Jun 30 2006
Texas archaeologists believe they may have located the remains of Noah’s Ark in Iran’s Elburz mountain range.
Read article http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/has-noahs-ark-been-found/20060629173309990001?_mpc=news%2e10%2e1&cid=842
Popularity: 25% [?]
Jun 30 2006
The trinity (the three persons or expressions of God) as expressed in the Christian faith is usually referred to as Father, Son and Holy Spirit or Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. However the LA times reports
leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are suggesting some additional designations: "Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child and Life-giving Womb," or perhaps "Overflowing Font, Living Water, Flowing River." read the article Presbyterians and the Holy Trinity: Let Us Phrase - Los Angeles Times
Several years ago a recent seminary grad referred to the trinity as Home, Host, Hospitality.
So do we need more ways to express the trinity? Do we need the trinity at all? Or as some have suggested is there any real basis for the trinity in scripture? Should we just focus on Jesus and stay away from the God of the Old (First) Testament?
Just wondering what other folks are thinking?
Popularity: 28% [?]
Jun 30 2006
Doug Pagiit found Jesus in the wood trim at his house (tongue firmly planted in cheek).
I was taking a picture of the trim work in one of the bedrooms of our duplex in order to get a matching piece for the other side. When I looked at the picture I notice the strange little “Jesus” face on the right - kinda creepy. I also kind of looks like Abe Lincoln. Face in the wood
My advice: Quick rip it out put it up on ebay and the Golden Palace Casino will buy it for thousands of dollars. 
Popularity: 18% [?]
Jun 29 2006
I noticed that sometimes these two words representing movements of change the church can get used interchangably. I wonder how much synergy there is between the two. Some people are in both conversations
This article speaks to some of the connecting pont beween the two. http://www.urbana.org/_articles.cfm?RecordId=993
I really appreciate the defining of the characteristics of a missional church using this wrong/tough question format.
The collapse of the church culture.
a) Wrong question: How do we do church better?
b) Tough question: How do we reconvert from “churchianity” to Christianity?The shift from church growth to kingdom growth.
a) Wrong question: How do we grow this church?
b) Tough question: How do we transform our community?A new reformation: Releasing God’s people.
a) Wrong question: How do we turn members into ministers?
b) Tough question: How do we turn members into missionaries?The return to spiritual formation.
a) Wrong question: How do we develop church members?
b) Tough question: How do we develop followers of Jesus?The shift from planning to preparation.
a) Wrong question: How do we plan for the future?
b) Tough question: How do we prepare for the future?The rise of apostolic leadership.
a) Wrong question: How do we develop leaders for church work?
b) Tough question: How do we develop leaders for the Christian movement?
I feel a great resonance with the tough questions. I think these are the kinds of questions I ask or need to ask as I do ministry and live out my call. It feels much more organic that the moden church and less laissez faire then emergent stuff. For instance promoting the rise of apostolic leaders rather than eschewing any strong leadership outside of a flat leaderhsip model.
Compare and contrast with these core practices of an emerging church cited in ch 2 of Gibbs and Bolgers book Emerging Churches which I am reading right now.
I think these three things are reflective of the mission of the faith community Iead Mosaic Life.
To live in faith - identifying with jesus and living out his patterns in our lives and faith,
be known by love - living as community drawn together and connected to each other by God’s love
and be and instrument of hope - transforming secualr space by engaging the "secular and point to God’s hope
Maybe missional + emergent/emerging church = integral church
Popularity: 23% [?]
Jun 24 2006
The Chicago Sun times has this article on Rob Bell, The next Billy Graham?
I was surprised to see this quote
So much so that Mars Hill, the congregation Bell co-founded with a small group of friends seven years ago, is one of the fastest growing churches in U.S. history, drawing more than 10,000 worshippers each week (plus another 30,000r 30,000
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja! or so who download MP3s of the weekly services from the church Web site.)
Since Rob had several hundred follow him from Calvary. It makes it sound like only a couple of them started out at Mars.
What do you think is he the next Graham?
I got this lead from Andrew Dailey (feed)
Popularity: 33% [?]
Jun 22 2006
Rudy Carrasco has a book Urban and Multiethnic Outreach, Vol. 1 out. Rudy is a really sharp guy and an innovative thinker about things multi-ethnic. So even though I haven’t read this yet I suggest you check it out
Popularity: 11% [?]
Jun 22 2006
If you have ever seen one of those stupid church signs and wanted to get one of your own but didn’t have a church sign to do it visit Church Sign Generator and make one of your own.
For inspiration check out
http://stupidchurchsigns.com/page1.htm
or join the fight against stupid church signs here
Popularity: 17% [?]
Jun 22 2006
While browsing I came across an interesting story it reflects an ongoing lack of understanding among about race and racism that I have most recently experienced with some Christian folks I’ve been meeting with. Here’s a quote
Hey, black guy at Home Depot wearing a do-rag and cornrows, I am not racist, I am just easily distracted and not good with faces.”
read the whole story here: the adventures of a boy and his computer - Guilt
There is such hesitation to deal with the fact that people are racist. I don’t have to be burning crosses to express racist tendencies. It flows out of deep seated perspective on the world and people of color that surface when we are in our comfort zones. Maybe that is why we tend toward dog and pony shows of like diverse worship gatherings to show that we aren’t racist. This despite the work of Emerson & Smith (Divided by Faith ) saying that just doesn’t work.
This is why race and racial reconciliation matters! you think?
Popularity: 21% [?]
Jun 14 2006
Sometimes I think I don’t post enough on this subject but this is worth sharing. My oldest son (following in his mom’s footsteps) got straight A’s on his final report card. He is going into 7th grade and doing 8th grade math this summer and next year. don’t know where he gets it from because I really stink a math.
This past weekend he and his team placed 3rd in a local Gus Macker 3 on 3 basketball tournament against some pretty big guys including out of town ringers.. They should have won but got robbed in a heart breaker game in the final second but that is another story.
I’m proud of you kid! 
Popularity: 20% [?]
Jun 14 2006
While browsing over the Christianity/emerging church category over at wordpress.com I came across this "gem". 
Thanks to Fajita blog for the lead
No suits, no ties, no Sunday shoes. I told one of the ushers that he needed to show more respect in the Lord’s house. That this was a church, not the mall. Then he sassed me. Talked about how he wasn’t ‘at church, he is the church’. I was like, ‘Oh, okay. I must have mistaken that steeple on your head for a plastic mesh trucker cap, Cooter.’ Lord forgive me."
Despite their disclaimer I there is a real disconnect in terms of what some black and white folks consider to be church. I’ve seen it in our own church. So is this connecting with anyone in the African American community. Is there another path or should we all just chug the koolaid from one camp or the other?
go read the whole article The Holy Observer: Frightened Black Family Flees Pomo Church
Popularity: 23% [?]
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