Here is a link to a quiz that will help you figure out if you really understand what the Bible and true Christianity is all about. It’s fun and revealing. Enjoy!

Starbucks has become a darling of the emerging church. “If only we could be like Starbucks, think how wonderful the church would be.” At the ‘Out Of Ur’ blogsite I submitted these challenges for the analogies for “St. Arbucks”.

1. Large groups of people (more than 10) do not meet there. The locations are not set up to accomodate those numbers.

2. While somewhat diverse people go to Starbucks (rabbi; youth pastor; high school girls, etc.) these people all partake of the menu but do not interact with each other, a critical concern in many of today’s churches.

3. Starbucks is all about marketing strategies and making LOTS of money, another concern in today’s church.

4. There is a Starbucks on every corner but Starbucks does not promote “community”. The “community” must already exist before Starbucks is going to risk their capital there.

5. When was the last time you made a serious new friendship all by yourself at Starbucks? Does the counter girl who knows your name and what blend you prefer really care about you personally or is she just trained in that form of marketing which makes you feel special so you will keep coming back to spend your money? How is this different than the greeter at Wal-Mart?

I love analogies and Starbucks could keep us talking a long time.

Yes, Brian McLaren has launched his singing career at age (45-65?)  Is this song one for the hymnals?  I am relieved to know that BM doesn’t believe in the God I believe in.  I’m just confused as to why he is a regular for APU chapels. For some truly intelligent appraisal of of Brian’s approach to theology this site is great.