Headlines today: “Adobe evangelist tells Apple: ‘Go screw yourself’” I was thinking, maybe the church should ask the business world to give back some of our words because its pretty obvious they dont know the meaning behind the word “evangelist.” Or maybe the Adobe evangelist was just having a bad day. Wikipedia: The word evangelist…
Read MoreWhites Only 6: The Future
Taken from “Is the ‘Emerging Church’ for Whites Only?” [ I left a big chunk of the article out here but they interview some Emergent Village folk – worth reading] “If the white male locus of Emergent is truly passé, then Emergent has the opportunity to become a part of the larger stream of the…
Read MoreWhites Only 5: Middle Class Suburbanites
Taken from “Is the ‘Emerging Church’ for Whites Only?” “Another example of the difficulty in understanding and using the term “emerging church” is found in a blog entry from December 2009. The blogger states that “history will most likely mark 2009 as the point of transition and maturation for the emerging church movement.” The “emerging…
Read MoreWhites Only 4: Emerging Obituary
Taken from “Is the ‘Emerging Church’ for Whites Only?” “Further complicating the confusion is the recent notion among some in the West that the emerging church as a whole has died. For example, in January 2010, one blogger wrote an obituary for the emerging church. The obituary characterized the emerging church as having made “many…
Read MoreWhites Only 3: Missing the Big Picture
First listen to the stories of the writers here and here. Then read some more of “Is the ‘Emerging Church’ for Whites Only?” Missing the Big Picture Both of us, in our own cultural contexts, began to recognize that what was being presented as the future of Christianity was only a small sliver of larger…
Read MoreWhites Only 2: Listening to More Criticism
Story from Jason Mach [Jason Mach} “When Professor Rah was writing The Next Evangelicalism, he asked me (Jason) to visit a number of Web sites for emerging churches. I discovered that the large majority of emerging church leaders were white 20- to 30-year-olds. Photos showed people in trendy clothing, sporting cool hairstyles and eyewear. Some…
Read MoreWhites Only 1: Listening to the criticism
Sojo Mag published an article today that you probably heard was a’comin’. You can buy it here. The article is called “Is the ‘Emerging Church’ for Whites Only?” Brilliant graphic, btw, and something that was intended to be a little funny and not too serious – so dont any of you white people take offense.…
Read MoreSouthwestern on Emerging Church
Listening to a recent chapel series at Southwestern Seminary where they tackle emerging church. The Grindstone – Ministry and Culture: a Discussion on the Emerging Church (Part 1) [Listen] (Part 2) [Listen] The Grindstone – Christianity and Culture: emerging, emergent, or what? (Part 1) [Listen] (Part 2) [Listen] My notes. Good to see them tackle this subject. Contextualization is…
Read MoreWhat your youth pastor needs to hear (from iMonk) but does not want to see (TSK)
What your youth pastor needs to hear (but is too afraid to ask so iMonk Michael Spencer did it). Recommended by Greg from Mexico as his favourite iMonk post. And, my post: What your youth pastor does not want to see. My thoughts on tongue splitting here.
Read MoreAn Episcopal on Cooking, Parties and Spirituality
While in London a few weeks ago, I read a fantastic little book on food and spirituality by Father Robert Farrar Capon called The Supper of the Lamb. I loved the book, even though it was written in the 60's. Especially because it was written in the 60's. Its still works today! This guy has…
Read MoreRemembering Michael Spencer, Internet Monk (1956 – 2010)
The blogosphere feels much emptier today with the sudden passing of Michael Spencer who you probably know as Internet Monk. He told us about his cancer but it was still really quick. Way too quick. I didn’t get to insult him one last time. HT: Christianity Today LiveBlog I often posted links to the blogged…
Read MoreEmerging Muslim Followers of Jesus?
In the late 1980's, I met a Muslim follower of Jesus. Razul [he had changed his name] dressed in an Arab robe, went to the mosque to pray to Allah, and followed Jesus. To be a Muslim, he told me, was to be someone "submitted to God" and he was submitted to Allah through Isa…
Read MoreCutting John Piper some slack on the emerging church
I was a little harsh on John Piper and his comments on the emerging church and the timing was bad. I posted a response 2 days before he announced his ministry break, and a week before the Desiring God conference. Not cool. He deserves better. My apologies, from one Baptist to another. And on top…
Read MoreViral Hope
Blogger JR Woodward released his book called “Viral Hope” today. I enjoyed reading it and gave this endorsement: “ViralHope is a refreshing book for a church that needs to be refreshed. JR Woodward, like a symphony conductor, brings together dozens of distinct voices that sing into harmony the sweet voice of hope in both the…
Read MoreNew Media Easter: Present and Past
It’s Good Friday again [comes every year, doesnt it?] and there are plenty of Easter downloads from sites like The Work of the People [some of them free] and other Easter media available online. In the UK, people are talking about Si Smith’s Easter creation and bloggers Ben Edson and Tractor Girl are rebelling against…
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