Blog - Page 126 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Transforming Mission

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:51-05:00February 7th, 2011|Categories: Church History, Missional Church, Missional-Ecumenism|

By far the most important book that I have read about mission, and I have been reading and studying mission since I did an M.A. on the subject in 1973, is David J. Bosch’s magisterial book, Transforming Mission. I assign this text to every class that I teach on missional-ecumenism. In the judgment of a large number of missiologists this book is the magnum opus on the subject. The author tragically died in a car accident in South Africa shortly after the book was completed and before it was actually published. I will say more about this great book in the future but I want to encourage serious readers regarding its importance. If you are a pastor you ought to read it. If you are a church planter you must read it. If you are young, emergent, passionate about all things related to postmodernism, interested in framing a new paradigm of mission, then this is the book you should read. Even if you are not formally […]

An Updated Bio for the President of ACT 3

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:51-05:00February 6th, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Personal|

I was asked this last week to provide a new and updated bio for a writing and video assignment I did for another ministry. I had not done this for nearly two years so it was helpful to delete a few items, correct one or two things that needed changing, and bring my sketch up to date for 2011. I will post this on the ACT 3 Web site as well but I thought readers of this blog might want to be the first to see the updated version.

I share this in order to:

1. Tell you more about the author of these daily musings about God, the church, ecumenism, mission and life in general with all of my curious and sometime eccentric interests.

2. Ask you to pray for me more faithfully based upon a better understanding of my background and work.

3. Encourage you to help me in this work if you would like to do so. You can contribute, as well as sign up for free weekly mailings, at www.act3online.com.

Here is the new biographical sketch:

[…]

Byron Borger on Your Church Is Too Small

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:51-05:00February 5th, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Books, Missional-Ecumenism, Unity of the Church|

I met Byron Borger, the proprietor of Hearts and Minds Books, several years ago when I was a speaker at a Jonathan Edwards conference in Annapolis, Maryland. He ran the book table for that event. Byron is my favorite book seller in America! He knows the industry very well but more importantly he knows good books. He is fair-minded, thinks deeply and offers a fantastic service to those who want to keep up with new books by reading solid reviews and comments before they decide to buy. You might pay slightly more to buy books from Hearts and Minds but you could not buy them from a more reputable source who deserves your support in every way possible. Go to Hearts and Minds and sign up for Byron’s reviews as emails. You will thank me if you buy new books and desire good counsel on them because this is a great source. If you can get to the small Pennsylvania village called Dallastown you can even stop in and visit Bryon and his wife in person.

Byron wrote a brief review […]

Catfish: A Film With a Twist and An Insight Into Social Networks

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:52-05:00February 4th, 2011|Categories: Evangelism, Film, Social Networking|

I discovered the documentary film Catfish in my local library as I browsed new films before the big blizzard hit Chicago this week. I had absolutely no idea what the film was about or how much controversy had swirled around it until I had seen it and then began my own Internet search.

Catfish is a 2010 American film that involves a young New York City photographer, Nev Schulman, being filmed by his brother and friend as he builds a romantic relationship with a girl on Facebook. The story begins when Abby Pierce, an eight-year-old artist in rural Michigan, sends Nev a painting of one of Nev’s photographs. They become Facebook friends in a network that broadens to include Abby's whole family, including her mother, Angela; Angela's husband; and Abby's attractive older half-sister Megan, a songwriter. Ariel and Henry then begin to film Nev as he pursues what he believes to be a “real” long-distance relationship with the beautiful Megan. This relationship is conducted entirely over […]

Perhaps the Most Bizarre College Football Signing of the Day

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:52-05:00February 3rd, 2011|Categories: College Football|

High school athlete Floyd Raven says his mom was just trying to help when she forged his signature on a letter of intent to Mississippi on Wednesday morning. Instead, she only caused confusion. Floyd had decided to go to Texas A&M but mom had different plans.

"Long story short, my mom thought she was helping me out," Raven said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday evening. "I wasn't home and she sent it in. I never told her I had changed my mind to Texas A&M. I forgive her for it. It was an honest mistake."

Once Mississippi coach Houston Nutt learned that the letter of intent was forged he declined to get into specifics about the incident. All he would say was Raven's "mom really wanted him [at Ole Miss]. Mom wanted him here in the worst way."

Raven, a highly regarded defensive back who played high school football at East St. John in Reserve, La., said the Ole Miss coaches were "very understanding" during the […]

National Signing Day: Coach Nick Saban on College Football Recruiting

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:52-05:00February 3rd, 2011|Categories: College Football|

The University of Alabama’s head football coach Nick Saban announced on Wednesday that 14 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football with the Crimson Tide, joining nine players who enrolled in January and will compete in spring practice later this semester.

The 23 total players, including nine mid-year enrollees, come from nine states – Alabama (7), Florida (4), Georgia (3), Ohio (2), Tennessee (2), California (1), Louisiana (1), North Carolina (1) and Mississippi (1). The Crimson Tide also went outside the United States to land defensive lineman Jesse Williams from Brisbane, Australia. There are still several more players being sought who may yet commit to Alabama, including the number one rated high school prospect in American, Jadeveon Clowney, of South Carolina. (He will announce his choice, of Alabama, South Carolina or Clemson on February 14th.)

Alabama's 2011 signing class is currently ranked first nationally by Rivals.com, third by ESPNU and sixth by Scout.com.

[…]

A Little Humor About the American Altar Call

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:52-05:00February 2nd, 2011|Categories: American Evangelicalism, Humor|

I have been deeply suspicious of the typical use of “altar calls” since I was a young child. First, every time I heard one as a five-year old kid I wanted to run forward, not walk. Who didn’t want to come to Jesus again and again? And if the word “rededication” was used then I knew I wanted to go forward. By the age of seven I wondered to myself: “What is this thing we’ve made so much out of every single Sunday morning and evening in church?” By ten I was just suspicious. All my friends had “walked the aisle” but few of them seemed all that changed. By my teen years I watched my peers who walked and wept and grew downright tired of it all. As a Baptist pastor, at age 22, I had to give an altar call every Sunday for one year. I couldn’t stand it. I am sure it showed. By the time I planted a new church, in 1972, I gave my last such appeal. I have never regretted it, not once.

Later I studied the history and theology of […]

My Highlight from the Signing Day Videos

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:52-05:00February 2nd, 2011|Categories: College Football|

When high school star Isaiah Crowell announced he was headed to Georgia I was disappointed because his choice came down to Alabama, Auburn or Georgia. But he clearly had the best plan of the day for showing his love for the Georgia Bulldogs. The only problem would have been if "little UGA" had decided to pee in the excitement during this live ESPN broadcast. A dog lover like me had to love it. He could not have brought a little Tiger or a little Elephant to the table so the dog worked just right for him.

“Help Fight Religious Leftists”

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:52-05:00February 1st, 2011|Categories: America and Americanism, American Evangelicalism, Missional-Ecumenism, Personal, Politics|

There it was, on the outside of the funding appeal letter, “Help Fight Religious Leftists from turning churches into cockpits for political mobilization.” My first response was to file the letter in the trash can by my desk. My next was to read it. Why? I once served on the board of the organization that sent this letter and these types of extremely partisan political appeals actually prompted my resignation. So, I reasoned, “See what they are telling constituents now. See if you find hope or more of the same in their present appeals for your money.”

The letter told me how three mainline denominations would claim to speak for “you” (if you are a member of one of these congregations) in 2011. How could this non-profit organization help you stop this? Here is their response: “Please join with us in the battle to ensure that our beloved churches focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are not hijacked for ultra-liberal political agendas.” So far, so good.

What follows this […]

Important News from ACT 3

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:53-05:00January 31st, 2011|Categories: ACT 3|

In our ACT 3 Year-End Report we announced a series of forums for the first Thursday each month. The next meeting was set for this Thursday evening, February 3. Please note that the Forum Series has been discontinued for the remainder of this year.

In place of these forums we are embarking upon what we believe to be a more effective strategy for reaching a wider community of church leaders. We plan to:

Utilize video conferencing and webinars in 2011. This allows John to teach effectively at less cost. Also, friends will not have to travel long distances. Watch our web site and this blog for information.

We will more intentionally partner with personal and ministry friends to come to you to teach and serve with you. We want to maximize our partnerships for mission purpose.

If you would like to host an ACT 3 meeting/event then please contact us via our Web site. If you would like to be invited to share in a video conference or webinar please let us know this as well. We believe this method better uses our […]