the drum|rob fairbanks

Gallup: Very religious Americans have higher levels of well-being – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

From CNN's Dan Gilgoff:

via religion.blogs.cnn.com

Just thought I would post this. Found it quite interesting.

What is the Church?

Here is a beautifully done video from one of CA's projects in Brussels called The WELL.  I found myself strangely moved as I watched it.  With so many people either pulling out or disparaging a caricature of the church, the Well and scores of other communities like them are representing Jesus in their cities in truly remarkable ways.

Take a look and let me know what you think!

When We Say Church from Doug Peterson on Vimeo.

 

 

Chris Wright from Lausanne 3: The Greatest Hinderances to World Mission

There was resounding applause today as Chris Wright issued an unequivocal call for a second reformation in the world church.

via www.christiantoday.com

Here's a link from the final message from Lausanne three in Cape Town. It's from Chris Wright as he describes the three biggest hindrances to mission in the world today. Not what you would expect... It is a look at who we are as people. Margaret Feinberg wrote a fine summary of that on her blog this morning. You might want to look at that as well.

I find his take on the challenges that we face both interesting and convicting. It is definitely worth some extended thought.

If you have time, check out the full talk.  Important stuff if you ask me!!!

  

How to Plant a Church

via www.youtube.com

This is both funny and terrifyingly close to what happens in most new church plants - where the missio Dei gets talked about and maybe even included in the name of the church but rarely lived out. It is enough to draw a crowd of already socialized Christians...right?

I Am Being Serious

Funniest thing heard in the last 24 hours: Ding dong (Door bell). Guy I'm staying with answers the door, "Hello!" Little old lady at the door, "Um, I just didn't want you guys to think we were having a huge orgy over here." My friend, "Ok, thanks!" Door closes. End of story.

I am being completely serious. Awesome!

The Beauty of Social Media!

via www.youtube.com

This is really funny

Linus Morris on Christian Associates Vision

via www.youtube.com

Here is my colleague and the founder of the organization I help lead, Linus Morris talking about what he hopes for in the future for Christian Associates.. My heart soars as I listen. He is a true lover of God and lover of people.

How might you be a part of what we are doing planting missional/incarnational churches in the Urban centers of Europe, the U.S. and Latin America?  

Here's what we need to accomplish this:

• We need people to go in teams to establish creative, innovative, churches that behave like Jesus in some of the most unchurched areas of the world.
• We need people who will seriously intercede for this Kingdom extension and 
• We need people who will sacrificially assist this movement with financial support.  

How might you join us?  Please pray about this!  Go to Christian Associates to find out how to get started!.

A Missional Church for the World

"The church doesn't exist for itself; it exists to serve the world. It is not ultimately about the church; it's about the people God wants to bless through the church. When the church loses sight of this, it loses its heart."

From Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

Missional: The Origin of the Missio Dei from Barth

Here's a little bit more from Barth for you (from the book, “The Witness of God”):

“Must not the faithful, the most convinced missionary think seriously about the fact that the concept ‘missio’ in the ancient church was a term from the doctrine of the Trinity, the designation of the divine self sending, the sending of Son and Holy Spirit into the world?” p. 108

 

Civil Disagreement? Is it Possible Concerning the Issue of Homosexuality

Editor's Note: CNN Salt Lake City affiliate KSTU has this report about a protest outside the headquarters of the Mormon Church.

via religion.blogs.cnn.com

I read this CNN news article with great interest this afternoon. The thought came to me, are we moving into an period where we cannot disagree in a civil way. The argumentation of the protesters seem to be if you disagree with us you're driving people to suicide. That seems like a slippery slope to me. With loss of life in the balance, I must wonder if it is possible to have a civil disagreement over this issue? 

Please don't read this thinking that I am aligning myself with the Mormon Church. I’m not.  Also, don't read this thinking that I'm condoning the harsh and dishonorable way many people who are in the more conservative moral group have spoken and acted toward homosexuals. I am not.  The question for me is can we actually disagree? I can envision how the suicide issue could be turned into a leverage point to legislate criminal action against disagreement over the issue of homosexuality.

What are your thoughts on this?