emerging mosaic

I recently became acquainted with Kim Winston who has a book and web site on the use of prayer beads. Kim writes that through the use prayer beads she is making her way back to God. I think this is a great example of how reclaiming ancient spiritual practices can make tried and ways of being connected to God fresh and accessible to all kinds of people. Check out her web site at Bead One, Pray Too

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I got this today from someone is concerned as I am about how we continue to live Dr King’s dream

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So early last month I completed the training for yoga teacher certification at the Holy Yoga teacher training retreat (check out pictures) It was an awesome experience meeting and working with people of faith who are doing authentic yoga as Jesus followers. A great community and connection was cultivated and I really relished the teaching and spirit of Brooke Boone founder of Holy yoga and the inspiration, motivation, and encouragement of Dawn and Alisa the other teacher trainers. The daily meditation times led by Amy were awesome and brought incredible spiritual focus to the yoga practice that followed.

BTW I haven’t eaten so healthy in ages.

Now I am leading/teaching two yoga prayer practices at Mosaic Life church. Prayer flow (vinyasa) for those who really want to sweat on Mondays @ 5:45 and level 1 on Wednesdays @ 6:30 

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Several weeks ago I shared my thoughts about moving beyond a churchianity type of Christianity to practicing faith more focused on joining God in kingdom work. Now a recently released boo titled unchristian points to why this is so important.

The book has research about how the church is viewed in our culture by the prominent Christian researcher George Barna. It reinforces the title of Dan Kimball’s book They like Jesus but not the church. The book and its accompanying web site suggests that the church has an image problem.

 Here are are some snippets

One-fifth of all outsiders, regardless of age, admitted they “have had a bad experience in a church or with a Christian that gave them a negative image of Jesus Christ.” This represents nearly fifty million adult residents of this country-including about nine million young outsiders-who admit they have significant emotional or spiritual baggage from past experiences with so-called Christ followers.

Christians believe the primary reason outsiders have rejected Christ is that they cannot handle the rigorous standards of following Christ. There is a nuance here that allows Christians to feel like they’re better than other people, more capable of being holy and sinless.

Only one out of five outsiders said they perceive Christian churches as loving environments, places where people are unconditionally loved and accepted regardless of how they look or what they do. Surprisingly, fewer than half of churchgoers, including born-again Christians, felt strongly that their church demonstrates unconditional love.

Here are a couple thoughts I have. It is certainly not exhaustive but a starting point.

First I think we need to get over ourselves. We have to get beyond thinking that being the church is about those of us who are in the church. The church exists to serve God by serving the world. Jesus said it clearly he came to serve humanity (Matthew 20:28Matthew 20:28
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
28 The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue x rescue: The Greek word often, though not always, means the payment of a price to free a slave or a prisoner. many people.

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) so as his followers so should we.

Second spend less time trying to figure out who is in and  who is out and focus on doing the things Jesus said connects to him and to God. Like visiting the sick and imprisoned, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and clothing the naked. (Matthew 25:31-46Matthew 25:31-46
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Final Judgment ³¹ a ; b . When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. ³² The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats. ³³ He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those on his right, �My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. ³⁵ . When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, ³⁶ and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.� ³⁷ Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, �When did we give you something to eat or drink? ³⁸ When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear ³⁹ or visit you while you were sick or in jail?� ⁴⁰ The king will answer, �Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.� ⁴¹ Then the king will say to those on his left, �Get away from me! You are under God's curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! ⁴² I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.� ⁴⁴ Then the people will ask, �Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?� ⁴⁵ The king will say to them, �Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.� ⁴⁶ . Then Jesus said, �Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life.�

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) Basically being their for the outsiders of our world.

Finally I think we need try to become like Jesus. A middle eastern man who lives a simple live was always working to deepen his connection to God and live out the scriptures. You see I think many in the church have become good a seeing all the flaws in others that will prevent then from going to heaven but we aren’t paying attention to what God is calling us to be as followers of Jesus. Not judges but followers. A recent talk I did at a public forum has gotten me a letter that suggest I am misguided at best and pagan at worst because I practice yoga and we have setup prayer labyrinths.

I wonder where in the scriptures does it say don’t practice yoga that focused our hearts, bodies and spirit on following Jesus or set up prayer labyrinth that deepen our relationship with Jesus our Saviour? However Jesus did tell his followers to leave alone anyone who proclaim the good news of God’s love in his name. (Mark 9:38-41Mark 9:38-41
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
For or against Jesus ³⁸ John said, �Teacher, we saw a man using your name to force demons out of people. But he wasn't one of us, and we told him to stop.� ³⁹ Jesus said to his disciples: Don't stop him! No one who works miracles in my name will soon turn and say something bad about me. ⁴⁰ ; . Anyone who isn't against us is for us. ⁴¹ . And anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name, just because you belong to me, will surely be rewarded.

) That is the difference between being christian and unchristian. What do you think

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So for about three to four years (intentionally for about the last two years) now I have been practicing yoga. I got into it because I was looking for something to help with my chronic back pain (caused by my scoliosis). After some frustrating days I discovered that practicing yoga helped relieve my lower back pain. In fact I am now pretty much pain free in my lower back. However there were two unanticipated benefits.

1. I lost weight (30 pounds in fact)
2. Yoga helped me to center my mind in a way that allowed me to better connect with God.

Now most everyone who is a regular part of my church Mosaic Life knows I practice yoga. But recently with the launch of our new ministry Awaken: contemplative living 24/7 I decided to pursue training to teach yoga as my contribution to that ministry. So I got level one teacher training from yoga fit and I’m pursuing registered teaching training with Brooke Boone of Holy Yoga. Next month I will start teaching a free weekly yoga practice. I know there are some Christians who think that the two are incompatible (check out the video below.) But there is something powerful that happens when I bring my Christian spirituality to my yoga mat. Any other Christians yogis care to comment

yoga and christianity

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My esteem of moby, artist, musician, entrepreneur and Jesus follower is going up all the time. I find his candor and perspective on the Christian faith refreshing. Check out this recent post on the insanity of how some are practicing faith in America and the contrast in actual teaching of Jesus.

It was sparked by this news article Neighborhood fights over peace wreath, here is a photograph of the wreath

Read the post truly insane | moby.com

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I am preparing for a couple of worship messages based on Act 2:42-44Act 2:42-44
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
42 They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread g broke bread: They ate together and celebrated the Lord's Supper. and prayed together. Life among the Lord's Followers ⁴³ Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. ⁴⁴ All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had.

and while browsing the religion section of a local bookstore I came across a great book find. A couple of dusty feet caught my eye.  They were on the cover of a book called dust off their feet- lessons from the early church by Brian McLaren and Chris Seay. The title doesn’t fully describe this gem. I describe it as a postmodern reading and commentary of the book of acts. The back cover asks the question, “Did you know the first church in acts was the original emerging church?”

I’ve already  got some good insight from this retelling and commentary on Acts and I recommend to all of those seeking to reclaim the passion and purpose  early church and rebirth it into our emerging contexts.

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I got the latest Emergent/C (which is the newsletter/communication piece of Emergent Village) today and it included this quote.

We in Emergent Village are poised for an important year in 2007. A pivotal year, I’d say. Lots of people are watching—some with high hopes that EV might be a part of a re-birth of Christian faith, a revolution in what it means to follow Jesus. (Others, of course, are plotting our demise J.)

The part I highlighted above about revolution has got me thinking. Is that why some people are “plotting the demise” of EV. Would it be more accessible for people to think of the emerging emergent church as an evolution of how the church practices the faith rather than a revolution? Can the emergent folks make claim to being the vanguard of a revolutionary movement in following Jesus (especially when it is still so monolithic in its racial ethnic makeup)?
Kester Brewin in his book Complex Christ suggests that emergence is more closely connected to evolution than revolution. Revolution he continues correlates more with insurgence than emergence. The point of view from which we view the emerging church and emergent conversation determines how we pursue the developing practice of the faith and who ends up coming along for the ride.

So is it evolution or revolution? Maybe it is both and what say you?

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Are you a clueless Christian? That is how Moby describes himself in an interview with sojourners

http://www.sojo.net/special/multimedia/audio/061004_moby/player.html

This is one of the most authentic expressions of faith I have heard in a long while. Check it out.

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Alex Mcmanus of Mosaic Church in LA has an interesting observation and reflection on the emerging church and Mosaic’s link to things emerging into the mystic… » Is Mosaic a part of the Emerging Church?

Here’s the interesting observation by someone outside the church

Recently a Los Angeles Times reporter was given the assignment to write an article on the “Emerging Church.” In doing her research she called me to talk about Mosaic. After she did her research and wrote the article, I spoke to her about why she chose not to include Mosaic. She had concluded from her research that Mosaic was not an emerging church because emerging churches tended to be “small, white and inward looking.” 

And the reflection from Alex on emerging church 

Mosaic is different from the “Emerging Church” not just in terms of ambition, ethnicity, and mission, but also in attitude and thinking. Many of those who take on the mantle of the Emerging Church seem to me to be burned out Church leaders who needed to bail on a Christianity that offered pat but empty answers. I consider this a good move. But, in contrast, Mosaic is more like a convert who is full of enthusiasm, joy and hope. The new convert moves with speed and intentionality toward Jesus, towards the scriptures, towards Christ following community, and towards the world in service and mission.

Everything Alex says and Mosaic LA  does is not gospel or perfect they don’t pretend that it is. But I think many who are embracing the emerging church mantle in the U.S. would do well to pay attention to the increasing perception of the make up and approach of the emerging/emergent church that seems to be more about disenchanted Christian than connecting people to God.

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