Listening to Sirius XMU at work provoked the following thoughts about about Indie Rock and Emergence: Pre-mainstream. Both have touched upon the edges of society who are looking for a different expression. I find it ironic that the old mainstream Mainline churches are far more open to emergence than Evangelicals at large who have become the new mainstream. The common way of doing faith or doing music doesn’t work for emergents or indie rockers. They’re looking for a more relevant... Read more
Many emerging Christians have been influenced by deconstructionist postmodernism. Profoundly iconoclastic, deconstructionism challenges any attempt to form universal theologies or fathom God’s nature. God remains a deep mystery, beyond any human articulation whether in text, tradition, liturgy, or symbol. God is a deep and dazzling darkness whose incomprehensibility inspires silence and humility. Yet, mystics and believers have also spoken of God as accessible, embodied, and intimate in such a way that construction and deconstruction, image and mystery, complement one another.... Read more
If I hear this once more, ” man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord “…I’m going to gag because I know what you mean. I don’t read the Bible enough. I think too much. That scripture does show up in the Old Testament, I would give reference to where it’s found, but I’m sure you already know, and…will tell me. But it makes me think of Jesus trial in... Read more
History will tell if the Occupy Movement spurs any sort of actual change in America. I line up on some the issues of societal justice that the movement desires. I also disagree with some things. Here is something I do believe: The wealthy have a unique responsibility. The wealthiest of the wealthy – the top 1% – even more so. My friend Wess Stafford says this: “The opposite of poverty isn’t wealth. The opposite of poverty is enough.” He’s probably... Read more
Hi Villagers, As many of you know, EV is a partnering sponsor for a great event in May called Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity, which will gather leaders, ministers, volunteers, parents, and students to spark conversations about youth and children. We will talk about innovative practices, critical issues, and controversial topics like violence, racism, interfaith dialogue, and sexuality. Even better, YOU have the ability to participate in a direct way. Share your ideas about children’s and youth ministry through an... Read more
As a reader of the this blog, you are already attuned to social media. You know what it means not only to communicate, but to converse. You know what it means not only to tell but to invite. You know what it means not only to post but to share. But not everyone is, and that is ok. Some of us get into new ways of being even without knowing it is happening. As the co-owner of Social Phonics –... Read more
The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. — Isaiah 11:6 Maybe I should have known, but it occurred to me a few years ago that the Christmas decoration Pete Peterson made with a lion and a lamb and the word PEACE might be obscure for some folks. Many people, Christians and otherwise, recognize the guy with... Read more
My wife Pam and I spend New Years Eve with our friends Bob Scott and Sharon Linnea. Bob’s hobby is gourmet cooking and this year, like previous ones, did not disappoint. One of the seven or eight (I lost count) courses of the evening was a Caesar salad deconstruction. I was unfamiliar with deconstruction in regard to food. Basically, a deconstructed dish is one that takes foods that are normally combined, changes their forms and puts them on the plate... Read more
Warning: Name-dropping ahead! I had the pleasure this summer to work opposite Shirley Jones. Shirley won the Academy Award for her role in Elmer Gantry in 1960. She may be better known these days as Mrs. Partridge, but she was a certified top-of-the-A-list movie star 50 years ago. We did a scene together in our latest romantic comedy, A Strange Brand of Happy. Brad Wise, the director, asked us to simply improvise a conversation to see what might happen. Brad... Read more
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