I love your blog! I have been reading it daily while I have been here in TN for a few weeks. It is much better than TV (which I only turn on about once a month these days). Thanks for the plethora of information. This blog is a real ministry. Keep up the good work, "Face" and "Murdock".
Dwayna

Dwayna, thank you so much for reading and for your encouragement!

When I hear "The Secret Message of Jesus" I think of two things: 1. either the gnosticism you mentioned or 2. Jesus' proclamation of the "secret of the Kingdom" (Mark 4.11). Depending on who's saying it determines which option. If it's someone like Dan Brown, I think option 1. If it's someone like Brian McLaren, I think option 2.

murdock/roger -- dude! are you implying (from your link to my 7 year-old son's conversion story) that a 7 year-old wanting to be like Jesus does NOT consititute salvation?

(this is marko -- i'm blog-stupid enough to not be able to figure out how to get past your comment login)

Marko- dude, I wasn't implying anything about your son. My simple question was about salvation, which seems like a fair question. From what I can tell from the Bible, the sincere desire to follow Jesus is one of the fruits of someone who already has salvation- it's post gospel+conversion.

marko here -- blog login deficient still...

the question you ask is a great question -- i'm with you on asking and talking about that question. but can you see how putting a link to my post about my son's beautiful self-initiated conversion in the middle of your post about how you're keeping an eye on the emerging church would come off as critical? how is my post about my son's response to jesus at a youth workers convention somehow about the emerging church?

marko again --

i just read your review of steve taylor's book, roger -- yes; that is exactly the kind of critical review we need. thanks.

I guess I can see how you might think the title "An Eye on Emergent" may be critical, but if you look at the link in context I didn't really criticize anything in this post (unless my reaction to McLaren's new title is considered criticism- which it shouldn't be). In fact, the very first thing I did was praise an emergent ezine. And the link's followed by Psalty. Psalty's not about the emerging church, but it's something someone in the emerging church was talking about, which is where your link fits as well. I think you're taking this too personally and out of context.
Thanks for the compliment on the review.

"Are you part of the "emerging church conversation?" Sometimes, as a critic, I'm treated as though I'm not part of it- as if we can only converse with people we agree with."

I understand this felt lack of inclusion, and this is why I am becoming post-conversant and post-generous, opting instead to find a more gracious orthodoxy.

Hi Roger--I followed the link to your book review and liked it. Am learning alot about emergent churches just by reading various blogs including A team! Thanks--

+Vicky

I think it's a little silly for you to complain about the title of McLaren's next book. Is he being a little sensationalistic? Yes. Honestly, I think it's a little corny. But saying it makes you think of gnosticism? I understand the connection, but I think you're getting carried away.