Evangelism

Red Letter Christians » A Desperate Need for Imagination

/ Dennis A. Gray / Leave a comment

Shane Claiborne takes an intriguing slant on Romans 12 and the subject of creativity, innovation and the renewing of our minds in Christ. It is well worth the read.  My favorite quote:

“For too long the Church has promised the world life after death, while a dying world has been asking, “But is there life before death?” I am convinced the Kingdom of God is not just about going up when we die, but about bringing God’s dream down to earth.”

Check it out at Tony Campolo’s ‘Red Letter Christians’…

Red Letter Christians » A Desperate Need for Imagination.

Shalom…

Starting Over.. over New Years

/ Dennis A. Gray / Leave a comment

It’s been a long time since I have posted here. I’m not sure exactly why I stopped posting, but I imagine it had a lot to do with the desire to do so fading into the background. So be it. My father often said there was no sense doing something if the joy has gone out of it for you.

But I have been thinking lately that I might start blogging again, but I think I’ll stick with just the one blog. I suspect part of my problem was trying to keep up with keeping three blogs going and doing all the other things I enjoy as well. Something had to give, or everything would suffer.

So I’ve decided just to post to this blog and this blog alone. I’ll likely copy it to my Multiply site. It will encompass a lot of the things I blogged about before only this time all in one blog. Sometimes it will be about the Bible and faith, sometimes about church history, sometimes about theatre or cycling all the various things that go into making me who I am. In short it will live up to it’s name – Myriad Shades of Gray… Dennis Gray.

I hope you don’t mind coming along for the ride…

So where to begin? How about a video? Some of you may not recognize or know of Penn Fraser Jillette, if not you can read about him here.

Jillette poses a question in this piece that really stuck with me when I heard it.

“How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much to you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?”

I have often heard a variety of preachers encourage me to spend more of my time witnessing to others about Jesus. I have been told I should do it out of compassion for the deluded, because God has commanded it, because I won’t get any heavenly brownie points called crowns if I don’t, and of course I have been told I should do it out of love for the lost.

And while all of them have had varying degrees of effectiveness for varying lengths of time; none have struck me as this strait-forward, in-your-face question from a non-believer. I don’t usually make New Years resolutions, but I’m downloading this video and watching it over and over until the point sinks in.

If you haven’t done so, take the time to watch the video. Share it with your friends, both Christian and non-Christian. And while I do pray that all of you will have a safe, happy and blessed by God abundantly New Year; I also hope that this question stays foremost in your consciousness for each of the next 365 days.

Shalom.

The Missing (Piece) Peace

/ Dennis A. Gray / Leave a comment

Every year I find myself taking on at least one major theatrical effort. For many years it was either with road companies or in church groups, but the last two years I find myself working in community theatre. Last year, as some of you may remember, I was priveledged to work with some great people on a production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Saleman.” This year I find myself doing soundscape design once again on a new production called “The Missing Piece Peace.”

Written by Deborah Briggs and Alan Garrett “The Missing Piece Peace” is a Christmas production with a difference. I can’t go into a lot of detail without spoiling the experience, but trust me this is not your parent’s Sunday School Christmas play.Taking place in different dimensions and different time zones, it chronicles one man’s struggle to make sense of it all. I’ll leave it at that. The play features a great cast under the direction of Deborah Briggs; and Alan Garrett as Musical Director adds his own touch to the proceedings with a live 7-voice chorus accompanied by a five-piece ensemble. All in all it promises to be a wonderful dramatic and musical experience.

But if that isn’t enough, there’s an even more compelling reason to take in “The Missing Piece Peace” this holiday season. All of the proceeds from the ticket sales will be going to assist iProjects.ca in funding the building of an orphange in Peru. The land for the project has already been acquired and they are now looking to build the needed buildings.

iProjects.ca (Isaiah Projects) is a Christ centered charitable organization, working in partnership with local leaders in third world countries to help fund infrastructural development projects that will significantly impact the lives of the local people. Projects are selected on the basis of how they will offer hope and improve the quality of life for individuals with a bias towards helping the young and most needy in society. Iprojects funds the construction of schools, orphanages, youth centres and other projects which empower youth to become leaders in their own communities therefore enabling them to have a positive influence in the area where they live.

In addition, we are also asking patrons to bring Canadian Tire money and/or pop cans to be donated to Habitat for Humanity to help them in their efforts.

So if you are going to be in the Guelph area this holiday season I would ask you to contribute to two great causes and enjoy a great show by attending “The Missing Piece Peace.” Performances are being presented at Guelph Little Theatre, on the following dates:

Saturday, December 15, 2007 @ 2pm & 8pm

Sunday, December 16, 2007 @ 2pm

Thursday, December 20, 2007 @ 8pm

Friday, December 21, 2007 @ 8pm

Saturday, December 22, 2007 @ 2pm & 8pm

 

All seats are $17 and available through the Guelph Little Theatre box office by calling 519-821-0270 or through their website at www.guelphlittletheatre.com

Thanks everyone… and see you at the show!!

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