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July 31, 2006
More from Out of Ur and expository preaching..
The Myth of Expository Preaching (part 3): responding to Scripture as a community
It makes no sense for the preacher who proclaims the Word of God to conclude with more notes of applications and "to do" lists. Instead the Word invokes postures of response: silence, submission, obedience, affirmation in faith, confession, and of course the Eucharistic celebration of participating in receiving the Body of Christ. Slowly I am formed through the faithful preaching of the Word and ever hearing, responding, submitting, obeying, confessing, affirming and acting in faith.
Posted by rhett at 01:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2006
More on the "Myth of Expository Preaching"
On July 6th I linked and responded to a blog entry by David Fitch at Out of Ur. Fitch wrote a piece called The Myth of Expository Preaching & the Commodification of the Word.
And now Fitch follows his first post up with The Myth of Expository Preaching (part 2): proclamation that inspires the imagination.
Great post. Fitch reflects on narrative theology and speaks about moving from "explaining to proclaiming" and from "textbook to drama."
I have been thinking about narrative a lot, especially in light of the Narrative Life and Family class I just finished up at Fuller.
Fitch says:
The primary move of preaching will not be sentence-by-sentence exposition & explaining, then an application. Instead the primary move of the preacher will be to describe the world as it is via the person and work of Jesus Christ, then invite the hearers into this reality by calling for submission, confession, obedience, or the affirmation of a truth.
In Brueggemann's words, we preach to "fund imagination."
I love what he says here.
He continues:
Preachers must resist all modernist temptations to see the Scriptures as a propositional textbook of religious facts.....
The hubris of pastors thinking they can exegete a text better and more accurately than the thousands that have gone before gets in the way of the Main Thing, the glory of his majestic work and what he is working for in history. This is where our imaginations will be fed. This is where we will be formed as missional people.
Posted by rhett at 10:57 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Experiencing God's Creation from a different perspective...
As many of you know, I am training for the Chicago Marathon in October and I am so excited about it. I find myself slowly becoming obsessed, though that may not be the word. I wasn't sure what it was, until I was reading Tod Bolsinger's blog where he discussed the Ironman Canada Triathlon which he will be a part of in August. Yes, Tod is swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 (a full marathon). That is amazing!
Tod says, "I don't do this to do Ironman, I do Ironman to do this." In context, he does the Ironman to be able to travel and experience God's creation from a different perspective. That of biking, swimming and running in places that we don't normally get the opportunity to do that.
That's what I have loved about running. I have been having an amazing time of running all over some of the more amazing parts of Pasadena where my wife and I live. And these are places I never would have experienced if I hadn't gotten out of the car. There is a new and amazing world out there waiting for me that I have not yet experienced, and running is helping me explore it in a new way. I have some friends who jog everyday of the week and they do it on vacation. Which I thought was crazy until they told me all the cool places the explored on foot that they never would have experienced on foot. We spend way too much time in our cars in Los Angeles, not to get out of them and get on our feet.
And thank you to my friends and family.
If the marathon goes well, maybe someday I will try one of the sprint triathlons.
Posted by rhett at 12:19 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Writing...
Wayne Bowerman has got a couple of great posts regarding why he writes. Good stuff and inspirational since I like writing myself. Check it out.
Posted by rhett at 12:09 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 27, 2006
What makes a church influential?
Mark Driscoll posts the 50 Most Influential Churches as put out by The Church Report.
Check out the list. Interesting. What makes a church influential? Do you agree with their criteria:
These churches are recommended by other church leaders as congregations that represent the passion and sense of mission mandated in the New Testament. They do not all share the same view of all biblical doctrine, their recognition came from others, and they do not view themselves as better than other churches. Each just considers itself as a church wanting to be pleasing and useful to God and their understanding of His mandates to them.
Changes in this years list reflects the rapid change and persity of ministry across the nation from year to year. It appears to also affirm the new expressions of ministry by emerging churches while also affirming the best of churches that endure through eras of dramatic change. We look forward to the churches that you will be recommending next year. Thanks to you who took the time to share in this year's survey.
Except for a few, the list seems to lack in ethnic diversity. And in a humorous twist, the only woman on the list is listed at #30...one spot ahead of, and right next to John MacArthur.
Posted by rhett at 11:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Rob Bell at Fuller...
Rob Bell will be speaking at Fuller on Tuesday, August 8th at 7:30pm.
tags: Rob Bell, Fuller Theological Seminary
Posted by rhett at 12:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2006
thinking in process....and narrative theology
Thinking in process can be dangerous....Well, at least to share those thoughts out loud, because they are still "out there", without roots. But I guess that depends who you are around. Thinking out loud and in process is not dangerous to everyone, and is quite welcomed by many. I am fortunate to be a part of several communities that allow for thinking out loud, processing, etc. Whether that's my friends at Fuller Seminary, or my family, or the students in the the ministry I pastor, I am blessed to be able to enter into conversation with them.
I am currently taking Narrative and Family Life in a summer intensive and it is greatly shaping my perspectives on many things. I have been looking forward to this class for a long time because I have been wondering and thinking about the importance of narrative, not only in therapy, but especially in theology. I am frustrated that theology has simply become at times about dissecting a text in order to make propositional statements so that a systematic theology can be developed. And in the process we have forgotten the importance of the story, of the narrative in the text that shaped the lives of the early Christians. The narrative pulled them into the story and history of their people and their God, so that their lives were not divorced from the story. Paul reminds the Corinthians in Chapter 15:3 that he is passing on what he has received, which is the gospel story. In 1 John 1:1-4, John reminds us that we proclaim what has been seen, touched and heard. It is rooted in history. It is rooted in story.
The Bible. Preaching. Teaching. It is simply more than going to a text and pulling out three cool bullet points that we can walk away with. It's more than using our knowledge of Greek and Hebrew to somehow wow the audience. it's more than fill in the blanks on a bulletin outline. I'm afraid that we have divorced the Bible from its story. And in the process we divorce our lives from the story.
What is it that we are giving people to shape their lives?
"...a theologian, regardless of the propositional statements he or she may have to make about a community's convictions, must consciously and continually strive to keep those statements in intimate contact with the narratives which gave rise to those convictions, within which they gain their sense and meaning, and from which they have been abstracted."
Theology and Narrative: A Critical Introduction by Michael Goldberg
Read Wikipedia's definition of Narrative theology
Read Alan Jacobs, What Narrative Theology Forgot in First Things.
Read Jesus, God and narrative theology at open source theology.
tags: narrative theology
Posted by rhett at 11:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 24, 2006
Monday Reflection: Running the race....
We have heard that cliche many times used before in the spiritual life..."running the race"....but I have always said it not really knowing what that entailed. Which is probably true of many cliches. They become cliches because there is truth in them, but after a while they lose any sense of the meaning, or are no longer taken seriously. But I feel like over the last couple of months I am becoming increasingly aware of what it means to "run the race" or to equate the Christian life with a race.
Should we even look at the Christian life this way? The Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 9:24-27 says:
24, Do you know know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. 25, Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last forever. 26, Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27, No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
So yes, I think this is a beautiful metaphor for the Christian life. Why am I beginning to understand this more these days? Because I have commited myself to running the Chicago Marathon with my brother on October 22nd, which I have mentioned before. I have never done a marathon in my life. And up until this point the farthest I have ever raced was the 400 meters in high school and the longest I have ever run was about 4-5 miles during college. So what am I doing running 26.2 miles? And can I do it? That is my fear? Or at least that was my fear.
I was overwhelmed at what making that commitment meant for my life. More sleep at night, which means more discipline and less surfing the blogosphere and reading late. Better diet, which means all kinds of things, like cutting back on my weakness, Mexican food, and eating way more vegetables and fruits and pastas. Getting the right running shoes. Yeah, did you know you just can't go out and run in any shoe? You actually have to go to a running store and have experts watch you run. Early morning runs. Ugh. It is a complete change in lifestyle, because everything you do is aimed at this one day. And I was overwhelmed. In fact, I wrestled for several days before making the commitment to run. And when I finally did make it I felt sick to my stomach.
I think this is the perfect metaphor for the Christian life. Paul drew an example from the Corinthians life and their experience of the Isthmus Games (think Olympics), and used it to help give them a fuller understanding of the Christian life. The metaphor hits home for me. Commiting to Christ is a life changer. Everything you do is about helping you achieve the goal. Everything you do is for the purpose of helping you become a disciple of Christ. Just as the importance of diet and exercise and sleep and shoes are important for running, so is prayer, reading God's word, community, worship, important for the spiritual life. And it is overwhelming at times.
I think a lot of Christians commit to follow Christ, unaware of all that it entails. And don't we often learn along the way anyways. And I think many people don't commit to Christ because all that it does entail can become overwhelming as well.
But all I can say is that I am obsessed with running. I think, sleep, eat, drink, watch, envision, pray, listen...running. All of my training is aimed at running well on October 22. But first I had to make that commitment and that was the hardest part. Why is it that I sometimes don't do this in my Christian faith? Why isn't my life and training aimed at glorifying God and following Him? On October 22nd I will receive affirmation and some encouragement from my friends when I finish the race...and that will soon fade. But the Christian life according to Paul is for something imperishable.
In college, my roomate and I hung up a verse on our wall to remind us of this. Paul says in I Timothy 4:7-8, Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and life to come.
I love running. I am really enjoying it now, and each week I go out and run my long run on Friday, it is a new personal best for me as I break into new mileage territory. And it is running that has helped me shine a light onto my own spiritual life and what it means to train my spiritual life in such a way so that it is godly, so that it has purpose, so that it is glorifying to God. It means not only commiting myself to run, but to train my body, soul, mind, heart in such a way so that it is on track in becoming and being a disciple of Christ.
Stay tuned each Monday as I continue to reflect on this metaphor of the Christian life and how I am understanding more fully what it means.
Posted by rhett at 12:15 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Blogging conference postponed until October
God Blog Con has been postponed until the Fall
Posted by rhett at 12:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2006
The church-within-a-church...
I have been very intrigued reading Dan Kimball's postings over at Out of Ur. Dan has had two posts about the ending of the Willow Creek worship service Axis, which was one of the first alternative worship services and "church-within-a-church" services/models around. You can read Dan's posts as he looks at what Axis was all about, and how we probably were or have been influenced by them (whether we know it or not). Read Axis Denied: What should we learn from the demise of Willow's Next-Gen ministry? and Axis Denied (part 2): What should we learn from the demise of Willow's Next-Gen ministry?
I don't lead an alternative worship service or a "church-within-a-church" service....technically. Though it feels that way sometimes. Bel Air Pres and its ministries work really hard at integrating and bringing all the services and ministries together, but I know that can be a tough challenge. Dan gets it and I like what he has to say, when he says:
However, when launching a new worship gathering within an existing church, the questions to ask should be: Are the changes occurring mainly generational (music style, appearance, language), or are the changes bigger? Is a shift in worldview(s) occurring? If it is just a generational change, then you might as well just change the music, add some candles, create hip environment, and play a video of the senior pastor. That's changing the style, and I think that if we really peeled back the layers of the majority of these alternative services within existing churches, that is what we would find.
I think what happens in most churches is that there is an attempt to change the style, when really what is happening is a larger cultural and worldview shift. And when that is happening, no videos, candles, cool music or incense will address that issue.
So how does a large church with multiple services and multiple ministries with varying ages, bring all of that together?
Posted by rhett at 11:40 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Is the Emerging Church Movement the fastest growing group in Christianity?
Read this article and check out the video, New Faithful Practice Away from Churches: Some Say 20 Million People Participate In Emerging Church Movement.
Posted by rhett at 09:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 14, 2006
Guest Blogger: Dr. Ray Anderson on his new book, "An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches"
As I stated a few blogs back, one of my heroes has been a seminary professor mine, Dr. Ray Anderson. He, more than almost anyone has had the most theological impact on my life, and he has given me a passion for many of the thinkers and theologians that have truly transformed my life such as Barth and Bonhoeffer. This August he has a new book coming out in which I was fortunate enough to read one of the manuscripts.
The book is titled An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches and it will be a highly sought after read. This is the book that I have been waiting for and I think it is the book many of you have been waiting for. Ray Anderson is the voice not only needed in "emergent" circles these days, but in all theological circles.
So welcome as Dr. Ray Anderson, asks the question:
What has Antioch to do with Jerusalem?
Guest blogger: Ray S. Anderson
The modern attempt to integrate the secular academy with a religious worldview took the form of the question--What has Jerusalem to do with Athens? Tertullian (160-225 A.D) was the first one to use the formula, in a negative way, and it has been replicated in a hundred different ways in our modern quest for assimilation, if not integration, of faith and reason. In my recent book, An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches, I argue that, for the apostle Paul, the seminal issue was not the debate at Athens but the debacle with the leaders of the church at Jerusalem. The geographical distance between Jerusalem and Antioch could be measured in miles; the theological distance was, as Kierkegaard once put it, and a point that Barth later adopted, the 'infinite, qualitative distinction between God and man.' The church at Jerusalem was held captive by the religion of Moses (Ishmael); the church at Antioch under Paul's leadership was inspired by the creative and eschatological vision of Abraham (Isaac). Thus, for Paul, the question became--What has Antioch to do with Jerusalem?
In arguing my thesis I do not intend to disparage the Christian community at Jerusalem. It was the source of an incredible spiritual force that resisted attempts to suppress and even destroy it. When those who were dispersed due to persecution fled to other cities, including Antioch, they carried with them the gift and power of the Spirit along with the message of a crucified and risen Messiah. When I contrast Antioch and Jerusalem it is for the purpose of sharpening the focus on the content and direction of the emergent theology uniquely envisioned and proclaimed by the apostle Paul. In reading the growing body of literature coming out of the emerging church movement, I worry that a postmodern philosophy has too easily become a hermeneutical criterion in which attempts to make the message if the gospel culturally relevant is in danger of presenting 'another gospel.' I argue, instead, that the contemporaneity of Christ is not established by attempts to make the historical Jesus relevant to our culture, but is the result of the eschatological 'moment' (chairos) of the resurrected Christ occurring through the Holy Spirit in our time as a proleptic manifestation of the Kingdom of God. While Barth held that the Word of God becomes contemporary through the preaching event, Bonhoeffer argued that it is Christ himself who is contemporary through the church--'Christ exists as community.' I take this to be more in line with Paul's view of the emerging church at Antioch and through the mission out of Antioch, that Christ, not merely the message about Christ, is the essential content of the gospel and the formative character of the church.
This is why I argue that we must recover an emergent theology, not merely explore the edges of an emerging church in its attempt to make the message culturally relevant. Here is my case: An emergent theology is messianic. That is, it is a theology that is anointed and Spirit-led to point the way forward. An emergent theology is like the finger of John the Baptist, pointing into the world and saying, "Here is the lamb of God" (John 1:29). Emerging churches are missional. That is, these are churches that only exist as the continuing mission of Christ (the Messiah) in the world. Emerging churches are like Jesus arising out of the water of baptism, anointed by the Spirit, and moving into the streets and market place to heal, promote justice and seek peace. An emergent theology is revelational. It is a theology of the Word; it is the bread come down from heaven; it speaks truth and opens minds and hearts. Emerging churches are reformational. They seek to put new wine into new wineskins; they want to renew the church that already exists and translate the older formulas of the faith into new paradigms of contemporary communication. An emergent theology is Kingdom coming. It is a theology that proclaims a new order of God's reign already present as a transforming spiritual, social and economic power of liberation and rehabilitation of humankind. Emerging churches stress Kingdom living. They seek to be the gathering of all who seek the blessing of being 'grace-filled' believers and the empowering community that sends them forth as Spirit-filled disciples. An emergent theology is eschatological. It has the mind of the risen and coming Christ as well as the heart and soul of the historical Jesus. It is a theology that keeps hope alive by preparing the way of the future into the present while, at the same time, keeping faith alive by "looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). Emerging churches are incarnational. Their language is that of the people; their message is communicated through culture; their presence in the world is ordinary so as to get within arms length to embrace others with extraordinary love.
tags: Ray Anderson, emerging church, emergent theology, ministry
Posted by rhett at 12:31 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
July 13, 2006
I need your support!!!
Summer 2006
Dear Friends and Family:
I'm writing to share some exciting news with you. On Sunday, October 22, 2006 I will be running the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Unlike most marathons...oh wait, I've never run a marathon before so I don't know anything about most marathons...but this one is going to be special to me for several different reasons: 1) It's my first; 2) I'll be running with my brother in his first marathon as well; 3) I'll be running for a charity organization and a young man who is supported by them.
I will be running the marathon as a member of the Opportunity Enterprises Running Team. Opportunity Enterprises is a non-profit organization promoting self-sufficiency and life choices to challenged individuals and providing services for mentally and physically disabled individuals. I have the privilege of running in support of a specific individual named Jeffrey Qualizza.
As I train for the race and think about race day, I have a few goals in mind. First, I would like to raise the needed financial support for Jeffrey; Second, I would like to finish the race (in under four hours); and third, I would like to enjoy sharing the experience with 40,000 other runners.
To help me achieve these goals, I'm going to ask a couple of things of you. I would like to ask for your financial support as I have committed myself to raise $500 in support of Jeffrey and Opportunity Enterprises. I would also ask that you keep me in your prayers as I have never done this before and I am a little nervous (and super excited) about this whole venture.
If you're interested in supporting me financially, you may choose to donate a total dollar amount or you can pledge a specific dollar amount per mile I run. A schedule of possible contribution amounts is below.
--$10 per mile for a total contribution of $262.00
--$5 per mile for a total contribution of $131.00
--$3 per mile for a total contribution of $78.60
--$2 per mile for a total contribution of $52.40
--$1 per mile for a total contribution of $26.20
--Other $ amount
How can you give? The easiest way is to go here and make a donation in my name and all the money will go to Jeffrey. Or you can call Opportunity Enterprises at (219) 464-9621 and donate over the phone. The last option is to send a check. If you want to send a check, you'll need a pledge sheet to send in with the check, so just let me know and I can get you one.
I know it's a little last minute, but I actually need to raise all the money by August 4th. Whatever you can give would be greatly appreciated and all donations are tax deductible.
I am so looking forward to running this marathon in October. If you're interested in coming out and supporting me in Chicago, and making a trip out of it, we would love for you to join us. Or if you are interested in my training, you can follow my schedule and make sure I'm keeping up my end of the commitment by reading this blog. I will post daily and weekly information regarding my schedule and hopefully you will keep me in your prayers.
Thanks,
Rhett Smith
Posted by rhett at 11:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Grand Illusions: Too many suburban Christians are in the world—and also of it.
This is a great little article at Christianity Today.....
Quote:
In his telling, suburban life revolves around competing for what Goetz calls "immortality symbols"--"the four-bedroom home with the Pottery Barn colors, the L.L. Bean underwear and outerwear, the fuel-guzzling truck, the purebred dog, the family pilgrimage to Disney World, and the athletic and scholarship-bedecked college-bound freshman."
For Goetz, the defining ethos of suburbia is catering to "the overindulged self" in an "environment of security, efficiency, and opportunities," all of which create a faux spirituality among Christians who live there. According to Goetz, their faith is really little more than busy avoidance of reality. The false image of the "good life" offered by the suburbs creates what Goetz calls a "bloated, tiny soul." Goetz's harsh judgment is tempered by his admission of his own acute sensitivity to what others think of him and his guilty joy in finally getting that SUV.
I so identify...I so see these things in myself. The home, with the right furnishings, the right clothes, degrees on the wall....I am so guilty of all of this, and so wanting to fight it as well....Reminds me of Paul's words in Romans 7:
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Ugghhhhh. The struggle. I don't think that these things in and of themselves are bad....but when they become our identity and what we strive for, especially over and against Christ.....major problems ahead. I just know that I'm quick to jump on suburban life, though I live there...I know I'm quick to jump on materialism, though I'm materialistic.
Can anyone relate?
Suburban Christianity, theology
Posted by rhett at 10:19 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Changes...
I have been blogging about a year and a half...or since December 2004. I remember setting up my first blog on our college group website in August of 2004, but only making a few attempts and later deleting them. It's hard to believe, but two years ago when I started telling people I wanted to add a blog to our website they looked at me like I was crazy, or like I was speaking some foreign language.
But it has been fun, and I eventually moved the blogging site over to where it is now in May of 2005.
I tell you all of that, so that I can let you know that I am going to make some changes to the site. Even after a year it seems a little behind the times. There are some new features I would like to add, as well as some new writing themes I would like to add as well. Oh, and if you have any features that you would like to see added, please let me know.
So if you visit the blog and it looks like it is incomplete in some way...well, that probably means I am busy changing pieces of it bit by bit. So bear with me. But more than likely, you won't notice the process because one of the gifts of being a night owl is that I can get everything done while you all are sleeping...uh, actually, aren't all bloggers night owls?
Posted by rhett at 09:57 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Church consumerism...
This article is frightening. This is obviously not a new topic, but I like the angle that is taken in From Lord to Label: How Consumerism Undermines Our Faith.
It makes me raise a lot of questions about Church...about the ministry I oversee, etc? From branding, to logo design, to websites and blogs, etc, etc. What is it we are trying to market and sell? Or are we proclaiming Christ?
Here our some choice excerpts:
We assign value to ourselves and others based on the goods we purchase. One's identity is now constructed by the clothes you wear, the vehicle you drive, and the music on your iPod. In short, you are what you consume.......
Roger Finke and Rodney Stark, co-authors of The Churching of America, 1776-1990, argue that ministry in the U.S. is modeled primarily on capitalism with pastors functioning as a church's sales force, and evangelism as its marketing strategy. Our willing indoctrination into this economic view of ministry is so complete that most pastors never question its validity or recognize how unprecedented it is within Christian history. ......
This explains why corporate models, marketing strategies, and secular business values are pervasive in American ministry--we are in competition with other churches, and other providers of identity and meaning, for survival. To appeal to religious consumers we must commodify our congregations--slapping our church's logo on shirts, coffee mugs, and bible covers. And we strive to convince a sustainable segment of the religious marketplace that our church is "relevant," "comfortable," or "exciting."
As a result, choosing a church today isn't merely about finding a community to learn and live out the Christian faith. It's about "church shopping" to find the congregation that best expresses my identity. This drives Christian leaders to differentiate their church by providing more of the features and services people want. After all, in a consumer culture the customer, not Christ, is king.
tags: consumerism, church
Posted by rhett at 09:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Real live Forest Gump?
Sam Thompson is running 50 marathons, in 50 days, in 50 states. Wow! This blew my mind...but it's all for a good cause. And I'm overwhelmed training for one marathon.
tags: marathon, running, Sam Thompson
Posted by rhett at 09:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 11, 2006
Coming in August...
One of my professors and heroes, Ray Anderson, has a new book coming in August. I had a chance to read the manuscript and I am excited about his contribution to the "emerging church" discussion.
An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches will be a highly sought after read. For a sneak peek at the contents, go here
tags: Ray Anderson, emerging church, emergent theology, ministry
Posted by rhett at 12:09 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Brent Thomas says nice things about Donald Miller and captures exactly why I think so many people love to read Miller! (how's that for a title)
Brent Thomas
Donald Miller
It probably goes without saying that if you read my blog and if you read my friend Brent's blog....you know we are coming from very different positions, and we rarely see eye to eye on many occassions. But I loved this post today about his listening to the NPR show, This American Life and how it's made him realize why Donald Miller is such a great writer. Brent says:
As I listened, I started thinking how much the show was like good writing and then I realized something peculiar. These were all of the reasons that seem to make Donald Miller such a good writer.
Some of you might be thinking to yourselves, "Wait a minute, I thought Brent just wrote a critique of Donald Miller..." I did and I think he's a great writer. The two are not mutually exclusive. While I disagree with many of Miller's conclusions, I have been thinking about Miller's writing style since I read Blue Like Jazz some time last year.
Miller is one of those rare writers who is able to draw from the everyday without becoming boring, to connect with the common without lowering the standard and making the reader feel welcome without making them so comfortable that they drift off. Miller has a masterful use of details, and weaves words with an artisan's hand. Consider the oft-quoted introduction from Blue Like Jazz:
"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theoater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened." Before any of what happened? We instinctively want to know because we've all had this experience, maybe not with jazz and a saxophonist, but something has unexpectedly stopped us and forced us to reconsider our preconceived notions. We immediately relate. Plus, "blue like jazz" is a wonderful poetic line!
Here is Brent's entire post.
If you read the top of my blog I use the phrase "aspiring author" because I love writing. I have been working on something for a long time, and every time someone asks me, what are you writing about, I have a really hard time explaining it, at least at this point. But I inevitably say something like "Donald Miller-esque you know." And they say, "What does that mean?" And I say, "You know, the writing style, the narrative, the way he tells stories." I then realize that I can't explain it....but Brent does a good job here of capturing of why I love Don's writings and why many others do as well.
Posted by rhett at 11:28 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Blogging Pastors....
Cyber-Savvy Pastors Blog When The Spirit Moves Them
HT: Jon Sampson
Quote:
About 75,000 new blogs are created every day by people from all walks of life, so it should come as no surprise that some bloggers are ministers. But many religious leaders say the idea of a pastor willing to share so much about his daily life reflects a shift in the relationship people expect to have with their religious leaders.
Mark D. Roberts is still the guru of all blogging pastors...
Posted by rhett at 06:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 10, 2006
Rob Bell and his "Everything is Spiritual" Tour
I have been waiting for several months to go out and see Rob Bell on his Everything is Spiritual Tour, but when it came down to it, I just couldn't make it over to Pomona....too busy of a week. But some others made it out and have posted some thoughts.
You can read Mike DeVries thoughts on the night.
Or you can check out this article about Bell and the tour in the New York Times. Here is a quote from the article:
"Rob Bell is a central figure for his generation and for the way that evangelicals are likely to do church in the next 20 years," said Andy Crouch, an editor at Christianity Today magazine. "He occupies a centrist place that is very appealing, committed to the basic evangelical doctrines but incredibly creative in his reinterpretive style."
Obvioulsy Bell is a controversial figure in Christian circles. But I love his NOOMA videos, I download his sermons, and if I could get him to come out and speak at our college group or church I would. That should tell you enough about what I think about Bell.
Posted by rhett at 04:25 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Some exercise music to inspire and motivate...
As I mentioned last week I will be running the Chicago Marathon on October 22. About a 5 weeks into training I feel a little over my head and each long run that I head out on becomes a new personal record for me regarding distance. One of the difficult things about this marathon is that I will be running with my brother who lives in Washington D.C. So we are training separately and will be coming together on race day to run together. Should be interesting since we aren't training together.
I have really enjoyed my days running, especially my longer runs as I find myself in that infamous "running zone." I walk away from those runs with all kinds of new thoughts, ideas, inspirations, etc. after those long runs as my mind kind of wanders all over the place during those runs. I'm still not sure if that is a good thing or not....
I've been heading out on these runs solo most of the time and I have been experimenting with what type of music to listen to on these runs. What is the music that will inspire me? Keep me motivated? Get me in the zone? I have quite the array of music on my iPod Nano that I listen to, but recently I stumbled across what I consider a real gem as for music and running. One, iTunes has a new selection of what is called "Sport Music" and is collaborative work with Nike. This music is compilations from athletes and artists that is meant to inspire and motivate your workout. Second, I came across a Podcast on iTunes called "Podrunner: Exercise music for runners, spinners, or any fast-paced workout." When I checked this morning it was the 2nd most popular podcast. The music is by dj steveboy. I have loved running with this music by this guy....I'm not usually a fan of dj music, house music, electronica, etc....see, I don't even know how to categorize it. But this music is great and you can get it free on iTunes in the podcast section.
So if any of you bloggers are looking for some new music to inspire and motivate your workouts, or to just get you off the computer and out of the house or into the gym, I highly recommend this.
Posted by rhett at 08:06 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 07, 2006
This satirical article about Jesus not preaching the right expository sermons was sent to me by Billy at CounterCulture.
Posted by rhett at 09:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 06, 2006
More on expository preaching...
Chris Gonzalez adds his thoughts regarding expository preaching.
Chris says:
So here is the rub: I prefer teaching and being taught expositionally. However, the arguments I have heard for expositional preaching as the only way to faithfully preach seem to fall short of convincing. They convince me that it is a good way, but not that it is the only way.
Chris makes a reference to a blog post by Mark Dever, quoting John MacArthur, about 15 things that go wrong when expository preaching isn't done. John MacArthur is a great expository preacher...that I do not doubt. That's why I used to listen to him on the radio in college. But again, preaching this way is not the only way and I would respectfully disagree with the statements.
Posted by rhett at 01:05 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
"The Myth of Expository Preaching"
The Myth of Expository Preaching is a great post that Mike DeVries expounds on, and that was written by David Fitch and was posted at Out of Ur
Expository preaching was part of the Bible Church tradition that I was raised in and it was pretty much the style that I was taught in my homiletic's classes at Fuller Seminary. Actually, preaching was very interesting in those classes. I learned a lot of discipline in those classes about how to approach and exegete a text, prepare a written sermon, deliver it from behind a pulpit. Oh yeah, we weren't allowed to leave the pulpit area. Which is sort of funny to me now since I don't preach with a pulpit at all, though I will on occassion use a music stand. I also don't stand on the stage, but rather down on the floor with the people.
I enjoy expository preaching and it is a part of the preaching in our ministry. But it is only a part of it. I agree with DeVries and Fitch's thoughts on expository preaching, especially in regards to the individualism it can produce in the sense that it leaves the congregation out of the process of interaction with the Word. That statement alone will definitely strike the nerves of some of my friends...but I think expository, line by line preaching is only one way to interpret and preach the text.
For example, when I went through Colossians this last year, there were some weeks where I went verse by verse, and there were some weeks I chose a topic and preached a more topical sermon. And there were other weeks were I raised a question from the text and the audience dialogued with me through the text.
It is simply one of the preaching methods and tools that I use when I feel it to be necessary or appropriate in communicating the Word. My biggest concern of expository, line by line preaching, as of recently has been the passive nature of it. Meaning, it is often a passive "exercise" for the congregation who often simply sits idly by, waiting for the magic word to pop up so they can fill it in on the back of the bulletin that they take notes on....and really, how many people who take those notes and take them home, actually read or study them during the week? I have also found expository, line by line preaching to be more of an exercise in information gathering, where the congregation doesn't feel "fed" unless the preacher has left them with a lot of great notes and ideas they can write down. It sometimes becomes task oriented, and listening to a sermon for some people is about accomplishment rather than transformation.
I don't dislike expository, line by line preaching, but I agree with DeVries, Fitch and others, that it is not the only way. It is simply one of many ways to communicate the Word in preaching and teaching. Sometimes I use it and other times I do not. Just as sometimes I use a more dialogue, interactive approach, and other times I do not because it is not always helpful.
I want my students to be more than passive observers and listeners sitting in the pews, who sit there taking copious notes as they write furiously all the great translation notes of the Greek and Hebrew text. I want them to be active in the preaching and teaching process...to engage the text with me...to dialogue...and sometimes debate...to ask questions...express fears and doubts....to see the "ah ha" looks on their faces when something clicks in their head. Last week we looked at John 6:35 and Jesus' "I am the bread of life" statement. We sat in a circle (it's small in the summer, about 25). And we read the text aloud as I interspersed comments about the text and the context. And as we got to the passage about the bread, I put a bread loaf in the middle of the floor and we began an amazing discussion about bread, and why Jesus would use that to describe Himself. I've never seen students talk so much and be actively engaged.
As the pastor/director I am expected to know what I am talking about and to preach and teach. But I also learn from my students. And though I guide and direct them I find that when we interact as a community we often learn way more together, than if I were to simply preach to them and they sit there passively.
Obviously, this discussion could lead to more discussions about preaching vs. teaching, about the use of dialogue in preaching, about the pastor's role, etc. But that's not where I am going though, those questions may arise. What I think DeVries and Fitch and others point out, whether they say it explicitly or not, is that there is an important role for the community in preaching, and often when we as pastors choose only one style of preaching and don't employ others, we can leave the community out of it, and sometimes we can possibly use them too much and the teaching can get away from us. There are many tools at our disposal, and I think it's helpful to employ them all.
Posted by rhett at 09:38 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 05, 2006
The Religious Divide--Blogging Panel
Next month, on August 3-5 at Biola University I will be the moderator for one of the plenary panels which will discuss blogging across "The Religious Divide" at the GodBlog Conference.
I am very excited about this opportunity, mainly because I will be working with a stellar group of panelists and I am looking forward to an interesting exchange, dialogue and Q and A time with three men.
Who are these three men? There is way more about them than I can possibly put down, but here is a brief synopsis.
Ryan Bolger who is a professor at
Fuller Theological Seminary and who just recently co-wrote Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures will be one of the panelists. I guess it's no surprise that he will be representing, or at least reflecting blogging and the Church from a more emerging viewpoint.
Then there is Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost who many of you know as quite the prolific blogger that he is, and who is also the Director of Communications for The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity. I guess if I had to label Joe....well, he would be representing the viewpoint of bloggers and the Church from a more evangelical viewpoint, though to say the others aren't evangelical would be a fallacy.
Then there is James M. Kushiner, who is the executive editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, and executive director of The Fellowship of St. James. James is Eastern Orthodox and you can read more about him at Touchstone Magazine.
Emergent
Evangelical
Eastern Orthodox
Though those descriptions are not a fair assessment when it concerns the breadth of work these guys do, you can at least see why these three men were picked to be panelists discussing "The Religious Divide" and its implications for blogging.
Blogging has not only been one of the best tools in unifying Christians, but it has also become one of the most effective tools in dividing as well. So I look forward to dialoguing and hearing from these three men and how we as Christians might do a better job of blogging across our divisions and disagreements.
Posted by rhett at 11:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Emerging Church critique...
Brent Thomas has a critique of the Emerging Church
Posted by rhett at 09:10 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
New layout...
Hugh Hewitt has a great new blog design which is part of Townhall, which I can best describe as a consortium of political bloggers, radio show hosts, etc. Daily Kos has this format, style, for the left-side of the political blogosphere. So it will be interesting to see how these formats impact blogging as they already are making huge impacts.
It seems that when bloggers can work together under some sort of association or alliance, they can really make a bigger impact than when on their own.....Something I should be thinking about I suppose.
Posted by rhett at 09:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 01, 2006
Any running advice?
I am currently training for the Chicago Marathon on October 22. I have never run a marathon before, so I'm open to any advice that any of you have. I know some of you bloggers have got to have run a marathon before.
Posted by rhett at 11:50 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Correction....
Brent Thomas posted this on my last blog entry in the comment section:
Jesus was/is a daughter?
I am assuming that is in reference to this comment that I made.
And to be completely honest, I could live with people saying Mother, Daughter and Holy Spirit, as I have friends in ministry who do that.
Correction on my part. I do not think Jesus was or is a daughter.
That is theological laziness on my part. I was more or less just saying that I can live with others attributing feminine attributes to the Godhead....though historically we know Jesus was and is a man.
I guess also that I was making a semi-flip comment about this whole discussion on the Trinity. Not because theological distinction isn't important, but because the whole discussion seems way out of touch with most people. Meaning, most pastors, directors, lay people are going about the task of ministry while others continue to split hairs over little things. Not that important theological truths haven't come to light from splitting hairs, but I am trying to go about other things in the ministry that I oversee rather than getting in huge discussions with my students over the Trinity.
While the PCUSA continues to split hairs over this, I am going to continue to do the task of ministry and hopefully impact the student's lives that I come into contact with.
Posted by rhett at 03:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
