A Couple of Shameless Plugs

In a departure from my usual run of ambient cogitation, I want to insert a commercial. Actually, it is two commercials, one for each of a couple of projects I’m privileged to be a part of. My ads won’t be anywhere as near as good as the beer commercials on NFL football, but I’ll give it my best shot.

FIRST, I am honored to have been invited to contribute an essay to a new book, Out of the Ooze. Some years ago Tony Celleli, at that time the minister of spiritual formation at Second Baptist Church of Corpus Christi, where I was pastor, directed my attention to a website for the emerging church conversation. I discovered that it was an exhilirating, alarming, refreshing place where one could air out new ideas in safety. From time to time, I posted articles on various topics. Recently, Spencer Burke, founder of TheOoze (http://www.theooze.com/main.cfm), decided to publish a compilation of essays by various contributors including one by the undersigned. The resulting volume, published by NavPress, is entitled Out of the Ooze: Unlikely Love Letters to the Church from Beyond the Pew . If you’d like to check out the book, you can do so on Amazon.com. If you are interested in the emerging conversation, this might be a book worth reading. (Note: I don’t make a dime off it so I’m not pimping for royalties here.)

NEXT, a talented group of people behind the “Celebrating Grace Hymnal Project” allowed me to participate in a courageous effort to create a new hymnal. I say “courageous” because, of course, hymns are supposed to be dead which makes hymnals a form of coffin. These folks, however, feel that the church’s tradition of worship is very much alive and want to produce a volume which expresses that vibrance. Before anyone panics (and those of you who know me personally - and have heard me sing - might be on the verge!), they didn’t let me near the actual notes and chords and treble clefs and things. I am on what is gently denominated the “Extra Musical Committee.” That’s not “extra” as in “more or better than usual” but as in “something besides.” Our team has written or collected liturgies, responsive readings, prayers and other forms of congregational worship opportunities. If you’d like to know more about “Celebrating Grace,” the website is http://www.celebrating-grace.com/. Notice that they have a place for comments and suggestions so if you have strong opinions about music and worship, here’s your chance to get ‘em heard.

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