A few weeks ago I had the chance to fly out to Minneapolis and join Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Tim Keel, Tim Condor, Nadia Bolz-Webber and others in teaching a church planters academy. The event was “to equip and encourage those desiring to start new churches in fresh and entrepreneurial ways. For those who are starting new churches. For those who are exploring starting a new churches. For those who’ve already started churches and want to gather with others who are... Read more
Do I pray, Tony Jones wants to know. He asks the question as part of research he’s doing for his next book. I couldn’t make a selection on his blog survey. It only gave the option of yes, or no. I wanted to answer ‘maybe’ but there was no option for that. I might answer ‘no’, but not without a ….’but’…’because’….. I went back to it several times, wanting to be helpful and wanting to participate. I still can’t answer... Read more
Many White people thought we had racism almost licked in America. We would all at the least, like to believe racism has become more subtle than it was in former days. I don’t see it. It was shameful to hear how the entire stock of “Trayvon Martin Targets” sold out in just two days. The targets did not have Trayvon’s face but were of a young man in a hoodie holding Skittles and an Arizona Ice Tea. The target was... Read more
According to Emergent cohort guru Mike Clawson, there were about 50-60 active Emergent cohorts across the U.S. as of June 2011. That’s about half of the 100+ cohorts that were going just four years ago. And, anecdotally, it seems 50-60 may be a high number just one year later, because only a handful of cohorts are really visibly doing much. Our cohort in Charlotte, NC, just celebrated eight years of monthly Meetups, and 2012 has been one of the busiest... Read more
In my attempt to understand the unrecorded aspects of lives of women in the Bible, the following poem is written in the voice of Sarah. I never liked her much, to be honest, and I like Abraham even less. They are not people I would choose to go back and visit if I were a time traveler. However while working on this poem, I have managed to fashion some compassion and admiration for Sarah. Sarai I. Bought Father is pleased.... Read more
We finally made it to the Oregon Coast yesterday. I took some pictures in the redwood forest that I’ll share soon, but this post isn’t about that. We got in before dinner and were happy to learn that we had a hotel room with an ocean view. Not only that, but it actually is right on the beach. So of course, we decided to sleep with the windows open. It’s one thing to fall asleep to the nature sounds on... Read more
NEW VIDEO (NEW SERIES) — HARMONY IS EVIL : Most of society today is built on a notion of order, as if order is how we are meant to live, but it is in not how we began nor how we should progress…thanks to Lewis Clarke for his filming skills! (Pass it on!)- More will be-coming. Employing theology as a way to understand and dissect culture. Read more
This last week, two important things happened. First, the voters of North Carolina passed a State constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. And then shortly after, President Obama reversed his long-held position against same-sex marriage and said, “It ought to be legal.” In addition, the polls now show that the country is almost precisely divided in half for and against changing our laws on this issue. All of which lead me to believe that we will soon reach or have already... Read more
Every single year, one of the great mysteries of Easter for me has to do with Eastertide, and not so much with Easter per se. And every year, as I make my way through the daily propers and the Sabbath texts, I feel the same need to say, “But…..” I never say it, of course, but… But I want to say it here, now, with these pixels. Then maybe I’ll get it out of my system before this time next year.... Read more
Emergent Village
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In