Well folks, this is the end. Since I only have 6 followers this ending will not have a significant impact on the world.
Due to comments by people who shall remain nameless, I have changed my gmail account. Since this blog is tied to that account, it will no longer be used. Fortunately, a blog that looks slightly different but has the exact same content will continue. Simply follow this link and update bookmarks or dashboard or whatever else you 6 use to follow my blog. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience.
By the way, switching email accounts is quite bothersome. I don't wish it upon any of you.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Adventure
Someone once wrote: "I don't know what part of my brain is used to play Minesweeper, but the part that isn't used goes on an adventure! Outwardly it looks like I care greatly about numbers and flags, which I do, but inwardly my mind is much more active than that! In my head my mind can go anywhere!"
So true, so true.
So true, so true.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Story We Find Ourselves In
I just finished my third book of this year in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Baltimore. It was "The Story We Find Ourselves In" by Brian McLaren. I've read several book by McLaren and I've always enjoyed them. In fact, without exception I've always bought the book after I finished reading it and then reread it, something that rarely happens. It was one of several books handed to me by my current pastor 6 days ago in addition to a longer list of books to read. (Earlier this week I read "Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller. It's also a really good book!) I was quite excited to see this McLaren book was one that he handed to me. And I was even more excited to see that there were actually 2 McLaren books on my list!
I was then disappointed to see that "The Story We Find Ourselves In" is actually the 2nd book in a series McLaren wrote. The first was "A New Kind of Christian" and I was not handed that one. In fact, "The Story We Find Ourselves In" wasn't even on my list. My pastor meant to give me the first one. The obvious upside: I still have 2 other McLaren books to read on my list! And both books in this set, though connected were meant to stand alone. There were several references to the first book in the second, but it really can stand alone.
I hadn't read a book of this style before. It was fiction theology. The book was fiction, but the intent was to explain the theology of the Christian narrative in a postmodern world. So basically it was fun theology. It may not be the most concise or in depth way to explain theology, but it's fun to read in the context of a story. The characters just happened to have extensive conversations on theology throughout the book.
The basic story line: The life of a pastor in Maryland is forever altered when his life story intersects with a friend of a friend, a woman who is being treated for breast cancer at the National Institute of Health. Through her, the pastor learns about how their mutual friend has been explaining the story we find ourselves in(the Christian narrative). When the friend also comes to Maryland, the story can be completed.
If anyone knows anything about me, they it's quite clear this book hit close to home. I'll list why: I'm serving as an intern pastor in Maryland for a year. The pastor's name in this book? Daniel. My mom has been battling breast cancer for several months now (one day shy of 5 months, I guess). For about the last month I've been unusually intrigued by the Biblical narrative, feeling the need to know exactly how it all fits together. Also, for years I've been trying to find my place as a postmodern Christian. Postmodernity scares some Christians, but I've always felt like it shouldn't.
So yeah, I loved this book. It's going to take me a while to unpack it all. Maybe that'll give me enough time to buy it for myself and read it again!
I was then disappointed to see that "The Story We Find Ourselves In" is actually the 2nd book in a series McLaren wrote. The first was "A New Kind of Christian" and I was not handed that one. In fact, "The Story We Find Ourselves In" wasn't even on my list. My pastor meant to give me the first one. The obvious upside: I still have 2 other McLaren books to read on my list! And both books in this set, though connected were meant to stand alone. There were several references to the first book in the second, but it really can stand alone.
I hadn't read a book of this style before. It was fiction theology. The book was fiction, but the intent was to explain the theology of the Christian narrative in a postmodern world. So basically it was fun theology. It may not be the most concise or in depth way to explain theology, but it's fun to read in the context of a story. The characters just happened to have extensive conversations on theology throughout the book.
The basic story line: The life of a pastor in Maryland is forever altered when his life story intersects with a friend of a friend, a woman who is being treated for breast cancer at the National Institute of Health. Through her, the pastor learns about how their mutual friend has been explaining the story we find ourselves in(the Christian narrative). When the friend also comes to Maryland, the story can be completed.
If anyone knows anything about me, they it's quite clear this book hit close to home. I'll list why: I'm serving as an intern pastor in Maryland for a year. The pastor's name in this book? Daniel. My mom has been battling breast cancer for several months now (one day shy of 5 months, I guess). For about the last month I've been unusually intrigued by the Biblical narrative, feeling the need to know exactly how it all fits together. Also, for years I've been trying to find my place as a postmodern Christian. Postmodernity scares some Christians, but I've always felt like it shouldn't.
So yeah, I loved this book. It's going to take me a while to unpack it all. Maybe that'll give me enough time to buy it for myself and read it again!