I spent the weekend away at an Anabaptist conference. I never knew much about the Anabaptist’s till this conference. Along with a whole pile of other things they are real believers in the idea of a non violent God. The movement started during a European war and many who were part of the movement were killed because they refused to take up weapons of destruction. They acknowledge there is a lot in the Bible that suggests God is violent but their very wise argument against this notion is the fact that we are all immersed in conventional wisdom and sometimes the writers of the Bible attributed ideas about what Empire is on to God. Does that make sense? It makes sense to me but that may be because I sat through a sermon on the whole notion.
Urban Seed did a bit of a presentation thing at the conference, along with other groups who are exploring what community and mission look like in the Australian context. I bumped into this girl there called Narelle who I did the Waiters Union Course with about 8 years ago. (mum do you remember her?) Narelle and I were pen pals for about 6 months after the course finished. She has become a Sister (as in a nun). When she told me I tried to look normal but she said to me “why do you look so surprised?” I didn’t mean to look so surprised but it is just not often a lifestyle young people take on these days. I don’t think I could handle being a sister but she says she gets a lot out of it. She gave me her address. We are going to be pen pals again. I am looking forward to that.
