After missing a few for various reasons, I made it to the Chicago Up/rooted meeting last night. This time it was a small group – there were six of us. It turned out I was the only person present who doesn’t go to Wicker Park Grace. I wasn’t the only atheist/almost-atheist: Nick was there too.
The topic was Brian McLaren’s event last month, Everything Must Change. (I’ve already written about that here and here) It turns out we all went to the event, although that wasn’t a requirement for attending this Up/rooted meeting.
I asked what people were doing differently since then. Nanette said she was thinking about the violence in typical framing stories of our culture. She’s struggling with why so many of them have the good people winning by using violence and being stronger than the evil side. Read the rest of this entry »
05-20-2008 |
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After attending Brian McLaren’s Everything Must Change tour at the beginning of April I wrote the following article for the Wednesday Journal (the local newspaper that my dialog with Rev Lueking is in).
Small Steps in the Right Direction
In recent weeks some new questions have pervaded my thinking as I’ve gone about my everyday activities. “Could I use less water to do this? Do I really need to buy this much food-will I use it all?”
It all started when I attended Brian McLaren’s “Everything Must Change” conference in early April. For a day and a half, 300 people gathered at First United Church of Oak Park to hear Brian speak about global crises and reflect on how we can help. Many of the attendees had traveled from other Midwest states to be there.
Brian contends Christians have contributed to and perpetuate global crises partly because of wrong beliefs. He says they have put Jesus in the wrong “framing story.” That story says God authorizes rich, powerful Christians to hold onto wealth and power, ruling and controlling others for their own good. (Which looks the same as ruling and controlling others for selfish reasons, but, of course, Christians wouldn’t behave that way!) Brian believes the framing story Jesus role-modeled and intended his followers to live is one of humility, service, kindness and generosity. Read the rest of this entry »
04-23-2008 |
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I’m wondering who else is going to Deep Shift (Brian McLaren’s event to further explore/apply ideas in his latest book Everything Must Change).
The Deep Shift tour begins tomorrow in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here’s a detailed interview with Brian from The Charlotte Observer. The tour won’t be in my area until early April.
I found out late last year, to my surprise, that the “Chicago” event is going to take place only a mile from my house. I’m going to go. I’ve also offered to help.
I know Nick is attending the first Deep Shift event (in fact he’s leading a group discussion there). I’ll be interested to see what he says about it.
01-31-2008 |
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