Mi Casa Uptown: sermon and story
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Everybody loves to hear a story, probably because we all have a story. Or stories. Family, community, jobs, military service, divine encounters. We especially like stories when they are well told, and we haven't already heard them a myriad of time. Good preaching incorporates good stories; and good stories can certainly be used to incorporate preaching. So Im hard pressed to decide if Pastor/Storyteller Rich Prez is preaching or telling a story in his book Mi Casa Uptpwn, (B&H Publishing, 2017).
  This is a story about growing up as an immigrant family from the Dominican Republic settling in New York.  Its a story about family and community. Its a sermon about love.
 Prez loves his family, and his community, and that love comes through on every page of this engaging work. Somehow he manages to paint a picture of community and family and how they are intertwined, especially in immigrant communities. The barrio, the neighborhood where people settle because they have something in common with the other people who live there. And that commonality makes them stronger.
 Rich takes us to a day when we knew and talked to and with our neighbors, when the neighborhood bodega was the place to be (and the sense of loss when Big Box stores took over the Mom and Pop stores.
 And this book is also a reminder of grief, of loss, but more importantly hope.
 I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.

 5/5
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This is a story about the painful difficulties of immigration to America and of faith.  The author and his family came from the West Indies and settled first in New York, then in Boston.  Later, the family moved west where his  deeply held Christian faith led to him become the Pastor of a church in Pico Rivera, California.
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This book is about living in a missional community, following Jesus wherever he leads you. It should come as no surprise that our location greatly affects and shapes our mission. Being on mission is not for special people called missionaries doing special things called missions in special places far away. We are called to do the kind of things Jesus would do if he were living our lives. The mission of the church is born where the Gospel and culture intersect. This book seeks to help us become a gospel-formed church culture that enters the gaps where we are needed most.

The author of this book is Marty Troyer. Marty is the pastor at Houston Mennonite Church: The Church of the Sermon on the Mount, in Houston, TX. Unlike other books about missional living and incarnational community, this is not a book that says "This is my church and this is what we do in the community". Instead, the author is saying "These are the people of our community and these are the stories of how they make it a better place". Troyer tells stories of ordinary people in Houston that make a difference while living like Christ. He also tells stories of the homeless and less fortunate in and around Houston.

This book is not a checklist to being more like Jesus. The author identified four core habits that he says may lead you to new ways of following Jesus right where you are. Likewise, the book is divided into four parts:

Part 1 - The Gospel as Lens - Our discipleship will be energized when we cultivate spiritual imagination in our local community

Part 2 - The Gospel Gift of Jesus - Christians will experience greater levels of personal transformation with a new disciple-making culture

Part 3 - The Gospel Gift of Peace - Our eyes will be more closely aligned with God's when we read the Bible with voices that are not in the mainstream

Part 4 - The Gospel Gift of Restoring Justice - Foundational to the call to follow Jesus in our neighborhoods is orienting ourselves over and over again in worship to the God of mission and justice

I would highly recommend this book to all Christians looking to start, refine, or enrich their missional life. I received this as a free ARC from Herald Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Pastor Tyree has done us a service with the publication of these notes. Some will want to revise slightly, because personal illustrations are usually better. I am grateful for the sermon notes, and even more for the outlines designed for note-taking.
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I hope to write a proper review in several weeks.

I'm about half way through the book and am so excited by what I've read so far that I am planning a sermon series (I'm a pastor of a small church in Virginia) titled "Beyond Belief."  For the last three months I have been preaching through the Apostles' Creed and have been trying to draw out the "So what?" of our belief.  What difference does believing (all that we state we believe in the Creed, through a statement of faith, or even in our personal slate of beliefs) make in our lives?  How are we different (or are we?) because of our belief?  I may say, "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth ..." But, how am I different (how am I transformed) by that belief?  I think Todd Hunter's "Christianity Beyond Belief" will help me to further flesh this out to the congregation I pastor.

But I am a biased critic.  I first met Todd (I call him Todd like we're buddies even though he wouldn't know me from Adam) at a small conference held at a Vineyard church in Southern California back in about 2000.  Also at that meeting were guys like Spencer Burke and Doug Pagitt.  I had never even heard of Todd Hunter when I came to the meeting.  At this point in my life I was all but burnt out on church and had an especially low view of most Christian leaders/pastors.  I was tired of corporate church and pastors that seemed to act more like CEO's than servant leaders.

So I walked in to this gathering with fairly low expectations.  I had arrived a bit early and thought I'd see what I could do to help those who were preparing the room for the meeting.  I asked a man who was stacking the tables with sodas and bottles of water and other goodies if I could be of assistance.  I had no idea that he was Todd Hunter, the main speaker for the event.  I realize that there may be many pastors/leaders who have servant's hearts and hands, but I was completely blown away by Todd's humility (not just in helping to set up the tables, but in all that he shared that weekend).

Unbeknownst to Todd, his actions and words that weekend gave me new hope for the Church and began to kindle in me a willingness to even consider becoming a pastor.  Through this meeting, I was exposed to the emergent movement, a number of theologians (such as Dallas Willard who was quoted more than a few times) that I was unfamiliar with, and I gained a growing sense that church could be much more than just as Sunday morning show.  More importantly, I found that there were others out there who took seriously the notion that our faith should lead to tangible transformation in our lives and in the world around us.

I thank God for Todd Hunter and I anticipate that Christianity Beyond Belief will be a challenging blessing to all who read it.
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This is an easy to read, inspiring book that (I believe) must have started life as a collection of sermons -  I can hear Bishop Curry speak as a read the text. Great old hymns and songs form a framework for the Bishop's take on theology.
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Churches all around the world are grappling with theological perspectives on migration and the related ministry opportunities justice challenges. The United States with its immigration policies and treatment of migrants is a unique context with its own set of challenges, particularly amongst the Hispanic community and a new generation of undocumented workers. Immigrant Neighbors Among Us offers chapter contributions from six U.S. Hispanic scholars reflecting how representative denominational traditions use biblical narratives, ethical frameworks and ministry models to respond to immigrant neighbours and associated laws and reforms. With a united voice they assert Christians cannot be indifferent to this issue that God cares about.
Nanko-Fernndez explores how The Roman Catholic Churchs papal documents shifted from concern for displaced Catholics to advocacy for dignity, generous openness and preferential option for all displaced peoples.
Snchez discusses Lutheran perspectives on Christs identification with vulnerable strangers, two kingdoms and Gods work of justifying people in the spiritual realm and promoting justice in the civil realm, and vocation and advocating for justice for particular neighbours.
Rosario Rodriguez advocates for a Reformed legacy of compassion and advocacy for migrants based on Calvins life in exile and his work among persecuted refugees. Reading about his own experience of displacement and how this shaped his ministry was fascinating.
Magallanes details a Methodist/Wesleyan hermeneutic and mandate for loving immigrant neighbours drawing on Gods love in Christ and Wesleys passionate commitment to love and pray for even his enemies. The writer asks insightful questions about Gods nature and character and how we might reflect that in todays moral challenges.
Alfaro explains how Pentecostals have moved from passive positions to proactive advocacy for undocumented church members. He explains what Hispanic Pentecostals lack in formal publications on migration, they make up for with passionate prophetic preaching and local Spirit-led hospitality.
Carroll writes from an independent evangelical posture and uses exile or diaspora as a lens for understanding Old Testament ethics, especially its appeal to provide for sojourners. He also celebrates how Hispanic churches are capturing a vision for reenergising the church and re-evangelising their new country  and that their migration is for this purpose.
The different denominational perspectives of each chapter are interesting to learn from for all readers and model the ecumenical collaboration that is needed for the pressing social problems of our time. But the individual chapters offer a particularly valuable resource for churches within those traditions. Learning of Calvins experience as a refugee and ministry among refugees, for example, is likely to most help motivate Calvinist churches to compassionate action. Each chapter includes thoughtful discussion questions for small group or classroom use. The book is valuable reading for activists, social workers and churches working with immigrants, and deserves priority position in reading lists for courses on migration, social justice and local contextual/Hispanic theology.
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The experience of this small church in a local area of the city is interesting but not unique in the Christian experience. Every Christian has their story. He will find you if you ask sincerely. The experience is real as He is more real and lasting than the temporary physical existence in which we live now.
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Los evangelios Gnosticos debieran anadirse a la Biblia. Solo el propio Dios hebreo sabe lo que paso en el concilio de Nicea en el 312 donde Constantino y otros grandes eclesiasticos decidieron que libros irian en el nuevo testamento, y cuales no.
Este evangelio es para aquellos que piensan e interpretan las cosas que leen. Aquellos que piensan muy poco y gritan en las Iglesias deben continuar con los pastores o Sacerdotes para que les lean e interpreten las pasajes biblicos que estos les escojan.
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Esta Biblia es mejor para Chicanos como yo que tienen problema con la lengua de La Reina Valera. Esta Biblia usa palabras que se entienden mas claro para mi.
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Esta biblia es hermosa tiene una ancdota,  o experiencia todo con referencia a la hermosa palabra de Dios es un color q es mi preferido simplemente linda
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The theme would be how God, in His providence, led Pastor Lutzer in so many bends in the road.  The most significant would be giving a sermon at Moody Church at his first Sunday at Moody Church.  On walking into church  Dr. Weirsbe was leaving do to illness and asked Pastor Lutzer to fill in for him.  I personally most enjoyed learning of Pastor Lutzer's early college relationship and later with Elmer Towns who has been a college president, founder, and author.  I am familiar with Dr. Towns as an author of many books on praying.  I was blessed to learn of their connection as I have read many of both their books and consider both so formative in my Christian growth.
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Anyone familiar with Christian doctrines and tenets will see where this story is going early on.  Also, if you know even a little about Messianic Judaism, Aaron's story and actions will be clear in the latter part.

It becomes clear what is going to be the foundation of this novella when the narrator first helps Becky, the skinny, dirty little girl who digs in the mud for food, mainly worms and sometimes slugs. Her source of water is mainly sucking it out of the mud.  All of the inhabitants of the place where the children wake up in their houses are naked and can't remember what has happened to them.  Slowly throughout the story, memories come back to them and they realize what has happened.  At first there is no food, no water and no clothing, and the houses aren't furnished and they must sleep on the hard floors.  The narrator figures out that by praying and praying hard, he begins to get a trickle of water from the taps in his house, and eventually a piece of fruit shows up in a basket in the kitchen.  The first piece he eats, the second he gives to little Becky, who hasn't had real food in a long time.  He invites Becky to come to his house and runs enough water in the bathtub for her to bathe, since she is a mess of mud and matted hair.

As he continues to pray for help for these other children, he receives help in more abundance. The narrator knows that the more he helps others, the more will be given to him  to help other children.  Many of the children don't like the way they look now, being dirty and skinny, but since our narrator likes to draw, he does portraits of them that show them in a new light, and as he sees them, not necessarily the way they see themselves.  His drawings help them to like themselves better.

The story is rather complicated after a while, but the one thing it does stress is the power of forgiveness and helping to save others from their own self-loathing.  The n-word is used,  not derisively but to show what another boy has done and said in his life and that he can be forgiven.  Aaron the Jew can forgive the Neo-Nazi's hatred. There is much interaction among characters that allow for understanding, forgiveness and love.

There is much more in this story and there is a nice little twist at the end.  I enjoyed the story and it gives much to think about.  As another reviewer said, it made me more conscious of how I am living out my beliefs and trying to be a better person.  It is strictly religious in tone and story and for readers who don't like the genre, it might prove too much to read all at once.  If you're open to such things, it is a very good allegory.
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This is a "little book." You know what I mean: you take a look, think you can knock this book off by lunch time, and that'll be that.

But, Love in the Little Things is bigger than that. Yes, the reading is quick and easy, but the ideas loom larger than their appearance. Hmmm ... kind of like Jesus of Nazareth ... growing up in a non-descript way, living a quiet family life, full of hidden things beyond this earthly realm, beyond our imagining.

And that's what Mike Aquilina shows us: that family life is a very real reflection of the Trinity. It's the path to holiness for those of us who are called to this vocation.

But, these little vignettes aren't heavy-handed lectures. They are charming tales about Mike (often self-deprecating), his wife, Terri (adoring), and their delightful children (abundant fatherly love abounds.)

In "It's Verse than I Imagined" (and yes, many of the titles are punny, as are Mike's blog post titles), Mike takes a look at his daughter Mary Agnes's growing awareness of the unrelenting ways in which life will break our hearts. He inserts a line from one of my favorite Gerard Manley Hopkins poems at the perfect moment -- and every parent will face a version of this moment -- and in doing so, elevates this essay from sweet and charming to profound.

And, he keeps doing that. In short pieces about his wife, his children and his parents, he shows us, time and again, that family life is bursting with opportunities to grow in holiness. Bishop Thomas Tobin, of Providence, called this book "a domestic catechism for the domestic church," and it is that, indeed.

I'm starting to sound like a broken record -- every time I read a writer I love, I say I want that writer to live next door to me, and come over for copious amounts of coffee (I think Mike would approve the beverage choice ... one of the essays is entitled, "For the Love of Coffee" ....)

I'm afraid it's true again. It's no secret that I love Mike Aquilina, and I would love for Mike and Terri to move in next door. I'd love to meet their poetic Mary Agnes and their blunt Isabella (who, in "The Truth About Butterfly Princess" told her father, "That's OK, though. I'll bet you were really handsome back when Mommy married you.") I'd love to talk to Rosemary, the "great and cute saint," to meet sneaker-wearing Michael, who pays as much attention to what's on his feet as does my Anne-with-an-e, and to hug their little Gracie, whose encounter with beloved Papa John Paul II was as sweet as it was enviable.

In other words, I'd love to meet the whole crew. You will, too, after reading Love in the Little Things. And, while you're being charmed by these tales of family life, you just might pick up some tips and inspiration for that long and winding road to heaven along the way.
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more information would be appreciated.  Although I believe this is perfect and ctrl s nice I have anon denominational church down the street.  Thank you very much.
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I had a lot of expectations when I started to read The Church Planting Wife, as a wife preparing to plant in a near future, after being part of the core group of a new church; there were a lot of issues that I wanted to learn about. After a few pages had been read I felt that my heart was being reveled, every fear, every battle, and every concern about what would come. It was hard to face all that at once, but it also was the reason to read the book. Then all the chapters were a cup of hope and fill with tips to make it work. Christine Hoover unveils her heart, the heart of a disciple, of a wife, of a mom, of a woman; in her stories you will find yourself and will find the proper way to rest in the God we serve. This should be considered a reference book for any former or soon to be church planting wife, also for any women in ministry. So true your life wouldn't be the same once the planting begins but it would be enjoyable and we could work it out to be the helpmate to our husbands and the disciple God wants us to be.

Al comenzar a leer The Church Planting Wife, tena muchas expectativas; como una esposa preparndonos para plantar una iglesia, luego de haber sido parte del equipo de lderes de una iglesia nueva; haba muchos temas de los cuales quera aprender. Luego de leer las primeras pginas, fue como si mi corazn hubiese sido expuesto, cada miedo, cada batalla y cada preocupacin de lo que estaba por venir. Fue difcil enfrentar todo de una vez, pero al mismo tiempo era la razn para leer el libro. Luego cada captulo era una porcin de esperanza y lleno de consejos para superar cada situacin. Christine Hoover devela su corazn, el corazn de un discpulo, de una esposa, de una madre, de una mujer; en sus historia te veras identificada y encontraras la forma correcta de descansar en el Dios que servimos. Este debe ser considerado un libro de referencia para cualquiera que sea una esposa de pastor o este por serlo; o para cualquier mujer en el ministerio. Es muy cierto que nuestra vida no ser la misma una vez la plantacin comience, pero de seguro ser un gozo y podremos lograr ser la ayuda idnea para nuestros esposos  y el discpulo que Dios quiere que seamos.
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Update 5/30/2013
I started on the first chapter and find this very readable and entertaining. Even though I have heard Rev. Guengerich's sermons for 16 years, he tells a wonderful story here of where he came from both in his upbringing and the change in his thinking. Clearly, his sermons were not the place to do this, but I understand his personal philosophy so much better already. It is delightful to read! Go, Galen!

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The early reviewers from the Vine program are trolls. I don't know why else they would bother to review a book that is clearly directed to a different audience. If you don't like liberal religion, don't review liberal religious books unless your intent is to look like a fool for making a specious argument.

As a Unitarian Universalist and a member of Rev. Guengerich's congregation, I can attest that his sermons are relevant and offer inspiration to members of our faith, to humanists, agnostics, atheists, and interfaith families who seek meaning without doctrine. Many choose our faith because they are religiously wounded by dogmatic faiths.

This book may be an asset to those who call themselves "spiritual but not religious" and help them find a home in the big tent of Unitarian Universalism. If you are not sure whether you will like this book, his sermons are readily available on the Internet. He draws huge audiences at our annual General Assembly and as you can see by his endorsements, he is highly regarded among liberal religious thinkers.

Rev. Guengerich has been preaching at our church for many years and became senior minister only a few years ago. He has had a full plate and it is remarkable that he found time to author this book so soon. I am not alone among my friends in awaiting this book with anticipation. I am looking forward to receiving my copy today and will post an updated review once I have read it. Go, Galen!