N. T. Wright: Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
Mark Galli: Beyond Smells & Bells: The Wonder and Power of Christian Liturgy
Richard Rohr: Adam's Return: The Five Promises of Male Initiation
Richard J. Foster: Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
Chris Lowney: Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World
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I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. This is also my anniversary weekend, 12 years ago Emily and I tied the knot. 6 kids and a wonderful life later...here we are!
Another destination on the Red Letters Blog Tour can be found here: Thoughts of a Gyrovague, from my good friend Carl Holmes who works at Compassion International. Second, Kevin Bowman, a friend I met via the internet a year or so ago.
For anyone desiring an outline of the message on Red Letters, there are two available for immediate download on Sermoncentral.com. The first is titled, We are the Good Samaritan and the second is, Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds. (click the highlighted title to download) These are great for small groups, sermons, personal study, or any kind of teaching.
I'm off to Virginia Beach today for Children's HopeChest's Partners Conference. Many of you have asked when the book will be in the stores. It's due to release September 1st, but that doesn't mean it will land on the shelves then. Should be between the 1st and 14th of September in most stores. But, it is available online now! Thanks everyone for you support of the book and the message!
Pastor Dino Rizzo, pastor of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has posted a review of Red Letters on his site. The Red Letters Blog tour is in full swing and I'll keep you updated on all the reviews. The book was available this morning on Amazon, but sold out by the afternoon. You can still pre-order. The book is still available on Barnes and Noble.
"I haven’t met Tom Davis yet, but I hope to one day soon. I heard of him through Dan Ohlerking and an early-release copy of Tom’s new book he’s written called, Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds. After reading just the first chapter, I can tell you that this book is going to be a phenomenal blessing to those who read it." You can read the rest by clicking here.
"El Mol " - a friend I have marked with the dubious title, "Man Out of Control," has posted a video review of Red Letters here. We've been to Russia several times together and tore up the "Leadership Network" circuit together. If you do anything today, watch it!
The military and rebels in CAR have created a terrible humanitarian crises. Orphans and widows are fast becoming the majority of the population and have no access to basic amenities, sanitation, water, and food. Click here to see pictures from the crisis.
I finally made it to Facebook. Click HERE to view my profile. If you're on, invite me as a friend!
Just received 100 of the first copies of Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds and it looks amazing! The publisher designed a two-color interior with the red 'blood' smeared on each chapter. That sounds kind of demented. All of Jesus' red-letter words are also red. The really cool thing is the sticker on the front that reads, "Buy this book & feed an orphan for a month." So when you buy the book, you're making a difference in the world!
I'm signing all of these for 'author bookplates' going to several online bookstores. One week till the release date! Here's another endorsement on the back cover:
"Red Letters challenges individuals and churches to move together as a compassionate army of Jesus' love, bringing peace and hope to a world in need."
STEVE MCEVEETY, producer, Passion of the Christ and Braveheart
For the fist time, sex has become the primary reason for new HIV infections in China. Previously, it was due to drug use. This is a serious issue for China as HIV infections now spread into the main population. With the numbers of people living in China and the size of the cities, this is something to worry about. Read the BBC article here.
EMI and Children's HopeChest are giving a way an all expense paid trip for 2 to Africa. All meals, accommodations, safaris, everything is paid for. You will accompany me and a small group to Swaziland, the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. If you win, you get to pick who you want to come with you! Register now at www.hearitfirst.com/redletters, and watch this video:
What happens to a society when the orphan population explodes because of AIDS? Imagine that happening in your home town. Thousands of your neighbors would be little 12 and 13 year old boys and girls raising their younger siblings. No parents, no sense of right and wrong, just abandoned kids raising kids. It's almost too hard to believe this is the reality for millions of children living in our world. Please Read this article to get a grasp on this crisis. There is something to be done. We can be 'Good Samaritans' and make a difference in the life of an orphan. If you don't know where to start, Five for 50 is a great option.
It's great to see that the Awakening Festival is promoting Five for 50. If you haven't signed up, make sure to add your name to the list and support the almost 50 million people suffering with HIV/AIDS.
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Hey Dads! Here's an amazing book I just ordered called, The Dangerous Book for Boys. This book is about all the incredible, adventurous things boys do with their dads to make huge connections. Many of the things talked about are what I did, not with my dad, but with my grandpa. Things that still have a huge impact on me to this day. Here's a short video promo on the book, view the video here. Get this book!!!
What are your thoughts about these Gay Nigerian men? How do you feel about the stoning? What would it be like to live in a society where certain sins are punishable by death or flogging? What do you really think Jesus would do?
Eighteen men have been remanded in prison following their arrest for alleged sodomy in northern Nigeria, the state-owned news agency, Nan, reports.The men were arrested in a hotel in north-eastern Bauchi State, which is governed by the Islamic Sharia law. The Sharia punishment for sodomy is death by stoning. The men, reportedly wearing women's clothes, are said to have gone to Bauchi town from neighbouring states to celebrate a "gay wedding".
Sharia judge Malam Tanimu ordered that the 18 be remanded in prison after they were arraigned before him on Wednesday. Prosecuting police officer Tadius Boboi said the men's actions had contravened Sharia law, adopted in Bauchi and a dozen other states in Muslim northern Nigeria in 2000.
Amputations
More than a dozen Nigerian Muslims have been sentenced
to death by stoning and for sexual offences ranging from adultery and
homosexuality. But none of these death sentences have actually been
carried out as they were either thrown out on appeal or commuted to
prison terms as a result of pressure from human rights groups.
Many others have been sentenced to flogging by horsewhip for drinking. Read the entire BBC article here.
Last week I told you about a two part article I've written for an awesome ezine called, Wrecked for the Ordinary. This week, they've posted the 2nd part of the article. I'm also pumped that they've jumped on board with the Five for 50 Campaign and are challenging their readers to give $5 to provide 100 meals for orphans in Swaziland.
Here's the start of Part 2:
But I didn’t run. I didn't because I knew that as a Christ follower I
didn't have the luxury of pretending like this didn't exist. I knew
that if Jesus were walking this earth today, we’d find Him in
Swaziland, doing whatever it took to make a difference – caring for the
orphans, rebuilding the nation, speaking life instead of death.
And I knew that in some mysterious way, I am Jesus walking this earth
and making a difference. You and I incarnate Him, we are His hands, His
feet, His voice. Continue reading here.
An incredibly sacrificial move on the part of actress Mia Farrow. The 62 year old actress has offered her personal freedom so Sudanese rebel, Suleiman Jamous can receive safe passage to receive medical treatment. Jamous is the key to aid organizations safe passage and is a main influencer of negotiations between rebel groups.
Another example of celebrities and rock stars leading the charge of what Christ has called us to do. Some call it crazy, I say God bless you Mia Farrow. Read the news report Here.
Red Letters releases in less than a month. In celebration, I will be featuring a Red Letter Blog Tour, featuring different bloggers, magazines and ezines who have either reviewed the book or interviewed me. The first comes from my good friend and Emergent Church leader, Will Samson. Thanks Will!
I recently finished reading an advanced copy of Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds , by Tom Davis, the President of Children's Hope Chest.
Wow
This is an important book. It is important not because it is well-written, although it is. And, it is an important book not just because the idea of living justly in the world, "being the hands and feet of Jesus," is for all us to be reminded of, although that's true.
This is an important book because it is filled with the real world stories of someone living out "a faith that bleeds." This is not a dissociated text from an academic. This is filled with the real world stories of Tom Davis, a man who recognizes the injustices in the world and is working within the Church to address them.
My favorite chapter was the tenth, entitled How to Bleed. Although the book clearly is not a how-to on living justly, this chapter and the Additional Resources section that follows provide some clear steps for readers who are seeking to engage with God's work of justice here in the US and around the world.
Red Letters: Living a Faith that Bleeds is a significant contribution to the growing body of books that are seeking to draw the Church back to faithful living in the area of justice. Are you interested in living more justly? Then read this book.
Thanks to Erin Wilson in Canada for this post. I love the idea of taking 100 friends in Africa to dinner.
For the price of one value meal at a Canadian McDonalds, you can feed 100 orphans in Swaziland:
$5 = 100 meals of fortified rice and soup.
$25 = 500 meals.
$50 = 1000 meals.
Didn't think you had enough money for a child sponsorship programme? Think again. The good folks at Five for 50 make it easy to make a difference. While you're thinking about it, TK linked this great Time Magazine photo essay, if you'd like to see what how this plays out around the world.
There's an article I've just written on Swaziland up today on Wrecked for the Ordinary . Wrecked is an ezine that strives to re-imagine culture by challenging the norms and getting people out of their comfort zones. Click here to read, "Help! Half Our People are Dying."
Want a way to make a huge difference in an orphan's life with very little effort? We've worked out a special arrangement to deliver food directly to the orphans we serve in Swaziland. For only $5, you can provide 100 meals of fortified rice and soup. This has special vitamins and minerals added to strengthen their bodies against malnourishment and disease. $25 provides 500 meals and $50 provides 1000 meals. Please go to Five for 50 site now to sign up. Our goal is to provide at least 243,000 meals which is one container. Thanks for your help.
