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

45

Thy Kingdom Connected by Dwight Friesen

Thy Kingdom Connected by Dwight Friesen

Networks: They're everywhere. From our roads to our relationships, from our food supply to our power grids, networks are an integral part of how we live. Similarly, our churches, denominations, and even the kingdom of God are networks. Knowing how networks function and how to work with rather than against them has enormous implications for how live lives of faithful and life-filled ministry. In Thy Kingdom Connected, Dwight Friesen brings the complex theories of networking to church leaders in easy-to-understand, practical ways. Rather than bemoaning the modern disintegration of things like authority and structure, Friesen inspires hope for a more connective vision of life with God. He shows those involved in lives of ministry how they can optimize already existing connections between people in order to share the Good News, embed people more deeply in the lives of their faith communities, and grow together as apprentices of Jesus. Dwight says "This book was born in the context of an eleven-year life altering experiment in ecclesial life, fleshed out in learning communities with thoughtful women and men who never ceased to ask insightful and revealing questions, and now it is being published by my new friends at Baker Books. I hope you’ll take a look at it.  I’m very excited to offer my voice and contribute, even a small piece, to the ongoing conversation. . . let me know what you think." What others are saying "A wonderful tutorial for those who want to experience the kingdom as more than a wistful idea." -Reggie McNeal, missional leadership specialist for Leadership Network "Friesen brings together current thinking on the Trinity, the kingdom of God, and missional church, and creates the first contextual ecclesiology for a networked world. Highly recommended." -Ryan Bolger, associate professor of Church in Contemporary Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary; co-author of Emerging Churches "A treasure chest of insights to further the conversation on the nature of the missional church in post-Christendom Western societies." -Eddie Gibbs, author of ChurchMorph; professor of church growth, Fuller Theological Seminary "A guide to harnessing the powerful possibilities of connections made available through social networks. You may never look at 'church' the same way again." -John R. Franke, Clemens Professor of Missional Theology, Biblical Seminary; author of Manifold Witness: The Plurality of Truth "Helps us see how connection is at the core of the gospel. I recommend it to all Christians emerging in this inescapable cultural reality." -David Fitch, B. R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology, Northern Seminary; author of The Great Giveaway About Dwight Dwight J. Friesen (DMin, George Fox University) is assistant professor of practical theology at Mars Hill Graduate School [1] in Seattle. He was the founding pastor of Quest: A Christ-Commons [2] in Bellevue, Washington, and lives in Seattle, Washington, with his family. [hide] [3] :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: Dwight's site [4] Thy Kingdom Connected Facebook page [5] Interview Availability: Dwight is available for blog and podcast interviews. You will receive his contact information if you select Thy Kingdom Connected. [/hide] [1] http://www.mhgs.edu/ [2] http://www.seattlequest.org/ [3] http://viralbloggers.wufoo.com/forms/thy-kingdom-connected/ [4] http://dwightfriesen.com [5] http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thy-Kingdom-Connected/165121348245

32

The Justice Project – Edited by Brian McLaren, Elisa Padilla, & Ashley Bunting Seeber

The Justice Project – Edited by Brian McLaren, Elisa Padilla, & Ashley Bunting Seeber

“Justice.” The word thrills, or it terrifies, or it bores. Justice is variously something we’re longing for, something we’re trying to evade, or something we feel vaguely guilty about because – in a post-ONE Campaign world – it’s something we’re supposed to be passionate about. Whither justice? This question is vitally enmeshed in early 21st century life, whether we’re approaching it politically, spiritually, philosophically, or pop culturally. Clothing lines that promise easy-purchasing justice, theological interpretations of the Gospel that say ‘Thank God we don’t get justice,’ and a litigious culture that demands justice for coffee that’s too hot – it’s a hot-button topic, for sure. The contributors to this new anthology The Justice Project from Baker Books [1] feel our pain. And they contend that the world has never been in greater of need of Jesus-followers who "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God." The Justice League: This collection of essays contains more than thirty brief chapters by some of the most penetrating thinkers in the contemporary Christian ‘justice conversation,’ including voices from evangelical, mainline, and emerging contexts: Rene Padilla Peggy Campolo Will and Lisa Samson Sylvia Keesmaat Bart Campolo Lynne Hybels Tony Jones Richard Twiss many others The essays are fresh, and take nothing for granted. You can read ‘em in order or peruse at will. The Justice Project is eating through my jaded-ness to inspire me to live a beautiful life of justice-making unto God’s new creation. Endorsements "Put together by exemplary leaders, this will be a handbook for any who are committed to working for biblically based social justice. It's comprehensive and brilliantly well written." – Tony Campolo "Absolutely dazzling. Here is a choir for social justice that makes the prophets smile. The editors have conducted a symphony of voices, harmonizing without homogenizing. You may find some voices here a little high pitched or unfamiliar, but together they are magical. These authors are not just the 'usual suspects' of the religious left, but signs of a movement that is coloring outside the lines of partisan politics and stale debates in a post-religious right world. They insist that our faith must be as daring and sassy, as gentle and fascinating, as our lover, Jesus." – Shane Claiborne [hide] This Title Has Been Closed for Review :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: Brian McLaren explains his heart [2] behind being the editor – and how his proceeds will be used. Give your readers/listeners a meaty 25-page PDF excerpt [3]. Even the book’s potential theological critics are turning a hopeful eye [4]. Interview Availability: The contributors are available for blog and podcast interview. You will receive a contact email address to reach the contributors via email if you select The Justice Project this month. [/hide] [1] http://www.bakerbooks.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=0477683E4046471488BD7BAC8DCFB004&nm=&type=PubCom&mod=PubComProductCatalog&mid=BF1316AF9E334B7BA1C33CB61CF48A4E&AudId=2CE59DBC134644E48BA21637B1D727C3&tier=26&id=B4D309FFCB8D411C8CAB809B36E4DAAA [2] http://www.brianmclaren.net/archives/books/brians-books/the-justice-project.html [3] http://www.bakerbooks.com/Media/MediaManager/Excerpt_9780801013287.pdf [4] http://witheredgrass.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/the-justice-project-a-look-at-doing-justice

34