Out of Ur Review…I mean Bludgeoning

Chad Hall has the unigue ability of criticizing two books at once. Now that takes talent. He goes after Mark Driscoll’s Vintage Jesus and Tony Jones’ The New Christians over on the Out of Ur Blog. Fortunately, I just read The New Christians by Tony Jones about a week ago. I’ll be posting some thoughts on that some point in the next few days.

Read Chad Hall’s review. I must say that it struck me as extremely ungracious to both authors.

With regard to Jone’s book in particular, I’ll reiterate what one commenter said, “I wondered if Mr. Hall and I had read the same book.” I hope I’m not reading a mean-spiritedness into the review, but it certainly came across that way to me.

Read Tony Jones’ response 1 &  response 2. Both very gracious.

Apparently Mark Driscoll’s response is still forthcoming. I’ll post a link as it becomes available.

I also read Doug Pagitt’s A Christianity Worth Believing last week, so I’ll post some thoughts on that when I’m able to find the time. I have not read Vintage Jesus so rather than add to the massive amounts of uninformed critique that is perpetually flying around the blogosphere, I’ll leave that one to people who have actually read the book.

Before those waffle-humpers change the formula…

I’m not a Bud man, but this is hilarious…

*Having trouble posting the video so here’s the link. It’s the second bit down. Check it out.*

Brueggemann on “Isaiah and the Mission of the Church”

Walter Brueggemann spoke at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan last Sunday. Mars Hill is Rob Bell’s community and they have been bringing in all kinds of big names while he is taking a break from preaching. Brueggemann’s talk is entitled “Isaiah and the Mission of the Church.” I’m going to put it on my mp3 player so I can check it out sometime over the next few days. Brueggemann’s voice is one we need to be hearing today.

Shalom Friends!

Brickstore Pub. How I Love Thee.

My wife and I go to a place called the Brickstore Pub every Sunday Night after our community gathers each week. We’ve only recently made it into a “spiritual discipline.” It is sacred time between my lover and I. (Referring to my wife, not the beer.

Homebrewer and enthusiast that I am for a good ale, I thought I would share some of what I’m drinking these days in case anyone wants to check it out.

Last week, Schneider Aventinus and Left Hand Milk Stout.

Schneider Aventintus. (Pictured to Left) Dark-ruby, almost black-colored and streaked with fine top-fermenting yeast, this beer has a compact and persistent head. This is a very intense wheat doppelbock with a complex spicy chocolate-like arome with a hint of banana and raisins. On the palate, you experience a soft touch and on the tongue it is very rich and complex, though fresh with a hint of caramel. It finishes in a rich soft and lightly bitter impression.

Read about the Left Hand Milk Stout at their site. It’s all flash and I don’t want to re-type it.

I cannot reccomend either of these enough. They are quickly becoming regulars for me at the Pub.

Re:Connect in Atlanta w/ Shane Claiborne

If anybody is going to be in the Atlanta area this weekend, there will be a two nite event that I’ll be attending in the city called, “Re:Connect” revolving around justice issues from a particularly “way of jesus” kind of perspective. It is Friday (18th) and Saturday (19th) from 7-9pm. Find details. The second nite will include Shane Claiborne & Chris Haw/ Jesus for President Thing. Come check it out if you’ll be around.

Not Art. Gospel. (3-5)

Here’s some catch up on what these guys are doing over at the Plow.

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Not Art. Gospel. (2)

Check out the next submission by Corey in the “Not Art. Gospel.” series over at The Plow. Pretty Cool Stuff. It’s based on Matthew 6.1-4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not Art. Gospel.

Take a closer look at this work over at The Plow.

 

From the Artist:

“My goal is to create images for every topic on the Sermon on the Mount. I want the art to tell the story, I want the art to be the gospel.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbie is Innocent…

HT: America’s Young Theologian for pointing me toward wrongcards.com.

Enemy Love Bin-Laden Style

Hooray for Art and Design from followers of Jesus that actually forces you to consider how seriously you take the enemy love in the teachings of Jesus.

Images like this one are shocking. Not because they are a distortion. Because we don’t really think through the shape of our love of enemy too often…

Do I love my enemies?

Do I pray for my enemies?

If I were God, would I cause the sun to rise on the evil and the good?

Would I send rain on those who are in the right and those who are not?

He loves them. He shares the sun and the rain.

If I can answer no to any of these questions, I’m out of tune.

I’m not in tune with Jesus, the image of God…

And I’m not in tune with God the creator…

Our humanity is tied to the image of God in us. When we refuse to acknowlege the image of God in those who have been co-opted by evil, we are actually refusing to acknowledge it in ourselves. By de-humanizing others, we end up de-humanizing ourselves.

May we love our enemies. May we pray for them. May we share ourselves and our blessings with them as the father does.

SHALOM to you all. Enemy or Friend.

HT: Jesus Manifesto for the image above which they borrowed from The Plow. Check out the other two prints that go with the one above. You can download all three in pdf.