DISQUS

Thanks for setting me straight on this! :)


norm

Thanks for setting me straight on this! :)

norm

Thanks for setting me straight on this! :)

norm

Mark, an accurate observation I think. Our culture's rampant individualism leads us to a caricatured faith. That's why we need a community of the redeemed, called the congregation. But this calls for so much more than a brief weekly gathering of "fast food for the soul" that passes for worship/liturgy. God will not be satisfied with leftovers offered in the styrofoam takeout containers of sterile rituals. This call to covenant relationships and community calls for humble submission and vulnerability that most of us find too high a price to pay.


Peace,

Norm

Mark, an accurate observation I think. Our culture's rampant individualism leads us to a caricatured faith. That's why we need a community of the redeemed, called the congregation. But this calls for so much more than a brief weekly gathering of "fast food for the soul" that passes for worship/liturgy. God will not be satisfied with leftovers offered in the styrofoam takeout containers of sterile rituals. This call to covenant relationships and community calls for humble submission and vulnerability that most of us find too high a price to pay.

Peace,
Norm

Mark, an accurate observation I think. Our culture's rampant individualism leads us to a caricatured faith. That's why we need a community of the redeemed, called the congregation. But this calls for so much more than a brief weekly gathering of "fast food for the soul" that passes for worship/liturgy. God will not be satisfied with leftovers offered in the styrofoam takeout containers of sterile rituals. This call to covenant relationships and community calls for humble submission and vulnerability that most of us find too high a price to pay.

Peace,
Norm

Mark,

do you see any role for ideology and if so, what is that role? Is part of our problem that we use ideology primarily as a way of "othering" so we can exercise power, without getting to know them as an individual? Then we respond to the caricature our ideologies inevitably create.

Peace

Mark,


do you see any role for ideology and if so, what is that role? Is part of our problem that we use ideology primarily as a way of "othering" so we can exercise power, without getting to know them as an individual? Then we respond to the caricature our ideologies inevitably create.



Peace

Mark,

do you see any role for ideology and if so, what is that role? Is part of our problem that we use ideology primarily as a way of "othering" so we can exercise power, without getting to know them as an individual? Then we respond to the caricature our ideologies inevitably create.

Peace

Thanks Mark, I also see a loving sensual embrace. I wonder however whether the image is a way to hold together the distinctions of worship and mission? I agree the image can evoke images of God's love for creation and reflect God's invitation for us to live in the world that way. I wonder however, if the embrace is also an appropriate, and maybe primary image to shape worship. What if we saw our worship as such an embrace between God and us, mutual, that then shapes our being in the world. I'm increasingly aware that people who experience minimal loving embrace, find it difficult or impossible to love others that way. How would it transform our worship if we used an image such as this to shape it? Would we leave that embrace more able to embrace the world as Jesus did?


Peace,

Norm

Thanks Mark, I also see a loving sensual embrace. I wonder however whether the image is a way to hold together the distinctions of worship and mission? I agree the image can evoke images of God's love for creation and reflect God's invitation for us to live in the world that way. I wonder however, if the embrace is also an appropriate, and maybe primary image to shape worship. What if we saw our worship as such an embrace between God and us, mutual, that then shapes our being in the world. I'm increasingly aware that people who experience minimal loving embrace, find it difficult or impossible to love others that way. How would it transform our worship if we used an image such as this to shape it? Would we leave that embrace more able to embrace the world as Jesus did?

Peace,
Norm

Thanks Mark, I also see a loving sensual embrace. I wonder however whether the image is a way to hold together the distinctions of worship and mission? I agree the image can evoke images of God's love for creation and reflect God's invitation for us to live in the world that way. I wonder however, if the embrace is also an appropriate, and maybe primary image to shape worship. What if we saw our worship as such an embrace between God and us, mutual, that then shapes our being in the world. I'm increasingly aware that people who experience minimal loving embrace, find it difficult or impossible to love others that way. How would it transform our worship if we used an image such as this to shape it? Would we leave that embrace more able to embrace the world as Jesus did?

Peace,
Norm

Mark, how does the image you include in this post link to your thoughts on this? I see some connections but wondered what it evokes for you.

Peace,
Norm

Mark, how does the image you include in this post link to your thoughts on this? I see some connections but wondered what it evokes for you.

Peace,
Norm

Mark, how does the image you include in this post link to your thoughts on this? I see some connections but wondered what it evokes for you.


Peace,

Norm

Hi Mark,


One other suggestion might be Herald Press (Mennonite Publishing Network) .



FWIW



Norm

Hi Mark,

One other suggestion might be Herald Press (Mennonite Publishing Network) .

FWIW

Norm

Hi Mark,

One other suggestion might be Herald Press (Mennonite Publishing Network) .

FWIW

Norm

Hi Mark,

I've been following the development of your community on your blog for the past year. Your insights and passion are appreciated. I've been involved with an attempted church plant for the past two years that has stalled and I've withdrawn for a number of reasons.

I like what I see you've done with the prayer book idea. I would appreciate a copy once you have it available. Since I'm currently leading a bible study on spiritual disciplines, and our focus now is prayer, I'd like the opportunity to share that with our small group if its okay with you. We could do some beta testing:).

I will be passing through Minneapolis between Christmas and New Years (on the way to Afton) and would welcome the opportunity for a face2face chat if scheduling allows. Would you be open to that? No worries if it doesn't work!

Peace,
Norm

Hi Mark,

I've been following the development of your community on your blog for the past year. Your insights and passion are appreciated. I've been involved with an attempted church plant for the past two years that has stalled and I've withdrawn for a number of reasons.

I like what I see you've done with the prayer book idea. I would appreciate a copy once you have it available. Since I'm currently leading a bible study on spiritual disciplines, and our focus now is prayer, I'd like the opportunity to share that with our small group if its okay with you. We could do some beta testing:).

I will be passing through Minneapolis between Christmas and New Years (on the way to Afton) and would welcome the opportunity for a face2face chat if scheduling allows. Would you be open to that? No worries if it doesn't work!

Peace,
Norm

Hi Mark,


I've been following the development of your community on your blog for the past year. Your insights and passion are appreciated. I've been involved with an attempted church plant for the past two years that has stalled and I've withdrawn for a number of reasons.



I like what I see you've done with the prayer book idea. I would appreciate a copy once you have it available. Since I'm currently leading a bible study on spiritual disciplines, and our focus now is prayer, I'd like the opportunity to share that with our small group if its okay with you. We could do some beta testing:).



I will be passing through Minneapolis between Christmas and New Years (on the way to Afton) and would welcome the opportunity for a face2face chat if scheduling allows. Would you be open to that? No worries if it doesn't work!



Peace,

Norm