hello my friend

hello my friend  i just order an iphone4 from this company  <website:heartytrading.com>  good price and quality !  thoudans of products sure you will like 

Re: All the best,

Hi     Due to Father's Day ,we have a promotion ,please check our web : wonderful-business.com in patient ,i am sure you can find what you want,and we have IPAD 2 in stock ,if you have any interest ,please place orders for us ,then we can send you an email to confirm ! Thanks in advance Regards

With apologies to John Donne

John Donne is famous for declaring ‘no man is an island.’ With all due respects to the poet extraordinaire, it appears that someone will be, in fact, their very own island. Introducing the world’s first giga-yacht. On this personal floating island, you can have your own pool, tennis court, and garden. According to the Daily Mail article linked below, “Wally's Monica Paolazzi said the vessel, an artist's impression of which is above, would fulfil the dream of someone who wanted to "live comfortably on board like on their own estate".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=541299&in_page_id=1811

So you can imagine someone floating around the world totally isolated from others around them. In fact if you stretch things out a few years, why not imagine an ocean full of giga-estates floating around each completely isolated from one another, each owner-operator living in their own little world, seeing what they want to see, interacting with whom they want to interact, avoiding whom they want to avoid.

It’s pretty much the antithesis of Christian community—that way of life in which we are inextricably bound to one another in good times and bad. But it’s the way we are headed. Need evidence? Consider another technology sweeping through society with which each owner operator lives in their own little world, seeing what they want to see, interacting with whom they want, etc. . . .the ipod.

Re-Judaizing Jesus or Re-Jesusizing Christianity

This week’s Time magazine has an interesting look at “10 Ideas that are changing the World.”  Along with developments in assessments of global wealth, the movie industry, customer service, cooking, geo-engineering, and other topics, Time suggests that a movement is afoot to ‘re-judaize” Jesus. 

Most people realize, I think, that Jesus was a Jew.  He was born, lived, and died as Jew under Roman occupation in what we now know as the first century AD (or BCE if you prefer).  But the truth is that for many Christians, Jesus’ Jewishness has been an afterthought or an answer to a Bible trivia question.  In other words, sure Jesus was Jewish, but what difference did that really make?

It turns out that it was hugely significant, as hugely significant as any of our identities are.  One of the awakenings of post-modernity is that each of us is shaped and formed by the communities in which we are born and live.  While we may come to reject some of the premises of our particular community of formation or we may come to some sort of change, to some extent we are each a product of the environment and culture into which we are introduced. 

Jesus was no different.  He was a Jew.  And as such, when we remember that he was a Jew, what he did and said can take on the meaning it had when he first said it.  The words Jesus used: salvation, Kingdom of God,  Son of Man, disciples, his yoke, the cross, etc. had meaning in their own context. 

Thanks to scholars and some pastors today, the full-bodied context of Jesus’ language, actions, and meaning is being recovered. 

The only thing I would question in the Time article is the description that we are ‘re-judaizing’ Jesus.  Jesus was always Jewish.  Maybe what we should be doing is judaizing ourselves.  If we are his disciples, and ‘disciple’ means something particular from its context—those chosen to follow and learn from a rabbi—then what it means to be a Christian may take a somewhat different shape than we may have thought.  Being a Christian is about entering into his world as much or more than welcoming him into ours.  Being a Christian is about being shaped by Him rather than molding him to fit comfortably into ours.   At the risk of continuing to make up unhelpful expressions, I think the real movement afoot is about re-Jesusizing Christianity.  This is the movement that has been in my own heart and head for some time now.  It’s interesting to see that others much sharper than me are leading the way in the same direction.

Here’s the link to the article:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1720049_1720050_1721663,00.html

A Good Article on Emerging Churches

Gathering In Light (see the blog list on the right hand side) has put together a typology of emerging churches and movements. I think this is helpful and wanted to give it additional viewing so I have copied it all here. But please click in his link to read more. I find this helpful and have visited several of the churches he mentions in the last year, so it's especially helpful to me to help think through the differences I encountered along the way. Here you go:

Four Models of Emerging Churches

January 13th, 2008 · 21 Comments

I’ve had a lot of vested interest in the emerging church for a number of years now, partly because of my own previous experience in communities that reflected many of the qualities present in Bolger and Gibb’s “Emerging Churches,” and partly because upon reading that book I was better able to organize my own disparate thoughts on the future of the “emerging” Friends church, or what we now convergent Friends. But there is often a too complicated debate over who and what the emerging church (EC) is, whether it is a good thing, and who really represents this “movement.” I am not really interested in defending or critiquing this movement, though I am personally in favor of at least some of the expressions within these groups, because I think the church should always be contextualizing its message the best it can. But this doesn’t really help us understand the who and the what of the EC. That said, I have been playing around with various ways of categorizing these various emerging groups, and I wanted to throw out this very early, proto-typology and see how it flies.

A Couple Disclaimers

But before I give them, let me offer a few disclaimers. First, these categories are not necessarily mutually exclusive, I’ve seen some of these groups sharing practices, and thinkers and are influenced by a variety of theological and philosophical positions. So my “proto-typology (if you will allow me the designation),” is meant to offer a really broad stroke to start a conversation, about the rich variety in this post-modern church. Hopefully, the conversation will be one that will in fact help make this list more accurate and better yet, help us be more faithful to the Gospel in our world. Second, I absolutely hate typologies. Absolutely and completely. Third, these categories are not based on new field research, but rather my own readings (and interpretations) of a variety of authors and positions. In other words, I am not trying to create a final word on this, but rather a (really) rough guide. Fourth, my stock is ultimately not in the emerging church, it is in the Quaker tradition so if anything my bias lays with the peace church.

Wow that’s a long list of disclaimers!

The way I’ve tried to construct these categories is around a) philosophers and theologians who have influenced these groups, and b) their stance towards Western culture.

Four Types of Emerging Churches and their Thinkers

1. Deconstructionist Model: Probably the most well known group of emerging churches these churches are truly postmodern in just about every sense of the word. These are Christians influenced mainly by deconstruction, a philosophical approach invented on the continent. In their holy readings of philosophical discourse Derrida, Lyotard, Foucault and Caputo would be there. Much of the focus is on adopting postmodernity, and contextualizing the Gospel accordingly. Peter Rollins’ Ikon in Ireland would be a good example of one such group. I think Tony Jones and Brian McLaren would also fall under this category. I would say they are accommodating to postmodern culture, against modernism, and often against the institutional church making them lean towards a sort of non-denominationalism.
2. Pre-modern/Augustinian Model: This model would be the second most influential within the EC, and can be in (friendly) opposition to the first group. Instead of understanding postmodernism in terms of Nietzschean philosophy as group one would do, this model leans more towards a Renaissance styled post-modernism (similar to what is represented in Toulmin’s Cosmopolis). Whether this group is truly early modern or whether it reaches back further to the pre-modern era I am not quite clear on, but St. Augustine and St. Thomas are key figures for this group. This is the where the Radical Orthodoxy of John Milbank, James K. Smith and others would fall. We see some catholics here, as well as other theologians that tend towards placing a higher emphasis on tradition within the overall framework of the Christian faith, rather than simply contextualization. This group would be see history as having shown us a better way, and if we reach back far enough we may be able to find wisdom that will help us in our quest of faith today. They would be more favorable towards institutional church, and have a pretty clear understanding of what kind of church we ought to become, but would also be seen as nostalgic and trying to uphold an institution that has often oppressed and violated those we are called to help.
3. Emerging Peace Church Model (Or Open Anabaptism): This model of the emerging church stresses the non-conformist tendencies of Jesus, and thus the church should follow in his footsteps through non-violence, love of enemy and caring for the poor. This one may be closest to a kind of new monasticism that has so often been written about in recent times. While there are people from the various peace churches involved in this type of church, there are also people from a variety of traditions who are seeking to contextualize the Gospel within our culture. This group does not accept any one style of culture as being good, thus their non-conformist attitude is directed at modernity and postmodernity alike. They see Jesus (and his incarnation) as their primary model for engaging culture. They are influenced by Wittgenstein, Barth, Bonhoeffer, John H. Yoder, McClendon and Nancey Murphy to name a few. In this group you will find people like Jarrod McKenna and the Peace Tree, Shane Claiborne, some Mennonites, Rob Bell’s Mars Hill, Submergent, Jesus Radical and convergent Friends, to name a few. This group is counter any kind of Christendom styled church and thus would be sometimes for and sometimes against institutionalization, and would see contextualization as important only up to the point that it remains ultimately an extension of Jesus’ ministry and message.
4. Foundationalist Model: This model of the emerging church is more conservative in their reading of Scripture and modern approaches to ecclesiology (standard preacher-centered teaching, music for worship, etc) while seeking to be innovative in their approaches to evangelism. This may come in the form of people meeting in pubs, having tatoos, cussing from the pulpit, playing loud rock music for worship and adding a layer of “alternative-ness” to their overall church service. These churches can be found within larger church communities, or can be on their own, sometimes as a large (possibly mega) church. They follow standard Evangelicalism in that they aren’t attach to traditions, and come out politically and theologically conservative, while maintaining a more accomodational stance toward culture in the name of evangelism, they will ultimately look similar to older church communities theologically. This is where I think Mark Driscoll, Dan Kimball, Erwin McManus and many “emerging services” within mega-church congregations like Willow Creek might be found.

Update this week

I hope you enjoyed Harriet Harral’s time with us this past weekend.  She had a really good time with Broadus and came away very impressed with your questions and mission ventures in the local community and beyond.  Please make a note that on the weekend of April 27, Daniel Vestel, the CBF Coordinator will be with us to help wrap up the CBF Global Missions Offering Emphasis. . . You may have noticed some changes in the parking lots.  We’ve just about got them finished.  Besides handicap spots, the upper lot is still a free-for-all first come first served parking.  The main level now has two spots designated for ‘Nursery Parking’ and three designated ‘Special Needs and Guests’.  If you feel you need one of those spots, please take it.  On the lower level, we have five spots for visitors and two designated ‘elderly’.  Please use those as you see fit.  Please, when you see someone parking in a guest or visitor spot, please be sure to welcome them and walk them into the building.  Your hospitality in those first few moments speaks volumes about the kind of warm, loving church you already are.  Also note the basketball court that has been painted on the lower lot.  We’ll get a second goal up soon and have a nice place to play some hoops.  You are welcome to park within the court lines whenever you need to even though they are not marked.  See you Sunday!

 

Reading the Gospels

On Sunday we began an intense focus on what it means to follow Jesus. In other words, what does it really mean to be his disciple. This series will continue at least through Easter. Obviously if we are to know what it means to be his disciple, we need to know what Jesus was all about. The best way we know that is through the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Between now and Easter, I want to encourage you to read every word of all four Gospels. If you’ve never really sat down to read the Bible like this, it might seem daunting, but you can do it. And I think you’ll really enjoy it—seeing the story of Jesus as whole and not just in scattered bits and pieces. There’s atleast a couple of ways to go about it. One is to read each of the four books in four sittings. Another way is to pace yourself through them. If you choose the latter, the following is a schedule you can follow to get you through them by March 23, Easter Sunday:

The week of:

January 13 Matthew 1-9

January 20 Matthew 10-18

January 27 Matthew 19-28

February 3 Mark 1-8

February 10 Mark 9-16

February 17 Luke 1-8

February 24 Luke 9-16

March 2 Luke 17-24

March 9 John 1-7

March 16 John 8-14

March 23 John 15-21

When It's not the best time of the year

Blue Christmas Service
Wednesday, December 19
4:30 PM

The constant refrain on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the Christmas Season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation, the gut wrenching loss of a child, the loneliness of no longer having a beloved spouse to share each day, the loss of a dear family pet - all these can contribute to a feeling of being alone, of 'feeling blue' in the midst of others 'being happy' and 'celebrating'. There are years when we hurt at Christmas time and can't get into the festivities others seem to be able to do.
It's at such times that we need to make the space and take the time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. We need to know that we are not alone. For these reasons, Broadus invites you at 4:30 pm Wednesday, December 19 to come and join in sharing and hearing prayers, Scripture, music, and sharing communion in ways that acknowledge that God's presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God's Word comes to shine light into our darkness.
Please accept this invitation to be with us - a time for those feeling 'blue' to experience the wonder and hope of Christmas. No need to RSVP - our doors will be open to all who come so please feel free to invite others to come with you as your support, or if you know that they too are finding that Christmas hurts.

Jamaica Mission Trip Planned

On August 19th, while we were sitting in church, the southern coast of Jamaica was battered by Hurricane Dean. Shortly thereafter, the Virginia Baptists committed to providing supplies and work teams to repair the homes of folks who are now homeless. We are getting a group together to be one of those teams.

One week, between February and April, we want to take a group to Jamaica to repair homes and make relationships that, we hope, will turn into a long-term partnership between our church and Jamaican Baptists. My hope is that eventually we can partner with the Jamaicans to work in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

If you would be interested in swinging a hammer for a week and meeting some new folks from a different part of the world--and being a part of God's restorative and redemptive work in the world, please let me know. I'd love to work along side you.

Interesting Evangelism Strategy

 

Sigh.


I saw this invitation to a new life in Jesus in the parking lot of a state park in Michigan this weekend. I was in Grand Rapids visiting Mars Hill Church. Mars Hill was a great experience. Their mission statement is telling of their commitments, "To live out the way of Jesus in misisonal communities and to announce the arrival of His Kingdom by working for measurable change among the oppressed." Somehow, I don't think the owner of this vehicle has the same spirit as my new friends at MH. Just a guess.