Links

Organic Church / House Church / Church / Ecclesiology / Theology / Christianity:

• [Subversive Underground] / Keith Giles - Keith wrote a weekly newsletter called [Subversive Underground]. The first link is to this newsletter, while the second is to Keith's blog. I have found his writings to be refreshing, as he is one of a just a few people I've found who are going in the direction I am in rediscovering Christianity. If you want to learn more about what Christianity is really about, and to most likely be stretched in what you believe about it, then read his writings. Well actually, first just read the bible... Keith's writings will just help you to see the bible in a hopefully clearer more honest way by stripping back many traditional ideas and beliefs and taking it more for what it actually says.

• Frank Viola - In 2008, I ran across a few blogs mentioning an interesting sounding new book by this author, Frank Viola. I read the book and really got a lot out of it. Essentially, I had all of the pieces, but it helped to put the puzzle together. I have read a handful of his books now (some of which are available free online) and think they are all worthwhile. Also worth reading are his blog and some articles which he has written.

• Neil Cole - Neil is a church planter, author and one of the main people behind CMA Resources. My dad gave me a few of his books, and I've found them to be very complimentary to Frank Viola's work. They arrive at the same destination from opposite sides. Frank focuses mostly on teaching those who are already Christians about how the church is supposed to be more organic. Neil on the other hand focuses mostly on evangelism and church planting, and bringing new followers into organic church fellowship. Frank focuses on the details of what a weekly church gathering looks like, while only mentioning in passing gatherings of 2-3 believers during the week. On the other hand, Neil discusses in detail what is involved with these meetings of 2-3, while not giving much detail (in what I've read so far) about what happens in the weekly church gathering. So I highly recommend both authors.

• Neil Carter - I somehow or another stumbled across Neil's website a while back. I really appreciated some of the things he had to say on his blog. More recently, I finally got around to finishing his book, "Christ in Y'all". It's also a good introduction to the church-as-a-community and organic church ideas. It roughly covers the same ground in one book that Frank Viola covers in "Pagan Christianity?" and "Reimagining Church".

• Arch Nevins / Our Home Church - Arch is another house church promoter who is a friend of mine and local to the Indianapolis area. He authored the book "To Hell With the Church (as it is)" and plants churches around the U.S. The Our Home Church website has a number of resources available.

Other notable people, resources, and authors include:
• John Zens / Searching Together
• Milt Rodriguez
• Leonard Sweet
• Alan Hirsch
• Tony and Felicity Dale
• House Church Resource

Art / Comics / Christianity:

• Naked Pastor / Hayward Art - I was pretty amazed, based on his work, to find out that he was actually a pastor. David Hayward is one of those people that I can really appreciate. He's seems to be very real, open and honest. He obviously has a number of talents, but he also seems open about his doubts, weaknesses, and insecurities.

  Mr. Hayward has a large number of watercolors that he has painted, which I find beautiful and just soothing to the soul. Additionally, he has a series of comics which are often funny, other times more convicting, but either way they usually really hit the nail on the head. They are at many times the type of thing which expose some dark truths that are taboo for a serious Christian to say, but which we should be honest about and address.

Politics / Government:

• DownsizeDC.org - Yes, this is a site about politics. But before you run off, let me explain why it may not be as bad as you might fear. Countries and governments all have their problems, but at least here we have some chance of influencing things we don't like. Downsize DC isn't really conservative or liberal, nor Republican or Democrat. Rather they support some really simple things that just make sense.

  For example, there's the One Subject at a Time Act, which would require each bill Congress votes on to be about only one thing, thus allowing our representatives to actually vote on each issue. As it is now, different and completely unrelated items are often added to bills, in order for people to push through unpopular legislation on the coat tails of a more supported item. Our representatives can't pick and choose which parts of the bills to pass--it's either take it or leave in it whole. Downsize DC also supports the read the bills act, which requires representatives to certify that they have actually read the bills they are voting on. Bills are often hundreds or even thousands of pages long, but votes are some times taken only hours after the bill is released. Do they even know what they are voting on?

  Downsize DC is very easy to understand and navigate. There is a page for each issue, with a simple explanation of the issue and why it's important. If you agree with it and would like to support that issue, there is a quick an easy way to contact your representatives at the bottom of the page. It's about as easy a way to help change the country for the better as you could find.