One of the more challenging things (Among many others) with being a pastor at The Well is the constant need for us define if we are an “emerging church” or not. I’m not going to get into that here, I’ve already done so elsewhere. But, I believe the reason this question gets asked so often (mostly only by Christians, those who aren’t Christians don’t seem to care so much) is because there is so much misunderstanding and confusion about what the emerging church actually is (or isn’t). So, in an effort to bring about better understanding I am going to be leading an emerging church reading group this summer. In this group, we’ll basically spend the summer reading through some of the key texts around...Read More →
Archive for December, 2009
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December 22, 2009
Emerging Church Reading Group
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December 16, 2009
Peace on Earth. We Need it Now…
Sing the honest words of U2 in this song tonight as I process through the loss of a friend tonight. Heaven on Earth, we need it now I’m sick of all of this hanging around Sick of sorrow, sick of the pain I’m sick of hearing again and again That there’s gonna be peace on Earth Where I grew up there weren’t many trees Where there was we’d tear them down And use them on our enemies They say that what you mock Will surely overtake you And you become a monster So the monster will not break you And it’s already gone too far Who said that if you go in hard You won’t get hurt? Jesus can you take the time To throw...Read More →
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December 7, 2009
Karl Barth Meets the Emerging Church
Note: Below is my fictional account of a meeting between some emerging church pastors and the late Karl Barth. I am not sure why I had to note that it is fictional…but you can never be too safe. All references to actual people are simply supposed to be funny, unless they are supposed to be serious :). Also, I wrote this as a paper for a John Franke class so that is why there is so much brown-nosing to him going on in here. The setting is a dark historical bar in Germany. This small German town is the site of the first ever International Emergent Gathering. Its evening time and we find ourselves here after a day of compelling sessions where scholar John Franke...Read More →
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December 3, 2009
Teaching Your Kids about Giving To Others
Two weeks ago I posted on twitter that to be an activist without actually doing anything is hypocrisy. I was quoting a friend and I think the statement is meant to be a little overstated to make a point. The point is this, if you are gonna get all judgmental on other for not caring for the poor then you better be doing something. I’m not trying to be a prick or make people feel like crap. But, its just simple common-sense. Let your words and your deeds match up. So, after I posted that on twitter I had a good friend write me a message and say, “So, who are you giving your time and money to? Just trying to keep you accountable to...Read More →
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December 2, 2009
Instead of a Show
I’ve been loving Jon Foreman’s seasons albums the past few weeks. If you don’t know Jon Foreman is the lead singer of Switchfoot and these albums are really well done. I love his song “Instead of a Show” that I am pretty sure he wrote in response to Isaiah 1 (especially verses 10-17). Here are the words of Isaiah through the word of Jon Foreman. I hate all your show and pretense the hypocrisy of your praise the hypocrisy of your festivals I hate all your show Away with your noisy worship Away with your noisy hymns I stop up my ears when your singing ‘em I hate all your show Instead let there be a flood of justice An endless procession of righteous living,...Read More →
