imagining how the church can reorient around mission

You should know Dr. Haley Jacob, a notable theologian who was supervised by the renowned N.T. Wright during her Ph.D. studies. We are so fortunate that she is a member of our church community and on our preaching team at Immanuel. Her research on Romans 8 is unique, even groundbreaking, and needs to be heard by every Christian. I am not exaggerating. It will set you free to imagine following Jesus in a new, IMHO, more beautiful way. In fact, I was so moved by her teachings that several times during the presentation, I physically gasped. Trust me; you don’t want to miss out on what she has to explain.

This is an especially painful and telling interview from Fox News. There is such pain in our land right now. As is said in the piece, this is beyond politics, this is beyond “talking point.”

As Paul says in Romans, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” The theological category of lament is real and needed.

I felt like it had to be posted.

 

I am up early again on another beautiful Spokane morning. The mornings are the best in my city, cool and quiet. The heat of yesterday (high 90’s) has been subdued by the sun disappearing out of sight for a few hours and by the dry Spokane air that makes the hot weather here bearable. 

As I’ve done my morning chores with the dogs and find myself in my yard attempting quiet, I’ve invited my two beasts (Gus and Gordo)  to join me. While reading another chapter from the genuinely inspiring Mary Oliver book, Upstream, I find my two dogs tussling in front of me. At first, I am peeved by the distraction but as I let my mind drift, I find myself entranced by their, at least from my human brain interpreting what is going on, “attack dance.” Everything has a thing that it is supposed to do. Rivers run to the sea; trees grow to the sun and dogs put their mouths on each other (they also poop, pee sniff butts and bark at things that only they can see). They are being very “Dogly” and, are you ready for this…I think I like it. I find myself liking them for the first time in the last 40 hours. They are doing what dogs have always done. read more

Gallop just published it most recent poll of religion and American life. They discovered that almost 40% of Americans go to church. WHAT? Where? 

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Just for fun…check it out.

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Last Spring, in preparation to watching the new Star Trek movie, Trey and I watched all of the Star Trek movies. Generally it was quite enjoyable and humorous at times with some of the dated special effects and over the top acting (mostly from the Priceline King).

We watched the new movie and loved it, but we felt like we just did not get enough so we started watching episodes of “The Next Generation.” A little known fact: The original Start Trek ran a relatively short time, but The Next Generation ran a whopping 7 seasons with something 27 episodes per. Well, to make a long story shorter, we got sucked in and have been watching them ever since. We are presently mid-way through season 6. Ok, here is the ridiculous math – roughly 150 episodes so far equaling about 100 hours of viewing. It’s ok, you can say it, “Have you lost your mind?” Answer: Just maybe, but know this…we have fallen in love with the character, Jean Luc Picard (AKA Professor Xavier). read more

Here is a talk a gave a month or so ago at Life Center, here in Spokane. Immanuel is partnering with LC in our new church plant. The text for the talk is taken from Ephesians 2.

 

 

I am always poking around the web looking for resources that could be used to help understand the theology of mission.  Here is one that could be a great assest.  John Franke has be a bit of a harbinger of the emerging/missional movment.  He is bright and rooted.  Check it out.

 

I thought this was poignant (if you were a Seattle Supersonics fan) and hilarious.

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