Teapot Theology

You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.”

Arthur Plotnik

“Church is the textured context in which we grow up in Christ to maturity.” Genius!! What a compelling (and complicated) invitation!!

“So, why church? The short answer is because the Holy Spirit formed it to be a colony of heaven in the country of death” (p11-12).

The church, Peterson says, is those people who practice the resurrection of Christ in the country of death.

Sure, he admits, the church isn’t all it seems it should be but he makes this observation: “Maybe God knows what he is doing, giving us church, this church” (14). Peterson thinks Ephesians gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what church is.

“Sometimes we hear our friends talk in moony, romantic terms of the early church. ‘We need to get back to being just like the early church.’ Heaven help us. These churches were a mess, and Paul wrote his letters to them to try to clean up the mess” (p16).

“And what comes clear,” in this letter to the Ephesians, “is that church is not what we do; it is what God does, although we participate in it” (p17).

But “we don’t read Ephesians as a picture of a ‘perfect church’ to which we compare our congregations and try to copy what we see. Rather, we read Ephesians as the revelation of all the operations of the Triune God that are foundational beneath what is visible among us and at work throughout each congregation. This is what makes us what we are, however imperfectly or neurotically we happen to be living it out” (p17-18).

from Petersons, Practice the Resurrection

Rote & Pettigrew author, A 40-Day Spiritual Gameplan for Men which hits all the main themes for men today:- Living Life in the Zone contains many of the basic elements we have come to expect from 40 day devotionals books, like short easy to read chapters, real life examples, though provoking questions, and daily homework. While it could get lost in among other devotional books I believe the strong content directed towards men make this book a must read. Living In the Zone deals with all of the stressful things in a man’s life and puts them in perspective by seeing how all of these issue relate to our personal walk with God.

My favourite parts of the book were Day 30 “Living Up to Your Potential” and Day 36 “Fighting the Battle.” They were real encouragements to me. Another aspect of the book is that not only does it talk about what a godly man looks like, but also what it takes to become that man. Hopefully, you find this devotional as thought provoking and inspiring as I did, despite the across-the-pond translations needed at times! Great for all men!

“The single most important thing to understand in spiritual theology is that it is not about theology … it is a cultivated disposition to live Jesus.”

Christ Plays in a Thousand Places by Eugene Peterson

Boy meets girl. They talk. They laugh. They fall in love. Little do they know what’s going inside their brains. Dr. Earl Henslin explains some of the latest findings in brain research and how brain imbalances can have a bad affect on your love life in his newest book, This Is Your Brain In Love. With stories from his clients as well as scientific research, Henslin pinpoints five common types of lovers and offers tips and solutions. This book seek to unravel the secrets of proactive passion and it’s helped me realise (already!) where I get it wrong and am unclear with Julie. It calls each to bring their healthiest, most balanced and joyful self to the relationship.
Dr. Henslin speaks to the vital connection between spirituality and sexuality. He identifies the five types of lovers. Filled with relatable stories and humour, this is not your boring brain book! Engaging and practical, Dr. Henslin provides an amazingly accurate, scientifically-based brain test to help spot typical brain imbalances. (And yes, most everyone has at least one!) There is a lot of sage advice within these pages with a potent conclusion majoring in kindness, patience and forgiveness.

As Goethe said, Love does not dominate: it cultivates!

Pacey, Compact, Innovative and Engaging…..
2159AD by Craig Borlase is in essence, an introduction to Church History, and a warm and wise serving of prophetic insight as to the next century and a half dv!

There is a unique accessible guide to whats been and whats likely. If you don’t know any Church history it’s a great canter through most of the story. And it’s a really-thought-provoking take on where we are now, and where we go from here. I inevitably enjoyed Craig’s sketch as to what may be more than even what is past, but that says more about me…..!!

I hope it gets large applause and a wide readership: one of my best 2009 reads. Craig, Well done on a great write – I loved it!

Well, it’s that time of the year where people share their “best of” lists…. and I’m a real sucker for these! I’ll likely post a couple myself but I thought I’d start with the somewhat predictable book nominations!! It’s interminably difficult for me to answer with one or even three, of my best reads in the year past…(its also intentionally a diverse list) excluding a couple of novels read! So here’s my simple question,…. and then my answerssssss!

* What was the best book you’ve read this year?

Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconnelli, Dissident Discipleship by David Augsburger, Feel by Matthew Elliott, Angry Conversations with God by Susan Isaacs, A Permanent Becoming by Alan Mann, The Beautiful Life by Simon Parke, Dying to Live by Clive Calver, Leading on Empty by Wayne Corderio, The Starfish Manifesto by Wolfgang Simpson, Anything by Fredrick Buechner!! The Prodigal God by Tim Keller and 2159AD: A History of Christianity by Craig Borlase.

oooooops and late remembering… an epic-read: Re:Jesus by Frost & Hirsch…. don’t miss this one!

Gutsy Craig-observations as we anticipate 2010! A review of his ancient-future (brilliant) book is a-coming….!

A typically-moving-&-brilliant write-up about the unavoidable-Copenhagen-convention by Tim: consider him a poetic-soul-tourist here….! May love always win-out-over fear!

A perennial question: resourced and released by church;- Do Christians spend too much time at church? Great article….

George Verwer’s free book – OM’s mission-father-figure, here’s his new book for the download…

Themed leadership lessons outside of the context of Christ:- based around the pattern of the year past……

Seth Godin’s creativity is top-class;- here’s a freebie: words and smart imaging together, which is always a winning combination for me!!

Here’s a great link to summarised frugal living: cheap and yet ohhh-so-quality!!

And at risk of over-doing it for (free!!) book referrals: Gary Thomas is giving away his new offering, on an immensely important topic of pleasure: seeking to answer the question;- Why do Christians feel so bad about feeling good?!! This freebie’s just around till the 1st of January so get there quick!!

We have a capacity to complicate Christianity. Jesus simplified it with one commandment: Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Primal Mark Batterson explores the four elements of Great Commandment Christianity: compassion, wonder, curiosity and power. Along the way, he calls Christians to be a part of God’s reformation, starting in their own lives.

“Is there a place in your past where you met God and God met you?” asks Batterson. “A place where your heart broke for the things that break the heart of God? In that moment, God birthed something supernatural in your spirit. You knew you’d never be the same again. My prayer is that this book would take you back to that burning bush—and reignite a primal faith.”

Batterson says that that moment may have been during a sermon, on a mission trip or at an altar, but regardless of the time or place, a return to a primal faith is essential to all believers. According to Batterson that primal faith will lead Christians to a new reformation, an overhaul of the way they love God. “Reformations are born out of primal truths rediscovered, reimagined and radically reapplied to our lives,” he says. And the importance of rediscovering the need to love God with all that we are can’t be measured. Primal will help readers live in light of what matters most and discover what it means to love God, becoming great at the Great Commandment.

Admittedly, I hoped for more substance based on the brilliance of Batterson, great depth and longevity in the journey to loving and honouring the very heart of God. It’s a helpful catalyst to loving God and renewing our roots. I did long for greater impact. The anticipation exceeded the reality!