Michael Spencer: Outing Joel Osteen: A Challenge to the Evangelical Blogosphere

Michael Spencer: Outing Joel Osteen: A Challenge to the Evangelical Blogosphere: "1. Write a post about Osteen.
2. Encourage other bloggers to do the same. (Forward this link if you wish.)
3. Send it out. Raise the questions, speak the truth. Nail something on the door of the world."

Planet Vids - Funny Videos - Reporter In Iraq

Planet Vids - Funny Videos - Reporter In Iraq

Pirate Monkeys Inc. -- Fan Stuff -- Harry Potter

Pirate Monkeys Inc. -- Fan Stuff -- Harry Potter

No Going Back

I mailed out my ordination invitations this morning. No going back now...

I had my first "walk in" person last week...an adult who came to talk with me about some issues. I think they just came in looking for a pastor to talk with. Interesting...kind of rocked me back on my heels a bit. But empowering as well.

Feminary: Music music music

Feminary: Music music music A nice listing of contemporary music that connects with Wisdom literature.

Pilgrim Preaching: Letter to a Canaanite Woman

Pilgrim Preaching: Letter to a Canaanite Woman: "You go girl! I've never seen anyone talk to Jesus like that. And this from someone who so clearly does not belong. No one has called anyone a Canaanite for centuries. You are a foreigner�or you would be a foreigner if it were not your home turf that Jesus had wandered into. What's more, you are a Canaanite woman in the middle of a group of Jewish men. You are so out of place and so out of time and so exactly where your daughter needs you to be. "

Recently Finished Book

I just finished reading "Winning" by Jack Welch. Jack is the recently retired CEO of GE. The book is his second, and is intended to be a business memoir.

Some interesting stuff. Not nearly as "new" or "insightful" as a book like "Good to Great" or "The Tipping Point." But at the same time, there are some interesting thoughts and observations in there.

One interesting observation: Jack is opposed to spending a great deal of time on mission. He asserts that it is obvious. He writes that:

"a good mission statement and a good set of values are so real they smack you in the face with their concreteness. The mission announces exactly where you are going, and the values describe the behaviors that will get you there. Speaking of that, I prefer abandoning the term values altogether in favor of just behaviors. But for the sake of tradition, let's stick with the common terminology.

In my experience, an effective mission statement basically answers one question: How do we intend to win in this business?" - Jack Welch; "Winning"; p. 14.

Now, there are all sorts of problems with the basic premise of "winning" when it translates to what we do in ministry. But the focus on the focus is the part that interests me. Mission is simple. Mission is plain. Mission is direct and achievable.

There is some interesting stuff in this book. When you read it with filters that translate the business orientation into ministry, there is some wisdom that can certainly be applied and can be helpful.

Article from The Christian Century on Homosexuality Issue

The Christian Century

The Caring Bridge Site around the Frambach family journey to Columbia and the adoption of Andres

CaringBridge - Be There ~ Helping friends and family stay in touch and informed

An amazing journey of love and faith by friends.

Ordination Invitation

Where faith meets imagination

I spent the weekend at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, doing workshops for the Region 6 youthworker's network gathering. It was a fun event...about 30 people gathered together for learninig and support.

The Bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod came and spoke with the grou and had some interesting things to say. One of the things I really liked was really just a passing comment. He said something about youth and family ministry creating a space where faith meets imagination.

My mind took off on this:
What it would be like if the church reclaimed imagination?
What if we could imagine a world with no poverty?
What if we could imagine a world with peace?
What if we could imagine a world where the value of each young person was lifted up?
What if we could imagine who God calls us to be, and what God's vision of our lives is?
What if those of us in ministry could help young people imagine God's dream for their life?

Faith and imagination.
Faith and imagination.

Hmmm...