The latest from the shift happens folks. With much more of a technology and social media bent.
What do you think?
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Posts tagged as:
network
We live in an age of networks.
Most of us know that we can’t do anything truly visionary on our own. And if we can, our visions are likely too small. The internet (which is only about 4000 days old) has accelerated our capacity to network with one another.
The internet allows grassroots tribes to come out from nowhere, upending established institutions. You’ve seen this with the Obama comapaign, and you can see it in the rise of new church networks and associations as denominations decline.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve been sensing a rapid land grab for the church network of the future. “Church networks” brings up over 3 million hits on google. Rick Warren says he wants to create the ‘network of networks’, as with many other visionary leaders.
In techie terms it’s the platform. Microsoft Windows is a computing platform, google is an online platform, you could say facebook is a social networking platform. The biggest and broadest rules them all.
There are many advantages to a common platform or network. The economies of scale, standardized best practices, and phenomenal impact. Imagine if David Yonggi Cho of the 830,000 person Yoido full gospel church in Soul Korea asked every person to pick up one piece of trash each that day?
What’s astounding is that at the very foundation of these massive Christian networks, is just one man.
Sometimes I find it hard to tell if our networks are simply reflecting Christ’s heart for unity… or if they’re pyramid schemes of influence?
May the biggest network win…? What do you think?
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An article out of Christianity Today has been stirring some buzz – R.I.P. Emerging Church
Supposedly Dan Kimball, Erwin McManus, and Scot McKnight are starting up a new missional network that will have it’s orthodox theological foundation based on the Lausanne Covenant in an attempt to get away from the emerging/emergent labels.
It’s amazing how in a world that disdains labels how many labels we keep coming up with.
From Tom Sine’s Emerging, Missional, Mosaic, and Monastic;
to Mark Driscoll’s Reformed/Relevants, Reconstructionists, and Revisionists;
to Scot Mcknight’s Prophetic, Postmodern, Praxis Driven, Post Evangelical, and Political;
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…
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I’ve got a few ‘projects’ in the works that I can use some help with…
If you, or someone you know, can help with any of the following contact me.
- I’ve got two web startup ideas that I don’t see being done that would help advance the kingdom – I’m looking for interested individuals with web programming skills.
- I’m hoping to throw a party towards the end of summer… a little Solar Crash Bash… all proceeds going to a water-related cause. If anyone knows of good venues in Toronto or better yet has hook-ups for good deals please let me know.
- I’m also looking for artists of all kinds. I’ve got musicians to magicians lined up… but the more the merrier. Do you, or someone you know, have some latent talent you’d love to share with the world?
- General networking. right at this moment in my life, I’ve got some time for it. For those of you who know me, or follow along on the blog, is there someone you know that you think I should meet, in person or virtually? These days I’m really interested in new expressions of church, community development, the city of Toronto, simpler living and spirituality, the future of the church and planet earth… but really any good conversation will do for me these days. Pop me a message.
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Since I’ve joined facebook, I’ve been horrible with making the most of the connections I’ve established through it. I’m backlogged in replies, and friends I haven’t spoken to in fifteen years, well, I still haven’t connected with them, though we’re now ‘official’ as friends.
I declare this Sunday December 30th International Facebook Day. I’m going to dedicate a chunk of my time on it and see where it goes. It’s long overdue and I don’t exactly have pressing deadlines at the moment. Maybe you should do the same!
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Mark Batterson of evotional/NCC is reverse gifting and giving out free copies of his new book (In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day) to church planters for his birthday.
You’ve heard latest craze of Chuck Norris jokes. Chuck responds. (Thanks Albert)
Zaadz a new social-network gathering those who intend to change the world. I think it’s got potential. Join! Here’s mine.
Ode Magazine – Magazine for intelligent optimists, who also intend to change the world.
Zooomr Photos keeps developing and has just upgraded their pro accounts to 4GB/month! Get a pro account free here. Here are my sets.
Things really aren’t looking good for Ted Haggard. I hope I’m wrong but I can’t say he looks convincing to me on the video clips. Mark Driscoll writes some good thoughts on the matter.
Update: Looks like the decision’s final on the NewLife church website.
Here’s an excerpt from Ted Haggard’s wife Gayle that I thought was very powerful.
Dear Woman of New Life Church,
I am so sorry for the circumstances that have led me to write this letter to you today. I know your hearts are broken; mine is as well. Yet my hope rests steadfastly in the Lord who is forever faithful.
What I want you to know is that I love my husband, Ted Haggard, with all my heart. I am committed to him until death “do us part”. We started this journey together and with the grace of God, we will finish together.
If I were standing before you today, I would not change one iota of what I have been teaching the women of our church. For those of you who have been concerned that my marriage
was so perfect I could not possibly relate to the women who are facing great difficulties, know that this will never again be the case. My test has begun; watch me. I will try to prove myself faithful.
I’m amazed she has the strength to say something like this so soon.
Update2: Audio mp3 message of the sunday service at NewLife Church. It’s loaded with insight in terms of grace, trials, church polity, and discipline.
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