Does it need to be Internet versus Traditional Church?

Is there such a thing as Traditional Church, probably not - but mention Internet Church and folk jump to defend their perception of church as it should be done, a more 'traditional' idea.
Some say quality of church is more meaningfull if we are present with each other physically, I think that physical is an observance only of the outward body. We can equally display our inward selves, emotions, scars, love, delight, faith etc on as offline.
In seeking out and reading this blog or any other online blog or article you are entertaining the discussion as real.

But what about eliminating physical presence, being able to touch or smell people around you? Does online community take away a vital element?
Would a priest not give communion to a dying person in issolation whom he could not touch? Would he not consider giving it remotely?
Touch and smell are just two of our senses which feed our reactions to what's around us. Removing them, you see this in blind or deaf folk, will often heighten use of other avaiable senses - as also loss of a limb will often heighten useof other limbs.

I certainly perceive online church to be as 'real' as offline, when assembling in online church I am assembling as much with my friends as when I move my body from my house to a church building. In some ways more so, because I can join in with all the conversation and fellowship, not just that heard by and spoken to those close around me. The feeling of being 'gathered' with people worldwide is awesome, in the same way as sharing a meal with someone the other side of the world via Skype. I will sit down in the UK to eat breakfast in front of my camera and microphone whilst my freinds in Japan eat supper. Our sharing is very real, I hear about their day and their news - they hear about my yesterday.

We may use the journey from home to church preparing ourselves spiritually and mentally for worship. In the case of going to church through your laptop, puter, tablet... praparation can equally so be done on the way home from work, walking in the park, sitting in the armchair, reading the bible, praying... Surely it is how we approach God, unseen but ever present, than the physical journey, though of course it can be equally important we have a hook on which to hang our preparation.  If people are not going to prepare themselves before worship, they can be equally unprepared however they decide to worship.
If we believe in an omni-present God, everywhere, he will surely be with us where we individually go online as when we gather in a church building.

Maybe we will be give less thought to our presentation, clothing, if we access church online. Pyjamas? Dress down days?The mindset of 'dressing up' for church has been crumbling for longer than the possibility of online worship. In some churches folk still dress in their Sunday Best - which I think is brilliant. Others find T'Shirt and Jeans equally acceptable. What is to stop though, people going online dressed up or down? There are times when I stay in all day, but dress in  collar and tie, honouring some special memory; likewise I may dress up to worship and recieve communion - or not...
But surely it is how I present my heart to God, not how I dress the Lion as a Lamb, or the Lion as a Lion...

Do we need to be physically present with other people to worship with others? Morning Worship and Songs of Praise have been a great place of worship for decades on the BBC.
Is peer pressure of those physically with us really important? Is it not peer pressure that gets us into trouble in the first place, acting as we perceive others think we should act, presenting ourselves to look perfect, rather than the grubby urchins we are, cleansed only in Gods grace.

In an online community you can hide your persona, many people try. But you can only do it for so long, after a while people see the more honest and grubby you.
Exactly the same can be said for an offline community.
But in either place, it is impossible to hide from God, he sees through our disguises.

For me online church holds equal importance as offline, to me they are BOTH important.
I so look forward to being able to share Communion with an online community as much as I look forward to meals with my friends in Japan, or Communion with fellow believers in my or any other church I may physically be in.

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I have been involved with two online churches over the years, as well as going to local bricks and mortar based churches at the same time.

An eclectic crowd gathered for our Christian Writers group this week. I dug out my book and a pencil as Tom spoke, after a while he read us a chapter from his book - an amazing work in progress. My pencil started moving, I wondered how what I was drawing was inspired by what was going on in that room. We seemed to be drawing nourishment and learning through our faith roots together.

Sketch finnished I headed the writing side "Rooted in Faith", but had to stop at that point as we moved on.
I thought I had an idea of words mapped out in my head, but revisitting the page today other words poured out. Those words need reworking, as writers we are continually changing. But I think I understand now just a little of what God was prompting.

I imagined a plastic flower, designed for purpose of looking beautiful.
Sometimes they are made so well, you maybe poke and prod, 'Is it real? Is it not? I thought of a potters passion, or that of an athlete, digging deep into their hearts to produce what is best.

I can learn with my head all the facts on how to make a pot or run a race, and maybe succeed passably at either. But unless I have passion and dedication rooted in my heart and soul for potting I will not throw a masterpiece.

The plastic flower can only give an impression of being alive, a real plant has roots drawing up goodness from the ground.

It is easy to slip into a mechanical faith routine, led by the head and putting on a good display. But it's not being good at something, it is doing it for the right reason.

1 Corrinthians 9:24a Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Our race is not against anyone else, each one of us a solo runner.

I guess this makes me think, because sometimes I ponder the difference between

• 'doing' an act of kindness because it's the way I'm ROUTED through teaching. An action to produce a result.
• or because that's the way my heart is ROOTED in Jesus. A natural responce gaining a result.

In a worldly view, both are winners.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Multilingual Bus

Sitting on the top deck of the bus tonight was a definite multi-cultural experience. Not a seat to spare and langauges from all 5 continents floating around. I was thinking how amazing it would be if I could hear and understand each conversation!

Made me think of an inverse biblical narative, the Holy Spirit enabling disciples to talk in the tounges of a multilingual crowd, each hearing in their own tounge. And then for Peter to stand and speak, each person able to understand.
Read the story in Acts Chapter 2, a book making up part of the Bible.

Father God, you are awesome. An awesome God indeed.

Candles & Prayer

I have often enjoy the presence of candles in prayer, along the tunnels of time people have so often associated one with another.

What is it that gives the unique association in our minds between the two?

If people ask me why I use candles when I pray I tell them it is because I enjoy candles (in fact, I enjoy a roaring camprire too, or the gentle embers later on...)

We popped into Chester Cathedral this week and enjoyed the electronic guided tour which was very interesting, but I also found it detracted from strolling round the Cathedral together.

As in many churches there was a place set aside for you to light candles representing prayers in your heart. Alongside was this contemplative note...