Archive for November, 2003
More Ready Than You Realize
question >> Just wondering if you have ever used McLaren’s “More Ready Than You Realize” in a discussion/bible study group? If so, what was the response? What were the themes the discussions centered around? What was the overall response?
djchuang >> No, haven’t had an opportunity to use that book in a group setting, tho’ I read it (devoured it) very quickly when I got a copy of that book. I’d think the book would be great for discussion starters, b/c of its provocative questions and thoughts. I’d imagine it’d be most useful for people who are open to discussion and exploring ideas, and I’d suggest adding some supplemental text so the discussions may be more informed than speculative.
virtual relationships
one recurring question I get occasionally here is about my relationships how do I know such-and-such a person? I often reply that I hadn’t met them in person, but relate to them virtually.. and, then the followup, how do I build relationships online, if I haven’t actually met a person, in person face-to face? This study shows that it is possible, and I quote this excerpt: “… distributed learners communicating predominantly online can indeed sustain intimate, personal relationships …“
couple of thoughts of how to build virtual relationships.. first, people have to want it, 2ndly, it takes effort and intentionality – just as physically + geographically proximate relationships takes doing things together and talking with one another, so does virtual online relationships.. there are so many technologies to use: IM, email, chat room, web forums, mailing lists, etc.. and relating personally, whether nearby or virtual, is about conversation and dialogue, sharing ideas, thoughts, and feelings.. so if you want to go there, you can go there, and you’re not bound by physical or geographical boundaries!
American as apple pie
just don’t drink it.. on the extended long commute home (2 accidents en route, as I heard on radio, so I was among the bailout), stopped by 7-Eleven b/c I was reading some recent buzz about its innovative flavor shots to go with your Big Gulp fountain drinks, tho’ nothing prohibits you from getting some shots in your Slurpee or coffee along the same aisle.. I gawked at the flavor shots, and decided to go for a bottled one.. picked up a limited edition “Snapple Pie”, their version of an apple pie drink..
and, how weird is that?! I’m into experimenting and all, and occasionally don’t want to be chewing, but drinking an apple pie was frankly too weird for me.. yes I bought it + tried it.. what’s next, steak & cheese?!
a business idea: I won’t be pulling thisoff, but would like to see them happen (and an acknowledgement to this blog would suffice)..
how about a movie portal where I can get the rottentomatoes ratings, theatre locations near me by zip code, and one-click online order of tickets.. I don’t like scrambling from fandango to moviefone to whatever-movie-online-tix to find the theatre that matches the movie I want to watch at the time I want to watch it.. there’s plenty of travel (air, car, hotel) portals that aggregate fares and rentals, why not movie tix?
faithful to pragmatism
Jordon Cooper rightly observed from the reading lists of Catholic, mainline protestant, and evangelical pastors, that they’re faithful to pragmatism (“what works”) more than they’re faithful to theology, values, ideas, and truth::
Unfortunately, these preferences leave out works of serious theology, biblical interpretation, history and social analysis. Although one hesitates to pass judgement on pastors with busy lives and constant interruptions, the overall impression is that clergy do not read very deeply. Although they may read regularly, what they read seems to be relatively light fare and pragmatically focused.
See the full report from Pulpit & Pew titled “Pastors’ Picks: What Preachers Are Reading“
now you know my bias, for ideas, so I’m not going to kowtow to pragmatism, and now you also know that I bowed out of the pastorate as well as resisted ordination to stick to my ideas and ideals.. as an aside, perhaps not too far down the cyber road will be a list of “what blogs pastors are reading” or “what blogs preachers are writing”..
JP teachin’ the Bible
bloggin’ these sermon notes from the Cyber Cafe’, while John Perkins delivers the Word at CCDA 2003…
most organizations don’t survive or lose focus by the 2nd generation.. what causes that? “ungrateful” and “unthankful”.. those are 2 signs of people turning away from the truth [in an organization, the original intent and vision, in God's kingdom, from the Word].. people are like sheep, and they follow the leader.. it’s always the leader who turns away from God..
CCDA is a different kind of organization.. not a hierarchy.. to activate the church.. to mobilize the church at the local level..
the Gospel is the love of God lived out.. people have to see our good works.. faith and works together.. Christian conversion is a new life, experiencing a God who loves you [and in response] live your life in gratitude for God saving you.. love and obedience are one and the same.. “love of God” becomes “loving God”.. then you know for real that you love God..
(from Psalm 116) God always hears, is always listening to the prayers of His people (v.1).. we need to keep that sense of humility (v.6)..