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Christianity

• 06.21.07
  Back from our Retreat
  Christianity, Personal, Youth Ministry (0)

  Well, VBS finished up last Thursday, and I was on a retreat with our youth this week from Tuesday until today.  The theme was "spiritual disciplines" finishing off what was a yearlong look at spiritual disciplines.  There wasn't a whole lot of teaching.  Instead, I had them do intentional exercises (via scheduling and a workbook I made up).  Then in the evening we sort of reflected about the experiences around the campfire.  I think this was a good method to use.  I got some good feedback from those that went.  I might use a similar rhythm and format for subsequent ...
  
  
• 06.11.07
  A Theological Test
  Christianity, Personal, Theology (0)

  I try to take theology seriously. It is helpful that I enjoy reading theology and listening to boring lectures by theologians and philosophers. However, I am deeply committed to the idea that theology is not for the ivory towers, but must be imbedded into the worshiping community. I mean, as much as I have respect for people like Volf, Vanhoozer, and Hauerwas, 99% of our churchgoers will never read them. It's up to those of us who do read such theologians to do the work of translation for the rest of the laity. So, I consider ...
  
  
• 06.03.07
  Emergent Gnosticism?
  Christianity, Theology, emerging church (1)

  A common thread in dueling schools of Christian theological (or philosophical) thought is to characterize "them" (whoever "they" may be) as embracing some sort of heretical position. I've been reading a few posts recently that try to pigeonhole the emerging church as gnostic. I forget some of the other places I've seen this recently, but this post is the latest. I am at quite a loss. I don't feel like writing a whole lot on the subject right now, but if the emerging church is in danger of any heresy, gnosticism would not be it. Here are some characteristics ...
  
  
• 06.01.07
  Brian McLaren is a Heretic
  Blogging, Christianity, Theology, emerging church (9)

  This is an experiment in blogging. I get nary a blip of traffic on my blog, which is fine by me. As I outlined in my first post on the blog, this is really an exercise in discipline and an opportunity to keep my writing skills intact. Additionally, it is becoming a place where I process through things like youth ministry and theology. But I was thinking the other day, "If I did want to increase my blog traffic, how could I do that?" Then I got a funny idea: I would write anti-emerging church rants. ...
  
  
• 06.01.07
  Christian Fundamentalist Shenanigans
  Christianity, Random (0)

  Wow. Apparently Chuck Swindoll is too "liberal" for some folks. He was dropped by a radio station (or network, I don't know) for using vulgar language like "crap" and "balls". They have kept a seven-year running tally of offenses: Go here for an introduction. Go here for the full release on Slice of Laodicea. Have fun reading the comments, too. Andrew Jones has a response here. I will say this: I am offended that a Christian outfit like the one at Slice of Laodicea would use language like "testicles" and "prostate exam" on their site. How inappropriate.
  
  
• 05.25.07
  Neo-Youth Ministry Part 5: The Youth Minister as Pastor
  Christianity, Ecclesiology, Neo-Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry (1)

  While many full-time youth workers carry the title of “Youth Pastor” I wonder how many take the role of “pastor” seriously. If we are going to forge a new, authentic way of doing youth ministry, then the youth minister must take seriously their role in the pastoral care of the congregation. I believe that some of the most beautiful times in the lives of congregations are when a member gets seriously ill or dies. It is at these times, when the rug is pulled out from under families, that the church shuts up and starts putting up ...
  
  
• 05.18.07
  Are You Infected?
  Christianity, Ecclesiology, Youth Ministry (0)

  Below is the article I wrote for this month's church newsletter.  I really struggled writing it; I just couldn't put the words together like I wanted to.  Hopefully, it will be coherent enough that people will mildly understand what I was getting at.  As we're trying to communicate a new way of doing youth ministry to the people in the congregation, I'm trying to come up with ways to explain my non-heiarchical, non-authoritiative, fluid, and organic approach to ministry.  It's hard to do that in written form with only one page at your disposal.  An anology I used at my last team ...
  
  
• 03.22.07
  Southern Baptist Nonsense
  Christianity (1)

  Having been a member at an SBC church for a time, I feel like I have a little bit of authority to criticize certain things. This is absolutely laughable.
  
  
• 03.22.07
  Christian Radio
  Christianity, Theology (0)

  I still feel like I'm trying to catch up from when I was out of the office for three days being sick.  Craziness.  The blogging has suffered notably. Anyways, I heard something along these lines on the radio on the way to work yesterday morning, "Your body is simply a vehicle for transporting your soul." And then followed the usual body is bad, spirit is good business. Fun times.
  
  
• 02.28.07
  He says it better
  Christianity, Youth Ministry (0)

  After just writing a post on the need for youth ministers to embrace their roles as theologians (as well as writing one a few months ago), I received the most recent edition (January/February) of The Journal of Student Ministries. On the cover I noticed an article on "Theological Rigor" by (Dr.) Andrew Root. I have only read a few articles by him, but have gotten to the point that I go straight to his articles before reading any other. What he says is usually what I've been thinking about or trying to say myself. He just ...
  
  

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