From the site: “I am Second is a movement where signficance in life is shared.”
The website features a collection of videos featuring well-known people, like former US Presidential Candidate Muck Huckabee, Brian Welch from Korn and The Biggest Loser’s Michelle Aguilar, but also regular people from the cities and suburbs of the USA. These people have struggled with a variety of issues; abuse, affluence, addiction, trauma, racism, war and more.
In extremely well-produced video clips, (darkened room, sitting on a couch, a post-modern piece to camera) they share their struggles, their disappointments and ultimately, the hope found in Jesus as he met them in the various situations of their lives.
Well worth a visit, and also great to recommend to friends struggling with all kinds of issues.
My invitation to World Vision’s “An evening with Brian McLaren” arrived in the post today. The nicely recycled-looking brochure didn’t do anything to alleviate my surprise at the partnership between this organisation (of which I happen to be a former employee) and McLaren, the “speaker, thinker and activist.” I think I was at least expecting some acknowledgment of his position on the fringe of Christian orthodoxy, but none was made.
It is helpful to hear from people from outside our own “stable.” We appreciate it when people are well-read and able to see past our own cultural blind-spots. And as someone preparing to plant a church and seeking to engage the community around me with the gospel of Jesus, the opportunity to hear from one of the leaders of the Emerging/Emergent Movement definitely has some appeal. As a pastor though, I believe there are good reasons for me to politely decline the invitation. It’s my privilege to spend my time with people who wrestle daily with all sorts of issues, including many which are staple fare in McLaren’s writing and speaking.