Indulge

I've finished reading Houses That Changed the world and thoroughly enjoyed Simson's approach in attempting to return to a biblical pattern of fellowship. I highly recommend this to anyone re-thinking your traditional gathering times. Great apostolic insight into a sometimes complex scenario. While the book tends to speak more on an ideological level vs. a practical one, the seeds can be applied to soils on different areas and end up applicable in a wide variety of social strata.
Also finished Adventures in Missing the Point by McLaren and Campolo. I especially enjoyed the dual perspective writing style. Reading was much like sitting down for coffee with the two of them and listening to them dialogue about the different areas of "churchianity" that need some revisiting. Ranging from Evangelism and the Church to talking about the Church's view and relationship to the homosexual community as well as the Environment, they do a great job of helping stretch the mind to look the issues in the eye and deal with them. I recommend this for a group discussion type of atmosphere as it is bound to stir some things up when you read it.
Almost done with Once Upon a Cross. All I can say is that Miller has a way with words that is very conducive to contemplation and meditation. Great "qt" book (that is, if you have a "quiet time.")

Last night Kelly and I picked up a few books for the Russia trip.
1- Kimball: Emerging Worship. (Emerging author. Picked it up b/c I'm looking for forward thinking and ideas for our larger community gatherings. Hopefully this will not dissappoint.)
2- Winner: Mudhouse Sabbath (Same girl who wrote Girl Meets God, which I still have to read. Explores intergrating Jewish ritual practices into the believer's walk/ returing to rythm. Read 2 chpt's last night and enjoyed it so far. I am on the Death chapter now. Deep)
3- Rogers: Christian Liberty (President of a Baptist Seminary, writing it seems to a fairly conservative crowd. Asking folks to stretch their thinking about previous notions of "holiness" and "purity" and asking them to allow the younger generation to stretch their wings as they follow Chist into the culture they are so passionate about reaching. Though I've worked through these isues personally over the past couple years, it is interesting to listen to a Baptist dude share the same things.)

Russia in 2 days. Hopefully (though not likey) I can blog while I am there. Our itinerary will be up soon at the Mars Hill, Dallas site.