Dear LLC Pastors,
Whether you get a copy of it at the library, buy it Amazon.com or at The Book Parlor- (509-328-6527, lutheranbooks@msn.com) Douglas Coupland's "Life After God" is a good and quick read.
It is intentionally different from all the other books we have read. It is a novel of sorts, uncomfortable to read at times, that is helpful in opening your heart to issues of Americans age 40 and under. Its first person voice and candidness remind me a bit of JD Salinger's, "The Catcher in the Rye." "Life After God" is the story of an unsettled, lost person.
Sometimes we are so often deeply embedded in the "Christian World" that we forget that the "Kingdom of God" is all about seeking out the lost.
If we are going to be leaders of communities who are seeking to reach the lost for Christ, and love hurting and broken people- it will serve us well to read what they are writing. If we want to bring them home, to a life lived with God, we have to go where they are.
Read this book- its good for you. The pages are short- there are lots of pictures and it really goes fast.
Have a great day,
Corey
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Thanks and another book
Hi Corey et al,
Thanks for including me in the Baptist blogosphere.
I like the distinction between attractional vs incarnational churches, and appreciate the web links.
I've been using Logos for about 10 years now, and have the huge mega scholar's gold collection. It is super on searches and varieties of translations including Greek and Hebrew, as well as a plethora of commentaries. I have added Keil and Delitsch, Life Application Bible and Barclay's of late, and use them frequently. The whole software gig has freed up my study and prep time, and liberated me from the problem of porting texts back and forth from the church study to my home, where I really work.
I have a book I picked up in the fall at the Sojourner's conference in Pasadena, called Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with God News and Good Works. Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson and Heidi Rolland Unruh. (2002) Baker Books.
Maybe you all have read it already, but I'm finding it a fit for our congregation as we have had a 95% turnover from older to younger (avg attend. 35) in the last 8 years.
Three big parts are: 1) Understanding holistic ministry, integrating evangelism and social outreach 2) The essential elements of holistic ministry, healthy congregation as a base for a commitment to the community, including a ministry-centered organizational structure 3) cultivating and implementing the vision, developing vision, rallying support and dealing with fears, change and conflict in the congregation.
This comes out of the work in the Congregations, Communities and Leadership Development Project. one site they refer to is: network935.org
I just got back from working the Kafe Underground, a coffee house in the basement of K-House, opened up in the short term to raise $$ for the Katrina New Orleans Mission Trip, but with a cozy well lighted place with tables and a great coffee espresso set up and wireless internet its a great place to study and spend time. Right now they're getting going, and don't have totally regular hours. Student run and all that. I'm there 5-7 on Tues and Wed. They are open on Sats too.
All for now. Must work on PhD.
Blessings,
JHD
Thanks for including me in the Baptist blogosphere.
I like the distinction between attractional vs incarnational churches, and appreciate the web links.
I've been using Logos for about 10 years now, and have the huge mega scholar's gold collection. It is super on searches and varieties of translations including Greek and Hebrew, as well as a plethora of commentaries. I have added Keil and Delitsch, Life Application Bible and Barclay's of late, and use them frequently. The whole software gig has freed up my study and prep time, and liberated me from the problem of porting texts back and forth from the church study to my home, where I really work.
I have a book I picked up in the fall at the Sojourner's conference in Pasadena, called Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community with God News and Good Works. Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson and Heidi Rolland Unruh. (2002) Baker Books.
Maybe you all have read it already, but I'm finding it a fit for our congregation as we have had a 95% turnover from older to younger (avg attend. 35) in the last 8 years.
Three big parts are: 1) Understanding holistic ministry, integrating evangelism and social outreach 2) The essential elements of holistic ministry, healthy congregation as a base for a commitment to the community, including a ministry-centered organizational structure 3) cultivating and implementing the vision, developing vision, rallying support and dealing with fears, change and conflict in the congregation.
This comes out of the work in the Congregations, Communities and Leadership Development Project. one site they refer to is: network935.org
I just got back from working the Kafe Underground, a coffee house in the basement of K-House, opened up in the short term to raise $$ for the Katrina New Orleans Mission Trip, but with a cozy well lighted place with tables and a great coffee espresso set up and wireless internet its a great place to study and spend time. Right now they're getting going, and don't have totally regular hours. Student run and all that. I'm there 5-7 on Tues and Wed. They are open on Sats too.
All for now. Must work on PhD.
Blessings,
JHD
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Some Stuff from Our January Meeting
As promised (though late) here are some of the links we talked about and other items we discussed.
1. We discussed and shared on the use of digital/electronic/internet bible sources PC Study Bible was the product I demonstrated. If interested head to their website. www.biblesoft.com
there are of course many other options for both bible software (see: Logos and Bible Works )
as well as many online resources, such as Crosswalk and BiblePro [this one Bill J. uses].
2. We had a great presentation from Jim on how to do a sermon on power point. He showed how he developed the sermon and also many tips on how to present it. Jim used Google Images to compliment the message. ( http://images.google.com/imghp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wi&q= )
3. More important- by far- than the technology stuff was a discussion we had relating to the incarnation of Christ. Our author (Stetzer) challenged us to deeply consider how the incarnation drives our local mission. We considered the difference between an "attractional" ecclesiology and an "incarnational" ecclesiology. I encourage you to continue that discussion with yourself, your congregation and even here through the blog. Also check out stetzers new churches website- there is just a ton of resources at it. (http://www.newchurches.com/)
There is plenty of good stuff there for us "established churches"- and tons of free stuff.
Well ministry dudes- that's enough for now.
Keep lifting Christ up and it will all be good!
Corey
1. We discussed and shared on the use of digital/electronic/internet bible sources PC Study Bible was the product I demonstrated. If interested head to their website. www.biblesoft.com
there are of course many other options for both bible software (see: Logos and Bible Works )
as well as many online resources, such as Crosswalk and BiblePro [this one Bill J. uses].
2. We had a great presentation from Jim on how to do a sermon on power point. He showed how he developed the sermon and also many tips on how to present it. Jim used Google Images to compliment the message. ( http://images.google.com/imghp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wi&q= )
3. More important- by far- than the technology stuff was a discussion we had relating to the incarnation of Christ. Our author (Stetzer) challenged us to deeply consider how the incarnation drives our local mission. We considered the difference between an "attractional" ecclesiology and an "incarnational" ecclesiology. I encourage you to continue that discussion with yourself, your congregation and even here through the blog. Also check out stetzers new churches website- there is just a ton of resources at it. (http://www.newchurches.com/)
There is plenty of good stuff there for us "established churches"- and tons of free stuff.
Well ministry dudes- that's enough for now.
Keep lifting Christ up and it will all be good!
Corey
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