOVATIONS
If Jesus were here, what would He do to help people who are
unemployed?
Images:JonnyPardoe12 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 13
and heart we seelives changed.
Whether it iswith an ex-offender ora guy whousedtoworkin a high-payingjob,wearehelpingtoovercome the
obstacles.”
TRASNA Four years ago Paul startedworkingonanewventure. “At that time I felt God leading meto work with ex-offenders. I was con-cerned that they are being left withoutthe means to rehabilitate. Full-time oc-cupation is key to arresting the cycle ofreoffending, but few employers are pre-pared to take the chance of giving a jobtosomeonewithacriminalrecord.IfeltJobcare could develop a full-time workprogrammeforex-offenders”. And so Trasna was born. An Irishword meaning crossing over, Trasna of-fersaprogrammeofwork,training,sup-portanddevelopmenttomenwhohaverecentlyleftprison. JustasJobcarewaslaunchingTrasna,Trinity Church Network in Dublin tookovertheownershipofanoldbuildinginthenorthinnercity.TheoldLabourEx-changeonGardinerStreetneededcom-plete renovation and Jobcare wascontractedtoassistwiththeworkofrestoringthebuildingtoitsoriginalfunction–achurch. TheTrasnacrewworkedalongsideskilledbuildersand craftsmen – gain-ing important workand life skills in theprocess. Trasna is a toughprogramme. Themen work hard andhave to stay ‘clean’– regular drug test-ingispartofthepro-gramme – as well asbeingheldaccountablefor other life manage-ment goals. The physi-callabour(knockingdownwalls, plastering, painting,etc.)iscombinedwithcertifiedtrainingcoursesandmentoring–helping them make real and lastingchangesintheirlives.
“Out of the original 15 men on thefirstyearoftheprogramme,oneguyisbackinprison,buttherestarego-ingstraight,”saidPaul.“Fourstartcollege this autumn, some areinwork,twoaregoingbackto do their Leaving Certandoneispursuingalit-eracy programme. Thisexceedsexpectations.” As the renovationsof the derelict LabourExchange building havetaken shape, the Trasnaprogrammehasbeeninvolvedinlife-renovations.Herearesomeofthestories:
“I LOVED TAKING DRUGS” Karl Kilmartin began messing aboutwithdrugswhenhewasjust13yearsold.By17hewasusingheroindaily,andlifewentrapidlydownhill. “Iwoulddoanythingtogetmoneytofeedmyheroinaddiction.Igotworseandworse.Whenmymotherpassedawayitopened my eyes: I was homeless, drag-ging myself around the streets, selling
drugs,robbinghouses. Iwasdowntosixstoneinweightandmyveinswerecollaps-ing. You wouldn’t do thattoadog!” Karl battled throughtreatmentandthenrelapse,
trying to stay clean butfallingback intooldhab-its again, until he tookpart in a course taughtby John McKeever fromJobcare.
“IfIhadnotmetJohn…I don’t know what would
havehappenedtome.Iwrotea letter to Jobcare and got an in-
terviewjustafterChristmas.”
As the renovations of the derelict Labour Exchange building
have taken shape, the Trasna programme has
been involved in life-renovations.
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 13
Karl enrolled on the Trasna pro-gramme – working on the restorationcontract in Gardiner Street. The trans-formation of the building mirrored thechangesthattookplaceinKarl’slife. The200-year-oldbuildingwasawreck.Atfirsttherewasa lotofheavyworktodo:knockingdownwalls,plastering,put-tinginceilingsandfloors. “The first year was rocky. Last July Ihadaslipwithheroin. Iwascalledintothe Jobcare office. It was tough love.Theytalkedaboutmykids.Thiswasmylastchance.Ihavenotusedheroinsincethen.” “Theyhavehelpedmesomuch.Iwasover30yearsoldwiththematurityofa14-year-old. I needed help with simplestuff,likeopeningabankaccount.” The final turning point for Karl came
last autumn when he joined a Trasnateam taking part in the Niall MellonTownship Trust building blitz in CapeTown, South Africa. For someone whohad never been outside of Ireland thetripprovedlife-changing.Workinginthetownships,Karlwasstruckbythesmilesonthefacesofpeoplewhohaveliterallynothing. “They brought us into their shacks.Weworkedputtingontheroofsfornewhouses. Onthe lastdaywegottohandthemthekeystotheirnewhomes.Theirfacesbrokemyheart.BeforeIleft,IgaveawayeverythingIhadwithme. “NowwhenIgetup inthemorningIam whistling. I spent all my life strug-gling,butnowlifeisnotastruggle.Iam
goingofftocollegethisautumntostudyforadegreeincomputertechnologyandbusiness.Iwanttomakeafutureformypartnerandmykids. “I feel comfortable with myself now.PeopleusedtolookdownonmelikeIwasapieceofshit.Itisveryhardforsome-onetounderstandthemagnitudeofthechange.IamsogratefultothepeopleinJobcareforgivingmeachance.” Lookingaroundthealmost-completednewchurchbuildingthathasrisenfromthe wreck of the old Labour ExchangeKarlsmiles. “The guys have done phenomenalwork. Everyone should be proud. It isgreattoseeitbeingused–thisissome-thingtobeproudof.”
“I don’t want to be a dunce” Mark Duffy (27) knows that if itwasn’tforJobcarehewouldbeoutonthestreets. “I grew up in an area where every-one was robbing cars and I soon got inwith the wrong people. I started smok-inghash. WhenmyMatoldusshehadcancerandhadonlyfivemonthsto live,my Da got into smoking heroin. I usedto watch him. Eventually I was offeredheroinandonedayIjusttookit.Iendedupstrung-outfornearlytwoyears.” The Trasna programme gave Mark achancetogethislifestraightenedout.“Ihavegotmyselfcompletelyclean.Allthatisaroundthisareaisdrugsandcrimebut
I have stopped hangingaroundwiththosepeople.” This autumn Mark isgoing back to school tocomplete his Leaving Cer-tificate.“Idon’twanttobe
a dunce. I left school with-out any qualifications but
now I’ve got a place to do myLeavingCert.Mylittlegirlisgo-
ingtoschoolandIwanttobeabletohelpherwithherhomework.
“Jobcare has really helped me. Theyarealwaysthereforyou. Iwantto lookforagoodjob.I’dlovetobeinajobforfiveyearsormore…I’d love tobeame-chanic!”
“I’m going to qualify as an accountant!” Growing up in Dun Laoghaire, JohnMcCaffrey(24)hadeverythinggoingforhim. Hedidwell inschooluntilhedis-covered drink and drugs.Four years later he washomeless, sleeping roughin a graveyard, and heeventually ended upin prison for sellingdrugs. “My partner wason CommunityEmployment inJobcarewhenIgotlocked up and shetoldmeaboutthem.They have looked af-termesinceIgotoutofprison. “I started off on the Gardiner Streetprojectandworkedatmakingtheplastercovingaroundtheceiling.IwasthereforsevenmonthsbutIreallywantedtobeanaccountant–Ijustlovenumbers!SonowI’mworkingintheaccountsdepartmentatJobcareandgettingmytraininginpay-rollsystems. “Fromdayone,IknewwhatIwantedandwhatIwasheadingtowards.Ittookme a while and things were a bit hecticformeatfirst. Jobcareisabouthelpingpeopletomoveonandmakeasteadyliv-ing.”
Find out more about Jobcare. Log on to their website at www.jobcare.ie
VOX Editor Ruth Garvey-Williams visited Jobcare and the Trasna graduates as the finishing touches were being made to the Trinity Church building this summer.
My little girl is going to school and I want to be able to help her with
her homework.
“Now when I get up in the morning I am whistling.
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T TwicerecentlyIhaveagreedtofilloutasurvey;onceonthephone(asIwasjusthappytheyweren’ttryingtosellmebroadband)andonceonline.Idon’toftenfillthemineither,usually‘costheywanttoaddmetoamillionmailinglists.
OnbothoccasionsatacertainstageofthesurveyIwastoldthattheyhadfilledtheirquotaofthoseinmycategory…thanksbutnothanks!
Firstofall,ifit’sasurvey,howcantheydecidewhotheydon’twant?Surelythewholeideaistotakewhateverinformationtheygetandworkout
theresults?Butmymainproblemwithitis...amItypical?Aretherelotsofpeo-pleinmy“category”?AndwhatISmycategoryanyway???
Irememberallthosecategoriesthatcameoutinthe80s;liketheYUPPIES,theDINKsandtheDINKYs.Icertainlyneverfittedintoanyofthose.InfactIdon’trememberEVERfittingin,toanygangorgroup.I’mnotsporty,I’mnotwhatyoumightcallpretty,Iwasnevercool,IalwaysthoughtIwasasocialoutcast!(OK,thatwasabitofadramaticoverstate-ment,butyougetmydrift.) Butnowitturnsoutthatmycategoryisfillingouteverysurveyavailableandtherearetoomanyofus!It’sabittragicreally! BUT...lookattheseversesfromPsalm139: O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Andlater…For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you be-cause I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Howmanybabieshavebeenconceivedintheworldsinceitbegan?Andtheseversesapplytoeachandeveryone!Itturnsoutthatthere’sonlyonecategoryafterall…MadebyGod!
Annmarie Miles comes from Tallaght in Dublin and is married to Richard, from Wales. She works for Focus on the Family and loves to cook, sing, read, talk and eat! She has just graduated with a degree in theology from Bangor University in Wales.
Excuse me. Have you got five minutes to answer a couple of
questions..?
"I don’t remember EVER fitting in, to any gang or group"
ARE YOU STARTING UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE THIS AUTUMN? DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS?Almost every campus in Ireland has a Christian Union –a student run society that exists to see students transformed by encountering Jesus, whether that is by hearing the good news for the first time or growing in their faith.
IFES Ireland links the CUs throughout the island and provides training and resources to both individuals and whole CUs. Check out the IFES Ireland website for useful articles and information for Freshers and fill in a link-up form to get in contact with your local CU. You can also request a form by phoning the IFES Ireland office in Belfast: +44 28 90242100.
“Inspiring and equipping students to follow Jesus” www.ifesireland.org [email protected]
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InourChurchwecalledthem‘clergymen’(therewereno‘clergywomen’),althoughforsomeoddrea-soninthePrayerBooktheywerecalledpriests.Therewerespecialthingsonlypriestscoulddothatthelaitydefinitelycouldn’tdo–saycommunion,preach,pronouncetheforgivenessofsins,dobaptisms,marryandallthatstuff,andweartheclericalgarments,whichIratherliked. Anyway,fiveyearslater,kneelingbesidemybedinCabra,Iunwittinglybecameapriest.IthoughtIwasjustconfessingmysinandaskingJesustosaveme,promisingtofollowHimfortherestofmylife,andaskingHimtohelpmegiveupcursing.That’sallIwasdoing.Ididn’tevenincludewashingthedishes. Iwasn’tawarethenthatIwasbecomingpartofaroyalpriesthood,ordainedintheHolySpiritforthepriestlytaskofshowingotherstheblessingsofGod’samazingkingdom,howtounderstandGod’sword,howtofindforgivenessatthecrossandhowtobecomepartofGod’sroyalfamily.Thefollowingyear,at18,Ididbecomeanairlinepilot,butinthemanylongdaysspentonseveralcontinents,Ineverforamomentceasedtobeapriest. InthedaysbeforeJesusyoucouldn’tjustdecidetobeapriest.Youhadtobelongtoapriestlylineageandhavenounmentionablebitsofyouthatdidn’tworkproperlyorhadfallenoff.Anyof theunor-dained,thelaity,whopresumedtodopriestlythingsmightgetburntupinafireboltofdivinewrath.Evenakingcouldn’ttrespassonthepriestlyofficewithoutlosinghisroyalanointing.Theverynotionofaroyalpriesthoodwasacontradictioninterms. ImaginetherevolutionthathappenedinKingJesuswhobegananewkindofpriesthoodaltogether,a‘kingdom’movementinwhicheveryfollowerofJesuswouldalsobeapriest,andinwhichthenotionofanunordained‘laity’ofnon-ministerswouldbeabolishedcompletely!Thiswastrulyradical. WiththedestructionoftheoldTemplesystem,religiousprivilegesthatpreviouslyattachedonlytothepriestswerenowextendedtoroyalty–alltheKing’schildren.Religiousprivilegesofmenwereex-tendedtowomen.AndGod’speople,formerlycomprisedexclusivelyofJews,wouldnowincludefaithfulpeopleofeverynation.Nolonger‘Jew’and‘Gentile’butoneNewHumanity,no‘slave’or‘free’,no‘male’or‘female’.EveryoneinChristnowheldpriestlyoffice. ThisdoesnotmeanthateveryoneisaleaderinthisnewJesuscommunity.Godinstructsustorecog-nise our leaders, follow them, respect them, pray for them, and honour them publicly and privately.Theyarevariouslycalledoverseers (‘bishops’),elders (’presbyters’), shepherds(‘pastors’),apostles,orjustleaders–buttheyarenevercalledpriests.Whatradicalchurcheswewouldhaveiftheentirecongre-gationlivedinitspriestlyordination,servantministersinJesus’kingdom,andnobodysettledfortheunbiblicalofficeofthe‘unordained’. I’mbeginningtowondernowifthatincomingmessagewhenIwastwelvewasatruecallto‘ministry’afterall.Ijustdidn’tunderstandthenthatGod’sdestinyforeverybelieverisordinationforChristianministry. Yousee,nowthatwe’reallGod’sroyalpriesthood,theoldnotionofthe‘laity’justisn’tavailabletousanymore.It’sbeenabolished.
“ ”I did become an airline pilot, but in the many long days spent on several continents, I never for a moment ceased to be a priest.
HENIWAS12IHADTHISIDEA–FORAVERYSHORTTIME(WELLACTUALLYJUSTFORAFEWMINUTES)–THATIWOULDBECOMEACHURCHMINISTERINSTEADOFANAIRLINEPILOTORANASTRONAUTORAMILKMAN.TOUGHCHOICEFORA12-YEAR-OLD,BUTTHEREITWASLIKEAMESSAGEFROMSPACE:M-I-N-I-S-T-E-R.W
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F “YOU ARE WORTHLESS.” For3,000yearsmillionsofpeoplehavebeen classed ‘untouchable’ under India’scastesystem.Thesebrokenpeople–theDalit–arenotconsideredpartofhumansociety. Condemnedtoa lifeofpovertyand oppression, approximately 250 mil-lionIndians(25%ofthepopulation)areDalit.Systematicdenialoftheirbasichu-manrightshasdeprivedtheDalitofedu-cation,food,healthcare,economicoppor-tunityandjustice. “IsnotthisthekindoffastingIhavechosen: to loose the chains of injusticeanduntiethecordsoftheyoke,tosettheoppressed free and break every yoke?”Isaiah58:6 Along with other churches and or-ganisations, OM ministries in India re-spondedtopleasforhelpfromtheDalitpeoplewithacomprehensiveprogrammethatistransformingindividual livesandwhole communities through education,economic development, healthcare andspiritualdevelopment. Whilepracticalhelpisvital,formanyof the Dalit people the most profoundchange comes as they realise God lovesandvaluesthem.
EDUCATING - INVESTING IN A NEW FUTURE Dressedinbluesatincapsandgowns,17 teenagers from the Jeedimetla DalitEducation Centre (DEC) stood withbeamingfacesasalargecrowdofpeopleapplauded their accomplishment. Thisyear,almost50childrenemergedas thefirstsuccessfulgraduates. Since 2001, 90 new Dalit educationcentreshavebeenprovidingahighqual-ityEnglish-mediumeducationfor18,000children!
DEIVANAI’S STORY Deivanaibelongstoapoverty-strickenDalit family in Tamil Nadu in SouthernIndia.Deivanai’smotherdidnotappreci-atetheeducationDeivanaiwasreceivingattheDEC.Wantingherdaughter’shelpwith household chores, she preventedDeivanaifromattendingschool.
The DEC teachers were aware of De-ivanai’shighacademiccaliber.Whenshemissedschoolforseveraldays,theprinci-palvisitedherhome.ShesuggestedthatDeivanai live in a girls’ boarding facilityneartheschoolsoshecouldfocusonhereducation. After much thought, her parentsagreed.Deivanai returned toschoolandthrived in the positive environment.Deivanai worked extremely hard for herfinal exams, determined to excel. Notsurprisingly,sherankedfirstinherclassandscored92%.Herexcellentscore im-mediatelyearnedheraplaceataqualityjuniorcollege.Deivanaihopestobecomeagovernmentofficial.
KANCHAN’S STORY Kanchan comes from a Dalit homein “Pipe Village”, Andhra Pradesh. Kan-chan’s parents abandoned her becauseshewasagirl.LikemostIndiancouples,they only valued sons. Kanchan livedwith her grandparents in the convertedsewagepipestheycalledhome. Kanchan knew she was unwanted.She tried to earn her family’s love butwasrarelyrewarded.Aftermuchcoaxing
transforming lives and communities
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every
yoke?” Isaiah 58:6
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 19
fromthe localDECstaffmembers,Kan-chan’s grandparents allowed her to at-tendschool.Sixyearsago,whenKanchansteppedintotheJeedimetlaDECforthefirsttime,shefoundloveandacceptance.Shealsofoundanewpurposeinlife.
Kanchan ranked first in her final ex-amsthisyear.Shehopestobecomeadoc-torandservehercommunity.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - AND NOW THEIR MONEY GROWS
Hundreds of Dalit women have be-comesuccessfulsmall-scalebusinessen-trepreneurs because of OM India’s Eco-nomic Development Initiatives. Thesewomen have proven that they have thebusiness acumen and skill to run viablebusinesses and earn adequate profits toliveadignifiedlife.
CHANDPA’S STORY ChandpaisthepresidentofaSelfHelpGroup in Gujarat. Today, Chandpa ex-udesconfidenceandspeakskindlytonewgroupmembers.Sheknowsfromperson-al experience the struggles each womanexperiences. Chandpa’sfamilylivedindirepoverty.Her husband’s income as a constructionworkerwasinsufficienttorunthehome.Then Chandpa joined a local Self HelpGroup(SHG). Although Chandpa is illiterate, sheexcelledintheSHGtrainingandquicklygraspedthebasicfinancialconcepts.Shesavedmoneyregularlyandmadehercon-tribution to the group’s collective fund.In2008,shebecameeligibleforaloan. With a loan of 10,000 Indian Ru-pees (€140), Chandpa and her husband
boughtathree-wheeledtaxi.Almostim-mediately, her husband began to earn abetter income. Chandpa quickly repaidherloan. Thisyear,Chandparequestedanotherloan. This time she used the money toopen her own tailoring shop. Her busi-ness is doing extremely well. Today sheand her husband are able to send theirchildrentoschoolandhaveevenboughttheirownhome.
HEALTHCARE – MAKING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
Afarmer’ssonhadbeen ill fora longtime.Medicalcarewasunavailableintheareaanditiscommonpracticetovisitablack magic doctor for treatment. Anx-ious to see his son recover, the farmergave the “doctor” an exorbitant amountofmoneytoperform“healing”rituals. Forweekstherewasnoimprovementinthechild’scondition.Whenthefatherappealed for a second consultation, thedoctor demanded a higher fee. In des-peration, the farmer contemplated sell-ing his small piece of land knowing thiswouldendthemeansbywhichheearnedanincome. Mercifully, OM India CommunityHealth Worker Rajesh was visiting thevillageandwenttoseetheson.Theboywassufferingwithafeverandseverede-hydration.Rajeshtookthechildtoahos-pital, where he was diagnosed with ma-laria.Afterintensivetreatment,theboyreturnedhomeandishealthytoday.
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT – NEW BELIEVERS CELEBRATE
Underthescorchingsun,peoplenavi-gatedthedenseforestscarryingbelong-ings on their heads. The two-day “YesuMahotsav”(JesusFestival)wasorganised
byoneofthemanyGoodShepherdCom-munityChurches. No roads or transportation facilitiesled to the heavily-wooded area but thedistancewasnodeterrentas300peopleflockedtothefestival.Despitetheirpov-erty,aloveforJesuspromptedsacrificialgiving. Participants brought rice, plates,spices,firewoodandeverythingrequiredtofeedthewholecrowd. The conference included singing wor-shipsongs, listening toGod’sword,andengaging in Bible studies. Everyonesensed the Spirit of God and 15 peoplemadeapublicdeclarationoftheirfaithinChrist. After the conference, the Good Shep-herdCommunityChurchleadershipteamdedicatedanewlyconstructedGSCCwor-shipcenterinavillagenearby.Thepastorand church members are overjoyed tohavetheirownplacetoworshipGod. GSCCleaderRoshanSorensays,“Itwaswonderful to see these first-generationChristians thrilled about their new life.Though they are uneducated, ordinaryandsimple,theirfaithinJesusisstrong.Theyareunawareofdeeptheologicalanddoctrinal issues, but they are learningmoreeveryday.Theonethingtheyknowfor sure is that Jesus has changed theirlivesandtheywanttoworshipHim.”
transforming lives and communities
"Kanchan knew she was unwanted"
HOW CAN I RESPOND?OM Ireland makes it possible for people in Ireland to support the cause of the Dalits in simple and practical ways.
You can:1. Sponsor a Dalit child for just €21 a month 2. Download the 7-day Prayer Guide3. Book a multi-media presentation for your church, youth group or meeting.4. Give a gift for school equipment, to help a Dalit pastor or to provide finance for micro-loans5. See for yourself through tailor-made trips to India organised by OM Ireland
Visit www.ie.om.org for full details. Write to Help the Dalits, OM Ireland, Lacken House, Rahara, Co Roscommon. Email [email protected] or contact OM Ireland on 090-662-3964.
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ROCK CHICK SHELL PERRIS HAS STORMED INTO THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC SCENE with a message that has captured the imagination of her teenage fans. VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams caught up with Shell at Irish music festival MAD 2009 to ask about her new album “Beautiful Life” (out now) and the message she is trying to share with young people. ThenewalbumisallaboutbeingwhoGodmadeyoutobe.Wearemadein the image of God. If you look in the mirror and say“I am ugly” you aredissingGod’screation.Wecompareourselvestootherpeople,tothepeopleinmagazines,andweenduptryingtobesomethingthatdoesnotexist! Themediahassuchamassiveinfluence.Itissointegratedintoourculture.Wehavegottobereallycarefulaboutwhatweallowtoenterintoourminds.Ithinkitisimportanttokeepupwithwhatisgoingonintheworld,buttoknowyouridentityinJesusfirstandtomakesurethatitfitswithGod’sway. IbelievethatGodhascalledmetobeahealerofbrokenhearts.Whateveritisthatyouaregoingthrough,Godcanrestoreyou. I want to inspire people and help people to experience God’s love andultimatelychallengepeopletotakethatsteptobeinarelationshipwithGod.It’s about real life issues that are happening to real-life people… not aboutdoingwhateverittakestofeelgood. Inmynewsong“Nothing’sGonnaStoptheRain!”Ilookedatthefourmainthings that hurt people; that need we have to feel someone put their armsaroundus.It’sabouttryingnottofocusonthesituationbutbeinggratefulforbeingaliveandlivinglifetothemax!Shell returns to Ireland for the “Restored Tour” with Barry Woodward and will be performing in Sligo, Enniskillen and Antrim on 22, 23 and 24 October. Check out full details on www.shellperris.com
SHELL PERRIS
VOX:INTERVIEW
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VOX:SPORTS
A special Westbrook family reunion took place on 15 August at The NationalBasketballArenainTallaght. The Irish national basketball team was hosting Sweden in a European qualifiersmatch.Michael,IsaacandAaron–thethreeoldestWestbrookboys-wererepresentingIrelandontheIrishteam.Theirfamilyandfriendswereinthecrowd.Atleastforthisnightifnotmore,manywoulddescribetheirDad,JeromeWestbrook,astheFatherofBasketballinIreland! JeromeWestbrook,fromtheUSA,wasborntoplayandcoachbasketball.Overthepast30yearsJerome’sbasketballrecordhasspokenforitself. Itallstartedin1981,whenIrishmanMickMcCormickspottedJeromeinChicagoandrecruitedhimforKillesterofDublin.JeromehadjustgraduatedfromEurekaCollegeinIllinois(samecollegeasPresidentRonaldReagan).MickofferedhimaprofessionalcontractinIreland.Jeromeagreed. Playing for Killester during that 1981-82 season fulfilled his dream of playingbasketballprofessionally,andlifehasneverbeenthesamesincefortheWestbrooks,forKillesterandforIrishbasketball. BasketballinIrelandisasmallmarket.Jeromewasforcedtosupplementhisincomebyrunningbasketballcamps(andstilldoes)andinthebeginningasasocialworkerintheSeanMcDermottStreetarea–henowteachesinPortmarnockSecondaryschoolandcoachesbasketball. The80’sweretheglamouryearsinIrishbasketball.Thepeakseasonwasin1987.ThatyearJeromewasplayer/coachforKillesterwithbothKelvinTroyandMarioElie(latertowin3NBAtitlerings)ontheNationalCupwinningsquad. ThatsameyearJeromewastobeginanamazingjourney. Oneday,whilewalkinghome with his wife Lois and three boys, a woman named Sarah Ryan stopped andofferedtheWestbrooksaridehome.Theyaccepted.Theconversationandrelationshipthatfollowedchangedhisworldforever! Responding to Sarah’s invitation, the familybegan attending church at FBC (now TrinityChurch) where they built their relationship andunderstandingofGod. Through the highs and lows of life, Jeromereceives his balance through his faith and hisfamily. Jerome says, “Jesus gives me value,stability.He’smyexampletofollow.Heisthereformeandthatinturndrivesmetobethereforothersintheirtimeofneed.I’m in no way perfect. I have mademistakes and I need the Lord’s mercyaswellasHisgrace.” Today,Jerome isstudyingatDCUto get his Masters of Education inELearning and playing with theIntervarsityteam.
VOX:SPORTS is written by Daniel Tabb. Born in the United States, Daniel moved to Dublin in January 2002. He is the founder and director of “Sports Across Ireland”.
1st FAMILY OF IRISH BASKETBALL
PLAYING CAREER... COACHING CAREER…
1981-84Killester 1981 St.FintansinSutton1984-86Trim-teamlapsed (13AllIrelandleague&cup titles)1986-88Killesterasplayer/coach1988-89Dungannon 3straightleague&cuptitles w/sons1989-93Killester Michael,Isaac&Aaron1991-96 Irishpanel–26caps1993-95St.Vincents–wonleague,cup &playoffs1993 CoachHolyFaithgirls1994 Irelandwonsmallnationscup 1991HolyFaithinClontarf JeromenamedIOC19Player oftheYear.” restartedgirlsbasketball programme1995-00DublinBayVikings –ownedfranchise 5league&cuptitles2000 Killesterplayer/coach2001 Killester-WonLeague& Cupw/sonMichael w/daughterLeah20steams2007 Killester-Wonleaguew/son Isaac,5+yrsunbeatenstreak (100+matches)2007 EveningHeraldCoachofthe Year2008 Killester-WonCupw/son Isaac 2008 DCUintervarsityteam 2000NationalCoachofthe Year
22 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
WHAT IS FAIRTRADE? Developed in the 1980s, Fairtrade promotespartnershipsbetweendevelopingcountriesandthewesternworldwiththeaimofguaranteeingwork-ersafairwage.Fairtradehelpstoensureeconomicself-sufficiency, empowerment and safety for pro-ducersinthetwo-thirdsworld.
FAIRTRADE MARK CERTIFIED: ETHICAL GOODS IN IRELAND TheFAIRTRADECertificationMarkishowcon-sumers can tell that workers have benefited fromFairtrade standards. Its use on the packaging offood,drink,clothesandtoysguaranteesthatwork-ershavereceivedafairwageandthattherearede-cent health and safety standards in their place ofwork. Somegoodsthatdonothavethelogomaystillbeethicallytraded,suchasCreatedGifts(formerlyTearcraft).
FAIRTRADE AND THE IRISH The last two years have seen major growth forFairtrade in Ireland. Announcements from globalgiants like Starbucks (now using 100% Fairtradecoffee beans for all their espresso products) havebroughttheissueintothelimelight. According to the latest research, over 64% ofIrish consumers now have an awareness of theFairtradeMarkandwhatitmeans. InJuly2009,Cadbury’sDairyMilkchocolatebe-gancarryingtheFairtradeMark.Theiconicchoco-latebrand iscommittingtoethicalsourcingof its
cocoabeans.AccordingtothedirectorofFairtradeIreland, Peter Gaynor, the move sets a new stan-dard.“ManymorepeopleinIrelandwillbeabletohelp to improve the circumstances of small-scalecocoafarmersandtheirfamiliesinGhana.” Ireland now has 38 officially recognisedFairtradetownsandanother29arecurrentlyseek-ingFairtradestatus.BecomingaFairtradeTownisa shared achievement requiring a partnership be-tweenlocalgovernment,schools,businesses,com-munityorganisationsandconcernedindividuals.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS BUY FAIRTRADE? TearfundresearchconsultantHelenLanessays,“TheScripturesarefullofGodcallingHispeopletotreatotherswithdignity,justiceandlove,andthathasimplicationsforhowwedobusiness.” James (5:4) defends the rights of workers toa just wage: “Look! The wages you failed to paythe workmen who mowed your fields are cryingout against you. The cries of the harvesters havereachedtheearsoftheLordAlmighty.” Helen acknowledges, “While giving to charityis an important Christian response, buying fairlytraded products is a way of acknowledging a per-son'sdignityinwork.” Buying Fairtrade goods ensures that the prod-ucts we enjoy are not at the expense of someoneelse'sexploitation.TheBiblespeaksclearlyagainstthose who make profit through the exploitationofworkers.Godis“againstthosewhooppressthehiredworkersintheirwages,thewidowandtheor-phan”(Malachi3:5).
“helping to change the position of producers from a place of vulnerability to economic self-sufficiency, empowerment and safety, receiving the wage which they have worked for.”
Fairtrade – why bother?
‘Wedon’tforoneminutethinkthesolutiontoallproblemsinworldtradeisFairtrade.Whatwewanttocreateisasituationwhereitisnolongeracceptabletodonothing,whereeverycompany,andeveryindividual,hastodosomethingtomaketheworldfairer.’Harriet Lamb,Executive Director,FairtradeFoundation
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Useful Websites for more info:www.createdgifts.orgwww.tearfund.ie/get_involved(orcontactHelenon0852792498)www.fairtrade.ie
10 ways you can promote Fairtrade
1. HoldaChristmascraftstallinchurchtosell Fairtradeitems2. BuyFairtradeChristmasgifts3. Suggestthatyourchurch,school,collegeor workplaceswitchestoFairtradetea,coffeeand sugar4. SampledifferentFairtradeproductsatyour supermarket-theyarenotalwaysthemost expensiveproductsontheshelf5. Researchtofindoutwhereproductsare madeandfindoutcompanies'policiesonethical trading6. LobbylocalshopsandcaféstostockFairtrade goods7. Boycottbrandsthatdonotplaceanemphasison ethicaltrading8. HoldaFairtradetastingevening9. JoinwithotherstomakeyourtownaFairtrade town(ifnotalready)10.Writetolocalandnationalnewspaperstoraise awarenessoftheissue
Ignoranceisbliss,butwithsomuchinformationavailable online and in supermarkets, we have adutytodoourhomeworkandmakesurethatwhatwe are buying is not supporting injustice and op-pression. Twentyyearsago,noneofuscouldhave imag-inedtheenvironmentalandsocialchangesconsum-erscouldachievesimplybychangingtheirshoppinghabits.Ordinarypeoplecanmakeadifference!
ALWAYS READ THE LABELManyproductsclaimtobe“Fairtrade”butdonothavetheofficialFairtradeMark.Certainso-called“Fairtrade”itemssaythatwagesaregivenin‘localcontext’terms.Thisshouldsetalarmbellsringing.Ifwagesarepaidatarelocallevel,producerscouldbe receiving as little as a bonded labourer (slaveworker)downtheroad. It is importanttopaycloseattentiontothela-bellingongoodstomakesurethattheyhavemetthe strict standards outlined by companies likeFairtradeMarkIreland.
Roberta von Meding graduated in 2007 from IADT and now works as an Advertising Executive for a trade publication. She lives in Greystones with her husband Joey
Matthew Matoli,acoffeefarmerinTanzania,explainsthat,‘withoutourco-operativeandsellingtotheFairtrademarket,ourlifewouldhavebeenterrible.Fairtradegivesushopeandcourage.Weareabletoearnahigherwageandbetterprovideforourfamilies.’
Payhimhiswageseachdaybeforesunset,becauseheispoorandiscountingonit.OtherwisehemaycrytotheLordagainstyou,andyouwillbeguiltyofsin.Deut. 24 v 15 My top five...
Web Highlights from VOX readers
www.blanaid.com SetupbyIrishfashionbloggerBlanaidHennessy,thiswebsiteisfulloflovelypicturesofinteriors,outfitsandart.
www.highwaycommunity.comBrilliantpodcastsencouragingpracticalChristianity.
www.electricpicnic.comAsIwritethis,I’mpackingmywelliesforthisyear’sevent.It’snotjustamusicfestival;thereareplentyofforumstoflexyourdebating/socialactionmuscles,chillout,andcatchupwithfriendsyouhaven’tseensincelastyear.
www.emergentvillage.com InterestingpeoplehavinginterestingconversationsabouttheChristianfaith.
www.charitywater.org Onebillionpeopleontheplanetdon’thaveaccesstocleandrinkingwater.Ifindthisstatisticstaggering,especiallyasIlookoutmywindowatanotherdownpour.100%ofpublicdonationsraisedbythischaritydirectlyfundwaterprojects.
Alison Nulty is from Kilkenny but lives in Kerry, where she works as a journalist. She loves chocolate and hates mushrooms.
Send us your top five web sites with a few details about yourself ([email protected]). We’ll publish one top five in every VOX magazine and will make more available on our web site www.voxmagazine.ie
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 23
24 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
T The plight of the world’s poor hasreachedthetopoftheworld’sglobalpo-litical agenda. But this groundswell ofconcernoftenignoresthepositivepoten-tialofbusinesstohelpinthefight. I’m not suggesting that poverty willbesolvedbyentrepreneurshipalone.Toreallyprosper,anationalsoneedswhatsocialscientists tendtocall ‘socialcapi-tal'– the institutional, relational,moralandspiritualdimensionsoflife. The current economic crisis appearstoconfirmthewidespreadsuspicionthatthemarketistheleastlikelyinstrumenttobeaneffectivecarrierofvirtue. Theeconomiccrunchappearstostemfrom a deeper institutional, relational,moralandspiritualcrunch.Andatstakeisahabit,amindset,a‘virtue’that,hav-ingallfourofthesedimensions,isfoun-dationaltocapitalism–bywhichImean“thrift”. Capitalism is often considered goodforthebottomlinebutspirituallyempty.But enterprise is not only about goodsandservices.Ethicsandenterprisearen’tasmuchlikeoilandwaterasourcynicalmediatriestoconvinceus. Thrifthasspecificallytodowithsav-ing(fromwaste),inviewofthescriptur-al notion that God saves human beings
from the destructive waste of humanwaywardness.Itstimulatesthepreserva-tion of resources so that they can meethumanneeds–savingtheenvironment,forinstance,fromthedestructivewaste-fulness of carelessness and over-con-sumption. An ancient story teaches us moreabout thrift than can be learned frommany books. A wealthy man is goingawayonajourneyandleavesoneofhisservantswithfivetalents,anotherwithtwoandanotherwithone.Thefirsttwoservants put the money to work – they‘traded’ - while the third servant digs aholeandburies it.Whenthemasterre-turns, the first two servants give himbackdoublewhathegave thembut thethird servant has only the one that hewasgiven. Greed and miserliness underminethrift.Incontrast,thetwoservantswho'put their money to work' reflect a Godwhoinspirestheimagination,productiv-ityandrisk-takingthatcharacterisethethriftneededtoconvertthebarrennessofmoneyintofruitfulnessofcapital. In contrast, the lottery has becomealmost a symbol for such waywardnessintheuseofmoney,eventhoughitstillpresentsitselftopoordebtorsasameans
to future redemption. Decoupled fromhardwork,[thelottery]attachesrewardto chance and fate. Would-be habitualsavers and investors are made habitual[gamblers], content only with instantgratification. Opinion formers and policy makerswho are increasingly emphasizing theimportanceof‘happiness’couldperhapsconsider the development of nationallotteryticketoutletsasplaceswheresav-ingsticketscanalsobesoldwithadvertsusing a slogan like ‘every ticket wins’.Millions of consumers, currently bom-bardedwithgamblingandcreditoptions,wouldbeofferedarareopportunitytoin-vest. There are no easy answers to globalpoverty or to the current [economic]crisis. Thriftisachallengingvirtueandentrepreneurshipisnotasoftcareerop-tion.However,justasthrift-basedentre-preneurshipishelpingtoreduceabsolutepoverty in many countries around theworld,itoffersthebesthopeofbringingourrecessiontoanend.
To read or to hear the complete lecture visit www.cslewislecture.ie
CAN CAPITALISM BE HEALED Market Ethics and the Virtue of Thrift
Irishman C. S. Lewis became one of the 20th century's best-known writers on faith and social issues. Lewis believed Christianity should be a constant challenge to any society's easy answers or unquestioned assumptions. This annual lecture seeks to honour his memory by continuing the process of asking hard questions on major issues. On 28 September, the Evangelical Alliance Ireland hosted the C.S. Lewis Lecture in Dublin at The Institute of Bankers in Ireland. It was attended by academics, media
representatives, business and political leaders. Dr Peter Heslam is Director of Transforming Business, a research project at Cambridge University focused on enterprise solutions to poverty (www.transformingbusiness.net). His lecture explored the potential of business and entrepreneurship as agents of positive change. In this edition, VOX magazine brings you a brief summary of some key issues he raised:
SMART MOVE!
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VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 25
Where To with Lisbon?
In his compelling novel Nineteen Eighty-Four,written in 1948, George Orwell explored the con-sequences of absolute political control to their ter-rifying extreme. Big Brother was always watching;historywasbeingincessantlyrewrittentomeettheParty’sobjectives;putonefootwrongandyouwere‘vaporised’–fromallphotographs,records,memory. Thankfully, no system of government so far hasever been as petrifyingly totalitarian as Nineteen Eighty-Four, though Stalin’s Russia and Mao’s Chinacameclose.Ofgreatinterest,however,andperhapsevenmorerelevanttoday,isOrwell’sdepictionoftheglobalconfigurationofpower. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, the world is carved upbetweenthreeSuperStates.OceaniacomprisestheBritishIslesandtheAmericas,Eurasiastretcheseast-wardsfromwesterncontinentalEurope,andEastasiacoverstheOrient.OceaniaiscontinuallyatwarwitheitherEurasiaorEastasia,ostensiblyfordominionofAfricaandtheIndianOcean. By the time this ‘WorldWatch’ is published, weIrish will have decided whether or not to ratify theLisbonTreaty.Whatevertheoutcome,Ithinksooneror later it is historically inevitable that Lisbon willcome intoeffectandtheEuropeanUnionwillgaininconsolidation,unificationandstrength,internallyandexternally.No-oneknowswhatthiswillleadustoinfiveortenyears’time. TheUnitedStatesofAmericaisasuperstateexer-cisingpowerovertherestoftheworld.Chinaistherichest nation in sheer manpower, while India andBrazilareinimpressiveascendanceindustriallyandmilitarily.Now,withLisbon,areweinchingtowardsa United States of Europe, which, in population atleast,wouldbesignificantlygreaterthantheUSA? DrawRussiaintotheequation,andwemustwon-derwhetherwearewitnessingtheriseoffiveorsixsuperstates. Friction between them is unavoidable;warwoulddevastatetheearthasneverbefore. AllthisputsmeinmindofRevelation:theBeastfromtheearth,theBeastfromthesea,thedragon;themarkoftheBeastwithoutwhichyoucanneithersellnorbuy;thekingsandthemerchantswhotradeinthe‘bodiesandsoulsofmen’.Andwar:conflagra-tion,destruction,slaughter,terror. BigBrotherhasneverbecomeareality,butOrwellmayberightyetaboutSuperStates.Evenso,hisvi-sionoftheconflictbetweenthemisaSundaypicniccomparedtothatofJohninRevelation.
Mark Edmund Hutcheson is a poet and teacher.
a closer look at the big pictureWORLDWATCH
VOX
POP
TV PRESENTER, COMPOSER, SONGWRITER, VOICE COACH AND RECORD producer Ronán Johnston’s career has spanned more than two decades in the entertainment industry in Ireland and around the world. VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams caught up with Ronán at Ireland’s Christian music festival MAD 2009, where his band Emmaus was performing songs from its new album “Mountaintop”.
Inourhousetheeconomicdownturnhappenedsixmonthsearly.Ihadbeenworkingawaywith“You’re a Star”anddoing“Rock Rivals”.ThatfinishedlastFebruary.Itwasabitlikefallingoftheedgeofacliff,financially. Godsaidtome:Ronán,haveIeverletyoudown?Ifoundmyselfsittingdownbythepiano,playingsomesongseverymorning. IthinkIthoughtitwasjustamessageforme,butatafestivalintheUKatEaster,weplayedoneofthenewsongs,“Youhaveneverletmedown,Youhaveneverletmego,neverletmefallaway,alwayspursuedme…”Therewerepeopleweeping.Itisveryhardwhensomethingisdeeplypersonal. Itwasgreattobebackplayingwiththeguysagain. Werecordedthewholealbumatmyhome.Ourpreviousalbum,“Songs of Consolation”waslike an oil painting. This was like a dozen watercolours – it was done sofast!(“Mountaintop”isoutnowandavailablefromRonán'swebsite,www.ronanjohnston.com) Whatnow?Emmaustouredtheworld(Europe,USA)foryearsandyears.Ifeelveryopenaboutwhatmayhappennext.Ilikewhatwehavejustdone(atMAD)- it isnicetobeabletosingyoursongstopeople. Itwouldbegreattoknowthatthesesongshaveblessedpeople.
Ronán Johnston
United Marriage Encounter WeekendNov. 20-22, Kingston Hotel, Dun Laoghaire
"OurWeekend…wasfilledwithincrediblyunique ideasonhowtocommunicatelovinglywith eachother.Thisis…theutmostbestinvestment wehaveevermadeforourselves,our marriage!"(Feedbackfrompreviousweekend)
Contact Ray & Julie Murphy: [email protected]
www.unitedmarriage.org
26 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
VOX:REVIEWS
26 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
AsaChristian,reviewinganewTarantinofilmistough!WhatcanIsay?It’srated18forgoodreason-it’sTarantinoandit’saboutWorldWarII.It’svicious,violentandvulgar.It’salsoverygood. Thefilmisare-imaginingoftheendofWorldWarII.PittisLt.AldoRaines,wholeadsthetitularsquadofJewishsoldiersslaughteringNazisoldiers.WaltzisincredibleasCol.HansLanda,“TheJew-Hunter”,baskingintensionasheroundsupJewsinhidingaroundEurope. Lefttotheirowndevices,PittandWaltzwouldmakethisthestandardcomedy-gore.ThecharacterthattakesthefilmtoanotherlevelisShosannaDrefus(MélanieLaurent),whosefamily
fallvictimtotheJew-HunterbeforesheescapestoParis,wheresherunsacinema. AtthiscinematheirstoriescollideduringthepremiereofaNazipropagandafilmattendedbyNazitopbrass.AsWaltzrunssecurity,RainesseestheopportunitytoendthewarandDreyfusgetsherchanceatvengeance. Here’smystruggle.I’mprettysurethatasaChristian,Iwasn’tsupposedtolikethisfilm...butIdid.Therearenoobviousmorallessonstobelearned...it’sjustafascinatingimaginingofhowthingscouldhavebeendifferent,ofwhatitwouldbelikeasaJewtogofrombeingavictimtobecomingvengeancepersonified.
Thereissomethingsinfullycatharticaboutwatchingsomeonegettheirownback.Andyet,asyouareimmersedinthetension,fearandviolence,afewthingsbecomeclear.Hatredcan’tbecontrolled;itwillalwaysconsumeyou.Angerdoesn’tdissipateafteryougetyourrevenge. Ifoundmyselfcaptivatedthroughout...butaswithalldaydreamsofreprisalandretribution,you’retheonewhoendsupfeelinglessavengedandmoreempty.Thisisnotforthefaintofheartoreasilyoffended.
Scott Evans runs Elemental, a diocesan youth initiative in Cashel, Ossary and Ferns. He bases himself in Kilkenny.
Film: Inglourious BasterdsRating: 18, Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Melanie Laurent, Eli Roth
“Year Of Grace”Robin Mark
(Integrity Music, 2009)
Belfast’sRobinMarkoccupiesauniqueposition.He’smanagedtosecureaslotinthemarketplacewithouttotallyblendingin.Youwon’tfindsmoothwestcoastharmoniesorlushstringarrangementsonthisnewselection.Butyou’llfindhauntingwhistles,catchytunesandfull-bodiedvocals. Hislatestliverecording,Year Of Grace, upholdstheRobinMarktradition.Sohis‘regulars’won’tbedisappointed–andnewcomersmaygethooked.StilldisplayingthattrademarkCelticsound,thealbumisintendedasacelebrationofthe150thanniversaryoftheUlsterRevival,whichtransformedNorthernIrelandin1859. Strangely,thissetofnewmaterialwasrecordedinNewYork–ratherthanatanepicentreoftheoldawakeningbackhome.PerhapsAmerica’ssizeableIrishcommunitywillhearthedistantechoofhistory.Thevisitationof1859certainlyleftitsmarkontheether.IvisitedacoupleofthehistoricsitesinCountyAntrimrecently.Somethingstilllingersintheatmosphere. Robinhelpsustotastesomethingofthatancientyearningthroughhiscompositions,whicharemainlybolddeclarationsofbiblicaltruth.Thereareno‘storysongs’,whichthemanisparticularlygoodatwriting–andofwhichthereareplentyonpastrecordings.Thereisacaptivatingprayertowardstheend,calledRend The Heavens.Icouldseethatcatchingonallovertheplace. He’sanestablishedmastercraftsmanofthatstrangephenomenonwecall‘worshipmusic’.YethechoosestowritewithyoungercomposerslikeVickyBeechingonthepopanthem-styleOne DayandJohnnyParksontheRogerMcGuinn-soundingThere Is None Like You.Thecollaborationsworked.Thosetracksareamongthestrongesthere.Agreatresourceforchurchmusicians.
Clive Price is an award-winning writer serving newspapers and magazines in Ireland, the UK and USA. Clive will lead the Write Away retreat for emerging and existing writers at Gweedore, November 6 – 9, 2009 (www.gweedorecourthotel.com).
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 27
Are you bursting to tell people about a new book, album or movie? The VOX team is always on the lookout for people willing to pen reviews. If you’re interested, get in touch today! [email protected]
VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 27
Embracing Grace: a gospel for all of usby Scot McKnight
SPCK: London, 2007
Thisisgemofabook.EmbracingGraceisanengagingexplorationofwhatthegospelis.Thisisacrucialquestionastheanswerwillsignificantlyshapeourlivesandourchurches.Whatfollowsisaflavourofthebook;besttodigestthewholemealyourself. Thegospel,McKnightproposes,isbestunderstoodasastory.ItbeginswiththetriuneGod,whohimselfisan‘embrace’ofthreepersonsinaneternaldynamicrelationshipofmutuallove.ItisGod’snaturetocreateandtosharehisimagewithus(whatMcKnight,transliteratingfromtheGreek,callsEikon).BearingGod’simage,wearenotindividualsbutEikons,createdforcommunitywithGodandwithoneanother.Butweare‘crackedEikons’. God’sagendaistohealthebrokenimageandrenewcreation.GoddoesthisthroughthestoryofIsrael,whichfindsitsfulfilmentinthechurch–theNewTestamentcommunityoftheKingdomofGod.ItisthroughJesus’deathandresurrectionthatthisnewcommunityisformed.WhileEasterisatthecentreofthegospelstory,itisnotanendinitself. ThisnewcommunityisempoweredbytheSpirittoloveGodandtoloveothers.Thisisthepurposeofthe‘missionalgospel’,“…inwhichcrackedEikonsarerestoredthroughthecrossandresurrectionandPentecosttounionwithGodandcommunionwithothersforthegoodoftheworld.” This‘biggospel’holdsthewholeBiblestorytogether.Itplaceseachbeliever’sexperienceofGod’sgracewithinthebiggerstoryofGod’spurposeforallcreationandcallseachChristiantomission.That’sgoodnewstogetexcitedaboutandtoshare!
P.S.AnyonefamiliarwithScotMcKnight’sinfluentialblogJesusCreed(www.blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed)willknowthatheisahighlycreativewriterwithagiftofbringingtheologytolife.ScotiscomingtoDublininearlyJune2010tospeakatIBI’sSummerInstitute.Moredetailstofollowatwww.ibi.ie
Patrick Mitchel is Director of Studies and lectures in theology at the Irish Bible Institute.
28 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
C Choice and variety are strong sellingpoints-askanyshopper.Theattractionofthebiggershop,andthecolourfulcata-logue,isintheamountofchoicetheyof-fer us. We walk past the shop that onlycarriesonetypeorbrandofitem. Yetintheareaofourfaithandbeliefswequicklysettleforonewayofexpress-ingwhatitistobeabeliever.Maybewefeel safe with descriptions like ‘saved’or ‘bornagain’oreventhemoreneutral‘beingafollower’,‘abeliever’or‘havingafulfillingrelationship’.Nowonderpeoplesoonwalkpastus;nowondertheysoonstoplisteningtowhatwewanttosay. This should not be, because we havein the Bible a wealth of ways to expressthe privilege and blessings of being aChristian.TheauthorsofScriptureusedanabundanceofrichandvariedideastoconveythegreatnessandwonderoftheirnewlife. Theyspokeofbeing: InChrist;raisedwithChrist,citizensofheaven,orGod’sown. They knew they had passed fromdeathto life; theyhadbeenwashedandrenewed. They described themselves asliving stones, heirs and children of Godand a new creation. They had realizedthatGodhadsaid“Yes”totheminChrist.Andsoon.... There are dozens of pictures de-scribingournewstanding.Youcoulddo worse that note them down foryourself as you read the Scriptures,perhaps starting with all the descrip-tionsgiveninEphesianschapter1.
“Misunderstandings often occur merely because two
believers are using different… biblical pictures to describe
the same reality.”
Ifwemakeanefforttodiscoverwhatwehave,andare,morefully,itwillenrichourownfaithasweexploreourprivileges
and responsibilities. It will also help co-operation with other believers, becauseavoidable misunderstandings often oc-curmerelybecausetwobelieversareus-ing different, and equally valid, biblicalpicturestodescribethesamerealityandexperience. Also, getting back to the shoppinganalogy,ourwitnesswillbemoreattrac-tive.Wewillbeusingalltherichandvar-iedresourcesgiventousshareourmes-sagewithothers.Weshouldrealise thatpeople, being diverse in temperamentandinterests,willresponddifferentlytoideasorexplanations.Ifonewayoftell-ing our story doesn’t work, try another.Weareprovidedwithplentytouse.LikePaul,weshouldbeallthingstopeopleinordertowinsome. Acarpenterwatchedashisapprentice,makingshort,shaky,erraticstrokes,triedtosawapieceofwood. Takingthesaw,thecarpentersooncutthroughthewoodwithlong,smooth,confidentstrokes. Turning to the apprentice, he said,“Youboughtallof thesaw, souseallofit”. We have a storehouse laden withtruthinallitsshapes,sizesandcolours.Weshouldusealloftheminthetaskbe-foreus.
Warren Nelson, originally from Drogheda, Co. Louth, worked in the linen industry until he took up the challenge to communicate the good news. He now enjoys
active retirement and DIY near Tullamore.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION…DoyouthinkChristianshavebecomelimitedorlazyinthewaytheydescribeandexpresstheirfaith?HowdoesChristianjargonhinderourmessage?Doyoubelievethatthewordsandimagesweusecancausemisunderstandingsbetweenbelievers?Howdowedealwiththischallenge?Shareyourviews,commentsandquestions.Logintowww.voxmagazine.ieandclickonThe Conversation.
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If you could change one thing in Ireland, what would you change?
I'd stamp out corruption
I'd create a more caring society
I'd eliminate hospital waiting lists
I'd clean up our streets and eliminate litter
I'd improve public transport
If you could change one thing about your life what would you change?
My focus - I want to live a more meaningful life
Stop wasting time - I want to live life to the max
My health
My job
My weight
My attitude - I want to be more positive
People from across Ireland participated in our latest VOX POP survey.
Eachsymbolrepresents5%
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VOX | Oct - Dec 2009 | 29
VOX:ADS&EVENTSEvents Calendar
What’s happening, where and when?
ClassifiedsIrish Christian Writers’ Fellowship. Literary Evening.On Friday 20th November 2009. 7.30pm to 9pm. Poetry Song Plus At The Carmelite Centre, White Friars’ St. Dublin 8.(Next to Carmelite Church) Admission Free.
VOX Researcher NeededWe are seeking a volunteer data researcher on a project basis, avg. 3 hrs / week. No qualifications needed, just a keen eye for detail. Contact [email protected]
Miles Musicwww.milesmusic.ie Piano lessons and music theory lessons in your home or ours (Dublin area) Wedding music, exam accompaniment, organ recitals (All areas) Check out our website or email us at [email protected]
Got a Classified? It costs just €1 per word! Send your text to the address on page 2 or [email protected] Next deadline is 4 December.
OCTOBEREmerging Writers Weekend Retreat30October-2ndNovemberGweedoreCourtHotel,Co.DonegalJust€343coverstuition,foodandaccommodation.Phone+353749532900
Relationship and Lifestyle SeminarSaturday,17OctoberNewland’sCross,Dublinwww.oasisoflove.ie
NOVEMBERBuilding Blocks Children’s Ministry ConferenceSaturday,14NovemberAllHallowsCollege,Drumcondra,DublinAmustforchildren’sleaders.www.buildingblocks.ie
United Marriage Encounter Weekend20-22NovemberKingstonHotel,DunLaoghaire€80registration.Ph.Ray&JulieMurphy01-2833189www.unitedmarriage.org
DECEMBERIreland in Christmas PraiseFriday,11December,7:45pmUlsterHall,BelfastFeaturingNewIrishChoir&Orchestrawww.waterfront.co.uk+442890334455
HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED HERE! See www.voxmagazine.ie for details.
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30 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
IPrivatising Music!
“IhaveanIDEA,”sayshe. “Tellme,”saysI. “I’mgoingtostartacampaigntoprivatisemusic,”sayshe. “Nochance,”saysI. “I’mnotafanandit’severywherethesedays,”sayshe.“Youcan’tescapeit.ButifIhavemyway,we’llchangeallthat.” “Butwhy?”saysI. “Surelyyoucansee,”sayshe.“Musicstimulatesfanaticism,encouragesallkindsofweirdbehaviour.Itstopspeoplefromthinkingclearly,stirsupemotionsandpassions. “Musicissubjective.There’snothingsolidaboutit,nothingmeasurable.Youcan’tanalyseit.It’snotreal.Iknowyoucanmeasuresoundscientifically.Butit’snotthesoundthatpeoplevalue;it’sthoseabstractthingslikemelody,rhythm,poetry,sentiment.Thesearejustfigmentsofoveractiveimaginations.” “Sowhat’stheplan?”saysI. “Ohsimple,”sayshe.“Ithasfiveparts.” “IknowitwilltakeawhilebutIthinkitcanwork.Partone:Ifindafewpeoplelikeme.Theywillthinkthatmusicisanundesirableforceinoursociety.We’dbebetteroffwithoutitaltogether.Butsincethere’snochanceofthat,we’lldothenextbestthing–we’llmakeitaprivateaffair. “Ineedinfluentialpeopleinvarioussectionsofsociety.Wewillstarttalkingabouthowmusicisaverypersonalthingsoitwouldbebetterkeptforprivateplaces.Wewon’tcriticisemusic–justpointouthowpeoplehavedifferenttastesinmusic,differentideasaboutwhatisgoodandwhatisnot.It’sallaboutpreference.Sowithsuchasubjectiveforceit’sbettertoconfineittocertainareasandnothaveitfreelyavailable." “Ok,”saysI.“Iunderstandpartone–butIstilldon’tseeitworking.” “Parttwo,”sayshe,“istoworkwiththemusicians,thesongwriters,thesingers.Weconvincethemthattheirmusicwouldbebetteroffplayedtotherealfans,thepeoplewhobelieveinthem.Whymakeitaccessibletocriticsandcynicswhenyoucankeepitforthosewhoreallylovedit?
“Thenweconvincethemthattheirmusicalworkshouldfocuson...music.Wegetthemtostopwritingsongsaboutrealthingslikelove,politics,tragedies,triumphs,cheatingloversandsecondchances.Insteadwepersuadethemonlytowritesongsaboutmusic–howgooditis,valuable,interestingandsoon.Musicwouldbegintoturninonitself.Eventuallymusicandlifewillbeseparated.Theywillbetwodifferentandunrelatedcategories,onerealandoneimaginary.” “Youhavemeworried,”saysI.“What’snext?” “Third,”sayshe,“weremovemusicfromtheacademicworld.Insteadofstudyingmusicitself,peoplewillonlybeabletostudyaboutmusic,thehistoryofmusic,thedifferentmusictraditions.Inpubliccollegesyouwouldbeabletostudyanythingtodowithmusicexceptmusicitself.Ifyouwanttostudymusicitselfyou’llhavetogotoaprivatecollege,aplacesetupbyenthusiastsforonetypeofmusic. “Fourth,wewouldreducemusicinthemedia.Youcan’tremoveitaltogetherbutitshouldbeeasyenoughtoconfineittocertainnarrowareas.Apapermighthaveaweeklycolumncalled“Thinkingmusically”.Radioortelevisionprogrammesonmusicwillbeatunusualhours.Theywouldbequaint,etherealorevenbizarre–anythingbutnormal. “Intimepartfivewillcomeintoplay.Itwillbecomeoffensivetoplaymusicinpublic.Peoplewhodoitwillbeseenasintolerantandinsensitive,imposingtheirmusicaltastesonothers.Peoplewillonlydiscussmusicinofficial“musicgatherings”orwhilevisitingaprofessionalmusician.Playingmusicwillbeconfinedtoprivateplacesorspeciallybuilthalls.Nooneelsewillevergonearthem. “Whatdoyouthink?”sayshe.“Willitwork?” “Itwill,”saysI.“Italreadyhas.”
Sean Mullan has been working in church leadership for many years. He is developing a new project in Dublin City Centre called "Third Space"
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Festivals, Camps, Conferences, Courses...
32 | VOX | Oct - Dec 2009
