another samuel adams please

the statesman and patriot, that is...who said,

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."


This gives me hope that even when we're the minority (if we are?), the majority has to deal with us whether they like it or not. Therefore, I mean to start carrying a flask of gasoline and a lighter with me at all times.

It seems to me that that's what the early church did (who was a minority)...and then the reformers...and then the anabaptists...and maybe now, those of us who are emerging.

Burn baby burn!

thinking missionally

AP down with the G-O-D

This is probably the worst written and strangest article I've seen in a while.

Can you make any sense of this?

i don't know what to call this (UPDATE)

Well, the votes were cast and I won. It was a bitter race to the end, but my smear campaign against myself failed. I am now the Pastor for Congregational Care at Zebulon Baptist Church. Officially, October 1.

Last November I posted this. Its amazing what has happened since then and what I was wrong about.

Here's a list:

• We ARE moving.
• We ARE selling our house (and hopefully soon!)
• I did NOT sell my truck (although it was listed on craig's list for a while.)
• The cat quit drinking from the fish bowl once he pushed it off the desk and murdered the fish outright.
• Honestly, I was disgruntled. CPE taught me a lot about being honest with myself.
• I did enroll in counseling class, but dropped them and focused on the CPE experience.
• I have not written any books.
• I did not work at Lowes, Home Depot, or Jiffy Lube.

The big question: Was it the right thing to leave Campbell? I cannot say strongly enough...yes.

I am working through how to explain the decision to work on a church staff. I've titled that unwritten piece, "A postmodern church, or the Church in postmodernity." Surprisingly (to me and others), I have a good amount of excitement and energy about being a part of the latter.

Zebulon Baptist ordained me back in 1994 when I was on staff as Minister to Youth. Serving with them part-time this summer, I have re-discovered this community of faith to be intentional, missional, liturgical, evangelical, while being a part of whatever "mainline" Christianity is. As one example, I was encouraged to teach a seminar for the 20s/30s learning community based on Marcus Borg's "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time."

My head is still spinning about all this and I wouldn't mind some conversation partners. For those of you uncommitted on Sunday mornings in the Raleigh area, I invite you to come on out to ZBC for worship at 10:00. I preach a few times this fall (including 9/23 and 11/18) and will be "installed" on 10/21 in a service of communion. And by all means, Christmas eve at ZBC is extraordinary (at 5:30 or 11:00!) (You can also subscribe to the Zebulon Baptist podcast to hear a few sermons too.)

Sorry about the rambling. But, suffice it to say (in the words of Maya Angelou), "I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now."