May 24 2006
Jamaica Mission
Leave for Jamaica Mission trip
taking a group of people from three churches to Jamaica to help with some work at my home church there. The churched burned to the ground back in February,
Popularity: 14% [?]
Archive for May, 2006
May 24 2006
mutli-racial church team
May 23 2006
post emergence is no fluke!
In my recent web browsing of things emergent. I came across some posts that suggest that my post emergent perspective is not a fluke.
Jaimie Smith of Generous Orthodoxy ThinkTank: Emergent Reflections Post-Divergent points out several distinctions he recently experienced at an emergent event in Geneva between the US EC and the expression of emergence in Europe and the U.K . Things I have been saying is what makes the EC conversation in the US so limited and uninviting to people of color.
- This is not an “academic” conversation.
- There are hints of post-emergence afoot.
- There are surprising elements of anti-intellectualism in the conversation
Jamie Arpin-Ricci is posting about being a An Emerging & Affirming Critic From Within
However, the critics we could perhaps learn the most from are those within this emerging community itself. The value of affirming critics from within cannot be overstated, as who better knows the dynamics, intentions and convictions better than those who share them. This should never exclude the other critiques from without, but if we can embrace the necessary humility and patience, we have a wealth of wisdom that could help us move towards maturity. That is where I hope my future lies on this journey- to be an affirming critic from within the emerging culture. I have been deeply moved and encouraged by all that I have discovered on the way.
I don’t know that I have Jaimie’s patience but I appreciate his humility and I’m glad he is bold enough to be a critic from within. Since I have never felt I was in I guess I will remain an affirming critic from without.
Jason Clark has a post Love/Hate the emerging church from 2004
Well here in no order, and remember from my experience, in small corner of the emerging church are the things I have learned most, and enjoyed most about the emerging church, and some experiences that make me despair the most about emerging church too.
He really sums up my ambivalence toward the current state of of the EC.
Interestingly all of them have lived and/or experienced the emerging church outside the US. I think it is important that those of us who have roots outside white middle class America tend to see this emergent/emerging church thing a bit differently than the current dominant group. The question that continually arises for me is simple. Is there room in the EC tent for those whose perspective is even a bit divergent from the status quo or has the "conversation" devolved into defense of anti-church, radical liberalism as some critics suggest.
I wish I knew the answer to that but I don’t think post emergence is a fluke! So here is my post emergent must list. It seems to me that;
- We need to be more than rescuers of the Bible and Jesus from modernist theology.
- We need to be more than critics of the fundamentalist evangelical spiritual practice that has distorted much Jesus message.
- We need to be more than purveyors of some new anti prophetic, anti charismatic, anti-church, politically liberal, new expression of the Christian faith.
- We need to be more than spiritual option for people who don’t like church, have been hurt by the church or think the church is unnecessary
- We need to be revolutionary in more than just our thinking and theology.
- We need to have more than just a visual affinity with the poor and underprivileged.
- We need to move beyond warm and fuzzy gatherings where we can all feel good about ourselves, to risking self to be impactful in world so we can see the kingdom of God we hold high begin to be revealed in our world
This is just a start what can you add?
Popularity: 43% [?]
May 22 2006
Grace Reformed Church Anniversary worship
I’m going to my home church in Brooklyn where I was ordained to participate in the anniversary worship.
Popularity: 14% [?]
May 20 2006
Da Vinci Code Review
the da Vinci code
Year: 2006
Writer: Dan Brown/Akiva Goldsman
Director: Ron Howard
Producer: Dan Brown/Brian Grazer
Category: Drama
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Rating from MPAA: PG-13
Cast:
Rating: out of 5
OK let me say that I didn’t get the chance to read the book before had so I can’t compare it. Which may be a good thing. After all the hype and hyperbole about this destroying the Christian faith DCV feels more like a second rate thriller than a life changing movie. This is no Matrix in terms of its spiritual overtones. it is more of a journey in to history and lots and lots and lots of convoluted theories and speculation. From a movie making standpoint I was disappointed.
This is not Ron Howard’s best work and Tom Hanks is not at the top of his game. French actor Jean Reno and Hank’s costar Audrey Tautou do a fair but unimpressive job. Alfred Molina also does a passable job as the single minded Bishop Aringarosa. By far the most outstanding cast member is Ian McKellen who plays his role as the Priory of Scion expert Sir Leigh Teabing with relish and enthusiasm without going over the top. Paul Bettany is effectively scary and convincing as the albino “servant” of the Opus Dei Silas. There are some interesting special effects related to cryptography. But the story could be difficult to follow and tends to drag, despite a couple of car chase scenes. There is only minimal character development done through flashbacks which I found more distracting than helpful. The historical flashback are presented in an interesting though not always effective way. There are several historical inaccuracies on which the basic premise of the movies is based. Maybe I should say that much of what is presented as historical fact is more like conjecture about historical events.
As to the problem of the movie attacking the Christian faith I think that the people who have the biggest axe to grind is the Roman Catholic church, in particular the Ops Dei group. Members of this group are presented as manipulative. deceptive and immoral in there effort to keep the secret that would destroy the faith undiscovered. There are some interesting questions posed about the import of the divinity of Jesus, the origins of the biblical canon and the role that doctrine play in faith. But all in all the is nothing ground shaking unless one has a completely literal an fundamentalist view of scripture faith and Christian practice
It strikes me that with all the conjecture buried layer on upon layer very few people of faith are going to turn away from their faith because of this movie. In fact I think it takes more faith to belief in circuitous trail of theories and conjecture in the movie that it does to belief in than the seemingly unbelievable aspects of the Christian faith. Those who are spiritually searching my well go down the rabbit hole trying to follow this trail but it could also lead then to seek more information from Jesus followers and ask more question of friends of faith.
Bottom line is it is an OK movie nothing to write home about from a spiritual perspective and so so film making. But my wife enjoyed it and she was not really exposed to all the hype and has not read the book. Doctoral studies will do that to you.
There are some pretty graphic scenes of self flagellation, violence, brief nudity, and sexual references and drug use that make this unsuitable for anyone under 13 so the rating is justified. This will not destroy the Christian faith or harm it in my opinion any more than the Last Temptation of Christ did. But all the hype will sell a lot of tickets. My opinion if you have some spiritually searching friends who are dying to see it go take it in with the and talk about it afterward. Use the opportunity to have conversations about spiritual matters with others. If you aren’t just dying to see it then wait for video. Though it might be a while because I do expect this to be in the theaters for several months. Can you say DVD release hype to come?
Tags: christianity, dan_brown, da_vinci_code_the_movie, faith, faith-&-culture, movie-&-tv, opus_dei, reviews
Popularity: 36% [?]
May 20 2006
Da Vinci Code– the Movie: GUIDE TO CHRISTIAN VIEWERS
Well I didn’t get to read the book before seeing the movie but here is one person’s Ben Witherington guidelines for Christian viewers
GUIDE TO CHRISTIAN VIEWERS This movie is not appropriate to bring: 1) young children to– the violence and self-flagellations scenes involving Silas the monk are too much for the young; 2) likewise this movie is going to raise numerous questions for people not well grounded in their faith, especially those of Roman Catholic background. I am not urging them to see it either. 3) Those who know the Bible, but not much about church history (including modern church history– e.g. what is Opus Dei) are not going to be able to dialogue with the inquisitive about this movie very well since it is more about church history than it is about anything in the Bible itself.
Thanks to mike for the link my review will be posted later.
Popularity: 23% [?]
May 19 2006
bragging on the significant other
My lovely wife just aced her last course in her PhD studies. yep a big 4.0 or A on intersections of race gender and ethnicities. The prof even wants to write an article with her. She is so much more of a student than I ever was or will be.
Now on to defending the two year paper and comps in the fall. The soon she will be the good Dr.
I’m so proud!
Popularity: 10% [?]
May 17 2006
Jesus, Jazz & Community
The Jazz Theologian has done it again . His post looking and the synergy between Christian community and jazz ensembles is profound and thought provoking. One person should not be that brilliant 
He quotes Ann Pederson, Associate Professor of Religion on jazz community
"Jam sessions set the musicians free to take risks. Diverse cross sections of people come together to just play and learn from one another. The jam session remains an open system where diverse people with diverse talents can come together to learn." "Learning occurs individually through the support of the jazz community. ‘Overall, the jazz community’s educational system sets the students on paths of development directly related to their goal: the creation of a unique improvisational voice with the jazz tradition.’ The jazz community exemplifies the constant struggle between leadership and following, interdependence and individual freedom. The goal of a jazz community is to find the balance where the individual’s freedom to improvise is grounded in the support of the ensemble. The individual plays freely but within the group. Limits are set for the dynamic of freedom." "…the group lends its support as each member learns to discover her or his own musical voice."
Then he asks How’d you like to learn to follow Jesus in that kind of environment?
My response I would love to learn to follow Jesus in that kind of a setting. Wat he describes is the very essence of the covenant community that is at the center of the theological expression in which I was trained. each individual is valued and recognized as a child of God with unique gifts perspectives and expressions of God’s image but interdependent on each other to fully express and reach our potential as God created us.
Too bad most Christian community isn’t like that. I need to think about how my faith community can move more intentionally in that direction.
Popularity: 18% [?]
May 17 2006
critics whomp Da Vinci Code
So far the reviews from Cannes have not been kind to the Da Vinci Code movie. I’ll still go see it this weekend but here are some quotes from early reviews
"…overblown so-so suspense flick…"
"There might be a riveting adventure thriller to be made from Dan Brown’s controversial bestseller, but this is not it. Melodramatic, overlong and dare I say occasionally boring, Ron Howard’s The Da Vinci Code gets lost in the maze of its puzzles and media"
"Part conspiracy thriller, part religious epic, part family melodrama, but not satisfying on any level, this vastly disappointing film will frustrate viewers who know the book and will bore those who don’t due to the rambling and confusing storytelling."
"Perhaps an interesting side-piece to those already fanatical about the book, but ultimately a lifeless adaptation that reveals the flaws of its source. So Dark, the Con of Dan Brown."
"A jumble of historical myth, religious symbology and international thriller-action makes for an unwieldy, bloated melodrama."
"An oppressively talky film that isn’t exactly dull, but comes as close to it as one could imagine with such provocative material."
See here for more
Director Ron Howard is quoted as saying
“There’s no question that the film is likely to be upsetting to some people,” Howard told reporters. “My advice, since virtually no one has really seen the movie yet, is to not go see the movie if you think you’re going to be upset. Wait. Talk to somebody who has seen it. Discuss it. And then arrive at an opinion about the movie itself.” “Again: This is supposed to be entertainment, it’s not theology,” he said."
Supposed to be entertainment could that have been a self fulfilling prophecy. We’ll see come Friday
Popularity: 24% [?]