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May 23, 2014

Reflection on communication mediums and Tweets - Oct 3, 2013 to May 22, 2014

I sometimes blog but I mostly post resources on Twitter these days. I could probably expand each tweet into a blog post with my comments about why I thought it was interesting but usually I do not have much to say about it and moreover I am pouring my energy into academic writing and the classroom, where I have amble opportunity to expand, connect, and analyze. Plus, I am not sure if people are reading blogs as much as they used to (post-Google Reader). I used to use Google Reader and now use Feedly RSS readers like I use Twitter now. I would scan through the titles of posts to see what was worth checking out. Now, I scan through the tweets of those I follow.

The odd thing about every publishing medium is that you are not sure it is making a difference. Should you put your energy into books, academic articles, blog posts, or tweets? People used to talk about publishing books and getting very little feedback after that mountain of work. Of course, that has changed a bit since instant reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and blogs. But are books the best way to get an audience? Will people actually finish your book? Is it not better to write something shorter and freely accessible on the net that people will actually read? But if you publish blogs or tweets, will anyone read them? Of course, there are sophisticated tracking systems now but even if you know what the numbers are, you still do not necessarily know whether what you are writing is sinking in.

Or maybe the old-fashioned way is best. In the pulpit or classroom, you can see the people you are communicating with. Plus, there is some chastening there of the one-way / monological thinking. There are people who are full-time conference speakers and popular writers but I sometimes wonder whether their content is being filtered through a group of critics (classroom or congregation) that eventually leads to more quality material. People come up to the preacher after a sermon and criticisms trickle in through nooks and crannies. Students ask questions in class and you read their papers. But in the pulpit and classroom, the material you have prepared does not have a chance to reach a larger audience. You can post your manuscripts online or podcast your sermons but usually people prefer reading or listening to something that has been vigorously edited or highly produced. Given the frequency of sermons and classroom lectures, it is hard to spend time editing or producing them for a broader audience. As for me, I plan on continuing to publish in a variety of mediums (academic journal articles, books, blog posts, and tweets) and that I love having a day job that allows me to communicate face to face as well.

When I think about who I admire, it is sometimes people like Andy Crouch, Alan Jacobs, John Wilson, and Scot McKnight who participate in Twitter or blogs and thus consume voraciously what is going on and understand the culture well. Yet they also write cohesive work like books and they have day-jobs which force them to interact with people and get real things done. Their theological and biblical reflections then are more interesting and applicable because they are seasoned with contemporary examples and dilemmas and their ability to connect with a broad audience is superb. I wonder if Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lesslie Newbigin, and Stanley Hauerwas would all have been into social media if they had born in a different era because of their accessibility and openness to popular writing despite pressure against it.

On the other hand, I admire the people who do no social media and are instead producers of quality books and articles. While they may not be the most accessible communicators because they are spend much of their time doing research, their work has high quality because of their focus and discipline. I think here of Karl Barth, Eugene Peterson, and Richard Hays.

I don't know of anyone else who posts their tweets on their blog but for me it has a few benefits.

(1) For myself, it is fast and easy to access my past tweets when I am writing, preparing for class, or even during class--to find that quote or article.

(2) It is a way of making Twitter tweets have a longer usefulness to others. Twitter's design tends to bury old tweets so that you cannot search nor is it convenient to read back through old tweets. Google scans the tweets on my blog. It is certainly possible for someone to search through my Twitter category on my blog and see all of the references I have made to Barth, Newbigin, Bonhoeffer, audiobook, etc.

(3) People who do not have a Twitter account can also access them easily.

 

  • Tweets and replies

Of all the tasks of the church, witness is the one ring to rule them all. Barth IV/3.2, 797 + Tolkien. / @jakeeyler reminded me I said this.

I like the weekly 1 page reflections: to force consistent reading, fuel class discussion, & have less stressful poorly-prepared long papers.

What you get in my Christian ministry courses: Bible, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Newbigin, @Pontifex, sociology, church stories, Twitter, and HBR.

I still think of insights from Advice for New Faculty Members by Robert Boice that I read when I taught at Taylor University from 2005-2007.

I used lots of PowerPoint. I found it faster & more flexible than lecture notes + handouts and better for students than no outline/guide.

Last class tonight of 1st year at @BethelSeminary. 7 courses X 14 lectures = 98 lectures. Lots of Thomas Groome's Shared Christian Praxis.

@jbaylor105 I say a bit about doing doctoral work at: http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2009/03/advice-about-duke-thd-and-phd-programs-in-theology.html … and a smattering about parenting at http://www.andyrowell.net/kids/ 

A number of Twin Cities mission and evangelism theological gatherings in June and July http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2014/05/twin-cities-mission-and-evangelism-theological-gatherings-in-june-and-july.html …

"Yoder hinted that ...bodily intimacy ...was based in his ... vision of a radically nonconformist church." http://archive.bethelks.edu/ml/issue/vol-68/article/teaching-john-howard-yoder-author-disciple-and-sin/ … Accurate.

"during softball games [Yoder] ... preferred playing outfield, so he could read a book while waiting for a fly ball." http://archive.bethelks.edu/ml/issue/vol-68/article/teaching-john-howard-yoder-author-disciple-and-sin/ …

See articles "On Teaching John Howard Yoder," Mennonite Life, May 2014. http://archive.bethelks.edu/ml/issue/vol-68/ …

@tedolsen This has been a helpful counterpoint for me as I rail against silos. Thanks, Ted.

David Harvey's critique of Picketty's Capital book http://davidharvey.org/2014/05/afterthoughts-pikettys-capital/ …

The "good" student vs. pursuing life's wisdom: http://ow.ly/x8w5E  http://fb.me/1qKhfGzPh 

Did you catch the second part of my conversation with @GordonPres, Michael Lindsay, about leadership & ambition?http://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/4204/ambition-influence-and-entrepreneurship/ …

As one is a professor longer, it is hard to imagine becoming more energetic, optimistically helpful, and conscientious in one's grading.

I find myself writing longer comments for online/hybrid student papers than traditional because I have less time to clarify things in class.

I know I should ideally turn all of this into published articles / books but is that realistic? And won't it be outdated? Is this new era?

Pouring so much into teaching, I wonder about posting on the blog PowerPoints and nuggets of advice given to students while grading.

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

trigger warnings and trust http://ift.tt/1oPKp3Y  #textpatterns

@james_ka_smith @byronborger It doesn't sound like he's read the book. My Philistine meter is going off.

A gentle, friendly request for Baptist writers to stop conflating their issues w/issues in American Evangelicalism. http://www.dranthonybradley.com/a-gentle-friendly-request-for-southern-baptist-writers/ …

@fitchest It seems to me this is a fight between Reformed @TGC and Lutheran @PastorTullian theology--see Pauline studies for parallels.

Ministry is piling manure (βάλω κόπρια) on the seemingly dead that it might grow (Lk 13:8). -Willimon http://willwillimon.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/the-messiness-of-ministry/ … @WillimonTweets

@sniequist And if you vacuum broccoli, you will need to get rid of that vacuum.

@FaithTheology The downloadable OneClickDigital audiobook from my library is read by Frank Muller. Will have to see if I can get Hootkins.

@joshmrowley I listed 20 other ones in my previous couple tweets that I think better represent those most influential on evangelicals.

@JasonGoroncy In my last two tweets, I give you a different list of 20 which I think represent influence on evangelicalism in the US.

20 living American influential evangelicals: Plantinga, Carson, Dobson, Coleman, McLaren, Keller, A. Stanley, Crabb, Sanneh, Yancey. (11-20)

20 living American influential evangelicals: B. Graham, Sider, Perkins, Foster, Peterson, Hybels, Piper, Guder, Fee, Vanhoozer. (1-10)

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

We're still working on restoring services - no ETA just yet but we'll update when we have that info. #typepadstatus

@joshmrowley The list is from a Southern Baptist in Nashville. I tweeted it because I have referred to it in class re: perceived influence.

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

I love @edstetzer's rants against bad survey research. Today's on youth groups driving teens to apostasy is great. http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/may/are-youth-groups-bad.html …

Enjoying audiobook Moby-Dick so now want Moby-Dick in Pictures, Marvel Illustrated, & Pop-Up Book. H/T @FaithTheology http://www.faith-theology.com/search/label/Melville …

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Top 50 Leadership and Management Experts http://bit.ly/1oIj1lA 

20 of the Most Influential Evangelicals in America (Mar 31, 2014) by @ThomRainer http://thomrainer.com/2014/03/31/twenty-influential-evangelicals-america/ … List has oddities as comments note.

"An individual who has no geniality... had better be an undertaker." Spurgeon http://books.google.com/books?id=HfP1ox6GidMC&q=%22better+be+an+undertaker%22#v=snippet&q=%22better%20be%20an%20undertaker%22&f=false … via Sandy Millar http://www.htb.org.uk/media/managing-effective-change …

Today kicks off #KBCDIII - read the front matter to the end of page 5 in III/1 today. It pairs well with coffee.

a quick announcement about me, and I hope you don’t mind if I **SIT DOWN** first http://shar.es/VHrlT  via @sharethis

Ironically, I've never felt respected after any sentence beginning with "With all due respect..."

Biographer of Franklin, Einstein, and Jobs, @WalterIsaacson says science needs the humanities and vice-versa. http://www.neh.gov/about/awards/jefferson-lecture/walter-isaacson-lecture …

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Anybody else interested can join us. Starting the Barth Vol. III reading group 5/19. 5 pages a day, Sunday off. #KBCDIII @cabematthews

Just finished my last @BethelSeminary online class. After 6 yrs, thought I'd be ecstatic, but truth is I'm a little sad. Been a great ride!

Frozen is a metaphor for Academia http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?f=1705 … pic.twitter.com/m4YPJa9tWA

 
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On Charles Marsh's new bio of Bonhoeffer: The Strange Glory of a Fully Human Life http://shar.es/SAEM9  @bonhoefferdaily

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Excellent take on the Q conference from John Murdock: http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/05/a-crash-course-in-q …

@ayjay I value Arthur Holmes's influence on Wheaton College (leadership) more than what it takes to rise to be president of Wheaton College.

@ayjay Being a "good conversationalist" may help you social climb in American elite circles but that does not mean you accomplish things.

@ayjay So @GordonPres reports how people have climbed to the top of US orgs in last 30 years. If they help groups achieve, = "leaders."

@ayjay If a leader "influences a group... to achieve a common goal," leadership ≠ positional power (Northouse, p. 5). http://books.google.com/books?id=MIKDJx2YHSIC&lpg=PA5&vq=%22Leadership%20is%20a%20process%20whereby%20an%20individual%22&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q&f=false …

I listened to audiobook Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris (2002) from library. It left lasting impression of Roosevelt's infectious energy.

A senior leader needs "liberal arts curiosity." - D. Michael Lindsay @GordonPres Great interview with @james_ka_smith http://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/4203/the-hidden-curriculum-of-leadership/ …

Corporate Time Equivalents: http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/corporate-time-equivalents … pic.twitter.com/lZqgSGy2CW

 

People think men are disorganized, bad at communicating, and yet magically good at leadership: http://www.vox.com/2014/5/7/5691132/americans-think-young-women-are-better-workers-than-men … pic.twitter.com/g64fBbwChV

 
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@danielsilliman @VeggieTales Telford Work, "Veggie Ethics," Theology Today, 2000. http://www.westmont.edu/~work/articles/veggie.html …

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Competent women are getting bypassed by overconfident men. Watch: http://bit.ly/1lUJooy  pic.twitter.com/NFdqzKANr7

 
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RT @DukeDivinity Convocation & Pastors' School Oct.13-14, featuring Hauerwas, Willimon, and James Davison Hunter http://bit.ly/1uADrB6 

Watching @edstetzer @LeeStrobel @MarkMittelberg talk about Spiritual Discovery Groups--similar to Alpha. http://bit.ly/WatchExchange  #TheExchange

On @BozT & @netgrace_org investigating sexual abuse in Christian organizations - by @kathrynajoyce -@theprospect http://prospect.org/article/next-christian-sex-abuse-scandal …

Confirmed: philosophers--like most rational readers!--prefer footnotes to endnotes > http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2014/05/footnotes-by-a-landslide.html …

@ahc @larsleafblad I'll have to hear how you two met!

@jrgordon13 Hauerwas was normal i.e. great. Mohler was mostly respectful--blustered but seemed to know better than to attempt to argue.

Good interview by @albertmohler with Stanley Hauerwas. http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/04/28/nearing-the-end-a-conversation-with-theologian-stanley-hauerwas/ …

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We celebrate the life of Glen Stassen. Read about the incomparable legacy he leaves us: http://bit.ly/1ixMfTK 

On Barth and evangelicalism/pietism - A New Barth Book is On the Way http://shar.es/TRMlP  via @sharethis

My Op/Ed in today's TIME: http://time.com/70923/what-americans-dont-know-about-the-central-african-republic/ …

The numbers do not support the claim of millennials leaving the church: http://ow.ly/vGbS1 

Twin Cities pastor @PeterHaas1 of @substancemn pragmatically responds to specialization and comparison in preaching. http://www.peterhaas.org/?p=1315 

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Dante's Path to Paradise—a marvelous piece by @roddreher in the @WSJ http://on.wsj.com/1gGPmEe 

Very good review by @byronborger of Who's Afraid of Relativism? by @james_ka_smith http://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/booknotes/one_of_two_new_james_ka_smith/ … #Wittgenstein #Lindbeck

This by @DavidDark is going viral. Spread the word about his good writing, shown off here re: Colbert/Letterman http://bit.ly/1hTnIsY 

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Excellent review at @commentmag from @jgsphd of Charles Marsh's new biography: A Real Bonhoeffer for the Real World http://bit.ly/1itiQcN 

@michaelfrost6 "Thy kingdom come... surpasses... all other possibilities of human revolt against disorder" Barth, Christian Life, 261. 1960

Students' superb integrative work confirms assigning books by theologians, biblical scholars, and social scientists in ministry courses.

The central criticism of Hauerwas: does it stick? http://ow.ly/vL4Bi  http://fb.me/21EmMFgnj 

I enjoyed the library downloadable audiobook of The Presidents Club by @nancygibbs & Michael Duffy (2012)--great tales of power & character.

The Ideal Length Of Everything Online, According to Research: http://bit.ly/1dYYfgD  pic.twitter.com/fgAwW2cF5j

 

I noticed the Association for Theological Schools (ATS) 2013-2014 data table is now available: http://www.ats.edu/resources/institutional-data/annual-data-tables …

Congrats to Dr. David Taylor, one of our favorite arts pastor/theologian! http://artspastor.blogspot.com/2014/04/next-stop-fuller-theological-seminary.html …

New from Robert Moses (ThD Duke): Practices of Power: Revisiting the Principalities and Powers in the Pauline Letters http://store.fortresspress.com/store/product/19301/Practices-of-Power-Revisiting-the-Principalities-and-Powers-in-the-Pauline-Letters …

My friend David Taylor is taking a position at @fullerseminary http://artspastor.blogspot.com/2014/04/next-stop-fuller-theological-seminary.html …

Increasing enrollment in theological education: nondenom; students in 20s & over 50; African Americans, Hispanics. http://www.intrust.org/Portals/39/docs/IT413wheeler.pdf …

Grading papers is just as fun as Twitter--reading quickly, making quick judgments, learning a little--right? #selftalk #gradesduetoday

Lake Valentine from @BethelSeminary Yes, people sled on that hill and ice skate out there in winter and canoe in sum. pic.twitter.com/29k4rNfuev

 

The view from my office @BethelSeminary - 6 in of snow last night but it will be 56F Sunday. pic.twitter.com/g0aESbjvGc

 

The best thing about pregnant women is the free Wifi pic.twitter.com/DozRPXnulg

 
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@bradley_wright Done.

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Douglas Campbell on Paul’s Letters and His New Book “Framing Paul” http://shar.es/ByYaz  via @sharethis

@edstetzer mentions @WilcoxNMP @bradley_wright @ShauntiFeldhahn at @BethelSeminary @BethelU about bad stats but recommends assessment.

"Even Though I Hear He Is a Wonderful Guy . . . " (Excerpt from Nicholas Healy's Hauerwas: A (Very) Critical… http://wp.me/p1cJiv-2Cm 

Ta-Nehisi Coates Being Awesome Again http://bit.ly/OcIdU2 

New job at IVP: Academic Editorial Asst. Check it out along with 3 other full-time openings. And spread the word! http://ivpr.es/ivpjobs 

Beginning long trek back to be in Minneapolis at Bethel: http://is.gd/LkinJC  and Acts 29: http://ow.ly/v1ck9  // Hope you can join us!

Hauerwas Ph.D. grads Michael J. Baxter and William T. Cavanaugh of DePaul defend their radical Roman Catholicism. http://americamagazine.org/content/all-things/reply-view-abroad-massimo-faggioli …

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April cover story of @CTmagazine on N.T. Wright by @Jasonbyassee http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/april/surprised-by-n-t-wright.html …

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Jesus is God's selfie. (via @craigmosgrove)

@thebigboid @WilcoxNMP @DouthatNYT I commented at the NYTimes page http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/opinion/sunday/douthat-the-christian-penumbra.html?comments#permid=11450358 … that majority Christian position is not theocracy.

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Exercise is no excuse for unhealthy choices. Via @WSJ http://tom.cr/1jIy0xA  pic.twitter.com/VL3Sdknkr0

 

A little bit of religion can be a very bad thing says @DouthatNYT http://nyti.ms/1rQfAMs 

It's official! I'm filling Curtiss DeYoung's soon-to-be-vacated position as Prof of Reconciliation Studies at @BethelU. #BigShoes #honored

Regarding "fit concerns," @BillHybels suggests giving bad attitude 30 days and low performance 3 months (Lead. Summit, Aug 2011).

Heading to #Sabbath, a profound piece by @BrigidSchulte on the inner compulsions of our busyness http://wapo.st/1nZucd6  #Itsaboutourinterior

Pope Francis goes to confession and you can watch. Never seen anything like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKHKmEtpWao&feature=youtu.be …

 
 

Traveler and church interpreter extraordinaire @edstetzer - @BethelU @BethelSeminary Thurs, April 3rd. Recommended! http://www.bethel.edu/church-relations/events/seminars/edstetzer …

Astonishing. Not ONE. MT @MichaelPeppard CBS Poll: Not a single Catholic said Francis's leadership has hurt church. http://tinyurl.com/lyc4kyy 

"seminaries either haven’t seen or have resisted need for new courses and training in areas of practical theology" http://www.faithandleadership.com/features/articles/disruption-and-leadership-development-mainline-protestantism …

@hankcoates Theology and practice. Maybe will require last chapter of Bosch. Maybe Sanneh's book. Maybe essay by Walls for history.

I'm teaching "Global Mission of the Church" in the fall and books are due April 11th. Textbook suggestions?

I'm teaching "Leading Congregational Worship" in the fall and books are due April 11th. Textbook suggestions?

“Teaching is a distraction and a burden, but it’s also an incredible stimulus.” —Marilynne Robinson http://tpr.ly/Ns6tLI 

@DavidDark Favorite can also mean: "Congratulations! Way to go!"

@DavidDark I may favorite something witty with the meaning, "That made me smile." But it is too "inside joke" to retweet to my followers.

@cwdaniels We made switch a month ago from basic phones to smart phone with RW. We're happy. Christians are involved: http://bandwidth.com/people/team-members/henry-kaestner …

From Dr. Doug Campbell's office door at Duke Divinity. Happy Friday! pic.twitter.com/AsI3EqEZt1

 

Secrets of the Vatican (Feb 25), a @frontlinepbs documentary, describes the institutional mess Pope Francis faces. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/secrets-of-the-vatican/ …

Year 2 brings high expectations for change for #PopeFrancis. Here are 5 takes on where reform should start: http://ow.ly/uxZyS 

Steven Greydanus delivers a great review of NOAH: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/sdg-reviews-noah …

"Wright’s discussion [of Paul] can be seen as a classic 'great man' treatment of a historical figure." @LarryWHurtado http://larryhurtado.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/paul-and-the-faithfulness-of-god-2nd-posting/ …

Hurtado on Wright’s reading of Paul http://wp.me/p1Q8N-Cd 

The decline of the mainline? The Alban Institute, an important institution for church leaders, is closing its doors. http://www.religionnews.com/2014/03/19/alban-institute-resource-mainline-institutions-shut-doors/ …

Having read Barefoot Church, I bet good character of @brandonhatmaker @JenHatmaker will come through on reality tv. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2014/march/jen-hatmaker-brings-her-super-christian-family-onto-reality.html?paging=off …

@michaelbd @ayjay GSS says very few cradle Protestants become Catholics, far more cradle Catholics go Protestant pic.twitter.com/3o5xKurP7v

 

I "right click" on links in Twitter and "Open Link in New Tab" but that should be the default.

Best book cover of the year so far. Kudos, @eerdmansbooks & @ericaustinlee pic.twitter.com/YJr5O7u21U

 

Gifted for Leadership: On Taking the New Guy to Lunch http://www.giftedforleadership.com/2014/03/on_taking_the_new_guy_to_lunch.html …

@jakeeyler You can read one. Then get busy.

Really excellent advice on applying for academic jobs. http://shar.es/RyrH7  via @mikehigton

Mark Driscoll’s Citation Errors At A Glance http://nblo.gs/U0DI1 

Cent Ch (256f), @timkellernyc treats missional streams (Van Gelder/Zscheile): evangelistic, incarnational, contextual, reciprocal/communal.

In Center Church ch. 16 @timkellernyc describes four models of the church: Transformationist, Relevance, Counterculturalist, Two Kingdoms.

@joeldemott I have posted my syllabi from this year, which will give you an idea: http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2014/03/syllabi-from-interim-and-spring-semester-at-bethel-seminary.html …

7 features of church for the city from @timkellernyc Google Books link to Center Church list of the 7 (p. 173): http://books.google.com/books?id=dixCoxSj_j4C&lpg=PP1&dq=center%20church%20keller&pg=PT318#v=onepage&q=%22exhibit%20seven%20vital%20features%22&f=false …

12 of 24 hours in to Center Church by @timkellernyc fav parts are: 7 features of urban min 172-179, ch. 16 "models", and ch. 19 "missional."

My courses next Interim/Spring @BethelSeminary: Discipleship in Community, Missional Outreach & Evangelism, Intro to Transf Lead, Elective.

My courses this fall @BethelSeminary: Global Mission of the Church, Leading Congregational Worship, and Org Leadership & Church Government.

The No-Fail Secret to Writing a Dissertation http://bit.ly/1fJVsbb 

@ScribesTrained Of course FB, LinkedIn, Twitter and blog of job-seeker have current info and photo that convey professionalism.

@ScribesTrained I think people on the market should be natural and not start something new just for the job search. But Twitter is fun!

@ScribesTrained Some people use FB and Twitter interchangeably but my FB friends and fam want funny kid quotes and fam pics not Barth.

@ScribesTrained I think the people who follow me are other academics or intellectually-interested pastors. I share about fam on Facebook.

@ScribesTrained I would recommend generally being positive and resisting mentioning things that annoy you. Criticism will reach the person.

@ScribesTrained I direct people to resources related to my field: books, articles online, and videos. Things that edify--that help people.

My pal @Eat2Gather shares my love for the table. Great list of what to bring people you love when things fall apart: http://bit.ly/1d11D4O 

@ayjay Yes, probably. But it has a high degree verisimilitude to what Barth said and with translation from the German, it is conceivable.

@ayjay The prayer "thy kingdom come" "surpasses . . . all other possibilities of human revolt against disorder." Barth, Christian Life, 261.

@ayjay It is not in the Karl Barth Digital Library but see §78 in Christian Life on "Thy kingdom come" as "revolt against disorder" (205f.).

Amazon Raising Annual Prime Membership Fee to $99 http://nyti.ms/1iEFIs2 

Playing God by @ahc is outstanding. Contemporary, classic, biblical, theologically-nuanced, beautiful, edifying. My students loved it too.

I thoroughly enjoyed Deep & Wide by @AndyStanley (Audiobook of 8 hours is great). Self-deprecating, concise, interesting, rich.

John Ortberg's church pulls out of the PCUSA for ECO: http://ow.ly/unMBZ  http://fb.me/1lIbI1xVP 

It seems that @PastorMark took a page from the marketing playbook of @RickWarren for his marriage book. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tonyjones/2014/03/06/how-mark-driscoll-gamed-the-publishing-game/ …

We remember @DukeDivinity professor Allen Verhey, who died peacefully in his home last week http://bit.ly/NsR7gp  pic.twitter.com/mB58Dc0nJy

 

I have posted my syllabi from interim and spring semester at Bethel Seminary in a new blog post: http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2014/03/syllabi-from-interim-and-spring-semester-at-bethel-seminary.html …

Distinguished scholar, beloved friend, colleague and teacher Allen Verhey died today at 68. http://bit.ly/1elNgvY  pic.twitter.com/Y8arOjHkHE

 

I listened to the audiobook The Generals by Tom Ricks (2012) for the 2nd time. First time I have ever done that. Superb book on leadership.

Anecdotal input may be stimulating but should be filtered through rigorous social science and Tradition. - Dilbert http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1993-02-10/ …

Totally agree with @pankisseskafka that school rankings should factor in % of adjuncts. Only way to make them care http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2014/01/adjuncts_in_american_universities_u_s_news_should_penalize_colleges_for.html …

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

Hey, I'm all about respecting your pastor but this is creepy and cultish. http://bit.ly/LjHmQ3 

@JonRCoutts It shouldn't be.

Tom Ricks interview about his book The Generals (Nov 2012, 1 hr). http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/309339-1&buy … Leaders need accountability & critical thinking.

I enjoyed the audiobook David and Goliath by Malcolm @Gladwell See also his "How I rediscovered faith" @RELEVANT http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/books/how-i-rediscovered-faith …

If you really need to know about wealth addiction on Wall Street, may I suggest reading this in lieu of 'Wolf'? http://nyti.ms/19Di7np 

Joseph L. Mangina says "the correlation among postliberalism, ecumenism, & non-supersessionism is strong" http://www.livingchurch.org/hanging-chalcedon …

Of New Atheists and Noble Lies: http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/?p=19381 

The one theology book all atheists really should read http://www.theguardian.com/news/oliver-burkeman-s-blog/2014/jan/14/the-theology-book-atheists-should-read …

A glimpse into our dinner table conversations...Here's @mallelis and @johnortberg talking about predestination: http://the-toast.net/2014/01/08/gabbin-god-predestination-andor-free-will/ …

A conjunction not to be missed: Betty Smartt Carter on Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In: http://ow.ly/so3Pa 

On pg 393, Gates says this about Obama, "I was offended by his suspicion that any of us would ever write about such sensitive matters" hmmm

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Finished 36th CD of Team of Rivals @DorisKGoodwin Lincoln's character, Seward's friendship, Stanton's focus, Chase's ugliness. Will miss it.

Good thoughts here from @ScotMcKnight: New Year Resolution: Conversation http://buff.ly/1dpvC9j 

This is why I'm grateful that @DouthatNYT is in the pages of the NY Times: http://nyti.ms/1cY6eaq , winsomely bearing witness. Our Belloc.

Love my Twitter feed. Wit, insight, links to good stuff.

Publisher: John Howard Yoder's books will now get sexual abuse disclaimer: @CTmagazine reports: http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/december/publisher-john-howard-yoder-books-abuse-women-mennonite.html …

RT @BostonReview: For all you writers: @TheAtlantic compiled a list of the best writing advice of 2013 http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/12/how-to-write-a-year-in-advice-from-franzen-king-hosseini-and-more/282445/ …

Sports Illustrated journo: I came to a conclusion: The story of Jesus Christ really is the greatest story ever told. http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/highlighting-excellent-journalism-in-all-its-forms/233431/how-sports-illustrated-reporter-captured-the-athlete-in-the-book-of-tebow/ …

The incredible story of how a reporter (@billy_baker) helped an at-risk teenager get into Yale http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/the-incredible-story-of-how-a-reporter-helped-an-at-risk-tee … via @ryanpbroderick

Must read. Amen! RT @rachelheldevans: @ScotMcKnight raises some great questions here: "Platform and Publishing" http://buff.ly/18RTyR4 

I honestly think that last vacation did David Brooks a world of good: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/opinion/brooks-the-thought-leader.html …

4 aspects of a professor's life: "Job, Career, Vocation, Life" by Charles Mathewes of UVa http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2013/12/13/professors-must-take-advantage-nature-their-work-life-essay …

My reflections on #Mandela memorial on Christianity Today @CTmagazine. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/december-web-only/why-christians-should-care-about-nelson-mandela.html …

Had a chance to see Mandela (PG-13) (which comes out Dec 25) last night.Worth seeing. Also loved Peter Storey on M: https://divinity.duke.edu/news-media/news/mandela …

Seven Thoughts on Pastors Writing Books http://ow.ly/rnY1r 

GOCN is Gospel in Our Culture Network - inspired by Newbigin, produced The Missional Church, Darrell Guder, George Hunsberger, @jfranke etc.

I'm presenting: "'Missional' Ecclesiology of 1 Cor 14" with Richard Hays responding at GOCN forum on Missional Hermeneutics. 4-6:30 pm Sat.

I'm glad to get together with people at Society of Biblical Literature / American Academy of Religion this weekend in Baltimore.

Watch video from the #dukediv Nov. 1 event honoring Hauerwas on the occasion of his retirement: http://bit.ly/1a9q3ul  @DailyHauerwas

Must not publicize poor theological tweets by famous pastors . . . Must not publicize poor theological tweets by famous pastors . . . .

.@pegobry defends Spufford's Unapologetic (sort of): http://pegobry.tumblr.com/post/66961050499/its-a-bit-like-attempting-to-paint-over-a-barn-red …

Four elements of my writing life: http://ow.ly/qGQuJ  http://fb.me/O5l61d9J 

Just donated to @WorldVision to respond to devastating typhoon #Haiyan in Philippines. Been supporting WV for decades! #trusted #effective

Living a Happy Life based on "Triumphs of Experience: The Men of the Harvard Grant Study" by George Vaillant (2012). http://www.feelguide.com/2013/04/29/75-years-in-th-making-harvard-just-released-its-epic-study-on-what-men-require-to-live-a-happy-life/ …

Jax has loose tooth-fall on bike. He said, "The tooth fairy brings you $30,000." I said, "Here's a hammer, Hon. I'm going to close my eyes."

PW's reviews director has issued a ban of the words "compelling," "unique," and "poignant" http://pwne.ws/1af85pt 

Highlights of Colin Woodard's American Nations: A History of the 11 Rival Regional Cultures of North America (2012) http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/11/08/which-of-the-11-american-nations-do-you-live-in/ …

Tomorrow heading to @RedeemerCFW http://humanizingwork.org/  in NYC with @gratefultodead Breakouts w/ @michaelluo & @DanSiedell ! #humanizingwork

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What digital tools do you use for ministry? Here are 11 of my favorites: http://bit.ly/HC4597 

Our own @BethanyJenkins interviewing our own @amandageisinger on her Emmy, illustrations & journey to faith: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/11/01/5-questions-with-an-emmy-winning-illustrator/ … via @TGC

Diptych of the wonderful Rev. Dr. Sam Wells and Dr. Stanley Hauerwas on Stanley's tribute day… http://instagram.com/p/gL6y7UPUGE/ 

Bonhoeffer and the conspiracy, the new theory: http://ow.ly/qohif  http://fb.me/248nOHgEF 

For my students contemplating pursuing a PhD: ProfB @AntheaButler is dispensing some excellent advice via her tweets today. Check them out!

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

@DWBarno76 discusses new "Building Better Generals" report with @BreakingDefense http://bit.ly/1aPavsi 

Building Better Generals - Tom Ricks author of The Generals summarizes the new @CNASdc report. http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/10/29/how_we_can_make_better_generals#.UnHLfzYO9hA.twitter … @ForeignPolicy

13 Things I Learned About Church History From ‘The Story of Christianity, Vol. 2’ by Justo L. Gonzalez http://buff.ly/1clcJCr 

@austinjwalker (1) Live in a house similar to congregrants'. (2) Be transparent about church and personal finances. (3) Study the Bible.

Pastor D. Wilson says ministers who voted Obama shld resign. @JonathanMerritt says maybe he should go 1st. http://buff.ly/1clnFjn  via @RNS

Elevation pastor Steven Furtick says huge house he is building is a 'gift from God' http://huff.to/1dmkdGq 

@DanSiedell Looking forward to "Excursion" to Gagosian Gallery http://humanizingwork.org/midday-excursions/ … at the Redeemer Center for Faith & Work conference!

The first step to completing the Great Commission: "Do Nothing." http://wp.me/pYxiW-2kv 

Commuting’s Hidden Cost http://nyti.ms/1gU7Vd6 

Review: Bonhoeffer's Theological Formation: Berlin, Barth, & Protestant Theology @oupacademic http://wp.me/p1NBk8-zo 

Paul, supersessionism, NT Wright: http://ow.ly/pPntT  http://fb.me/30nnfDYad 

#Mennonite Church USA group addressing sexual abuse by the late theologian John Howard Yoder has set 5 goals http://ow.ly/pA4r2 

Mark Oppenheimer on John Howard Yoder some background http://wp.me/pBxZE-1qz  #Mennonite #Anabaptist #JohnHowardYoder

New book: "Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich" http://eerdword.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/review-of-dean-g-strouds-preaching-in-hitlers-shadow-by-bob-gaudet/ … @eerdmansbooks MT @ClayKnick

"Seminary was one of the most fulfilling times of my life." @chrishennessey @BethelSeminary http://chrishennessey.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/reflection-on-my-time-in-seminary/ …

My interview with Malcolm @Gladwell on his return to faith while writing his new book “David and Goliath” http://shar.es/EWE62  @RNS

Farmer @JoelSalatin spoke during "Wholeness: A Conference on Food, Farming, and the Life of Faith." @DukeDivinity http://youtu.be/w-WYq-WXV_Y 

 
 

The Trouble with Malcolm Gladwell: revised & updated version of my piece about why his writing matters, now in @Slate http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/10/malcolm_gladwell_critique_david_and_goliath_misrepresents_the_science.html …

On Gladwell's books: "the main flaw is a lack of logic and proper evidence in the argumentation." @cfchabris http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/10/malcolm_gladwell_critique_david_and_goliath_misrepresents_the_science.single.html …

"The question is whether Gladwell is accurately conveying the science ... whether he is getting the big ideas right." http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/10/malcolm_gladwell_critique_david_and_goliath_misrepresents_the_science.single.html …

"Gladwell too often presents as proven laws what are just intriguing possibilities and musings about human behavior." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304713704579093090254007968.html …

Thinking of doing a PhD in philosophy? Be aware of this: since 2000 only 39% of grads got TT jobs: http://m.chronicle.com/article/Former-Graduate-Student/142219/?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en …

Will Willimon with @lillianfdaniel in @ChristianCent Being a pastor is like being a novelist without all the alcohol. http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2013-09/flawed-and-fallen-folk …

@tmorgan815 In my experience, evangelicals are not distinguished by their high view of Scripture but by thinking the good news is good news.

@dane_womack Even at high school, the brain damage evidence is strong: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/football-high/attention-players-parents-coaches/ …

Why I am not letting my boys play football and why we have stopped watching it. It is sad because I love football. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20131002/league-of-denial-excerpt/#all …

@fitchest @james_ka_smith @lkoturner @jwilson1812 @ayjay VG's thesis: Though increasingly common, the megachurch may not be the future.

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

"With a Spartan rigour which never ceased to amaze his landlord-grocer, Nietzsche would get up every..." http://tmblr.co/ZA1xbywlzAox 

 RETWEETED BY ANDY ROWELL

@pegobry You might be interested in the reading lists for the Great Texts program here at Baylor: http://www.baylor.edu/great_texts/index.php?id=6529 …

Ready for Your Doctorate? Check out the Doctorate in Missional Effectiveness @BethelSeminary! http://conta.cc/1f0IGnw 

Stanley Hauerwas on retirement: I plan to "do what I have always done. I will get up, read a book and write." http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/09/17/3850299.htm …

Why Andy Crouch's (@ahc) Playing God is important for young pastors like myself—my review @TGC: http://j.mp/19mAQ5o 

For fellow screen readers: I'm enjoying Book of Common Prayer Daily Office readings in the New Living Translation. http://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/bcp-daily-office/today?version=NLT …

@jrgordon13 @j_andersen My 2¢: given few prof positions, it is good a PhD is serving pastors & (2) pastors should be upfront if they use it.

@j_andersen @fitchest Wow. I had no idea. Wow.

@fitchest @AndyRowell Notable that some of the bigger names using Docent to cut time: http://bit.ly/16mbrXi 

7 tips for sharing your faith @jasonclark http://jasonclark.ws/post/62050206948/7-tips-for-sharing-your-faith … / I listened to the sermon. Excellent stuff.

"I used to not believe in lectures" (but I do now) A Manifesto for Active Learning http://shar.es/KUsb3  via @chronicle

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May 22, 2014

Twin Cities mission and evangelism theological gatherings in June and July

In addition to the Festival of Homiletics happening right now, there are lot of things happening in the Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota area this summer. 
 

Note the June 12th Redeeming Work event put on by Leadership Journal with Andy Crouch, Skye Jethani, Tom Nelson, and Kara Powell, and Bethel Seminary grads Michael Binder and Joel Johnson at Sara and Troy Groves's Art House North. 

All five of the following gatherings are intentionally held together so that people can attend more than just the single gathering. This year they are being held in the Twin Cities at University of Northwestern (which is only a mile from Bethel University).
  1. Missio Alliance event with Craig Van Gelder and David Fitch. (June 19 afternoon).
  2. Association of Professors of Mission (June 19 evening and June 20 morning).
  3. Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education (June 19 evening and 20 morning). 
  4. I think also the Foundation for Evangelism United Methodist Professors of Evangelism also meet often before AETE.
  5. American Society of Missiology (June 20 afternoon through 22)

Note also the Inner City Ministry of Cru "Creating Options Together Conference" with John Perkins and others July 22-25, 2014 conference at Bethel University. 

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March 01, 2014

Syllabi from interim and spring semester at Bethel Seminary

In the past, I have benefitted greatly from schools and professors that have posted their syllabi online either institutionally or on their professor websites. See for example: Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary's (Hamilton Campus) syllabi and Fuller Theological Seminary's current and archived syllabi. So I wanted to post mine in case they would be helpful to anyone. Of course, I have the normal feelings of inadequacy that these courses still need a lot of work and certainly have holes and blindspots! (May I also mention that these syllabi get constantly revised! And that today the syllabus has been largely replaced by an elaborate Moodle website with readings, assignments, optional resources, etc. so these syllabi, though lengthy, may still have gaps such as missing page numbers.) But my feelings of reluctance are overcome by my desire to be a helpful resource; I'm one part offering my services to the rest of the body! A secondary benefit may be letting folks know of the good stuff happening at Bethel Seminary! And a terciary reason to post this is some explanation of why I have not been blogging or tweeting much! That's what 65 lectures between Jan 3 and May 22 will do to you! 

So, here they are: 

  1. Missional Outreach and Evangelism - January Interim - Fully Online - 1.5 credits  Download 00 Syllabus ML507 Rowell 2014-01-04
  2. Discipleship in Community - Spring (odd format of half semester class spread out through full semester Feb 1-May 31) - Fully Online - 1.5 credits.  Download 00 Syllabus ML506DI Rowell 2014-03-01
  3. Discipleship in Community - Spring (first 1/2 of semester) - Traditional Format - Thursday evenings 7-10 pm - 1.5 credits  Download 00 Syllabus ML506 Rowell 2014-02-27
  4. Missional Outreach and Evangelism - Spring (second 1/2 of semester) - Traditional Format - Thursday evenings 7-10 pm - 1.5 credits (Syllabus not yet finalized)
  5. Introduction to Transformational Leadership - Spring - Traditional Format - Thursday mornings from 9 am-12 pm - 3 credits  Download 00 Syllabus ML523 Rowell 2014-02-26
  6. Senior Integrative Seminar in Ministry Leadership - Spring - Hybrid Format - Significant online component but 3 full days of intensive classroom time on campus mid-semester - 3 credits  Download 00 Syllabus ML780 Rowell 2014-02-23
  7. Contemporary Models of the Church - Spring - Fully Online - 3.0 credits and 1.5 credit students  Download 00 Syllabus ML714 Rowell 2014-03-24

 

Explanation of my load of courses:

I am having a great time but it is busy! 

My annual load is 21 credits or 7 3-credit courses per year. This semester I am teaching 6 courses (technically 4.5 courses) which adds up to 13.5 credits so it has been busy! 

This fall the powers-that-be intended to be kind to me--having me only teach 1 3-credit course and 2 1.5 credit courses (Introduction to Transformational Leadership; Missional Outreach and Evangelism; Discipleship in Community) which added up to 6 credits. Missional Outreach and Evangelism, and Discipleship in Community are sibling 1/2 courses of 1.5 credits each--i.e. together they make up a full course. I taught those two sibling courses in the traditional delivery format while the Introduction to Transformational Leadership course was taught in a hybrid format: significant online components but also 3 8-hour days of an intensive classroom experience on campus halfway through the semester. That was a nice reasonable load because they were all new preps for me. 

I also taught one intensive fully online course for 1.5 credits during the January Interim term (Missional Outreach and Evangelism).

But this semester the piper came calling and the big load arrived: Contemporary Models of the Church; Senior Integrative Seminar in Ministry Leadership; Discipleship in Community (traditional delivery and fully online sections), Introduction to Transformational Leadership, and Missional Outreach and Evangelism. Happily only those first two out of the six courses are new preps. I'm going to write another blog post about all I have learned about teaching online. In short, I am requiring weekly 1-page assignments so that students don't fall behind; I am grading them to keep the quality high; I am grading student comments or replies when I require them; using Adobe Connect to have online sessions where I present a PowerPoint and lead webcam, audio, and typed chat discussions, and recording those sessions so students who miss them can watch them and write a one-page response to them; and having optional Google Hangouts sessions where we chat over webcams.  

Finally, yes, I still need to turn in my dissertation to my committee and defend it. I'm doing that this summer! I'm ABD (All But Dissertation finished) in the Th.D. (Doctor of Theology) program at Duke Divinity School. I'm trying close my eyes and resist tantalizing writing assignments, conference presentation proposals, and speaking engagements so that I do this good Bethel Seminary teaching and finish the dissertation and see my family! I have to pay $2500 to Duke every semester for continuation tuition fees so that is even more incentive to finish.

Warm greetings to any readers out there.

Andy  

 

Andrew D. Rowell
Instructor of Ministry Leadership
Bethel Seminary
Th.D. Candidate (ABD) - Duke Divinity School
Mail Service Center box #7006
3949 Bethel Dr
Saint Paul, MN 55112
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell

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October 03, 2013

My tweets from March 22, 2013 to October 3, 2013 on the pope, organizational leadership, teaching, and theology

For quite a while now I have been mostly tweeting instead of blogging. I often have a resource that I have found useful or interesting that I want to share with others. I can do that in a sentence. I sometimes do think that I could comment further about each link and thus keep blogging but I suppose at this point, I am not wanting to take the time to do that. Perhaps my functional philosophy is that my longer reflections are saved for my students at Bethel Seminary and books and articles I am writing. But of course many of you are not on Twitter and just checking out my blog so you get pretty little from me. So I like every few months to post my tweets so that my blog readers can scan through them and see things they may have missed. See below the latest batch. They are in descending order from most recent to March 27th. That's 190 days and there are 251 tweets so about 1.3 per day. I end up drawing on a lot on these resources for illustrations and examples as I teach courses at Bethel Seminary. I may occasionally link to something not particularly pleasant but generally I am trying to highlight things that are praiseworthy under the philosophy that I am recommending or collating good content--like an editor might. There is so much bad stuff out there, highlight the good. Furthermore, I do not like having arguments on Twitter so merely saying "I found this interesting"-- I do not get too many people angry about that. Sorry for my picture below so many times: the photo does help you see the difference between my tweets and those of others that I "retweeted." Blessings to all. If you are in Minneapolis-St. Paul, come by and see us at Bethel Seminary.

Andy 

 

Tweets

  1. "The church has two purposes: worship and mission." Scott Sunquist, Understanding Christian Mission, @BakerAcademic http://blog.bakeracademic.com/tag/scott-sunquist/ …

  2. @AJDTS @between2worlds Yes, I have read those. I like Newbigin's autobiography. Biographies are great for getting theology through story.

  3. .@mattjenson lists 10 books @tgc on ecclesiology that you probably haven't read but probably should: http://bit.ly/1aiIaMD 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  4. New Release: BONHOEFFER THE ASSASSIN?http://bit.ly/16GkOmW 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  5. "Excommunicating elders at a megachurch is messy business" http://bit.ly/1bDjy4O 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  6. Justin Taylor has gotten recommendations for biographies: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/category/biographies/ … @between2worlds / I noted: Nietzsche, Simone Weil, Kuyper.

  8. "Trends Among Growing Churches: Some Reflections on the Fastest Growing and Largest U.S. Churches" @edstetzer http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/september/sacrifice-is-trending.html …

  12. I think this is the FB page I posted today. http://bit.ly/16VHcC4 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  13. Sobering autobiographical piece from Brandy Daniels on rape culture and the theological academy http://wp.me/pYE7g-2et  via @WomeninTheology

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  14. @joecarter @spulliam I hear @drmoore but many distinguish proselytism from evangelism & P. was talking with a non-Christian. See my tweets.

  16. Newbigin: "Evangelism" is not "proselytism": "the attempt to enlarge itself by manipulating those unable to resist." http://newbigin.net/assets/pdf/87po.pdf …

  17. Newbigin: "Proselytism" is "drawing people into conformity." "Evangelism" is "freedom of the Holy Spirit... doing a new thing." Signs, p.82.

  18. I would rather define the task of the church: as witnessing to Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)--which helps shape "meeting the needs of people."

  19. I worry a bit about this from @Pontifex : "the purpose of our mission: to identify the needs of the people and try to meet them as we can."

  20. When @Pontifex says "Proselytism is nonsense" he may be defining p. as "making people in my image"--so perhaps still commends "evangelism."

  22. .@roddreher says: I’m still not going back to the Catholic Church, & Pope Francis only confirms my decision to leave http://ti.me/14UmlCo 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  25. Don't be that dude: Handy tips for the male academic http://wp.me/p32YqZ-74 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  26. Is it normal for Word for Mac 2011 to take almost 20 seconds to load on a brand new MacBook Pro (after a restart)?

  27. I tried for a month to get EndNote X6 (bibliography software) to work on my new MacBook Pro until I learned EndNote X7 is out--it works!

  28. I was not impressed with the volume on my new MacBook Pro but I recommend the Boom app for $5.99 as a fix. http://www.globaldelight.com/boom/ 

  29. Our 5-year-old's excuse for being unable to find her pajamas: "I have little eyes!"

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  30. Reminded that his uncle & I played fball on Wheaton’s field, Ben asked, “Should we be able to find your fossilized footprints from long ago?

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  31. "People who love to eat are always the best people." --Julia Child

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  32. The Legacy of Hans W. Frei – Conference Announcement: Folks, I’ve recently been notified of a conference to be... http://bit.ly/162VGnY 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  33. @jr_briggs Looking forward to hearing Garber here at @BethelSeminary October 10. http://www.bethel.edu/events/mission-work/ … but means I miss TU 15 yr homecoming

  34. Thanks to smart IVP colleagues, I've now discovered Trello. Killer organized. Your overdue manuscript is in my sights. . . . Yes, yours!

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  36. Openings on SBL Student Advisory Board: If you’re a student member of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)... http://bit.ly/18aFOPJ 

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  37. Minister-turned-atheist Teresa MacBain loses Harvard job after inflating resume http://shar.es/K4qr6  by @kjwinston11 @RNS

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  38. Wrote awhile. It went like this: scribble scribble lurch despair scribble scribble sigh herky jerk herky scrawl; and I thank God. A miracle

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  39. RT @skye_jethani "When ministry conferences left us empty, we hit the road." http://buff.ly/18vY0SX  / Also good for seminary classroom.

  40. Some good insights and one-liners in Hauerwas' "How to write a theological sentence" http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/09/26/3856546.htm … via @abcreligion

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  44. NYT correction: Although her résumé says Teresa MacBain earned an MDiv degree from Duke, she received no degree. http://bit.ly/1eN0dPU .

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  48. When Taylor Swift started, I decided I should apologize to all the old people who had visited our church. #loud #IgetItNow

      Retweeted by Andy Rowell
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  49. Fellow soccer parent: "We took our kids to the Paralympic Games, now when they see someone in a wheelchair they say, 'There's an athlete!'"

  50. Enjoyed 8/26/2013 @booksandculture podcast by @jwilson1812 on Eugene Peterson's new book of poetry. Beautifully done. http://www.booksandculture.com/podcast/ 

  51. At http://whchurch.org/  9/8/2013, @JessInProcess described how teaching of @greg_boyd on suffering helped her process tragedy.

  52. Enjoyed 2 sermons by @johnortberg -- on love: "The Table" 5/19/2013 and on marriage: "Closeness and Love" 6/19/2013. http://mppc.org 

  53. After reading the whole interview with @Pontifex I'm very encouraged by his theological & leadership instincts. http://americamagazine.org/pope-interview 

  54. "The risk in seeking God in all things is the willingness to explain too much ... We will find only a god that fits our preconception."

  55. "I think the cases should be investigated by the local bishops’ conferences...These cases, in fact, are much better dealt with locally."

  56. "Proclamation in a missionary style focuses on the essentials, on the necessary things: this is also what fascinates and attracts more."

  57. "church as a hospital after battle:It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol! You have to heal his wounds."

  58. "the ancient Catholic churches and the young ones is similar to the relationship between young and elderly people in a society." @Pontifex

  59. "negative behavior in ministers of the church: ‘Here’s an unfruitful bachelor’ or ‘Here’s a spinster.’ They are neither fathers nor mothers"

  60. "We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity. The church is Mother; the church is fruitful."

  61. "When the dialogue among the people & the bishops and the pope goes down this road and is genuine, then it is assisted by the Holy Spirit."

  62. “The image of the church I like is that of the holy, faithful people of God." @Pontifex / Bingo.

  63. "They asked questions and we opened the floor for discussion. This greatly helped me to make better decisions." @Pontifex

  64. "It was my authoritarian way of making decisions that created problems... Over time I learned many things." @Pontifex http://americamagazine.org/pope-interview 

  65. Was reminded of Stanley Hauerwas's similar comments on leadership and power from 2009 http://youtu.be/nEHQwhSpm0A  by new book Playing God by @ahc

  66. *binges on Netflix* "Just doing some cultural exegesis."

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  67. After surprise resignation, president says: "Regent has been an institution with a pretty volatile past" http://ht.ly/p2Age  @ctmagazine

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  68. Growth of Evangelicalism & Orthodox Judaism can be attributed primarily to high fertility & high rates of retention, not conversions.

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  71. Now they all want to be church planters which means "I could be a great pastor if I got to hand-pick my congregation" http://bit.ly/18bK2FF 

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  72. RT @greg_thornbury "Radically and basically, all sin is simply ingratitude." Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics IV/1, p. 41.

  74. Can a theologian ever really retire? Theologian Stanley Hauerwas reflects on why the work of theology must go on: http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/09/17/3850299.htm …

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  75. The Perils of Doing a Ph.D.: Be Forewarned http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/?p=4046 

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  76. What’s the value of a PhD? http://goo.gl/fb/dlPCg 

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  77. "Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal." Peter Northouse, Leadership, p.5

  78. #PlayingGod hasn't arrived at the Site That Shall Not Be Named, but it IS at Hearts & Minds—use BOOKNOTES for 20% off http://bit.ly/18TY26P 

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  79. The opening chapters of #PlayingGod are online for free . . . http://bit.ly/18QS46N 

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  80. Really sorry to hear this: "Two Colorado Springs ministries laying off a total of 60 employees." http://bit.ly/14MBtPa 

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  81. Lectured on Why leadership?: Bonhoeffer - visible church, Barth - living & constant, Hybels - stakes, Buckingham - managers. @BethelSeminary

  82. Taught today on "Why discipleship?": Dallas Willard on kingdom, Karl Barth on confusion, Malcolm Gladwell on 10,000 hours. @BethelSeminary

  83. Wonderful news: We reached our goal for @booksandculture : Thank you! Here's a letter from @HaroldSmithCT http://ow.ly/oHMY1 

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  84. Visited Woodland Hills Church last Sunday and heard @greg_boyd give this tremendous sermon "Living in Communication." http://whchurch.org/blog/8416/living-in-communication …

  85. On the problem with white Legos and the architectural philosophy that bore them http://ow.ly/oxfEW 

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  87. Twitter, I wish I could quit you. 10 things I've learned about Twitter: http://bit.ly/17KkKSl 

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  88. W/writing, the bad news is you HAVE to put in the time--major fly in the ointment. But if you do this, you & the work will get a draft done.

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  89. Great lineup here: Christianity21 http://buff.ly/1566fWN 

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  90. An Invitation from Matt Chandler - http://eepurl.com/EQZAP 

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  92. Books & Culture may shut down if literary magazine doesn't meet fundraising goal by Monday http://bit.ly/17ESs9T 

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  93. @matthauger @booksandculture I don't know. As you know, all publications (Washington Post, Newsweek, etc.) are in trouble.

  94. @matthauger @booksandculture Matt, I don't know the backstory except that this was just announced Sept 4th.

  96. Every professor of any discipline who is a Christian should be appalled that Books & Culture is facing extinction. http://www.booksandculture.com/donate/ 

  97. Books & Culture--the most thoughtful Christian magazine--will cease to exist if it does not raise $90K by Monday! http://www.booksandculture.com/donate/ 

  98. People, PLEASE support Books & Culture magazine: http://ow.ly/oyxn3 

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  99. The Nov/Dec issue of @booksandculture will be the last unless we raise $110,000 in the next 3 days: http://ow.ly/oyxn3 

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  100. My favorite mag in seminary @booksandculture will cease publication if we don't raise $110K by Monday. http://booksandculture.com/donate/ 

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  101. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us on Books & Culture? More details here: http://www.christianitytoday.org/partner/booksandculture/ …

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  102. Pledge a 2014 donation to @booksandculture. They need to raise $110,000 by Monday to continue operating. http://www.booksandculture.com/donate/ 

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  103. The evangelical and publishing worlds will be significantly worse off if @booksandculture has to close up shop. Go: http://www.booksandculture.com/donate 

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  104. .@booksandculture combines excellent writing and capacious thinking. Losing it would be tragic. Donate now. http://buff.ly/14we1Fz  #fb

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  105. So, academic institutions also have cultural dynamics to navigate: graduate school feedback in US vs. Europe http://kieranhealy.org/blog/archives/2013/08/16/academic-feedback/ …

  106. Rich post from my colleague @BethelSeminary NT prof Jeannine Brown on Christians and politics in the NT and today. http://www.respectfulconversation.net/ae-conversation/2013/9/1/context-context-context.html …

  107. @greg_boyd Thanks for talking with Amy and I today. I emailed Kevin Callaghan about getting together sometime to talk discipleship.

  108. The Golden Rule says in everything you do—which means also in evangelism—do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you @MiroslavVolf

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  109. @missioalliance @Matthew__Warren @scottkentjones Enjoyed the presentation. I'm finishing dissertation on Barth's ecclesiology. Well done!

  112. Laura Ortberg Turner @lkoturner is doing a good job tweeting and blogging the Willowcreek Global Leadership Summit. #wcagls

  113. John Updike’s Advice to Young Writers: ‘Reserve an Hour a Day’. And don't bitch about the crass publishing world. http://cultr.me/12DNipK 

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  116. @jess_h_b @revthb Yes, the church's task is witness (Acts 1:8) today and so must point well to Jesus not just hope 17th century rites speak.

  118. Trying to attract emerging adults? "Change carefully; change wisely." Terrific piece by Andrea Palpant Dilley. http://bit.ly/193hOk7 

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  120. I don't know of anything that will help us find emotional health faster than being vulnerable with safe people.

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  122. @jess_h_b He makes a good case that simple carbohydrates (without fiber)--flour, sugar, etc. are pretty bad. Do as I say not as I do.

  123. Listened to audiobook Why We Get Fat by @garytaubes Says carbohydrates make us fat (not eating too many calories or sedentary lifestyle).

  124. .@FaithTheology I wrote a short blog on how students can engage w/ primary sources minus the intimidation factor. http://wp.me/p1Usla-n8 

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  125. On books written for students: a polemic http://bit.ly/13W384b 

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  127. If only 1 practice? Scripture memorization. Passages such as Mt 5-7, Jn 14-17, 1 Cor 13, and Col 3. Dallas Willard, Great Omission, 58, 126.

  128. Dallas Willard repeated this often: "Grace is not opposed to effort, but it is opposed to earning." The Great Omission, pp. 61, 133, 166.

  129. "People will not recall 99% of what we say. But they will never forget the kind of persons we are." Dallas Willard, Great Omission, 124.

  130. After Dinesh D'Souza, Union's @greg_thornbury announced as the new president of The King's College, Christian college in New York City.

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  131. @jr_briggs How about that. I worked through that book (slowly!) while a pastor--"appointments with G.B." Yes, my memory of it: dense & rich.

  132. "The work of the pastor is much more about leadership & much less about management than the typical business person." http://www.faithandleadership.com/blog/07-01-2013/the-church-can-teach-corporate-america-about-inspiration …

  133. "In the Duke provost's view, the health of the institution required that the faculty have a 5% annual turnover." http://www.faithandleadership.com/blog/06-17-2013/new-people-are-critical-for-institutional-renewal …

  135. "I read the bulletins from the first year of my predecessor’s ministry. I saw most of my 'new' ideas." @DaveOdomDuke http://www.faithandleadership.com/blog/06-26-2013/every-new-ministry-built-foundation …

  137. Superb piece by Tish Harrison Warren (April 2013) on Courage in the Ordinary: "ordinary life vs. radical Xian life." http://thewell.intervarsity.org/blog/courage-ordinary …

  138. "The idea that you might do something radically brilliant—that assumption is very empowering." Marilynne Robinson http://www.vice.com/read/a-teacher-and-her-student-000571-v20n6 …

  139. @jasonbhood I think that next tweet is all I have got for a review: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/354703266958946304 … I also liked @jmeacham last evaluative chapter.

  140. The best of Jefferson was his belief in people/democracy vs. monarchy but his manipulative use of power (including slavery) is nauseating.

  141. Finished listening to Thomas Jefferson by @jmeacham Successful book in giving me sense of TJ but I can't say I admire TJ after it.

  142. @missioalliance Barth's answer: Jesus Christ. We don't "discover the revelation of God in our midst" lest we misconstrue Hitler as from God.

  143. For those who asked (based on my earlier tweets): 5 reasons I connect w/ random strangers (or churches) via Twitter: http://is.gd/37wPMs 

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  145. My take on "Lean In" after finally reading it: great advice for working the system, not for changing the system.

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  146. @foliovision Thanks for the input. I will consider that.

  147. My wife Amy, "So who are some of daddy's friends?" 5-year-old son Jacob, "Well, there's Dave Miller and Bonhoeffer."

  148. “A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.” —E.B. White http://tpr.ly/r82bdP 

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  149. Thomas Jefferson agreed with Ben Franklin's aim "never to contradict anybody" to their face. (@jmeacham p.308) / Probably applies to Twitter

  150. Exciting new reason to move to Minneapolis—it now anchors the lowest-unemployment major metro area in America: http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/07/03/you_should_move_to_minneapolis_lowest_unemployment_big_city_in_america.html …

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  151. A disturbing 50 percent of doctoral students leave graduate school without finishing: http://chroni.cl/162Yxc1 

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  153. We are now faced with the end of American Protestantism - and not a moment too soon, writes Stanley Hauerwas http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/07/02/3794561.htm …

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  155. William Turner, pastor and Duke colleague, advancing to legislative building where arrest awaits him #MoralMonday pic.twitter.com/A9Hfr3JB9S

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  156. Wow wow. What happens when tenured faculty take on the adjunctification of their campus: http://utotherescue.blogspot.ca/2013/05/when-tenure-track-faculty-take-on.html … via @ryancordell @gradhacker

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  157. Is this what egalitarians think? I say No. What say you? http://ow.ly/mxqdF 

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  158. New blogpost: My Fall 2013 Required Textbooks at @BethelSeminary for Discipleship, Evangelism, and Leadership courses http://www.andyrowell.net/andy_rowell/2013/07/my-fall-2013-required-textbooks-at-bethel-seminary.html …

  159. "What did you learn at VBS today?" 3-year-old Allie: "An angry mom was chasing Paul!" [Acts 17:5 "a mob started a riot in search of Paul."]

  160. @jasonbhood @tedolsen Ted leans toward Anabaptist approach: be an example vs. Reformed: legislate morality. Perhaps different for abortion?

  161. @jasonbhood @tedolsen Yes, don't try to read history. Barth--no natural theology!

  163. Duke NT PhD grad & Roman Catholic Nathan Eubank: "Eastern Christianity is the Manic Pixie Dream Girl of NT Scholars." http://www.nathaneubank.com/2013/06/28/eastern-christianity-is-the-manic-pixie-dream-girl-of-nt-scholars/ …

  164. Joan Bolker: "When you sit down to begin a piece of writing, your first aim ought to be to make a mess." @TrevinWax http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2013/06/29/when-you-write-make-a-mess/ …

  165. I don't want to pay for TypePad anymore for my blog (http://andyrowell.net ). Move it to WordPress? Recommendations on who helped you?

  166. @KarlVaters @AndyStanley I have gone with Priscilla and Aquila in a marriage sermon: hospitality, mutuality, work, community. Mary/Joseph?

  167. @hbarw One goes out to Starbucks for 2 hours. Then rotate.

  168. too evangelical for twitter, too liberal for facebook. #socialmediaproblems

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  169. Here's @ahc's response to the questions I raised about his editorial: http://spiritualfriendship.org/2013/06/27/how-do-bodies-matter/#comment-1412 … I may say more later, but for now, read Andy!

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  171. @jr_briggs Thanks! I think I'm going with Life Together because the textbook Teaching the Faith quotes so much Willard and Peterson.

  172. Interesting to read Wayne Grudem's comments about egalitarians (on women issue) who have not become liberal. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/06/12/an-open-letter-to-egalitarians-about-liberalism/ … @TGC

  173. Recap: Leaving @ptseminary in New Testament: Ross Wagner to Duke; Beverly Gaventa to Baylor. Dale Allison coming to Princeton.

  175. New Testament professor Nijay Gupta suggests "Six Academic Journals That Pastors Should Be Reading." http://nijaygupta.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/five-academic-journals-that-pastors-should-be-reading/ …

  177. @dmmowers Great. Looking forward to it! Thanks for tweeting. I'll follow you now.

  178. Considering also Yoder's Body Politics and Jeannine Brown, et al. "Whole and Holy" and Thomas Groome's "Sharing Faith."

  179. @jr_briggs If you had your choice on spiritual formation book for seminary course, B's Life Together or which Willard or Peterson book?

  181. For "Discipleship in Community" course @BethelSeminary, considering: Parrett/Kang's Teaching the Faith & Bonhoeffer/Willard/Eugene Peterson.

  182. "The real good news for humanity is that Jesus is now taking students in the master class of life." (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy)

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  183. If black bean burgers, kale and quinoa appear frequently at your church's cookouts, then it's too late you're already one of us.

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  185. A pep talk for writing compelling footnotes by a historian admiring David Foster Wallace's footnotes. http://www.themillions.com/2013/06/aphrodisiacal-footnotes-and-the-impotence-of-history.html … via @D_T_Max

  186. Please sponsor me to help find a cure for passive aggression. But really fine if you can't, we'll just have to find the money another way.

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  187. Excellent reflection by @jhiskes on living in urban Christian community during college. @theotherjournal http://theotherjournal.com/2013/06/24/pamoja-house/ …

  188. Lots of tweets today because I recently defended why Twitter should not be dismissed & realized I should tweet some instead of just lurking.

  190. I remember this @ayjay post striking me deeply when I read it 6 (!) years ago: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/jacobs/urbs/ 

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  191. I was Ken Carder's teaching assistant @DukeDivinity Here's his tribute to his mentor Will Campbell who died recently. http://www.faithandleadership.com/content/ken-carder-bubba-gadfly-remembering-will-d-campbell …

  192. In which I argue that counting humanities majors is not the best use of our time: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/jacobs/the-humanities-again/ … @amconmag

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  193. @kylearoberts I allude in my dissertation to Marten's The Heterodox Yoder saying Yoder is drawing on Barth dogmatically so is not heterodox.

  196. Death of the humanities watch, actual #s edition: http://1.usa.gov/12XCKpY  Humanities degrees were 17.1% of all degrees in 1971, 17.0 in 2010.

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  199. "Grandma, your carbon dioxide smells like coffee." The 8-year-old

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  200. @dwcongdon Ys, talking with Wilbert Shenk and George Hunsberger are at the top of my highlights of going to ASM.

  201. @praxishabitus I'll definitely be using some sociology books and tools to broaden and test our assumptions about churches.

  202. @wesleyhill Thanks! We hear it is great place. Just long winters . . . and bad wind storms apparently! Yes, Roseville is close to Bethel.

  203. @theoskaris Yes, I'll be Assistant Professor of Ministry Leadership at @BethelSeminary. Thanks, Jim.

  204. This year I'm teaching Discipleship in Community, Missional Outreach and Evangelism, & Intro to Transformational Leadership @BethelSeminary.

  205. AND we're thrilled to have sold our house to great folks! We're moving out of Durham, NC around July 23rd.

  206. The boys will be going into 3rd grade and kindergarten at Island Lake Elementary School in Shoreview, MN.

  207. Looks like we have a townhouse to rent in Arden Hills, MN 4-7 minutes from Bethel Seminary. Will give us the chance to get to know St. Paul.

  208. @dwcongdon Sorry to miss ASM and Barth Conference in Princeton this June. Moving to St. Paul, MN.

  209. Reflection on the legacy of Colin Gunton 10 yrs after his death on May 6, 2003 by @SteveRHolmes http://steverholmes.org.uk/blog/?p=6973  via @FaithTheology

  210. Paul T. Nimmo, author of Being in Action: The Theological Shape of Barth’s Ethical Vision, Joins Faculty at Aberdeen http://theologyforum.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/paul-t-nimmo-joins-faculty-at-aberdeen/ …

  217. @chrishennessey Thanks for your help in helping me get it! :-)

  219. @jonestony Looking forward to seeing you and getting your version of an orientation to the culture (police chaplaincy, pheasant, etc.).

  220. @james_ka_smith Thanks, Jamie. I appreciate your encouragement and your first reaction that it is a good fit. I think so too.

  221. @cewgreen Thanks, Chris. Maybe see you at AAR/SBL to talk Barth and mission this year? I'm presenting at Gospel in Our Culture Network.

  222. @davidswanson Thanks, David. I think of you fondly and look forward to crossing paths.

  223. @tedolsen Thanks. That means a lot coming from you--as you know the evangelical world.

  224. @BethelSeminary Thanks. Looking forward to tweeting and being with you all!

  225. News: I am taking a position as Assistant Professor of Ministry Leadership at Bethel Seminary (@BethelSeminary) in St. Paul, Minnesota!

  230. Will Willimon gettin' it done with this wake up call to seminaries on leadership, church, and Jesus: http://willwillimon.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/919/  @WillimonTweets

  232. "The new rebels might be the ones willing to risk the yawn, the rolled eyes, the parody of gifted ironists." DFW in http://books.google.com/books?id=fTzmRoY3z_IC&q=%22the+old+postmodern+insurgents%22 …

  234. "Recovery facilities try to control the stress of their participants so they generally prohibit school." @D_T_Max on David Foster Wallace.

  236. A dear friend of Dallas', John Ortberg wrote a wonderful tribute. Thank you John. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/may-web-only/man-from-another-time-zone.html …

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  237. Please share reflections and tributes about my dear friend Dallas who joined the great cloud of witnesses today. http://dallaswillardcenter.com/forum/best-practices-forum/dallas-willard-d-may-8-2013/ …

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  238. @christilling There are a few pages on "The Work of the Holy Spirit" at the beginning of §62 in Church Dogmatics IV,1 pp. 643-650.

  241. John Webster is joining N.T. Wright, Scott Hafemann, Alan Torrance, Trevor Hart, and @SteveRHolmes at St Andrews. http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/divinity/about/news/title,217819,en.php …

  242. Finished reading 3rd book of Wingfeather Saga by @AndrewPeterson to my 7.5 year old. Highly recommended. Cf. @TheRabbitRoom @slugsandbugs

  243. April 10th post by Andrew Sullivan ‏@sullydish on David Kuo's funeral and Sullivan's first visit to a megachurch. http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2013/04/10/the-world-of-kuo/ …

  245. Visualcy, generational differences, and leadership skills named as growing edges for theological education by @ahc http://www.catalystresources.org/issues/393Crouch.htm …

  246. Young clergy speaks on the occassion of Willimon's Episcopal Retirement. http://ow.ly/jAOjO 

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  247. "Both the Roman Missal and the CDWDS instruct that the feet of men alone are to be washed." http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/03/francis-washes-feet …

  248. Just when we thought #PopeFrancis couldn't get any more likeable, he goes and does something like this: http://ow.ly/jyArj  @aspeciale

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  249. Get Prodigal Christianity by @fitchest and @geoffholsclaw Two fine theologians + many humorous and insightful church stories. Recommended.

  250. I made a comment on John Howard Yoder and ecclesiology at the post by @fitchest "Is Tim Keller a Closet Niebuhrian?" http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/is-tim-keller-a-niebuhrian-post-2-on-center-church/ …

  251. I'm loving The Generals by Thomas Ricks (2012). Leadership, politics, history, war. Downloadable library audiobook: http://search.overdrive.com/ti/dcf03f83-74a2-400d-8823-d7260a506259-25-1-1-1-1/generals-thomas-e-ricks-audiobook …

 

 

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September 06, 2013

Why Books & Culture magazine matters

My favorite magazine, Books & Culture, is facing extinction if it does not raise $90,000 by Monday. It is the magazine by Christian professors for Christian professors.

Pledge to save it: http://www.booksandculture.com/donate/

Every Christian professor and graduate student of any discipline should be appalled that Books & Culture may fold. This is the magazine of Philip Jenkins, Alan Jacobs, Lauren Winner, Christian Smith, Mark Noll, Andy Crouch, John Stackhouse, C. Stephen Evans, and Richard Mouw. It covers art, books, literature, psychology, history, theology, sociology, economics, and science. In this way, readers are exposed to sharp, open, Christian commentary on the cutting edge of what is happening in the academic disciplines. Sure, you might, *might*, be able to find all of this somewhere somehow on the web but here it is curated, beautifully presented, and consistently excellent. Books & Culture is an open square where scholars can say what they really think and get a wide hearing from other academic people. Furthermore, writers draw broadly from the Christian tradition as opposed to many other publications where writers make no effort to engage with anyone beyond their politically conservative, or Reformed perspective, etc. In Books & Culture, you find pieces by Miroslav Volf, David Bebbington, James K. A. Smith, Scot McKnight, Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen, George Marsden, Jeremy Begbie, Nicholas Wolterstorff, Roger Olson, Ron Sider, Brad Gregory, and Roger Lundin. Furthermore, John Wilson has warmly welcomed the next generation including Winner, Crouch, David Taylor, Matthew Milliner, Elesha Coffman, Alissa Wilkinson, and Jason Byassee. Eventually you might notice that a number of the contributors have connections to Wheaton College, Calvin College, Baylor University, Duke University, or Notre Dame--what these schools have in common is their fine academic Christian scholarship but have differing evangelical, Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, and Roman Catholic roots respectively. If it does fold, some of this emphasis will surely be picked up by Christianity Today with Andy Crouch now as executive editor, but it will be difficult to combine the unique thoughtful openness of Books & Culture with the shorter attention span and lower tolerance for nuance of the average Christianity Today reader. Books & Culture helps scholarly Christians stay Christian and stay scholarly. Let's keep Books & Culture around for awhile. We still need it.

 

Update: September 9, 2013

http://www.booksandculture.com/donate/pledge.html

Donate to B&C
Harold Smtih

Dear Friends,

Never in my 30 years at Christianity Today have I witnessed such an outpouring of generosity and support as I have experienced over these past five days! Your passion and commitment to the ministry of Books & Culture have translated to pledges which, when added to those secured during the "quiet" phase of our campaign, have brought the total amount of 2014 pledges to just over $250K—the amount needed to secure Books & Culture's financial viability in the year ahead.

In addition, annual amounts of $110K have also been committed by colleges, universities, seminaries, and other individuals for each of the four years following 2014, thus providing our publication with a firmer fiscal foundation for the longer-term.

Needless to say, it has all been quite overwhelming. And we praise God for his hand of blessing!

Having met our pledge objectives for 2014, we now focus on the remaining months of 2013. If you missed your opportunity to be a part of this historic push, please know that your tax-deductible gifts this year will further strengthen Books & Culture's bottom line going into 2014.

In closing, and on behalf of publisher Terumi Echols, editor John Wilson, and myself, I want to extend our sincerest thanks to all of you for achieving this milestone. And would our very surprising God continue to declare his "Yes" over this needed ministry for years to come!

Harold Smith
President and CEO
CHRISTIANITY TODAY

Give a One-Time GiftGive a Recurring Gift

 

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August 23, 2013

10 reasons to come to Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota

Bethel Seminary:

1. Has a superbly-trained faculty from places like Cambridge, Duke, and Harvard who present at Society of Biblical Literature, American Academy of Religion, and Evangelical Theological Society, and publish widely in both popular settings and academic journals. 

2. Emphasizes developing the Christian character and spiritual formation of the student. 

3. Trains students in uniquely practical and academically rigorous ways in the areas of leadership, marriage and family therapy, and children's ministry.  

4. Is located close to a marvelous variety of urban, hipster, edgy churches and ministries as well as megachurches in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

5. Is less than 20 minutes from the centers of both Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minneapolis-St. Paul is rated among the highest places to live in terms of physical health, parks, sports, arts, family life, economic growth, and affordability. See Infographic: 2013 Chart Topping American City: Minneapolis/Saint Paul (Aug 2, 2013).

6. Has a medium-sized faculty which facilitates personal interaction between students and faculty. The faculty is also warmly supportive of women in ministry and encouraging to people from diverse backgrounds.  

7. Is part of and shares the facilities of Bethel University--one of the largest of the Christian colleges. The seminary is located just a hundred yards along Valentine Lake from the gorgeous multi-million dollar student center--complete with leather chairs, coffee shop, dining center, and wireless internet. With permission, one might even take an elective or guided study with the excellent undergraduate faculty in biblical and theological studies or even integrate theological reflection with an art, history, science, or literature course. 

8. Hits the liberal to conservative spectrum in a way that will resonate with many young evangelicals. 

9. Is one of the most experienced schools in having their full-time faculty teach quality online and hybrid courses. It is at the forefront of schools offering seminary education to those already in ministry who want to take courses online and in 1-week intensives. 

10. Offers many of these strengths through its East and West coast campuses: Seminary of the East in New England (Auburn, MA) and Washington, DC (Landover, MD) and Bethel Seminary San Diego.

Of all the seminaries and divinity schools out there, Bethel is truly one of the top schools I would encourage people to consider. The graduates end up being very fine ministry practitioners--biblically and theologically-grounded, innovative, emotionally healthy, intellectually-serious, and well-rounded. So, crank through that application, register for a class online, and get started. Or stop by and sit in on a class and meet some students and faculty--say hello to me when you're here. We'd love to have you join us.

Posted at 06:18 PM in Bethel Seminary, Seminaries | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

August 09, 2013

New Bethel Seminary Contact Information

I have an office, phone, and email address at Bethel so thought I would post it.


Andrew D. Rowell
Instructor of Ministry Leadership
Bethel Seminary 
Mail Service Center box #7006
3949 Bethel Dr
Saint Paul, MN 55112
Office phone: 651.638.6226
Office: A207
Email: a-rowell@bethel.edu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndyRowell
Blog: http://www.andyrowell.net/

 

http://seminary.bethel.edu/academics/faculty/st-paul/

Name Andrew D. Rowell
Email a-rowell@bethel.edu
Department Ministry Leadership
School SEM
Title Instructor of Ministry Leadership
Year started at Bethel 2013
Education B.A., Taylor University; M.Div., Regent College; Th.D. (in progress), Duke Divinity School
Bio Rowell is a new full-time tenure-track faculty member beginning in the fall of 2013. He brings pastoral experience in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and experience teaching Christian educational ministries at Taylor University. Most recently, he has been at Duke Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, NC the last six years doing his doctorate in theology. He is presently finishing his dissertation on Karl Barth's theology of the church. He has also written about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Lesslie Newbigin, John Howard Yoder, church planting, church consulting, megachurches, trends in theological education, leadership literature, the quantitative study of congregations in sociology, university ministry, models of practical theology, and 1 Corinthians. He teaches evangelism, discipleship, and leadership at Bethel Seminary.
URL http://www.andyrowell.net/

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July 01, 2013

My Fall 2013 Required Textbooks at Bethel Seminary for Discipleship, Evangelism, and Leadership courses

Here are the textbooks I am requiring for my three Ministry Leadership (ML) courses this fall at Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN). I am teaching each of these courses this three times this year and I am teaching each in both traditional format as well as in an online or intensive format. I would love to have you. Registration begins today: July 1st, 2013. 

 

ML 506: Discipleship in Community

Parrett, Gary A., and S. Steve Kang. Teaching the Faith, Forming the Faithful: A Biblical Vision for Education in the Church. Downers Grove, IL.: IVP Academic, 2009. 

This is a thoughtful theological treatment of teaching and theological formation in the church--drawing on the richness of the literature in Christian education, social science, and spiritual formation. Parrett is known as a superb person and teacher as well as (along with Kang) being cognizant of the need to be sensitive and thoughtful about diversity in the church. This is the preeminent text today for helping pastors grasp the spiritual formation task while equipping them for teaching effectiveness. Too many pastors know nothing beyond preaching and thus try to bring the lecture method into all settings including small groups and classrooms and are oblivious of the challenges and rewards of seeing adults, youth, children really learn and grow. 

 

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible. Vol. 5. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1996.

Bonhoeffer's Life Together is both a classic warning against pride in ministry leadership while also being an inspirational description of a passionate, creative, ecumenical, emergency attempt to form pastors for ministry. It is a classic and it only gets richer as one learns more about Bonhoeffer's life and his theological work from the beginning of his career to the end of it which reinforces his ideas here.

 

ML 507: Missional Outreach and Evangelism

Bowen, John P. Evangelism for "Normal" People: Good News for Those Looking for a Fresh Approach. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2002. 

Bowen, with years of experience in post-Christian university contexts with Inter-Varsity university ministry as well as steeped in the biblical and theological thoughtfulness of evangelical Anglicanism, describes the process of inviting outsiders into Christian community. This textbook in evangelism by a leading professor of evangelism sketches the biblical and theological case behind virtually all of the thriving contemporary approaches to church and ministry today.

 

Keller, Timothy J. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Dutton, 2008. 

Keller, one of our most articulate theologically-interested church leaders is also one of the best examples of an effective evangelists in 2013. Here he plies his craft--knocking down objections to the Christian faith and making his case for it so as to make intellectually plausible the winsome life with Christ which he hopes Christians live out before their non-believing neighbors. 

 

Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1989.

Newbigin, in his life and in this book, demonstrate the full scope of sophisticated philosophical reflection on epistemology in a pluralist world, strong biblical sensibilities, as well as an emphasis on the sociological demonstration of the gospel in the church. In Newbigin, we see a first-rate apologist, academic, missionary, pastor, and leader. 

 

ML 523: Introduction to Transformational Leadership

Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and Practice. 6th ed., Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2013. 

Both of my colleagues teaching leadership at Bethel Seminary, Mark McCloskey and Justin Irving, also require this classic leadership textbook which familiarizes students with the latest in leadership theory and modeling.  

 

Wren, J. Thomas. The Leader's Companion: Insights on Leadership Through the Ages. New York: Free Press, 1995. 

This books provides readings from a variety of figures throughout history on leadership--fleshing out the analytical contemporary models and theories in the Northouse volume. 

 

Yoder, John Howard. Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community Before the Watching World. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1992.

This 80-page gem by genius theologian and ethicist John Howard Yoder gives a compelling description of what the church should look like. A leader in the church has the task for wrestling with how this vision compares with the status quo. We'll start the course with this to catalyze our reflection.  

 

Posted at 04:00 AM in Bethel Seminary, Books, Church Growth, Church Planting, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Evangelism, John Howard Yoder, Leadership, Lesslie Newbigin, Missional, Practical Theology, Teaching, Tim Keller | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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