the.slow.down

check it out…

began restarting resident aliens by stanley hauerwas and william willimon (what a name).

there are quite a number of really interesting quotes/ideas introduced early on, but i’m especially interested in this quote and the surrounding idea.

“We believe that Christianity has no stake in the utilitarian defense of belief as belief. The theological assumption (…) that Christianity is a system of belief must be questioned. It is the content of belief that concerns Scripture, not eradicating unbelief by means of a believable theological system. The Bible finds uninteresting many of our modern preoccupations with whether or not it is still possible for modern people to believe. The Bible’s concern is whether or not we shall be faithful to the gospel, the truth about the way things are now that God is with us through the life, cross and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.”

I find that an interesting quote. Interesting as it’s placed in our “postmodern” context (if you buy all that postmodern stuff).

What is Christianity? What is the gospel? What is the point?

Information organized systematically and correctly or faithfulness to the gospel (see above question) as we understand it in the life of Christ.

These questions resonate with me and it’ll be interesting to continue through this work and see what else these guys have to say. Especially interesting as i feel personally that i’ve been involved in this ongoing “conversation” about the nature of the church, gospel, and the world in which we live.

we’ll see where it goes…

for those that have kept us in your prayers we’re thankful. louis seems to be doing a little better, in less pain/discomfort and is much more calm. that’s a real help to our emotional state. so simply thank you.

just wanted to issue a simple request to those that might actually read this for prayer. louis has been quite a handful for us over the past couple of days and we’re not super sure what’s goin on there. jayne’s pretty worried he’s developing cholic and so she’s stressin pretty hard about all that. and bottom line is that we’re super tired, and stretched to the limits in terms of handling the screaming child thing.

so anyways, we’d appreciate your prayers. thanks.

just a test to see if i can post from my dashboard (it’s a mac thing)

And wherever he went - into tvillages, towns, or countryside- they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. - mark 6.56

what a profound picture.

People flocking to Jesus. Needy people, people aware of their need flocking to one they viewed as being able to help them, heal them, make them whole.
Continue reading ‘christ & the church & the world’

so we had our 2nd annual 4 square tourney last night, pretty much the biggest event on ball state’s campus bar none ( okay, not really, but still a really great event).

well, i finished a generous orthodoxy today. all in all a really good read. i think for the point he’s trying to make, i can agree with most of it. i think the way American Christianity has polarized and pitted itself against so much in our world and culture and really failed to step up to the challenges of loving and caring for the most needy in our world, McLaren’s points are well taken and much needed.
Continue reading ‘more generous orthodoxy…’