1)  Does this photo inspire you? Trouble you? Convict you?

2)  What role should patriotism play in our worship gatherings?

I've long believed that you can tell a lot about a person by the books they read (or don't read).  For this reason, I've often enjoyed asking incoming ministerial candidates to our denomination about the 2-3 books they've recently read that have had an impact on them (this takes place during their interview by our local Ministerial Education and Guidance board, of which I'm a part).  Their answers are often very telling.

Apparently George Barna also believes there is something to be gained by taking a look at what American pastors are reading (and being influenced by) these days. Barna's recent poll revealed that...

When pastors were asked to identify the three books that had been most helpful to them as a ministry leader during the past three years, more than two hundred different books were listed... Two books emerged as the most helpful of all: The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church, both written by Rick Warren.  Purpose Driven Life topped the list, with one out of every five Senior Pastors (21%) naming it as one of the most helpful books they have read in the last three years.  The larger a pastor's church was, the more likely the pastor was to include this book among their top three... The size of the congregation led by a pastor was related to the types of books mentioned.  Pastors of small congregations not only read fewer books than did pastors of larger churches, but also had more restricted categorical tastes.  Discipleship books were their clear favorite, listed by half of the small church pastors... In fact, small-church pastors were only half as likely as those from large congregations to include The Purpose Driven Life among their influential books...

Pastors of mainline churches were more than twice as likely as their colleagues from non-mainline Protestant churches to cite specific theology books while being less than half as likely to list a volume related to evangelism or outreach....Pastors who lead charismatic or Pentecostal congregations were by far the least likely to include books on theology among their chosen titles: only 2% did so....Pastors under the age of 40, meanwhile, were more than twice as likely to mention books on prayer; only half as likely to include The Purpose Driven Life; and just one-sixth as likely to place The Purpose Driven Church in their top-ranked volumes.  In fact, while one-third of all pastors over 40 mentioned at least one book by Rick Warren, just 14% of those under 40 did so.

What does all this mean, you may be wondering?  Well, I invite you to read the entire Barna study, and tell me what you think.  Barna's own thoughts are quite interesting:

"One of the most interesting outcomes is the different taste of younger pastors," pointed out research director, George Barna, "Given the divergent points of view that they consider most helpful and influential, it seems likely we will continue to see new forms and strategies emerge in their churches.  They lean toward books and authors that extol adventure, shared experiences, visionary leadership, supernatural guidance and relational connections.  If their choices  in reading are any indication, they seem less obsessed with church size and more interested in encounters with the living God.  They are also less prone to identifying the most popular books in favor of those that are known for their passionate tone.  The fact that less than half as many young pastors considering the Purpose Driven books to be influential in their ministry suggests that the new legion of young pastors may be primed to introduce new ways of thinking about Christianity and church life."

Absolutely.  Barna nailed that one.  And I, for one, am thinking that younger pastors are therefore more likely to bring about needed reforms within the church as opposed to maintaining the status quo.  I'm also encouraged that younger pastors also seem to be reaffirming the importance of prayer and reliance upon the Holy Spirit.

So tell me -- what insights, concerns, or questions does this study stir up within you?

The pastoral team from our local Roman Catholic parish invited me and two other ministers in our town to participate in this year's observance of The Feast of Corpus Christi -- celebrated by Roman Catholics and many Anglicans to commemorate the institution of the Eucharist. 

The priest led a procession out to the four corners of the neighborhood, carrying the ostensorium (an ornate cross, containing the Host). He walked under a special canopy, carried by four uniformed members of the Knights of Columbus, and accompanied by several robed assistants, carrying a processional cross, thurible, etc. (note: this photo was the closest representation I could find).

At each corner (i.e. East, North, West, South),  after the ostensorium was placed on a specially prepared altar-table, the various ministers were asked to step forward, cense the cross containing the Eucharistic Host, and then pray toward the direction we were facing. I was asked to pray toward the West, and it was amazing!  I had never handled a thurible before, and felt so honored to have been asked to participate in such a holy celebration. 

The procession finally ended back inside the sanctuary with the presentation of a liturgical dance, before celebrants finally partook of the Eucharist. A handful of people from my church attended with me, but as non-Catholics, of course, we were not able to join them in receiving Holy Communion. But this didn't diminish the significance of what we all had experienced together.

We evangelicals have historically not held all that "high" a view of the Eucharist -- something that many of us are beginning to re-evaluate.  That's not to say we should adopt the R.C. practice.  But I believe that people are hungering for tangible ways to experience Christ, and our meeting him in bread and wine warrants MUCH more attention, teaching and emphasis than -- say -- my own evangelical upbringing provided.

The "catholic" (i.e. universal) Church is a beautiful thing.  And I cherish every opportunity I get to celebrate the amazing way that Jesus brings his body together despite our differences.  I'm also grateful for the growing sense of unity the Lord is establishing among the ministers and churches in our town.  I believe it's starting to reflect the 'kingdom'.

Despite these blessings, many fellow Christians remain bitter and antagonistic toward anything Roman Catholic.  It's possible, I suppose, that my participation at Roman Catholic events (like I also did on Good Friday, speaking on one of the "seven sayings of the Cross"), may alienate some members of my congregation from me -- maybe even leading them to leave our church.

What would you do, if you were me?  Have you ever broken out of your comfort zone and participated in a faith-tradition other than your own?

I was recently interviewed by the Miami Herald in response to my recent post regarding the disturbing film: What the Bleep Do We Know!? (scroll down to second to last paragraph).  The interview, by journalist Alexandra Alter, was very interesting.  I'm often fascinated by how ordinary people outside of the Church think about things, and I'd enjoy hearing your response to Alexandra's piece (registration is required, but free).

I know, I know... my contribution to the article isn't much to sneeze at, but hey! I appreciated the opportunity to be a voice of reason from a traditional Christian perspective (Alexandra, if you're reading this -- thank you!).

For a growing number of people, this kind of church experience suits them just fine.

The effects of an overly individualistic, consumeristic culture?  Or something entirely different?

Over the past year I've often found myself thinking about the emerging church and an element of moral restraint within its ranks.  That's certainly not to say that the lack of  such restraint is unique to the emerging church  -- not at all.  But as institutional church structures have undergone the work of deconstruction, it seems to have bred a new-found freedom that has rejected legalism and embraced self-indulgance.  Alan Hartung receently blogged about this and the wisdom he gained from Todd Hunter:

Todd pointed out that within the evangelical church structure, I had external forces causing me to modify my behavior. With the structure removed, those external forces no longer served to restrain me. But the answer is not to get the structure back. Now, Todd pointed out, I needed to truly be transformed rather than rely on the rules, written and unwritten, of evangelicalism. The goal is to become the type of person who does the right thing naturally, rather than someone who only acts good when the structure is in place.

Have you noticed or thought about this phenomenon?  What's your 'read' on the whole thing?  I'm anxious to hear your thoughts.

Credit (and big thanks) goes to Brian Baute, who highlighted Alan's recent post .

For those who like their worship experiences LARGE...

...And for still others,  the picture above is the epitome of Protestant Evangelical worship.

Thoughts?

The following photo, for many folks, best represents the heart of what protestant evangelical worship is all about:

What do you find affirming or disturbing (or both) about this?

History professor, John D. Roth, recently delivered a stirring lecture in honor of C. Henry Smith (well-known for his many books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition).  Although the lecture was written to the Anabaptist/Mennonite community, I believe it offers a powerful word to all followers of Christ.  Consider Dr. Roth's concluding remarks:

Behind our white-knuckled focus one the "hot button" issues, behind the passions of the Red/Blue divide, is the reality of fear … we live in a culture dominated by fear:

- in the past three years, we have spent nearly $400 billion on anti-terror measures; we have defeated and occupied two countries; we have created a Dept. of Homeland Security; curtailed immigration; transformed airport security systems

… and yet even in the most wealthy and powerful nation on earth, we still live in fear

- every night, the evening news floods us with images of more suicide bombs and the inevitable retaliations, more refugees, more massacres, more self-justifications: we live in a world where hated breeds more hatred, violence begets more violence– with every side certain that it is fighting a Just War; that its cause is on the side of Truth and Justice

- closer to home, liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans have defined the future as US or THEM; our goodness vs. their evil; our Truth vs. their Deception;

In the midst of all this, Christians—redeemed by the power of God’s love—are invited to bear witness to a different sort of reality

In the midst of the pain and division and violence around us, Christians should be holding out to the world a candle of hope

- to be sure, the flicker of that candle might seem tiny and insignificant; it may not illuminate all the corners where darkness holds sway;

… the good news of the gospel offers no promise of political success; there are no guarantees that the Love of Chirist will convince tyrants to put down their weapons … or bring an end to suffering or injustice

… but by holding up the light, Christians bear witness to the world that the darkness of hatred and division will not prevail

… that love is stronger than fear

… that allegiance to the body of Christ comes before all other allegiances

… and that history is ultimately shaped not by human might nor by power but by the spirit of the living God

And so this evening, I invite all of you who are followers of Jesus to be shining examples of the transformative power of God’s love … and may the healing of the world begin with the hard, joyful, work of reconciliation in our own congregations and our own church.

via Dwight Friesen.