Sometimes I need to just learn to keep my mouth shut, you know. Now I see I made Scot McKnight's blog for 'lobbing bombs' at the emerging church. Man... I don't want to be known as the guy who doesn't like the ec (can I emerge from this?).
For those of you who know me, you already know it has more to do with me just bein' a complainer. So I repent. I'm going to start looking at things more positive (from the ground up). I need a change of perspective (and I'm trying, but first I gotta get my head outta my...).
Last night Jane and I were at Friday Nite Live at Jefferson Pointe in Fort Wayne. Chris Dodds and Mike Conley were doing an acoustic show. During their version of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" it was kinda one of those... "God moments", you know. Everything just felt "right." The stars were all lined up. THESE are the things I need to concentrate on; take notice of more. I took a picture of the moment - maybe I'll post it later.
Anyway, I'm going to try to quit making excuses; stop whining & complaining. I say I want a revolution. And it needs to start here.
Peace, friends.
3 comments:
"Now I see I made Scot McKnight's blog for 'lobbing bombs' at the emerging church. Man... I don't want to be known as the guy who doesn't like the ec (can I emerge from this?)."
Dan, I've been catching up on your prior blog posts as well as everyone's comments. Fascinating! I bet you wondered: "who would have thought?"
Over the past few years, I've noticed a lot of sensitivity over negative observations related to the emergent/emerging church by the EC crowd, and see it as not all that different than the sensitivity found among those within the institutional church who "react" when EC'rs point out the flaws and failures of the IC (please forgive the stereotyped designations).
Many of your commenters have already pointed out that labels and titles and such run contrary to the emerging "values" being embraced, but as I believe Jami pointed out in response to one of your posts -- the term covers a very broad spectrum of beliefs, practices, and values. We're constantly having to "define" what we mean.
Preconceptions seem to be the "stuff" of increasing difficulty within the "conversation". The "emerging movement" continues to be villified by many fundamentalists, and I'm finding it is becoming more and more difficult to have meaningful dialog with them.
George Barna Jr. does not seem to be well-respected by many emerging church leaders I know, but it's difficult to ignore the scores of "revolutionaries" he has interviewed and written about -- most of whom are clueless as to what the word "emerging/emergent" even means, but who have nonetheless been radically pursuing lives as followers of Jesus, outside of traditional church expressions. This is a reality, I believe, that Christians will have to wake up to, regardless of where they stand in relation to the whole emerging/emergent conversation.
Sorry, I didn't mean to be so verbose. Just wanted to encourage you and say that I'm glad that you haven't burried your head in the sand, or "kept your mouth shut".
By the way, it was a common reader (http://openconversation.blogspot.com/) of both our blogs who suggested some common ground exists between us and that I should check out your site. I'm sure glad I did, and plan on checking in regularly.
Blessings.
DP (Chris),
Thanks for the comment. I'm certainly familiar with your blog (I just keep gettin' more freaked out all the time). Yeah, you could say I'm thinkin' "who would have thought." :)
I can understand the sensitivity over negative observations, and I feel bad that it seems I leveled some. It's kinda funny, and really sad, but I've seen my "famous" post used as fuel on a couple of anti-ec websites. And I'm not anti-ec AT ALL. But that doesn't mean there aren't some problems. Had I known somebody was going to read my blog, I might have said things way different. My bad.
I'm also certainly not upset with Scot for linking me on his Saturday post (quite flattered actually). I don't know him other than having exchanged emails once, but he seems a great guy. I'm hoping everyone realizes I write with a great deal of sarcasm (not about Scot being a great guy, but, you know, some of the other stuff). I think you can relate. :)
You know, that Barna paragraph really says a lot. I wish there was a way we could do away with the labels and whatnot, but I understand it's not possible, and it actually can be helpful. But labels should never negate the command to love others (that's a Christian sorta thing, right?). I just have a hard time with all that. I guess I'm a bit "hyper-sensitive."
Well, I'm also rambling. So, thanks again for the encouragement and insights. Yes, Robin left some very nice comments on some of my archives.
peace, brother.
dan h.
Man, the blogosphere blows my mind! I'll post on some of the current stuff soon, Dan. It's summer...three kids at home...I do it in pieces (and always manage to read WAYYYY more than I write. Glad Chris took my advice ;)
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