Pursuing Kingdom;
stumbling toward life in the full
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Chlorine Preference
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Book Recommendation; After You Believe by N. T. Wright
The premise of what N.T. Wright sets out to do in After You Believe is best summed up in the subtitle, “Why Christian Character Matters”. This is a fair and honest question that deserves the 280 pages that Wright dedicates in exploring this question. In a world of propositional faith within western Christianity, (Problem? Sin! Solution? Jesus!), this question seems to beg us for an answer. One may be surprised by the direction that Wright takes this premise. You will not find a list of do’s and don’ts. Instead, as a seasoned archaeologist uses the finest tools and due diligence to uncover an ancient civilization, Wright too uncovers the New Testament world in relation to Christian character.
Wright argues that Christian character is not something that can be accomplished in rules and laws. Yet, Christian character also cannot be accomplished by spontaneity of the heart either. (You may find forms of this ongoing/polarized conversation in many churches today). What Wright does propose is an active aligning of ourselves to the unfolding story in God’s kingdom. As we do so, our character, or virtue, will be shaped by our hope for a resurrection. Wright points to faith, hope, and love along with the fruit of the Spirit, to give a frame work that will allow “virtue” to flourish.
What do we do after we believe? If you are like me the pat answers to this question have never sufficed. Some say we should wait for heaven and bring as many people with us. But is there more? Are we just here for good behavior and a shared morality? If these questions resonate with you, then After You Believe is an excellent starting point for a proper framing of purpose within the context of virtue.
-Dan Jones
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Addison Elizabeth Jones, a Big and Fancy Moment
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Win an Advanced Copy of Ron Martoia's New Book, Bible As Improv
Monday, December 7, 2009
"The Bible as Improv", by Ron Martoia, An itch worth scratching
The nagging feeling of an itch, it just doesn't go away until you give into its urge. It demands our attention and response on a timely manner. But what if you are unable to locate this itch, let alone define it? You may be very aware that it is there, but what if you couldn't pin point it's exact location? Perhaps you can find it, but the scratching itself is not helping, but in fact, it is making it worse.
If you find yourselves with an "itch" when you engage the Bible, I would highly recommend this book. I have truly found hope within the possibility of faithful improv of "script-ure" within my community and in my context. My hope is that many more will read this book, embrace this new hope. "The Bible as Improv" is truly an itch worth scratching.
- Dan Jones
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Drops Like Stars; Review of Rob Bell's New Book
In many ways this book invites further exploration and further questions. Pat answers will not be found, and the ending does not provide any resolve with any modernistic satisfaction. If you are looking for a typical book experience, this may not be the type of reading for you. However, if you want to interact with something that invites a deeper learning experience this may be something to look at, if for no other reason that it does look very nice on a coffee table.
-Dan Jones
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free by The Ooze Viral Bloggers in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”