Today

I took this picture a few years ago. The light hitting the thief on the cross is natural. Story here.

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Multi-site churches

“Setting up movie theaters to project the graven image of rock-star celebrity pastors across the United States has some long-term implications.” Ed Stetzer, on video, this week in Florida. Great quote. I tend to agree with Ed. I was at this conference in Florida 2 years ago and had the same concerns.

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Lisbon: Denny and Maureen Hurst

Lisbon is really exciting. So much happening here. Lisbon, like Casey’s mom, has got it going on! We had a great dinner last night with Denny and Maureen Hurst (left) and some Germans who were flying around in helicopters all day, taking photos of airports, and members of the Triplet band who were practicing somewhere…

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Leaving Mount of Oaks

We head off today for Lisbon, Portugal. Its been a great time here at Mount of Oaks, living off-grid and meeting new friends. Barbara cooked us a traditional fish dinner last night. More news reporters came yesterday and stayed the whole day. There has been a lot of attention recently from the press which is…

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Song of Solomon in the blogs

The Song of Solomon seems to be the most blogged about book of the Bible over the past few days. John MacArthur, in the Rape of Solomon’s Song is critical of Mark Driscoll’s crassness and explicitness in his teaching series. I haven’t heard Mark’s series but I did hear a few things. In 1992 I…

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Controversial Product Names

How do I follow on from the previous post on PMS Coffee? Here are some more memorable product names that have crossed my attention. We have just used a product in the UK to attach the insulation onto the side of our truck which came highly recommended by everyone. Its called Sticks Like Sh*t and…

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Twitter moment

Big moment for Twitter: Ashton Kutcher beats CNN to become the first Twitter millionaire, having over a million followers. Rumors are that Google might announce a Twitter acquisition tomorrow. More Google eyes into my life – that makes me nervous and it makes me glad I removed my Google ads from this blog. I read…

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The Good News Blog Series

Another co-ordinated blogging venture, this time with international voices giving “The Good News” as they see it. Sivin Kit from Malaysia blogs today. I read Brad Sargent yesterday. Track the series through JR Woodward’s blog, RSS or Twitter.

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Emerging Church Panel Discussion

A podcast worth listening to: Emerging Church Panel discussion from a publishing perspective at the Christian Book Expo in Dallas a week or so ago. Or watch the video here. I will avoid giving my usual comments that authors are not necessarily leaders and much of the emerging church is held hostage by the American…

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Monastery or Seminary?

“The rise of urban monasteries and abbeys will add a much-needed residential element to education. Ministerial training will be reconnected to gardening, hospitality, cooking and entrepreneurship. Associations of monasteries and seminaries will form “trails” open to student-pilgrims.” Andrew Jones, Christian Century, 2006 An article I wrote for Christian Century in 2006 has surfaced online. Good!…

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Life is the slow lane in Portugal

The donkey’s name is Nono. We are still at Mount of Oaks community in Póvoa de Atalaia, Portugal. Its actually quite nice to slow down a little. I am getting some reading and study done – even writing a paper on new media. I must mention our arrival: We actually got our huge Overlander stuck…

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Portugal – Mount of Oaks

We have arrived at a new monastic Christian Community in Portugal called Mount of Oaks. Its completely off-grid which is refreshing but I miss my running water and electricity. Its been a good few days hanging with people from Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, England, NZ (yeah . . another Kiwi!) and of course Portugal. Ton…

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In Spain

After a week finding rest in parking lots across France, and going without electricity for a whole week, the Jones clan hit the beaches of Spain for a day. We were here in Barcelona 5 years ago when our group came together to walk the Camino de Santiago. Off again this afternoon, traveling south. Do…

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It’s Friday, but Sunday’s a-Comin’!

It might be one of the most famous Easter sermons of our generation. I first heard it in the mid-80’s on a mission ship called the MV Logos. This spitting preacher named Tony Campolo was working himself into a frenzy in imitating a black Pentecostal preacher. We took it all onboard [literally] and we were…

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Christianity’s Dangerous Idea, by Alister McGrath

I am mostly finished with Christianity’s Dangerous Idea by Alister McGrath, but not done yet. Its an enjoyable read about Protestantism – its origins and distinctives, in particular the dangerous idea that anyone can read and understand the Bible for themselves. Yesterday I was reading it in a park in France when some guys invited…

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In Chateauroux, France

Sorry for blipping off the screen. We had some engine problems (nothing serious) and have been in a town called Chateauroux for 3 days. Still waiting on parts for the truck. We are staying in a park next to a public pool and slides so the kids are happy. Its been a good time. France…

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Off to France

Its been a whirlwind week. Cooking for 20 a few days ago at our campsite and 17 the day before. I met with dozens of people during the week all doing fantastic things having to do with drug rehab and street ministry and fair trade (hi Greg) and yesterday in Bristol we had dinner with…

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