tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23476981879228862632009-12-24T10:51:28.371+02:00An ongoing reflection on the ministry of renewal and missional theology in local congregations.Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.netBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-44209095738049894252009-12-24T10:19:00.000+02:002009-12-24T10:21:30.074+02:002009-12-24T10:21:30.074+02:00

Mag die Jirre jouse binneste roeren mag suffel goedgeit jou slatlat jy eintlik loep en skaam kry oor allie genade!TRANSLATED:May the Lord move your intestinesand slap you with so much goodnessthat you turn red with shame over all the grace!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/E63J4n3OBJA" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/afrikaans-poetry-griekwa-blessing-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-44068323022120000812009-12-24T10:15:00.000+02:002009-12-24T10:17:27.838+02:002009-12-24T10:17:27.838+02:00

New Testament Scholar, Ben Witherington III, went to watch the movie Avatar. His impressions are reposted below, but can also be read on his blog here.Avatar-- Opening Pandora's Box You know the story of Pandora's box. By now the phrase 'opening Pandora's box' has become a cliche as well. But since the movie Avatar is set on a planet called Pandora, and since this movie opens up <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/Nj2_1FJkg8M" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/movie-review-avatar-by-ben-witherington.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-52474095261997256802009-12-22T07:47:00.000+02:002009-12-22T08:03:28.662+02:002009-12-22T08:03:28.662+02:00

These two articles tell about the Jewish religious holiday, Hanukkah, that co-insides with Christmas. It can originally be found here and here.Chanukah in a Nutshell <!-- TEMP CSS --&gt; Chanukah -- the eight-day festival of light that begins on the eve of Kislev 25 -- celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality. More <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/1JUKqN93WxU" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/crossing-religious-boundaries.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-16460275306468865212009-12-22T07:24:00.000+02:002009-12-22T07:28:25.866+02:002009-12-22T07:28:25.866+02:00

This article was first published on the website of Reuters and can be read here.NAZARETH, Israel (Reuters) - Remains of a house from the time of Jesus have been found in Nazareth -- the first discovery of its kind in the place where he grew up, Israel's Antiquities Authority said on Monday. Archaeologists did not draw any direct link between the Nazareth dwelling and Jesus. His mother Mary's <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/nD0YZIzZe0w" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/found-on-internet-jesus-era-house-found.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-62912760581041707262009-12-20T19:11:00.000+02:002009-12-20T19:13:22.909+02:002009-12-20T19:13:22.909+02:00

This article was originally posted on the website of BBC News and can be read here. <!-- S BO --&gt; <!-- S IIMA --&gt; Mrs Jones says she was told her actions could be deemed to be bullying <!-- E IIMA --&gt; <!-- S SF --&gt;A Christian supply teacher has been suspended from her job <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/LL-25hAH6Nw" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/found-on-internet-teacher-suspended-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-72097984802471071582009-12-18T08:24:00.000+02:002009-12-22T07:28:51.956+02:002009-12-22T07:28:51.956+02:00

ARTICLE UPDATE 19-12-2009According to Ben Witherington, this archaeological find is fascinating and helpful, but one should not make the assumption that the way this shroud was made is representative of the way shoruds were made in the first century - as BBC News' article suggests. After the BBC article a video clip from CNN can be viewed (view the original here). Thank you Ben, for first sharing<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/F1Pfaf8iC0I" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/found-on-internet-jesus-era-burial.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-86224869155308811372009-12-17T08:56:00.000+02:002009-12-17T09:02:53.668+02:002009-12-17T09:02:53.668+02:00

<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/adR9o5Z1ckM" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/cartoon-what-not-to-give-your-children.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-25140109672111716692009-12-11T08:24:00.000+02:002009-12-11T08:43:10.991+02:002009-12-11T08:43:10.991+02:00

The Zion Christian Church is an African Initiated Church based in Polokwane. It is the largest church group (denomination) in South Africa, sporting approximately 8 million members. Theologically, the church is a mixture of Biblical theology and African traditional religious practices. The church's members consist mostly of black people. They trek north to Moria, the church's main site outside of<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/NtxWgjDABq8" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/south-africa-country-of-contrasts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-71506809411318431382009-12-09T15:39:00.000+02:002009-12-09T15:43:14.988+02:002009-12-09T15:43:14.988+02:00

The following article was originally posted on the website, Sojourners. The content beautifully captures the dream I have of Christians interacting and differing from each other on issues of faith and theology. The original post was written by Ryan Rodrick Beiler and can be read here.‘Spewing Reasonable Dialogue’: Affirmation from a ‘Skeptical’ CommenterIt’s not often that a message from a blog <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/9JTCY3JzMhE" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/manner-in-which-christians-debate-each.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-10257718262544174492009-12-07T18:38:00.000+02:002009-12-07T18:53:27.991+02:002009-12-07T18:53:27.991+02:00

I'm not sure how to say this. It's bothering me for quite a while that the public discourse in South Africa has been turning openly racist: For every bureaucratic mess-up or organizational chaos the first allegation made is that those who complain are (white) racists.Obviously, there is some truth to this. The other day I waited at a shop's exit to have my receipt stamped and the black guard was <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/7FEeGB07jnk" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/combatting-racism-one-smile-at-time.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-43232912583013191342009-12-06T22:02:00.001+02:002009-12-06T22:05:29.920+02:002009-12-06T22:05:29.920+02:00

Prophet is a South African (Afrikaans) gospel duo consisting of Koos van der Merwe and Theo Geyser. They sing songs asking desconstructing questions about church and society and how religious people behave. This song, Christmas Song, ponders over the impact materialism has on annual the celebration of Chris's birth.This clip was built for and used in our 2009 Christmas Song Service, at the Dutch <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/QnaWulXL6fk" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/kersfeesliedjie-van-prophet_06.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-41525084838905969792009-12-03T15:20:00.000+02:002009-12-03T15:29:21.204+02:002009-12-03T15:29:21.204+02:00

As I am to be involved in weddings every weekend for the next three weeks, I thought it appropriate to share this piece of Youtube humour with you. I dedicate this to Cindy ... <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/sCC4cp6XWxk" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.nethttp://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/video-clips-wedding-bliss.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-2699081348577476082009-12-03T00:15:00.000+02:002009-12-03T00:16:46.900+02:002009-12-03T00:16:46.900+02:00

Thanks to ASBO Jesus for this evangelistic commentary. See the original post with the ongoing discussion here.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/ckMkkSLqwsI" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/12/cartoon-how-do-you-evangelize.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-69282140435054570752009-11-27T13:31:00.000+02:002009-11-27T13:36:00.930+02:002009-11-27T13:36:00.930+02:00

Thanks to Ben Witherington who posted this report on the meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. It was originally posted here. The annual national meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature met this year in New Orleans last weekend, which I have to confess I would be glad to meet in every single year. The French, Cajun, and Creole food is great, the jazz is double great, the mild <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/wfLse8Jqeho" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-archaeological-finds-reveals.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-64358361363671471902009-11-25T09:27:00.000+02:002009-11-25T09:28:43.491+02:002009-11-25T09:28:43.491+02:00

The following opinion piece was published in today's edition of the Cape Times. The link to the original posting can be found here. It was written by John Scott. <!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false EN-ZA X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/VdcIzoDpldk" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/racist-whiteys-like-cronin-prepare-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-39879980965266032962009-11-23T11:40:00.000+02:002009-11-23T11:43:32.904+02:002009-11-23T11:43:32.904+02:00

I found this article on the website The Digital Sanctuary. It makes for an interesting read. The original posting can be found here. It was written by Cynthia Ware. Last week Guy Kawasaki directed his readers to a piece called 5 Ways to Create a Future-minded Non-profit. The timing was a great read for me as I get more deeply involved in working with the Center for Church <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/8fS662UYL0E" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/possible-trends-that-could-affect.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-14606675635811273442009-11-20T22:59:00.000+02:002009-11-20T23:01:38.838+02:002009-11-20T23:01:38.838+02:00

I am reposting Scot McKnight's series on preaching. The original can be found here. By the way, "Third Way" isn't a new term for emerging. It actually refers to an intentional theological positioning between fundamentalistic and liberal extremes. Read #deepchurch by Jim Belcher to get a better understanding of the reasoning that is underlying this.In this series on a Third Way approach to <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/lpMd3dwMeEs" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/third-way-preaching-and-education-3.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-70760758100972972162009-11-20T15:50:00.000+02:002009-11-20T15:59:54.631+02:002009-11-20T15:59:54.631+02:00

A friend sent me this humorously alternative calendar for the Christmas season.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/D4zLbO09oMA" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/cartoon-christmas-calendar.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-14546028607182101082009-11-20T00:22:00.000+02:002009-11-20T00:38:49.501+02:002009-11-20T00:38:49.501+02:00

I found this very insightful article here. America’s mainstream religious denominations used to teach the faithful that they would be rewarded in the afterlife. But over the past generation, a different strain of Christian faith has proliferated—one that promises to make believers rich in the here and now. Known as the prosperity gospel, and claiming tens of millions of adherents, it <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/pfa4_u9B7d0" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/did-christianity-cause-financial-crash.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-91561530066296133512009-11-20T00:02:00.000+02:002009-11-20T00:04:30.587+02:002009-11-20T00:04:30.587+02:00

I found this piece of humour on the site, The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus. Hilarious. I plead guilty.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/3ARzjHdZW9k" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/cartoons-if-jesus-shared-supper-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-86352835594907663652009-11-19T17:07:00.000+02:002009-11-19T17:35:36.523+02:002009-11-19T17:35:36.523+02:00

Jim Belcher started the third chapter of his book, Deep Church, with an experience of a congregation member on her earlier participation in fundamentalist churches. the woman grew up in the "fundamentalist world world where every kind of church or believer who was not in our denomination was a heretic and needed to be shunned" (p. 51). thus the question posed in this chapter is whether a church <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/G0I_IBWwP3A" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-deep-church-3-quest-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-85281782726535803762009-11-18T09:33:00.000+02:002009-11-18T16:56:14.495+02:002009-11-18T16:56:14.495+02:00

I read in today's front page article of the Afrikaans newspaper, Die Burger, that the legal representative of the four students who forced university workers to drink an initiation concoction (the so-called Reitz 4), argued that they cannot apologize about this deed as it would surmount to an admission of guilt. This should be read against the backdrop of an application to stop their prosecution<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/bvjsFP9RwWw" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/when-apology-is-denied.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-57998977549078236452009-11-14T13:41:00.001+02:002009-11-14T13:42:53.890+02:002009-11-14T13:42:53.890+02:00

I found this article on Scot McKnight's website. The original can be read here.We are pursuing on this blog a set of posts on the church's educational ministry and how a Third Way approach to preaching can reshape and revitalize preaching's impact.* I believe most preachers think sermons have an impact.* I believe most preachers pray and prepare in order to have an impact.* I believe most <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/5YInPhalMVw" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/repost-third-way-preaching-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-20418168844726325992009-11-12T23:12:00.001+02:002009-11-14T08:53:53.322+02:002009-11-14T08:53:53.322+02:00

I stumbled upon this humorous critique on sexist generalising. It makes one laugh but leaves you thinking. The original post can be found here.10. A man's place is in the army.9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/9KL7uTGlbA0" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net1http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/top-ten-reasons-why-men-should-not-be.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2347698187922886263.post-24313457973891178922009-11-11T20:54:00.000+02:002009-11-11T21:49:11.306+02:002009-11-11T21:49:11.306+02:00

In Chapter Two Belcher strives to get a grasp on the emerging church. He notes his initial impression of the ECM (upon attending a seminary class on the ECM) as being a repeat of an earlier model for church renewal, the church growth movement (p 35). On page 36 Belcher provides a very memorable quote: "I believe that even when I disagree with others I can still learn from them."Belcher's <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZHId/~4/yHEpf7dLLBI" height="1" width="1"/>

Guillaume Smithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01920670786195030985ghsmit@telkomsa.net0http://emergingbracken.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-review-part-2-deep-church.html