Read Mark 1:1-8 before reading the rest of this.
Did you read it? No really, read Mark 1:1-8 before going on. If you don't have a bible handy click here.
One of the things that strikes me about this passage is the simplicity of it. Mark gives us a lot of details about what John the Baptist is wearing. But even in the details there is a bare simplicity about the presentation of the Gospel message. Mark tells us of an old prophecy, of a little water, of basic clothing, and of a simple diet. The message is simple, clear, concise. And all the more powerful because of it's simplicity. We don't get distracted with extras in the story. Just the basics.
Perhaps this is so striking to me because of the difference between the way the gospel message is presented in the gospel of Mark, and the way it is so often presented in today's world. We live in a society of excess, where most of us feel like our houses, and more often than not, our lives, are cluttered by needless things. Sometimes clutter is in the form of random material things that fill our houses and preoccupy our thoughts. Sometimes clutter is in the form of mounting to-do lists that distract us from focusing on God.
We live in a cluttered world and yet God speaks to us a simple, profound message. God tells us of God's love for us, of God's desire to be in relationship with us. How does the Gospel message become cluttered for you? How does your life clutter the gospel message?
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About Me
- Barefoot Preacher
- I think to many people I am an anomaly. I am in my mid 20s, female, and a pastor. I like silly things like going for slurpee runs in the middle of the night. Yet if you ask what I'm thinking about, it's often things like would we recognize Jesus if he came back today or what does it really look like to truely embody God's love and grace? Anomaly or not, deep down we all have questions about life, faith, and God's interaction with us.
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- It rained all night &
- Tuesday in the D.R.
- We r going 2 an
- During lunch nieves had the
- The local women r following
- We hit water in 2
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"Good" and "Bad" prayers15 years ago
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Books I'm currently reading
Five practices of Fruitful Congregations by Robert Schnase
- This book is about some practices that growing churches have in common. Provides some interesting things to think about. So far it's well worth the read.
Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier
- This is a good book for anyone who is going on a cross-cultural experience. I'm only about half-way through but it's very enlightening to see some of the differences in the way different cultures process and react to similar situations. Growing up in many different places, this book rings very true to my own personal experience.
Celtic Christian Communities by Ian Bradley
- This book takes a critical look at monastic communities and what we can incorporate from them into christian communities today. I'm not sure how good this book will be. I must admit, the primary reason that I picked up the book is because I've always been fascinated by Christianity in Ireland. There's something about it that I've always been drawn to.
UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons
- So far this book is awesome. David Kinnaman works for the Barna group and did a national survey of non-christians' opinions of christianity. The results are really startling. The book talks about the results, and why we need to be aware of them. It also talks about what we need to change to stop hindering the spread of the gospel.
Prayer by Phillip Yancey
- What I like so far about this book is that Phillip Yancey engages some very difficult questions about prayer. Haven't read much of this in awhile.
A Year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- This is a devotional book I've been using.
God's Politics by Jim Wallis
- This is one of those books I eventually want to make it all the way through. It's really thick. I read a few pages every now and then, in between reading other books. It's a little too dense for me to read too much at a time.
- This book is about some practices that growing churches have in common. Provides some interesting things to think about. So far it's well worth the read.
Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier
- This is a good book for anyone who is going on a cross-cultural experience. I'm only about half-way through but it's very enlightening to see some of the differences in the way different cultures process and react to similar situations. Growing up in many different places, this book rings very true to my own personal experience.
Celtic Christian Communities by Ian Bradley
- This book takes a critical look at monastic communities and what we can incorporate from them into christian communities today. I'm not sure how good this book will be. I must admit, the primary reason that I picked up the book is because I've always been fascinated by Christianity in Ireland. There's something about it that I've always been drawn to.
UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons
- So far this book is awesome. David Kinnaman works for the Barna group and did a national survey of non-christians' opinions of christianity. The results are really startling. The book talks about the results, and why we need to be aware of them. It also talks about what we need to change to stop hindering the spread of the gospel.
Prayer by Phillip Yancey
- What I like so far about this book is that Phillip Yancey engages some very difficult questions about prayer. Haven't read much of this in awhile.
A Year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- This is a devotional book I've been using.
God's Politics by Jim Wallis
- This is one of those books I eventually want to make it all the way through. It's really thick. I read a few pages every now and then, in between reading other books. It's a little too dense for me to read too much at a time.
Books I recently finished reading
Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller
- I have to admit, I tried to read this book a few years ago and just couldn't get into it. I recently picked it up again. I find it kinda slow in the beginning. But once you get past the first several chapters it gets better. It has some really interesting thoughts on Christianity. Would make a good book for a small group to discuss.
Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner
- I HIGHLY recommend this book. It's written by a woman who converted from Judiasm to Christianity when she was in college. She writes about some of the shared practices that Jews and Christians have in common. She also talks about what Christians can learn from some of the Jewish traditions. This book will help you look at some christian practices and rituals in new ways. It's an easy read and definitely worth the time. It would make an awesome small group discussion book.
A Tony Clemens Christmas Miracle by James Lilley
- This is a fun quick read. Some of the language in it is not appropriate for children. But if you want to think of God with a sense of humor and using a practicle joker to work miracles you'd enjoy this book.
Marley and Me by John Grogan
- This was a really sweet book. If you are a dog owner you'll understand the stories and antics of the lovable Marley. With so much pain and hatred in the world, it's nice to be reminded of humanities remarkable capacity to love and to be loved.
The Shack by William Young
- This book was interesting. It encourages you to think beyond typical understanding and explanations. Ultimately, God is a mystery and no explanation we can must will be able to completely explain God. In that light, this book helps to stretch our understanding of God. If nothing else, this book is a good conversation starter, an avenue to help draw us deeper into relationship with God and one another.
People of Integrity by William Morgan Jr.
- This is actually a small group study. It's written by a United Methodist pastor and is an Excellent book! I highly recommend it. It's a good book to read even if you are not studying it as a part of a group. It's designed to read one chapter a week. Each chapter has some discussion questions at the end as well as some devotional suggestions for the week.
Adventures In Missing the Point by Brian McClaren and Tony Campolo
- I thought this book was good. There were a few topics that we less interesting to me than others and since the chapters pretty much stand alone, I'd say if you're not interested in those topics than just skip those chapters. As always I don't agree with everything in this book but it does encourage you to think about how we often miss the point.
Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White by Adam Hamilton
- I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to explore a middle group on many very divisive issues.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- This was a fun read. It warps your mind a little bit as you need to think backwards so to speak. Very clever in the way it points out the common mistakes many Christians and Churches make.
- I have to admit, I tried to read this book a few years ago and just couldn't get into it. I recently picked it up again. I find it kinda slow in the beginning. But once you get past the first several chapters it gets better. It has some really interesting thoughts on Christianity. Would make a good book for a small group to discuss.
Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren Winner
- I HIGHLY recommend this book. It's written by a woman who converted from Judiasm to Christianity when she was in college. She writes about some of the shared practices that Jews and Christians have in common. She also talks about what Christians can learn from some of the Jewish traditions. This book will help you look at some christian practices and rituals in new ways. It's an easy read and definitely worth the time. It would make an awesome small group discussion book.
A Tony Clemens Christmas Miracle by James Lilley
- This is a fun quick read. Some of the language in it is not appropriate for children. But if you want to think of God with a sense of humor and using a practicle joker to work miracles you'd enjoy this book.
Marley and Me by John Grogan
- This was a really sweet book. If you are a dog owner you'll understand the stories and antics of the lovable Marley. With so much pain and hatred in the world, it's nice to be reminded of humanities remarkable capacity to love and to be loved.
The Shack by William Young
- This book was interesting. It encourages you to think beyond typical understanding and explanations. Ultimately, God is a mystery and no explanation we can must will be able to completely explain God. In that light, this book helps to stretch our understanding of God. If nothing else, this book is a good conversation starter, an avenue to help draw us deeper into relationship with God and one another.
People of Integrity by William Morgan Jr.
- This is actually a small group study. It's written by a United Methodist pastor and is an Excellent book! I highly recommend it. It's a good book to read even if you are not studying it as a part of a group. It's designed to read one chapter a week. Each chapter has some discussion questions at the end as well as some devotional suggestions for the week.
Adventures In Missing the Point by Brian McClaren and Tony Campolo
- I thought this book was good. There were a few topics that we less interesting to me than others and since the chapters pretty much stand alone, I'd say if you're not interested in those topics than just skip those chapters. As always I don't agree with everything in this book but it does encourage you to think about how we often miss the point.
Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White by Adam Hamilton
- I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to explore a middle group on many very divisive issues.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- This was a fun read. It warps your mind a little bit as you need to think backwards so to speak. Very clever in the way it points out the common mistakes many Christians and Churches make.
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