Well, I made it through the four books I wanted to finish by the end of the year.
The fourth book is clearly the most controversial of the group as it challenges us to rethink our views on Christianity and sexuality. The challenge comes from Miguel De La Torre in Lily Among the Thorns: Imagining a New Christian Sexuality. De La Torre's purpose is to provide an alternative view to the conservative view which makes sex, even sometimes within marriage, taboo, and the liberal view which says sex is private and if no one gets hurt then anything goes.
The book begins by discussing how patriarchial views of society and sexuality throughout the centuries have led to the domination of women by men. This transitioned into the move by colonizers to feminize people of color, and supporting it with scripture, providing the justification to dominate people of color.
He then goes on to explain that great sex is that which exists between two consenting adults in a familial relationship, familial being a relationship of mutual giving and vulnerability. Familial is a relationship that is free of patriarchy and full of justice.
He chooses the word familial based on the fact that not all marital sexual relations are healthy, due to the power one partner holds over the other, and on his assertion that the Bible does not explicitly limit sex to marriage. (see Song of Songs) In fact, he asserts, if we look to the Bible for what it says about issues of sex and stories in which God is silent, the Bible gives a most "untraditional" and disturbing picture of sex and marriage.
To De La Torre, great sex is found in familial relationships of mutual giving and vulnerabilty in which each partner has equal power and freedom in a monogamous, non-extramarital context. These relationships result in the Hebrew concepts of shalom "that denotes peace, solidarity, well-being, and wholeness" and shelmut connoting completeness. The result is "a harmonius completeness" between lovers. This shalom and shelmut between lovers can then go on to instruct us on how to love others in ways that lead to justice.
The second half of the book then focuses what it takes to have orthoeros in one's life. Orthoeros is a term coined by De La Torre meaning correct erotic sex. He coins this term to focus on the need for justice in sexual relationships. Views on sex and sexual practices feed into political ideology and theology, thus playing a role in whether or not there is justice in the world.
This is a book that will most likely challenge much of what we think about sex. It will require many to rethink their views on scripture to deal with some of the troubling sexual stories we find in the canon. It challenges us to rethink if marriage is the only time people should be lovers, though the way De La Torre lays out familial relationships makes one think such a relationship is a precursor to marriage. It will also challenge the reader to rethink their views on homosexuality. Most importantly, the book demonstrates how sex is more than a private matter. It is part of a much larger picture of justice and the gospel of Christ.
With origins in a conservative Christian tradition, this book is an uncomfortable read as it is suggesting a complete paradigm shift in how we think about sex. It is brief, yet comprehensive, and makes some of the clearest arguments on the subject matter I have seen. It is a thoughtful, yet controversial book, and I urge you to challenge yourself by giving it a read.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Surprised By Hope
In his 2008 offering, Surprised By Hope, N. T. Wright sets out to re-evaluate the historical and literary data surrounding the New Testament and provide an alternative to the two prevailing views of the gospel. Those prevailing views are the liberal myth of progress which claims that we are the ones who will bring heaven to earth through our own efforts and the conservative view of despair that claims the gospel is about going to heaven when you die with little if any relevance for the here and now.
The liberal view, Wright asserts, assumes the need is to claim power structures for themselves not understanding that those structures are fallen and create the problems they seek to address. The conservative view, in assuming there is nothing that can really be done beyond acts of charity, ends up supporting these powers by default.
Wright explains that if we cast off the influences platonic philosophy of body-soul dualism, Constantian idealogy of Christian domination, and the hyper-individualization of the Enlightenment, we find a relevant gospel charged with fervor: Christ in facing death in the powers refused to participate in their oppression, in his resurrection defeated death, the tool of domination used by the powers, and in his return calls us to live the life of the resurrection (or new creation) by seeking justice in putting up building blocks of justice/new creation anticipating the final act of God when the kingdom of God is fully established and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven and continuing to proclaim to the powers that they are not the ultimate authority and have already been defeated.
Wright states, "The difference between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God lies exactly in this, that the kingdom of God comes through the death and resurrection of his Son, not through naked displays of brute force or wealth."
This book helped me have a joyful Christmas. I often go through all the ritual, both secular and religious, and feel we continue to miss the point putting me in a bit of a Charlie Brown-style funk. Yet, ironically, this book that suggests we should put more emphasis on Easter rather than Christmas, reminded of the hope found in the birth of Jesus. Christ was, is, and is to come. In remembering his birth, we are reminded that death, the greatest enemy of God and most threatening tool of the powers, has been defeated. We shall speak out against and resist injustice knowing ultimately, whatever the powers may do, we shall live.
Well, that book three of four which I hoped to complete by years' end. I've almost completed book four, so keep you eyes peeled to the blog.
The liberal view, Wright asserts, assumes the need is to claim power structures for themselves not understanding that those structures are fallen and create the problems they seek to address. The conservative view, in assuming there is nothing that can really be done beyond acts of charity, ends up supporting these powers by default.
Wright explains that if we cast off the influences platonic philosophy of body-soul dualism, Constantian idealogy of Christian domination, and the hyper-individualization of the Enlightenment, we find a relevant gospel charged with fervor: Christ in facing death in the powers refused to participate in their oppression, in his resurrection defeated death, the tool of domination used by the powers, and in his return calls us to live the life of the resurrection (or new creation) by seeking justice in putting up building blocks of justice/new creation anticipating the final act of God when the kingdom of God is fully established and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven and continuing to proclaim to the powers that they are not the ultimate authority and have already been defeated.
Wright states, "The difference between the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God lies exactly in this, that the kingdom of God comes through the death and resurrection of his Son, not through naked displays of brute force or wealth."
This book helped me have a joyful Christmas. I often go through all the ritual, both secular and religious, and feel we continue to miss the point putting me in a bit of a Charlie Brown-style funk. Yet, ironically, this book that suggests we should put more emphasis on Easter rather than Christmas, reminded of the hope found in the birth of Jesus. Christ was, is, and is to come. In remembering his birth, we are reminded that death, the greatest enemy of God and most threatening tool of the powers, has been defeated. We shall speak out against and resist injustice knowing ultimately, whatever the powers may do, we shall live.
Well, that book three of four which I hoped to complete by years' end. I've almost completed book four, so keep you eyes peeled to the blog.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Read any good books lately?
At our last meeting several mentioned that we hoped to finish some books we'd started throughout the past year - which led to the suggestion that we each post a short review or reaction to our reading here on the blog.
So finish that book and share your thoughts with us by adding a comment to this post.
So finish that book and share your thoughts with us by adding a comment to this post.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Powers That Be
Well, book two of four is complete. This time I read Naming the Powers by Walter Wink. It is the first of a trilogy he began publishing in 1984 and that is quickly becoming a classic.
Here, Wink's goal is to counteract centuries of biblical interpretation that has failed to realize that the language in Scripture referring to powers and authorities does not refer solely to spiritual forces. In fact, he asserts, while the language refers to both spiritual and earthly powers, it mainly refers to earthly powers.
This was brought to my mind today in Sunday School when the question was asked, "Why is the gift of Christ the greatest gift of all?," and was followed by the question, "How do you give the Christmas gift of Christ to others?" I explained when I think of Mary's Magnificat and that the angels appeared to shepherds and foreigners instead of those Jesus seemed to have came to deliver, I am reminded that God identifies with those who are exploited by the powers that be.
I said this makes the gift great, that Christ's birth proclaimed to the powers, powers created by God and inherently good, that they are not reflecting the goodness of their creator and shall be called to task for the many injustices they have trangressed.
As Wink puts it, these powers have falsely established themselves as the ultimate. Christ proclaims a different spirituality: he is the ultimate and his way is love rather than domination. This, Wink says, is where both conservative and liberal Christians have missed the boat. They have sought to overcome these corrupt powers by gaining that corrupt power for themselves not realizing that these powers are fed by a false spirituality.
So we proclaim the gift of the true spirituality of Christ as the ultimate whose Lordship revolutionizes what the worldly powers have made lordship to be in their image. We give this gift by speaking truth to the powers, including those that fuel the system in which we live and benefit, and by providing what refuge we can to those who are exploited by the powers.
The result will be twofold: 1) the very existence of the powers will be threatened by the proclamation of a true spirituality, and 2) people will find deliverance in an authentic way of life instead of that destructive value system they were duped to participate in.
With that, I began book three and wish you an excellent Advent and a Merry Christmas. Remember, in this season we celebrate the arrival of God's Kingdom on earth.
Here, Wink's goal is to counteract centuries of biblical interpretation that has failed to realize that the language in Scripture referring to powers and authorities does not refer solely to spiritual forces. In fact, he asserts, while the language refers to both spiritual and earthly powers, it mainly refers to earthly powers.
This was brought to my mind today in Sunday School when the question was asked, "Why is the gift of Christ the greatest gift of all?," and was followed by the question, "How do you give the Christmas gift of Christ to others?" I explained when I think of Mary's Magnificat and that the angels appeared to shepherds and foreigners instead of those Jesus seemed to have came to deliver, I am reminded that God identifies with those who are exploited by the powers that be.
I said this makes the gift great, that Christ's birth proclaimed to the powers, powers created by God and inherently good, that they are not reflecting the goodness of their creator and shall be called to task for the many injustices they have trangressed.
As Wink puts it, these powers have falsely established themselves as the ultimate. Christ proclaims a different spirituality: he is the ultimate and his way is love rather than domination. This, Wink says, is where both conservative and liberal Christians have missed the boat. They have sought to overcome these corrupt powers by gaining that corrupt power for themselves not realizing that these powers are fed by a false spirituality.
So we proclaim the gift of the true spirituality of Christ as the ultimate whose Lordship revolutionizes what the worldly powers have made lordship to be in their image. We give this gift by speaking truth to the powers, including those that fuel the system in which we live and benefit, and by providing what refuge we can to those who are exploited by the powers.
The result will be twofold: 1) the very existence of the powers will be threatened by the proclamation of a true spirituality, and 2) people will find deliverance in an authentic way of life instead of that destructive value system they were duped to participate in.
With that, I began book three and wish you an excellent Advent and a Merry Christmas. Remember, in this season we celebrate the arrival of God's Kingdom on earth.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Anselm's God-Man
Well, I'm blogging. Sorry it took awhile. It's been a busy couple of weeks. After all, I still have 2.5 books to read by year's end.
I just finished Joerg Rieger's Christ and Empire. The premise of the book is that the doctrine of Christ has been understood to have developed in a vacuum. By assuming this, we have missed how the doctrine was shaped by the political contexts in which it was found and that it ended up supporting empire as it was formed by those in positions of power. However, the idea of Christ itself is so dynamic and unable to be boxed in by empire that even these traditional doctrinal statements leave openings to be reintepreted to resist empire.
The chapter that caught my eye the most was on Anselm's doctrine of the God-Man. This doctrine is that which affirms that Christ was fully God and fully man and sets forth the satisfaction theory of atonement: Christ came and took our place to restore the violated honor God.
There's two major points here. First, the idea of satisfaction needs to be placed in its historical context. This doctrine came together in the days of the feudal system. Within the Norman conquest of England, there were many fiefdoms. The lords of these fiefdoms were responsible for their territory and demanded absolute obedience of their subjects who had to answer to them and the king. Obedience meant order and honor. Disobedience meant chaos and dishonoring the lord and the king. So when someone was disobedient, they came down hard. The lord and the king's honor had to be restored. Honor was important because recognizing one's place in society is what maintained order.
There were two ways to restore order: punishment and satisfaction, instituting interpersonal relationships that overcome the distortion of the relationship.
So here are a few observations:
1) Satisfaction is not about God getting violent revenge, but restoring order.
2) The satisfaction theory of atonement was formulated with the existing power structures in the background and fails to redefine lordship.
3) Despite that failure, notice that Anselm chooses the nonviolent option for restoring order. This will become important in considering the second point.
The second point is this, Anselm wrote of this doctrine in Cur Dues Homo in which he speaks to a student of the need to convince "unbelievers" of the reasons why God becoming man makes sense. This is important in this time in which the church felt the need to reconcile God's omnipotence, impassibility, and immutability with the idea of God becoming man and dying. Now, today we assume "nonbelievers" refers to people without any kind of faith. Yet, that was not the concern then like today when battles against secular humanism and other such things tend to be the focus of many Christians.
Instead, other religions were the main issue. Yet, the issue goes even deeper than the level of religious ideas and is a response to two developments: economic developments that led to a migration of Jewish peoples into urban areas of the Norman Empire and the Crusades. The result is the repression of the Jewish peoples and military action in Jerusalem.
The significance here is that what the empire tried to achieve by the sword, Anselm tried to achieve by reason. Anselm again seems to think in terms of peace while not questioning whether or not God really backs the empire and assuming superiority to his counterparts.
Rieger's insights challenge us to evaluate all out traditional doctrines and see where they lead us to support abusive power structures. My mind goes straight to dispensationalism and the end times. I see a great deal of this in Left Behind thinking and back in our history with Manifest Destiny. What do you think of any of this?
I just finished Joerg Rieger's Christ and Empire. The premise of the book is that the doctrine of Christ has been understood to have developed in a vacuum. By assuming this, we have missed how the doctrine was shaped by the political contexts in which it was found and that it ended up supporting empire as it was formed by those in positions of power. However, the idea of Christ itself is so dynamic and unable to be boxed in by empire that even these traditional doctrinal statements leave openings to be reintepreted to resist empire.
The chapter that caught my eye the most was on Anselm's doctrine of the God-Man. This doctrine is that which affirms that Christ was fully God and fully man and sets forth the satisfaction theory of atonement: Christ came and took our place to restore the violated honor God.
There's two major points here. First, the idea of satisfaction needs to be placed in its historical context. This doctrine came together in the days of the feudal system. Within the Norman conquest of England, there were many fiefdoms. The lords of these fiefdoms were responsible for their territory and demanded absolute obedience of their subjects who had to answer to them and the king. Obedience meant order and honor. Disobedience meant chaos and dishonoring the lord and the king. So when someone was disobedient, they came down hard. The lord and the king's honor had to be restored. Honor was important because recognizing one's place in society is what maintained order.
There were two ways to restore order: punishment and satisfaction, instituting interpersonal relationships that overcome the distortion of the relationship.
So here are a few observations:
1) Satisfaction is not about God getting violent revenge, but restoring order.
2) The satisfaction theory of atonement was formulated with the existing power structures in the background and fails to redefine lordship.
3) Despite that failure, notice that Anselm chooses the nonviolent option for restoring order. This will become important in considering the second point.
The second point is this, Anselm wrote of this doctrine in Cur Dues Homo in which he speaks to a student of the need to convince "unbelievers" of the reasons why God becoming man makes sense. This is important in this time in which the church felt the need to reconcile God's omnipotence, impassibility, and immutability with the idea of God becoming man and dying. Now, today we assume "nonbelievers" refers to people without any kind of faith. Yet, that was not the concern then like today when battles against secular humanism and other such things tend to be the focus of many Christians.
Instead, other religions were the main issue. Yet, the issue goes even deeper than the level of religious ideas and is a response to two developments: economic developments that led to a migration of Jewish peoples into urban areas of the Norman Empire and the Crusades. The result is the repression of the Jewish peoples and military action in Jerusalem.
The significance here is that what the empire tried to achieve by the sword, Anselm tried to achieve by reason. Anselm again seems to think in terms of peace while not questioning whether or not God really backs the empire and assuming superiority to his counterparts.
Rieger's insights challenge us to evaluate all out traditional doctrines and see where they lead us to support abusive power structures. My mind goes straight to dispensationalism and the end times. I see a great deal of this in Left Behind thinking and back in our history with Manifest Destiny. What do you think of any of this?
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Recap kingdom versus empire
Six intrepid souls braved the cold wind to join our discussion about "when should the kingdom resist the empire?" Opinions varied from "always" (due to the natural tension between kingdom and empire) to "whenever we see the empire acting unjustly." An interesting thread centered on what to do when the church starts acting more like the empire than the kingdom...
This was Beth's first time to visit. Welcome, Beth!
Joseph took 14 minutes to discuss some of his latest thinking on theology and Larry shared the news from Casey that he and Kasey are moving to Abilene, so Casey can take a new position with Abilene Christian University. Casey and Kasey, we'll miss you. Vaya con Dios!
J.D. stepped up and volunteered to help maintain this blog. You should see his input as soon as I get him authoring rights.
We'll meet again on January 29. The group suggested we spend some time reading and blogging about what we read between now and then, then we'll talk about our holiday reading at our next meeting.
To inspire you, J.D. says he is going to finish the 3 or 4 books he started this year but never finished. Sounds like a great place to start! (That means I should finish the Shack and The Blue Parakeet...)
So leave a comment and tell us what you're reading.
Maranatha!
This was Beth's first time to visit. Welcome, Beth!
Joseph took 14 minutes to discuss some of his latest thinking on theology and Larry shared the news from Casey that he and Kasey are moving to Abilene, so Casey can take a new position with Abilene Christian University. Casey and Kasey, we'll miss you. Vaya con Dios!
J.D. stepped up and volunteered to help maintain this blog. You should see his input as soon as I get him authoring rights.
We'll meet again on January 29. The group suggested we spend some time reading and blogging about what we read between now and then, then we'll talk about our holiday reading at our next meeting.
To inspire you, J.D. says he is going to finish the 3 or 4 books he started this year but never finished. Sounds like a great place to start! (That means I should finish the Shack and The Blue Parakeet...)
So leave a comment and tell us what you're reading.
Maranatha!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Kingdom versus Empire
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, November 20 - due to the Thanksgiving holiday. We will discuss the question "when is it appropriate for the Kingdom to resist the Empire?"
Hope to see you at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano.
Hope to see you at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Jesus for President Part II Recap
The October 30th North Dallas Cohort (NDC) meeting was thought provoking and enjoyable highlighted by a great crowd and stimulating discussion. Jimmy Cramer, a friend of the Brummet's, joined us for the first time. As always, there was no shortage of interesting discussion and unique perspectives!
Due to the upcoming holidays, we decided that we would meet one more time this year - Thursday, November 20th. The first meeting in 2009 will be Thursday, January 29th. Both meetings will be at our usual gathering place.
We began by discussing and contrasting two of the leading emergent writers and thinkers - Brian McLaren and Shane Claiborne. Their books and contributions have had a major impact on the development of emergent thought and for many of the North Dallas Cohort. Their messages are very similar and kingdom focused. Brian was seen as a more eloquent, persuasive, almost academic contributor with a very moving and inspirational approach. Shane's writings and message are equally motivating, stimulating and thought provoking, however; his style was viewed as more of a social activist.
The NDC also discussed the challenges facing today's the traditional church. We agreed that the reference to 'church' carried with it a certain amount of negative baggage. To some this implies an institution, a specific dogma or doctrine, uniformity, a building, and the primary place of worship. Unfortunately, a location, where we spend only 1-2 hours each week (at best). We also discussed how the traditional church at times appears to be incorporating Christian and American democratic principles as a unified theology that lures people into a political correct view of church. In some cases, placing more emphasis on politics and national interests than Christ's teachings. Consumerism was also cited as a key contributing factor to this co-mingling of religion and politics. Racism was also noted as a subliminal, almost unconscious factor also shaping our church views and practices. We agreed that we needed new language, new rituals, inclusion, and emergent practices to realize Christ's kingdom message.
As we adjourned, we agreed that the key topic for the November 20th meeting would be ..."when it is appropriate to resist the Empire".
Peace,
Due to the upcoming holidays, we decided that we would meet one more time this year - Thursday, November 20th. The first meeting in 2009 will be Thursday, January 29th. Both meetings will be at our usual gathering place.
We began by discussing and contrasting two of the leading emergent writers and thinkers - Brian McLaren and Shane Claiborne. Their books and contributions have had a major impact on the development of emergent thought and for many of the North Dallas Cohort. Their messages are very similar and kingdom focused. Brian was seen as a more eloquent, persuasive, almost academic contributor with a very moving and inspirational approach. Shane's writings and message are equally motivating, stimulating and thought provoking, however; his style was viewed as more of a social activist.
The NDC also discussed the challenges facing today's the traditional church. We agreed that the reference to 'church' carried with it a certain amount of negative baggage. To some this implies an institution, a specific dogma or doctrine, uniformity, a building, and the primary place of worship. Unfortunately, a location, where we spend only 1-2 hours each week (at best). We also discussed how the traditional church at times appears to be incorporating Christian and American democratic principles as a unified theology that lures people into a political correct view of church. In some cases, placing more emphasis on politics and national interests than Christ's teachings. Consumerism was also cited as a key contributing factor to this co-mingling of religion and politics. Racism was also noted as a subliminal, almost unconscious factor also shaping our church views and practices. We agreed that we needed new language, new rituals, inclusion, and emergent practices to realize Christ's kingdom message.
As we adjourned, we agreed that the key topic for the November 20th meeting would be ..."when it is appropriate to resist the Empire".
Peace,
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Jesus for President Part 2 - October 30
Join us Thursday, October 30 when Al will help us explore whether it is too late to redeem Sunday mornings in institutional churches, and J.D. will lead us into a discussion about the question: "when is it appropriate to resist the Empire?" This promises to be a great conversation, and so timely just before the election. Reading some or all of Claiborne's book is NOT a prerequisite for this discussion - so come on and enjoy the dialogue
Hope to see you at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano.
Hope to see you at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Jesus for President Part I - Recap
About half of the September group had been able to read some or all of Jesus for President, so we spent some time reviewing the themes that had resonated with us. We talked about the Israelite nation rejecting God as their King and the way the Empire merged with the church after the time of Constantine; and we explored parallels in our contemporary world.
As Steve predicted, we needed more than one meeting for this topic, so next time Al will help us explore whether it is too late to redeem Sunday mornings in institutional churches, and J.D. will lead us into a discussion about the question: "when is it appropriate to resist the Empire?"
If you can get a copy of the book, great, but don't let that keep you away from our discussion - hope to see you in October.
As Steve predicted, we needed more than one meeting for this topic, so next time Al will help us explore whether it is too late to redeem Sunday mornings in institutional churches, and J.D. will lead us into a discussion about the question: "when is it appropriate to resist the Empire?"
If you can get a copy of the book, great, but don't let that keep you away from our discussion - hope to see you in October.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Jesus for President - September 25
Just in time for the elections, we will discuss Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne at our meeting on September 25. Grab a copy of the book and enjoy some post-political convention reading. See you at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Next Meeting August 28
Mark your calendar for our next cohort meeting, Thursday, August 28 at 7:00 P.M. at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano. Casey and J.D. will lead a discussion of liberation theology. Hope you can join us.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
July Meeting Recap
Our July meeting was a time to catch up with each other. Casey reported that the Church Basement Roadshow was a lot of fun and a good review of the 3 authors’ latest books. Susan has been reading Donald Miller’s Searching for God Knows What. Ron read, but did not recommend, Roots and Wings. Joseph has been reading Wallis’ The Great Awakening. Clay is still reading the Voice. Larry and Casey talked about unChristian by Kinnaman. Casey has been reading Witness: Voices from the Holocaust by Greene and Kumar.
We wrapped up our meeting with a brief discussion of liberation theology and decided to continue that conversation at our August meeting on the 28th. Hope you can join us.
We wrapped up our meeting with a brief discussion of liberation theology and decided to continue that conversation at our August meeting on the 28th. Hope you can join us.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Next meeting - July 31, 2008
Our next meeting will be July 31st at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano. That's just west of Coit Road on Spring Creek Pkwy.
Kasey and/or J.D. will get the conversation started by discussing how history is always written by the victors and what liberation theology can teach us, and Casey will give us a report on the Church Basement Roadshow. This promises to be a great discussion. Hope to see you there.
Kasey and/or J.D. will get the conversation started by discussing how history is always written by the victors and what liberation theology can teach us, and Casey will give us a report on the Church Basement Roadshow. This promises to be a great discussion. Hope to see you there.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Planting a garden as a revolutionary act
In sort of a hybrid between our earlier post about the themes of the movie WALL-E and our discussion in June about community gardens, you might want to read Rod Dreher's "Felling Subversive?" article in the Dallas Morning News on Sunday, July 13. If you look in the print edition, it is on page 4P. Here is the link for the on-line version.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Church Basement Roadshow
Danielle Shroyer asked that we help spread the word:
The Roadshow will be in FORT WORTH on Wednesday, July 16th at:
First Presbyterian Church
1000 Penn St
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 335-1231
The Roadshow will be in DALLAS on Friday, July 18th at:
Trinity Presbyterian Church
901 N. Zang Blvd
Dallas, TX
*please note that the sign at the church will not say Trinity Presbyterian, but we will have posters outside to let you know you are at the right place!
Both evenings begin at 7:30pm and the cost is $10 at the door. If you are on Facebook, you can RSVP to either of these events there. And please do pass this along to your friends!
The Roadshow will be in FORT WORTH on Wednesday, July 16th at:
First Presbyterian Church
1000 Penn St
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 335-1231
The Roadshow will be in DALLAS on Friday, July 18th at:
Trinity Presbyterian Church
901 N. Zang Blvd
Dallas, TX
*please note that the sign at the church will not say Trinity Presbyterian, but we will have posters outside to let you know you are at the right place!
Both evenings begin at 7:30pm and the cost is $10 at the door. If you are on Facebook, you can RSVP to either of these events there. And please do pass this along to your friends!
Monday, June 30, 2008
June Meeting Recap
We had a record high attendance of 13! Not bad for our third meeting. J.D., Phillip, Alan & Rachel, and Steve & Susan came for the first time. Kasey got the conversation going by talking about her growing interest (okay, pun intended) in community gardening. From there we touched on the ethics of working with neighborhood associations (is it better to ask forgiveness or permission?), various sources of free gardening advice and stuff, the impact of high energy costs on our neighborhoods, how to minister to neighbors who are on the brink of losing their homes (Phillip said that about 18% are already there locally), and how emerging churches and non-emerging churches are equipped to deal with the changes we are seeing in our culture.
If I left out a theme, please post a comment to add it to the list.
Steve suggested some websites related to community gardening:
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/ - urban homesteading
http://www.freecycle.org/ - source of free stuff
http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html - source of low cost or free stuff
Terry mentioned that his church has a ministry providing free furniture to families in need. Contact Terry at terryc_11855@verizon.net if you have furniture to donate, if you know of any sources of free furniture, or if you know of any families in need. There is always a demand for children’s furniture.
If you want to stay in touch with Alan & Rachel Howell after they return to Montepuez, Mozambique in mid-July, their blog is http://howellsinmoz.blogspot.com/, their email is Africahowells@yahoo.com and their team web is http://www.makuateam.org/
If you are interested in learning more about David Hawkins’ Power vs. Force, email Joseph at whitner@sbcglobal.net Also, Joseph is going to work up a PowerPoint presentation about his model of integrative spirituality. E-mail Joseph for more information.
Next time: Kasey and/or J.D. will get the conversation started by discussing how history is always written by the victors and what liberation theology can teach us. J. D. suggests these readings on liberation theology:
-The Powers trilogy of Walter Wink
-The Co-liberation thought of Brian McLaren in Everything Must Change
-Miguel de la Torre Reading the Bible from the Margins and Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins
-A series by Fortress Press called A People's History of Christianity
-Christ and Empire by Joerg Rieger
-Jesus and Empire and The Message of the Kingdom by Richard Horsley
-Also, James Cone, Desmond Tutu, Leonardo and Clovis Boff, Oscar Romero, and Gustavo Gutierrez.
It should be a great conversation. See you July 31st.
If I left out a theme, please post a comment to add it to the list.
Steve suggested some websites related to community gardening:
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/ - urban homesteading
http://www.freecycle.org/ - source of free stuff
http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html - source of low cost or free stuff
Terry mentioned that his church has a ministry providing free furniture to families in need. Contact Terry at terryc_11855@verizon.net if you have furniture to donate, if you know of any sources of free furniture, or if you know of any families in need. There is always a demand for children’s furniture.
If you want to stay in touch with Alan & Rachel Howell after they return to Montepuez, Mozambique in mid-July, their blog is http://howellsinmoz.blogspot.com/, their email is Africahowells@yahoo.com and their team web is http://www.makuateam.org/
If you are interested in learning more about David Hawkins’ Power vs. Force, email Joseph at whitner@sbcglobal.net Also, Joseph is going to work up a PowerPoint presentation about his model of integrative spirituality. E-mail Joseph for more information.
Next time: Kasey and/or J.D. will get the conversation started by discussing how history is always written by the victors and what liberation theology can teach us. J. D. suggests these readings on liberation theology:
-The Powers trilogy of Walter Wink
-The Co-liberation thought of Brian McLaren in Everything Must Change
-Miguel de la Torre Reading the Bible from the Margins and Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins
-A series by Fortress Press called A People's History of Christianity
-Christ and Empire by Joerg Rieger
-Jesus and Empire and The Message of the Kingdom by Richard Horsley
-Also, James Cone, Desmond Tutu, Leonardo and Clovis Boff, Oscar Romero, and Gustavo Gutierrez.
It should be a great conversation. See you July 31st.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
WALL-E‘s Biblical Themes
After watching WALL-E with my daughter’s family on Friday, we agreed that several of the plot lines had ties back to the Bible. (WARNING – possible plot spoilers ahead….)
First, there are ties to the Genesis account of the flood: Mankind is saved by escaping a flood (of garbage) on a large (space) ship. Those on the ship send out a (robotic) dove, which brings back evidence of earth’s renewed plant life, initiating the process of re-populating the earth.
Then there is the obviously feminine character (robot) E.V.E., whose determination to follow “the directive” falters only once, happily with fewer consequences than in the Genesis account. And mankind, who has been lulled into over-consumption by all the technology provided by the “Buy-N-Large” corporation, is gently-but-prophetically interrupted back to reality, and back into action, by WALL-E.
Perhaps I’ve been influenced by the thirteen chapters of Wright’s Surprised by Hope I have finished so far, but I also saw elements of Revelation 21’s new earth in the film’s closing scene and the images of rebuilding that appeared with the final credits.
So, did we see everything? Did we read too much into it? Go see the movie yourself and let me know what you think.
First, there are ties to the Genesis account of the flood: Mankind is saved by escaping a flood (of garbage) on a large (space) ship. Those on the ship send out a (robotic) dove, which brings back evidence of earth’s renewed plant life, initiating the process of re-populating the earth.
Then there is the obviously feminine character (robot) E.V.E., whose determination to follow “the directive” falters only once, happily with fewer consequences than in the Genesis account. And mankind, who has been lulled into over-consumption by all the technology provided by the “Buy-N-Large” corporation, is gently-but-prophetically interrupted back to reality, and back into action, by WALL-E.
Perhaps I’ve been influenced by the thirteen chapters of Wright’s Surprised by Hope I have finished so far, but I also saw elements of Revelation 21’s new earth in the film’s closing scene and the images of rebuilding that appeared with the final credits.
So, did we see everything? Did we read too much into it? Go see the movie yourself and let me know what you think.
Friday, June 27, 2008
N. T. Wright
If you missed seeing N.T. Wright on the Colbert Report, here is the link:
http://www.spike.com/video/2995361?cmpnid=716&pt=sr&refsite=7103
Check it out!
http://www.spike.com/video/2995361?cmpnid=716&pt=sr&refsite=7103
Check it out!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Next Meeting - June 26, 2008
Our next meeting will be June 26th at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano. That's just west of Coit Road on Spring Creek Pkwy.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
What we are reading - May meeting recap
Ron made some of us a bit envious by telling of his recent trip to Lake Livingston where he enjoyed some time to read and relax. With that inspiration, we went around the circle and here is what cohort members say they have been reading:
The Shack by William Young
The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now by Tolle
Reinventing the Sacred by Stuart Kauffman
Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder
The Spirituality of Imperfection by Kurtz and Ketcham
Women's Way of Knowing by Belenky, et.al.
Sex God by Rob Bell
The New Christians by Tony Jones
Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
A Christianity Worth Believing by Doug Pagitt
Hearing God by Dallas Willard
Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren
That led to an interesting discussion of where we see emergence appearing in our culture.
Kasey suggested that we keep reading and sharing and see where that discussion takes us for our next meeting on June 26. Her suggestion sounded great, so keep reading and bring your thoughts to the next meeting. Thanks, Kasey!
The Shack by William Young
The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now by Tolle
Reinventing the Sacred by Stuart Kauffman
Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder
The Spirituality of Imperfection by Kurtz and Ketcham
Women's Way of Knowing by Belenky, et.al.
Sex God by Rob Bell
The New Christians by Tony Jones
Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
A Christianity Worth Believing by Doug Pagitt
Hearing God by Dallas Willard
Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren
That led to an interesting discussion of where we see emergence appearing in our culture.
Kasey suggested that we keep reading and sharing and see where that discussion takes us for our next meeting on June 26. Her suggestion sounded great, so keep reading and bring your thoughts to the next meeting. Thanks, Kasey!
Church Basement Roadshow comes to Texas
Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, and Mark Scandrette are bringing their new project, the Church Basement Roadshow, to Texas in July. Here is the schedule:
Wednesday July 16 in Fort Worth at eucatastrophe
Friday July 18 in Dallas at Journey
Saturday July 19 in Austin at Journey Imperfect Faith Community
Sunday July 20 in Houston at Ecclesia
For more information see http://churchbasementroadshow.com/
Wednesday July 16 in Fort Worth at eucatastrophe
Friday July 18 in Dallas at Journey
Saturday July 19 in Austin at Journey Imperfect Faith Community
Sunday July 20 in Houston at Ecclesia
For more information see http://churchbasementroadshow.com/
Saturday, May 3, 2008
May 2008 Meeting & Time Change
Our next meeting will be May 29th at 7:00 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano. That's just west of Coit Road on Spring Creek Pkwy.
Several mentioned to me that we might try an earlier start time. So we'll start about 7:00 and plan to go until about 8:30 and of course anyone can stay as late as they want.
If you can't arrive until 7:45 or so, that's okay. You can jump in or out of the conversation as your schedule requires.
Several mentioned to me that we might try an earlier start time. So we'll start about 7:00 and plan to go until about 8:30 and of course anyone can stay as late as they want.
If you can't arrive until 7:45 or so, that's okay. You can jump in or out of the conversation as your schedule requires.
The Journey Begins
We had a great start on Thursday, May 1, 2008. A total of ten were able to show up for all or part of the night. We spent some time getting to know each other and exploring why each of us is interested in emergent. We just barely scratched the surface in talking about what topics, books, and theological viewpoints we'd like to discuss in future meetings, so that will be the emphasis of our next meeting on Thursday, May 29.
I'd like to invite those who were there to post a comment about what they thought about the meeting. And if you couldn't come, post a comment about what topics you'd like to discuss in the months to come.
Hope to see you on the 29th.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
First meeting planned
Join us Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 7:30 PM at It's a Grind, 4152 W. Spring Creek Pkwy in Plano. That's just west of Coit on Spring Creek.
Casey will start the conversation about getting the cohort started. We'd love to have you participate.
Casey will start the conversation about getting the cohort started. We'd love to have you participate.
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