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The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories. By Christopher Booker.
Buy in US, Buy in UK.
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After doing some research on preaching and speaking at the Emergent conference about it, one thing I came across was the plethora of books that talk about the need for story, and narrative preaching. What is missing from most of them is what is the nature of story, not their brief but an important question. What is story, how do we tell them, how does it relate to life, and growth and emotion, language, metaphor, meaning, pyschology?So I stumbled , literally onto this book. The premise of the book is that there are only seven basic plots for any stories, but this book is so comprehensive in overviewing that and the nature of story, it is a must have for anyone who says, ‘we need to preach through story’. A synopsis is in the continuation section below.
Continue reading »
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Post Rapture Radio: Lost Writings from the Failed Revolution at the End of the Last Century , by Russell Rathbun
Buy in US, buy in UK.
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Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson
Buy in the US, buy in the UK.
————————————————Two great books on my desk at the moment. Both exposing the problems of the church facing our culture, but in very different ways. If you want something funny, satirical, and a good yarn, then get Post-Rapture Radio. In Post-Rapture Radio, the narrator finds a mysterious box containing the sermons and journal entries of a genuine, unvarnished American character the Reverend Richard Lamblove. I still think our english Rev Tony Bold, of Bolds Fold, is funnier, but it is told as a series of cartoons.
Gilead is something very different. 24 Years since her last accalimed book, Marilynne Robinson has released this one, and it has already won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. This is a book about a father who is a preacher and son of a preacher, who was the son of a preacher writing his memories and thoughts to his young son, before he dies. It is simply mesmorising, and astounding in it’s depth, and beauty. The regrets and the learnings of an old pastor powerfully expose the intersection of faith and culture. There is a great review at the Guardian
Both books are great, and maybe you don’t see the intersection between the two, but for me they have been two very different approaches and are a great contrast to each other.
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A few of us on the international co-ordianting group have been planning the roll out and concept for an Emergent International site. We have so many people connecting and meeting as part of Emergent around the world, we want to make a space where they and others can more easily connect.- The site will be called amahoro: the website for emergent international. Amohoro is an African word that means peace (amongst other nuances)
- The front page will have a short statement defining “emergent” in as many languages as we have participants, along with an introduction to amahoro, telling the story behind the word and our reasons for using it. Our hope is that the African word would have the effect of reminding people of the West and East – both of which tend to neglect our sisters and brothers to the South – that we’re reaching toward being a truly global conversation.
- International co-cordinting team will be on the site with photos and contact info.
- As we try to avoid the mistakes of colonialism, we hope this will give all the right messages, i.e.
“This isn’t all about us,” and “We’re partners, who need to listen and learn for others, not just do all the talking.”Amahoro is the word of peace in Rwanda (site of the 1994 genocides, which were ignored around the world) and Burundi (the 3rd poorest country in the world, where similar genocides have also occurred) and Eastern Congo, where up to 3 million have been killed and hardly anyone notices. As well, Burundi and Rwanda are two of the countries with highest church attendance rates in Africa; so, tragically, horrible genocide and poverty have not been averted by the modern, colonial understanding of the gospel. Intertwining the story of emergent with these stories will remind us of what we’re about – seeking postmodern, postcolonial ways of understanding and living the gospel of Jesus – in ways that lead to justice, compassion, and peace.
So keep your newsreaders and bloglines peeled, we’ll let you know when this is finalised.
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Now this is not a rant, nor a baching of Rick Warren (I like the man, and value his impact on the church), but would you all help me with something?
Back in 1992, I heard a prayer made by a pastor in south africa, who was martyred not ling after he made it, read out at a conference at the Vineyard Church, Anaheim, LA. The words are below.
Now Rick Warren has a puspose driven covenenant statement launched with 30,000 people at a stadium, and now online and going all around the world, that they have copyrighted. Is it me or
does it sound like the south african martyrs prayer?I e-mail pastors.com and got no reply. I guess as much as I like rick Warren, I can’t bare the thought of this inspiring prayer being passed off as his, and I wish they had credited the original source.
But I could be wrong, so take a look, let me know, and if you see a similarity maybe you could gently em-al them too, and ask them to qoute the source.Here is link to Rick Warren’s covenant statement, and the original prayer is below fro comparison.
———-A Martyr’s Measure of Commitment
“I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.
I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colourless dreams, chained visions, worldly talking, cheap living and warped goals.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up or let up until I have prayed up and paid up for the cause of Jesus Christ.
I most go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear!â€
Source – Black Pastor in South Africa, martyred early 1990’s.
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Maria Bjørdal from the Norwegian Lutheran School of Theology (which has aparently 45 professors and 1,000) students and Morten from Sub-Church in Norway came back with 20 students, to our palce this last sunday, and we got to spend some talking church emerging church, Emergent and youth work.
So good to see them again, I just wish it could have been longer.
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Our church community has many spaces that we connect in, one of them is a sunday congregational space. Last sunday we shared together about the life and death of Jonny Devial.
If you have been following my blog, Jonny was one of a twin (he has a sister who is doing well), born at 25 weeks, some 15 weeks preamture, and he went to be with jesus on his due date.His short life, has had such an impact on our community, and he will remain part of our story, and we will retell it.
You discover your real theology at times like this, and here is ours from last sunday if it is any help to you.
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One of the most thoughtful articles I have read about criticism of Emergent and the larger Emerging church, has come from Stephen Shields over at Next Wave, here.In fact it is one of the best pieces I have read on how to, and why we need criticism. Thanks Stephen.
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Andrew Jones: The Grilling of Brian McLaren
On May 9, Brian McLaren, a leader within Emergent Village and identified strongly with the emerging church, has agreed to come on this blog to answer some questions about hell and his controversial book, The Last Word and The Word After That: A Tale of Fatih, Doubt, and a new Kind of Christianity. You can ask Brian your questions and he will be answering throughout the day. I may also interview him at Suddenly Seminary.Some blogs that are picking up the conversation about Brian and hell:
Theocentric
Theologica
Who else is talking about it? Links please . . .
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The main/plenary sessions from Worshipl, Art, Liturgy and Preaching in the Emerging Church will be available from download here at the USA Emergent Site soon. Check out the other downloads there too.
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Another great session tonight by Rober Webber on what we can learn from the early church for the process of disciple making in our post-modern context.
My notes are here
