J.R. Briggs
Attempting to behold the miracle long enough without falling asleep
Thought-provoking artwork Volume II
“Crossroads” (Michael Bierut)
I’ve been pondering this for a few weeks now…
Thought-provoking artwork volume I
“Confusion” (Gary Taxali)
I’m not sure what the artist’s intent is, but it certainly is thought-provoking.
Ecclesia National Gathering Update
UPDATE: There’s just not enough time for me to write thoughtful blog posts at the Ecclesia National Gathering – too many people to visit, too much good teaching, too many great conversations to be involved in.
But there are two places you can receive mini-updates:
[1] Ecclesia liveblog: a collaborative effort of attendees live blogging through the gathering. Link here.
[2] Twitter updates: there are a flurry of updates going on (its how I’m taking notes). Link here. Or you can simply follow along here on the column to the right. You can also follow along with other people on Twitter in the gathering using the hastag #eng2010
Ecclesia National Gathering :: this week!
This week I’ll be at the Ecclesia National Gathering in Washington DC.
And I’m pretty stinkin’ excited about.
While Dallas Willard and other great thinkers will be with us, I’m just as excited - if not more excited – to simply hear from one another. These times of learning and relationships always put wind in my sails. The unique function of Ecclesia is that its a relational network, meaning that we’re interested in gathering in order to connect, engage, dialog and enjoy being together.
To learn from other pastors/leaders/friends who are engaged in unique ministry in various contexts lights my ministry fire. Conversations over lunch, brief discussions during a break between sessions with new friends or hanging out with buddies and cigars at Ozio’s deep into the night – all these make for a great time of connection. Normally this means that I get little sleep for the week, but, man, is this significant stuff.
I hope to post reflections on the Gathering throughout the week (stay tuned) but I’ll definitely be giving updates on Twitter.
Rethinking seminary education
I found this on Scot McKnight’s blog a few days ago. It’s worth chewing on.
__________
Seminaries are today again up for review. The editors at Christian Century have a series of questions we can discuss and then they have a rather firm suggestion as well. How would you answer their questions?
If church leaders had the chance to fashion a seminary from scratch, what would it look like? Would it have its own campus? Would it be tied to a denomination or be fully ecumenical? Would the classical academic subjects be taught and, if so, how would that learning be correlated with the work of forming spiritual leaders and training them in the practice of ministry? Would greater emphasis be placed on supervised ministry? Might the entire curriculum be based on an apprenticeship model of learning?
….
Seminaries and their constituencies should use this moment to consider new pedagogical models as well. Take, for example, the longstanding disconnect between the practical fields of ministry and the academic disciplines of Bible, theology, ethics and church history. Curricular discussions have focused on how to help students integrate the practical and theoretical aspects of study, but most efforts end up maintaining the division and placing the burden of integration on the students more than on than the curriculum and the faculty. Is it time to organize courses around the life and mission of the church?
Change usually comes slowly to institutions, but these are not usual times. Deft administrators and imaginative teachers will have to take some risks to redefine theological education for the next generation.
How would you change seminary education if you could?
Would you have enough guts to do this?
A millionaire in Austria decided to give away every penny of his money because he said money made him unhappy.
Would you have enough guts to do this?
Experiencing Scripture in the snow
For those of you in the NORTHEAST, MID-ATLANTIC and MIDWEST parts of the country who’ve experienced a considerable amount of snow, this is for you:
Here in the Greater Philadelphia area the snow is still coming down in buckets. I have never seen so much snow in my lifetime. It’s quite surreal. Meteorologists are calling this recent winter storm the storm of the decade, helping to make this winter the snowiest winter on record in Philly. It’s obvious: we’re experiencing Snowmageddon 2010.As I was shoveling/digging out this afternoon I was thinking about the references of snow found in the Bible. Scripture has a lot to say about snow, mentioned 23 different times in both the Old and the New Testaments. These references are descriptions of leprosy, the color of garments, prophecy and the promises of forgiveness, to name a few.
As you are – most assuredly – snowed in and off of work/school today, consider taking some unrushed, focused, quality time to reflect upon – and actually experience – a few verses that use the white stuff as a metaphor for teaching us about God and our relationship to Him. Allow the Scriptures to use the snow to shape and form you.
Consider participating in some of these creative experiences:
I. Reflect on God’s limitless power
Job 38: Job is a fantastic book that deals with suffering, God’s purposes and trusting – even when it doesn’t make any sense at all. Job and God are having a bit of a heated conversation. In Job 37, Job loses a bit of perspective and begins to “lecture” God. Chapter 38 is God’s response to Job, heavy with rhetorical power, humbling Job in the process. Read the entire chapter of Job 38 and notice in verse 22 that God uses beautiful imagery of “storehouses” of snow and hail – this is particularly striking when I see the huge amount of snow in my front yard alone.
Ponder these questions:
- What might the storehouses of snow and hail look like? What images come to your mind?
- How does that speak to you regarding God’s power and greatness?
- What implications does God’s omnipotence (limitless power) have for your life today/this week/this month?
II. Enter into a time of Confession: Enter into a time of confession, asking God to forgive you for the ways you’ve erred in the past few days.
Psalm 51:7 : Stand near a window in your house that looks out onto the snow. Slowly read Psalm 51 out loud. And when you get to verse seven – pause…look up at the snow…and then finish reading the passage.
Isaiah 1:1-20: Slowly read the entire passage. Camp out on verse 18. Let it sink it. Consider memorizing verse 18 and repeat it to yourself while you are shoveling.
III. Seek out Wisdom: The Proverbs is a fantastic book from which to glean wisdom. Reflect on the wisdom of these passages.
Proverbs 25:13
Proverbs 26:1
IV. Move from contemplation to action.
Consider blessing others in the most practical and obvious way possible: shovel your neighbor’s walk and/or the cars on your street.
99 Balloons
Parents: try watching this without crying.
I dare you.
I wept when I watched this video.
Praying with the Church
I found this on Ben Sternke’s blog (who found it on JR Woodward’s blog). A great prayer to pray this morning…
God,
We yearn to be the church you want us to become.
Shape us into something beautiful
We recognize that you are the Potter and we are the clay
Please continue to mold us into the image of ChristWe want to join in what you are already doing in the world.
In our worship and life together, in our ministry and service
to others, we want to give people a glimpse of your intentions
for the whole world.Help us to welcome the outcasts, love our enemies,
and form a Community that is visibly different from the culture around us
as a sign of what you are doing in the world.Help us experience your love and grace,
grow in our relationship with Jesus,
and experience the power of your Spirit
as we offer your good news to others.In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Cupcakes for Haiti
Some people we know are initiating a creative fundraiser to help with the disaster relief in Haiti.It’s called Cupcakes for Haiti.
They are baking cupcakes and using the proceeds to support relief efforts through Deep Springs International.
If you live in the North Penn and Indian Valley region – and if you like cupcakes (seriously, who doesn’t like cupcakes?) – consider placing an order. It’s dessert with a cause. Orders can be placed up until February 11.
Check it out here.
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