Forgotten Ways

I'm reading "Forgotten Ways" by Alan Hirsch. I use the present tense rather than past because this book reads like a textbook. It has been slow going, though the book is far from boring or tedious. I'm getting a lot from the book, but I find that I have to take my time or I'll miss something important.

Hirsch spends much time discussing the Chinese Underground House Church Movement of late, as well as the House Church Movement in his homeland of Australia. He then contrasts these movements with the religious state of affairs in the United States.

I'm finding this book to be valuable, though I'm not sure how many people I would actually recommend it to. If you made it through Josh Mcdowell's "Evidence that demands a verdict" (as my wife and I did a few years ago) then you can tough through a book like this also.

The author does an excellent job of describing and defining the Emerging Missional Church movement in the U.S.; not an easy task. There are some quotations that I've taken away from this book that are keepers, but I will not burden you with them in this format.

aimless blog

in less than a week, i've become addicted to ryan's blog, which he updates multiple times a day from his mobile phone. (he actually gives out his phone number on his blog, 614-738-3867). talk about mixing low tech (wearing the same underwear everyday) and high tech (blog posting from a phone). here are some notable recent excerpts from his blog:

"You are NOT free if you live in fear of a 160-Lb guy with a backpack, America. Sadly, that's clearly the prevailing trend. Maybe I'm out here to free you."

"That's funny: A car with a WWJD plate just flew by. If you're really that unsure, pal, I can tell you WJWHD: He would've stopped and offered a ride!"

"You don't need to behave as Jesus would. All you need is a "Jesus" license plate. If you have one of those, you're good. No, really. Seriously."

"Being a corporate ass kisser doesn't connect you with the right people. Being a 'BUM' leads you to the right people. I know because I have met some of the most awesome people on the planet by being a bum."

aimless movie

i've picked up my share of hitchhikers over the years (don't tell my grandma or my wife), but never quite as interesting as ryan. i drove him across alligator alley and then we had a beer at ye olde falcon pub. he is shooting a documentary as he travels around the country "aimlessly". in his defense, ryan was not hitchhiking, but merely standing at the side of the road with a backpack, i took the hint.



despite my being a pastor, i neglected to "Jesus" him, as he calls it when someone attempts to evangelize him. rather i just took the opportunity to do a favor, get to know someone, and also glean whatever information i may from someone who is learning much more about our culture in a very different way than most of us.



ryan is a true student of culture, who understands the difficulty in "intruding into the lives of others." he also sees the double-sided nature of asking people for help, as he is able to "give something back" simply through the experience itself.



good luck on your travels, ryan.

Jerry Falwell....

it wasn't too long ago that i stood on the other side of the fence from the "christian culture" that was created by people like Falwell. When i stood on that side of the fence and peered over, I'd see his comments about Teletubbies, gays, AIDS, as well as the Southern Baptists' comments about gays, Disney, and alcohol. When i stood on that side of the fence i didn't care too much for those comments.

Now I've been on the other side of the fence for some time (inside the "christian culture bubble"), and i find that i am still not too fond of those comments or what they do for the people still standing on the other side of the fence peering over.

Linkin Park - What I've Done

i like to use the expression "that'll preach" anytime i see Biblical truth expressed in the secular world.

michigan

i'm going back home to michigan this week to officiate my brother-in-law's wedding.
some have said that i have a stomach-worldview, so here's my view of michigan.

it'll be somewhat cool: i can wear pants and sweaters. something i don't get to do often in south florida.

pizza king pizza rolls - pizza king is one the dirtiest establishments ever, i don't think they've cleaned it since 1984, when the tigers won the world series.

magic wok - fast food chinese at its finest

olga's kitchen- a shopping mall staple, but only in michigan. don't know why.

white castle - yes, you heard it right. white castle sliders












buffalo wild wings (bw3) - best wings ever. and they actually clean their stores.

beer selection - yes, people in michigan actually appreciate a decent beer selection. case in point: samuel adams. in a south florida store, you may have a choice between 3 different variations of sam adams. in michigan, you'll have upwards of 12 choices. sam adams actually manufactures almost 20 variations. guess i'll have to go to boston one of these days.

rock stars on God

just finished "rock stars on God" by doug van pelt. the book was referenced during my reading of "body piercing saved my life". "rock stars" was a good case study in evangelism. it was great to watch various rock stars duck, dodge, refute, and tackle spiritual questions, many exclaiming "i've never been asked questions like these before!" most stars were expecting a fight/argument, or at least proselytizing but were disarmed by the interviewer's ability to simply ask an open-ended question and then sit back and listen.