Bookworm

This past month, I've read a lot. Here's an update:

"Creating Congregations of Generous People" by Michael Durall
-this book was a great read and helps leaders out of the 'pit of despair' when we face stewardship drives and raising money in the church. remember, it's not about money: it's about vision

"Prayerwalking" by Hawthorne and Kendrick
-the first chapter set the stage and the rest of the book has anecdotal stories to backup the premise. we've done prayerwalking at our church and it's very easy and effective!

"The Big Idea" by Dave Ferguson
-i would love to implement the idea of this book. we get bombarded with hundreds of messages at church and it's tough for anyone to come away from church with a central theme. this book helps to focus on a central theme for a sunday and everything else (programs, small groups, sunday school, etc) revolves around that one theme.

and my favorite one of them all...

"I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T Shirt" by Antonucci
-right now, i'm challenging my church to read this book. it helps to recapture the freshness and energy and dynamic life that we christians first lived when we became a christian. it also helps a new christian to realize that the christian life isn't all rosy all the time.

Latest Book Read: The Mind Map Book by Tony Buzan (1993)

A very cool book! I was exposed to mind-mapping by Ed Young, pastor out of Texas. I have been using it for about a year to help me prepare and deliver sermons and it is a great tool! It uses the premise of free-association to help prepare and organize various thoughts about a subject. It saves time, emphasizes key words, and emphasizes new discoveries than linear notes would allow you to do.

It's much more complicated than what I can put in a blog and I'm sure I don't have it all down yet. But, mind-mapping has helped me to take a mental "picture" of any presentation and sermon and deliver key thoughts, images and stories without stumbling over a linear 5 page written essary.

If you're curious about mind-mapping, check out these links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlabrWv25qQ

Mosque Fire

This past weekend, 3 individuals were charged with burning down a mosque here in Columbia and painting swastikas on the property. I am really saddened (and shocked!) by this recent event. I made some comments for a paper about it. See the link below:

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/NEWS06/802110356

I read a few of the comments about the article and let me respond to them by saying that respecting someone else's religion is not the same as endorsing it or even agreeing with it. Respecting someone else's beliefs means realizing that those beliefs were not created in a vacuum but that there is a lifetime of experience associated with those beliefs. I shouldn't expect to change people by condemning their beliefs. I don't change my beliefs when people condemn me. All condemnation does is strengthen my beliefs and makes be even more stubborn about them. But I should seek to understand and relate to someone else's beliefs and show them that I care about their past and that I care about their future. Perhaps then beliefs and behaviors would change in that kind of respectful and caring environment.

I also don't think it's fair to lump all Muslims into one group. It is way to easy to overgeneralize and put someone in a box. I would hope that when someone sees that I label myself a Lutheran, that they don't overgeneralize and write me off as a old, 1940's, jello-eating man who chants and worships using page 5 and 15 every-other week.

Maybe I'm being too simplistic. Maybe I'm living in a dream world. But I do hold out hope that by having an open and honest discussion that hearts might be changed for Christ.

Golden Compass II

Talked about The Golden Compass to my congregation yesterday. I think it's important to talk about what is out there in the world and not isolate ourselves from the world even if we don't agree with all the views that are out there. These books/movies are what people are exposing themselves to and it's a great bridge to talk about God, souls, death, etc. Besides, if major religious organization are going to ban a movie and call me a "bad" Christian if I see it, it emboldens me even more to see what all the "hub-bub" is all about.

I'm impressed my larger church body and their approach to this controversial topic. Here are a few links that may help you in discussing this subject:

http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=12833
http://www.cph.org/cphstore/pages/resources/compass/


I believe more and more that institutional and organized religion all too often squashes creativity and imagination. Now, I may disagree with Pullman's theology and views about God, but it does force me and stretch my faith. It makes me take a deep look into what I truly believe and how I communicate my beliefs to someone else.

The Golden Compass

I just finished reading "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman. It was hyped up as a book on par with Tolkein and C.S. Lewis' writings. I totally disagree. The storyline didn't capture me and it took me a while to get into it.

I have also heard many comments about how 'anti-Christian' and 'anti-God' that the book is. Actually, I think it's 'anti-Catholic church' more than anything. And let's face it: there are problems not only in the Catholic church but in all churches. If there's people in church, then there's problems.

This book brings some of those problems to light and I think we need to face those problems and not ignore them or 'pooh-pooh' them.

This book does rewrite the Genesis 1-3 Creation and Temptation scene from the Bible, but it is a work of fantasy and as long as I know the real story, I think it's ok to dream a bit.

I wouldn't recommend this book. But, if you're going to bash the movie or the book, you should read it cover-to-cover before you hold a opinion on it. (Nothing frustrates me more than people who have opinions on something and they don't check it out for themselves first!).

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: I'll be preaching on this book/movie on February 10, 2008, so if you are in town and want to hear more, c'mon out.