Man, it's been crazy in real life the last couple of weeks. I've been blog-slackin', and for that I apologize.
We are gearing up for Element's return to the weekly worship gathering (Sep. 7), and that has involved a lot of things related to our moving to a new worship space. We were actually homeless and brickin' about it until last week when our great friend Ray Ortlund at Immanuel Church and the incredible, awesome, gracious folks at Otter Creek Church of Christ (who own the building Immanuel leases) came through for us in a great show of hospitality and partnership. Element will now be meeting on the campus of Immanuel Church.
The great thing about this is that we are much closer to the heart of Nashville, mere minutes from the college campuses and the epicenter of Nashville young adult hubbub.
Today's been super busy for me, but here I am eating my lunch, trying to please you, the best blog readers in the world (even if you are a pretty quiet bunch), with some internet noise. Since my brain is pretty spent, here are some links I've enjoyed lately and marked for sharing . . .
Timmy Brister has expanded his thoughts on word-drivenness, thoughts that originated in a comments thread at Ed Stetzer's blog and which I highlighted here. Now Timmy offers a full-on post: Word-Driven Movemental Christianity that is awesome. Do check it out.
Randy Smith's Old People Have Cooties is a must-read. This is stuff we all need to hear and internalize and figure out to externalize.
Like American culture, evangelical church culture is idolatrously youth-obsessed.
Dave Ferguson highlights Willow Creek's "breakthrough discovery" that the Bible is the most powerful catalyst for spiritual growth.
I could quickly file this under the "Well, duh" category, but I think it's important. Contrast this ostensibly no-brainer "discovery" with, say, Brian Jones's assertion that Christians spend too much time studying the Bible.
Not only is that not true (the Church today may in fact be the least biblically literate of any Church generation, despite having more access to the Scriptures than previous generations), but it dissuades the gullible and the naive from engaging with the most transformative discipline in spiritual growth: meditating on the Bible.
That's it for now. Happy surfing!
2 comments:
So good to hear that you guys have found a place to meet. I know, as an avid reader of this blog, that this is truly a blessing to you and an answer to prayer.
In regards to the "studying scripture" conversation, I totally agree with your stance. As a pastor I find it to be a struggle to get my congregation to see the importance of reading and studying scripture. At times it is difficult to even get them to see the importance of carrying their Bibles to church. I find this hard to grasp, but I am starting to see fruits of my labors. I am now seeing members, who previously said they would never read any version than the 'King James Version', begin to purchase other versions so they can read and understand what they are reading. We have been going through a study on 'How to Study the Bible' and it is awesome to hear people discussing how they are now excited to dive in and get to the meat of the Word.
It's unfortunate (also encouraging) that this is such a novel idea and considered a breakthrough. However, people are beginning to study and grow, and for that I know God is glorified.
Speaking of reading and studying scripture....what is it with all the different translations? I have a stack of Bibles...from the St Joseph Catholic version of my childhood, to the NIV from college and a NLT from adult studies. Now there is much talk about the ESV and I have recently been introduced to the Jerusalem Bible. How should we know which one to read! I have come to a point in my life where I am seeing the power of staying in the Word...but are there circumstances under which to read different translations?
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