Blogachute #8 - Emergentism

Well, it’s that time of week again! The blogachute has been unpacked and I’m ready to jump into cyberspace, free falling through layers of blogs on the net. I’m starting off with some emergent blogs again, but only the good Lord knows where I’ll end up. Here goes!

Emergenimo!

8000 feet The Church of Starving Artists – I love this title. Jan Edmiston is a fellow Presbyterian blogger, as well as a RevGal (I’ll need to blogachute one week through that zone!).

She mainly writes about what’s happening in her world as a pastor. This week, Jan’s tackling the weird and wacky world of VBS. She has some great photos and humorous comments about the whole process.

Jan recently wrote a very moving blog about Tammy Faye, which is worthwhile reading. I think Jan’s portrayal of Tammy is one of the most gracious that I’ve read in the blogosphere.

Jan constantly updates her blog and is immensely readable. Worthwhile placing a bookmark or bloglink here.

7000 feet 40-Something Teenager – Todd has a great website, I just wish he would update it more often. He’s a pastor of a new emergent church, so some of his reflections are very relevant to what’s happening in Christ’s church today. The site has great links to books on the emergent church and current issues. I think I’d like to read a wee bit more of Todd’s ideas about the books he publicizes.

He’s also into Brian McLaren, the new guru of the Emergent Church. I personally don’t buy into a lot of what McLaren has to say, but then I’m an old-fogey who’ll be stepping off of this planet in a few years.

Todd has also been doing a study about freedom. His comments would make a great start to anyone contemplating a Sunday school series or House group study.

6000 feet Caught in the Middle – if I thought I was in for a smooth blogachute today, I would never have thought of landing here. There’s a lot of theological turbulence going on in this blog which I encountered immediately with a YouTube video of a Nazi Youth rally from the 1940’s. Paul uses it to humorously poke fun at the Youth camp he’s attending this week.

The site is well arranged, but it is overstocked with YouTube videos. I guess that’s what emergent folks are into these days. I remember something similar from a blogachute last month. When Paul does write a commentary, it’s very meaningful – I would like to read more of his ideas, experiences and opinions rather than look at another Youtube.

Some interesting links here and Paul’s profile makes a great read. He is a story-teller – I just wish there were more of his stories to read.

5000 feet Think. Laugh. Weep. Worship. – Now Emily Hunter McGowin is a story teller and, as she writes on her profile, a very opinionated person. This is what Christian blogging was invented for – personal expressions about life and faith. Emily writes as a Christian woman, not an extreme feminist, and presents her theology in well researched, thoughtful and intriguing ways.

Take for instance her blog entry on Greek papyri – I never thought I would ever enjoy someone writing about ancient bills and forms, but Emily tells their stories and relates it to the apostle Paul’s experiences.

This is a great site for thoughtful, articulate, and meaningful theology. She also has some useful links to other like-minded bloggers.

4000 feet internet monk – Michael Spencer hails from Kentucky, is fifty years old, not running for public office, but is willing to rule a small country. So says his VIRB site. His blog is read by many people across the world. He’s a writer, broadcaster, podcaster and commentator. He has a lot to say and write about church, especially about how it is reflecting our culture rather than affecting it.

His most recent blog Mainline Churches – We’re Having a Moment Here – should be read by every church pastor and elder/ deacon of mainline denominations throughout America. His finger is on the pulse. He writes prophetically, which is really refreshing to read in the midst of a lot of whingeing blogsites all over cyberspace that complain about what’s wrong with our ways of doing church.

Michael is Missional which to me means that he has been chosen by God to communicate a message that will stir up the church and shakedown our communities. I think ‘revival’ is what it used to be called.

I will be linking this internet monk to my own blog…I’d like to stay here for a while, but my blogachute wants to go on.

3000 feet Monastic Mumblings – a Friar’s Journey – I thought I was falling through the emergeosphere, but I seem to be meandering back into the mainline mainstream.

The blogger (unidentified) is a member of the Blogging Episcopalians ring. He is a widower with three grown up children, who is hoping to enter into a monastery or a religious order soon.

The writer confronts evangelicals with some challenging grace. He tackles the issues of immigration, and gives some great viewpoints in his “Fear? Islamists to Immigrants” entry. At the end of the blog, he offers this profound thought:

“Maybe we should be less concerned with a person's immigration status, and more with their spiritual and eternal status.”

The Monastic Mumbler also has a great entry about Mary Magdalene, who’s day of commemoration was recently celebrated on July 22.

A very-thought provoking and challenging site.

2000 feet Jolly Blogger – David Wayne is an EPC pastor whose heart and soul are passionate about Christ. The site is well laid out – typepad seem to have cornered the market on this – and very pleasant to read through. He obviously takes time to flesh out his ideas on the screen, which makes the blog reader-friendly.

He’s an evangelical with a jolly heart. He comes across as a cyberspace Friar Tuck. He’s serious about what he believes, but he doesn’t play the Bible thumping and pounding game. He’s one hundred percent dedicated to Christ, and David seeks to attract others to Jesus through rational, thoughtful, and articulate blogs.

I like what he has to communicate and enjoy his humor. He also has some great underwater photographs that convey his passion about scuba diving.

1000 feet Levellers – I must be getting close to terra firma with a blog name like this. Michael Westmoreland-White is a peace educator who was formerly a soldier. He is married to Katie, a Baptist pastor.

Michael’s blog is about confronting injustice in a peaceable way. His comments about the recent Whitehouse policy changes with regard to torturing prisoners are very candid and challenging. Michael cares a great deal about using non-violent means to change the world, as well as US policies.

The blog has also a plethora of links to peace sites all over cyberspace. I might use it as a springboard for my next blogachute. Michael also usually lists a Church history “today in history” blog.

There are excellent resources, comments, and material at this blog for anyone contemplating a Sunday School series for peacemaking.

Zero feet – Phew! That was amazing! Glad to get back on the ground. My head is swimming with creative ideas…see you next time.