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Interview: The Last Word and the Word After That...an interview with Brian McLaren
lwsmall: Click here for the Next-Wave interview with Brian McLaren on the publication of The Last Word...and the Word after That, the final volume in the New Kind of Christian trilogy.
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Review: Last Word and the Word After That by Pat Loughery:

Brian McLaren is a dangerous author.  He’s also an incredibly courageous one. It must take a constitution strong in both of these attributes to undertake the project that McLaren has just finished: 
Deconstructing our contemporary doctrine of hell.
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Interview: A Generous Orthodoxy...an interview with Brian McLaren

smgenortho: Brian McLaren, pastor and author, has recently published "A Generous Orthodoxy." You can read Next-Wave's interview with him here... >> more

 

charlie wear's notes

1 8:42AM
BulletWhen Evangelism is your job….

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about, among other things, church leadership in large churches. We were talking about the difficulties of keeping the evangelism flame alive in a large church. I said something like, "When Evangelism is your job, you are in trouble."

I think the same could be said about being a preacher, worship leader, or other paid staff member of a large church. So many influences come into play when you get your paycheck as a result of being successful in an endeavor that is primarily an activity of the Holy Spirit or it’s influence in our lives. And, for God’s sake, what do you do when everything you used to do in your "job" stops working?

Of course, there is plenty of information out there on the subject "Why Evangelism Doesn’t Work," and I think it is fair to say that the entire process has become much more difficult, at least in the North American culture I live in. For those of us who are not "professional" evangelists, preachers, etc., let’s pray that the Holy Spirit would breathe new life into the work of those who make their living from these endeavors. Burnout is inevitable, fresh infilling is a necessity.



BulletThe Good Old Days….

I’ve been around ministry long enough to be nostalgic for things that happened in the past, have you? One time I was part of a small group that used to feed homeless people on Saturdays in a park. Now, we were the kind of group that believed it is better to seek forgiveness than to get permission, so we were set up on a Saturday afternoon underneath a covered pavilion. We had been doing this for awhile and had developed a reputation for providing some very good food.

This particular weekend was rainy. I know, very unusual for Southern California. As one of the leaders of the group I began to panic when I saw that about 300 people had lined up. We had igloo coolers full of stew and chili and lots of other good stuff, but I was sure there was not enough food. I was in the serving line ladling out some outstanding potato based stew with big chunks of meat. I had been at it for some time.

Here’s the way it worked. The guest would hand me their bowl, I would lift the cover just enough to scoop my ladle into the stew. Out would come the steaming stew. It wasn’t long before I noticed that every time I ladled out a serving there was a large chunk of meat in it. This seemed unusual. I mean, I should have missed once in a while, right?

I opened up the lid and noticed I had used up about 40% of the contents. I stirred the contents and was not able to come up with pounds of meat. Fewer than 40% of our guests had been served, so I had reason for concern, but I commented to one of my fellow servers, "Wow, this is the meatiest stew I have ever served."

The line continued processing. I continued ladling. The meat continued plopping into the bowls. I didn’t lift the lid again until every one had been served. When I did lift it, there was still about 20% of the stew remaining.

Not only did we serve that overflow crowd. We sent the leftovers to a shelter for abused women and 24 more adults had food that Saturday. It wasn’t loaves and fishes, but our entire group was convinced that God had multiplied the food and fed those people that afternoon. As we sat around a restaurant table afterwards sharing our experience, we couldn’t keep from smiling and shaking our heads. The New Testament had come alive in our own lives! Wow…

I was reminded of this story as I read a post on my friend Scott Bane’s site. He is planting a church in northwest Indiana. As I looked at his post I realized that he is living through his "good old days" right now. And then, as I thought about Scott and his family, the Holy Spirit quickened in my heart that he has some more "good old days" for me to live in…Wow!



BulletLive Like You Were Dying….

Tim Russert Video TributeIs there anyone in the US (who watches TV news, reads a newspaper, or checks out Google News) that does not know that Tim Russert of NBC’s Meet the Press died yesterday? I was not a regular viewer of Meet the Press but I always enjoyed Russert’s hardhitting interviews when I would see them from time to time. I especially enjoyed his well-known admiration for his father that was clearly evidenced in his NY times bestseller, Big Russ and Me.

Russert was clearly a man of faith, a strong family man and someone who was "tough but fair" as John McCain said about him yesterday. He was the first of his family to attend college and was the product of the working man values instilled in him by his father who supported and educated his children after service in WW II as a sanitation worker and a truck driver.

Russert was 58 years old. I suppose that is one reason why his death has moved me so much, because he was just a few months younger than I am. He was a man at "the top of his profession" as McCain said. He was involved in the news story of his life, the 2008 presidential campaign and election. He collapsed at work doing the thing that he loved to do.

A few years ago the Tim McGraw song, Live Like You Are Dying was on an endless loop on my ipod. I was struck with the realization of my own mortality. The realization moved me to make choices to fashion a life that was more in line with the idea that our days are numbered. Of course, people, young and old, die every day. Some have made a big ripple in this pond we live in, some have not. I guess what is more important for me, at this stage of my life, is that I live each day in a state of contentment. That I appreciate the daily blessings I receive and that I pass them to those around me.




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the latest...

News: Jun08 issue of Next-Wave is online:

Cover Story
"We love church planting... over THERE." Where is "over there"?

Anywhere but within driving distance of my church.

Next-Wave Ezine - June, Issue #114


 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Featured Article: Events
 
Current Events
 
Culture
 
Church Culture
 
Reviews
 
Adventures in Emerging
Jesus and Dino...
By Next Wave
 


 >> more
6/20/08; 9:42:18 AM

News: May08 issue of Next-Wave is online:
Cover Story
We recently had a chance to grill Todd about what he’s learned, the next phase of his leadership adventure, the Society for Kingdom Living, and something called “Three is Enough Groups.”


Next-Wave Ezine - May, Issue #113

 
 

Culture
 
Theology
An Evangelical Problem
By Scot McKnight
 
Spirituality
Mistaken, But Not Wrong
By Chip Anderson
 
Church Planting
 
Leadership
 
Missional
 
Interviews
 
Quoted...
Quoted
By Next Wave
 
Reviews
 
 >> more
5/21/08; 11:52:05 AM

News: Apr08 issue of Next-Wave is online:
Cover Story
This month we're featuring two different interactions with Brian McLaren and his recent book Everything Must Change...
Next-Wave Ezine - April, Issue #112

 
 

Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Featured Article: Events
 
Culture
 
Time-shifting
By Charlie Wear
 
Theology
Too Much Heaven?
By Michael Spencer
 
Spirituality
 
Church Planting
 
Kingdom Living
Charisma
By Kester Smith
 
Church Life
Why I Stayed
By Aaron Monts
 
Church Culture
The Question
By Mark McMurray
 
Doing Church
 
Adventures in Emerging
Bingo!
By Next Wave
 >> more
4/21/08; 9:50:15 AM

News: Mar08 issue of Next-Wave is online:
Cover Story
Doug Pagitt and Bob Hyatt talking about how Doug thinks of his critics, about pressure from the left and right, and what's next- a career in politics?

Next-Wave Ezine - March, Issue #111

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
An Old Hope
By Chris Leonardo
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Church Planting
 
Leadership
Home-Grown Leadership
By Chip Anderson
 
 
Kingdom Living
 
Missional
 
Evangelism
 
Church Culture
Building a Kingdom
By Cody Stauffer
 
A Weight...
By Bob Hyatt
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4/9/08; 6:41:24 PM

News: Feb08 issue of Next-Wave is online:

Cover Story
Ash Wednesday begins Lent by reminding us that the journey towards the Cross is one every Christ follower must make- step by step, selfish impulse by selfish impulse.


Next-Wave Ezine - February, Issue #110
 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Emerging Church
 
Culture
The Wrong Kind of Christian
By John the Younger
 
Theology
 
Spirituality
 
Church Planting
 
Kingdom Living
 
Missional
 
Real Life
 
Evangelism
 
 
Doing Church
 


 >> more
2/13/08; 6:18:48 AM

News: Jan08 issue of Next-Wave is online...:
Cover Story
On 28 February 2008, the "secret of life" turns 55.

Next-Wave Ezine - January, Issue #109

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
2008: Behind and Beyond
By Brian McLaren
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Next-Wave
 
 
Emerging Church
What We Need are Name Tags
By Michael Spencer
 
 
Culture
 
Theology
 
 
Spirituality
 
 
Leadership
 
Kingdom Living
 
Epiphany Reflection
By Kester Smith
 
Missional
Missional Church
By David Rudd
 
Real Life
Contemplating the New Year
By Christy Lambertson
 
Listen to Me
By Scott Bane
 
Column
The Value of Many Voices
By Helen Mildenhall
 
Book Excerpt
 
Church Culture
Segregated Churches in America and Their Future
By Daryl D. Green and Dahlia D. Cunningham
 
Reviews
 
Adventures in Emerging
Waitaminnit...
By Next Wave
 
 >> more
1/10/08; 3:20:24 PM

News: Dec07 issue of Next-Wave is online:
Cover Story
An Interview with David Kinnaman, President – The Barna Group and Author of UnChristian



Next-Wave Ezine - December, Issue #108

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
Advent: Resisting Christmas
By Brother Maynard
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Advent Reflections
 
 
 
 
Emerging Church
 
Theology
 
Church Life
 
From the Archives
Joy to the World...
By Charlie Wear
 
Quoted...
Wisdom...
By Next Wave
 
Adventures in Emerging
 
 >> more
12/17/07; 8:37:51 PM

News: Nov07 issue of Next-Wave is online:
NWNov:
Cover Story

I had the opportunity to attend the Off-The-Map LIVE conference November 1st - 3rd in Seattle a few weeks back. Brian was kind enough to agree to the following interview about his new book: Everything Must Change – Jesus, Global Crises and a Revolution of Hope

Next-Wave Ezine - November, Issue #107


Editorial
 
 
Featured Article: At the Top
Rain on the Windshield
By Robby McAlpine
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Culture
 
Theology
Is Christianity a Cult?
By Chip Anderson
 
 
Kingdom Living
Two Messiahs
By Ross Daws
 
Social Justice
 
Church Culture
Beyond Belief
By Kester Smith
 
Essay
The Secret Society
By Daniel Curtis
 
Youth Ministry
 
Adventures in Emerging
Post-Math...
By Next Wave
 >> more
11/18/07; 4:36:51 PM

News: Oct07 issue of Next-Wave is online...:
Cover Story
Bill Dahl, who runs The Porpoise Diving Life.com interviews Jim Palmer on the eve of the publication of his latest book, Wide Open Spaces, Beyond Paint-By-Number Christianity


Next-Wave Ezine - October, Issue #106


 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
 
Culture
 
Theology
 
Spirituality
 
Kingdom Living
 
Missional
 
Interviews
 
Church Life
 
Church Culture
A better gift...
By Sheryl Bane
 
Doing Church
Marketing Reimagined
By Troy Sanders
 
Adventures in Emerging
A Stranger
By Next Wave
 
Quoted...
Quoted...
By Next Wave
 
Reviews
 
 >> more
10/22/07; 2:24:14 PM

News: Sep07 issue is online: Cover Story
Somehow, the show goes on...even if most of the unbelievers we thought we were reaching either weren't there in the first place, or they left the building some time ago.

Next-Wave Ezine - September, Issue #105

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
Dingy and Musty
By Rob McAlpine
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
Open Your Eyes Wide
By David Trotter
 
Featured Article: Events
 
 
Emerging Church
 
Culture
Sometimes…
By Gray Davis
 
Living Towards Resurrection
By Scott Berkhimer
 
 
Theology
 
Kingdom Living
 
Evangelism
Listening to the Lost
By Jonathan Dodson
 
Church Culture
 
Adventures in Emerging
Poster Wars!
By Next Wave
 
Reviews
 
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9/19/07; 1:46:03 PM

News: Aug07 issue of Next-Wave is online...:
Cover Story
An excerpt from Jim Palmer's book, Divine Nobodies that chronicles Jim's journey toward discovering God without religion through the ministry of the "divine nobodies" who populate our daily lives.


Next-Wave Ezine - August, Issue #104

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
 
Featured Article: Events
 
Emerging Church
Hearing Voices
By Matthew Reece
 
Culture
 
Church Planting
 
Facing the Unknowns
By Kester Smith
 
Kingdom Living
 
Missional
 
Interviews
 
 
Church Life
 
Church Culture
Church in the Cracks
By J. R. Miller
 
Adventures in Emerging
Generation Gap?
By Next Wave
 
Reviews
 


 >> more
8/13/07; 8:05:09 PM

News: Jul07 issue of Next-Wave is online:
Cover Story
I've often wished I could write off church... It certainly would make life easier in many ways and at least I'd get to sleep in on Sundays. But, if I truly understand the Gospel... I just can't.


Next-Wave Ezine - July, Issue #103

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
 
Featured Article: Spotlight
Through The Looking Glass
By Robby McAlpine
 
Reviews
 
Kingdom Living
 
Missional
 
 
Church Life
 
 
Church Culture
 
Adventures in Emerging
the debate...
By NextWave
 
Off The Map: Ordinary Attempts
 
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7/11/07; 5:24:43 PM

News: The Jun07 issue of Next-Wave is online...:
Cover Story
What are the implications of knowing more about what’s going on in Paris Hilton’s life than we do about our neighbors or even our own family members?

Next-Wave Ezine - June, Issue #102

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
 
Reviews
 
Culture
On (digital) sparrows
By Jon Swanson
 
Theology
We Believe in The Resurrection of Jesus
By WatersEdge/ Joel McCLure
 
Church Planting
 
Kingdom Living
 
 
Missional
 
Evangelism
The Difference
By Chris Sowers
 
Church History
Christianity is A Cult!
By Chip Anderson
 
Adventures in Emerging
 
Quoted...
Quoted...
By Next Wave
 >> more
6/9/07; 8:59:10 PM

News: May07 issue of Next-Wave is online:
Cover Story
    
    
What kind of impact will the Emerging Church make in the long run?  Is it a fad that will pass away and be remembered as a fringe group of protestors to the spirit of the modern age?  Or is it a long term reform in the way we have been “doing” church and living out our role in culture as God’s agents?

  Next-Wave Ezine - May, Issue #101

    
    
 
     
Featured Article: At the Top   
 
    
Featured Article: Spotlight 
 
 
    
Emerging Church    
Purpose-Driven Nooma
By Joel Triska
 
    
Reviews    
 
    
Kingdom Living   
 
 
    
Real Life    
 
    
Book Excerpt    
 
    
Church Life    
 
    
Church Culture    
The Language We Use
By Jared Byas
 
    
Adventures in Emerging   
 


  >> more
5/15/07; 4:11:45 AM

News: Bad Things Happen: Publisher's Note: In the aftermath of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, It seems appropriate to reflect on our role in participating in God's Kingdom work. Click here for some thoughts.

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4/17/07; 6:22:40 AM

News: Apr07 issue of Next-Wave is online:

Cover Story
As I write these words I hope to continue to be a part of what God is doing to advance His Kingdom on the earth. I hope to be one of those who gives permission, encouragement and support to those who will lead the emerging churches of the 21st century.

Next-Wave Ezine - April, Issue #100

 
 

Featured Article: At the Top
 
Emerging Church
The Emerging Storm
By Stephen Shields
 
Field Report: A Woman in Ministry
By Rachelle Mee-Chapman
 
 
Culture
 
 
Theology
What is The Gospel?
By Scot McKnight
 
Church Planting
 
Missional
Why I am Not Missional
By Dwight Friesen
 
Interviews