Provocations

Systems Theory and Listening to the Margins

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:24:11 -0700

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?

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:44:31 -0700

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

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:23:48 -0700

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

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:01:51 -0700

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

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:03:15 -0700

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

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:51:35 -0800

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

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:58:43 -0800

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

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Eikons and Marketing the Gospel

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:26:04 -0800

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?

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:57:47 -0800

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...?

nobody@vox.com(Corey Sharpe) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:16:15 -0800

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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