Book Review.
Sweet, Leonard. So Beautiful. Divine design for life and the church. David C Cook Pub. 2009
Comment. Henry.
It has been some ten years since I have read several books by Leonard Sweet. What is different about this book is his constant ‘theologizing’ in his presentation. The concepts he is dealing with are basic enough but he does so in with an overwhelming number of illustrations and explanations. This may be an ‘occupational’ (seminarian) hazard. No doubt his work has many appreciative readers who identify with the language and focus of his presentation(s). Note: My review will be grossly oversimplified and will probably not give justice to the ‘stature’ of this resource.
In a 52 page introduction Sweet explains what he is going to be presenting in this resource. He develops what he calls an MRI (19) of the church. This acronym stands for M-Missionaries, R-Disciples, and I-World Changers. He goes to present and explain a multitude of meaning specific terms that relate to MRI. This will set the stage for a highly academic treatise. It is presented in three parts: The missional life: God’s “Go”, The relational life: God’s “Yes”, and The incarnational life: God’s “No”.
As God is continually on the move, e.g. creation, we must accept the reality that we are sent ones, those who continually go. Jesus is our example. Our (great) commission is to GO. We are pilgrims not settlers. Sweet talks about “a theology of journey” (89)
“Life is a bit of time and a lot of relationship”. God in- The Shack. It is relationships that set Christianity apart from other religions. The scriptures describe God as a God of relationships, e.g. the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Relationships are messy and difficult. To attempt bring order into them, by rules, is to destroy them.
An “incarnational life” (150) is a walk where the walk of life has actually come to an end. Context is the key to incarnational ministry. “Incarnation celebrates the diverse ways of being church and doing church.” (207)
www.henrydirksen.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Introverts In The Church.
Book Review.
McHugh, Adam S. Introverts In The Church. Finding our place in an extroverted culture. IVP Books. 2009.
A.M.-an ordained Presbyterian minister, a spiritual director, and an introvert.
Comment. Henry.
The reading of this book was a learning experience for me. I had never thought of introverts and extroverts as contrasting groups in the church culture. The thesis of this resource is that most church cultures are extrovert dominated. This presents a special challenge for introverts to function well as participants and ministering staff. This resource is helpful for introverts who struggle with their frustrations and extroverts who are concerned about being more inclusive. The challenge to both celebrate and respect our individual differences will always be part of meaningful life enriching relationships, especially in our churches.
“There is a restless energy to evangelicalism that leads to a full schedule and a fast pace.” (26) Such an environment is not seen as introvert friendly. Introversion and extroversion exist in each of us and are a preference. These characteristics exist in degrees. Introverts process internally and gain strength from their solitude, etc.
Healing for introverts can come from external sources (relationships) and from the Lord. Their spirituality is contemplative with a focus on solitude and “the examen” (74) Community is a challenge but introverts bring a special contribution to community, e.g. compassion, creativity, mentoring, etc. Community pitfalls (for introverts) can be avoided.
Although most lists of leadership characteristics don’t include introvertism, there are many leaders that are (were) introverts , e.g. Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Jonathan Edwards . Leadership is more about calling than personality types. Adequate self-care is important. Spiritual direction plays to the strengths of introvert leaders. Leading and being led as extroverts and introverts are discussed.
“Introvert seekers need introvert evangelists.” (184) Evangelism is usually thought of as an activity (gift) that demonstrates a high level of extrovertism. The church that introverts will feel comfortable in will send messages of safety and opportunities of involvement. For community to happen in our churches it will require that we all have a strong commitment to ‘love one another’.
www.henrydirksen.blogspot.com
McHugh, Adam S. Introverts In The Church. Finding our place in an extroverted culture. IVP Books. 2009.
A.M.-an ordained Presbyterian minister, a spiritual director, and an introvert.
Comment. Henry.
The reading of this book was a learning experience for me. I had never thought of introverts and extroverts as contrasting groups in the church culture. The thesis of this resource is that most church cultures are extrovert dominated. This presents a special challenge for introverts to function well as participants and ministering staff. This resource is helpful for introverts who struggle with their frustrations and extroverts who are concerned about being more inclusive. The challenge to both celebrate and respect our individual differences will always be part of meaningful life enriching relationships, especially in our churches.
“There is a restless energy to evangelicalism that leads to a full schedule and a fast pace.” (26) Such an environment is not seen as introvert friendly. Introversion and extroversion exist in each of us and are a preference. These characteristics exist in degrees. Introverts process internally and gain strength from their solitude, etc.
Healing for introverts can come from external sources (relationships) and from the Lord. Their spirituality is contemplative with a focus on solitude and “the examen” (74) Community is a challenge but introverts bring a special contribution to community, e.g. compassion, creativity, mentoring, etc. Community pitfalls (for introverts) can be avoided.
Although most lists of leadership characteristics don’t include introvertism, there are many leaders that are (were) introverts , e.g. Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Jonathan Edwards . Leadership is more about calling than personality types. Adequate self-care is important. Spiritual direction plays to the strengths of introvert leaders. Leading and being led as extroverts and introverts are discussed.
“Introvert seekers need introvert evangelists.” (184) Evangelism is usually thought of as an activity (gift) that demonstrates a high level of extrovertism. The church that introverts will feel comfortable in will send messages of safety and opportunities of involvement. For community to happen in our churches it will require that we all have a strong commitment to ‘love one another’.
www.henrydirksen.blogspot.com
Monday, February 22, 2010
Who Stole My Church
Book Review.
MacDonald, Gordon. Who Stole My Church? What to do when the church you love tries to enter the 21st century. Thomas Nelson. 2007.
G.M.- has over forty years of experience as a pastor and author. He is editor-at-large for Leadership Journal.
Comment. Henry.
Mac has written himself and his wife Gail into a fictional story where he deals with the challenges of how a church can transition into the twenty-first century without self-destructing. This is a clever method of presenting valid information that can be helpful in bringing about positive change for a church that is committed to being relevant and effective as a missional influence. With one exception, the author has not needed to include all the contemporary jargon that is so much of today’s literature.
Many objections to change (in a church) are founded on the reluctance to give up what is special about the past, e.g. traditional worship and preaching, predictable services, need-meeting programs, etc. In the face of inevitable change we must remember that the church is not ours but it is God’s church. How change affects us personally is not the bottom line.
It is helpful to look at the changes that have been ongoing in the history of the church, e.g. Constantine, Reformation, etc. We live in a changing world and we cannot expect that our church should be exempt from change. Many of these changes impact fundamental ideas and principles, e.g. the definition and understanding of truth. “Shelf life” (80) is a term that needs to be understood and applied to church and church programs. The volatile topic of music in the church cannot be properly addressed without cross-generational representation.
Unfortunately attrition is an unavoidable part of significant change. The damage resulting from a refusal to change is actually more severe. Genuine change in the quality of relationships requires a high level of vulnerability. Strong intergenerational relationships can happen when there is openness and willingness to change. Young and old can relate to one another’s needs.
MacDonald, Gordon. Who Stole My Church? What to do when the church you love tries to enter the 21st century. Thomas Nelson. 2007.
G.M.- has over forty years of experience as a pastor and author. He is editor-at-large for Leadership Journal.
Comment. Henry.
Mac has written himself and his wife Gail into a fictional story where he deals with the challenges of how a church can transition into the twenty-first century without self-destructing. This is a clever method of presenting valid information that can be helpful in bringing about positive change for a church that is committed to being relevant and effective as a missional influence. With one exception, the author has not needed to include all the contemporary jargon that is so much of today’s literature.
Many objections to change (in a church) are founded on the reluctance to give up what is special about the past, e.g. traditional worship and preaching, predictable services, need-meeting programs, etc. In the face of inevitable change we must remember that the church is not ours but it is God’s church. How change affects us personally is not the bottom line.
It is helpful to look at the changes that have been ongoing in the history of the church, e.g. Constantine, Reformation, etc. We live in a changing world and we cannot expect that our church should be exempt from change. Many of these changes impact fundamental ideas and principles, e.g. the definition and understanding of truth. “Shelf life” (80) is a term that needs to be understood and applied to church and church programs. The volatile topic of music in the church cannot be properly addressed without cross-generational representation.
Unfortunately attrition is an unavoidable part of significant change. The damage resulting from a refusal to change is actually more severe. Genuine change in the quality of relationships requires a high level of vulnerability. Strong intergenerational relationships can happen when there is openness and willingness to change. Young and old can relate to one another’s needs.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
An Hour Before Daylight.
Book Review.
Carter, Jimmy. An Hour Before Daylight. Memories of a rural boyhood. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. 2001.
Comment. Henry.
Biographies should be read for fun, not as an assignment. I certainly had fun with this one. I have an older brother that is about the same age as this president. We grew up on a farm. It was the great depression. That is where the comparison ends. However, that similar background gave this read some relevance for me. When, as a young adult, I developed an appreciation for history and historical leaders it was the result of focusing on the humanness (humanity) of these people. President Carter has shared some very interesting information about his growing up years with his family.
Farming was very different in Georgia than in western Canada. Life on the Carter farm was really a community. Farm employees, black people, lived on the farm acreage. The Carter ‘community’ lived and functioned very much as an extended family.
Sharecropping was the system of farming. Everyone was impacted by the hardships of the Depression. The primary crops were cotton and peanuts. Farming was very labour intensive for man and beast. Government management (interference) of crop acreages was a difficult experience for farmers.
Life between whites and blacks on the farm was quite integrated. Jimmy’s best friend was a black boy. It could not be called racial integration but it was not extreme racial discrimination. There was good quality of life (under the circumstances). Jimmy’s childhood was a happy one where hard work was a given and comforts of life were limited.
Economic concerns were always a primary focus. Those who lacked skills in farming and commerce suffered hardships.
There were interesting personalities in the ‘Carter clan’. Family relationships were strong. They shared common values of a strong work ethic and respect for strongly held opinions.
The focus of this biography is early childhood and rural life styles. Very little is said about the president’s political career. It is all about family.
Carter, Jimmy. An Hour Before Daylight. Memories of a rural boyhood. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. 2001.
Comment. Henry.
Biographies should be read for fun, not as an assignment. I certainly had fun with this one. I have an older brother that is about the same age as this president. We grew up on a farm. It was the great depression. That is where the comparison ends. However, that similar background gave this read some relevance for me. When, as a young adult, I developed an appreciation for history and historical leaders it was the result of focusing on the humanness (humanity) of these people. President Carter has shared some very interesting information about his growing up years with his family.
Farming was very different in Georgia than in western Canada. Life on the Carter farm was really a community. Farm employees, black people, lived on the farm acreage. The Carter ‘community’ lived and functioned very much as an extended family.
Sharecropping was the system of farming. Everyone was impacted by the hardships of the Depression. The primary crops were cotton and peanuts. Farming was very labour intensive for man and beast. Government management (interference) of crop acreages was a difficult experience for farmers.
Life between whites and blacks on the farm was quite integrated. Jimmy’s best friend was a black boy. It could not be called racial integration but it was not extreme racial discrimination. There was good quality of life (under the circumstances). Jimmy’s childhood was a happy one where hard work was a given and comforts of life were limited.
Economic concerns were always a primary focus. Those who lacked skills in farming and commerce suffered hardships.
There were interesting personalities in the ‘Carter clan’. Family relationships were strong. They shared common values of a strong work ethic and respect for strongly held opinions.
The focus of this biography is early childhood and rural life styles. Very little is said about the president’s political career. It is all about family.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Good and Beautiful God.
Book Review.
Smith, James Bryan. The Good and Beautiful God. Falling in love with the God Jesus knew. IVP Books. 2009.
J.S.- theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He is a founding board member of Renovare.
Comment. Henry.
Smith is a disciple of Dallas Willard. He uses the term ‘narrative’ to describe teachings about important life principles. There are two contrasting narratives that referred to frequently, the narrative of Jesus and the narrative of the ‘world’. These are important in how we understand spiritual truth. Much of the teaching in this resource is basic to Christian apologetics. It is strongly recommended that the reading of this book be done as a group project with organized group interaction. A small group discussion guide is provided to accommodate such interaction.
We need to understand the significance of the narratives that determine how we think and live. “Spiritual formation is a combination of our action and God’s action.” (34) The narrative that God is an angry judge is not uncommon. Jesus demolishes that narrative. To have faith in Jesus, the Son of God, settles many questions. To be assured of the faith of Jesus is a great source of comfort when our faith is tested.
Gaining a good understanding of the Fatherhood of God is helpful in developing trust in God. Trust in a God who is good (love) provides a ‘firm foundation’ necessary to deal effectively with the challenges of difficult experiences of life (and death). God is indeed a generous God. Guilt and/or fear should not be our primary narrative of him.
Our performance-based culture becomes an obstacle for our acceptance and understanding of God’s love. “Lectio divina” (108) is suggested as a method of Bible reading. The holiness and love of God are compatible with his divinity. The integration of God’s love and his wrath do not call for a redefinition of the word wrath as some would suggest. “The wrath of God is pathos and not passion.” (120)
Through Jesus Christ his Son, God became“self-sacrifice” (143) for us. To experience the transforming work of God we must have an understanding of who we are in Christ, submit our will to him, and be committed to obedience. We are part of a culture that is continuously rushing around and that presents the challenge and need to “ruthlessly eliminate hurry”. Dallas Willard.
Smith, James Bryan. The Good and Beautiful God. Falling in love with the God Jesus knew. IVP Books. 2009.
J.S.- theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He is a founding board member of Renovare.
Comment. Henry.
Smith is a disciple of Dallas Willard. He uses the term ‘narrative’ to describe teachings about important life principles. There are two contrasting narratives that referred to frequently, the narrative of Jesus and the narrative of the ‘world’. These are important in how we understand spiritual truth. Much of the teaching in this resource is basic to Christian apologetics. It is strongly recommended that the reading of this book be done as a group project with organized group interaction. A small group discussion guide is provided to accommodate such interaction.
We need to understand the significance of the narratives that determine how we think and live. “Spiritual formation is a combination of our action and God’s action.” (34) The narrative that God is an angry judge is not uncommon. Jesus demolishes that narrative. To have faith in Jesus, the Son of God, settles many questions. To be assured of the faith of Jesus is a great source of comfort when our faith is tested.
Gaining a good understanding of the Fatherhood of God is helpful in developing trust in God. Trust in a God who is good (love) provides a ‘firm foundation’ necessary to deal effectively with the challenges of difficult experiences of life (and death). God is indeed a generous God. Guilt and/or fear should not be our primary narrative of him.
Our performance-based culture becomes an obstacle for our acceptance and understanding of God’s love. “Lectio divina” (108) is suggested as a method of Bible reading. The holiness and love of God are compatible with his divinity. The integration of God’s love and his wrath do not call for a redefinition of the word wrath as some would suggest. “The wrath of God is pathos and not passion.” (120)
Through Jesus Christ his Son, God became“self-sacrifice” (143) for us. To experience the transforming work of God we must have an understanding of who we are in Christ, submit our will to him, and be committed to obedience. We are part of a culture that is continuously rushing around and that presents the challenge and need to “ruthlessly eliminate hurry”. Dallas Willard.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Simply Christian
Wright,N.T. Simply Christian. Why Christianity Makes Sense. Harper San Francisco. 2006.
Comment. Henry.
I appreciate how this first-rate theologian writes so that a layman can quite readily understand. He just makes a lot of sense. I do have an unanswered question for the Dr. Regarding his focus on the new heaven and the new earth, he does not give many details about the ‘extreme makeover’. Is it as he suggests a remodelling involving reconstruction only, or does that also involve serious demolition as some passages of scripture seem to suggest? Tom has done an impressive task to portray Christianity as “Simply Christian”.
Tom identifies four ‘signposts’ (justice, spirituality, relationships, and beauty) that point us to God. As Christians, God’s passion for justice needs to become our passion. The abolition of slavery and the abolition of apartheid are examples of what such passion has accomplished. In the West there is an increasing resurgence of interest in spirituality. It is intuitive to our humanity.
Fulfilling relationships and especially personal relationships are what we desire but they are difficult to bring about. This makes God’s invitation to us for a personal relationship through Jesus Christ such ‘good news’. Beauty in its various forms is truly a signpost to God.
Heaven is God’s space and earth is man’s space. In Judaism and Christianity we discover where these spaces interlock. “It is fundamental to the Christian worldview in its truest form that what happened in Jesus of Nazareth was the very climax of the long story of Israel.” (71)
“Christianity is all about new life in Jesus.” (92) It is in Jesus that our space and God’s space interlock. When Jesus declared, “The Kingdom of God is at hand” he was referring to his own work. Jesus is “personally present and active in the world and in our lives, our rescuer and our Lord”. (119) The Holy Spirit is God’s breath of life for the churches as it indwells each member. It is by the Spirit that we ‘live and have our being’.
The natural response to knowledge of God is worship. The 4th and 5th chapters of Revelation are a good scriptural passage to go to learn about worship. When God’s world will be what it should be all creation will worship him. “You become like what you worship. Worship makes you truly human.” (148) The reading of scripture and ‘bread-breaking’ should be part of worship. Prayer(s) is (are) a basic discipline of a Christian experience. Prayer needs to be taught and caught.
The Bible “offers energy for the task to which God is calling his people.” (182) It is ‘God-breathed’. The Bible is meant for equipping and enabling, not for the forming of ‘authoritative truth’ to be used to lord it over others. Through scripture God speaks to the church which in turn speaks to the world. Interpretation is “a huge and wonderful task”. (197) The Bible is God’s gift. “Believing and belonging” are part of the place and purpose of the church. Worship of God and work in his kingdom, community, and mutual encouragement are also included in the purpose of the church. Rescue through water is a powerful recurring event in Israel’s history and is relevant to baptism, e.g. John the Baptist. Baptism is seen as “the mode of entry into the Christian family”. (214)
Three ‘options’ are given as to how the relation between God and the world are understood. “Option one was to see God and the world as basically the same thing.” (220) This is pantheism and panentheism. “Option two was to see God and the world as a long way apart from one another.” (220) This form of theism has a Christian ethic based on an “overarching moral system”. (220) “Option three declares God and the world are different from one another, but not far apart.” (221) It is in areas where these worlds interlock where the Christian life takes place. “It is about practicing, in the present, the tunes we shall sing in God’s world.”
www.henrydirksen.blogspot.com
Comment. Henry.
I appreciate how this first-rate theologian writes so that a layman can quite readily understand. He just makes a lot of sense. I do have an unanswered question for the Dr. Regarding his focus on the new heaven and the new earth, he does not give many details about the ‘extreme makeover’. Is it as he suggests a remodelling involving reconstruction only, or does that also involve serious demolition as some passages of scripture seem to suggest? Tom has done an impressive task to portray Christianity as “Simply Christian”.
Tom identifies four ‘signposts’ (justice, spirituality, relationships, and beauty) that point us to God. As Christians, God’s passion for justice needs to become our passion. The abolition of slavery and the abolition of apartheid are examples of what such passion has accomplished. In the West there is an increasing resurgence of interest in spirituality. It is intuitive to our humanity.
Fulfilling relationships and especially personal relationships are what we desire but they are difficult to bring about. This makes God’s invitation to us for a personal relationship through Jesus Christ such ‘good news’. Beauty in its various forms is truly a signpost to God.
Heaven is God’s space and earth is man’s space. In Judaism and Christianity we discover where these spaces interlock. “It is fundamental to the Christian worldview in its truest form that what happened in Jesus of Nazareth was the very climax of the long story of Israel.” (71)
“Christianity is all about new life in Jesus.” (92) It is in Jesus that our space and God’s space interlock. When Jesus declared, “The Kingdom of God is at hand” he was referring to his own work. Jesus is “personally present and active in the world and in our lives, our rescuer and our Lord”. (119) The Holy Spirit is God’s breath of life for the churches as it indwells each member. It is by the Spirit that we ‘live and have our being’.
The natural response to knowledge of God is worship. The 4th and 5th chapters of Revelation are a good scriptural passage to go to learn about worship. When God’s world will be what it should be all creation will worship him. “You become like what you worship. Worship makes you truly human.” (148) The reading of scripture and ‘bread-breaking’ should be part of worship. Prayer(s) is (are) a basic discipline of a Christian experience. Prayer needs to be taught and caught.
The Bible “offers energy for the task to which God is calling his people.” (182) It is ‘God-breathed’. The Bible is meant for equipping and enabling, not for the forming of ‘authoritative truth’ to be used to lord it over others. Through scripture God speaks to the church which in turn speaks to the world. Interpretation is “a huge and wonderful task”. (197) The Bible is God’s gift. “Believing and belonging” are part of the place and purpose of the church. Worship of God and work in his kingdom, community, and mutual encouragement are also included in the purpose of the church. Rescue through water is a powerful recurring event in Israel’s history and is relevant to baptism, e.g. John the Baptist. Baptism is seen as “the mode of entry into the Christian family”. (214)
Three ‘options’ are given as to how the relation between God and the world are understood. “Option one was to see God and the world as basically the same thing.” (220) This is pantheism and panentheism. “Option two was to see God and the world as a long way apart from one another.” (220) This form of theism has a Christian ethic based on an “overarching moral system”. (220) “Option three declares God and the world are different from one another, but not far apart.” (221) It is in areas where these worlds interlock where the Christian life takes place. “It is about practicing, in the present, the tunes we shall sing in God’s world.”
www.henrydirksen.blogspot.com
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