the journey

The Great Awakening

I have this book listed on my Amazon wishlist.

Though I don't receive any perks by mentioning this (or any other book for that matter), I wanted you to be aware of a book dealing with the juncture of politics and religion.

Here's an endorsement:

“For more than 30 years, Jim Wallis has pointed the way to a road less traveled—a way of integrating faith and public life in the spirit of the biblical prophets. Now, having tried the alternatives and found them disastrous, more and more people are realizing that Jim’s chosen path is the right way forward to higher ground. At once inspiring and substantial, The Great Awakening invites us to become part of a new spiritual and social movement and make a difference.”

— Brian McLaren, speaker and author of Everything Must Change

Tags: Jim Wallis, The Great Awakening

An intriguing statement of faith

Rather than getting bogged down in a quagmire of theological terms and definitions, this church chose to concentrate on a few important basics:

We at [insert church name] acknowledge that God's coming to earth in the person of Jesus Christ and recounted in the Gospels turns upside down what we used to think about concepts like "truth." For in him, "Truth" walked around, talked to people, and even cried and bled.  We're left with a faith that, while deep, is also paradoxical and difficult. As a result, we committed to leaning on each other as we collectively try to follow Jesus. We're confident about some things: Jesus' coming to the earth was good news, it's still good news, and there's more good news to come. You're welcome to join us anytime.

Source: The New Christians by Tony Jones, p. 162.

Tags: The New Christians, Tony Jones, statement of faith

Holistic evangelism

Here's something to consider:

We participate in a citywide project that provides food for the working poor. We have run tutoring programs and food pantries in the poorest part of Minneapolis.  We are committed to bringing an end to human trafficking in our city and around the world. We have done most of these while offering very little of what some Christians might think of as "soul evangelism" to the people we help.  We haul cement blocks and talk about decreasing the sugar in their diets and cook chili for them, but not as a cover for talking about the "really important" spiritual issues. All of this leads some people to ask why we put this kind of focus on such "temporal" things rather than focusing on the important issues of eternity and the soul.  There is the sense that the work we're doing is nice, but it doesn't really count unless it's a means to a greater end.

I'm not trying to make the case that meeting physical needs is as important as meeting spiritual needs. I'm making the case that there is no difference, that there is not separate categories of need, that when we minister to people, we minister to the whole person.  That is the implication of holism, not that we pick one side of the old debate between caring for the physical needs and caring for the soul but that we understand and live in the reality that the "difference" between them is not what we may have thought it was (emphasis mine).

If we're not careful, compassion can be conditional, manipulative and agenda-driven rather than no-strings-attached.

Source: A Christianity Worth Believing by Doug Paggett, pp. 83-8

Tags: evangelism, holistic evangelism

Rick and Bubba for President

Rick and Bubba for President
Uploaded by Insane Zamboni

[Click on graphic for larger view.]

I was recently introduced to radio personalities Rick and Bubba on the afternoon Sean Hannity radio show. They appeared publicizing their brand new book, a tongue in cheek announcement of their willingness (and desire) to serve as co-presidents of the United States (along with their political platform).

It looked fun, so I purchased a copy and read it in it's entirety yesterday.

Though it wasn't particularly brilliant or insightful (it wasn't meant to be), it was an entertaining comedic look at what it would be like to have "the two sexiest fat men alive" living in the White House.

I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the National Debt, the 10% flat tax, the presidential limousine and Air Force One.  The giant pizza oven and the home entertainment added to the president's plane was a nice touch. ;-)

For a fun summertime read, you might want to consider this book.

Technorati Tags: Rick and Bubba, Rick and Bubba for President

To be the message

Here's a quotation that capture my imagination this morning:

The work of Jesus was not anew set of ideals or principles for reforming or even revolutionizing society, but the establishment of a new community, a people that embodied forgiveness, sharing, and self-sacrificing love in its rituals and discipline. In that sense, the visible church is not to be the bearer of Christ's message, but to be the message. 

~Anabaptist theologian John Howard Yoder

Source: The New Christians by Tony Jones, p. 178.

Technorati Tags: Tony Jones, The New Christians

Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace

I have always heard good things about Yale Theologian Miroslav Volf, so I decided to give one of his books a try.

After reading over half of Free of Charge in one day, I'm wondering whether any of his other books-- most of them well-known-- are any better.

I guess I've been spoiled by reading N.T. Wright, Marcus Borg and Walter Brueggeman as of late and find Volf's ideas rather sophomoric (and hackneyed).

It's like reading one of the pop Christianity books at Mardel or Lifeway rather than the product of a well-respected nationally-known theologian.

Very disappointing.

I'm tempted to shift gears and read something by Barbara Brown Taylor, Robert Farrar Capon or John Dominic Crossan instead.

Oh well.

Tags: Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge

Renting books this summer

With the rising cost of gasoline, most of us find our discretionary spending-- not the least of which is our book purchasing habits-- being affected.

For those of you who fall into that category, you might want to consider renting books.  Posted below are two book renting companies I recently came across.

• BookSwim.com: This rental service houses over 200,000 titles and have rental plans (and late fee policies) similar to companies like NetFlix.
• Booksfree.com: This book rental club has 90,000 titles, plus about 18,000 audiobooks.

Let me know if you find book rental clubs helpful.

HT: Ft. Worth Star Telegram

Tags: BookSwim.com, Booksfree.com

Christianity became big business

Here's an interesting tidbit.

Historians of religion like to say that Christianity was born in the Middle East as a religion, moved to Greece and became a philosophy, journeyed to Rome and became a legal system, spread through Europe as a culture-- and when it migrated to America, Christianity became big business.

Wow.

Source: They like Jesus but not the Church by Dan Kimball, p. 83.

Tags: Dan Kimball, They like Jesus but not the Church

A Christianity Worth Believing on-line book club

Here's a message from Doug Pagitt:

This Fall I am going to host a six week online book club for A Christianity Worth Believing. I would like your help in determining the best day for the poll.

I am going to use the poll on the right side of blog http://dougpagitt.com to determine the best date.

The clubs will run an hour. The timing will be determined after the best day is selected.

I will use Ustream so there will be one-way video, audio and two-way chatting options. If you are interested in being part of this weekly club, or having me join in on a book club you are doing with your own group please let me know.

So, if you are up for head over to my blog and let me know your preference.

Here's a link to the book at Amazon.
Here's a link to the book's web site.

HT: Facebook post

Tags: Doug Pagitt, A Christianity Worth Believing

The tough sayings of Jesus

This looks very interesting.

Check it out for yourself.

Click here to view the promo video, to download a sample, etc.

Technorati Tags: Threads, The tough sayings of Jesus, Jesus