Pastorlenore's Blog

Hot off the Presses!  The newly released book by Greg Mortensen, Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan continues on where his first book, Three Cups of Tea, left off.  Join our group in reading and discussing this fascinating account of one man’s mission in seeking peace and justice through education.  A limited number of copies are available at the church, or you can purchase one (best price around) on Amazon.com.

It is interesting to hear the different opinions of Shane’s book as it pertains to your personal history and experience.  Those of various generations view it a bit differently.  I have enjoyed your posts.  Keep posting.  While I agree that he is a bit of a “hippie,” I appreciate his heart.  Shane has a real compassion for the poor (sometimes at the expense of the wealthy, though).  Jesus was definitely more radical, but Shane certainly makes you think of some ways that we can think “outside of the box” as we consider how we might minister to those in our community.  Hope he sparked some ideas.

Wow!  I have begun re-reading Shane’s book (its been over a year since I first read it), and I had forgotten how radical (but accurate) he is in his assessment of the established church.  He reminds me of what I am called to be as a follower of Christ and what I am to be proclaiming as a preacher and how I am to be leading as a shepherd. 

“But then you start to think there must be more to Christianity, more than just laying your life and sins at the foot of the cross.  I came to realize that preachers were telling me to lay my life at the foot of the cross and weren’t giving me anything to pick up.”–S. Claiborne

Don’t get me wrong…I’m not anti-church.  I’m just excited about us learning how to BE the church rather than focusing on trying to DO church or COME to church.  I do believe that is what Jesus had in mind, wasn’t it??  Anyone care to respond?

Okay, things were kind of slow in December with the holidays and busy schedules. I hope many of you were able to read THE NOTICER and enjoy an easier but thought-provoking book.

Time to get back into the swing of things, though. We have done a number of mission-oriented books in the past months, and they seem to have really been well-received by those who have been part of our group. Something to make you think beyond ourselves. I’m going to stretch you a bit more this month. I would challenge you to read Shane Claiborne’s book The Irresistible Revolution with an open mind. Shane is very mission-oriented, too, but on a very different level. He is about being in mission right where we are at….not the normal view of missions. Start reading and let me know what you think. I expect this one will spark some conversation.