The Tulsa Workshop is upon us. Every year thousands of people come from all directions to gather at the Tulsa fairgrounds for three full days of preaching, teaching, singing, hugging, backslapping, and eating. It is the largest Church of Christ oriented gathering of adults in the world. There are some great preachers on the program: […]
Archives for 2005
Purge Sundays
From Christian Week (via Jordon Cooper) The Meeting House, a Brethren In Christ multi-site congregation that calls itself a “church for people who aren’t into church,” regularly invites those who don’t want to “get in” to their church by making a demonstrable commitment, to “get out.” Known to church staff by the tongue-in-cheek label “purge […]
March 19, 2005 by 1 Comment
Alexander Hamilton
I’ve started listening to an Alexander Hamilton biography. Early on Chernow states that Hamilton was the most influential founding father never elected president and far more influential than many that were. What was so special about him? I’m not sure yet. I’m only about three hours into a 36 hour recording.
March 17, 2005 by Leave a Comment
Can You Market God/The Gospel?
Something Sam said over on his blog reminded me of something McLaren said in an interview with Church Marketing Sucks: Can you market God? I think that’s a complicated question. I’m sure you have some good opinions on that. To some degree all that marketing means is communication. If we’re communicating in public, I suppose […]
March 16, 2005 by 9 Comments
Consumers or Investors?
Yesterday I spent several hours with our leadership team talking about emerging church stuff. We used Kimball’s book as a starting point. During the discussion, one of our shepherds had the insight that instead of treating the folks who walk through our doors on Sunday mornings as consumers of religious goods and services, we should […]
March 13, 2005 by 9 Comments
Mall Mania Part 4 (Remixed Peterson Style)
Here are a few excerpts from an interview with Eugene Peterson. You make spirituality sound so mundane. I don’t want to suggest that those of us who are following Jesus don’t have any fun, that there’s no joy, no exuberance, no ecstasy. They’re just not what the consumer thinks they are. When we advertise the […]
March 10, 2005 by 13 Comments
Mall Mania Part 3
Mall Mania Mall Mania Part 2 From StormFront: The Good News of God: “If you don’t like the way you were born–try being born again!” This announcement, prominently displayed recently on a church marquee in our neighborhood, reflects perfectly the spirit of religious life in North America today. It advertises to all who pass by […]
March 8, 2005 by 4 Comments
Very Simple
I’ve found a theme that suits me. It’s called “Very Simple.” I’ve got pop-up comments enabled just to see how they work. Let me know if you encounter any problems or have any suggestions.
March 7, 2005 by 9 Comments
His Excellency
While running this evening I finished listening to His Excellency by Joseph Ellis. Ellis starts his book out by asking the question: why did all the other Founding Fathers–men like Adams, Jefferson, Hamiliton, Madison, and even Franklin–consider Washington to be “The Man?” His answer: he was tall, he was strong, he possessed incredible self-restraint, and […]
March 7, 2005 by 2 Comments
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons