Monday, September 7, 2009

Labor day prayers

Lectionary Readings from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer

Ps 41, 52 * 44; 1 Kings 13:1-10; Philippians 1:1-11

Mark 15:40-47. ...waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.

Commentary on Anglican lectionary readings

Daily Meditation from Henri Nouwen:

Living in the End-Time

We are living in the end-time! This does not mean that creation will soon come to its end, but it does mean that all the signs of the end of time that Jesus mentions are already with us: wars and revolutions, conflicts between nations and between kingdoms, earthquakes, plagues, famines, and persecutions (see Luke 21:9-12). Jesus describes the events of our world as announcements that this world is not our final dwelling place, but that the Son of Man will come to bring us our full freedom. "When these things begin to take place," Jesus says, "stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand" (Luke 21:28). The terrible events surrounding us must be lived as ways to make us ready for our final liberation.

11 comments:

Joseph Holbrook said...

I am going to start presenting the Anglican lectionary as an option for reading and conversation in our god-party groups.

By-the-way, there is a good intro to a new book called "Deep Church" by Jim Belcher on jesuscreed today.
...............
(Below: Scot's description of Deep Church)
Instead of seeing "Third Way" as a branding of clique, third way (and I agree with Belcher completely) may be the only hope for unity among evangelicals. "The evangelical church is deeply divided. Although evangelicalism has always been diverse, in recent years this fragmentation has threatened to pull the movement apart" (9).

Jim, while he embraces the core criticisms of the traditional evangelical and was connected with all the major players (the early Driscoll, Seay Pagitt, Jones, Kimball, Bell, McLaren) gives a few elements that he feared in the emergent stream:

first, he knew that age segregation impoverished both individuals and growth;

second, he was convinced we have to have roots to our faith -- in history and theology;

third, he had concerns about worship in the Gen X (pre emergent) crowd which he saw as a "hipper version of the boomers' seeker worship" (30);

and, fourth, he didn't see enough gospel centeredness in the Gen X crowd.

Brian Emmet said...

Can you describe the Third Way just a bit? It's not "tradiotnal evangelicalism" and it's not "the emerging church"... who woul;d be a characteristic 3rd Way spokesperson?

Joseph Holbrook said...

no, I really can't. I have not read the book, I just lifted that the coments oout of McKnight's blog. I suppose the author, Jim Belcher, would consider himself in that category.

sigh .. so many books, so little time.

Brian Emmet said...

Four types, a Third Way... and a partridge in a pear tree!

Joseph Holbrook said...

I don’t know about the partridge, but it seems that a lot of people are grappling with the changes that are happening in Evangelicalism, or that seem to need to happen. I’m guessing that what Jim Belcher is proposing is simply to acknowledge some of the valid criticisms of current Evangelicalism and to take steps to remedy them without departing seriously from orthodox evangelical faith. McKnight also implies that Belcher is critical of some of the “emerging worship” as simply a postmodern window dressing of the mega-church seeker type worship “relevance.”

I would order the book and read it, but I must seriously get back to my dissertation work. I also have the impression that the discussion of “Finding Faith” has petered out. Brian, feel free to post the next topic.

steve H said...

I wanted you to know I read these entries. Joseph, I applaud your efforts to encourage common reading of Scripture and a common starting ground (of sorts) for conversation.

I started to write a comment on deep church and the 3rd way, but my comment fizzled...

Several pastors here in Winchester from a variety of theological and denominational connections are experiencing a fresh move to pray and work together for the advancement/coming of the kingdom in our city. At this point, I tend to be more interested in this face-to-face and man-to-man interaction and unity than I am for another theological trend -- even though I realize there is some value in those sorts of interactions.

Billy Long said...

Hello, Brothers. I am reading your comments, though not saying much at the moment. Work and a lot going on.
Billy

Joseph Holbrook said...

you guys have any suggestions or requests for conversation?

At this point, I don't really care what we talk about, I am just comforted by the daily contact.

Billy Long said...

Anybody ever do any study on "The council of the Lord" from Jer.23:18. It is the same word for translated "secret council" and "oounsel" in other places and refers to a those brought into His presence in "deliberation" and intercession. The church as friends of God being allowed privy to the heart of God, acting in intercession, and then also proclaiming it. Such as Abraham who was involved in the discussion and prayer (in the council) around Sodom and Gomorrah, while Lot, like the typical Church member, was saved by the skin of his teeth but had no idea what was going on.

Joseph Holbrook said...

By-the-way, there is another post on McKnight’s blog that goes over another chapter of Belher’s “Deep Church.”

It goes into Belcher’s specific critiques of Evangelicalism and discusses the emerging church as a response to these areas of weakness in Evangelicalism. I personally think most of these are valid. I starting to have a problem with some or most of them back around 2000 before I ever heard of Brian McLaren or the emerging church.

Here are seven areas he believes the emerging church is validly critiqueing: Captivity to Enlightenment rationalism; A narrow view of salvation; Belief before belonging; Uncontextualized worship; Ineffective preaching; Tribalism. Also, these are all things I have heard one or another of the five teachers criticize in their time.

Here is the link:

JESUS CREED

I was planning to start another post on Flory and Miller’s chapter 3, “Appropriators” when some of you had finished reading the google doc—but we can move on to something else if you would prefer.

Joseph Holbrook said...

Billy, that sounds a little like some stuff Steve has looked into regarding the assembly of the Ekklesia.