Provocations

Systems Theory and Listening to the Margins

2008-04-02T20:24:11Z

When considering the church as a system, one must consider those overlooked parts of the whole. I submit that, in the North American congregations, these overlooked ‘parts’ have been women, ethnic minorities, and those on the lower end of the ec...

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The Infantilization of America?

2008-03-28T18:44:31Z

Many still argue that consumerism is necessary for a market economy to thrive. Benjamin Barber, in his book "Consumed," challenges that assumption, arguing that consumerism is damaging to our culture, and ultimately to capitalism itself. Here h...

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Now Accepting Book Club Proposals

2008-03-25T03:23:48Z

I am looking forward to getting together with the book club again. Now, what to read? There will never be a shortage of books for us to read, so below are a couple of suggestions that might provoke us to thought as well as to action. Please l...

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War is Not an Abstract Concept

2008-03-24T20:01:51Z

And neither is the author of The Terrorist Watch, by Ron Kessler, who just happens to be married to a member of our group. He discusses his new book with John Stewart on The Daily Show, and it is now available at a book store near you. This pro...

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Prison Entrepreneurship Program | PEP Home

2008-03-09T20:03:15Z

After reading McKnight's book, I realize how little the church has understood atonement. How easier it is to study and speculate upon (or even worse, ignore intellectual engagement altogether) atonement than to practice. Is this a harsh assessme...

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Foolishness to the Mainline Protestants

2008-02-24T22:51:35Z

I'm still working through McKnight's book with the club, but here's something I found in a UM Connection article, exploring factors leading to decline in membership in the United Methodist Church. When in doubt, look to the megachurch: "Instead ...

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International Justice Mission - IJM Home

2008-02-20T20:58:43Z

Here is an excellent example of atonement that works!!!

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Eikons and Marketing the Gospel

2008-02-17T19:26:04Z

Apparently, being made in the image of God comes with a few limitations, especially if that image happens to be a bit cracked. Oh, yeah, don't forget that Eikon is the Greek translation of the Hebrew term for "image". If you've read McKnight's ...

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What's in your Gospel?

2008-02-10T22:57:47Z

When George W. Bush spoke of the war on terrorism as a “crusade,” he was roundly criticized for the perceived suggestion that it was a war of Christianity against Islam. His aides apologized, saying that the president had only used the term i...

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Let the atonement wars begin...?

2008-01-31T20:16:15Z

Perhaps that this isn't the best way to introduce our next book discussion, especially when we have worked so hard to create a conversational atmosphere. But atonement is an appropriate Lenten topic, so let me explain. The conflict began in En...

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