ok so there are still a few bugs in my site that i hope to have fixed by monday or tuesday, which include my comments; category links, technorati tagging and a few others (let me know if you spot any)
but at least you know i exist!

my blog hasn’t been up for 2 weeks because ragemedia sucks; don’t ever use them as your host. I am now with net firms and happy about it.

the site is up again as you can see, and soon the conversations will be going as well. thanks for your patience; i’m excited about adding content again.

This is a SNL commercial about a firm that was slow to get a web presence, so they had to settle for clownpenis.fart, the only remaining available domain name. read more | digg story

In light of my current reading of Exodus i thought i would share a quick thought. First a passage from Exodus 26 which is describing the design of the ark of the covenant:

1-6 “Make The Dwelling itself from ten panels of tapestry woven from fine twisted linen, blue and purple and scarlet material, with an angel-cherubim design. A skilled craftsman should do it. The panels of tapestry are each to be forty-six feet long and six feet wide. Join five of the panels together, and then the other five together. Make loops of blue along the edge of the outside panel of the first set and the same on the outside panel of the second set. Make fifty loops on each panel. Then make fifty gold clasps and join the tapestries together so that The Dwelling is one whole.

i really love how the writer of Exodus makes it obvious that a person in an area of skill relevant to building should do the work. And then later on in Exodus 35:

30-35 Moses told the Israelites, “See, God has selected Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He’s filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and know-how for making all sorts of things, to design and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to carve stones and set them; to carve wood, working in every kind of skilled craft. And he’s also made him a teacher, he and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He’s gifted them with the know-how needed for carving, designing, weaving, and embroidering in blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics, and in fine linen. They can make anything and design anything.”

This is my request of Pastors and church leaders to allow those in your congregation to use their gifts. Sometimes as leaders we think it’s our job to do everything. Sometimes it’s because we aren’t busy enough, or because we need justification/approval that we work hard enough; whatever the case, i hope the church of this generation will employ those from the community of God to use their gifts as much as they can. If you are not busy enough maybe you should get a part time job. If you need justification/approval maybe you should get an entirely new job. I am not saying there isn’t a role for a full time pastor, or even a pastor who is skilled in certain craftsman skills (although that isn’t the point), but not for a full time do-everything pastor. just my thoughts

Inspired by Jordon and this list here is my contribution:

1. The Search to Belong – Joe Myers
2. • It is important to have a good understanding of how people learn. This book is critical for not jumping in too deep with your model.
3. Fire and Ice – Michael Adams
4. • I am a strong advocate for an understanding of context, and this is the best book i have found on the differences between the Canadian and American context, specifically because how much we use American material in our Canadian church plants.
5. Good to great – Jim Collins
6. • A good understanding of business practice is important for adminstrative parts of church palnting that can get lost in the passion of it all.
7. Simply Christian – NT Wright
8. • What is church planting with a relevant apologetic for today’s unchurched? NT Wright combines the importance for credible witness with spiritual formation.
9. Summoned to Lead – Leonard Sweet
10. • The best leadership book i have found and advocate it to all those who want a more diverse leadership structure that doesn’t have the pastor or planter doing it all.

Special consideration:

• Out of bounds church – Steve Taylor
• Velvet Elvis – Rob Bell
• anything by Brian McLaren

I am reading through The Shaping of Things to Come and I have come across an interesting chapter on a new sacrament…the sacrament of good deeds. Our church generally acknowledges the sacraments of the Lord’s supper and Baptism, but i never thought of the sacrament of good deeds. Basically Hirsh and Frost look at the basics of sacraments (as pointers to God’s goodness and grace), and then guide into the discussion of works in that same regard.

Just as the Lord’s supper and baptism are sacraments in and through which God’s grace is made visible and apparent, so is the holy deed of a godly person. (136)

I have to say I like where they are going with this. Just as baptism is an announcement of God’s goodness publicly and is not necessary for salvation, in the same way the Lord’s supper is an exercise of acknowledging God, deeds have a role in this regard. I am not sure where i am going with this, but it is interesting to think about.

Yesterday our church got back from our retreat in White Rock at Camp Alexandria. It was an incredible time of reflection and connection, and some good realization. We were able to see how everyone has come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences with Christianity and that it will take time to re-build much of what has been deconstructed or will need to be reconstructed in their faith. This is a good place to be because it is at times of weekness that we become strong and can move forward. We talked about how maturity for this church will involve being okay with the faith process and how different the process will be for each individual. I want to post some pictures in the near future, and as well give some more musings from the weekend, but for now i will say it was a success and i look forward to doing more of these in the future.

Unckyle Originally uploaded by jongoody.

Some of you wondered how the baby dedication went, so i thought i would post this picture and let you know it went great. I really enjoyed performing it, and Fran and Jon were very encouraging to me, as I know the day was to them. Roxanne was a beauty, behaved amazingly and looked great in her little dress. feel free to follow the link to more pictures from the day.

A fellow resonater and church planter, from my town of birth (hamilton) wrote a nice little post about some of the realities of church planting. I have to say I don’t know too many people in Canada who pursue pastoring or church planting for fame in the world. But i do get his point in light of the whole christian subculture.

I just spent a little bit of time trying to catch up on my bible reading by reading the first 9 chapters of exodus. Something that stood out from my reading of the plagues was Pharoah’s constant need for “evidence,” followed by “proof” by moses, in turn followed by “rejection” by Pharoah and the cycle continues. Does this connect at all with anyone in the same way we tend to put so much power in apologetics? We think in our churches that if we can prove it, then people will accept it. But even with Pharaoh that never was the case. In fact when he demanded evidence, and moses gave him proof, it caused him to reject more. Ok, i understand that this is a very different situation, but let us at least think about it. How many people do you know that are just in need of the right answer? Or proof that God exists? I am sure you would say lots, but i think if we really built friendships and knew our friends that would be the case. My hope is that the open house doesn’t become a place of mere answers and proof, but a place of true community, authenticity and practice of the Christian spirituality we hold so dear for people to desire to not demand more proof, but a place to connect and belong.