Cobblestone Community Network

Posted on November 1, 2008

Drew Goodmanson is always doing something good. His latest contribution to missional church comes via his work with Monk Development. MD has produced a unique social networking site customized for cultivating missional community called Cobblestone Community Network. Here are a few of the benefits listed at Cobblestone:

Connect People into Real Community

Connect people to local home groups, special needs groups and small groups based on numerous criteria.

Create a community of Generosity and Giving

Share the churches needs and vision and allow people to donate to causes.

Get people on Mission

Push activities and events to third-party sites and invite your non-believing friends.

Know your community

Access valuable reporting to have a pulse of what is going on in your church.

Missional Halloween & Austin's Wiccan Preistess

Posted on October 31, 2008

Stacy M. Weidmann, a Wiccan High-Priestess of Phoenix Moon in Austin. In an interview, she commented that Austin has a culture of open-mindedness and this is why the city claims a high number of Pagans and Wiccans, not to mention Satanists live and practice thier religion in Austin.

  • Read the Probe Center’s article on the nature and presence of occult activity in Austin.
  • Pray for the gospel to advance as you trick or treat tonight with neighbors tonight.
  • Take advantage of this opportunity to love and serve and hang with non-Christians, praying for the light of the gospel to invade the darkness of their hearts.

Global Ecclesiology

Posted on October 31, 2008

I read a great global introduction to ecclesiology in seminary by Fuller prof Veli-Matti Karkkainen called An Introduction to Ecclesiology: Ecumenical, Historical & Global Perspectives. It really opened my eyes to a generous, global ecclesiology, freeing me from narrow Americanized conceptions of church. It’s a great intro in general but the global perspective is hard to beat.

JR Woodward is reviewing this book through a series of posts, so now you can read it through him! I have also picked up a couple other of Karkkainen’s global perspective books on systematic theology, which have been really good, one on Pneumatology and one on Christology. Enjoy!

Busyness and Tim Chester

Posted on October 31, 2008

Josh points us to some incisive comments and questions by Tim Chester on the topic of busyness.

  1. Have you ever been irritated because there was a queue at the supermarket till?
  2. Do you regularly work thirty minutes a day longer than your contracted hours?
  3. Do you check work emails and phone messages at home?
  4. Has anyone ever said to you: ‘I didn’t want to trouble you because I know how busy you are’?
  5. Do your family or friends complain about not getting time with you?
  6. If tomorrow evening was unexpectedly freed up, would you use it to work or do a household chore?
  7. Do you often feel tired during the day or do your find your neck and shoulders aching?
  8. Do you often exceed the speed limit while driving?

Read more here.