Countdown Day 33
We have created many Christianities up to this point, and they call for reassessment and, in many cases, repentance. We are not reassessing for the purpose of vilifying our ancestors in the faith or in order to contrast a dark, backward “them” with an enlightened, progressive “us,” snarkly implying that they got it wrong all along and (insert trumpet fanfare here) we have finally got it right after all these years. (27)
From A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith (available February 9, 2010)
"A New Kind of Christianity is a stellar accomplishment, a combination of hard tack fact and unfettered hope, an overview in delightful narrative of the long way of our coming to this time and of the multiform ways of our arriving. In every way, a dispatch from the front." (-Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence )
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Q & R: Podcasts on the whole Bible
Q: Hi! Are Brian's podcasts on the whole Bible available anywhere else other than
Emergent Village's website? The Emergent Village podcast cast page has not
been updated in months and I have tried a google search for the podcasts but
cannot find them anywhere. Thank you for any help and assistance you can
provide me.
R: Thanks for asking. I'm working on a way to make these available. Stay tuned - it will probably take a couple of weeks. They should be available through my site here at brianmclaren.net. I put a lot of time, energy, and heart into these, so I'd love to get them out there again. I'm glad to hear of your interest!
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Want to come to Africa with me?
If you've read EMC or follow this blog, you know that I have been enriched deeply by my times in Africa with a wonderful group called Amahoro. (It's the Bantu word for shalom or peace.) I try to make it over each year for the gathering there ... a gathering planned and organized by Africans for Africans, with a small group of guests from American, Europe, Australia, etc.
This year the theme of the gathering will be Christ, Creation, and Community. (Full description after the jump.) The setting will be Mombassa, Kenya, a beautiful place in a beautiful country. The gathering will begin May 3 and end May 6, and then guests will join local folks for various field trips until the 10th or 11th. These field trips give you a chance to deepen relationships and see some beautiful work at close range. (I'll be leading one of these field trips this year.)
Unfortunately, participating isn't cheap. Airfare ends up being between $1700 and $2000 from the US, and we guests pay $1300 for registration, lodging, and ground transportation (our fees help cover the costs for Africans who could never be there otherwise). All I can say is that for me, this is an investment in priceless relationships and in support of a truly worthwhile mission, not to mention the investment in my own education and spiritual development. (Even though I generally do a bit of teaching at these events, I always go a as a learner and learn far, far more than I teach.)
If you've never been to Africa, this is an amazing first experience. If you have been part of Amahoro before, I think this year's theme will take us into important new territory. Think about it and pray about it, and consider joining me in Africa this May. If you have questions, please direct them to the good people at Amahoro.
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The H word from Leonard …
David Dark and Sarah Masen (what wonderful people!) posted this excerpt from an online chat with songmaster Leonard Cohen, which master-linker Bob Carlton passed on to me:
Seth: You have such vivid Christian imagery in many of your songs,
and much of it is contrasted with the selfishness of the "modern"
individual. I was wondering what's your take on the state of
Christianity today?
Leonard Cohen: Dear Seth, I don't really have a 'take on the state
of Christianity.' But when I read your question, this answer came to
mind: As I understand it, into the heart of every Christian, Christ
comes, and Christ goes. When, by his Grace, the landscape of the heart becomes vast and deep and limitless, then Christ makes His abode in that graceful heart, and His Will prevails. The experience is recognized as Peace. In the absence of this experience much activity arises, divisions of every sort. Outside of the organizational enterprise, which some applaud and some mistrust, stands the figure of Jesus, nailed to a human predicament, summoning the heart to comprehend its own suffering by dissolving itself in a radical confession of hospitality.
If you're in the mood for some Leonard, here's a riveting performance of his Hallelujah. Be ready ... It'll stay with you for days.
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Countdown Day 34
Before sharing today's quote, just a reminder - there's an online contest where you can win a pre-publication copy of NKoC. It looks very easy to enter - just go to GBiBT. It looks like you'll have a fresh chance to win every week. Here's today's quote:
This quest must instead work more like a wedding proposal, an invitation. It must be about free conversation, not forced conversion. It must demand nothing of anybody, and it must make no threats or strike no bargains, because threats and bargains would invalidate the tender nature of the proposal. Rather, it must open up a “we” into which all are invited, but none are coerced, shamed, pressured, or even obligated. It accepts “No” as a response as valid as “Yes,’ though it may do so with a tear because it is a proposal of love. (27)
From A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith (available February 9, 2010)
"Now and then gifted people emerge who see the situation from a higher and more helpful level. Brian McLaren is one of those seers." (Richard Rohr, author of Everything Belongs and The Naked Now)
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