11 Responses to “the reformers”

1. 1
   Jon Owen Says:
   February 21st, 2006 at 8:55 pm

   I heard there were many keen observers working up some serious dude sweat over Brian McLaren!

   I also heard that his message was one more of confirming the work already in progress as opposed to any radical new insights which has got to be a real encouragement to all those out there in the Australian seeking to bring about the “whatever the heck the emerging church is” land.

2. 2
   phil Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 7:08 am

   Hi Jon,
   My reaction to the first day was that it was an excellent and thoughtful presentation of the culture shifts that I have head many times before. It was good but I didn’t hear anything groundbreaking. He is an engaging speaker with terrific illustrations and I am looking forward to where he will go with the material on Thurs.

   I am not sure who was nervously sweating in Melb but I cant see that they would be offended or worried about what was said in the first day.

3. 3
   scott Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 7:51 am

   I think there is a good chance of sweat if the temperature gets over 30c in that hall on thursday at Tabor.
   I agree with Phil, nothing new that was covered. Just new terminology such as ‘post colonial’, which I can certainly identify in my Australian culture.
   I also just found it interesting what Alan Myer just posted http://www.philbaker.net/blog/3154 ‘Christianity and Western Civilisation’ with the premiss ‘the heart of your culture is your religion’. Almost the opposite from what I heard yesterday and a very ‘modern’ world view.

4. 4
   the rev Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 7:52 am

   Phil,

   Jon is talking about how some people tend to bag america, but then Brian comes out and everyone is all up on him like a tick on a dogs ass.

   

   I enjoyed the Q&A portion, the postmodernism, post colonialism stuff was very thorough, and well done, but like you said I had heard it before.

   I am expecting him to be a bit more new and exciting at the postcards, (and that isn’t marketing, its already sold out)

   the rev

5. 5
   Aj Schwanz » Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 10:32 am

   […] Or by courageously following their example?” ~ Brian McLaren HT « The Church: Sin Management vs. Kingdom Living   […]

6. 6
   Aj Schwanz » How Do Reformers Go From Here? Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 10:33 am

   […] Or by courageously following their example?” ~ Brian McLaren HT «   […]

7. 7
   Andrew Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 4:55 pm

   I heard him today over 6 hours. Really excellent. I don’t think it is fair to expect him to say ‘anything groundbreaking’ as one might expect something of a visiting guru. He’s written so much good stuff. I though that the benefit was the chance to engage in conversation with him rather then put him on a pedestal and at a distance. I think that things become dangerous when someone is defined just by their radical or groundbreaking quotent. Sometimes it is really helpful if they are just ‘normal’ and ‘interested’.

8. 8
   phil Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 5:08 pm

   I think you might have misunderstood me Andrew. Maybe, I communicated badly. I was not suggesting that Brian McLaren needs to be ground breaking everytime, and I wasn’t attempting to put nor do I have him on a pedestal and at a distance. I wasn’t attempting to define Brian by his radical or groundbreaking quotent.

   Rather, I was simply saying that he gave a good talk, covered good ground well but said nothing that I hadn’t heard before and therefore was not particularly groundbreaking. It sounds like you agree with my assessment that he didn’t say anything ground breaking.

9. 9
   Andrew Says:
   February 22nd, 2006 at 5:19 pm

   I do Phil. My comment was more in light of Rev’s expectations for ‘postcards’.

10. 10
    the rev Says:
    February 22nd, 2006 at 6:28 pm

    he is speaking on a different subject at the postcards. I was not expecting him to say anything ground breaking at Tabor either, I expected him to do just what he did, make a foundation for understanding our current cultural shifts. He did that very well. But like I said, he is talking about his new book at the postcards. Because I have already heard the postmodernism stuff, I look forward to something I haven’t heard before, what is wrong with that?

    the rev

11. 11
    Andrew Says:
    February 22nd, 2006 at 7:03 pm

    Nothing Rev. Enjoy it!