On the Golden/Bell book, I would re-think about whether it’s pointing to the Love of God. You can certainly see God’s heart for the oppressed which in turn gives us eyes to see too. And if you haven’t taken a bird’s eye view of the Scripture in a while, it’s a good refresher.

The book is not as inspiring as NOOMA with the music in the background and the conversational quick edits (I’ve only seen a couple of NOOMA, so that’s all my experience with it)… This book is just a different kind of format.

On the Golden/Bell book, I would re-think about whether it’s pointing to the Love of God. You can certainly see God’s heart for the oppressed which in turn gives us eyes to see too. And if you haven’t taken a bird’s eye view of the Scripture in a while, it’s a good refresher.

The book is not as inspiring as NOOMA with the music in the background and the conversational quick edits (I’ve only seen a couple of NOOMA, so that’s all my experience with it)… This book is just a different kind of format.

I have a book at home by an professor from India who does historic work to show that the reasons for some similarities between Hinduism and the teachings of Jesus is because Thomas influenced India.

Many of the Hindu teachings were not codified until after the time of Jesus, he claims. In fact, many of the hot-beds of Hinduism in India, he says, were actually hot-beds of the church in Thomas’ day. And Hinduism (originally an animistic religion) assimilated it, like the way gnosticism assimilated it.

I appreciate the feedback. I hope you can make it to the convention next month.

I have a book at home by an professor from India who does historic work to show that the reasons for some similarities between Hinduism and the teachings of Jesus is because Thomas influenced India.

Many of the Hindu teachings were not codified until after the time of Jesus, he claims. In fact, many of the hot-beds of Hinduism in India, he says, were actually hot-beds of the church in Thomas’ day. And Hinduism (originally an animistic religion) assimilated it, like the way gnosticism assimilated it.

I appreciate the feedback. I hope you can make it to the convention next month.

I have gotten one question regarding Gandhi and the teachings of Hinduism to Christianity.

The question went something like this: Aren’t the principles Gandhi followed (simplicity, faith, nonviolence, and truth)very similar to the teachings of Jesus?

Is Gandhi in heaven?
How could Gandhi not go to heaven when he followed such firm principles that mirrored Jesus’ teachings?

Did Jesus get His principles from Hinduism since Hinduism has been known as the oldest world religion and with the oldest sacred texts?

I encouraged the student to look at the Hindu religion and to compare and contrast the teachings of the Vedas/Hinduism to the teachings of the Jesus.

So we are still in the process of figuring out his series of questions. I am not going to lie, it was a great question. Obviously this student just studied Gandhi in history class.

I often wear a field jacket… now I’m feeling nervous! /

And, yes, we’ll be in Sacramento for the NYWC. I’m part of two workshops: one I’m doing alone on emerging questions of youth and the other shared with Jonalyn on youth workers and gender.

You going?

Got any new questions students are asking that I can consider using for my seminar?

I often wear a field jacket… now I’m feeling nervous! /

And, yes, we’ll be in Sacramento for the NYWC. I’m part of two workshops: one I’m doing alone on emerging questions of youth and the other shared with Jonalyn on youth workers and gender.

You going?

Got any new questions students are asking that I can consider using for my seminar?

thanks for the response. i am back. i was on vacation and i have been slowly getting back into blogging.

investing in the local art, local talent, and local music is a huge way to stay true to the grass roots.

i am also annoyed with bell’s followers. seriously at fuller, many of the 1st year students were there only because rob went there. no lie they would wear the classic military type of jacket with the squared glasses frame. needless to say, they dropped out by second quarter.

will you be at the youth specialties conference in Sacramento?

I have no beef with Bell. (I may be more annoyed by his followers who wear similar clothes and similar glasses… but that’s not Bell’s fault that others have an identity problem!) Bell is doing his thing and I’m glad he’s using his gifts and that people are finding a Jesus worth following. You are right, he’s a translator like many of us, trying to engage the culture.

As for grass roots becoming mainstream, we know it can be done. You work in a church where that is done (and it’s the best example of a church doing it anywhere that I know of). It isn’t exporting. It’s using local talent and local gifts.

While isn’t Bell’s fault, per se, many of the NOOMA videos are used in church services all over the place. This is exporting and diminishes the local giftedness of a congregation (with movie-making capabilities on every iMac sold, there are many who are eager and ready to jump at the chance). This is the same with all the exported Bible study programs (a la Beth Moore) that discourages local teachers to develop their own material.

I don’t know Bell’s story either, just bits, and am unsure what his original ambitions were in starting his church, etc. My wife has been to his church and she said it is slick, the loud music, the lights. She said it was still innovative and creative. Yet from all the descriptions, it still sounds mainstream. The very format. And this is without evangelical marketing machines. It is something the locals decided to do. They decided to mimic the slickness of mega-churches in other places. At some point, someone decided to get a bigger space. Someone decides to have electro-pop performances. Someone decides to be slick. Someone decides to look mainstream. It doesn’t happen by accident.

And I think it can be avoided, even nationally. Claiborne does it. It’s hard to create a popular commune in poor neighborhoods. When that becomes popular, we might just see the Third Great Awakening.

When I look at folks like Dick Staub and Gregory Wolfe and Alan Jacobs and the Little Church by the Sea, I think of unslick efforts to make quality that changes lives beyond the craving consumerism of the popular culture. While there is a larger audience of pop-culture folks craving to be met in that medium, one day they may wake up out of it and wonder why all the spiritual candy wrappers on the floor.

I’m with you… reading thoughtful creatives with original thought is a great place to be… and to hang out with others who do the same. And maybe one day we’ll write creative original things too.