In Witnessing Whiteness, Kristopher Norris explores the challenges that lie at the intersection of race, church, and politics in America and argues for a new ethics of responsibility to confront white supremacy. Norris provides in-depth analysisdescriptions of the ways whiteness, as a process of social/identity formation, is fueling racial division within American Christianity and the inadequacy of efforts at racial reconciliation to fully address the challenges posed by white supremacy poses. Seeking deeper theological reasons for racial injustice, he focuses on two of the most important thinkers in American religion of the past half century, Stanley Hauerwas and James Cone. Examining the current manifestations of racism in American churches, exploring the theological roots of white supremacy, and reflecting on the ways whiteness impacts even well-meaning, progressive white theologians, this book diagnoses the ways in which all of white theology and white Christian practice are implicated in white supremacy. By identifying the roots of white supremacy within the Christian church's theology and practice, it argues that the white church has a particular, and fundamental, responsibility to address it. Witnessing Whiteness uncovers this responsibility ethic at the convergence of two prominent streams in theological ethics: traditionalist witness theology and black liberationist theology. Employing their shared resources and attending to the criticisms liberation theology directs at traditionalism, it proposes concrete practices to challenge the white church's and white theology's complicity in white supremacy.

The life of a diehard fan is never over...and so the saga continues. Picking up where Growing Up Wicked left off, the insanity and freedom, only experience in following my favorite band, Insane Clown Posse, seems to go through unfathomable highs and even more decrepit lows. As we, as a family, grow closer together and begin a fight with the FBI, catch up with Checkers in what has come in the last year, as well as meeting some of those around the country living life running with a hatchet. We are not a gang. We are family. WHOOP WHOOP Much clown love fam Enjoy

Description: Despite a wealth of literature on the ""missional church"" and ""missional living,"" few resources help Christians and churches think through what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ and what specific practices help cultivate lives of discipleship. Written from, with, and for the church, Pilgrim Practices: Discipleship for a Missional Church introduces Christian practices from the Letter of James to help guide Christians and churches in their journey of discipleship. This book frames discipleship in a way that has been largely abandoned in modern congregational literature, as fundamentally an issue of identity--an identity that is necessarily formed and practiced in and with the church community. It is a lifestyle that cannot be lived on one's own. Discipleship ultimately means engaging with others on a journey of faith sustained and cultivated through certain practices--pilgrim practices. The practices examined in this book develop and direct the risky pilgrim journey of Christians, transforming pilgrims into disciples--as the Body of Christ--who participate with God in God's mission in the world. In this time of transient identities, individualist impulses, and fleeting commitments, this book offers specific practices to help Christians form their identity as disciples and to help Christian communities live their calling as the pilgrim Body of Christ in the world. Endorsements: ""Kristopher Norris's Pilgrim Practices is a winsome treatment of the Christian life organized around the key themes of pilgrimage and practice. Norris retrieves the ancient understanding of Christianity as not merely a set of doctrines but a people's way of living as an alternative community on missional pilgrimage in the world. The book begins with a helpful exposition of this basic vision, which is followed by a quite rich discussion of key practices of Christian discipleship as these are revealed in the Epistle of James. This book is original, honest, humble, and always engaging. I strongly recommend it."" -David P. Gushee Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics Mercer University ""With writing as vivid and engaging as his vision of the Church, Kris Norris opens up fresh sky over what it means to follow Jesus in the world. I already want to read it again."" --Julie Pennington-Russell Pastor, First Baptist Church, Decatur, GA ""Pilgrim Practices is a great example of what can happen when a scholar lands in a local congregation and real lives become fertile soil for ideas. The demonstration plot of real community breathes life into Norris' theology. The result is a study of James that will benefit any congregation that's eager to join God's mission right where they are."" -Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove author of God's Economy and co-compiler, Common Prayer ""It seems like there is a lot of talk these days about the 'missional church.' But Kris Norris puts biblical flesh on those bones and helps those of us who want to be real disciples of Christ take the next steps. It's about receiving and entering into a new identity--about falling in love with Christ, Christ's people, and Christ's work in the world. Norris walks us through the book of James and into a pattern for a bolder and more authentic way of living."" -Stephen A. Hayner President, Columbia Theological Seminary ""Pilgrim Practices: Discipleship for a Missional Church, like the Letter of James on which it is based, is full of wisdom and passion. It is a poignant and powerful explanation of Christian discipleship, offering a compelling journey guide for individuals to follow Jesus in the context of missional communities. I especially appreciated the clear call to engage in 'practices' that form identity and define what it means to be fully human."" --Daniel Vestal Executive Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia ""A refreshing and honest look at two critical ingredients for a New Testament church in our twenty-first-century world