Buechner on Advent

The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the
extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.

Frederick Buechner,Whistling in the Dark

Bonhoeffer on Advent

A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes ... and is completely dependent on the
fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad
picture of Advent.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer,German pastor and philosopher (1906-1945) imprisoned and executed for his attempt to overthrow Adolf Hitler.

Giving My Full Attention

I believe in person to person; every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, that person is the one person in the world at that moment. - Mother Teresa

"Fewer Faithful"

"Half of the SBC's 43,000 churches will have shut thier doors by 2030 if current trends continue." From Sunday, June 1's DMN, page P1. (Points section.)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/points/stories/DN-wicker_01edi.ART1.State.Edition1.46dace2.html


Though I don't agree with it all, the whole article is an intersting perpesctive.

City Songs

"God of This City" from Passion: God of this City and sung by Chris Tomlin. A preview is available at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_dmusic/102-0950852-7349703?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=god+of+this+city

"Abiding City" from The Builder And The Architect by Sandra McCracken
I've only heard the clip at http://www.amazon.com/The-Builder-And-Architect/dp/B000Z7S6KY but it sounded good. I'll find the lyrics and post them sometime.

Free Audio New Testament Download!

http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/free-audio-bible-download

After you download your first version, you can register and download up to four more versions!

I'm listening my way through the Dramatized NIV currently. I've downloaded the "Kidz" version for my kids.

Free Resources Online

Group Publishing offers many specialized newsletters with some great tips for church leaders. fairly often these include completely free resources. Like free book downloads.

Sign up at the bottom of their store's homepage: http://store.grouppublishing.com

BONUS: For some reason, you'll have access to many more targeted resources if you click "Your Subscription Manager" at the bottom of one of the newsletters you get. (I can't find a way to get to that larger list directly from the web.)

"Go and Do"

America has had it with “come and see” spirituality. Now is the day of “go
and do.” And Jesus launched that movement some time ago.

Steve Sjogren (of ServantEvangelism.com) in the "850 WORDS OF RELEVANT :: 4.14.08 enewsletter"

Barna's New Study of Tithing

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=296

Channel Surfing for Common Grace

...

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is a very different show, but you hear gospel echoes here as well. This show organizes entire communities to work together and care for a down-and-out family by building them a dream home. These refreshing acts of selfless community spirit encourage the audience. This is how we want to see the body of Christ work together toward a shared goal of serving the common good. And think about the family. They have just about given up on the world. But just then, someone showers them with undeserved riches. How can they respond, except with effusive gratitude?

But if viewers hear the gospel's echoes, do they know where the sound originates? Elements of these shows unfortunately dampen the gospel refrain. First, there are unintended consequences. Christians must recognize how these shows pay their bills. Each show leverages the viewer's good will for good ratings, which pleases the corporate sponsors. These home-improvement stores and clothing retailers want to breed dissatisfaction with our own homes and wardrobes. So the good will we feel while watching the shows can become discontent with what God has given us.

...

from http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/aprilweb-only/114-54.0.html

Solid Christian Speaker on Veterans and Mental Health

"I am going to speak on April the 12th about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and veterans. I would like to do more of this kind of thing. I recently spoke at the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Southern Sector Meeting which meets on Martin Luther King Blvd at a Lutheran Church."

Walter Norris has been a minister and great friend for years.

Walter T. Norris
Mental Health America of Greater Dallas
624 N. Good-Latimer, Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75204
(214) 871-2420, Ext. 110
(214) 205-7435 Cell
E-mail: wnorris@mhadallas.org

Ongoing Great Discussions

ABC Pastors (DBA's network of smaller membership churches) - Every second and fourth Tuesday, 10 a.m., location varies.

Emergent Dallas - led by DBA church pastor Danielle Shroyer. Second Tuesdays at 7:30 or 8 p.m., Location Varies. See EmergentDallas.blogspot.com

A book about minsitry burnout!

http://www.madchurchdisease.com/

Anne Lamott: Raw Christianity

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/pc_article.php?id=7553

"Anne Lamott is a writer who energizes some, and infuriates others. Her detractors ask, "How can she be a Christian and say the things she says?" Her fans ask, "Why aren’t there more Christian writers who say the things she says?" Her books and her public appearances are known for their raw, take-no-prisoners honesty, as well as for their artistry and humor. She has written 11 books, fiction and nonfiction. Both Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith and Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith made the New York Times best seller list. Her book Operating Instructions, which describes her fears and joys of trying to raise a child as a single mother, was named by the Modern Library Association as one of the most important nonfiction books of the last century. Her newest book, Grace, Eventually, came out in early 2007. She sat down with RELEVANT recently to discuss her often-unconventional faith."

Christian Parents Are Not Comfortable With Media But Buy Them for Their Kids Anyway

From a Barna Update at http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=284

A new national study by The Barna Group among Christian parents shows that even though most Christian parents are not always comfortable with the content of the media-related products, they purchase some of those items as presents for their children.

...

In examining the discomfort of Christian parents related to the media content purchased for their children, the survey data indicated that the parents least likely to buy such media resources for their children were fathers and Hispanics.

The Christian parents who were generally the least comfortable with the content of the products purchased were non-whites and parents involved in a house church. On the other hand, among the Christian parents most comfortable with the media products purchased were single parents, mothers and those who were least active in practicing their faith.

...

The outcomes struck the study’s lead researcher, George Barna, as reflective of the challenge Christians face in today’s culture.

"Millions of Christian parents want to appear to be relevant in their children’s eyes, and to provide gifts that fit within the mainstream of postmodern society," Barna noted. "The problem is that many of the entertainment products that meet those criteria conflict with the moral precepts of the Christian faith. Parents have to make a choice as to what is more important: pleasing their kids’ taste and sensibilities, or satisfying God’s standards as defined in the Bible. When the decision made is to keep their children happy, the Christian parent is often left with a pit in their stomach.

"The process of selecting appropriate Christmas presents for children is a microcosm of the spiritual tension millions of Christian adults wrestle with," the California-based researcher explained. "Many Christian parents are striving to serve two conflicting masters: society and God. They refuse to believe that they cannot satisfy both. Sadly, this Christmas season will produce enormous stress for numerous Christian parents who don’t want to disappoint either God or their children, but whose ultimate choices will disappoint both God and themselves, while providing gifts that are not be in the best interests of their children. For Christians, the Christmas season should be a time of celebration and appreciation of the life of Jesus Christ. Instead, that joy is being minimized by the pressure and confusion introduced by our focus on material consumption and fulfillment."