Books

I was encouraged by someone last night that my blog is read-worthy so here's some motivation!

I've also been reflecting on the lack of humility in blogging, the idea that we're so worthy of reading the seed of hope that says billions of people could read about me...
Anyway I've been thinking about humility, judgment, church, and sonship/adoption, if i don't blog some of it my head will start to combust.

In Swaziland my mate Jon gave me the 'Final Quest' to read after him, it's a prophetic vision given to Rick Joyner and as i was a little (lot) anti-charismatic i read a page or three and dropped it as wack-job.
Now older and ahem, wiser I find myself revisiting it at the same time as slowly reflecting through the jack frost on spiritual sonship book.

It's like being cuddled and disciplined at once! But i'm kinda finding out that's what this God relationship things about.
There is so much in Rick Joyner's prophecy its just great, I kept saying to Caroline: "I'm giving this book a rest it's too much" Then within two hours I was reading again. painfully beautiful, convicting and attracting. It's able to take you into the idea of God's judgment and the abject nature of human position in relation to God and yet not leave you in self-flagellating, work-driven, anti-grace heartache. There is a temptation whilst reading to go that way, but having Jack Frost on tap helps! It's not a Calvinist book, but its does give a sense of our total depravity, whilst leaving us with our choice of a life with or without God, in the measure we choose.

I'm just finishing the final quest before pressing straight into 'The Call.'

All this reading is not normal for me, don't worry! It's just that I've realised I've got sloppy . I've got to a place where i don't finish books ever. I got so tired of reading in 5 years of study that I've avoided th stimulation of good books and become laisez faire with the books i buy and read.
So many of my books have been sold or are being sold on Amazon and I'm endeavoring to read all i buy or to sell on or give away. I've borrowed some good books from a good mate too.

One of which is pagan christianity which I've already read many blogs about and chatted with Hannah J about in blogoshere. I'm only 35 pages in but I'm already forming an opinion.
It's a bit patronising, you say the early church met in homes not church buildings? really! Constantine wasn't the best Christian ever? Some/many of our church practices aren't in the Bible? It's like no expletive sherlock!

It's written like this is some amazing reality which will blow the church apart, but the truth is don't most of us know this? Church has evolved and we do need some form of reformation. But different ways of doing church exist for a reason.
I live in the shadow of the 1000 people strong Vineyard church that is only a decade old. I wouldn't do church their way for love nor money, but I'm not about pulling them apart.
They meet the need of the middle class church hoppers, the Christians and seekers of a particular section of society, their leaders must battle chronic busy-ness, affluenza, feed me don't lead spirit and all the other sicknesses of attractional church.
I know my church has other battles to fight, other groups to reach.

has no one told the writers that God looks at the heart, that He is bigger than his word or the first century church? I'm an Anglican, I believe in a mixed economy church. (not mixed theology just praxis.) I really honour the writers as Viola has planted churches and lived out his call before critiquing other and George Barna has been exploring and critiquing church for ages. The call is for building up not tearing down. But I'm with Alan Hirsch, the best way to critique something is to go and do it better.

Paradoxically, I do think that the British church needs to do some of the things their calling for, in some areas/places. The emerging church, the simple. organic church needs to flourish alongside the existing, then we will be ready for revival and be a missionary movement at the same time.

Anyway, I never got round to humility, it's too painful!