Missional | The Ooze Viral Bloggers

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

Live Sent by Jason Dukes

What if being ‘missional’ shifted from being about creating a worship gathering to living a well-crafted life? What if being ‘missional’ shifted from a conversion mentality to a contributor mindset? What is the crucial difference between ‘discipleship’ as program and ‘discipling’ as life? All of this and more is explored in Live Sent: You Are A Letter by Jason Dukes. Jason sees the good news of Jesus working in a context of radical interdependence. Here’s how he puts it in his own words: “What’s my part in this epic called humanity?’ The people whom you encounter every day actually need you. They need you, and you need them. We all need each other – to know each other. Our lives both compliment and supplement each other. That’s how humanity works – together.” You are a letter, his premise continues. Your everyday life is more than just a story being written. You were created to receive and send a message intentionally into the lives of the people you do life with daily. That's how love is demonstrated and how relationships happen and how people find abundant life as they were intended to find it. We live out our intended purpose and mission when we live beyond ourselves. Are you giving yourself away in the daily, being to other people the letter of God's love that has been written on your heart? We must be that letter together. Our community needs us. Our world needs us. Let's live sent. “If people think that missional is simply growing a worship gathering instead of releasing people into everyday life, they are misunderstanding missional. Missional is all about “living sent.” Jason Dukes is communicating a message that is vital for people to truly understand the mission for which they were created. I will recommend this book in my spheres of influence.” – Ed Stetzer If this approach to missional living is something that resonates with you, be sure to check out this brief but fresh read. [hide] [1] :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: About Jason Jason C Dukes and his wife, Jen, live in Florida with their four young children. He is a follower and a leader, a learner and a teacher, a writer and a dreamer, a pastor and an entrepreneur, and someone who tries to live sent daily. He hopes you will too. Link-love for your review: There’s a lot of link-love for Jason – he’s wired! Book Blog [2] Personal Blog [3] Jason Dukes interview on the Something Beautiful Podcast [4] Twitter: @jasoncdukes [5] Live Sent on Twubs [6] Humanity Beautiful [7] Westpoint Fellowship [8] Reproducing Churches [9] House Blend Café [10] Jason speaking at the LIVE SENT 2009 Conversation [11] Live Sent YouTube channel [12] Interview Availability: Jason is available for blog and podcast interviews. You will receive his contact information if you select Live Sent to review this month. [/hide] [1] http://viralbloggers.wufoo.com/forms/live-sent/ [2] http://livesent.com [3] http://jasoncdukes.wordpress.com [4] http://somethingbeautifulpodcast.com/podcast/jason-c-dukes-2-36 [5] http://www.twitter.com/jasoncdukes [6] http://twubs.com/livesent [7] http://HumanityBeautiful.com [8] http://westpointchurch.org [9] http://reproducingchurches.com [10] http://houseblendcafe.com [11] http://livingsent.blogspot.com/2009/09/live-sent-conversation-2009.html [12] http://www.youtube.com/LiveSent

Through The River: Understanding Your Assumptions About Truth by Jon & Mindy Hirst

So there have been some culture wars these past few decades here in the West. Among the many skirmishes, one of the most enduring pitched battles has been over epistemology – as Pontius Pilate famously asked, “What is truth?” Postmodernists like myself tend to draw attention to the contingency, and situated-ness of truth. To call a truth ‘timeless’ seems like an insult to its vitality. Modernists tend to favor truth they can absolutize, a rigid and uncompromising set of morals and values that frame the foundation of existence – to do otherwise feels like slippery relativism. This conversation often ends in a stalemate of inflexible systems wherein each side loses and neither system is closer to grasping truth. Is there a way out of the impasse? Biblica's [1] Through the River, a new book by Jon and Mindy Hirst (with Dr. Paul Hiebert), encourages us to examine our assumptions about truth and how those assumptions affect our relationship to the world at large. In so doing, the Hirsts offer a new perspective on truth that allows us not only to better understand how we view truth but how we might become better equipped to communicate truth in a combative culture. Their claim is that “our ability to struggle through the concept of truth in today’s world is crucial to determining our success in the Christian life, our relationships and our kingdom work.” Through the River is a challenging and fascinating book told allegorically, taking the reader on a journey through River Town, weaving a memorable tale on how people can live in close proximity while having radically contrasting views. River Town’s three communities live and act so differently because each group is using a distinct set of assumptions about truth (truth lenses). In short, Through the River pulls off a mean feat: It offers a view of truth that seeks to solve the compatibility issues between worldviews and capitalizes on their strengths in such a way that each becomes better without becoming the same. Readers might not all agree with the attempted integration, but you will be the better for having read it. You just might beat your culture war swords into plowshares. Jon and Mindy Hirst are the co-founders of Generous Mind, a think tank designed to help people make their thoughts count. The late Paul G. Hiebert (1932–2007) was Distinguished Professor of Mission and Anthropology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and previously taught at Fuller Theological Seminary. Through the River is Jon and Mindy’s unique approach to Dr. Hiebert’s important and groundbreaking studies in truth. [hide] [2] :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: Through the River blog [3] Jon and Mindy Hirst on Twitter: @generousmind [4] Through the River Facebook Fan Page [5]. Through the River Facebook discussion group [6]. Generous Mind Blog [7]. Interview Availability: Jon and Mindy Hirst are available for blog & podcast interviews. You will receive this contact information via email if you select Through the River this month. Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about Through the River within 30 days of getting it, and cutting & pasting your post to this one. Thank you! [/hide] [1] http://www.biblica.com [2] http://viralbloggers.wufoo.com/forms/through-the-river/ [3] http://throughtheriverbook.com [4] http://twitter.com/generousmind [5] http://facebook.com/pages/Through-the-River/97523594915 [6] http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116401856022 [7] http://generousmind.blogspot.com

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

The Simple Life by Thom & Art Rainer

No, we’re not offering you the retrospective tell-all about Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie’s reality TV series – if such a thing even exists. This is even better: How-to-live by Southern Baptists! Check thy prejudices at the door, pilgrim. The research and change methods that made Simple Church a multiawarded ministry best seller are now applied to everyday matters in Simple Life. Authors Thom S. Rainer and Art Rainer interviewed a cross-section of 1,077 individuals to confirm that most people feel their lives are overly stressful and misguided, not allowing enough time for what really counts. As they share these I-can-relate stories, the Rainers chart a simple path from joyless to joyful. Breaking life down into four key sections (Time, Relationships, God, Money), the authors show how four key goals (Clarity, Movement, Alignment, Focus) can begin to foster a life that is more spiritual and less busy, a life rich in experiences with family and friends rather than double-booked to-do lists and late nights at the office. The book even lays out an easy-to-follow action plan that will move readers assuredly toward the simple life in just thirty days. [hide] This Title Has Been Closed for Review :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: Thom Rainer’s website: http://thomrainer.com [1] Interview Availability: The authors are available for blog and podcast review. You will receive their contact information when you select The Simple Life as this month's review title. Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about The Simple Life within 30 days of getting it, and cutting & pasting your post to this one. Thank you! [/hide] [1] http://thomrainer.com/

A Lover’s Quarrel with the Evangelical Church by Warren Cole Smith

Since World War II, evangelicals have emerged, seemingly from nowhere, as a potent political force and the focus of rapidly expanding retail markets. Megachurches and parachurch organizations like Focus on the Family attract both wealth and publicity, allowing them to reach more people than ever before. But something troubling has happened in spite of this expansion. Overall church attendance is not growing. Political clout has not yielded spiritual renewal. America's high divorce rate is just one of many melancholy cultural indicators that bigger is not necessarily better. Evangelicalism aims to cure these ills. What if, instead, it is actually preying on the body, like a cancerous tumor growing unchecked? In his new book, A Lover's Quarrel with the Evangelical Church, awarding-winning journalist Warren Cole Smith offers an insightful and deeply personal critique of the evangelical movement from the perspective of a long-time evangelical insider. Using solid research and original interviews with some of America's leading Christian thinkers, Smith offers an assessment of what has gone wrong as evangelicalism has grown in power and size and what must be done if the church is to be salt and light in a culture starved for redemption. “American evangelicalism, for all the good it has done, is in need of a modern reformation,” Smith states. “There is something toxic in the soil of the evangelical garden, and the poison has been building up over time, tainting everything. It is evident in our quick condemnation of homosexuality or alcohol or gambling, but our indulgence of greed and envy in the form of careerism. It’s there in the hypocrisy of religious-right political leaders quick (and right) to condemn big government and its corrupting power, but who think that the big ministries and megachurches they have created are somehow immune to the same corrupting power.” A Lover’s Quarrel with the Evangelical Church reveals the lesser-reported events that have shaped every aspect of modern evangelicalism, starting with the Second Great Awakening (hint: it wasn’t so great). As only a great journalist can, Smith delivers some startling facts and raises serious questions about many of the practices and institutions that define modern evangelicalism including: · The evangelical myth—is the church really growing? · Body-count evangelism—makes for impressive stats, but at what cost? · The Christian Industrial complex—examining a Christian retail industry that generates billions · The Overhead Church—multimedia presentations a must, no hymnals or bibles necessary Smith wrote the book not as one who is on the outside looking in, but as one who has chosen to remain on the inside for forty years. As he describes the flawed approach of many of modern evangelicalism’s best-known leaders and organizations, Smith is quick to point out the many problematic activities in which he has actively participated. He longs to see a church that embraces her ancestry, values spiritual depth over bragging rights, and is shaped more by the words of Scripture than by the whims of youth culture. In the end, Smith’s intention is not simply to lob accusations but to restore health to the body of Christ. “I call it a ‘lover’s quarrel’ because I believe it is important to speak the truth with love, as Scripture commands, but also to speak it as two lovers would,” Smith says. “In a marriage, two become one. When a husband cuts his wife, he injures himself. So it is with the church. We are all members of the body of Christ. When one hurts, we all hurt. Therefore, it is not the goal of this book to destroy, but to encourage, sharpen, and build.” [hide] This Title Has Been Closed for Review :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: http://loversquarrel.net [1] – the official site for Warren and the book. Nice & clean. Interview Availability: Warren is available for blog and podcast interviews. You’ll get his email address if you select A Lover’s Quarrel with the Evangelical Church for your monthly review. Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about A Lover’s Quarrel with the Evangelical Church within 30 days of getting it. Please cut & paste your post underneath this entry. Thank you! [hide] [1] http://loversquarrel.net/

A People’s History of Christianity by Diana Butler Bass

Am I the only one who gets depressed reading church history sometimes? For supposed followers of Jesus, there sure seems to be a lot of killing and ugly attitudes among the faithful through the ages. I was pleased last year to read Saving Paradise [1] by Brock and Parker, and I’m equally thrilled to introduce you to Diana Butler Bass’s latest offering, which I think will transform how emerging and missional Christians see their heritage. Subtitled A History of the Grassroots Movements in Christianity that Preserved Jesus' Message of Social Justice for 2,000 Years and Their Impact on the Church Today, Bass’s A People’s History of Christianity is written in the same spirit as Howard Zinn's radical and groundbreaking work A People's History of the United States. In this landmark volume, Bass reveals the under-reported movements, personalities, and spiritual practices that continue to inform and ignite contemporary Christian worship, activism, and social justice reforms in the name of Jesus. The book will offer up a much-needed “other side of the story” for missional and emerging Christians, drawing from examples of alternative practices in every period of Christian history, including: Care for the environment and celebrating God in nature Defining compassion, hospitality, and social justice as integral to the Gospel Peace-making as the pervasive Christian response to war Highlighting the female attributes of God, and the power of women in the Church Celebrating human sexuality as a gift from God This is the book that “the great emergence” has been waiting for - a deeply researched history of Christianity that sheds new light on the underreported personalities and movements of the faith. Bass has garnered a groundswell of support for this innovative project, spanning the conventional left/right spiritual divide. Here’s a sampling: “It would be difficult to imagine anyone reading this book without finding some new insight or inspiration, some new and unexpected testimony to the astonishing breadth of Christianity through the centuries.” —Philip Jenkins, author of The Next Christendom “A perfect armchair companion for contemporary Christians. Charmingly written and refreshing to read, yet rich in details and thorough in its mapping of the major themes and events that have shaped the evolution of the Western Church, A People’s History of Christianity is our story re-told with both clear-eyed affection and a scholar’s acumen.” —Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence “In this beautifully written history, Diana Butler Bass reveals the living, beating heart of love at the core of Christian faith.” —Sara Miles, author of Take This Bread "Intelligent and sassy, honest and redemptive. ...a warning that if we don't remember the blood-stained pages of the past, then we are doomed to repeat them., but also an invitation to participate in the next chapter of what it means to be the Church in this broken world." —Shane Claiborne, author of The Irresistible Revolution "An excellent introduction to grass-roots renewal movements as well as to the various shapes that Christian spirituality has taken through the ages. ...necessary reading for any who may have thought that history is irrelevant for present-day living." —Justo L. Gonzalez, author of The Story of Christianity "...this book is so much more than a wonderful overview of Christian history. It is also a joyful apologetic for a 'new kind of Christianity.' I already gave away my copy, because I knew it would help salvage the faltering faith of a disillusioned friend." —Brian McLaren, author of Everything Must Change and A New Kind of Christian "Interesting, insightful, illuminating, and remarkably relevant." —Marcus Borg, author of The Heart of Christianity "In a refreshing look at 2,000 years of Christian history from the bottom up, Butler Bass offers unique insights into the spirit has stirred the hearts and minds of faithful people over the centuries and brought renewal to Christianity during periods of upheaval and distress." —Christian Science Monitor "...immediately accessible, helped along by frequent and shrewd linkages to contemporary counterpoints. This presentation includes lots of folk along the way who never made the 'power lists.' Readers will resonate with this inclusiveness and be grateful to Bass for making them fellow travelers in the on-going story." —Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary [hide] This Title Has Been Closed for Review :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: Diana's official website [2] Invite your readers to browse inside [3] A People’s History of Christianity Interview Availability: Diana’s availability for blog and podcast interviews is unknown at press time. Let me know if you’re interested in an interview – I’ll keep you posted! Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about A People’s History of Christianity within 30 days of getting it. Please cut & paste your post underneath this entry. Thank you! [hide] [1] http://savingparadise.net [2] http://dianabutlerbass.com/ [3] http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061448706

So Beautiful by Leonard Sweet

Leonard Sweet. He got many of us thinking about the postmodern cultural-spiritual shift in the 1990s with provocative titles like Quantum Spirituality, SoulTsunami and AquaChurch. These titles were like books on crack, seemingly taking a cue from the then-popular VH1 Pop-Up Video, with ADD-appropriate sprinkles of information overlaid on more conventional text. By the early, he was introducing proto-emergent ideas of faithful Christian engagement with postmodernity, including books like A Is For Abductive with Brian McLaren. By the mid-2000s, Sweet’s books took on a more contemplative (though no less provocative) tone beginning with Out of the Question…and Into The Mystery, while his message began to identify more with ‘missional’ and less with ‘emergent,’ whatever these constantly-shifting signifiers might point to. With Sweet’s latest offering, he deepens his commitments to a culturally-responsive and biblically-savvy ecclesiology. More than 50 years ago scientists made a remarkable discovery, proclaiming, "We have found the secret of life – and it's so pretty!" The secret? That life's biological code is helixical, two strands surrounding a single axis-the foundation for DNA. This design, Sweet proposes, points to an even deeper – and more poignant – secret. Just as DNA's three strands make life possible, three other elements work in harmony to make life not just pretty, but beautiful. And it's in the church where we find the greatest expression, and ultimate fulfillment, of these three components to a beautiful life. The Good Doctor Sweet presents an extraordinary look at life as it was intended to be lived, sharing secrets of God's design for God’s people in three interwoven elements that form the heart, soul and calling of the apprenticed-to-Jesus life. In the spirit of radical inquiry – from radix, going to the root –So Beautiful unearths God’s deep-rooted dreams for the church after his own heart. Recommended for missional, organic, and house church provocateurs, as well as open-minded emerging church folks. [hide] This Title Has Been Closed for Review :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: Book trailer, complete with living DNA & beating hearts! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXgW1SfsAkw [1] Sample chapters to share with readers: http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105793.pdf [2] Sweet’s official website, under construction at press time: http://www.leonardsweet.com [3] Sweet’s Tweet: http://twitter.com/lensweet [4] Interview Availability: Leonard Sweet’s interview availability is unknown at press time. Please email Mike at zoecarnate [at] theooze [dot] com if you’d like to talk with Len on your blog or podcast. Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about So Beautiful within 30 days of getting it. Please cut & paste your post into this blog entry. Thank you! [/hide] [1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXgW1SfsAkw [2] http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105793.pdf [3] http://www.leonardsweet.com/ [4] http://twitter.com/lensweet

Crazy Love: Interactive DVD

by Francis Chan Popular author, speaker, pastor and videographer Francis Chan takes his best-selling book Crazy Love and springboards it into audio-visual life. Reminiscent of Rob Bell’s Nooma videos (but with perhaps a compassionate Calvinist perspective), Chan explores imagination, death, dedication, fellowship, simplicity and more from the perspective of God’s lavish love for us and the love this inspires in us as a result. This 10 week DVD study resource takes individuals and groups deeper into Crazy Love the book. While reading the companion book is helpful, though, it isn’t necessary – the DVD resource stands on its own nicely. Rather than just ‘preaching,’ Chan designs these short sessions to initiate and facilitate interactive discussion by asking questions of the viewer. This resource should play well with churches, youth groups, campus ministries & the ever-ubiquitous ‘small group.’ The DVD includes: Ten 10-minute segments that can be watched straight through by an individual or section-by-section for group conversation. Discussion questions and prompts corresponding to each section with Francis Chan raising questions as conversation-launchers. Behind the scenes juiciness, outtakes, afnd other bonus features. [hide] TITLE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: http://crazylovebook.com [1] Trailer for the DVD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y43MV2YQcy0 [2] Interview Availability: Francis Chan is a busy man (I did not intend this to rhyme!), pastoring Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. But! He's available for a select number of blog or podcast interviews...a good thing you're an Ooze Select blogger, eh? You'll get his email address if you select this DVD for your monthly review. Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about this DVD within 30 days of getting it. Please copy & paste your post right here, below! Thank you! [/hide] [1] http://crazylovebook.com/ [2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y43MV2YQcy0

The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church

Alan Hirsch & Michael Frost Practically the book that launched the contemporary 'missional' quest - read it to find out why. For the first time we in the West are living in what has been called a "post-Christendom era." Most people throughout the Western world have seen what the Church has to offer, and they have found it wanting. The current credibility gap has made it hard to communicate the gospel with clarity and authenticity. Paradoxically, this is the case even though it is currently a time of almost unprecedented openness to the issues of God, faith, and meaning. This is a time when the need for, and relevance of, the gospel has seldom been greater, but the relevance of the Church has seldom been less. If ever there was a time for innovative missionary effort in the West, it is now. This raises enormous challenges for people in the West. This classic in missional literature explores why the Church needs to recalibrate itself, rebuilding itself from the roots up. The case is built around real-life stories gathered from innovative missional projects from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and England. These spirited experiments of Gospel community serve to point out just how varied a genuinely incarnational approach to mission can, and indeed needs to, become. They present vital nodes of missional learning for the established Church as it seeks to orient itself to the unique challenges of the twenty-first century. [hide] TITLE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IMPORTANT: This is a 2 title set! Please be ready to blog about both. :: Special Viral Blogger Section :: Link-love for your review: http://www.theforgottenways.org/blog/ [1] - Alan's blog http://www.forge.org.au [2] - Michael's main initiative http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQL1JeYxGeo [3] - Hirsch on YouTube Interview Availability: Alan and Michael are available for blog and podcast interviews. You'll get their email addresses if you select the missional two-pack for your monthly review. Your Commitment: Remember, your commitment is to write a blog post (minimum 50 words) about the missional two-pack within 30 days of getting it. Yes, you can write a single post about both this and Exiles - though you're welcome to write two! Please copy & paste your post right here, below! Thank you! [/hide] [1] http://www.theforgottenways.org/blog/ [2] http://www.forge.org.au/ [3] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQL1JeYxGeo

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