Pride of place goes to Tod E Bolsinger’s touching testimonies of churches working through the season of rebuilding in Southern California.
Dr. James Emery White’s thoughts on “The World Without Us” book. Another of his I found thoughtful was his post entitled, “The Mark of a Christian“. He’s professor of Theology and Culture over at Gordon-Conwell.
There was an interesting read at the Catalyst Blog on “Five Reasons Why Churches Cannot Ignore Branding“
Art Boulet’s been doing an interesting series on Matthew’s use of the Prophets (01; o2; 03)
JollyBlogger reviews “The Christians as the Romans Saw Them“.
Dan Wallace has a nice post on Textual Criticism 101
Mark Dever talks about what it takes to have a healthy Church
Daniel Kirk has a brief muse on Richard Hays thoughts on 1 Corinthians and where our identity is found.
Paul Wirth of Relevant Church, Tampa, Fl has an interesting piece called “Sacred Church“.
If you haven’t read Todd Hiestand piece on Missional Suburbia you should, several helpful contextual lines drawn within it.
Brad Brisco’s blogging through Trevor Hudson’s book, “A Mile In My Shoes”.
Eric Volz knows what’s the number one pole issue in our voting, BSSSSSSSSSSS, now that’s funny!
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October 27, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Rick
I’m a little uncomfortable with the emphasis on “branding” in that link. If a church wants to change an element to be effective, fine. But to make such a deal about it is of concern.
At a time in which many in the church are taking on the problem of consumerism, this branding mindset only hinders that progress.
Are we to be Christ-centered, or church-centered?
October 27, 2007 at 3:10 pm
setsnservice
Rick,
Interesting point, what does cultural accomodation look like in a consumerist society? More attention to ecclesial “branding” than attention to displaying clearly and cogently the person and work of Christ to the lost.
That being said, something in the genre of ‘business strategic analysis’ should weigh in on what we’re expecting from Chris as an author here. I think his piece does its job, it sets our clearly as a reminder to all that the broader church has been branded by the outsiders, that each local church has an established if somewhat shifting brand it offers to outsiders as they met the church for their first time. And that the brand question is not an end in itself. Reading the piece as charitablly as I can, at least for myself, I found help in it. BUT, the danger of accomodation, would have generated for me as a writer of it, a reason to say clearly in the close and hold as an assumption, that Christ is ultimately who we want to present – perhaps even more clearly, “ourselves as a community In Christ”.
Still I hope you’ve gained something from it…
October 27, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Rick
It’s a balance issue. What is being prioritized.
I like your site.
Thanks.
October 28, 2007 at 12:47 pm
brad brisco
Tony, thanks for the link. I really enjoyed Hudson’s little book. BTW thanks for your great review of UnChristian.
October 30, 2007 at 12:41 pm
setsnservice
Rick thanks a lot
Do you have a blog or MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, etc?
Brad, I have enjoyed your first two reviews, I’d been wanting to read it