Well I can't claim the idea was original (thanks Kenny) and I can just hear Tony and DJ lamenting that I have started yet ANOTHER blog (I can't keep up with the ones that I currently have), but I have begun to post my weekly sermons at http://jayssermons.blogspot.com/. I don't claim to be the Bible … Continue reading New Sermon Blog →

Dr. Maggi, who I appreciate more and more each day, posted this morning a reponse to Rob's analysis of the differences in the UK and US church. Her response resonates with some things that have been going on in my ministry and my life. I especially like her last paragraph: There are, of course, people … Continue reading Cultural Change →

ISFP - "Artist". Interested in the fine arts. Expression primarily through action or art form. The senses are keener than in other types. 8.8% of total population. Take Free Myers-Briggs Personality Test personality tests by similarminds.com

There was an interesting segment today on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" on the nature of the Christian Music Industry (CCM). I wasn't able to listen to the whole segment, but I was able to catch most of an interview with Jay Howard, one of the co-authors of a book titled "Apostles of Rock: The … Continue reading CCM & Postmodernism →

There was an interesting segment today on NPR's "Talk of the Nation" on the nature of the Christian Music Industry (CCM). I wasn't able to listen to the whole segment, but I was able to catch most of an interview with Jay Howard, one of the co-authors of a book titled "Apostles of Rock: The … Continue reading CCM & Postmodernism →

I'm not a big fan of instant messaging, having only started chatting with folks online in the past six months or so. However Yahoo's update of their Messenger software might make be a believer. The cool thing that I'm enjoying is built in access to their LaunchCast radio service, which I'm listening to right now … Continue reading Yahoo Messenger →

I started re-reading a book that I got back in 1984 by Steven Levy called "Hackers." In this very readable book, Levy tells the story of the computer revolution in three movements. First Levy examines the first generation hackers at MIT in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Then Levy considers the second generation of … Continue reading Hacking the Church →

Tonight, as I write, women are gathering in Georgia. These are women who have received a call, only to be told along the way that they must be mistaken. These are women who have heard God move deep in their souls, only to have others say that they must be wrong. These are women who … Continue reading Prayers for Emerging Women →

This Sunday, we'll begin working through the Gospel of Luke in our worship service. Since this Sunday is "Peace With Justice" Sunday in the United Methodist Church, I am starting with Jesus' inaugural sermon in Luke 4 (vs. 14ff). What are your thoughts about Jesus' proclamation in this passage? How is Jesus' teaching radical? Why … Continue reading Preaching Justice →

I've just added a link to the Spiritual Types Test at the MethodX site and encourage you to take it. I discovered that I am a Lover (take the test to find out what that means).

During the Emergent Convention, I shared with the bloggers at Jacks one night that Zondervan / Emergent YS was thinking about changing their marketing to include sending pre-release titles to Emergent bloggers for review. As I shared this with folks we agreed that we were willing to recieve the titles as long as Zondervan understands … Continue reading Be A Book Reviewer →

My recent post on speaking the truth has led to some conversation with D J regarding the nature of blog communication. He comments on that post: at this point, my thinking (and preference) is that blogs are for the unedited thoughts of the writer, and implicit in the genre and form, is that thoughts and … Continue reading Understanding the Blog →

Grace, my first born, is headed to camp tomorrow. This will be the first time she's been away for so long -- a week. It's her first overnight camp. She's excited, and a little scared. her mom and dad are a little nervous too. She's growing up way too fast, halfway to being out of … Continue reading Heading to Camp →

One of the great themes of us emerging folks is authenticity. The inability to be the persons that we were created to be is one of the great frustrations for persons arising from the postmodern bog. Steve Taylor prophetically made us aware of this reality back in the 1980's with his satirical song, "I Want … Continue reading Authenticity and Speaking the Truth in Love →

As I've read through the EC reports I've seen a mix between critique and praise. Since I offered criticism in the midst of the event, I need to follow up with a positive report. As I've said before, I am a repeat offender to the Emergent Convention, having attended the first one last year in … Continue reading A Positive EC Report →

I liked Haloscan better, not that anyone really cares.

[Listening to: Real Emotions - Los Lonely Boys - Los Lonely Boys (4:04)] Here are a few random thoughts that I want to remember from the EC workshops: From Brennan Manning (Quoting a black preacher friend of his) "Be who you is, because if you ain't who you is then you is what you ain't." … Continue reading Random EC Notes #3 →

Without the solitude of the heart, the intimacy of friendship, marriage and community life cannot be creative. Without the solitude of the heart, our relationships with others easily become needy and greedy, sticky and clinging, dependent and sentimental, exploitative and parasitic, because without the solitude of the heart we cannot experience the others as different … Continue reading Nouwen on Communal Life →

The new blogger update has commenting integrated, which I have just enabled on this site. You will see two comments links. The first is the blogger comments and the second is good old Haloscan. I am probably moving to the blogger comments, but want to see if I like them before I delete haloscan, so … Continue reading Trying Something New →

Back in March I wrote a post about how I am a recovering racist. Since that time, several folks have written in support, or suggesting that I'm being too hard on myself. What I was trying to say (and unfortunately was not always heard) is that most of us have those lingering places of sin … Continue reading Thinking About Racism #2 →