The Week’s Must Read Blog Posts 03272007
The So-Called EFD: “I’m reading it all over the web, I’m hearing it from individuals, and I’ve read it in a few books. I call it the ‘Emergent False Dichotomy.’ Here’s the accusation: the emerging movement, especially its writers and leaders, constantly use false dichotomies. Is that so? Let’s take a closer look.”
Naming, Unmasking and Engaging the Powers - Part IX: “In our city the powers are at work. There are many people who are considering going on strike, fighting for fair wages. What powers are behind the war in Iraq? It takes a lot of spiritual discernment to name and unmask the powers, but it is something we should try to do, for the invisible powers are at work all around us, even in the church.”
Praying for Godspell “Today I have a little prayer request for you. Members of my church know that tonight our youth ministry is putting on a production of the musical Godspell … Godspell is based on the Book of Matthew, it is a powerful depiction of Christ’s love and atoning death and resurrection. And many unbelievers will be present.”
BIC Fresh Ministry for a Changing Church
Brethren in Christ ministry staff and their spouses are invited to Pittsburgh, Pa., for the Ministry Enrichment Retreat. When: July 9-12, 2007. This year’s theme: “Fresh ministry for a changing church … The conference will explore effective ways to translate the timeless truths of Christianity into the language and culture of our day - making sure that our faith doesn’t get lost in the process.” Read More »
Never Mind the Bibles: The Gospel According to Punk
Never Mind the Bibles: The Gospel According to Punk Rock: A quick hit from the site: “Beneath punk rock’s scabrous exterior – from its garage-band beginnings in the ’60s and ’70s to the tongue-pierced fashion statement it has become – lies an amazing story of spiritual longing and redemption, a story that has been ignored until now. Never Mind the Bibles: The Gospel According to Punk Rock is the only book to examine punk rock’s spiritual roots and to find common links between that movement and the Christian faith.”
Magdalene Checks Out of Talpiot Tomb
Mary Magdalene is Now Missing! See: A Corrected Reading of Rahmani Ossuary 701 by Stephen J. Pfann, Ph.D. Yes, the “Mary Magdalene is Now Missing!’ title is a bit of a misnomer, as is suggested by Marc Goodacre, if Magdalene was never in the tomb in the first place.
The Church as Picnic and So Much More
March 14th is Happy Pi(π) Day!
Did you realize today is Pi Day? No! Well, now you know! How are you celebrating? So, why is today tagged Pi Day (π), you ask? Well, here’s the explanation: “March 14 the approximation for Pi(π): 3.14.” Intuitive, no? Pi (π) is of course a Greek letter, but it is also the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Too, Pi (π) is an irrational number. Irrational numbers continue infinitely without repeating. So, Happy Pi (π) Day!
Scot McKnight on Bell’s Sex God
A few great thoughts from Scot McKnight re: Rob Bell’s Sex God. So far, Scot has offered up a celebration of Bell’s latest work (Part One), and a pretty serious critique too (Part Two). Sex God is on my shelf, as are most of Bell’s works (I like them). I’ll be reading this book as soon as pressing seminary requirements are fulfilled.
Personal Asset Mapping: Looking for Grace in Life
I’m working through The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts. This profound question popped up as I worked through an exercise on personal asset mapping: “What signs of God’s grace have you witnessed lately?” Lately? My answer, without hesitation: “I see God’s grace all through Jesus’ willingness to not only carry me and my family back to the point where we veered away from him, relationally speaking, but also in his willing offer to be THE sustaining power that will take us all to the place I proved I could not go on my own.” What a great question! What signs of God’s Grace are you witnessing, lately? I’ll be writing more about asset mapping later.
My Name is Shawn, not Christus Victor!
Dear lofitribe readers: I have received more than a few e-mails addressing me as “Christus Victor.” Precious readers, my name is Shawn, not Christus Victor. Christus Victor is the title attributed to the classic, or dramatic view of Jesus Christ’s Atonement. I have placed a Christus Victor graphic image in the header to celebrate Christ’s work, and to identify with the first 1000 years of Christian thinking on the subject, not to self-identify as such. The confusion is cute, I admit it. It would be downright sexy had it not come from folks actually running dedicated Christian blogs! At any rate, peace all over the place! My name is Shawn. I love all my readers, even those who think I am Christus Victor! I am not, most assuredly!
Science and Christianity: Conflict or Coherence?
Many, many scientists are people of faith too! In spite of what ‘popular biologists who want to sell a bunch of recycled anti-religion books’ would have you believe, there is a tremendous tradition of distinguished scientists who were and are Christians. No, not all scientists are so peripherally challenged, or book market savvy, it seems. Thank God. It seems there is as much - if not more - coherence as conflict in the science and Christianity conversation.