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Category Archives: Books
Missing the Mechanism for Persons?
As he does in some other books, Andrew Root attempts to give some historical context to what being a pastor has looked like throughout history. This is also true for The Relational Pastor. Early in the book, Root traces the … Continue reading
The Personal and the Individual
Last week I started looking at some of the concepts articulated by professor Andrew Root in The Relational Pastor. I’d like to continue to unpack some of his thinking this week, particularly as it relates to the shared life of … Continue reading
Tolkien on Sermons
From the late-April 1994 from JRR Tolkien to his son Christopher concerning sermons: But as for sermons! They are bad, aren’t they! Most of them from any point of view. The answer to the mystery is prob. not simple; but … Continue reading
Losing by Winning
While I don’t leap or land in all the same places with Andrew Root, there are a number of things he writes about in The Relational Pastor that confirms some of my own experience and emboldens me with some hope … Continue reading
A Way Back In (When You’re Not Outside)
In yesterday’s post, I pivoted from Yuval Levin’s discussion of institutional renewal to a question about renewal in the church. Levin spends a good bit of time talking about outsiders and insiders and how we need to see ourselves as … Continue reading
Devotion, Discontent, and Dissent
One of the reasons I enjoy reading books like Yuval Levin’s work on institutions is because I believe in them. I was formed by them. And I’ve been wounded by them (as have we all). While I live far from … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Notes for a World's End
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Saturday Morning Thoughts
Yesterday I posted a long lecture by Andrew Root about the shift that has changed in youth (ministry) culture over the last decade. I’ve read a decent chunk of Root’s most recent output the last few months (3 1/2 full … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Movies, Teaching
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New Year’s Hobbit
It took me a little longer than usual to get ahold of this year’s Tolkien calendar. When I finally remembered my need to order it around Christmas time, it was nigh impossible to find. Not at Amazon. Not at Barnes … Continue reading
Gospel and Church, Mold and Platform
In his survey of failing institutions in American life, Yuval Levin writes about the church in the “close to home” section (which also includes the family and community organizations. While he writes about the loss of authority of the Catholic … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, The Long Story
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Playing our Roles Fittingly (Civics Edition)
In class I often revisit the question of “how can I play my role fittingly?” in light of the biblical story. This is a nod to both N. T. Wright’s “five-act play” of the biblical story and Kevin Vanhoozer’s “drama … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Notes for a World's End, Teaching
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Space Enough, and Time 