Jesus Creed

Jesus Creed

Do you hear static?

posted by xscot mcknight | 1:20am Wednesday June 20, 2007

Static, that’s the title of Ron Martoia’s new book. Ron is a former student of mine and now is a “transformational architect”. I’m not quite sure what that is, but it sounds cool. As Ron’s former teacher, I must admit that I’m proud of what he has done. But, I have to say this: he’s way-too-handsome. Just look at these pictures. How does one get one’s hair to grow like this, Ron? Send me the stuff.
He travels around the world teaching leaders how to implement change, and he has become an expert in learning how to speak the gospel into a postmodern culture. This book does just that. No matter how much fun I’m having with him today, I take this book seriously.
Static weaves in and out of stories and Bible and some solid history — all in an effort to take old crusty terms, turn off the static, and give us new insight. How do you eliminate static? Get behind the terms to see what they were doing in their day and give them new life in our day. Ron does this as well as anyone I’ve ever seen.
Here are some terms that come alive in new ways in Static: gospel, born again, salvation, separation from God, sin, kingdom of God, repentance and saved by grace.
Now here’s my claim: this book introduces ordinary people to the basic message of Jesus — and it does so in a historically responsible way, a way that takes the Bible seriously, and that does so in a way that knows that the postmoderns have taught us about how language works. There is no book quite like it. Every youth pastor needs it; most pastors need it too. I’m thinking of using it in my Jesus class.
Hey, if you happen to see Ron, say this: “Scot says hello to GQ!” See what I mean? Hey, Ron, smile!
ron.jpg



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Comments read comments(8)
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BeckyR

posted June 20, 2007 at 2:20 am


Oh, yeh; enjoying the creative variety in which God created us humans.
Wow! Found God words to use on that one!
Sorry, haven’t read the book, haven’t read the website yet, haven’t anything significant to offer, and thus, only the above.
As to the hair : the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord. quite enjoying myself on that one!
My hair dresser says my hair lays there and plays dead. I envy Ron’s hair.



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Jon Bartlett

posted June 20, 2007 at 4:08 am


Hair like that was beyond me years ago, but I’d agree that the book is an essential read.



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Burly

posted June 20, 2007 at 9:03 am


I think that posting pictures of Lorenzo Lamas and claiming it’s pictures of yourself is not cool. He should be reprimanded.



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John W Frye

posted June 20, 2007 at 9:10 am


Didn’t Ron have blonde hair once? Maybe streaked blonde hair?
The book sounds intriguing.



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Scott E.

posted June 20, 2007 at 9:28 am


Sorry to point this out, but for him to send you some “stuff,” you need some “stuff” to work with. And, well… :-)



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tatiana

posted June 20, 2007 at 9:00 pm


I’m sure I would never read his book, with glamour shots like those.
-tatiana : )



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Dana

posted June 20, 2007 at 9:03 pm


Hi Scott and John the Frye guy- wow have missed you guys so much…have to get back to the DD on the JC – Daily Dose on the Jesus Creed- good call for clarity in the book – just from the brief the feel is a need to read on it. While I agree with Scott E. that you do need stuff to work with, my sense is that it is the other way ’round- who’d doin’ the work’n’ here? Are we not God’s craftmanship? Hey..IJAQ…
-Dana



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John W Frye

posted June 21, 2007 at 10:10 am


Dana–the dream career friend, whhaaaaassup?!



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