"The Secret Message of Jesus" by Brian McLaren

Some of you may know Brian McLaren from some of his other books including A New Kind of Christian Trilogy or A Generous Orthodoxy. I just finished an advanced copy of Brian's newest book, The Secret Message of Jesus - Uncovering The Truth That Could Change Everything, and I believe it will be considered his best so far. Not because he's sharing something so incredibly new, but because he has done so in such a way that invites such wonderful dialoge and engagement for all who read it. He brilliantly shows how Jesus Christ "came to start a political, social, religious, artistic, economic, intellectual, and spiritual revolution that would give birth to a new world" (p.4). He not only shows/explains/discusses this "secret message of Jesus," he generously invites all to participate in the implications it brings to our world, our relationships, the church, our jobs, and beyond.


The book is laid out like so...

Part 1: Excavation: Digging Beneath The Surface To Uncover Jesus's Message

In this section McLaren introduces the readers to the political and socio-economic message embedded within Jesus' teachings.

Part 2: Engagement: Grappling With The Meaning Of Jesus's Message

In this section, the reality of the "the Kingdom being here and now" or "the present kingdom" and it's powerful and never-before-experienced implications are explained and developed.

Part 3: Imagination: Exploring How Jesus's Secret Message Could Change Everything

In this section, Brian spends most of his time challenging different views about heaven and hell, and discusses a kingdom manifesto and kingdom ethics. He also explains how in so many ways we have "missed" the message and shares a wonderful list of people who have influenced his way of thinking. He even has a discussion about Kingdom prayer.


There is no question that some will find this book controversial, but more so I believe will be invited, encouraged, and motivated. And for those who have not enjoyed McLaren's books in the past I think this book may change some of your feelings. I definitely recommend you getting The Secret Message of Jesus and reading it. You will not be disappointed.

At The Drive In Church...

A photo essay by Time Magazine...

Take a gander...

Click here DRIVEINCHURCH

Hybrids, and even newer accessories...

So in the not so far future I will be needing to find another form of trasportation other than my red sled [or 87 subaru Gl with 200,000 miles on it] and as a wise consumer I have been looking into the many options you can now get. Hybrids and environmentally friendly vehicles are of great interest to me, but now a company has come out with an option that is limitless in its potential. They have started a new add campaign and this is the first one. I figure that working with teens and having a child on the way in June, that this feature would be priceless!

You tell me... Click here to see for yourself TRUNKMONKEY1

The iPod Culture...

Talk about culture... now even our new Pope has an iPod!

Read all about it here... POPE'SIPOD

President Bush's iPod...

Have you ever wondered what the President of the United States listens to on his iPod? Well now you can know the answer.

Click here to watch and learn... BUSHSIPOD

What an adventure...

Imagine if you will, what it would be like to go back to high school and be a student for a month at your current age. This blog is amazing. It is a 33 year old youth pastor who got clearance to do an experiment/study on being a hs student everyday for a month. Anyways, you can read it and watch it. It is very interesting. Thought you might like it...

Click here to go to the blog TWOWEEKSBACK

The ONE campaign...

Help make poverty history...

See the new ONEspot video and sign up today!

ONEspotVideo

Ash Wednesday...

The Day of Ashes

Today millions of our sisters and brothers in Christ join together in an 1,100+ year-old tradition of commonly referred to as 'ash wednesday'. The ashes - which are from the burned palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday service - are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross to mark the beginning of the season of Lent.

Below are one and one-half stanzas of

T. S. Eliot's poem: "Ash Wednesday"

As I am forgotten

And would be forgotten, so I would forget

Thus devoted, concentrated in purpose. And God said

Prophesy to the wind, to the wind only for only

The wind will listen. And the bones sang chirping

With the burden of the grasshopper, saying
Lady of silences

Calm and distressed

Torn and most whole

Rose of memory

Rose of forgetfulness

Exhausted and life-giving

Worried reposeful

The single Rose

Is now the Garden

Where all loves end

Terminate torment

Of love unsatisfied

The greater torment

Of love satisfied

End of the endless

Journey to no end

Conclusion of all that

Is inconclusible

Speech without word and

Word of no speech

Grace to the Mother

For the Garden

Where all love ends.

Thanks to a fellow blogger, thinker, teacher, leader, artist, counselor, learner, disciple, and friend Dwight Friesen who shared this with my through his blog last year. "May the dust of you rabbi be on you" as you move into the season of Lent [taken from some thoughts by Rob Bell]