CRHM recommendation

Thanks to Bill Van Groningen of Christian Reformed Home Missions (and husband of my colleague Connie) for mentioning my book in his "Interesting Stuff" newsletter, in the same paragraph as Neal Plantinga's Engaging God's World and Quentin Schultze's Here I Am: Now What on Earth Should I Be Doing? Bill writes:

These books keep a wider horizon in view, a horizon that incorporates not only the emergent now of conversion, but also God's provision of "in the beginning" and eventual "unending shalom." They understand what it means to be church today in the context of an eternal kingdom (heaven on earth) that has already dawned in Jesus Christ.

ABC Special to Look For Heaven

No, I don't quote Barbara Walters in my book...

Dec. 5, 2005 — For centuries humanity has looked to the sky and asked profound questions: Where is heaven and how do we get there? People have dreamed of heaven, dedicated their lives to the promise of heaven, even martyred themselves — committing heinous acts of terrorism — for the promise of paradise. Is heaven simply a myth dreamed up to give lives meaning, or is it a real place?

Anchored by Barbara Walters, "Heaven — Where Is It? How Do We Get There?" explores the meaning of heaven with religious leaders of the major faiths, scientists, people who say they believe in heaven because they've been there, celebrities who are vocal about their beliefs, and even with terrorists. The special broadcast airs Tuesday, Dec. 20, from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET on ABC. continued...

Advent Peace Psalm by Edward Hays

This litany was read yesterday in a beautiful Advent worship service I attended at LaSalle Street Church in Chicago. I thought it provocatively captured the mission of humble but bold renewal that I was trying to articulate in Chapter 4.

(I assume the psalm is taken from this collection; to appease the copyright police, I'll post only a portion.)

Advent Peace Psalm
Edward Hays

O Prince of Peace, whose advent we seek in our lives,
Come this day and show us how to beat our swords into plowshares,

Tools of life instead of instruments of fear.

May your love strip us naked of all weapons
and strategies of conquest,
which are not the tools of lovers, wise ones, and God's children

Let us not lust for power but rather strive for the insight to be guided on the Way of Peace

...

Let us be Advent adventurers and peacemakers
hammering swords into shovels, filling holes and leveling peaks.


Let us be disarmed and vulnerable,

For only through such open hands and hearts will Emmanuel come.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.