…and to all…

One Big, Growing Happy Family

Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

The Gensheers

Chris, Maggie, Maya, Alex and Jack

(check out our family blog or leave a comment and ask for our Christmas letter)

“How much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize?”

Penn Says: A Gift of a Bible

Thanks to Ed Stetzer (and countless others) for linking to this video. Makes you want to have the strength of your own convictions, doesn’t it?

Want some great books for free?

Go here to find out how?  Keller’s on there, so what are you waiting for?

The Old “New” Thing

Just read an interesting article by David Brooks over at the NY Times blog regarding Obama’s infrastructure and economic stimulus plan.

It actually made me question ministry and church planting a little bit.  I wonder if planting new churches and congregations is the old “new” thing that has replaced creatively reflecting on how the gospel affects and transforms a particular community or urban context?  Here’s an excerpt (read the whole thing here)”

This kind of stimulus would be consistent with Obama’s campaign, which was all about bringing Americans together in new ways. It would help maintain the social capital that’s about to be decimated by the economic downturn.

But alas, there’s no evidence so far that the Obama infrastructure plan is attached to any larger social vision. In fact, there is a real danger that the plan will retard innovation and entrench the past.

In a stimulus plan, the first job is to get money out the door quickly. That means you avoid anything that might require planning and creativity. You avoid anything that might require careful implementation or novel approaches. The quickest thing to do is simply throw money at things that already exist.

Noboy’s a Nobody and An Arrow Needs a Bow

I recently came across a great article by Miroslav Volf called “The Ultimate Somebody” reflecting on the recent passing of a friend and major influence on his life, a friend named is Toma.  Here is a snippet. I would highly recommend reading the whole thing here.

Can an arrow forget the bow that set it flying? Many an arrow does, even though its very flight is a testimony to the bow’s influence. It is especially easy to forget the shaping power of those whom illness takes out of the company of the “sane” and the “respectable.” But even when I fail to remember how formative Toma was for me, the trajectory of my life is a silent memorial to him. Maybe his was a truly Christian way of being somebody—being a bow for the flight of another.

And, if you’re looking for a good book to read around Christmas holidays, I would say that his book Exclusion and Embrace makes a great read, and a great gift!  You can buy it here.