The Safest Place On Earth - Likes & Dislikes

You should all be well into Larry Crabb's book, The Safest Place On Earth, by now. We'll be discussing it as a group on Wednesday, April 4.

This book is a little different in that I don't entirely endorse a lot of what Crabb says. Some of what he says I like, and other parts of it are not so good. Nonetheless, it should provoke some good discussion.

However, before we discuss it face to face, I'd like for us to start the conversation here. As you read the book, what parts of it did you like/agree with, and which parts did you dislike or disagree with? If you disagreed, what would you say instead?

Good Models

Tell us about one of the best leaders you've ever served under. What made them so good? Were their qualities unique to their personality or are they things you can learn to emulate yourself?

How can tomorrow be better than today?

I hope most of you have begun reading Dan Allender's book, Leading with a Limp, by now. On page 58 he makes this comment that I thought was especially relevant to all of us who are trying to create this new church:

"A leader must be troubled and discontent, and he must ask the question, How can tomorrow be better than today? He must be a visionary, living in the tension between how to honor what is good and true today and yet be discontent with today in light of what could transpire tomorrow. He is torn between what is and what could be, yet he speaks the future into the present due to his compelling desire for change."

Thoughts? Reactions? Can you identify with this in your own life and experiences in leadership?

Your Personality Type

Sorry I haven't been keeping up with this blog. I would still like for us to use it as a place for conversation. You should all be reading NT Wright's book, The Last Word, by now and preparing to discuss it next Thursday (Jan 18).

However, that's not what I'd like for us to talk about at the moment here. I'd actually like for us to share about our Myers-Briggs types. If you haven't taken it already you can take the test here, and read more in-depth about your preferences and type here. Then come post here what your personality type is and a little bit about what that means for you personally.

What are your Sacred Pathways?

As you read Sacred Pathways, what ones (2 or 3) do you identify with most strongly? Can you share an example of how you've experienced each of these in the past?

Responding to Questions

Hey all,

I'd like for us to have at least a little bit of conversation about Adventures in Missing the Point before moving on. If you would be so kind, please respond to at least one of the following questions in the next week. And then, if you can, please try to respond to at least one person's response. Thanks.

Here are the questions for discussion:

1. In the "Theology" chapter Campolo talks about how different cultures do theology differently. They have different questions, different assumptions, etc. Often, from our American/European cultural perspective we can tend to think that our theologies are the standard and every other culture's theology is true or false, good or bad in relation to ours. But this is clearly not true. My question is how does our own "Western" culture influence our theology? How do our particular questions, concerns, and assumptions get reflected in our theology?

2. In the "End Times" chapter Campolo contrasted theologies that see the world as on a downward moral spiral headed towards disaster and judgment, with theologies that see it as being guided towards God's ultimately good purposes (i.e. the kingdom) and thus gradually improving. What signs do you see in the world that supports either the pessimistic view or the optimistic view and which way do you personally tend to lean (and why)?

3. In the "Evangelism" chapter McLaren talks about five kinds of questions non-Christians commonly ask. Which, if any, of these questions have you encountered from non-Christians? What other kinds of questions have you been asked by them?

4. In the "Culture" chapter Campolo states that he thinks much of contemporary entertainment is a "cesspool" and "worthless". What do you think? Is his basically right or are there redeeming aspects to contemporary entertainment that Tony is missing? Also, are you personally more at risk of isolating yourself from the culture or of adopting its harmful values, such as consumerism?

5. In the "Leadership" chapter Campolo responds that he think Dorothy isn't the kind of leader he'd want in a crisis. What would you want in a leader during a crisis?

6. From the "Homosexuality" chapter, how do you respond to this statement: "Homosexual orientations are not chosen" (p. 203)? What are the practical implications of your view?

7. From the "Worship" chapter: what else should worship include in addition to music? What do you think about including historic Christian spirituality into worship?


8. Other: choose your own question from the discussion guides at the end of each chapter and then answer it for us.

Adventures in Missing the Point

Please continue to interact on some of the previous topics if you haven't already. Howevver, I wanted to move our conversation towards the next book Adventures in Missing the Point. (Remember, we'll be discussing this book this coming Thursday at 7pm. If you haven't started it yet, then at least read the first five chapters, and then pick at least 4-5 others that intrigue you and try to read those too before Thursday.

Here's my first question: for those of you who have started reading it, which chapter has been the most intriguing and/or provocative for you so far, and why? Have you seen any places yet in your own thinking where you may have been missing the point?