Books « BrianHimes

Things to do while Lost is on Hiatus:

March 27th, 2008 § Leave a Comment

Watch that Netflix movie that’s been sitting next to the TV all week.
Pay the bills and work on a budget
Clean the kitchen
Wash several loads of laundry
Practice guitar
Read a book from the pile on my nightstand
Mow and water the back yard
Cook dinner
Pick up dry-cleaning
Go to bed early (yeah right)

Living Biblically

October 8th, 2007 § 1 Comment

On this morning’s Today Show, Matt Lauer interviewed journalist, A.J. Jacobs. Jacobs is a Jewish agnostic who decided to try to live his life “Biblically” for a year in an effort to better understand religion and its place in the 21st Century. Jacobs’ interpretation of living life “Biblically” included following every rule, law, and suggestion in the Bible literally. This endeavor resulted in the book, “The Year of Living Biblically.”

During the interview Jacobs explained that he came to the realization that it wasn’t possible for man to live by every rule without falling short of the ideal. He claims to have significantly cut down on gossip and lying, but could not completely wipe those vices out of his life. What I found particularly disappointing about his “study” though, was that Jacobs failed to see his need for someone or something to cleanse him of those shortcomings and make him right with God.

Unfortunately, Jacobs seems to see the Bible as simply a book of rules. As I personally seek to reach out to those in this world, I can’t help but wonder how many hold to Jacobs’ line of thinking. If we are faced with a world that believes the Bible is simply a book of rules how do we combat that? How do we teach the forgiveness, grace, and love?

(Also posted at the Glendale Young Adults Blog)

More Random Ramblings

August 16th, 2007 § 2 Comments

Sports

Rarely will I write about sports but I couldn't pass this up. You have to check out the Rocket Racing League . It's almost too good to be true.

Church

There's a bunch of exciting stuff going on at church. So much so that I'm not even sure where to begin… there's a new website coming, a new logo in the works, a new minister, and a auditorium upgrade project. I'm sure I'm leaving a few things out, but it's been pretty crazy. But, it's crazy in a good way.

Reading

I'm currently reading a book from Mark Yaconelli called "Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry." It's really got me thinking about how we traditionally approach youth ministry. It seems as though us Youth Ministers may be putting too much stock in events and crazy activities while never really getting to the spiritual stuff. I'm only a chapter in so far, but I'm really enjoying this fresh look at ministry.

Music

Only a few more days until the release of the new Rilo Kiley album, Under the Blacklight. I realize I'm a dork for being so excited, but I can't resist Jenny Lewis. I've got to get my fix. Is it Tuesday yet?

After much deliberation I picked up the Peter Bjorn and John album, Writers Block, this week. I have to say that I am really enjoying it. Songs I recommend checking out are "Objects of My Affection," "Let's Call It Off," and "Poor Cow."

I'm sure this is old news by now, but I find it both hilarious and a little sad that, Amy Winehouse will probably be heading to rehab after she overdosed last week. Perhaps she should have said Yes, Yes, Yes to rehab a while back.

Personal

Still packing. We're hoping to be mostly out of our apartment by this Saturday. We'll see how that goes. We've got a long way to go.

Citizen Marketers

July 16th, 2007 § Leave a Comment

Maybe I'm a geek but this book looks really interesting to me as both a fundraiser, and a minister. I might just go pick up a copy today.

Community Building and Organizing

July 2nd, 2007 § 1 Comment

I'm working on a sermon for this coming Sunday on the topic of, you guessed it, community. While searching for direction I've been grasping at anything and everything I can get my hands on. I found this entry in Wikipedia quite interesting. I think it quite accurately describes the reason for the rise and demise of the Young Adults Group at Glendale.

Community building and organizing

M. Scott Peck is of the view that the almost accidental sense of community which exists at times of crisis, for example in New York City after the September 11, 2001 attacks, can be consciously built. Peck believes that the process of "conscious community building" is a process of building a shared story, and consensual decision making, built upon respect for all individuals and inclusivity of difference. He is of the belief that this process goes through four stages:

Pseudo-community: Where participants are "nice with each other", playing-safe, and presenting what they feel is the most favourable sides of their personalities.

Chaos: When people move beyond the inauthenticity of pseudo-community and feel safe enough to present their "shadow" selves. This stage places great demands upon the facilitator for greater leadership and organisation, but Peck believes that "organisations are not communities", and this pressure should be resisted.

Emptiness: This stage moves beyond the attempts to fix, heal and convert of the chaos stage, when all people become capable of acknowledging their own woundedness and brokenness, common to us all as human beings. Out of this emptiness comes

True community: the process of deep respect and true listening for the needs of the other people in this community. This stage Peck believes can only be described as "glory" and reflects a deep yearning in every human soul for compassionate understanding from one's fellows.

More recently Scott Peck has remarked that building a sense of community is easy. It is maintaining this sense of community that is difficult in the modern world.

Community building can use a wide variety of practices, ranging from simple events such as potlucks and small book clubs to larger–scale efforts such as mass festivals and construction projects that involve local participants rather than outside contractors.

BrianHimes

Things to do while Lost is on Hiatus:

Living Biblically

More Random Ramblings

Citizen Marketers

Community Building and Organizing

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