Blogging, responding to comments, and checking the blogs I keep track of (currently there are 110 on my bloglines feedreader and I have 366 unread posts!) has all been pretty slow these last couple of weeks, as life been pretty manic. Sorry for all those who I will get round to responding to. I am looking forward to the generally quieter months of July and August!
But tomorrow (Thursday) I am off to Newcastle / Sunderland (where my wife comes from and in-laws still live there) to a conference called “Incarnate – equipping the church to serve the poor“. It is being organised by a virtual name sake, Robert Ward (well how many Rupert Ward’s do you know?) who is Anglican Vicar in Newcastle. I met him nearly 20 years ago when he came to Edinburgh CU to speak at an event I was organising; I fed him a meal in my flat (sausages in cider sauce if you are interested), so it will be interesting to see if he remembers the experience (or me for that matter!).
Anyway back to the conference, the speakers are NT Wright, Steve Chalke and Malcolm Duncan from Faithworks, and Tony Campolo. What a fantastic lineup! Tony Campolo has been a hero of mine since my early years of being a Christian (and there aren’t many people who I read their books 20 years ago, and would still want to read or listen to now!). NT Wright is increasingly becoming someone who I respect and grapple with what he is saying. And faithworks are a fantastic organisation doing some great stuff on reinventing church in the UK. And yes I am probably a Malcolm Duncan groupie!
Speaking of Malcolm, I am having lunch with him on Friday … I would love to see what help Faithworks can do help us as a local church and what a about a conference in Scotland? I am also hoping to do some live blogging each night about some of the things I am learning…
So answers below please:
- How many Rupert Ward’s do you know?
- How many authors / speakers from when you were first a Christian are you still reading or listening to?
Tags: Faithworks, Malcolm Duncan, Mission, Missional Church, NT Wright, Steve Chalke, Tony Campolo, Incarnate, Incarnate Conference 2007, Robert Ward
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I’m jealous of you getting to see that lineup. Have a great time!
I still read CS Lewis but he’s obviously no longer writing..hmm…I don’t think there is anyone from “back then” who I still read, I’ve become way too liberal
Hi mak – thanks for the comment … I don’t go to many conferences these days (in fact i don’t think i have really been to one for about 4 or 4 years) but i am excited about this one. Quite surprising myself really!
CS Lewis would be another one of mine too (if you allow him) but i have the same problem … i think my faith has deepened and changed so much that what i read all those years ago just doesn’t seem meaningful any more. Campolo is about the only one i can think of…
I really like Campolo a lot. If I had known about him “then” I probably would have liked him then as well. I actually didn’t read much theology or non fiction Christians stuff until the past 5 years or so.
I still read and listen to a lot of the authors/speakers that I did when I became a Christian. I find quite a few of them releasing the ‘proceeding’ word and current. There are timeless teachings out there such as Tozer, Nouwen and many of the contemporary mystics too.
Books and teaching are often timely though to releaase revelation to us for certain times and seasons. Some of the books I’ve read that God used to do deep things or reveal awsome Truth to me through wouldn’t have the same ‘effect’ now!
I’mso passionate though about the power of the written word and think it is an essential way in which people out with ‘organised fellowship’ can gain revelation and have such sure ownership of that revelation for themselves – a book is a great tool when used wisely by the right hands.
Well, I can safely say you are uniquely the only Rupert Ward I know. In fact I can only really think of one other Rupert that I’ve known at all.
To your more serious question. I think I read far fewer Christian books now than when I first became a CHristian (oh my backsliding ways!), and the authors have definitely changed – (definitely less from the ultra-charismatic end of things) – although the likes of Yancey and Eldridge have lingered on my shelves for longer. In general, I think I’m more likely to read a Christian book if the subject connects to something current with me than based on who wrote it. For example at the moment I’m dipping into a book on connecting with troubled youth called “Hear My Story” by an author I completely can’t remember at the moment. (OK that one was given to me as a present, so maybe thats cheating).
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i know 1 rupert ward – altho thanks to the wonder that is face book i now know another paul mayers!
let’s see, 20 yrs ago i was 12, so that would be stephen king, tolkein, and playboy then
I only know Rupert the bear
I am so impressed by Campolo. I hope i am like that when i am 70+
Thanks for the comment again Mak.
Hey OnBeauty … thanks for visiting and the comment.
I think you are right about some truths being just for a season … but some like Nouwen and Tower do seem to have lasting influence. I didn’t read any Nouwen when a younger christian, but love his stuff now … although with a number of Catholic authors. There is such a depth there…
Thanks Tony – yes Yancey is one of the ones that still is on my bookshelves too…
THere is a naughty streak in you Mr. Mayers …
I have met about 10 Rupert’s in my life … but i do tend to look out for them…
And i have a rupert the bear t-shirt too … don’t wear it in public though!
you must look very raunchy in bed then
innocent me
?????
ok, i know King is probably a bit heavy
I like to think so