Jamie the Very Worst Missionary. 11 (Hopeful) Faith-Based Predictions for 2011. So yesterday we discussed Donald Miller’s rather gloomy prediction that 2011 would bring further divisions among Christians and that Satan would use our over-politicized, media-driven culture to lead the Church astray. Some of you agreed with the assessment, while others raised some questions. I figure that with six months until my 30th birthday I can still get away with being an idealist, so here are my 11 faith-based predictions for 2011, based entirely on anecdotal evidence and a stubborn hope that things will get better: 1.
More evangelicals will embrace the liturgy, disciplines, and seasons of historic Christianity as interest in the ecumenical Church continues to grow. The Book of Common Prayer and church calendar will be integrated into more worship services, thus building bridges between the low church and the high church and fostering fellowship between brothers and sisters worshipping in various expressions of the universal Church. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Thoughts on Standing Beside a Bomb in a Crowded Square. Donald Miller A few nights ago, twelve friends and I attended the lighting of the Portland Christmas tree in Pioneer Square.
My friends had all flown in for Thanksgiving, and we decided to join ten-thousand others who walked from all over downtown for the event. What we didn’t know is the spot where we squeezed into the crowd was 25 feet from a van filled with what a young man believed were six, fifty-gallon barrels of explosive material. As you know, the FBI had staged a sting, and as the young man made a call on his cell phone from the train station across town that would detonate the bomb, we were singing Christmas carols well within the blast zone. We didn’t hear about the threat until the following morning, and didn’t even know how close we were to the bomb until I saw a picture in the paper, taken only a few steps from the corner of Pioneer Square where we had been standing. I’ve not talked about Islam or terrorism on this site at all. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.