Check this out, very interesting. Click on the rainbow colors at the top of the page and it will take you to different church configurations. He talks about church as “third place” which I have blogged about before and he gives some examples (the links called “kirchelandschaft” which means ‘church landscape’ in german) of possible church physical arrangements – kinda cool – not sure how people would receive them, but could be cool – sorta a cross between house church and “traditional” church. His tag line is “your living room only bigger, your life only bigger” – I like that.

New blog on the scene by another Fuller student —> more generous than fair. Go Kranmer!!

“What the Gospel offers is not a new understanding of self in an unchanged world but invitation to adventure in a world in which all things have become new.” 
~Stephen Neill, autiobiography

Whoa, been so busy of late!! Trying to keep up with everything… It’s 2 am and I’m working on a PowerPoint for a group presentation on Hudson Taylor. I’ve got 2 papers due Weds. One on “What is church?” which I’m excited about writing/exploring, it’s just that there is so much to do!

Sarah is doing well, pregnancy seems to be going along fine. It’s such an overwhelming thing! We have our next Dr. appointment on Thursday.

We had a good House Church gathering last night. Spent some time reflecting on who we are as a house church – attributes like affirming, fun, safe, encouraging. We all agreed that we need to be more intentional about being in each other’s lives and about being involved in our community. It’s that missional/communal tension. My prayer is that we would not become inwardly focused on warm-fuzzies, but would find our fellowship on the missional journey. I think that will be harder and less “modern” (nice little boxes of nurture and outreach), messier and more in the mix – - – how to communicate that and set that as a community ideal and core narrative?

A couple more quotes from my new friend, Hendrik -

“In all our criticism and near-despair of the institutional Church, it should never be forgotten that many powers and possibilities really exist in it, but often in captivity; they exist as frozen credits and dead capital.”

~ Hendrik Kraemer, (1888-1965)

“If one thing is clear as soon as the Church becomes serious about its missionary and ministerial calling for the world, it is that two difficult roads in particular have to be trodden: first, the road towards overcoming the scantiness of its knowledge of the world of today, and its ignoring of what really goes on in the world under its surface; secondly, the road towards reforming its spirit, atmosphere, and inherited structure, in so far as they give no room for new vitality… What can and must be said and resaid, with all gratitude for what in many places is already happening, is that a fearless scrutiny and revision of structure is one of the most urgent aspects of a renewal of the Church.”

~Hendrik Kraemer, (1888-1965)

“Went” to the CCN satellite broadcast of Postmodern Ministry: Awakening to the New Reality today. It was OK. Lots of review and not much new stuff, but good for those being introduced to the concept of postmodernity and the changing reality facing (and present within) our church. I’m not sure what I think about the whole satellite broadcast media interaction – rather artificial. If our goal is to form a solid community does this help or inhibit? I’m sure it’s not an either/or thing. There are probably benefits and helpful aspects of this teaching tool/method.

In other news…

My good friend John Trent hollered at me recently. He’s a great young man from Ohio. Check out his website – here.

Saw a great movie last week. It probably won’t get much publicity, but it is well worth hunting down and checking out. Levity is the name of the film. It’s written and directed by Ed Solomon, who wrote Men In Black and Bill and Ted’s, but this film is far different. It’s a story of seeking forgiveness, regret, spiritual searching and meaning. Rated R, but only for language.