The Worship Artist » Church

If this comes true, are we ready?

James — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:12:08 +0000

If this comes true, are we ready?

At some point in the twenty-first century, Christians in Africa will become more numerous than Christians in any other single continent & more important than ever before in articulating a global Christian identity in a pluralist world”

Kevin Ward (found in quotations from the book “The Changing Face of Christianity” edited by Lamin Sanneh and Joel A. Carpenter, 122).

Will our Christian-Western-centric pride be hurt? Are you ready to start reading commentaries, theology books, and take church advice from Africans? Sometimes I think we can be more racist that we realize.

We know things are not how they should be

James — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:19:51 +0000

Our DNA seems to know that it is wrong for babies to die, for disease to pillage our bodies, for government to abuse those they are called to protect. The earliest literature we possess speaks of humanity’s quest for immortality. Humanity somehow knows that it should not die, even though in all remembered experience humanity has died. And this sixth sense is not restricted to those who believe. No, all of the sons of Adam and daughter of Eve somehow know that Adam is not what they were supposed to be, that there is something profoundly wrong with the world as it is. I believe this sense is evidence of the residual presence of the image of God in humanity. The image is broken and marred, but it remains. And it is this aspect of humanity that recognizes the “wrongness” of this world and continues to cry out for the world as it should be–Eden.

The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. Richter

Are you a church or a club?

James — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:53:36 +0000

Sunday Set List – May 24, 2009 #sundaysetlist #fb

James — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:50:25 +0000

Cue Sheet

Sunday Set List – May 17, 2009 #sundaysetlist #fb

James — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:46:32 +0000

Cue Sheet

A Forward by Sally Morgenthaler

James — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:32:36 +0000

Who would have thought a forward in a book would stand out to me so much. Here’s Sally Morgenthaler in the forward to Dan Kimball’s book, “Emerging Worship:”

When it comes to irony, worship in late twentieth century evangelicalism takes the prize. Just as the world was reenchanting the universe (think Deepak Chopra, The X-Files, candle-and-teddy-bear grief vigils, Final Fantasy video games, and Lord of the Rings), user-friendly Christianity was practicing religious reductionism: shrinking the divine to the size of a three-point outline and four songs in the key of perpetual happy.

New Calvinism

James — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:23:56 +0000

Time magazine lists their top 10 Ideas that are changing the world right now. Coming in at number 3 is “New Calvinism.” Check out Pastor Mark Driscoll, he has some great thoughts on Time Magazine’s article on New Calvinism:

1. Time Magazine Names New Calvinism 3rd Most Powerful Idea

2. More Thoughts on Time Magazine and New Calvinism

Do You See?

James — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:06:57 +0000

Missional Worship Gathering?

James — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:18:39 +0000

In the goal of being “Missional”… I want to hear from you. Should a church’s worship gathering be Missional? If so, what does that mean and look like?

On the same lines… should the style (music, graphics, and over all feel) of the church reflect the culture and age of that which is currently in the church, or who they want to be and reach?

Just hashing some things out on my own.

On a side note: Check out Wikipedia if you don’t know what the term “Missional” means.

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church?

James — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:56:00 +0000