Mike Tremblay's Weblog

Finally, I've posted a new site for those who want to connect via the web and possibly together as Missional Christ Followers in northern New England -- whether it be a local church, a home gathering or just individuals desireous to "return to the Root of the Cross" >>> the Love of God through Jesus Christ (John 3:16)! Check it out >>> http://www.northpointnetwork.blogspot.com .

In keeping with the Incarnational Church theme, allow me to encouage some good books that may help in becoming missional Christ followers. I have come to appreciate Chip Ingram, who for many years was a pastor in Santa Cruz, CA. He saw great benefit in a young man who was working with youth and allowed him to begin a church within the church called “Graceland”. That young man is Dan Kimball, who has since started Vintage Faith Church . One of the books that excites me is ... “The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations” by Dan Kimball Forewords by Rick Warren and Brian McLaren ... Running commentary throughout the book by:Rick Warren, Brian McLaren, Howard Hendricks, Mark Oestreicher, Sally Morgenthaler, Chip Ingram The following is found on the website explaining the book: While many contemporary church leaders have been busy in our church offices preparing sermons, running church programs and making church more professional, a new world is emerging all around us. W...

Ever see a sign on a church or a Christian gathering place that says “Welcome” or “You are Invited to Come” or “Come as You Are”? After working in churches for over twenty-five years, I have found that those platitudes have an underlying meaning to them. I have come to see that these phrases are like bait to outsiders by insiders. For example, “Welcome” actually means ‘you are welcome to be like us’. The assumption is that those on the outside need changing — and the change is not “in the image of Christ” like the Scripture speaks of but the ‘image of the church’ and it’s idenity. Unfortunately, many of America’s churches do not image or reflect Jesus Christ at all. Pastor and author Dan Kimball from Santa Cruz, California addresses this in a couple of books he has written recently. In “The Emerging Church”, Kimball states that a group of University students were interviewed being asked two questions: “What do you think of Jesus?” and “What do you think of Christians?”. My thoughts wer...

The American Church is out-of-touch with the Post-Modern Culture. Those of us who make such statements have been tagged as unscriptural and at times heretical. While it’s true that some within the so-called “Emerging Church Movement” are weak in their doctrinal stance, most I have found are very solid Biblically. For example, in the book “An Emergent Manifesto of Hope” (2007, Baker Books - edited by Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones), Part 4 is dedicated to theology. It’s entitled, ‘A Hopeful Way Forward’. Pagitt intoduces this section of six chapters with the following title, ‘Theology of Practice, Practice of Theology’. A contributor within Part 4 is Dan Kimball . He writes in chapter 18 about Humble Theology, as he calls it. The subtitle says, ‘Re-exploring Doctrine While Holding On to Truth’. A visit to Dan’s church in California reveals deeply committed followers of Christ especially in the area of the study of Scripture. Simply, the issue centers around viewpoints concerning the church....