Neo-Fundamentalism

From Scot McKnight

Tuesday morning, in a short conversation with a colleague, we had a moment where we agreed on something we had never spoken to each other about. We have both observed the rise of a neo-fundamentalism. What struck both of us was this: We’ve been there and can’t understand why anyone would want to return to Fundamentalism.

Oh no, It’s raining again…

…to bad I’m loosin a friend (Supertramp)

Yeah, it’s raining today. Bummer. We were supposed to take the kids to the fair for the free kid’s day today. I also had big plans on finishing “Project: Move Garden” which meant I had about 4 hours worth of tilling to finish up from yesterday. We’re moving our garden to a more sunny spot in our backyard, and I’m going to dump about 4 loads of horse poop on it and plant rye on it over the winter, then hit it with some cow poop in the early spring to get it good and ready to go. No sucky garden next year!

A Sabbath from church?

(of course most do this anyway! hehehe just kidding)

I should have said that church shouldn’t be an addiction, and the machine shouldn’t use people, but should minister to people and help them minister to others. I should have admitted that most of the sermons, all of the rhetoric and the entire guilt trip mentality served the church leaders and staff rather than Christ by equipping the people of God to serve the world in Jesus’ name. I should have come to the realization that this was about the power and influence of an institution, rather than the influence of Jesus in the lives of people.

I knew that there were codependent people in every church I ever served. These were people who “loved” (i.e. needed) the church like a drug and lived in a relationship with the church that kept the fix going. I knew that many people in church were going through marriage and family problems, economic stress or health breakdowns. The church was a way to numb, avoid or barter with God about these messes. Often, I listened to people complain about how busy they were at church compared to what they wanted to be doing in other areas of their life. It was backwards, but you could never admit it without questioning the whole system.

I can admit it now. There’s a bunch of church folks to whom I owe a belated message:

Go home. Stay home. You’re at church too much. Take some payback and take care of yourself. Take a sabbath from church.

Read the rest of Imonk’s article “Quit and See What Happens” here.

For another interesting article like Imonk’s check out “Detoxing from Church” from The Off Ramp.

Sermon Music: what I’ve been listening to while preparing my sermons

At the risk of ruining my secret for my great sermons, I am going to go public with what I have been listening to the last couple weeks while preparing my sermons…

…you ready?

Sure you want to read on?

It’s not what you think it’s going to be…any thoughts?

Guess?

Come on, just guess?

Okay, here it is…

Hall & Oats Greatest Hits Volume One & Two

Seriously.

Now, let me clarify: I don’t listen to them while I am studying. I find studying in quiet pretty easy, but when it comes time to take my notes and lay them out in outline form and then make a handout design for the upcoming church service to be given to everyone to help them follow along I listen to music, and Hall & Oats have been getting it for me the last couple weeks.

There, the secret is out. Hall & Oats can thank me for a slight spike in their music sales by preachers both young and old alike.

"I’m not animated to explode!"

Man, did we love Space Ghost Coast to Coast back in the day! Dan, I love you and miss you, man!

In memory of Dan…

Equality