The Celtic Way of Evangelism

This is part of a title of one of George G. "Chuck" Hunters book. The full title is The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West (2000).

He opens by telling the story of St. Patrick who brought the gospel to Ireland in the late fourth/early fifth centuries. Patrick began by studying the community and shaping the presentation of the gospel in word and deed for the setting where it was heard and seen.

Hunter's reflections upon Patrick and his followers' 'Celtic model' of evangelism, it was shaped around three areas. They were: fellowship; ministry and conversations followed by belief; and, an invitation and commitment to Jesus. For him, this was more a 'right-brain' experience stirred from intuition, emotions, imagination, art such as music and poetry, and experience.

Who Stole My Church?

I finished a day and a half reading Who Stole My Church? What to Do When the Church You Love Tries to Enter the 21st Century. The author is Gordon MacDonald written in 2007.

It is a fictional work where a pastor tells the story of a congregation that is changing in order to reach the community around them. It follows the basic style of C. S. Lewis book, The Great Divorce, because each chapter in both deals with different individual response to change. And MacDonald also tells of how the pastor and others in the community of faith deal with that response.

The question in the book's title comes from a parishioner asking it because that person's present-day church is totally different from that character's past. It was worth my time to read. It includes "points to ponder" that are discussion questions in the back of the book for each chapter. I can see this as a book for various groups at church to explore and ponder.

Connecting With God: A Spiritual Formation Guide

Connecting with God is a 12-week long course that explores God and God's relationship with us. The authors of this are Lynda Graybeal and Julia Roller. The introduction is written by one who is known for his work on spiritual disciplines: Richard Foster.

I have been using it during my 5-week formational and spiritual growth leave reading three lessons per week. Through it, I have been exploring areas such as living, talking, meeting, listening, hearing, perceiving, seeking, seeing, sensing, encountering, wrestling, and walking with God.

Each day begins with a devotional reading from Christian authors. And then it is followed by a 'My Life with God Exercise' that includes a Scripture lesson and four means of reflection upon that lesson until you finish with 'taking it further'. I do like the way it is structured and a prayer that pulls from both Psalm 25 and 27. It goes as follows:

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;

teach me your paths.

Lead me in truth, and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation,

for you I wait all day long.

"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"

Your face, LORD, do I seek.

Give ear to me words, O LORD;

give heed to my sighing.

Listen to the sound of my cry,

My King and my God,

for to you I pray. Amen.

To you, O LORD; to you ... may all be to you.