A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren

A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren

Ten years ago, Brian McLaren started asking probing, unconventional, and sometimes-controversial questions about his Christian faith. As a pastor-turned-author, he discovered that he wasn’t alone: Many people worldwide were asking similar questions; the conversations and action that followed have created a movement. From The Church On The Other Side and his New Kind of Christian novel trilogy, to A Generous Orthodoxy and Everything Must Change, Brian has been on a journey to re-envision what it means to faithfully follow Jesus in the 21st century. Brian isn’t finished questing and questioning. Whether you love his work or it makes you nervous, whether you’ve read his every book or have lost track with him these past few years, his latest offering is his most important and striking to date: A New Kind of Christianity. In it, Brian asks ten questions that attempt to integrate our inner lives with our outward actions, to align our beliefs with how we live in increasingly interconnected global community. These questions are: The Narrative Question: What Is the Overarching Storyline of the Bible? The Authority Question: How Should the Bible Be Understood? The God Question: Is God Violent? The Jesus Question: Who is Jesus and Why is He Important? The Gospel Question: What Is the Gospel? The Church Question: What Do We Do About the Church? The Sex Question: Can We Find a Way to Address Sexuality Without Fighting About It? The Future Question: Can We Find a Better Way of View the Future? The Pluralism Question: How Should Followers of Jesus Relate to People of Other Religions? The What Do We Do Now Question: How Can We Translate Our Quest into Action? TheOOZE will be working extensively with Brian to explore the issues he raises; stay tuned to TheOOZE.tv [1] for exclusive interviews! [hide] Requested Out! Wow, that was fast - record time actually. If you do decide to read the book anyway [2], please re-post any thoughts you have on it in this space. And stay tuned, as there will be opportunities to win personal book group discussions with Brian. :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Requesting A New Kind of Christianity Due to the high expected demand for reviewing this title, we have an additional request made for anyone who would like A New Kind of Christianity: Could you have it reviewed within 10-14 days of receiving it? It’s an engaging read, and once you begin it’s doubtful you’ll want to put it down. We’re not asking you to relax your usual standards of writing and podcasting integrity; you can love the book, loathe it, or anything in between. But the publisher has requested that we get our initial reviews into the blogosphere coinciding with the book release date, and we’d like to honor this request. (We hope to work with Brian’s publisher, HarperOne, lots more in the near future – take a look [3] and we think you’ll agree; they publish copious amounts of material that you’d like to review!) You’ll be the first readers on the continent to receive a copy of this book, weeks before the release date. Link-love for your review: Brian’s personal website [4] Brian OOZEtv Channel Preview [5] Brian & Spencer on Think:FWD [6] Brian on Facebook [7] Brian on Twitter [8] Browse inside [9] A New Kind of Christianity. Interview Availability: Brian is available for a limited amount of blog and podcast interviews. You will receive interview contact information should you choose to review this book. [/hide] [1] http://theooze.tv [2] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061853984?ie=UTF8&tag=zoecarnatecom-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0061853984 [3] http://www.harpercollinscatalogs.com/harper/517_1050.htm [4] http://brianmclaren.net [5] http://theooze.tv/brian-mclaren/brian-mclaren-channel-coming-february [6] http://theooze.tv/thinkfwd/brian-mclaren [7] http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-D-McLaren/65814657989 [8] http://twitter.com/BrianMcLaren [9] http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061853982

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Enough by Will Samson

Enough by Will Samson

How much is enough? It’s what we’re all asking as the economy seems to be in free-fall; ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ seem to be inverting themselves with each month’s finances. In a society where children spend more time worrying about their weight than their grades, is it possible to find peace? In a world being drained of its natural resources, is it conceivable that we do nothing? And with a universe of dazzling temptation at our fingertips, will we still seek the God of all creation? Will Samson is good at opening thoughtful dialogue. In Enough, Will addresses the idea of finding contentment in this age of excess. Does the God who offers himself to be Eucharistically consumed in Jesus Christ have a community-forming alternative in mind to consumerism? Can we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Eucharistic community for others? With a casual, accessible writing style, Samson discusses consumerism, contentment as a Christian discipline, and the notion of stewarding our resources. In four sections, Will outlines the ideas that drive a consumeristic mindset; the effects those ideas have on ourselves, our communities, and the earth; conclusions about the situation; and practical solutions for negotiating everyday life once we understand that our abundant God is, in fact, enough. If you're exhausted from keeping up with the Joneses, or if you're looking for the balance between what is necessary and what is too much, just stop. Enough is enough. Endorsements: “Can a book be hard-hitting without being guilt-inducing? Can it be both convicting and encouraging? Can it be beautifully written and deeply thoughtful—and really funny in places too? Can it be good for you and enjoyable to read? Can it help intensify your commitment to God and decrease your addiction to stuff? With Will Samson’s Enough, the answers are all yes.” Brian McLaren, author and activist, brianmclaren.net “The problem is not us owning things; the problem lies in things owning us. Will Samson reminds us not to confuse Christianity with Capitalism. Enough is a hopeful invitation to begin banking in God’s economy and reimagine what it means for followers of Jesus to prosper. Enthusiastically recommended.” Matthew Sleeth, MD, director of blessed-earth.org & author of Serve God, Save the Planet “Will Samson calls the Christian family to the table for a veritable feast of information and inspiration on how to live in peace, community, and simplicity. Enough is not to be missed.” Claudia Mair Burney, author of Zora and Nicky and Wounded “Will Samson has caught a glimpse of the abundance that promises more than your best life now. Inspired by the Eucharist, Will outlines a life better than we could imagine in our cultural captivity—an economy of enough where the poor find bread and the rich find contentment because we find one another in the community of our Lord. Read the book but more than that, join the feast. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, new monastic, author, and director of School for Conversion [hide] TITLE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: A PDF excerpt, if you’d like to post it for readers: http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105401.pdf [1] Will’s blog: http://www.willzhead.typepad.com [2] (C’mon, Will – update it!) Interview Availability: Will Samson is available for a limited number of blog and podcast interviews. You’ll get his email address if you select Enough for your monthly review. Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about Enough within 30 days of getting it, and cutting & pasting your post here: Thank you! [/hide] [1] http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105401.pdf [2] http://www.willzhead.typepad.com/

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