Brian McLaren’s new book, A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith, drops tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 9).

I received a free advance copy from the publisher late last week and have been devouring it every chance I get (which with two toddlers at home hasn’t been that often).

In it, McLaren offers the top 10 questions he’s been hearing from people about the Christian faith as well as 10 responses to those questions (as opposed to answers — which are simply statements — which lead to hate and debate… he expounds much more on this in the first couple chapters).

So far I’m loving everything I’ve read. I won’t say I agree with everything yet (especially since I haven’t the full book yet) but what I’ve read is definitely in line with a lot of other things I’m reading and thinking as of late.

I’ve dog eared numerous pages already but I want to share a few thoughts from the first few chapters…

McLaren shares a prayer that Rev. John Robinson gave before the pilgrims set sell from Holland to the New World (America) on the Mayflower:

I charge you before God and his blessed angels that you follow me no further than you have seen me follow Christ. If God reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as you were to receive any truth from my ministry, for I am verily persuaded the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth from His holy word.
The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. Whatever part of His will our God has revealed to Calvin, they (Lutherans) will rather die than embrace it; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they where left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented. For though they were precious shining lights in their time, yet God has not revealed his whole will to them. And were they now living, they would be as ready and willing to embrace further light, as they had received.

(emphasis mine)

McLaren shares that this is an attitude of a man on a quest. He realizes that there is much to be learned about God and that there is a “futher light” to be embraced, where more and more of God is revealed.

I have to continue asking my question, “Can we really know and understand all there is about a God who is fully mysterious and ‘unknowable’?” (Job 38-41) Seems illogical to think we can.

I remember when Probe Ministries came and did several classes on apologetics at our church back in the day and they offered a simple illustration that’s stuck with me ever since.

Using a white board they explained that the white board represented ALL the knowledge in the entire universe, everything anyone could possibly know.

They then asked several people to come forward and to shade in, or make dots representing what they felt was their own knowledge and understanding in comparison.

Eventually the board would look something like this:

As you can see, some were a bit prouder about their knowledge, others stayed towards the humble side of things.

The Probe representative went on to say that no matter who you ask, no one will ever claim to know everything about everything.

And thus, those who deny the existence of God are jumping to the wrong conclusions because God may be waiting for them just outside their colored area (their understanding and knowledge) and in an area of knowledge they’ve yet come to understand. So essentially, until you know everything about everything you can’t logically deny the existence of God.

As I read McLaren’s book and refer back to my own questions, I have to wonder, what if we took that same white board and asked a slightly different question, “Color in everything you know and understand about God.”

How much would you color in? Would the board look any different?

Yet, in our faith we’ve often become so locked into our doctrines and dogmas that we’ve left no room for questions or differing views in our understanding of God (myself included).

I think that point goes right in line with what McLaren is hoping to address with his book.

One of the overarching questions he asks is, “What would Christianity look like if we weren’t afraid of questions?”

Rather than welcoming questions and doubt (see the story of Thomas after Jesus’ resurrection – John 20:24-30) we’ve come to understand and accept Christianity one way — our way.

We’ve come to see Jesus through the eyes of Paul; and then Augustine’s view of Paul’s view of Jesus; and then Aquinas’s view of Augustine’s view of Paul’s view of Jesus; and then Luther’s view of Aquinas’s view of Augustine’s view of Paul’s view of Jesus and so on and so on.

And ultimately, many of these views were shaped by Greco-Roman culture and philosophy, as opposed to the Jewish tradition and narrative that’s so vital to Scripture.

McLaren is hoping we’ll look at each of the 10 questions and responses he offers through a different lens, through the biblical line of Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and John the Baptist.

And in that mind, he suggests we pray with the spirit and attitude of John Robinson:

Lord, we acknowledge that we have made a mess of what Jesus started. We affirm that we are wrong and Jesus is right. We choose not to defend what we have done and what we have become. We understand that many good Christians will not want to participate in our quest, and we welcome their charitable critique. We acknowledge that we have created many Christianities up to this point and they all call for reassessment and in many cases, repentance. We choose to seek a better path into the future than the one we have been on. We desire to be born again as disciples of Jesus Christ. Now grant us wisdom and guide us in our quest and create something new and beautiful in and among us for the good of all creation and to your glory, Living God.

I agree. And look forward to continuing my quest not only with this book, but for many many years to come.

Find out more:

Brian’s website
Brian on Facebook
Brian on Twitter
Browse inside A New Kind of Christianity
Spencer Burke talks to Brian about the book

You may also enjoy ::

• A new kind of Christianity
• pernell goodyear :: 3.3 :: part 1
• FREE PREVIEW :: The Faith of Barack Obama

this week Thomas talks with William Stanger: Follower of Christ, husband, father, book lover, music fanatic, movie and coffee addict, part-time blogger, sports enthusiast (mainly watching!), exiled Scotsman on the verge of applying for Canadian citizenship who works for the Salvation Army.

related:

william’s blog – Two weeks from everywhere

william’s flickr 365/2010

william on Twitter

on last.fm, LibraryThing, 43Things, blip.fm, and flickr william is ‘wcs53′

skype: wcstanger

william on Facebook

music:

Ulrich Schnauss – Shine (MINT Remix)

Z-arc – Theta Sigma (Remix)

both on the album Intelligent Toys 5

You may also enjoy ::

• pernell goodyear :: 3.4 :: part 2
• pernell goodyear :: 3.3 :: part 1
• johnny laird :: 2.33
• eleanor burne-jones :: 2.13

this week we chat with ideation strategist, networker, and compassionary, Charles Lee. Charles shares his story along with his passion and heart for compassion and justice.

Charles is the founder of Ideation, a consultancy that specializes in branding, marketing, social media, and event development. he is also a founding member of JustOne, a NPO committed to addressing issues of poverty, orphans, and slavery. in addition, Charles leads New Hope, a faith community in the LA area, and is the creator of grassroots efforts including the Idea Camp and the Freeze Project.

we also talked with Charles shortly after this interview to find out more about the Ideation Conference:

related:
charles’ website
charles on twitter
ideation conference
the idea camp
justone
new hope
the freeze project
greg russinger on the podcast

music:
jukebox the ghost – good day (remix)
mr. j. medeiros – love is all

You may also enjoy ::

• national human trafficking awareness month
• greg russinger :: 2.39
• #justicefriday :: Slave free Christmas
• amanda kloer :: 2.30

NPR shared a memorial about Donald Bordelon this morning. A man reporters met while covering the tragedy in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Each time we called — before Mardi Gras, on Thanksgiving, on Katrina’s anniversaries — Donald and Colleen were at home. Only once did we speak with them when they were out of town. They were in Baton Rouge, forced there by Hurricane Gustav. Soon, though, they went back.

And in the end, it was home where Donald Bordelon spent his last day. He died of a massive heart attack there last week. Colleen was at his side.

And he’s now buried next to his “daddy” — the man who many years ago saved Donald from a flood in their home — then taught him how to return and rebuild.

Listen to the story.

Steve Inskeep says he spoke with Donald’s wife shortly after his funeral last week…

“…She said Donald always felt better when he talked to us – which was surprising because we always thought it was the Bordelons who made us feel better.”

You just never know who’s going to be impacted by your story — or whose story will impact you.

Who are you telling your story to?

Whose stories are you listening to?

(Photo from NPR)

You may also enjoy ::

• A day full of stories

this week, Thomas continues his chat with fellow Salvationist, Pernell Goodyear. Pernell is a pastor, writer, speaker, coach, trainer, artist, musician, designer, husband, dad, and friend in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. he heads a holistic Christian community, The Freeway in Hamilton, in one of Canada’s most under-resourced communities.

be sure and listen to part one of their conversation.

related ::
pernell’s website
pernell on twitter
pernell on facebook
the freeway
the freeway coffeehouse
allelon
resonate
cultivate
a fish trying to learn to breathe air: this too shall pass

music ::
sun lux – to pluto’s moon
derek webb – what you give up (remix)
OK go – this too will pass (with notre dame marching band)

You may also enjoy ::

• pernell goodyear :: 3.3 :: part 1
• jonathan merritt :: 3.2
• a musical interlude :: 3.1
• william stanger :: 3.6

Brian McLaren has a new book coming out shortly and Spencer Burke’s already talking to him about it…

In the book, A New Kind of Christianity, Brian lays out 10 questions people seem to be wrestling with universally.

The questions include:

• The Narrative Question: What Is the Overarching Storyline of the Bible?
• The Authority Question: How Should the Bible Be Understood?
• The God Question: Is God Violent?
• The Jesus Question: Who is Jesus and Why is He Important?
• The Gospel Question: What Is the Gospel?
• The Church Question: What Do We Do About the Church?
• The Sex Question: Can We Find a Way to Address Sexuality Without Fighting About It?
• The Future Question: Can We Find a Better Way of View the Future?
• The Pluralism Question: How Should Followers of Jesus Relate to People of Other Religions?
• The What Do We Do Now Question: How Can We Translate Our Quest into Action?

Watch the interview:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’ve always been impressed with McLaren’s generosity and graciousness — can’t wait to read his take on these questions — regardless of whether I agree with his answers or not.

And I love this:

“Questions can bring you on a new quest. Statements can bring you to a new state, and in the process they can create a lot of debate and sometimes that creates hate. We’ve got plenty of hate and debate. But questions can lead you on a new quest, which lead you into conversation, which can produce friendship.” – Brian McLaren

Browse the inside of the book.

The book drops Feb. 9 — and you can pre-order it now on Amazon: A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith

What’s the biggest question you’re wrestling with — especially as it comes to your faith?

You may also enjoy ::

• A New Kind of Christianity with Brian McLaren
• pernell goodyear :: 3.3 :: part 1

this week, Thomas talks with fellow Salvationist, Pernell Goodyear. Pernell is a pastor, writer, speaker, coach, trainer, artist, musician, designer, husband, dad, and friend in downtown Hamilton, Ontario. he heads a holistic Christian community, The Freeway in Hamilton, in one of Canada’s most under-resourced communities.

Pernell talks about the Freeway and some of their projects, including the FairTrade coffee house they’ve opened to serve as a third-place for the community.

related ::
pernell’s website
pernell on twitter
pernell on facebook
the freeway
the freeway coffeehouse
allelon
resonate
cultivate

music ::
arcade fire – haiti
brian mclaren – learning how to love
dead heart bloom – someday soon our time will come

You may also enjoy ::

• pernell goodyear :: 3.4 :: part 2
• a musical interlude :: 3.1
• jonathan merritt :: 3.2
• william stanger :: 3.6

Disasters Emergency Committee (UK): www.dec.org.uk

One Day’s Wages: onedayswages.org

Salvation Army (US): salvationarmy.org

Haiti Reborn: quixote.org/haiti

this week we talk with jonathan merritt, a blogger, faith and culture writer and founder of the southern baptist environment and climate initiative. jonathan shares how he became an environmentalist in a conservative southern baptist seminary and how God has shown him the importance of caring for all of creation.

merritt is also the author of a new book coming out in April 2010, “Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet.”

related ::
jonathan’s website
jonathan on twitter
jonathan on facebook
Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet
jonathan on abolishing nuclear weapons on the huffington post
southern baptist environment and climate initiative

music ::
brian lee and his orchestra – love comes softly
proclaimers – i’m gonna be (500 miles)
dj haggis – day 1 (funkyuniverse part 1)
great lake swimmers – i am part of a large family

You may also enjoy ::

• pernell goodyear :: 3.4 :: part 2
• pernell goodyear :: 3.3 :: part 1
• a musical interlude :: 3.1
• something beautiful :: 2.1 :: musical interlude

i am not for sale.
you are not for sale.
no one should be for sale.

january is national human trafficking awareness month. a time for each of us to not only educate ourselves about the issues of modern slavery, but to raise awareness to our friends and family members and to do what we can to end all forms of human slavery.

trafficking is…
to be taken against your will, bought, sold and transported into
slavery for sexual exploitation, sweat shops, child brides, circuses,
sacrificial worship, forced begging, sale of human organs, farm
labour, domestic servitude. 80% of all victims are women and girls,
50% are children.

trafficking is…
where family members and friends deceive parents to release their
CHILDREN or SELL them FOR AS LITTLE AS $20 EACH, selling
them on to local gangmasters or serious organised international
trafficking rings.

trafficking is…
growing. 2–4 MILLION men, women and children are TRAFFICKED
across borders and within their own country EVERY YEAR. more
than one PERSON is trafficked across borders EVERY MINUTE,
which is equivalent to five JUMBO JETS every day. a trade that
earns twice as much worldwide revenue as Coca Cola.

trafficking is…
where victims usually suffer repeated physical abuse, fear, torture
and threats to families to break their spirits and turn them into
saleable commodities. a person can be sold and trafficked
many times.

charles lee and one voice to end slavery offers up 11 practical ideas to combat slavery.

we also invite you to educate yourself :: listen to amanda kloer talk about her life as an abolitionist

You may also enjoy ::

• #justicefriday :: Slave free Christmas
• amanda kloer :: 2.30
• charles lee :: 3.5
• pernell goodyear :: 3.4 :: part 2

we kick off 2010 the same as we did 2009 – with a fun musical interlude.

we hope you enjoy the music and we look forward to sharing many more great stories in 2010.

shalom!

music ::
derek webb – cobra con (acoustic remix)
cold war kids – something is not right with me
dead heart bloom – folsom prison blues
bela ruse – push on
so elated – open my heart with knives
noah and the whale – first days of spring
phil wickham – eden
brian lee & his orchestra – on the other side
church of the beloved – amazing grace
shawn groves – sing
joanna newsom – sadie
rootdown – where is the love
hidden track – pomplamoose – beat it

You may also enjoy ::

• something beautiful :: 2.1 :: musical interlude
• pernell goodyear :: 3.3 :: part 1
• pernell goodyear :: 3.4 :: part 2
• jonathan merritt :: 3.2

and as of dec. 2009 – we’ve now passed over 10,000 downloads for the something beautiful podcast! thanks to you our listeners!

so we thought we’d share your picks for the top 5 podcasts of 2009. these are the ones that you, the listener have chosen by way of downloads.

5. existential punk (aka adele sakler)
4. brandt russo
3. peter rollins
2. tall skinny kiwi (aka andrew jones)
1. Mark Horvath pt 1

but we realize that many of these podcasts have big names behind them. they’re are also being linked to by a number of other websites, or for some other reason your favorite podcast of 2009 didn’t make the list.

so we want to know, what was your favorite something beautiful podcast of 2009?

and as an added bonus, in celebration of our 10,000 downloads, we’re giving away 2 so elated prize packs.

TO ENTER:

just answer the following question in the comments section of this post:

what was your favorite episode/podcast from the something beautiful podcast in 2009?

RULES:

one entry per person, please.

please leave a valid email address in the entry; in the event you’re a winner, you’ll be contacted to redeem your prize.

winners will be chosen at random on Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. CST.

good luck and happy new year!

You may also enjoy ::

• ordinary radicals nearing completion
• mark berry :: 2.11
• lawrence moore :: 2.24
• something beautiful :: 1.10 :: duncan mcfadzean

it’s that time of year, when all our listeners are invited to join in and help us celebrate the birth of our Savior.

thanks to everyone who joined in with a reading or sharing their Christmas thoughts, reflections and wishes!

we hope you enjoy listening and are able to share it with your family and friends this holiday season.

we look forward to many more great stories and episodes to come in 2010!

contributors ::
miriam mathie
stewart cutler @stewartculter
greg russinger @gregrussinger
avril cutler @avrilcutler
paula spurr @cowpunkmom
rob griggs-taylor @robgt2
angus mathie
dayna mathie
chad crawford @chadcrawford
jim bonewald @jbonewald
mike rusch @mikerusch
chris allman @chrisballman
thomas mathie @headphonaught
pastor lance spurr
jonathan blundell @jdblundell
& of course YOU – the listener!

music ::
djsiah – trippin
argyle project – o come, o come, emmanuel
half handed cloud – plant a little fir tree
church of the beloved – given
sojourn – let justice roll (live)
so elated – come thou long expected jesus
william ryan fritch – may all mortal flesh be silenced
the singing company – it came upon a midnight clear
adeline – all the angels
jj heller – star of wonder – we three kings
tripp fuller – remembering
the singing company – o holy night
sufjan stevens – joy to the world

You may also enjoy ::

• something beautiful :: 1.29 :: Advent Christmas Extravaganza
• julie clawson :: 2.44
• a musical interlude :: 3.1
• goosebumps & justice (advent reflections) :: 2.45

this week we get our wives involved in our advent reflections :: goosebumps & justice.

we hope you take the time to listen but even more — reflect in silence — the birth of the King of Light, Justice, Peace, Word and Love.

what does it mean to you this year? what do you think it met to the people of Israel roughly 2,000 years ago? how will it affect you tomorrow?

related ::
laurie’s blog
laurie on twitter
olwyn on facebook
avril’s blog
avril on twitter
download the script

music ::
so elated – zechariah and the least expected places
sojourn – o come, o come emmanuel
adeline – the peasant king
so elated – come thou long expected jesus
sojourn – let justice roll (live)
shawn mcdonald – hallelujah

You may also enjoy ::

• something beautiful :: 1.29 :: Advent Christmas Extravaganza
• christmas nines :: 2.46
• something beautiful :: 1.28 :: the vanderburgs
• something beautiful :: 1.27 :: advent reflections

this week we talk with mother, blogger and author Julie Clawson. Julie just published her first book, Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices. Julie shares her story and why justice became an important aspect of her faith journey and shares some ideas on how even busy moms can make a difference for people around the world.

related ::
julie’s blog
julie on twitter
julie on facebook
Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices
emerging women
emerging parents
julie’s interview with homebrewed christianity
julie’s interview with Ooze.tv

music ::
jj heller – emmanuel
john wickham – o come, o come, emmanuel

You may also enjoy ::

• christmas nines :: 2.46
• paul partridge & st. peter’s brewery :: 2.43
• drew tatusko :: 2.42 (part 3 of 3)
• drew tatusko :: 2.41 (part 2 of 3)

Jonathan’s novel is now available on Amazon. Both in print and for the Kindle.

For those of you who haven’t ordered your copy of the book yet (or want to order 5 copies for your mother), we’ve got a little pointer on how to get free shipping with Amazon.

Simply buy $25 worth of products and Amazon will ship (standard shipping) for free.

So, order Jonathan’s book, St. Peter’s Brewery – add on Tony Jones‘ The Teaching of the Twelve: Believing & Practicing the Primitive Christianity of the Ancient Didache Community (which our good buddy Trucker Frank contributed to) and Jason C. Dukes‘ book Live Sent: you are a letter — and get three great books for only $35.95 and free shipping to boot!

Does it get much better than that?!

Well – it could… if you’d prefer to only order St. Peter’s Brewery, you can order it directly from the printer and get a 24% discount code. Now through Dec. 24 you can save 24% on the book if you order it through CreateSpace.

Simply use 3YK4MGUP in the discount code box and the savings will be applied to your order.

You may also enjoy ::

• trucker frank :: 1.19.2
• jason c. dukes :: 2.36
• something beautiful :: 1.19 :: trucker frank pt. 1
• paul partridge & st. peter’s brewery :: 2.43

Share them in the comments below, or call our listener line to share them on our upcoming Advent/Christmas episodes.

And if you need some help getting into the holiday spirit, enjoy these holiday episodes from last year:

Greg Holder talks about Advent Conspiracy
Advent Reflections
Advent Christmas Extravaganza
Advent Bonus episode

You may also enjoy ::

• Advent thoughts and wishes
• something beautiful :: 1.29 :: Advent Christmas Extravaganza
• something beautiful :: 1.25 :: greg holder (advent conspiracy)
• christmas nines :: 2.46

this week paul partridge shares his story and how God has used a tragedy from his childhood to really shape his direction and calling in life. turning lemons into lemonades.

along with paul’s story, thomas and stewart grill jonathan about his new novel, st. peter’s brewery.

related ::
st peter’s brewery
st peter’s brewery flickr group
st peter’s brewery on twitter
the manhattan declaration
jonathan’s interview with johnny laird
anne jackson’s blog
permission to speak freely

music ::
sandra mccracken – this is the christ
christmas for kenya – hallelujah
christmas for kenya – loxmas mix
so elated – christmas creep

You may also enjoy ::

• christmas nines :: 2.46
• a musical interlude :: 3.1
• julie clawson :: 2.44
• drew tatusko :: 2.41 (part 2 of 3)

this week we continue our chat with Drew Tatusko (part 3 of 3). he’s a graduate of Pinceton Theological Seminary, where he earned his M.Div. and Th.M. currently he is the program activity director for a Title III grant to integrate technology into teaching, learning, retention and advising at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA.

he currently lives in Duncansville, PA with wife Brenna, sons Alexander and Evan.

listen to part 1 and part 2

related ::
drew’s blog
drew on twitter

music ::
dm stith – pigs (feat. jefferson st. band)
sufjan stevens – sister winter

You may also enjoy ::

• drew tatusko :: 2.41 (part 2 of 3)
• christmas nines :: 2.46
• drew tatusko :: 2.40 (part 1 of 3)
• julie clawson :: 2.44

this week we continue our chat with Drew Tatusko. he’s a graduate of Pinceton Theological Seminary, where he earned his M.Div. and Th.M. currently he is the program activity director for a Title III grant to integrate technology into teaching, learning, retention and advising at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA.

he currently lives in Duncansville, PA with wife Brenna, sons Alexander and Evan.

related ::
drew’s blog
drew on twitter

music ::
so elated – not complete
horsefeathers – working poor

You may also enjoy ::

• drew tatusko :: 2.42 (part 3 of 3)
• christmas nines :: 2.46
• drew tatusko :: 2.40 (part 1 of 3)
• ben thomas :: 2.17