January 2012
5 posts
November 2011
6 posts
3 tags
1 tag
2 tags
“When it comes to bulls**t, big-time, major league bulls**t, you have to stand in...”
– George Carlin
October 2011
11 posts
5 tags
Irritating Church Promotion
Last year my wife and I attended a local church to satisfy a neighbor who was concerned for our soul. Nevermind that I had told him about my life filled with ministry; he felt that since my church didn’t meet on Sunday I should go to his. Or it didn’t count.
He is a nice old man so we went to see him sing in the Christmas choir. This church is a church I would have been happy with...
3 tags
Occupying Wall St. and Posting Pentecostals,...
2 tags
Posting the Pentecostal Altar Show!
I don’t like the idea of a pentecostal preacher promoting his church with social media by posting the altar show. It is disrespectful.
Many readers will think the videos we find online are hilarious, ridiculous, or creepy. I don’t care about that so much. Pentecostalism works for some people and good for them. The problem comes when these folks are having a very intimate moment in...
1 tag
Our first podcast in a while, and we’re...
1 tag
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round...”
– Steve Jobs (via blua)
1 tag
“I have NO tolerance for assholes of any belief system…”
– @ericbrooklyn
2 tags
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
I’ve always thought that using Cheers as a model for a church plant would be pretty brilliant.
Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you...
imag0dei asked: Interesting username...why are you so against Christians?
September 2011
5 posts
1 tag
1 tag
1 tag
1 tag
1 tag
January 2011
1 post
2 tags
Am I perpetuating a white boys club?
What can the church, especially those with emerging flavors do to be more accessible to women? I know this has been talked about a lot, but this conversation really means something to me right now because I see a need in my own community.
The women are not taking away, and many times not caring, about the content of our discussions.
Currently we rip apart the scriptures, attempt to examine the...
September 2010
2 posts
1 tag
3 tags
“I’ve been in church my whole life, but the first community I feel a part...”
– Ashley Cobb
August 2010
2 posts
3 tags
Learning the Torah on One Foot
I had heard this story a long time ago but had forgotten about it. Illustrates a great point. We have similar things we say today; for me there is something about hearing a thing with fresh words. Even when those fresh words are really old. AT another time the heathens wanted to make fun of the Torah, and of the rabbis. They asked one another: “Are all rabbis as kind as, Hillel? Are all...
2 tags
Why I Haven't Been Writing about Christianity
For a while I have not written on CVC, read Christian blogs, or watch twitter. There is so much venom and I’m just no longer interested in arguing; and it always comes to that. Very few conversations have led to actual thinking and wrestling about theological or practical issues. Grandstanding, positioning, and winning have become too prominent and I am not interested in being a part of...
June 2010
1 post
3 tags
Wrong Question
I used to applaud myself on how open I was. I loved the odd, strange, and social outcasts. Perhaps I was identifying with people like myself, but I thought I was some sort of evolved Christian with special prophetic insights.
Maybe I was; because I knew something still wasn’t right with this gospel message ministry church thing. It wasn’t working for me or anyone else who was being...
May 2010
2 posts
3 tags
Our Own Language
Disclaimer: I like to goof on things; even things I do and am a part of.
I’ve often accused the church of using language at no one else understands. We have phrases, terminology, and inflections that convey meaning to a very small group of people.
Aware of that, we have tried to use different language to convey meaning while accidentally forming a new version of the thing we...
3 tags
My Reconstruction
I recently saw Brian McLaren at a conference. Among other things he told us that it is time to start constructing. For a long while we have been deconstructing the church. It has been happening weather the one doing the deconstructing was emerging, reading some Calvin, or hanging at a seminary somewhere becoming more confused.
It has been a fun bit. I’ve been all over the place. At one...
3 tags
Kathy Escobar at #trans4m
Quotes from Kathy Escobar at East Coast Transform
@kathyescobar
“my friends can’t go to most churches”
“The kingdom of God is a bunch of misfits.”
“The kingdom of God is not pretty to the untrained eye.”
“If you want to see my church, come hang out with us during the week.”
“this is a path of downward mobility”
“There...
3 tags
Bible Drinking Game
In an effort to encourage you to read your bible, I present the Bible Drinking Game. The Bible is full of funny, disturbing, and repetitive events. Take a drink of your favorite beverage anytime to come across one of these events. For the sake of moderation, and those who do not drink at all, I suggest espresso shots.
Drink every time:
Jesus has a reason to roll his eyes at the Pharisees.
...
November 2008
2 posts
1 tag
Watch
2 tags
How I Got Here
Earlier today I came across a friend online that I haven’t had the chance to hang with in this decade. It is always interesting to see how a friend’s life has changed and even how much I have changed during this time. Back in the day we were all in youth group together. We saw each other every few days, went on trips, and everyone was really close. This is the same experience most...
September 2008
1 post
Disney and White T-Shirt Jesus
For some inexplicable reason I find myself watching the finale of Disney’s High School Musical: Get in the Picture. This is the reality show that finds squeaky clean talent for Disney to exploit in it’s made for television movies. It is overly sappy and corny with over-the-top choreography. You know, those expressions that are usually just flailing arms and an scowl. Then they talk...
January 2008
2 posts
1 tag
Punching People in the Nose and Taking Their...
By Jones
Alright, I just read Nahum, one of the prophetic books of the Bible, not even five minutes ago, so this is straight-up initial reaction. I’d like to expand on these thoughts later on, but I thought I’d write something down real quick just so I don’t forget it.
There’s a lot about the nature of our God revealed in the first little bit of Nahum (and it’s a...
2 tags
St. Jerome Loved the Ladies
by Jones McCalister
I was driving home from a birthday party tonight. I was thinking about women.
As I continued driving, I got to thinking about St. Jerome.
How did I get from women to St. Jerome?
Like this.
St. Jerome was the man who translated the Bible into the Latin Vulgate. When in Rome, perhaps before he converted to Christianity, Jerome saw some very sexy women dancing a very...
October 2007
1 post
The Weak Links
I walked in her office. Close to tears, she tells me of her horrible day and the pressure of her job, the expectations that she could not cope with from her boss, and the reasons why the leader of the organization did not understand her own directions. She went on to explain that she continues to pray for guidance and strength to get her to tomorrow as she choked backed tears.
Some people...
September 2007
1 post
First
First.
July 2007
1 post
1 tag
Books and Grapefruit
Every once in a while you run into a person who recognizes a problem, and solves it. This weekend at the call, there were a lot of these people, but the one that I will remember is that generous guy waiting in line.
Someone is always passing something out at these events. Usually it comes in the form of flyers, cheesy books, and cards for Christian resources. If I would have thought about it, I...