To me, this is the heart and soul of Designer Jesus. Let us see if we can out-love Jesus. Golden coin—“This is the greatest commandment. It has two sides, but it is all one” (p. 457).
“Faithful Disobedience,” by Wang Yi
... for pastors, their glory is not in their accomplishments nor even in their lives but rather in their investment in the church and in Christ, what will live into eternity (p. 162). Yi called it when he told pastors to get over being afraid of losing their jobs. That is earthly kingdom thinking, not heavenly kingdom thinking. I can see Yi saying churches must be public proclamations of freedom in Christ, for the sake of Christ and for others. This is what really living, fully living means, and to live under another's thumb (whether that is Satan, the Chinese Communist Party, or the pressure of public opinion, etcetera) is only partly living.
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“Unreasonable Hospitality,” by Will Guidara
It is the culture of the staff, I am learning from his book, that has made the difference, and I think that is a direct corollary to churches. Relationships are hard but simple, relationships are everything, relationships are what last into eternity, because, in the end, it is only people, only love, that endures.
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“Jesus Human,” by Leonard Sweet
This book, taken as a whole with all its many conversations and observations laid next to each other in mindful contextualization, brings meaning. It is experiential, becoming its own metaphor for the fractals and diversity of every Jesus human, and the Body of Christ. I deeply appreciate being taken on this journey in this way.
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“The Patient Ferment of the Early Church,” by Alan Kreider
Patience Habitus (reflexive bodily behavior),the development of habits based upon the teachings and worship of the church Catechesis and worship,involving personal mentors and discipling The ferment of God’s invisible power, the Holy Spirit at work in each believer’s life
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“So Beautiful,” by Leonard Sweet
It is not religion and reason that go together, but religion and relationship—atoms alone do not make up the universe, but rather atoms in relationship with each other, held together by the weak force. Leonard Sweet, So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and the Church, 104–105
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“Changing Signs of Truth,” by Crystal Downing
Stories sweep us up and out, stories help our hearts and minds to focus. When we are thoroughly in the "now" of a story, we long to risk the next step, to write the next chapter, and follow where this story is going to take us.
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Guest Post: “On Textual Mastication and Being a Sommelier of the Scriptures”
Brad Sumner is a pastor in Canada, and a student together with me in Portland Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program in Semiotics. In our program, we read lots of deep and heady books, then comment on them to each other in a weekly forum. In the following post, Brad ruminates on wisdom garnered from Jean Leclerq's The Love of Learning and The Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture
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Another Happy Choice: Hard Work
The deeper the relationship with the Lord, the more you and I will find peace in our thoughts about ourselves, our satisfaction in life, our general happiness and our ability to weather distress. Flowing out of our committed relationship with the Lord will come a commitment to other believers who are one with you and me in the Holy Spirit.
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Happiness: Ninth Choice, Truthfulness
It is important for you and me to know what we believe and keep integrity with those beliefs while at the same time show grace and generosity of spirit towards others who do not see things the way you or I might. Consider how closely the authors’ following counsel parallels the apostle Paul’s instruction on unity within the body of Christ.
