by Lon on November 9, 2008
If anyone’s up for film & coffee this friday, The Ordinary Radicals is screening at the Bloor Cinema at 7:00pm.
Let me know if you’re interested.
The film features interviews with: Becky Garrison, Shane Claiborne, Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, Rob Bell, John Perkins, Brooke Sexton, Michael Heneise, St. Margret Mckenna, Logan Laituri, Zack Exley, Aaron Weiss and our very own Brian Walsh.
Get tickets now by clicking here.
Here’s a quick synopsis of the film:
In the margins of the United States (and Canada), there lives a revolutionary Christianity. One with a quiet disposition that seeks to do “small things with great love,” and in so doing is breaking 21st Century stereotypes surrounding this 2000 year old faith. “The Ordinary Radicals” is set against the modern American political and social backdrop of the next Great Awakening. Traveling on a tour to promote the book “Jesus for President”, Shane Claiborne and a rag-tag group of “ordinary radicals” interpret Biblical history and its correlation with the current state of American politics. Sharing a relevant outlook for people with all faith perspectives, director Jamie Moffett examines this growing movement.
As Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw write in the book, “This is not a set of political suggestions for the world; this is about invoking and embodying the alternative. All of this is an invitation to join a peculiar people- those with no king but God, who practice jubilee economics and make the world new. This is not the old-time religion of going to heaven; this is about bringing heaven to the world.”
The Ordinary Radicals – Trailer from Jamie Moffett on Vimeo.
by Lon on October 15, 2008
Today’s blog action day.
Poverty, what do you think? Where do you fit in it all?
Last Christmas my wife and I experimented with funding a few differnet organizations in place of presents for one another.
We bought a goat through World Vision, which sounds cool, but I have no idea what that Goat is doing right now. We decided to partner with Food for the Hungry for child sponsorship. I like how they state upfront you can actually meet the child you sponsor.
My favorite organization yet has been Kiva.
Through Kiva we’ve been able to continuously re-microfinance different families all around the world. I love reading about the different ways entrepreneurs in the two-thirds world are lifting themselves out of poverty – everything from selling vegetables, recycling goods, and making clothing.
With all the places we can donate money to in mind, I believe Shane Claiborne once said something to the effect of how churches and these organizations can be reduced to distribution centers. Where the poor get their stuff, and the rich feel a bit better, but in the end no one is deeply transformed.
Poverty. What do you think?
by Lon on September 7, 2008
I’m working my way through Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw’s Jesus for President right now. It’s especially interesting in light of the presidential campaigns right now.
The book is a phenomenal read. Not quite as random as Irresistible Revolution, but just as powerful.
Jesus for President is a project in renewing the imagination of the church in the United States and those who would seek to know Jesus. I love quotes like this:
A great paradox and humor of God’s audacious power: a stuttering prophet will be the voice of God, a barren old lady will become the mother of a nation, a shepherd boy will become their king, and a homeless baby will lead them home.
The book walks through the narrative of the Scriptures with a political, grassroots lens from the margins. It’s such a contrast from how I was exposed to the biblical text early in my Christian journey. I’m encouraged on every page and feel honored that I’ve inherited such a wonderful Story as I read it.
The biggest thing with the book for most will probably be the packaging. Each page is uniquely designed and arranged. It definitely appeals to the senses. My only problem is I love writing and underlining throughout all the books I read, and this one is just too beautiful to mark up.
by Lon on January 7, 2008
Some authors that I read (and respect), seem to be at their very best when they’re critiquing the church.
And they’re often right, much of the church is not in good shape right now and we do need to be able to name and own up to our weaknesses.
At the same time, we need to remember that the church is still the bride of Christ and she has been beaten up enough as it is.
One quote I love from Shane Claiborne goes along the lines of…
let’s stop complaining about the church that we see, and set our hearts on becoming the church we dream of.
What do you have to say about that?
The day I finished up a 30 page church planting proposal, I began digging into Shane Clairborne’s book The Irresistable Revolution. Two days later, I finished it and was wrecked and questioning all the visioning, plans and, strategies I had jotted down regarding church planting.
I was humbled and reminded that very few of us are capable of doing truly great things, but every one of us can do simple tiny things with great love (to paraphrase Mother Teresa).
Here are some resources I’ve tracked down regarding Shane, The Irresistable Revolution, and the New Monasticism in no particular order
Jesus for President – Shane’s new book, tour
Shane Claiborne at urbanministry.org on Becoming peculiar people
Audio
Potter Street Records
Steve brown interviews Shane
audio
Michael Harren – conversation with shane claiborne
* Video on the recent kensington fire that burned down the simple way community center
The simple way – home page (You can donate here to support the families that lost their homes as well)
Audio message by Shane Claiborne on Building the Kingdom with non-Christians here
Segment on The New Monastics from Speaking of Faith Public Radio – writings, interview, and music
Another world is possible
Article on The Simple Way from Busted Halo
Article on the new monasticism from Christianity Today
Video of Shane Claiborne on the Gospel as a way of life – A model for urban ministry
Darryl Dash blog on Shane’s session at the evolving church conference
Audio of Gospel as a way of life
Video of Shane Claiborne at Youth Fusion
Site for Ordianry Radicals
Shane Claiborne’s journal from his trip to Iraq
Shane interviewing Tony Campolo
Interview on Finding the Simple Way from WittenburgDoor
Audio of Shane Claiborne speaking at Trinity Western University
NewMonasticism.org – Schools for conversion
Word and the world
The Relational Tithe
Sermon by Shane Claiborne at La Salle Street Church 2006 here
Shane Claiborne at Mars Hill on “Finding your Calcutta” here
Relevant Interview with Shane Claiborne and Jamie Moffett
