Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Exiles: A Missional Paradigm

I've been out of action for a few weeks, but now returning to the blogosphere.

Here is a new book and website (from UK brethren) I want to explore shortly...

http://www.facingthechallenge.org/exiles.htm

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

The European Challenges

The Joining Hands for Mission in Europe conference (http://www.covchurch.org/cov/news/item5568) delivered six challenges for church planting in Europe. Makes me wonder if we could have athe same six for a US Conference:

• The Urban Challenge by Dr. Stephen Beck
• The Social Challenge by Dr. Johannes Reimer
• The Secular Challenge by Dr. Ingrid Eskilt
• The Immigration Challenge by Rev. Krister Gunnarsson
• The Cooperation Challenge by Rev. Darrell Jackson
• International Missions in Europe by Rev. Rick Burke

Okay, we'd have to retitle the last talk here in the US, but the other five sound pretty appropriate.

The Christian - Atheist Dialogue

Good article on the experience of Jim Henderson and other believers as they engage atheists in constructive dialogue to understand each other.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0510/p13s02-lire.html?page=1

I am currently reading Jim & Matt Casper's book, Jim & Casper Go to Church.

http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Casper-Church-Conversation-Well-meaning/dp/1414313314/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-2466798-5631916?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178756939&sr=8-1

Fascinating read thus far.

Life @ Large & The Root of the Gospel

Sorry about the temporary absence from the blogosphere. It has been one of the seasons when the action on the ministry front, combined with major events on the personal front, took priority over other matters, including these thoughts.

But I have still been reading on the run, interacting with some fascinating initiatives and generally excited about what is ahead.

I have found myself wrestling with how we faithfully and relevantly communicate the Gospel message once again. In part this is being spurred by an attempt to update Life @ Large, a gospel presentation written for the biblical illiterate back in the late 90's. Here is an electronic version that was created back then www.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/lifatlg.swf. For some reason, that is not loading this morning. So if you have the same difficulty, try it here: http://www.whoishe.org/lifeatlarge.html

In the meantime, I recently read Ramsden's article: Understanding the Root of the Gospel http://www.euroleadershipresources.org/resource.php?ID=377 Interesting perspective on Christianity's "ontological root." The gospel and our faith isn't rooted in epistemology (how we think), existentially (what we feel) or pragmatically (what we do). Rather it is rooted in Being. The gospel is rooted, of course, in the person of Jesus! It's worth the read. Go for it.