First off, thanks Eric for sending me the audiobook for review!
Eric Bryant rocks… for a self-confessing Bald white guy. Peppermint-filled pinatas is a hilarious read, weaving in biblical truths and mostly embarrassing stories from Bryant’s own life – From his many attempts at serving outsiders, to a turning point relationship with his father, and even a lesbian encounter that had me laughing out loud. Some quotes I enjoyed
- the church was still something I had to endure, one of the sacrifices god was calling me to make… - more people see christianity as part of their past rather than as a guiding force for their future - we want to live in an environment where the laws or policies enforce our beliefs and morality rather than engaging a lost and broken world where they live.
The most convicting personal innovation mentioned in the book would be his suggestion of not inviting people to parties, but accepting other people’s invitations as well.
One one level this speaks to us living lives where are presence is desired of course. But on another level it’s about entering a space that we don’t own or control. I expect everyone to attend my parties, but maybe I should take some of the 172 invitations i have waiting in my facebook account a bit more seriously.
Eric tackles moving from tolerance to love, with raw honesty, and redemptively.
Afterall, aren’t a lot of us ‘bald white guys’ on the inside?
to Darrin Patrick’s Emerging Conversational, Emerging Attractional, and Emerging Incarnational…
not to mention other labels/streams like catholic, orthodox, purpose-driven, simple, neo and non-reformed, etc, etc, etc.
It seems every now and a group of us have a need to repackage the thing all over again… and I think we need to, because terms do get old, and sometimes words are necessary to bring greater clarity. However, I think we need to just as much reclaim the labels behind the great movements of the church throughout history as well, and not simply abandon them.
Can’t wait to hear what the latest one will be called…
Our faith community has rebranded our no-church-sundays to Be-the-Church-Sunday, which is closer to the heart of our intentions.
The Scriptures describe the church with living images – a body, a bride, a family, a living temple of living stones. The church is not a building, nor is it simply a gathering within a building. We can be the church wherever we are.
I was sharing with my wife about how the only fear of releasing and scattering our community like this, was how people might reduce it to do-nothing-sunday, and the possibility of zero relationships being forged. Her response was – it’s not like meaningful relationships are developed during a ‘church gathering’ either.
Sometimes I feel deeply saddened that we’ve structured the life out of our church communities. It’s astounding that in a group of people gathering to celebrate the Wounded Healer, people might leave without ever sharing their struggles, or their joys, or their dreams with another person.
The traditional worship service, at times, can be a complete disservice to Jesus and his followers.
What did I do yesterday?
- Played with my daughter and took her to Ikea for breakfast - Had an early lunch with relatives as they wondered why we weren’t ‘at church’ today - Headed downtown and shared life and stories with Alan and Liz - Supported a friend who is launching an intercultural intergenerational church plant – talked to people who were not like myself
At The Nova Experience this weekend… Erwin McManus just spoke on Acts 17. I think this must be the 6th time I’ve heard him speak on it. Still, he manages to keep it fresh and squeeze further insight from it.
A few interesting side remarks he made…
He indirectly alluded to Mosaic being like Rob Bell’s Mars Hill having no money, no marketing, and ten thousand people coming, except they only shared the no money part.
Erwin described himself as becoming a top-tier heretic in the blogosphere with the Jon Gordon story last year.
He also shared about someone who had grown up in church all their lives that couldn’t stop wondering if he was going to heaven or Hell. Erwin told him he should just make a decision and decide he was going to hell… and spend the rest of his days making sure no one else goes with him.
Our community celebrated the resurrection Easter Sunday by a wonderful time of worship and painting.
I wanted to reflect on the Road to Emmaus that morning and Marty had passed me a wonderful idea that I just ran with. In the story, the Scriptures state “Their eyes were opened” when the travelers realize Christ was among them. This can be seen as very much a parallel to Adam and Eve’s eyes being open after eating the fruit. Except rather than opening their eyes to sin, evil, and death, with the resurrection their eyes became opened to life and hope and beauty.
As a community we reflected, painted and shared on what or eyes have been, or might be opened to, if the resurrection were true. Even the ‘older folks’ seemed to really enjoy the experience!
I had planned for people to simply take their tile home after the whole experience but no one wanted to separate their work from the whole. Maybe if we ever get a building we’ll tack it up somewhere permanently.
Though the cross is empty, it’s now filled with all our hopes and dreams… cause He is risen.
This is a collection of resources related to the Mosaic movement out of L.A. It has been a tremendous impact on my life and my visions for church planting.
I’ve got a bunch of other resources (CD’s, DVD’s, etc.) that I’ve bought over the years, that I’m tempted to put up, but I don’t want to infringe on any copyright issues. If you’re in the area, you’re more than welcome to borrow them off of me. All the resources here are just what’s readily available on the web. I’ll try to keep this post updated as I stumble across things. Let me know if you’re aware of others.
Here’s a snap of my wife and I as we visit Mosaic LA (at the previous night club) and connect for a moment with Erwin Raphael McManus
Weekly podcasts Lots of great teleseminars by Eric Bryant with the Origins Project cast Alex McManus on blog talk radio – currently discussing ’strengths’ Exponentional Network 2009 podcast interview with Erwin McManus Mosaic Life in Christ Talk: Erwin on Discipleship Talks and interviews by Eric Bryant with McManus and friends. Interview with Erwin on Christian Work at Home Moms Erwin McManus session at Riverview church’s Big Weekend Eric Bryant on Raising up leaders in Zurich Radio Interview of Erwin McManus by Rodney Olson 2007 Erwin McManus at Upper Room Community on Chasing Daylight James Robinson interviewing Erwin McManus on Soul Cravings and Uprising Off the hook message on prayer by Erwin McManus Jon Gordon story part 2 at Mosaic Erwin McManus sharing about Jon Gordon deciding to follow Jesus Rick Warren’s Podcast innovation interviewing Erwin McManus, Eric Bryant & Ralph Neighbor Erwin McManus on Beauty Beauty at Mozaiek May 2007 Erwin McManus speaking at NewSong on Unmasking Mexico 2007 Interview here with Erwin McManus on the Drew Marshall show 2007 mp3 of Erwin McManus and a Buddhist on life purpose at Veritas 2006 California Baptist Seminary Chapel podcast with Erwin McManus Erwin McManus at Mosaiek Church – A revolutoin of the soul A revolution of the soul Alex McManus on a hitch hiker’s guide to the galaxy a hitch hiker’s guide to the galaxy @ Kensington 2006 Catalyst Interview Catalyst Interview with Erwin McManus 2006 Archived Podcast of Erwin McManus on Leadership Making space for strange things to happen 2005 Erwin McManus Chapel @ California Baptist University 2005 Mosaic Leadership Advance Leadership Advance Message 2005 Erwin McManus – Prepare for Impact Prepare for Impact 2005 Erwin McManus The future has arrived @ Richland Hills Church 2004 C&MA 2004 Council Session 1 and Session 2 by Erwin McManus (both messages are on the second half of the mp3) Parable of the Talents Parable of the talents by Erwin McManus @ Rock Harbour 2002 Audio sermons by Erwin McManus on Meaning, Community and Destiny The Great Commission and Discipleship The great commission and discipleship by Erwin McManus @ Woodland Hills 2002 Erwin on The Fingerprint of God The Fingerprint of God @ The Veritas Forum 2001 Erwin on The Character Matrix Character Matrix @ The Veritas Forum 1999 Odeo - Seems to keep the last 10 or so messages archived from the podcast in case you missed any.
This is a collection of resources related to the Mosaic movement out of L.A. It has been a tremendous impact on my life and my visions for church planting.
