He was one of the most important evangelical leaders of last century. John Stott passed away yesterday at age 90. I will remember him mostly as the guy behind the Lausanne Covenant – his story and influence was all over the Lausanne Congress I attended last year in Capetown – but I will also remember…
Read MorePhilanthropists and the Reformation
This week we visited Bethleham Chapel in Prague, where Jan Hus pastored and preached. Sasa Flek gave us a great historical overview of the Reformation from the Czech perspective. Normally, when theologians tell the story, they focus on the doctrinal changes of the Reformation and honor the theologians like Wyclif, Hus, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, etc. But…
Read MoreSpecial needs children in church
If Elevation Church can't handle a special needs child in their distraction-free seeker sensitve service, then how the heck will they put up with my Pentecostal friends from Brazil??? Now that's some yellin' and whoopin'. I tell ya! I dont mean to make light of the situation. Its an emotional issue on the blogs right…
Read More3 things that have helped me be a better bridge builder.
I am speaking in a few hours on a panel that deals with Ecumenicism. 2. ECUMENISM. Friday, 3pm to 6pm Centre for Encounter: Central and Eastern Europe Ecumenism – That’s my story too. Experiences which give us courage. Story telling salon. Andrew Jones, global networker, New Zealand, Andrzej Korus, Wroclaw, Poland, Prof. Dr. Konrad Raiser,…
Read MoreWhat would you do with the Crystal Cathedral?
The Crystal Cathedral is up for sale and I just heard that someone bought it for $46 million. Dang! Maybe some emerging church out there should have bought the 40 acre campus and recycled it into something useful. Although if Randall Balmer is correct in saying that passing on a huge unsustainable megachurch is a…
Read MoreFaith 2.0: Religion on the Internet
Yesterday I listened to the podcasts from Faith 2.0 Religion on the Internet, a conference last week in England about religion on the internet. Jointly sponsored by Tony Blair Faith Foundation and Durham University. The best talk in my opinion is the keynote speech [download here] by Catherine Wybourne, the "invisible nun" from Holy Trinity…
Read MoreGlobal Faith Forum: Day 2
Back at the Global Faith Forum at Northwood Church, Keller, Texas. Bob Roberts has done a superb job of adding the right tone to this event. Humor goes a long way and Bob is quick to make fun of everyone and put all the speakers and guests at ease. Some highlights today: Ray Bakke talking…
Read MoreEntrepreneurs or Leaders?
The USA is lagging behind in social innovation and social enterprise rather than leading, suggests a well-researched post released in June by Timothy Ogden. Almost all of the world-changing innovations from from the developing world and very few from USA, despite the money poured into them. Reasons for this, Ogden suggests, have to do with…
Read MoreEmerging Church Jello Begins its Wobbly Descent
Soooooo the emerging church jello plastered on the walls of historical memory by uninformed critics finally begins its slow, wobbly descent, revealing that not all that was said about emerging church leaders was accurate . . . as I have been saying for a LONG TIME. Here's some quotes you might appreciate: "I don’t attend…
Read MoreHow to Survive a Christian Bookstore: #2 FINDING YOUR HAPPY PLACE
So, you still want to buy a Bible from a Christian bookstore but don’t want to drown in a sea of mozzarella? I get it. Welcome to Part 2 of my series “How to Survive a Christian Bookstore”. You have read How to Survive a Christian Bookstore: #1 EMBRACING THE FEAR and so you already…
Read More25 Years and Still Lovin’ It
I am interrupting my current blog break to make an announcement . . . Today marks 25 years for me in global ministry. Thats a SILVER ANNIVERSARY!!! On May 24th, 1985, I was flying overseas on my first short term mission. I was 21 years old and had completed a few years of Bible College.…
Read MoreAnglicans in the Global South: 80/20
Chris Sudgen of Anglican Mainstream shared this morning on email: “The Global South Communique speaks of the Global South being “the vast majority of the active membership of the Anglican Communion”. A review of the statistics available would bear this out and gives a percentage of about 80 percent. On the Anglican Communion Office website…
Read MoreJohn MacArthur on Exponential
No, John MacArthur is not, I repeat NOT, at the Exponential conference and if he was, he wouldn’t be headed off for a beer with all you backsliders! But if you want to really know about the heart of the exponential idea, I suggest you listen to John MacArthur’s superb message last week at TG42010…
Read MoreChuck Swindoll on the emerging church
I just left a comment on Chuck Swindoll’s blog. Dang! I didn’t know he even had a blog until now. Its called Insight for Living, like his ministry. The man is a LEGEND and I have read so many of his books its ridiculous. He was also my pastor in the 80’s and my wife…
Read MoreGreen shoots are sprouting everywhere
“I do not trust SPECTACULAR things. Give me the seed growing secretly every time.” Roland Allen ———————————————– “Did you know that couch grass and potatoes, and other rhizome based organisms, do not reproduce? Instead they find dark empty places and export their roots into them, maintaining unity, but allowing growth and new life. If there…
Read MoreExponential 2010: Attend or Avoid?
Exponential promotes itself as “the largest gathering of church planters on the planet”. I was there a few years ago. It REALLY IS large, just like it says, and a great networking experience. Lots of my friends were there including some bloggers. REASONS TO ATTEND EXPONENTIAL 2010 1. Its a fun event and extremely well…
Read MoreA white guy and a black guy in the emerging church
Here’s a story about the emerging church if anyone cares to listen. Just one of many stories. Its not a very popular one because it doesn’t include any famous speakers or horrible heretics or ten ways to transition your church into coolness. There are also no images and no links but you might appreciate it…
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 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 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…
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