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Friday, October 05, 2007

What Are You Reading
By webmaster @ 8:15 AM :: 424 Views :: 16 Comments :: Rev. David Lewicki

This week, I'm going to do a little experiment in web-based community-building. I need you to play a part.

First, some background. I'm convinced that the internet can be a place where people in the same church "gather" to share ideas and interact with one another. But I don't have any evidence to support my thesis!

I'd like to try an experiment this week (with your help) through the church blog. I want you to read and POST YOUR RESPONSES. Let's see if we can get 50 comments, and some good conversation going.

My question for you is this: Where do you go to get your "spiritual information?" What resources do you use to learn about God?

We live in a world where information is everywhere and easy to access. It's not like 100 years ago, when you had your church, your local pastor, and a few books (maybe!). We have the internet, periodicals, podcasts, books, workshops... So what sources have you found reliable for spiritual information?

Respond to my blog with your answers to these questions and we'll see what one another are reading and listening to. In the meantime, here is where I get my best spiritual food and drink:

Magazines I subscribe to:

Podcasts I listen to:

Speaking of Faith
Religion and Ethics Newsweekly
Bill Moyers' Journal
Emergent Podcast (emerging church)
Pray-As-You-Go (daily prayer)
Sanctuary (Rev. Becca Stevens of Nashville, TN)
TEDTalks
This American Life
Union Theological Seminary
WNYC Radio Lab

Websites I look at regularly:

...and I always find myself surfing!

So what are your "reliable sources"?

Comments

By smilingsars @ Friday, October 05, 2007 9:11 AM

"Spiritual Food and Drink"...I feel as though I am just starting out in my spiritual journey and most of the time can be quite resistant to the process that I am going through. For the time being I get my food and drink from a hug that comes in a spontanious moment, the check that came in the mail just at the right time or the joy that my dog shares with me when I come home at night. These are currently the places that I receive my "spiritual food and drink" and that are helping me grow in my relationship with God.

I think that I'll check out the items that you listed in your post. Perhaps they will help this journey that I am on.

By colin israel @ Friday, October 05, 2007 10:22 AM

Hmmm, that's a good question. Growing up in a conservative church, I was always taught that the only valid source of spiritual growth and learning came from daily study of the Bible. While the Bible certainly presents a large number of illuminating puzzle pieces to put together and play with, I find that I FEEL God and spiritual growth in direct contact with other people, be it one on one, through programs, ,and ideas, or even a viewpoint specific book. I grow spiritually when I learn,and I make an effort to surround myself with those concepts and experiences daily in whatever form they choose to take.

By john cadue @ Friday, October 05, 2007 10:30 AM

well I don't read or listen to any of the things you listed so I gues si get my spiritual nutriton the old fashioned way mostly through Marble. Currently I am reading Irresistable Revolution, Change your thoughts , change your life, by Wayne Dyer, Come Be my Light, The letters of Mother Theresa and the Bible. I also spend alot of tiem in small groups which stimulates my thought process and then carry that into action in my daily life as much as possilbe. Exaple, this week while walking to work ai am making a conscious effort to try to see teh God in each person I pass on teh street, this involves ame looking into thier faces adn more importantly their eyes, which I have benn told are teh windows to teh soul. At teh very least it takes me out of myself, usually produces a smiel on my face , which lightens my heart, and sometiems I am even able to alter no matter how tiny thier countence as well. I highly recomend this exercise, the results can be astounding. Is this teh world's longest run-on sentence:) lol

By Ceca @ Friday, October 05, 2007 1:28 PM

Lately I've been reading alot. Most recently I just started reading Steven Prothero's "Religious Literacy" and to juxtapose that I also found a very interesting book. It's a translation of a letter from Floria to the Bishop of Hippo, i.e., St. Augustine. Floria supposedly was his partner for many years. It's very interesting and now I'm thinking I'll need to read the Confessions!

By mja700 @ Friday, October 05, 2007 2:38 PM

I try to read everything I can. Sometimes this is slow going because I have 6 or 7 books started at the same time. Of course their is the Bible, but it's not my main source. I use fictional books as well as non-fiction to find God. Some recent favorites:

Paulo Coelho
Anne Lamott
A Scandalous Beauty
The Gnostic Gospels

Besides books, David's sermons, WeWo, David's blog, and spiritual music in general. For me, God is in music, and when I sing or listen to a spiritual piece I learn something about God and about myself. Sometimes even non-spiritual music. Just yesterday I was touched by the lyrics to two classics from my younger years, "Patience" and "In Your Eyes." "Patience" is pretty self explanatory, but in "In Your Eyes" there is the line "in your eyes I see the doorway to a thousand churches" and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the hugeness of a statement like that and what it would mean to have someone direct it to you.

By Anonymous @ Friday, October 05, 2007 2:48 PM

Hello,

Hearing where and how others get their spiritual information is both interesting and helpful. For me, I read the Bible, I attend Marble on Sunday and Wednesday. In addition, I attend Sister Carol Perry's Bible study classes, as well as, the Spirituality in the workplace class. I also go online to both Joyce Meyer's website and Max Lucado's website and I read books by both authors. Wayne Dyer is also a source of inspiration. There are other ways as well such as walking in the park. Thank you for allowing me to share with others. I look forward to hearing how others get their spiritual nourishment.

By gigould @ Friday, October 05, 2007 5:54 PM

A nice idea, this web chat...

Since I read at work, TV and radio are important sources for my spiritual exposure during my down time. I enjoy Joel Osteen, EWTN, and of course the Marble broadcasts. There are also faith based shows on the Discovery and History channels that strategically interject faith into the context of its surrounding history - if one can objectively look past the superimposed drama that TV interjects to obtain viewer ratings :)

I also like the web... beliefnet.com is a nice website that contains religous information from a variety of belief sources. Additionally, discussing religious issues with friends helps me grow in my knowledge. Finally, the Bible is paramount.

By Bflood27 @ Friday, October 05, 2007 9:01 PM

I guess the first answer that sprung to my mind was "THE BIBLE" lol. But thats because I was raised Southern Baptist. These days other than scripture and sermons from Marble I have several other sources I go to. One is the sermons on Southeast Christian Church's webpage. It is my old church and they are wonderful sermons there. I also am a member of GayChristian.net, where they have a great podcast with wonderful guests. There is a great program on NPR called "Sound and Spirit" that I love to listen to on Sundays. Then there is a book I adore, and read over and over again, each time I learn new things.it is by Madeline L'engle, entitled " Walking on Water" it is an amazing book on being a Christian Artist. Those are some of the things I go to when I want to meditate and hear new things.

By dlewicki @ Friday, October 05, 2007 9:31 PM

Duh. The Bible. I should probably be fired for leaving that off my list.... I actually do read it every day... or some such thing. I have Eugene Peterson's "The Message" on my iPod and listen to it often when I'm walking the dog or on the train...

and I love that a few of you wrote about "experience" as being your spiritual teacher... blending knowledge from scripture and that from experiences produces great insights...

By mja700 @ Saturday, October 06, 2007 1:42 AM

Oh I love L'Engle! Reading other posts I remembered that another way I learn about God is through discussions with other Christians and also with people of different faiths or atheists. Having passionate disscussions about theology, spirituality, etc with non-Christians can really show me more of God, what I believe, where my faith is lacking, and the variety of faces God takes in the lives of others.

By gavila @ Saturday, October 06, 2007 3:30 PM

Having grown up with a skizophrenic mother who would beat me for things she imagined I did and an entire family who was in denial about it -- I began speaking to God daily since childhood. Somehow it created in me an almost insatiable thirst for God which (aside from Marble sermons) currently I am quenching with the Bible, Mother Angelika's book of life lessons, and my all time favorite that I refer back to constantly is "How People Grow", by Cloud and Townsend.

By MattMochary @ Monday, October 08, 2007 10:57 AM

David, this is a great idea. Thanks to you and others for the suggestions. I read the Bible daily. I just finished the Power of Positive Thinking (and am putting to work its very practical and impactful suggestions). And I am also reading several biblical commentaries. Sister Carol recommended a book to me that she carries with her to each Tuesday bible study. It is ...

"Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction", by Lawrence Boadt.

I am only 100 pages into it, but I already see why Sister Carol likes it so much.

By jmadrid @ Monday, October 08, 2007 4:35 PM

I've been spending a lot of time at the hospital lately with my mom who's been battling Leukemia these past few months. When I'm with her I tend to read the Bible having never really fully read it from cover to cover. Currently, I'm up to Kings II which is fascinating. I also have started reading to her Paulo Coelho's book, "The Fifth Mountain" which has been very inspirational in her struggle towards health. It has served to bring us both together. Funny how a little reading goes a long way.

By hobokendoll @ Monday, October 08, 2007 5:22 PM

Since I travel a great deal for my work, I always have a book or magazine with me to keep from getting frustrated by the delays and cancellations. And there is only so much work you can do in an airport. I hunt out for those independent or smaller bookstores when I travel. Oftentimes these independents have excellent "staff picks" or review pages on their websites which for me are more helpful than the NY Times Book Review or other established pages that mostly avoid spiritual materials altogether.
My reliable sources for my spiritual reading materials:

I subscribe to CTDirect, CTWeekly, and Building Church Leaders e-newsletters. While I do not read every morsel of information in these e-newsletters, all of these review blogs, news, and articles that I might jump off their page to read. For me, newsletters like these search out and collect information that I could not find myself or do not have time to search for. And these challenge me, since they have an evangelical slant.

Logos Bookstore (Richmond, VA)—This is my favorite Christian bookstore and my first stop when I get to Richmond to visit family. They highlight new and noteworthy books and give short reviews on their website and send a great e-newsletter.
http://www.logosbookstore.us/

Northshire Bookstore's Staff Picks/Religion Pages (Manchester, VT)
http://www.northshire.com/spicks.php

Books and Books (Coral Gables, FL)
http://booksandbooks.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

Thanks for giving some ideas for Podcasts, as when I have searched for these on Itunes, I am overwhelmed the sheer number of the spiritual ones out there. Are we going to share WeWo sermons on ITunes again, I really liked that option if I cannot make it to Wednesday Worship?

By Bflood27 @ Monday, October 08, 2007 6:20 PM

hobokendoll,

you can download the wewo sermons right on this website, we don't need no stinkin i tunes! ;-)

By hobokendoll @ Wednesday, October 10, 2007 12:27 AM

I am glad that we now have access to WeWo and Marble’s other services available via Podcast on our website. While you may not like outlets like Itunes, many people from around the world go to these places to get their news, spiritual information, and music and I think Marble should have a presence on outlets such as these so that it can reach a larger audience. So much of what is out there in cyberspace from Christian churches reflects a very different philosophy than what I think makes Marble special, the belief that all people are included and loved no matter what their race, sexual orientation, or background is. And our message of hope, love, peace, kindness, and meeting people wherever they are on their spiritual journey and helping them to grow should be wherever people are going for their spiritual information.

I have several friends from around the country who have been enjoying Marble’s recent entrance into the world of blogging and now providing easier access to sermons and other information on the website. They have oftentimes felt ostracized by the less than inclusive churches they attend where they live and are not able to find a place where they feel they can be supported on their spiritual journey. But I had to tell them about the Marble website.

I circle back to David’s original question, where do people go to find spiritual information? That is where Marble’s message needs to be, because our message brings hope and provides a spiritual home for many who do not feel included elsewhere.

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