just the rev

the book is so cool you must must read it. Brian McLaren is the author and its a tale of spiritual renewal for those who thought they had given up on church. Its in the shape of a conversation between a pastor (Dan) and his daughter's high school science teacher (Neo). early on in their conversation Neo lists for Dan ten markers of modernity: conquest and control, machines, analysis, secular science, objectivity, critical age, modern nation-sate and organisation, individualism, Protestanism and institutional religion and consumerism. Neo then asks Dan " Can you imagine what happens to the church, the whole Christian enterprise, when it has so thoroughly accommodated to modernity - so much so that it has no idea of any way christianity could exist other than a modern way? In the postmodern world we become postconquest, postmechanistic, postanalytical, postsecular, postobjective, postcritical, postorganisational, postindividualistic, post-Protestant and postconsumerist...Do you see what this means for us as modern western Christians?"

I am desperate to see what this means for me, for us. I am also desperately hungry for Christianity that involves conversation, evangelism and discipleship that is conversation. The back cover of the book talks about a new spirit of Christianity 'where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally "right".'This seems the place to which I feel drawn.

quite a lot of people should read this book. it has blown me away. it keeps blowing me away. will try to unpack what it is doing for me over the next week. it confirms my belief that actually christianity is more exciting than christians dare to let on. If you don't know what to read next then might I suggest this!

Well after yonks away from my computer I am back!!

This is the cover for Kanye West's album. Saw Kanye West's performance of 'Jesus walks' on TOTP a few weeks ago. Below are the lyrics for you to chew on but I recommend the two videos that are on the single. plenty of real food for thought:


I need to recruit all the soldiers
All of god's soldiers
We at War
We at war with society, terrorism, racism, but most of all we at war wit ourselves

[Chorus]
Jesus Walks - God show me the way because the devil's tryin'a break me down
Jesus Walks With Me

[ Kanye West Lyrics. Jesus Walks lyrics. ]
[Verse 1]
Ya know what the mid-west iz? Young and Restless
Where restless [niggaz] might snatch yo necklace
And next these [niggaz] might jack yo lexus
Somebody tell these [niggaz] who Kanye West iz
I walk through the valley of the Chi where death iz
Top floor the view alone will leave you breathless
Try to catch it
Its kinda hard getting chocked by detectives
Yeh Yeh now check the method
They be askin us questions, harrasin, arrest us
Sayin we eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast, huh
Yall eat pieces of shit? Whats the basis?
We aint goin nowhere..but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke, rental car from Avis
My momma used to say only Jesus can save us
Well momma I know I act a fool but ill be gone to November
I got packs to move, I hope..

[ Kanye West Lyrics. Jesus Walks lyrics. ]
[Chorus]
Jesus Walks- God show me the way because the devil tryna break me down
Jesus Walks With Me- The only thing that I pray iz that my feet dont fail me now (i waaaaant jeeeesus)
Jesus Walks- And I dont think theres nothing I could do now to right my wrongs (Jesus walk Jesus walk)
Jesus Walks With Me-I wanna talk to God but im afraid cuz we aint spoke in so long. (i waaaaant jeeeesus)
Jesus Walks- God show me the way because the devil tryna break me down (ooh believe)
Jesus Walks With Me- The only thing that I pray iz that my feet dont fail me now
Jesus Walks- And I dont think theres nothing I could do now to right my wrongs
Jesus Walks- I wanna talk to God but im afraid cuz we aint spoke in so long.
(jesus walks) So long (jesus walks) So long (jesus walks with me)

[ Kanye West Lyrics. Jesus Walks lyrics. ]
[Verse 2]
To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers, even the strippers
(jesus walks with them)
To the victims of welfare, feel we livin in hell here, hell yeah
(jesus walks with them)
Now hear thee hear thee, wanna see thee more clearly
I know he hear me when my feet get weary
Cuz we're thee almost nearly extinct
We rappers is role models, we rap we don't think
I ain't here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
Im just tryna say the way school need teachers
The Way Kathy Lee needed Regis...thats the way y'all need Jesus.
So here go my single dawg, radio needs this
They-said-you-could-rap-about anything except for jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, videotape
But if I talk about God my record wont get played, huh?
Well if this take away from my spinz...which will prolly take away my endz..
Then i hope it take away from my sinz and bring the day that im dreamin bout...
Next time im in the club, everybody screaming out...

[ Kanye West Lyrics. Jesus Walks lyrics. ]
[Chorus]
Jesus Walks- God show me the way because the devil tryna break me down
Jesus Walks With Me- The only thing that I pray iz that my feet dont fail me now (with me... with me)

New Wine was a very hot experience! Here's a mini review:

what went well (n.b this is not an exhaustive list!):
morning bible studies by the Bish of Bristol (liked the fact that he didn't seem at all bishopy and had a sense of humour too!)
the Holy Spirit showed up a lot
'dance worship' in the evening by a band from Oxford called Home who were really into God
Kids work as always was awesome
our small group from Glos got encouraged and excited about God

sticking points:
New Wine jargon and subculture. (if I hear someone address a congregation as 'friends' again I might just lose it altogether!)
emerging Church venue not very different to the Big Top - just more relaxed and more 'free' in worship. Missed an opportunity there I think.....

Insights: Ministry without the Holy Spirit is a waste of time
Real discipleship does NOT need stages/platforms and pulpits or 45 minute sermons - time to drop the audience/spectator thing and go fully interactive in doing theology
I need to be there next year!