I was recently asked if I would be interested in reading a book titled, “The Rabbit and the Elephant” as part of a virtual book tour. Here on the Christian Book Club we are always happy to review new books when we can.
I started the book with a little skepticism, because I pastor what the book might call a “legacy church”. However, as I dug into the book, the author’s (Tony and Felicity Dale) painted a picture of what “simple church” looked like and I felt as though it opened up a lot of new avenues for me to ponder. I don’t personally see the “simple church” idea as a complete replacement for “legacy churches”, but I can see a lot of potential for them to work side by side in the harvest field.
Chapter 13 provides a great discussion on Luke 10 principles. When Luke 10 is looked at in light if the “simple church” process it seems to really fit well. I also enjoyed reading the chapter called “Stories From the Harvest”. The story about the “Church at Table Number Two” reminded me of some of my own missionary/church planting experiences. We had started churches that met in funny places and we gave them names to match. One of them was called “Light Bulb Church” because we started that church by stringing an electric cord with a light bulb in the center of it between two apartment buildings that were about fifteen feet apart. We had another church we started we called “Garage Church” because they met in a garage.
One of the biggest advantages I found in reading the book was the challenge to not get stuck in our definitions of what a church “is”. I have gotten used to starting small groups and home groups and affinity groups in my area with the idea of gradually assimilating the people gathered into our existing church. I am now thinking that the goal doesn’t need to include those people ever stepping foot in our church building. The goal is just to meet people where they are and get them o step into the Kingdom.
“The Rabbit and The Elephant” by Tony and Felicity Dale is a worthwhile addition to your reading list. It is a quick read and flows well. It also includes some interesting statistics from George Barna. One of the statistics that jumped out at me was that “the average Protestant church probably sees no converts in any given year”. That really shocked me! I hope you will read the book and I would be interested in having you comment about your thoughts as well. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, you can use the link below.
The April Christian Book Club selection is J.R.R. Tolkien’s, “The Hobbit”. This will kick off a four month marathon of Tolkien’s wonderful books about hobbits, wizards, goblins, orcs, dragons, elves and gollum. I first these book when I was in college. They almost caused me to flunk out. I got so wrapped up in the Lord of the Ring trilogy that I just didn’t go to class for a week while I read all of the books. I have read them since when I introduced them to my children. This time, I think I am reading them for the sense of nostalgia. Reading the books makes me feel good.
I am already immensely enjoying the Hobbit once again. It is one of those books that it is easy to make time for. With nineteen chapters, it will be easy to complete the book this month if you read five chapters a week. I look forward to reading your comments about the book. I am especially interested in to any conversations that we might have about Christian themes in the book. I will include the link to purchase the book in case you don’t have a copy. Happy reading!
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The Hobbit
By J.R.R. Tolkien / Houghton-mifflin
If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of the humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) – if you do not already know all about these things – much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period.
For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred peace and quiet to excitement. But his account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Bilbo Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather rare.
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This month on Christian Book Club we have been reading ‘Blue Like Jazz’ by Donald Miller. I have found the book to be very thought provoking. I am generally intrigued to read about people’s journeys as they question their faith.
Having finished the book I have been spending the last week really pondering the idea of what unconditional love is. I think that we often love people when they are doing what we want them to do, but are we loving people who are doing things we don’t like. What is the difference between love and acceptance? Does loving someone who is engaged in activities I don’t agree with mean that I approve of what they are doing? Or, can I love someone based on them just being a person and separate any of the sin or even ideologies I might want to judge them with. It has been a good read for me.
I have also decided what books we will be reading in the months ahead on the Christian Book Club. You can get the list at the Christian Book Club Books page. Just as a heads up, we will be reading C.S. Lewis “Screwtape Letters” in March and the we will be reading “The Hobbit and the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy in the following months. In light of the current economy I thought that it ould be easy for most of you to get these books at the library if you don’t already own a copy.
The Rabbit and The Elephant
I was recently asked if I would be interested in reading a book titled, “The Rabbit and the Elephant” as part of a virtual book tour. Here on the Christian Book Club we are always happy to review new books when we can.
I started the book with a little skepticism, because I pastor what the book might call a “legacy church”. However, as I dug into the book, the author’s (Tony and Felicity Dale) painted a picture of what “simple church” looked like and I felt as though it opened up a lot of new avenues for me to ponder. I don’t personally see the “simple church” idea as a complete replacement for “legacy churches”, but I can see a lot of potential for them to work side by side in the harvest field.
Chapter 13 provides a great discussion on Luke 10 principles. When Luke 10 is looked at in light if the “simple church” process it seems to really fit well. I also enjoyed reading the chapter called “Stories From the Harvest”. The story about the “Church at Table Number Two” reminded me of some of my own missionary/church planting experiences. We had started churches that met in funny places and we gave them names to match. One of them was called “Light Bulb Church” because we started that church by stringing an electric cord with a light bulb in the center of it between two apartment buildings that were about fifteen feet apart. We had another church we started we called “Garage Church” because they met in a garage.
One of the biggest advantages I found in reading the book was the challenge to not get stuck in our definitions of what a church “is”. I have gotten used to starting small groups and home groups and affinity groups in my area with the idea of gradually assimilating the people gathered into our existing church. I am now thinking that the goal doesn’t need to include those people ever stepping foot in our church building. The goal is just to meet people where they are and get them o step into the Kingdom.
“The Rabbit and The Elephant” by Tony and Felicity Dale is a worthwhile addition to your reading list. It is a quick read and flows well. It also includes some interesting statistics from George Barna. One of the statistics that jumped out at me was that “the average Protestant church probably sees no converts in any given year”. That really shocked me! I hope you will read the book and I would be interested in having you comment about your thoughts as well. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, you can use the link below.
By Tony Dale, Felicity Dale & George Barna / Tyndale House