The Carpenter's Workshop

2009-02-10T10:17:00.006-06:00

I have a friend who is doing a research project for ABS. The following are statements that he is researching. It would be of great help if you would respond to any or all of them!

Biblical Authority?

The biblical text has authority when it makes lyrical connection with the rhythm, song, and dance of everyday life.

Biblical Authority comes from a communal reading and practice of the text

Special revelation and General revelation are equal in authority

my (individual and community) understanding of the text has as much authority as any other
the Bible is not the only sacred text

Bible Engagement?

I (individual and community) contribute to the text as much as the text contributes to my life

The text is now engaged from a nomadic/technomadic culture not primarily an agrarian culture

There are other sacred texts that are valuable and lead to a spiritual life and to the Christ

Narrative text has authority over propositional text. Propositional text is interpreted in the context of the narrative text.

2008-11-06T08:35:00.003-06:00

I have just started reading Unchristian by David Kinnaman. It speaks of why people outside of the church do not have a desire to attend church. Words like judgmental, know-it-all, and cold are mentioned. What is it that keeps your friends from attending? How about doing an informal survey and share with us your findings?

2008-05-09T21:25:00.003-05:00

Wow! It has been a long time since I have posted ... SORRY!

I just finished a book entitled "The Shack" by William Young. The day before I finished it, Chuck Colson sent an email verbalizing his discontent for the book. I have great respect for Colson but must admit that I cannot dismiss the book so easily. I am convinced the reason for the disagreement is due to the clash between the way postmoderns and moderns view God and how Christianity is to be practiced. Young's book oozes with grace, love and relationship. The problem with this for Colson is that it is done at the expense of God's holiness as understood by modern orthodox theology. God (the Father) is personified by a large African-American lady known throughout the story as Papa. She introduces the reader to a love relationship that seems, in all reality, to be the undercurrent of the whole of the Bible. But ... it screams in the face of orthodoxy.

Take time to read this book ... and then I would like for you to post what you think!

2007-08-20T09:28:00.000-05:00

In an article in the Outreach Magazine entitled "What if I Stepped out of My Comfortable Life ...?", Mike Yankoski tells of his experience living with the homeless. In the article, Mike writes ... "First, I learned that the Church's purpose must be to love God and your neighbor. One day in San Fanscisco, Sam and I hadn't eaten the night before or that morning, so we walked to a nearby church hoping to get some help. The pastor there told us: "That's not what we do here. We're here to worship."
If you were to rate the church you attend in the area of reaching out to the lost community ... not only with the "Good News" but with good works ... how would the rate? Any specific suggestions?

2007-03-06T08:05:00.000-06:00

Is the Heaven in which God now lives (but not restricted to) a permanent Heaven? Is it eternal or only temporary?

2006-11-14T11:12:00.000-06:00

James Emery White writes in his book A Mind for God ... "There are many other ways that the media leads us in our feelings. One of the most powerful is through repetition ... putting certain alternate choices or lifestyles before us over and over again. Eventually we become so desensitized to reality and the truth that we accept those choices and lifestyles as normal. If the repetitive behavior is exhibited through a character that is particularly likable, influence is all the more great. Sexual behavior is a prime example. MTV is often criticized for the incessant sleaze of steamy programming aimed at young people. The critics are not being unreasonable. During a single week in March 2004 the Parents Television Council (PTC) recorded 3,056 flashes of nudity or sexual situations and 2,881 verbal references to sex on MTV. Beyond sexual content, the PTC said it recorded 3,127 instances of "bleeped" profane dialogue and another 1,518 other instances of unedited rough language." (p. 70)
What kind of influence is the media having on the Christian community? What kind of influence is the Christian community having on the media? What do you think?

2006-05-24T07:47:00.000-05:00

If you are not aware of the Da Vinci Code ... you must have your head in the sand! So here is my question ... Do you think the book/movie will actually hurt the Church ... help the Church ... or have no effect whatsoever?

2006-03-07T19:30:00.000-05:00

It has been a month plus since I have logged on ... sorry! Life has been a whirlwind for the last couple of months! It has been good ... but extremely fast paced. I have been teaching "Philosophy and Christian Thought" at IWU for the last 5 weeks and have had some great students! They have done well stretching their minds and thinking about things they have never thought about before!

A question has been plaguing me as a result of some of those discussions. Some philosophers believe that we learn from experience ... and experience only. Everything we come to know we do so through our five senses. Sooo ... if that is the case ... how does that affect our "Knowing God?" Can we know God other than through 'experience?' Is there an innateness about our knowledge of God ... or ... is it strictly experience?

2006-01-25T21:37:00.000-05:00

Think about this ... for those who are believers in 'original sin' ... if life begins at conception ... not birth ... Does that mean that a child in embryo state is a sinner? ... If so ... if that child is aborted ... does the child go to Hell?

For you who do not know about 'original sin' ... those who believe in this theology believe that people are born with sin in their lives rather than sin nature ... or the tendency toward sin. Most of those churches believe that a baby needs to be baptized as quickly as possible after birth to prevent them from being condemned. What do you think?

2006-01-09T13:56:00.000-05:00

What do you think Leonard Sweet means when he writes "worship is not about style; it is about spirit"? (Post-Modern Pilgrims ... Sweet ... p 95)

2005-11-10T10:35:00.000-05:00

In the Christian Church Today ... J. Rada posted "An article came out last week in the Los Angeles Times that says that, in a recent census, Los Angeles County has 90,000 homeless. It is really appalling when you go Downtown. It is literally overwhelming. When you go to, say 7th and San Pedro to pass out clothing or whatever, you quickly get completely overrun. All the while the suburban churches nearby are preaching a "gospel" of how to be fulfilled in your career, in your relationships, and are inventing the elevendy-twelfth worship style.Go figure."

Does Rada have a legitimate complaint? Are many of the churches focused on the wrong things? OR ... could it be that there is room for both? Should the church be more 'social oriented' or 'spiritual growth and saving the lost' oriented? Can there be one without the other?
Let's hear from you ...

2005-08-20T01:36:00.000-05:00

It is 1:30am and I have had too much caffeine! So ... since I am up ... I thought I might pass on something I read today and get your thoughts ... (Actually I guess I read it yesterday now that it is 1:30).

D. Michael Lindsay was the author of the article in the September/October 2005 issue of Rev Magazine entitled "The Huge Increase in Interest in Spirituality - and How to Respond" (p 26). Here goes ... He says that in 1994 ...when asked "Do you feel the need to experience spiritual growth" that 52% said they did. In 1998 ... just four years later ... the same question was asked and 82% said they did. Lindsay suggests that the internet is an overwhelming cause of the 30% surge in desire for spiritual growth. He compares it with the outburst of spiritual growth in the 15th Century largely effected by the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg. Do you think he is on to something here? Why would the internet be so influential in spirituality?
So ... what are your thoughts?

2005-03-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

In an interview printed in the February issue of Science & Theology News ... Michael Lodahl says "Frankly, I simply would not find myself religiously motivated to seek, let alone to love, a God who is not near at hand, living in all things, giving life and breath and being. I think I have found that too many people in our churches seem to imagine God to be ... and I hate these phrases ... "the Man Upstairs" or "the Big Guy." We need to think of a God who is much bigger, as well as much nearer, than those unfortunately popular images." What does this say to the times when God seems so far away ... no where to be found? Does love cease ... only to return when 'God returns?'

2005-02-22T12:53:00.000-05:00

I have been reading a book titled "If Grace is True" by Phillip Gulley. In the book he suggests that all of his Bible interpretation is to be first based on his own experiences. His experiences say that God is a God of grace. Since there are portions of Scripture that displays God as a God of justice ... and those are not consistent with his own experiences ... then those portions of Scripture are false. They are not inspired and should not be included in the Bible. What do you think?

2004-11-03T11:37:00.000-05:00

The country has cast her vote. The news just announced that Senator Kerry is going to concede at 1:00pm Eastern Time. My questions are these:
1. Do you think the outcome was strongly influenced by the 'moral issues' that were on some of the state ballots?
2. Do you think the candidates' personal religious beliefs had anything to do with the outcome?
3. The news media mentioned several times last night the words "megachurches" and "evangelicals" and inferred that Christianity was more Republican than Democrat. Do you think this was a slap in the face of Democratic Christians? And if so … what can the church do to encourage them?

2004-08-04T08:56:00.000-05:00

Wow! Am I ever embarrassed! It has been over a month since I was last in the "workshop." That is certainly not a good thing and I apologize! But ... I am back and have a thought for you to consider. A dear friend of mine ... Joe Myers ... has written a book concerning 'belonging.' He was speaking about the thesis of the book at a meeting yesterday and brought up a very provoking question. He explains that relationships are classified at four levels ... Public ... Social ... Personal ... and Intimate. Here is the thought provoking question: What if all of your relationships were at the intimate level?
What's your thoughts?

2004-06-07T08:23:00.000-05:00

Andy Stanley ... in his book "Like a Rock" ... speaks of going to a funeral and sitting down to hear the speakers only to find out that it is your funeral. The speakers include your spouse (if married)... one of your children (if there are any) ... a co-worker ... a neighbor ... and a friend. Andy asks what you would want to hear those people say about you. Wow! What an introspective thought! I am interested in hearing some of your responses ...
What do you think?

2004-05-13T12:15:00.000-05:00

Sorry I have not blogged for several weeks! But I am back ... and here is the thought I want to examine ... I gave my life to Christ when I was 10 years of age (a few years ago). I was raised in a Christian home from day one. I do not know anything but being connected to Christ and His Church! I am very fortunate! But here is the question that then arises ... Why do I need the Church? I have been a part of the Church for so long that I make assumptions that may not be clear at all to the pre-Christian ... I am old enough to remember the "Jesus Movement" and their basic philosophy of Christ and the Church ... to put in a very few words ... "Yes to Christ ... NO to the Church" I obviously don't buy into that philosophy ... BUT ... Why do I need the Church?

2004-04-13T17:02:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a 'Doctrinal Dialogue' between the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ and the Church of God held at Anderson University. There were some phenomenal minds there ... and then there was me. The subject of dialogue was 'holiness.' It was extremely interesting and informative. I certainly know my brothers in the Church of God better this evening than I did this morning. Enough of that ... I am sure that is boring stuff to you! Let me ask you this ... can a person be saved through the grace of Christ and not live a holy life? Does salvation involve holiness?

What are your thoughts?

2004-03-29T09:45:00.000-05:00

Darrell Bock wrote an article entitled The Good News of DaVinci ... How a ludicrous book can become an opportunity to engage the culture (Christianity Today, January 2004). In that article he writes "Many Christians have become so worked up in the cultural war metaphor that they risk losing the ability to engage the culture at all. ... The popularity of both the book (The DaVinci Code) and the TV special (Review of the book) points to our culture's continuing fascination with Jesus. And even when that curiosity borders on the perverse, we need to be engaged in the conversation ... whenever the topic of conversation comes up - talking about the real Jesus in a constructive way."
I wonder ... How much like culture do we have to become in order to lead those of this culture to Christ?
And I wonder what Paul really meant when he said "I become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (I Corinthians 9:22)
What are your thoughts?

2004-03-22T22:54:00.000-05:00

In Sunday's Anderson Herald Bulletin (March 21, 2004) was an article entitled "Jury Finds Lesbian Pastor Not Guilty" (page A3). It stated that a jury of 13 Methodist pastors determined that even though Rev. Karen Dammann was found to be guilty of homosexual practices ... her acts apparently did not go against their Book of Discipline ... nor against Christian teachings.

What are your thoughts?

2004-03-16T08:23:00.000-05:00

Thom Rainer ... in his book Surprising Insights from the Unchurched ... writes that only 55% of the ministers in America believe that absolute truth can be found in the Bible. It is obvious that relativism has not only permeated the American culture but has infiltrated the Christian culture as well ... including church leadership. What is right or true for you is not necessarily right or true for me.

I wonder how relativism influences the effects of the cross event? Is Christ sometimes the Sacrificial Lamb and sometimes not? Does the blood sometimes save and sometimes not? Was the cross at times necessary and at times not? Is it all just a matter of perspective?

What are your thoughts?

2004-03-11T22:56:00.000-05:00

“Islam will be the most widely practiced religion in the UK by 2020, according to British and Muslim magazine editor Sarah Joseph.
She says mosque attendance is expected to outstrip church attendance over the next 16 years.
Estimates suggest that anywhere between 10,000 and 50,000 people a year convert to Islam in the UK, which is currently home to approximately 1.8 million Muslims.
"We are the second largest faith in Britain and will be the largest practicing faith in Britain by 2020 if you use church and mosque attendance as a measure," she told the Gulf Daily News.” (The Ooze)

I wonder what it is that is drawing so many to the Islam faith. It is a faith of works … if you don’t make it to heaven … it is your own fault. And Allah … the God of Islam … is a God of indifference … not a God of love and compassion. I wonder what draws someone to this?

What are your thoughts?

2004-03-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

We are finally up and running with the features we need. You can now respond with your comments by simply clicking on comments and filling in the blanks and adding your thoughts. Hope to be able to invite you into the workshop soon!

Internet is certainly an interesting thing! I finished working on this site last night about midnight (I am not sure I have the time set right on this site though) ... within an hour Chris was on the site! It is neat to meet new friends so quickly! Welcome to the shop Chris!

I certainly see this as a added avenue for fellowship!

Whats your thoughts?

2004-03-09T09:45:00.000-05:00

It is absolutely amazing to me that we can communicate with anyone in the world (providing they have internet) through our computer. What an exciting avenue that has been opened for us as Christians. We can actually 'do church' from our homes 24/7. Am I suggesting that internet churching will replace the local body ... no ... but it is certainly going to enhance it! We can fellowship with each other on our own time. We don't have to limit our fellowship by dropping everything and running to the local building at a preset time to communicate our love and compassion with each other. We can actually do it right here! So ... that is the inspiration behind this new addition to our ministry. Thanks to brother Bill for his encouragement to consider this approach to church in cyberspace!

This site is under construction so you will see some helpful changes soon!!! You will be able to respond with your comments on this site ... and read others' comments as well! I apologize that this is not already a feature. I am a new blogger and just learning the quirks.

What are your thoughts?