August 07, 2008
The New Conspirators & Tom Sine
Today I did a podcast interview for an upcoming release on the Nick & Josh Podcast. I am continuing my duties with the fellas even as the transition continues. And to be honest, I love the gig as much as anything!
Today I had the privilege of talking to Tom Sine of Mustard Seed Associates and The New Conspirators (US-web). Over the course of about 3 hours, Tom and I got to talk several times while both trying to connect with the other. Just when it seemed as though all hope was lost, hope prevailed and the interview happened. No Barack Obama didn't jump in a save the planet, but it sure felt like it;) Tom really is a great guy.
I just wanted to put out the info that this podcast is coming soon. As much as anything, I urge you like Andrew Jones, 'If you cant make the conference, at least buy the book.'
Kester also has pretty impressive plug on the book. He writes, 'When the great book of life is opened, some would see it that it’ll be the stellar Christians like McLaren, Baker, Rollins and Wallis who should get all the plaudits. I wouldn’t want to take anything away from any of them, but quietly, ‘one mustard seed at a time’ Tom has been actually inspiring people to do the stuff. It’s a quiet, background role, perhaps, but I think if you could trace the significance of his words and actions through all the things that have happened because of them, you’d have quite an amazing list. Vaux certainly owes him its existence in many ways.'
So yeah, it was an honor to speak to Tom. And watch out, there will be another postcast after this one on life in community during major economic recession...with Tom. Yeah, the man has some great ideas for emerging, missional, mosaic, and monastic community in the global era.
Wait for interview...but check out the book!
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
July 01, 2008
Newest N&J Podacast Interview is Available
Make sure to check out the latest podcast with me and Josh, plus an interview with my good friend Pete Rollins.
You can also check out some other fine folks that we support such as The Church Basement Road Show and The Homebrewed Christianity Podcast. The Homebrewed guys are recording some nice interviews so be sure to check out their podcast and subscribe to it. And check out the calendar for the Church Basement Road Show so that you can swing by and have a rip roaring good time with some crazy holy ghost revialists. They also have some good videos up on YouTube.
Enjoy watching and listening...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2007
Obama and A Prayer for America (Voters & Policies)
If you are not an american, its still worth a watch. And by the way, I believe your voice matters!
As one friend pointed out in a recent discussion, 'the presidental election matters to the world because the election has the capacity to influence lives that have no say in who gets elected'. Oh the beautiful tragedy of global politics and policies.
A Prayer for America, American Voters, and American Policies
Dear God- Let the American people understand the importance of their policies and politicians. Let them come to understand how to vote responsibly in Presidential and local elections. Let all who can vote, act justly in voting even if it means going against long held family convictions about 'party'. Let America once again understand how to bless the world even if it means not being the best, most talented, largest, most economically rich country in the world. May America humbly empower through policies of selflessness and sacrifical acts of globalized empowerment.-Joshua Case, Geneva, Switzerland 2007
peace, grace, and justice for all...
joshua c
Posted by joshuacase at 03:45 PM | Comments (1)
April 05, 2007
Kosovo thoughts so far
As you will know, you can really follow the porjects that I am involved with the is week over at the Interyouth blog; however, I wanted to take a couple of moments and post here as well.
As you may remember, I did a video blog over at Jason Clark's site a while back on 'Ethical good news'. The conversation was great, and the interaction fun, but this week I am experiencing a bit of the reality of the world of developing economies and strucutures that I hadn't experienced to this degree before. Don't get me wrong, I've seen some of this before..but it feels a bit different this time.
Maybe it is the post war nature of the place? Maybe it is the Albanian culture? Maybe it is Islam? It is a deep sense of good discomfort, and I am glad i am experiencing it.
Couple of messages that keep coming up:
1. What the media by in large has presented about much of the situation here, is disconnected from the reality of what is actually going on.
2. Hospitality is a gift and to be a guest, an honor
3. We must be diligent in putting ourselves into situations that will stretch us to experience the realities of others. If we do not, we will only live in the world of the pretend West. People need to know, as some would say, 'how the other half lives', and that is one thing i am excited about doing!
These young people are great. Responding well to difficult conversations, experiences and cultural misunderstandings. But they press on. As we all must, and seek to plot goodness as we go! Afterall, if humanity must prioritize, then we must seek to prioritize the actions of good for all.
Posted by joshuacase at 01:30 PM | Comments (1)
March 31, 2007
Seriously good conversations...
This week's SGCs (and there are a few) are (in no particular order):
The Evolution of Faith at Danutz
Subversive Syntax by Tony Jones at Church and Postmodern Culture
John Smulo on Capital Punishment and the Bible
Brian T Murphy- March 25
Ryan Bolger on 'Continuing Jesus' Mission Into the World (Part Two)'
How Might Scripture Read Us? by Prodigal Kiwi
Hope you enjoy this week's seriously good conversations! I know i did!
Posted by joshuacase at 08:23 AM | Comments (1)
March 30, 2007
Something is going on...
This afternoon, my friend Todd and Lammert decided we would get out for a little fresh air before I head off to Kosovo. It was a mild day, so we thought, and we would easily be able to meet late afternoon and hit a few balls around the course.
As we teed off on the first hole, we saw a few clouds in the distance. Within 20 minutes, the thunder was on top of us...yes, thunder in geneva. That is rare...very rare. So, we headed back inside to wait it out. Thirty minutes later...no good, still raining.
It has been a couple of hours since that first mild thunderstorm came through, and now...now....it is snowing!! What in the heck is going on? It is snowing!
In the immortal words of my friend Eric, 'I don't know much about all the science of global warming, but something is going on...and its wrong!'
I'd have to agree, something wrong is going on here!
Posted by joshuacase at 06:15 PM | Comments (3)
March 26, 2007
On freedom of speech (or was that Identity)
I have been thinking a little bit lately about the freedom of identity (and/or speech) in our world today. I think there remains the need for people to have the capacity to say what they think. Recognizing that often, there is the ongoing struggle with making sure that people do not overstep their bounds in terms of their occupational responsibilities and personal beliefs.
Nicholas Fiedler has been dealing with this some here. Then yesterday, i heard this story about a man in Largo who wished to remain City manager (a post he had held for sometime) but was removed because he requested to continue in the role as a woman. He was being open, honest. Despite having many people testify on his/her behalf, the board voted 5-2 in favor of his removal. It was a six hour meeting. Jeez.
Then, in this week's Economist, there is an article about a student (a few years back) who had carried a sign during a school parade which simply read "Bong Hits for Jesus". The student was suspended orginally for five days (and inevitably for ten) when he quoted Thomas Jefferson back to his teacher. This case has made it to the Supreme Court of USA. However, the young man is currently teaching in English in China....yeah, so much for free speech of students or, so much for the authority of teachers over young people. This is the dilemma of the courts.
What do all these things have in common? Why do they matter? Well, for me, they represent the dilemma in which we find ourselves in a world that personally cherishes authenticity/vulnerability, but really doesn't want to know what we really think/feel/desire. Increasingly, we have moved beyond freedom of speech towards freedom of identity. Now, it almost feels as though we've entered into a post-authentic soceity. Sure, some people want to know you, but the last thing your boss or coworkers really want to know is what you really think...what you really feel. Who you really are. Paradox if we live in society that 'personally cherishes authenticity/vulnerability', yes. We hear all the time, 'be honest, be real, know thyself'. But do they mean it?
What does this mean? How will this shape us? Will those of us who have normal jobs and who have blogs be forced to decided who we want to be and where we want to be that person? Should employers be able to tell their employees what they can not do with their free time? What they may and/or may not post on blogs? Can they moderate content even if it goes against their code/conduct/belief/speech/identity?
The blogosphere has gifted us with the liability of authenticity. In all likelihood, if you blog, you stand the risk of losing your job, not get one later, or...being known for who you really are. Is there another way around it? Not sure...maybe, don't blog about what/who you really are...or make sure you only blog about the things that everyone agrees on...or at least those that have power in your life..
What do you think?
Posted by joshuacase at 10:49 AM | Comments (2)
March 14, 2007
Video Blog Wednesdays
Posted by joshuacase at 09:02 PM
January 26, 2007
Who will get to heaven? Look who has the power now!
Scott McKnight highlighted the recent article in USA Today entitled Saving the E-Word. While i think the article is interesting, the link to another article entitled Who will get into heaven was slightly more telling. The article incorporates the voice of Phyllis Tickle who, very interestingly, points out the importance of the semanitics used when conducting the survey. I wonder if the exact survey were conducted in Europe, what the percentages would be or how many people would say, 'heaven?' Or maybe Africa or India. Geez, how about China??
Even more interesting though, is the other link in the side bar which simply reads: Women: More Open to Paranormal
If this is true, shouldn't women be allowed greater portion of spiritual authority within our communities of faith? Shouldn't those who are more in tune with the spiritual realm be given that voice in the authentic community seeking to follow after a practical and yet deep spiritual God? How can we continue to empower those in our communities who have different gifts with different forms of headship/authority? If this happens, will man get upset with God for his loss of power in the traditional religious setting? Will the once in power be upset with the newly empowered? Might the below image be how a man feels like responding to an image of God who once gifted him with total authority, but now seems willing to distribute spiritual authority to others? And might this too be the image of how traditionally "E" Christians want to respond to a God who distrubutes the power and place of heaven to other religions? Or could it be the way that so many within Christianity treat the image of God in other Christians who question thier preconceived notions of how to get to heaven? Indeed, regardless of who is right, should we treat each other with such contempt? With such hatred?
Either way, the perceived axis of power in the world of Christendom is changing...and I thank God for that. Lead on global South! Lead on Belle! Lead on deep science! Lead on Jesus!
Posted by joshuacase at 01:29 PM | Comments (3)
December 22, 2006
Holiday season brawls?
Well, as we enter the festive time of the year, it only seems appropriate that there are a few family feuds stirring up around the globe. And while some of the feuds are between friends seeking to relevantly discover dialogue in a new way for the good of all, some of the banter is just plain useless...maybe?
For instance, did you know Rosie was being sued by Donald Trump for making fun of his non-firing of Miss USA after her bout with underage drinking and "something" with Miss Teen USA? Yep, and he threatened to send someone after her partner..ouch.
And did you know that a couple of guys at strangers and exiles have tried to provoke yet another fight with the ECM using the thoughts of John MacArthur? And yes, as usual, Josh Brown has taken up his challenge and is ready to start what appears to be something of an old fashioned gang-war?
And did you know that even Tony Campolo wants to use electronic media to "talk back to our Religious Right brothers and sisters"? Won't this be an interesting election season. Obama...obama..obama...
Nope it doesn't sound like the most calming time of the year. But at least some people are trying to down play the violence in the world. Like Andrew Jones who has blogged about his "cruelty-free Christmas feast" which includes ducks, and beef killed humanely, and crabs which were put in the freezer to put them to sleep before placing them in the boiling water. Yes folks, no cruelty here. Just good food and good friends.
And maybe that is what we should all hope and try to be for others...good friends who bring that redemptive sense of the dramatric inbreaking of messanic proportions into the world around us. Sure, it won't look the same in every place; or even simple and joyous in every situation, but as the above blogs represent, the inbreaking of the good news of the good kingdom ought to challenge the systems of our world towards a more redemptive end. What does, rosie have to do with that, I am not real sure...but maybe just maybe, even she, the strangers and exiles, john macarthur, tony campolo, josh brown, the ecm, the sbc, and andrew jones have a role to play. Yes, maybe even you have a role to play. After all, you were named "Time Magazine's Person of the Year!"
Congratulations..i hope you live up to the hype! And may your holidays be filled with great laughter, great tears, and opportunities for God to belong.
jc
Posted by joshuacase at 05:38 PM
October 04, 2006
Monastics like me...
Monastics like me read.
Papers and books,
"Joyce" and "Faulkner" and "Shakespeare",
Men and Women and Others,
Landscapes and faces and communities.
Monastics like me read.
Monastics like me learn.
From each other and for each other,
Via books and friendships and blogs,
Via nature and experience and failure,
From our parents and our friends and our enemies.
Monastics like me learn.
Monastics like me feel.
A better way is coming,
That can be found through Christ,
That will be found in community,
That unity brings to taste.
Monastics like me feel.
Monastics like me create.
Songs and blogs and images,
Because its what we are,
Because its how we live,
Because it reminds us we are alive.
Monastics like me create.
Monastics like me live.
With normal people,
In normal jobs,
With an abnormal pace,
In an transnormal environment.
Monastics like me live.
Monastics like me care.
Care for others.
Care for enemies.
Care for creation.
Care for ourselves.
Monastics like me care.
Monastics like me fear.
That the "life well-lived" is a lie.
That people in need are rarely heard.
That people with plenty are shallow.
That we can not be loved.
Monastics like me fear.
Monastics like me give.
Give our hearts,
Give our money,
Give back,
Give God.
Monastics like me give.
Monastics like me love.
Love God,
Love Art,
Love Creation,
Love Dreaming.
Monastics like me love.
Monastics like me read, learn, feel, create, live, care, fear, and love; not as ones who have the mere-luxury to do them, but as ones who hope in our doing of them, the world is different for all.
That through Christ, and community, and friendship, and laughter, and art, and dreaming, and loving, and living, and being, and giving, normal things become exceptional things...and exceptional things give way to tangible grace that is with all, for all, and true.
Posted by joshuacase at 11:03 AM
May 08, 2006
Aimless wandering
Yesterday, at a local Anglican service I heard it said, "The aimless wandering of some of us, effects all of us." On a recent tv special on AIDS, former president Bill Clinton said, "Because we can do something we must do something." I am growing increasingly aware that our call and our role in life is not be the stars or the heros that make it to the news or to people magazine, but to be responsible with what we can and must do for our local context. The places where we are as people are the key to the great puzzle of life.
Something odd has happening to the human spirit with the rise and fall of capitalism in the 2oth century. Something odd has and is happening to us all as we are ever one click away from being somewhere else. Something odd and very real is happening when we long to be in place other than where we are because that "pasture" looks more attractive than this one. Only now, we're not really talking about pastures within walking distance, we are talking about those we might never arrive at or even get to. After all, ifJonny Baker is right, "The journey is the destination."
For me, the question becomes not should people dream, but what does it mean that we have internalized a dream for things that are too far out of reach and out of sight for us to even to do real life? What does it mean that people have gotten lost in the maze of do-it-yourself-isms and refuse to get out there and participate in community? What does it mean that we're trying to support and love people in different parts of the world when we can't even really love those next door? This for me, is more of the hard work of Christianity in the world. That it brings us humus, or near to the earth, and that it calls us to participation at home, in the lives of those closest to us, in the best way we can love with the whole of our lives. If we are doing this, the good news of the kingdom of God will transform, and the goodness plotted by Christ and all those who seek to follow him will change our world through the vehicle of our personal expression in our local communities. Press on dear reader, and love your neighbor, be they friend or foe.
Posted by joshuacase at 08:03 AM
March 31, 2006
Teach us your ways...
This morning these lines kept coming through my head...all i could do was sing...and call out with them..
Make us your people,
Make us you people,
Make us your people who know how follow.
Make us your people,
Make us your people,
Make us your people who know how to love you.
Teach us to love all,
Teach us to love you,
Teach us to love all and love you with passion.
Teach me to love all,
Teach me to love you,
Teach me to love all and love you with passion.
Teach us to follow and love all and seek you.
You are creator,
You are creator,
You are creator so teach us to follow.
Teach us to love and to follow your ways.
Teach us to love all and follow your ways.
Make us your people who follow your love.
may your heart give you messages of hope, formation and passion...jc
Posted by joshuacase at 09:02 AM | Comments (8)
January 17, 2006
The memories and dreams of a new kind of Christianity
In his book, "The World is Flat", Thomas Friedman asks the question: "Does your society have more memories than dreams or more dreams and memories?" He later goes on to comment that, "when memories exceed dreams, the end is near."
It is truly amazing to me that no matter which space of life you choose to operate in, the critical roles of memory and dream can not be over looked. Memory, which so often serves the formative function of negative reinforcement in society is very critical to the way we practice life and conduct ourselves in the long haul. Yet memory alone will not allow us to function in a healthy manner in society, family, or individual relationships. It is the power of dreams and visions that allows us to imagine together where we are going and where we have really been. This dreamatic re-imagining allows us to take the now redemtive past and create a different future. A future towards the kind of synergistic celebration of belief and practice that is the way we live.
For me it has become very important to think about the ways in which people throughout the centuries have been about the business of re-creating the world into that which they interpret to be the dreams and ways of God. This important thought has enabled me to not only consider the ways in which people of yesterday dreamt of a new kind of Christianity, but to undersstand that my dreams, visions, hopes and fears are truly nothing all that new. The newness of the kind of Christianity we truly hope to practice is but ever, as my friend Peter Rollins puts it, "a rediscovery."
Cheers to all who have and will try to practice a fresh expression of the Church in the now for sake of the future, in light of the past.
Posted by joshuacase at 12:30 PM | Comments (0)