Daily Voice archives

Thursday, May 27, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:01:00 GMT

Recent articles

From the blog at DifferentVoice.com

Summer Sabbatical
For many church staff members and leaders, summer provides a bit of a breather and gives you an opportunity to do a few different activities. Sure, there may be VBS or a youth mission trip to plan and lead, but most of the Christian educators I know do have some down time for at least a couple of weeks. If that's true for you, consider doing what I'm about to do: take a Summer Sabbatical. Continued...

June is "National Audiobook Month"
In my house, there's an ongoing debate. After finishing an audiobook, should you say you have "read" the book or "listened" to it (or both)? Regardless of where you come out on the question (I'm a fan of "read"), audiobooks are a terrific way to pass the time, learn something new, and have fun while you drive, exercise, or work around the house. I almost never leave the house without at least one audiobook on my phone and/or iPod, and I frequently have one checked out on CD from the library as well. Here are some great sources for audiobooks, including several that charge little or nothing, plus a peek at the last two audiobooks I listened to (and loved!). Continued...

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Books I'd Read If...

Recently-released & upcoming books that look promising

Ministry Unplugged: Uncommon Calls to Serve by Susan Willhauck
Ready to help congregants break out of the box? This book tells stories of individuals who are involved in unusual ministries (like a hair salon that not only preaches the Gospel but is named “Christ Did It All Hair Salon,” clowns that share the Good News, and a bistro-style restaurant alternative to the soup kitchen for the homeless in Atlanta) to spark congregational imagination about what's possible. Amazon (June)

Paths of the Messiah by Bargil Pixner
Visitors to Israel may have come across Pixner's tremendous, richly illustrated books on archaeology and early Christianity. Father Pixner was a Tyrolean priest, scholar, archaeologist, teacher, and pilgrimage leader, who lived much of his life in Israel. This one clocks in at a whopping 500 pages, but his writing is far from being dull. His previous books are tough to find at a reasonable price, but worth tracking down for yourself or your church library. Amazon (05/29)

Under the Influence: California's Intoxicating Spiritual and Cultural Impact on America by Monica Ganas
California makes up about a tenth of the US population, giving rise to the saying, "As goes California, so goes the country." If you would like to know where spirituality in America is headed, this book might give you some insights. Amazon (06/01)

Supernatural Selection: How Religion Evolved by Matt Rossano
This is at least the third book on the evolution of religion I've seen come out in the past year. (The other two? The Faith Instinct: How Religion Evolved and Why It Endures and In the Name of God: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Ethics and Violence.) That officially makes it a trend, as I see it, meaning it's time to pay attention to the dialogue taking place in scholarly settings. Amazon (05/28)

The Encyclopedia of Christian Literature by George Thomas Kurian
Unless you're a huge fan of Christian lit, this one's probably better suited to your church library given it's rather extraordinary price. Amazon (05/16)

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Check This Out

Articles & websites worth your time, plus some shared earlier on Facebook/Twitter

Grads: Be Amazing, Be Compassionate
Share this with the grads you know! Beatitudes Society (05/24)

Deshna Ubeda on progressive Christianity for kids
An audio interview from one of the primary developers of the new children's curriculum from The Center for Progressive Christianity. ABC.net.au (05/23)

A Better Script for Small Churches
If you work in or with small churches, this article about a better, positive way to think about why small churches tend not to grow and what a "healthy eqilibrium" looks like is definitely worth your time. Lewis Center (05/26)

The Shrinking 40%
A staff member at Granger Community Church (a large, conservative and very tech-friendly congregation in Indiana) ponders the roughly 60% of people who don't attend a congregation and who likely won't. Facebook (05/26)

Clergy who don't believe
Are there any "secret atheists" on your church staff? (Are you one, perhaps?) A cognitive scientist and prominent atheist explores the topic. Beliefnet (05/25)

How full is your menu?
An interesting argument for doing less, not more, in your church. I don't necessarily agree; to me, what's needed is invitational communication and passionate people who communicate effectively, not fewer activities. UMPortal (05/25)

Letting Go of Institutional Nostalgia?
What's the worst that could happen if we simply just let things go at times? reyes-chow.com (05/20)

New methods/new day: Generous God vs. cheap church
Are you nickel and diming your congregation members by constantly charging for things or putting out baskets for free-will donations? Think twice. MinnesotaUMC (05/07)

The Interim Way: Building a Ministry that Outlasts You
This quick article reminds us that we are all "interim ministers" and thus should do things in such a way that others can easily follow us. YMToday

21 Rules for Social Media Engagement
Thinking about using social media more frequently in your ministry? Here's a superb list of "rule of engagement" you'll want to follow. Mashable (05/18)

13 Assumptions About Technology and Online Community
This helpful list could provide your staff or ministry team with a starting point when talking about technology and ministry. What you do with it, though, is your call. Church Crunch (05/18)

Video Pick of the Week

Sit back and enjoy the show

RSAnimate: The Empathic Civilsation
This fast-moving and engaging video explores the evolution of empathy and the profound ways that it has shaped our development and our society. YouTube (05/06)

Opportunities

Youth Worker Summit: Sacred Space for Youth Workers
An ecumenical event for youth leaders—at a Disney resort! Featuring Phylis Tickle and Roger Nishioka. I'd love to attend this event! YouthWorkerSummit

From the Archives

Past blog posts you may enjoy (or enjoy again!)

Learn more about Different Voice -->

Another Voice

...What are you talking about in your life? What sort of speaking are you doing? Is it all conversation? Or survival? Or fellowship? Or interrogative? Or rhetorical? That’s all well and good, the speech of everyday life is what it is.

Birds whistle, dogs bark, and people talk, talk, talk. But, let me ask you: Have you anything to declare? Is the Holy Spirit of God setting your brain and heart on fire with love for God and neighbor and self? Has the Spirit of God given you utterance? I think so."

~ Greg Jones,
"Well, I do declare!"

Thursday, May 20, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:58:00 GMT

Recent articles

From the blog at DifferentVoice.com

Room 1228: A Curriculum Series for Young Adults & Youth (Review)
In last week's email I linked to a hilarious video about contemporary worship that I highly recommend you watch (or watch again) right now. The video points out a common trait of more contemporary styles of worship: the "flow" tends to be the same from week to week ("Opening song, opening song..."). Further, there are often secondary, less obvious meanings ("...but we're tracking it.") The video pokes fun at contemporary worship, but a similar critique could be made of traditional worship and of a lot of Christian education curriculum. As one who frequently writes curriculum for publication, I know well that there are many good reasons for developing lesson "rubrics" or outlines that flow in a similar fashion from one week to the next. It's easier to write to a pattern, and it requires less preparation effort on the part of the teacher, to name just a couple of the reasons. When you review curriculum, one of the decisions you need to make is whether or not you like the "formula" or pattern that material uses, and be aware of it so that you don't get stuck in a rut in your educational settings.

A small curriculum publisher called Wayfarer puts out a downloadable youth/young adult ministry curriculum called Room 1228. I discovered it via a Facebook ad and decided to take a closer look. There are a number of things I really love about it, and I think it's a good representative example of where a lot of curricula is headed, but there also are features that just don't work for me. I'll tell you more in just a bit (and provide you with a special offer code so you can get a discount on purchases!) First, though, it's good to remember that there are MANY ways that a youth or young adult group can look, and you don't have to follow a prescribed pattern or flowchart. Some youth groups meet only once a month, while others meet weekly or even more frequently. Some college ministries provide a highly varying blend of trips, projects, lessons, speakers, and fun nights, while others follow a structured, predominantly large group/small group format. When you evaluate a particular curriculum for your setting, it's easy to immediately reject it because it doesn't fit your style, theology, or personal interests. My hunch is that many readers of this review will not typically use the format of Room 1228. If that's true for you, I hope you'll take a close look at the material as a way of reflecting on what you understand to be true about how youth and young adults learn, what your group's purpose is, and why you structure your group the way you do. Now, on to the review.... Continued...

Scatter some books in your youth room
In last week's email I linked to a hilarious video about contemporary worship that I highly recommend you watch (or watch again) right now. The video points out a common trait of more contemporary styles of worship: the "flow" tends to be the same from week to week ("Opening song, opening song..."). Further, there are often secondary, less obvious meanings ("...but we're tracking it.") The video pokes fun at contemporary worship, but a similar critique could be made of traditional worship and of a lot of Christian education curriculum. As one who frequently writes curriculum for publication, I know well that there are many good reasons for developing lesson "rubrics" or outlines that flow in a similar fashion from one week to the next. It's easier to write to a pattern, and it requires less preparation effort on the part of the teacher, to name just a couple of the reasons. When you review curriculum, one of the decisions you need to make is whether or not you like the "formula" or pattern that material uses, and be aware of it so that you don't get stuck in a rut in your educational settings. Continued...

Make your donation to Different Voice It's voluntary, but it's both truly appreciated and needed to keep these emails coming. Thanks!

Tools for Your Ministry

Curriculum, videos, & other resources

Inner Wisdom Series: Spiritual Curriculum for Young Hearts and Minds
A Sunday school curriculum (for children 6-10) that progressives can fully embrace! Just 2 more weeks until the early-bird rate goes away, so take a look at the samples and see if it's right for you. The Center for Progressive Christianity

eyekons
Art that explores spirituality, religion, and social justice, for those times when you need a really special piece of art. Prepare to spend some time being amazed! Wow! eyekons.com

Educating for Justice
Offers analysis and commentary on social, political, and economic issues from a Christian liberationist perspective. EducatingforJustice.org

Take Part
A nice site that features information on dozens of issues in 14 topics. Great for research for your social justice conversations! TakePart.com

Books I'd Read If...

Recently-released & upcoming books that look promising

Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life by Joan Ball
Reviews have been positive for this memoir from a woman who had a radical and instant conversion. Amazon (05/11)

God is in the Pancakes by Robin Epstein
A teen struggles with relationships with a boy, a dying man, and God. Could make an interesting summer book group book for teens. Amazon (05/13)

Connecting Like Jesus: Practices for Healing, Teaching, and Preaching by Tony Campolo & Mary Albert Darling
A hands-on resource for all Christians who want to communicate with more passion and power. Publishers Weekly gave this its coveted "starred review." Amazon (05/11)

Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite by L. Michael White
White urges readers to see the gospels as performed stories of faith rather than factual histories. The last book by this author, From Jesus to Christianity, is one of my favorite books about Christian history. I'm really looking forward to this one! Amazon (05/04)

Teen 2.0: Saving Our Children and Families from the Torment of Adolescence by Robert Epstein
Revolutionary ideas about teens and the whole concept of adolescence. This one's likely to be causing a stir for some time. Amazon (02/24)

Yes, we like Cokesbury (even though we most often link to Amazon)! Visit our Cokesbury store whenever you shop there, and you'll help ensure our website keeps on serving up progressive content 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (Or at least 99.99% of that time, according to our webhost.)

Check This Out

Articles & websites worth your time, plus some shared earlier on Facebook/Twitter

How to Evangelize without Making Strangers Walk in the Other Direction
A popular business blogger (and the only person in the world who wears a nametag 24-7) reflects on the topic of evangelism. Entertaining and thought-provoking. Hello My Name is Blog (05/12)

Big Thinkers on Education
Interviews, webinars, articles and more from some of Edutopia's most interesting and inspiring teachers. Edutopia (01/28)

Ten Tips for Personalized Learning via Technology
Not all of these tips are necessarily pertinent to Christian education settings, but many will push your boundaries and encourage you to think about what's possible. Edutopia 04/26)

Down with Youth Sunday!
An argument for why your church should give up doing an annual "youth Sunday" in worship and instead involve youth regularly and make worship more "youthful." reyes-chow.com (05/17)

10 “new” questions youth workers must be asking
Although there are some partial misses on the questions (e.g. #6), it's an interesting group of contemporary questions to ponder if you do youth ministry. whyismarko.com (05/17)

YouTube passes 2 Billion views...daily!
A youth I once heard in speak at a conference said, "YouTube is our cinema." Seems pretty clear that it's true for an awful lot of us! Are your youth group videos getting posted there? Mashable (05/17)

Joblessness Hits the Pulpit
The economic woes have forced many churches to make difficult staffing decisions. Wall Street Journal (05/17)

Separate Truths
Don't have time to read Stephen Prothero's wonderful new book God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter? Here's a summary article by the author. Boston Globe (04/25)

Video Pick of the Week

Sit back and enjoy the show

“Is Social Media A Fad?” New Video With Mind Blowing Stats
If you're STILL not using social media regularly, perhaps this will change your mind. Mashable (05/08)

From the Archives

Past blog posts you may enjoy (or enjoy again!)

Learn more about Different Voice -->

Another Voice

Progressive Christianity, following 19th century liberalism, has proclaimed the continuity of God and the world and humankind and non-human life; naturalistic theism (God works within causal relationships rather than supernaturally); and the universality of revelation. These claims open the door for truly practicing God’s presence – truly opening to divine revelation in our lives and seeing God at work in the transformation of society and our lives. A spirit-centered progressivism can give us the energy, perspective, and patience to confront injustice while maintaining our spiritual, physical, and relational well-being."

~ Bruce Epperly,
"Spirit-centered Progressive Christianity"

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:01:00 GMT

Recent articles

From the blog at DifferentVoice.com

Please take this 1-question survey
I'd like to know which day you'll have the most time to read this weekly email. Would you please take just a moment and vote for the day when you'd like to get it? Vote here.
Progressive Christianity on Facebook
One of the places where I get the best tips about news, books, curriculum, videos, and other items of interest to progressive Christians is on Facebook. Here are 22 of my favorite pages you might "Like", and groups to "Join." You'll find many great people on these groups who you should also know, so poke around and meet some new folks! And if you know of a great group or page I missed, please add a comment below with the Facebook link. Continued...

Tools for Your Ministry

Curriculum, videos, & other resources

Zoofs
Ever wonder what videos on YouTube are being passed on the most? Here's a tool to find the 42 most talked about videos (via Twitter). Just be warned...it's awfully addictive! (zoofs.com)

Novel Theology
Find progressive spiritual fiction & fiction with spiritual themes. (noveltheology.com)

The Soul of Adolescence: In Their Own Words
From the publisher: "Patricia Lyons searing first-person accounts of adolescent ethics, spirituality, conscience, and struggles with despair are unforgettable. In this book, she deciphers the language of youth so that any teacher, parent, or mentor can learn how to hear, understand and respond more effectively to the spiritual hopes and longings of teenagers." (Morehouse)

Wee Wonder: Sharing God's Love with Twos
This forthcoming one-year curriculum introduces toddlers to a loving God in 12 modules. (Faith and Life Resources)

Books I'd Read If...

Recently-released & upcoming books that look promising

Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith, by Marcus Borg
A novel from Marcus Borg? Seriously? Yep, and it sounds intruiging! Amazon (04/20)

Where the Sunrise Begins, by Douglas Wood
A new children's book by the author of Old Turtle, one of the best spirituality-themed books for children of all time. For ages 4-8. Amazon (05/18)

Jesus the Fool: The Mission of the Unconventional Christ, by Michael Frost
Frost is one of Australia's leading communicators and evangelists, and he wants us to "reframe" our ways of thinking and acting as Christians. I'm hoping my review copy of this book arrives soon! Amazon (05/30)

A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough, by Wayne Muller
The author of the excellent book Sabbath is back with more timely wisdom. Amazon (04/13)

Science vs. Religion: What Scientists Really Think, by Elaine Howard Ecklund
Findings of a huge study of 1700 scientists, 275 of whom Ecklund interviewed for this project. This will be a standard work for years to come, probably. Amazon (05/06)

Check This Out

Articles & websites worth your time (some shared previously on our Facebook page
or Twitter account.) Find lots more great stuff at our Alltop page!

To reach millennials, 'break outside the box'
Brief article on ministry that connects with the millennial generation. (UMC.org, 05/04)

‘Best of the Best’ Roundtable: Experts Pick the Top Methods and Resources for Youth Ministry
This list from several well-known youth workers (mostly male, mostly moderate to conservative) has many flaws, but it's still a good starter list overall if you haven't kept up on youth ministry resources. (Youthworker Journal, 03/18)

Discipleship Training is Essential
Good, quick article by Mike Slaughter on the "core competencies" for the disciple. Part 3 of 3; also read Part 1, "On Making Disciples" and Part 2, "Making the Poor a Priority". (UMC.org, 05/06)

Through the Flow of Salty Tears
One of my favorite cities, Nashville, was hit hard last week with flooding. Here's a beautiful prayer from one of its residents that could be useful if your town ever faces something similar. (Facebook, 05/05)

Combating the Hate of Westboro Baptist Church
Originally posted on YouthRadio.org, this story tells of one youth's effort to offer an alternative demonstration when Westboro comes to town. (Huffington Post, 05/06)

Forget Right or Wrong: Why the National Day of Prayer is Obsolete
"The Constitutional issues around a National Day of Prayer endorsed by the federal government are significant, and the political stakes are high (or hyped, depending on your perspective), but the controversy also reflects the continuing failure of mainline religions to grasp a dramatic cultural change in what constitutes religious or spiritual “practice.” (Religion Dispatches, 05/06)

"Lucifer" is not the Devil
Just one of many interesting and thoughtful posts on this blog. This one explores a commonplace error among many Christians to equate "Lucifer" with "Satan" or "the devil" when talking about the Bible. (Commonplace Holiness, 05/05)

How do Christians become conservative?
A well-argued look at the social justice themes in the Bible, though it doesn't exactly answer the title's question. (Huffington Post, 05/11)

Teachers talk about their favorite online learning tools
These are mostly school teachers responding, but there are still many tools you may want to try out. (Edutopia, first post 03/11)

Ten Ways Christians Tend to Fail at Being Christian
It's just one opinion, but it would make interesting class discussion material! Just hope he also does a companion article on what Christians tend to well at. (Huffington Post, 05/07)

Technological Prayers: Parents and Children Exploring Robotics and Values
Can robots be helpful in faith formation? Find out in this paper from MIT. PDF format. (MIT.edu)

Code of silence from teenage boys?
How do you get a teenage males to say more than three words and a grunt? It sounds like a riddle, but it's actually a pretty common experience. (Chicago Sun Times, 04/15)

Video Picks of the Week

Sit back & enjoy the show! Find more @ the DifferentVoiceDotCom YouTube Channel.

The future? Think mobile, mobile, mobile, says digital expert
Usually, I'll post a link to my favorite video of the week that I came across. This week, I'll first mention that I've started to populate a new YouTube channel, where you'll find a few cool videos I enjoyed. (Youtube)

Sunday's Coming
I can't stop thinking about this hilarious video spoof about the typical "format" of contemporary worship. My favorite video of the week, by far!! (Vimeo)

Facebook in Real Life
Warning: If you're a Facebook regular, you may rethink the amount of time you spend in that world after seeing this very witty video, originally created for a church service. (Crossroads.net)

Learn more about Different Voice -->

Another Voice

Big sign on Rt 5, Exit 82, Centralia, OR: "Christian Outlet ahead . . .80% off all things Christian" ...discount discipleship, anyone?

~ Leonard Sweet, Facebook, 05.09.10

Thursday, April 29, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:08:00 GMT

Recent articles

From the blog at DifferentVoice.com

Why I'm (probably) switching to Springpad
Anyone who spends a lot of time on a computer has likely encountered the problem of how and where to store website addresses, bits of text, names of books or movies, and all of the other "stuff" one comes across on a daily basis. The bookmark or favorites tool in your browser works fine for websites you use regularly and occasionally, but they really aren't generally well-designed for holding a lot of entries. Storing notes in Stickies clearly has space limitations, and To Do applications are generally ill-equipped for data storage and retrieval. Continued...
3 faith-related memoirs for progressive Christians
The library in the church where I spent my teenage years didn't have many books—and practically none that were intended for teens—but since I was a voracious reader I polished off a few of them one year. They would have fallen into a category I'd call “faith memoirs,” and they were stories of persons whose evangelical faith had been the driving force as they worked with gang members, were imprisoned in a dark prison cell in some Asian country, or survived the Holocaust. Thinking back on those books now, I realize that they played an important role in shaping my theology at that time. After all, I thought, the people in those books actually seemed to live their faith in profound ways, not just go through the motions like many of the adults I knew. Continued...

Tools for Your Ministry

Curriculum, videos, & other resources

Kids & Christ
Very good article, part of a 6-part series, called "Kids and Christ: Changing culture calls for new Sunday model." Share it with your planning team. Join the Facebook group, too, to continue the conversation. (UM Portal, 04/27)

NoiseTrade: Fair Trade Music
Enjoy free streaming music and more from this site started by the progressive-minded Christian musician Derek Webb. I've linked here to Carl Gladstone, a guy I think you'll really enjoy and founder of the Abolitionist Hymnal. (NoiseTrade.com)

Bible Dudes
This inventive and very funny website will introduce you or your congregation members to the basics of contemporary biblical scholarship, in 5 short lessons. (BibleDudes.com)

Books I'd Read If...

Recently-released & upcoming books that look promising

The Can Man, by Laura E. Williams and Craig Orback
Help K-3 children understand homelessness/poverty with this illustrated book about a boy who collects cans to help a man who collects cans to survive. Amazon (04/30)

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter, by Stephen R. Prothero
The book I'm currently reading. Turns out, we're really not all quite as similar as you might think! Definitely a very worthwhile (but a bit long) read. Amazon (04/20)

Science and Spirituality: Making Room for Faith in the Age of Science, by Michael Ruse
Published by Cambridge University Press, so don't expect a lightweight read. Amazon (03/08)

Growing Up Christian: Why Young People Stay in Church, Leave Church, and (Sometimes) Come Back to Church, by John Bowen
The title pretty much sums it up. Bowen surveyed hundreds of churched youth to find out what they need, why they leave, and much more. Amazon (01/15)

Check This Out

Articles & websites worth your time (some shared previously on our Facebook page
or Twitter account.) Find lots more great stuff at our Alltop page!

Pilgrims and Progress: 3000 Years of Christianity
Interview with Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of Christianity: The First 3000 Years. (NPR, 04/25)

Christian Love and Sex
"...there is nothing wishy-washy in taking the danger at the heart of Christianity seriously. Sexual relationships are all the more dangerous for having experienced the contraceptive revolution of the last century. But in their untidy modern reality, they are just as much an icon of Christ as any neat moral scheme from the ancient world." (Washington Post, 04/20)

Article #3 at the Journal of Childhood and Religion
1 Samuel 1, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, and “The Best Interests of the Child,” by Naomi Steinberg (Journal of Childhood and Religion, April)

We have met the enemy and he is PowerPoint
“It’s dangerous because it can create the illusion of understanding and the illusion of control. Some problems in the world are not bullet-izable.” (New York Times, 04/26)

Christianity for the Rest of Us (blog)
Diana Butler-Bass has a new, highly-recommended, ongoing blog at Beliefnet (04/23)

Thou Shall Twitter in Church
I'm still not convinced—perhaps it's generational?—but here's a quick article to ponder. (Church Marketing Sucks, 04/28)

Birthmother's Day
Your church may celebrate Mother's Day, but did you know about the special day that celebrates the special role of birthmothers? (Independent Adoption Center, 04/26)

How do busy leaders find time for social media?
I don't generally link to Thomas Nelson, but this post from their CEO sums things up pretty well. (MichaelHyatt.com, 04/23)

72% of Millennials more spiritual than religious
Are you missing a generation in your congregation? This might explain why. (USA Today, 04/27)

For Shy Worshippers, Church can be Overwhelming
How do you meet the spiritual needs of the introverts in your congregation? (Huffington Post, 04/22)

Is Western Christianity Suffering From Spiritual Amnesia?
"...we inhabit a post-traditional world—a world of broken memory—in which some tell history badly, others do not know it at all, and still others use history to manipulate people to their own ends. All contemporary faiths struggle with lost memory." (Huffington Post, 04/28)

Searching for the Better Text
Terrific article on the challenges of biblical translation, & why your Bible gets things wrong. If it piques your interest, also check out the new book And God Said: How Translations Conceal the Bible's Original Meaning. Reading it now - fun & engaging!
(Biblical Archaeology Review, 04/17)

Video Pick of the Week

Sit back and enjoy the show

Our new video channel
Usually, I'll post a link to my favorite video of the week that I came across. This week, I'll first mention that I've started to populate a new YouTube channel, where you'll find a few cool videos I enjoyed. (Youtube)

An AMAZING presentation by a 12 year-old girl
This 8 1/2 minute presentation at the TED conference by Adora Svitak will have you laughing and crying. Stop everything and watch it! (Ted.com)

Opportunities

Jobs for Progressive Christians
A list of available jobs around the country, updated occasionally, at Beattitudes Society
2010 Washington Island Forum
"Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church." Featured speaker: Kenda Creasy Dean. June 21-25, 2010, in beautiful Washington Island, Wisconsin.

Learn more about Different Voice -->

Another Voice

Be wild, O my soul, for the Source of Wonder;
let all my insides praise the Holy Name.

Be wild, O my soul, for the Source of Wonder;
don't let me forget all your kindness and help...

Let all creation praise you,
each plot of land declare your providence.

Be wild, O my soul, for the Source of Wonder."

~ Pamela Greenberg,
From her translation of Psalm 103 in her stunningly beautiful book,
The Complete Psalms: The Book of Prayer Songs in a New Translation

Friday, April 9, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:01:00 GMT

Today's Daily Voice

On Fridays, our focus is spirituality

Moving Forward in an Age of Sharing
We live in the age of sharing…at least in certain spheres of our life. If I open iTunes to listen to music or podcasts when I visit my local wireless-enabled coffee shop, I often can see the music playlists of the other persons who are also listening to their tunes. As long as they leave their laptop open, I can even "stream" their music through my computer to listen to anything that catches my interest. I'm always surprised at the eclectic mix of tunes most people have on their computers; showtunes sit next to electronica, and country hits appear in playlists with classic rock. In reality, I almost never actually listen to the music, but I occasionally do browse the lists just to get a peek at someone's personality, a window into someone's soul.

We participate in the age of sharing. Ever noticed this little image before on a website like ours?

When you click on the icons, you become an evangelist of sorts. Whatever page, product, song, or article you happen to like is instantly shared on your favorite social network with your friends, or even just through email if you prefer to "kick it old school." Click on the Twitter icon from one of our daily emails, and you can immediately Tweet the world, "Hey, you really should see this.". Continued...

Tools for Your Ministry

When You Pray as a Small Group
This short resource will help group leaders with the part of the session many find daunting: leading prayers. Search for it by title in our Cokesbury Store (April)

TILT: Small Shifts in Leadership that Make a Big Difference
A simple tilt can turn something ordinary and commonplace, something well understood and familiar, into a powerful and unalterably different force. Any leader can provide the tools and instruction to enable someone to serve. Classes will be taught and church programs will be staffed, but boredom and burnout are likely and turnover is high. With a few small changes, however, you can be a leader who inspires people to serve boldly and lead others to passionate ministry as well. This subtle shift from being a leader who equips people for ministry tasks to a leader who empowers people to become ministers themselves can have untold impact on the church and the wider community. Amazon (April)

	Have you checked out the NEW Cokesbury website yet? Plase visit our Cokesbury store whenever you shop there, and you'll support Different Voice. By the way, our recommendations list, which I'll soon be updating, is directly below the main banner.)

Check This Out

Happy Progressive Income Tax Day!
It's only a few more days until your taxes are due. If the day is one you rue, here's an article by Diana Butler Bass (from last year at this time) that might help you think about tax day in a new way. Beliefnet (04/15/09)

Adopted into the Family: Toward a Theology of Parenting
The second article from the newly launched Journal of Childhood and Religion is now available. The author writes, "The dynamic of the Christian economy of grace encourages us to view parenting as adoption: where parents experience giving not only as sacrifice, but as occasions of joy; where children not only learn from parents, but teach them as well; where care for our children, the nearest, results in greater attention to the neediest." Share it with your education or family ministries committee! ChildhoodandReligion.com (April issue)

Asparagus-Almond Casserole
What is a recipe doing here?!? I ask myself the same thing most days when I look at the top 10 stories on Beliefnet.com, where recipes nearly always fill a minimum of two spots (and seem to usually be in the number one slot, like today's Pork Chops in Mushroom Sauce.) It's the power of sharing at work, in part (or does it indicate more of us believe in feeding the body than the soul?) And as for its inclusion in this email, I suppose it's the power of asparagus, one of my favorite vegetables! Beliefnet (04/07)

Related Articles

Books We'd Read If...

The Nature of Love: A Theology
This new release from Chalice Press asks, "If God is love, shouldn't love be at the center of our theology?" The author, Thomas Jay Oord, says, "To love is to act intentionally, in sympathetic/empathetic response to God and others, to promote overall well-being." Sounds like a winner to me! Amazon (04/10)

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Another Voice

Tradition-Practice-Wisdom is the spiritual triad that forms a way of life in community — the definition of soulfulness. We are incorrect when we see faith as nothing more than the institutions that claim to be in the religion business, just as we are incorrect when we identify sports as nothing more than a business. We are correct when we understand faith — or sport — as memory passed from one generation to another, as practices that change us, and as wisdom gained through pressing toward a goal."

~ Diana Butler Bass, "Baseball, Tiger Woods, March Madness, and the American Soul"
Sojo.net

Thursday, April 8, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Today's Daily Voice

Two Words
When Tim and I were initially creating the Different Voice website in the fall of 2008, we spent quite a bit of time coming up with our Core Values. The core value I have found myself thinking a lot about lately is Change. "We believe God is continually active in the world and that God is still speaking. Change is critical to growth." I would add to this statement, that change is inevitable. (Change is the only constant, as I remind myself frequently.) Change, however, even when it is a positive change, is rarely easy.

It is with mixed feelings that I write this, my last scheduled email for Different Voice. I am excited and energized by the possibilities of the future. And yet, Different Voice has been a wonderful experience on my journey, and the decision to move on has been a difficult one. As I have pondered these things, two words have repeatedly popped into my head - Thank You .
- Thank you, Tim, for inviting me to be a part of your dream. It has been an interesting ride, and I have learned a lot in the past 20 months.
- Thank you, Randy, Sean and Leah, for your love and support, for valuable technical assistance and for putting up with the many hours I have spent in front of the computer.
- Thank you, Carol, for walking every step of this journey with me.
- Most importantly, thank YOU . Without readers, Different Voice would be an exercise in busyness. Your presence (somewhere out there!), support and feedback have enriched my life in so many ways.
I have made the decision to leave Different Voice in order to have more time and energy to focus on two types of writing that I love and find myself feeling increasingly called to do: curriculum writing and creative writing. Although I have enjoyed writing curriculum for about five years now, it has only been during my time at Different Voice, and the writing of the Friday emails, that I have discovered my love for creative writing. I am looking forward to further exploring this avenue of expression. I also plan to continue planning and leading women's retreats as well as being open to other opportunities that come my way. There may be a website of my own in the future; if so, Tim will let you know about it.

I am not going to say good-bye, because I am confident that our paths will continue to cross and we will continue to journey together at times. Although my differentvoice.com email address will soon be inactive, you may contact me at hoelscher4@yahoo.com.

As I leave Different Voice, I share with you words from Romans 12:2, words which I turn to often, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Blessings on the journey,
~Sally Hoelscher

Some of My Favorite Articles

God's Work Continues

Just Say YES!!!!

A Message from the Children

Musings on a Dead Plant

Peace! Be Still!

Prayer Bracelets - A Service Project Idea

Praying in Color

Soup for All Ages

Tell the Story in Twenty Words

We Are One Family

What Will You Be?

Learn more about Different Voice -->

Another Voice

"To love God is to follow the mystery, to be led by its showing and withdrawing."

~ John S. Dunne,
Catholic priest, professor of Theology, musician and composer

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:01:00 GMT

Today's Daily Voice

On Wednesdays, our focus is ministry ideas

Trust Walk (no blindfolds required!)
Many years ago, I had the opportunity to take a group of college students to the United Methodist Seminar Program on National and International Affairs in Washington, D.C. (I highly encourage you to consider the program, which is NOT just for United Methodists!) One of the activities we did was called a "Trust Walk," and the experience I had in that activity was so profound that I've since led a similar activity dozens of times for groups over the years. It is, without a doubt, my favorite activity to lead with groups. The Trust Walk involves having a group of people silently respond to statements of action or belief through movement, and it does not (unlike another popular activity that involves one youth guiding another) require any blindfolds. Here's a basic description of how to create and lead this activity yourself. Continued...

Please watch your inbox for a special announcement from Different Voice later today. In fact, that's even the subject line!

Check This Out

Nursing comes to church
Have you ever thought about how you can attend to the physical well-being of your congregation members? Parish nursing is one way, and a good parish nurse is typically a good educator as well. Presbyterians Today (April)

Powers and Principalities
"In an age of profoundly diminished Christianity, women and men seeking honorable service to something larger than themselves turn more often to the military than ministry." That sentence was enough to hook me. This powerful 2-part article reflects on the contradictions of life in Washington D.C. (Click here for part 2.) Image Journal (04/05)

"I'm a Social Justice Christian"
If you've been a regular on Facebook the past few days, you probably have already seen this short PSA; if not, be sure to take a look. Consider sending in a video of yourself, too! (And be sure not to use IE as your browser when you visit the site, by the way.) SocialJusticeChristian.com (04/04)

The Nick & Josh Podcast
There aren't many places where one can hear Brian McLaren, Phyllis Tickle, and Bishop John Shelby Spong in one podcast, but you can in this extremely popular podcast, which comes out about once per week and usually features some big names in the Emergent Church movement. It's VERY loose and doesn't come with high production values, though, so be prepared to experience a pretty casual style, led by a couple of young adults. TheNickandJoshPodcast.com (04/05)

Opportunities

A Sustainable Faith
This 2-day event is coming up soon, but it's a chance to explore the theme of "Justice in the Real World" with folks like Shane Claiborne and Nick Fiedler (of The Nick and Josh Podcast). And whle it's priced very affordably, your clicks could help Different Voice get free tickets, which we'd really appreciate! A Sustainable Faith

Learn more about Different Voice -->

Another Voice

So if someone asked me, “Glass half full or half empty?” I would probably answer, “It's half empty, but there's more milk in the fridge.” Yeah, things may be tough, but there's always hope. There's always potential for change, for growth. There's always the opportunity to create a different tomorrow. And, if we choose to invest in that which is beautiful, and see the beauty through the tragedy, then, ultimately, what is good and beautiful will prevail over what is tragic and ugly."

~ Lee Rainboth, an artist (formerly from my town) who now lives in Haiti
from "Life Defined" on LeeRainboth.com, 4/2/10
(Also, see his photos of Haiti on Facebook.)

Tuesday, April 5, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Today's Daily Voice

On Tuesdays, our focus is technology

From the Archives: Computers in the (Sunday School) Classroom
This article was originally posted on April 14, 2009.
I remember when my father got his first computer. Today that computer would be rejected for being too slow, having too little memory and not having a color monitor. But at the time, it was a momentous occasion! We’d never had a computer in our house before.

My children will have no such memory. They, like their peers, the children of the electronic age, have grown up with computers – at school, in the grocery check-out lane, and at home. These children are comfortable and familiar with technology. For this generation, computers are an integral part of how they learn and experience the world.
Continued...

Shopping at Amazon.com? If you shop at Amazon.com, you can support Different Voice at the same time. Simply access Amazon.com from here. Remember to bookmark the link so you can access it easily. Your support in ways such as this allows us to keep providing you with The Daily Voice.

Other Website Reviews

Spirituality & Practice

It's Cool to Care

Friendship Ministries

Opportunities

2010 Christian Educators Fellowship National Conference
October 22-25, 2010, Louisville, Kentucky. Workshop and presenter lists are now available on the CEF website. I will be giving a workshop on Saturday morning: "Harry Potter in Sunday School: Using the familiar to teach the spiritual". I'd love to see you there! CEFUMC

Learn more about Different Voice -->

Another Voice

"We have God's joy in our blood."

~Frederick Buechner
Presbyterian minister and author

Monday, April 5, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 06:01:00 GMT

Today's Daily Voice

On Mondays, our focus is teacher training

Whatever you do, be memorable
On Easter Sunday of last year, I began a quest to worship in every church in my town. My plan was to visit 52 churches in 52 weeks. I didn't know exactly how many churches there were (in fact, I still keep learning about new ones!) but based on phone book lists and Google searches I estimated there were roughly that many. In reality, I missed church a few weeks, and I still have somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-10 to go, so my current count is in the high 40s.

There are a lot of things one notices as a visitor—how people do or do not greet guests and make them feel welcome, of course, is tops on the list. But when people ask me what I've discovered in my visits, one thing stands out above all else: many churches are too forgettable. Continued...

Like these emails? Buy us a cup (or a pound or two) of coffee, so we can keep on staying up late looking for links you'll love.

Tools for Your Ministry

Edutopia
This website's focus is on what works in public school education, but it's filled with stuff you'll find helpful in church or after-school settings as well. I also recommend becoming their fan on facebook, as many of their most practical discussions and ideas are shared there. Edutopia.org

Check This Out

Born Again, Sort Of: How the first Christians understood Jesus' resurrection
Even though we're now past Easter day, it's still a good time to brush up on how resurrection was understood in the first century. Slate (04/02)

A (Very) Young Artist Makes Waves
A 10-year-old's photo, interpreting Jesus' crucifixion in a contemporary setting, has caused a whole lotta discussion. Controversial, or just art? Feel free to weigh in! Wall Street Journal (04/03)

Resurrection: Rob Bell
Do yourself a favor and take 4 minutes to watch a master communicator at work. This would certainly make a great video for many contemporary worship or education settings! Vimeo (04/02)

Books We'd Read If...

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ
The author of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, which was wildly popular and controversial in some church settings, has a new novel out that's sure to cause an even bigger stir. This time, Philip Pullman turns his attention to a retelling of Jesus' story. I'll be reading this one for sure when it's released in the U.S.! (And if you just can't wait 5 weeks, use this link to get it a bit quicker.) Amazon (05/20)

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Another Voice

Due to a clerical error, the rapture has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2010. We apologize for any inconvenience our error may have caused."

~ Tracey Sheneman
Facebook, commenting on a post from the crazies at FiveDoves

Friday, April 2, 2010

news@differentvoice.com — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Today's Daily Voice

On Fridays, our focus is spirituality

Good Friday?
It doesn't seem good,
this Friday
when we remember
a betrayal, an arrest,
a trial, an angry mob,
many denials, the mocking,
the suffering, the death, the sorrow.

How did it come to be
known as good? Continued...

"Follow Me" by Bryan Sirchio "Am I following Jesus, or just believing in Christ? 'Cause I can believe and not change a thing, but following will change my whole life?" One of Bryan's most popular songs asks some questions that will make you think and might make you squirm. It can be found on two of Bryan's CD's: "Justice and Love" and "J-Walking". You can listen to this song and find complete lyrics on Bryan's website, but the best price will be found at DifferentVoice.com .

Check This Out

An Easter Story for Glenn Beck
Encouragement for Christians to have the chutzpah of Mary Magdalene this Easter. The Washington Post

Books We'd Read If...

Strangely Warmed: Reflections on God, Life and Bric-a-Brac
Lenten devotions delivered with wit. The question is, should I order this book now and risk misplacing it before Lent next year, or wait until next year to order it and risk forgetting all about it? Amazon.com

Another Voice

"I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black -
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I'd gone,
But I am the dance, and I still go on."

~ Sydney Carter,
English poet, songwriter and folk musician