In a hard place…
April 1, 2005
I’m in a hard place…this post has been in the works for awhile, and I didn’t want to put it up, but I’m at point now where I can’t NOT put it up. It involves a lot of things that have been pretty "big" things in my life recently, consuming things…things that have drained me, and there isn’t much left to be drained unfortunately.
I’ve been involved with Emergent for awhile, and I’ve always been a big supporter of it…however, the more and more I’ve gotten into it - I see things that don’t sit right with me. Are we really doing anything new? Isn’t it just a bunch of conservative evangelicals adding some candles and coffee? I have wanted to say that’s just a minority of folks, but the more and more blogs I read and churches I visit that are "emergent" - I see that it’s really the majority, and it’s saddening. I’m wanting to move on to a more progressive Christianity, and I don’t see Emergent headed in that direction, and so I’m wondering about what that means for me and Emergent in the future…I was going to be in Nashville, but I’ve cancelled my registration…it’s just not where I want to put my energy right now…there are bigger things.
I’ve also become disillusioned with blogging. I know my friends are saying to themselves, "Yah right" right now, but it’s just where I’m at. Blogging has become so much a part of my identity, it seems that is the only conversation I can have these days. Conversations that I’m involved in, at the dining hall, about 90% of the time are about blogs, or my blogging, or Chris P. on my blog, or blog connections or stories that I have….and I’m getting sick of it. There is more to who I am than my blogging and sometimes I think my blog hinders others from seeing those things.
The dialogue and conversations here at pomomusings are pretty lame sometimes too — either they are just cyclical arguments with fundamentalists or they’re just…well, I don’t know. I don’t really see the point of dialogue like I did before - nothing is resolved…nothing is changed…it’s just all talk.
I’m also tired of making the blog so much of my life…with writing for it, designing it, spendings hours tweaking the template…it’s not fun anymore, and it feels like work. I am desiring simplicity in my life…I want to have a more uncluttered life, and the blog is not adding to that. I’m sick of wondering about what’s going to happen to my blog…it’s been over a year and a half of blogging, and it’s just not fun anymore…
So I’ll be stepping away from the emergent conversation for awhile to pursue a more true, more dynamic progressive version of Christianity. Within a week or so, pomomusings will also be no more (if there were any posts you wanted to keep for any reason, it’d be good to search for them now and copy them because I will be deleting the entire thing when I do it). Whether I’ll start a new blog in a few months, I don’t know. I’ll probably have one when I’m over in Palestine this summer, but it will just be for updates and photos. Whether I start a new one or not, I just can’t continue to live as I have been…changes have to be made…sometimes drastic changes are the only ones that really work…that is the point I’m at…
[**Thanks for playing along with my April Fool's Day joke...sorry so many of you were fooled...]
Posted in Emergent
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
April 1st, 2005 at 1:09 am
grace and peace to you
April 1st, 2005 at 1:19 am
Hey Adam, we dont know each other, but just want to say thanks for yr writings over the past months, it has been fun and fascinating following part of yr life thru PTS.
April 1st, 2005 at 1:35 am
pomomusing - finally, someone with in the so called emergent tradition with the balls to stand up and say, “emergent is kinda lame; emergent is nothing new; emerent is just white boy evangelical theology group centered around pissing and moaning.” Good morming. Check out my blog - it’s all about how blogs are stupid (as you now know because you are erasing your blog) and about how to define “emergent” - which i am deeply interested in…but so far…emergent 1)can’t even define itself and 2)so how then does it expect to be anything new? I’ve had very little success in getting anyone inside “emergent/emerging church” to dialogue and say something new - but it’s all theological banter - not specific to any movement …..
laterblogs are stupid -
your pal, norm
http://blogsdosuck.blogspot.com/
April 1st, 2005 at 1:39 am
also - just as you are planning on not defining yourself by your blog anymore, i suggest you also stop defining yourself by the car you drive (subaru). Or is this some kind of emergent (american) thing?
April 1st, 2005 at 1:39 am
i first came across your blog about a year and a half ago while doing a search for “metaphysics” in google. your discussion on that was interesting. i’ve been checking out your blog ever since.
i am one of those conservative, fundamentalist evangelicals you decry; however, i can appreciate what you have done and are doing through this particular medium of blogging. not everyone on the block gets over 200k hits my man. your site is a gift and blessing from God.
i would hope that you wouldn’t retire pomomusings. it’s cool, it’s inspirational, it’s provocative. and even if it appears that all people do is talk, talk , talk, to many this dialogue has spurred them on to furtherance in Christ: emotionally, intellectually, and, most importantly, spiritually.
being a 28 year old assistant pastor/youth pastor seminary grad myself, i can say that it doesn’t get any less cluttered. part of the path is maintaining contentment with Christ in the chaos.
peace.
April 1st, 2005 at 1:43 am
i can’t believe you got me into blogging and now you’re stopping . . .
April 1st, 2005 at 1:47 am
My guess is the reason you are erasing your blog is because you now realize you are just a hub, or a middle man, for people like tony jones who use you just to tell the world it’s there birthday. Why don’t people like this get their own blog so they can tell the world how great they are? This is your blog man. who cares if it’s Tony’s Birthday. If I cared I’d go to his blog, if he had one. From now on, tell us when your birthday is.
April 1st, 2005 at 1:51 am
we haven’t met, maybe someday, I am out here in Portland, Oregon.
been reading for about 9 months.
real, real sad bro…you know what you need to do though…
April 1st, 2005 at 2:16 am
Finally! Good, take your marbles and go home. Leave the world a better place for fundamentalists like me. The same goes for the rest of you postmodern “all truth is relative” naval gazers out there. Extinguish the candles turn off the coffee makers and get a life!
April 1st, 2005 at 2:24 am
Seems like there’s a lot of this going around.
I heard Brian McLaren’s tired of being ripped on for not being “seminary educated”, so he’s going to be attending Seabury-Western Theological Seminary to get his M.Div and eventually be ordained an Epsicopal priest. Of course, they’re going to have him teach some classes while he’s there, too. Imagine having him and AKMA on the same faculty.
April 1st, 2005 at 2:27 am
Dude…sorry about all of this…that’s rough. Well, whatever you decide to do, we’ll support you…
April 1st, 2005 at 8:11 am
I feel your pain…say it ain’t so.
April 1st, 2005 at 8:44 am
Adam, I love reading your thoughts and the comments that they bring. I have also become frustrated by dialogue because of the lack of action that seems to come from it, but the fact of the matter is your site has become a safe forum for dialogue to happen. There are not many of those places for this kind of real discussion to happen. I have seen it here on your blog. Whether or not action results at least the people within the spectrum of Christianity are aware of where other people are coming from and hopefully more understanding.
In terms of emergent, i also don’t know what it is, there does seem to be an authenticity there that has not yet been tapped, but the direction is solid I believe that good will come from this pursuit.
My prayer is that this is not the end of us hearing from you about theology or life in general, you provide things that I think are right on and also things that I don’t agree with, but I read almost daily to hear from someone who can articulate his questions and theology in ways that are real.
April 1st, 2005 at 8:51 am
i hear you.
it’s a rat race.
and a full time job.
good for you.
April 1st, 2005 at 9:15 am
Adam, it is my belief that the Lord is preparing you for a return to a purer, more biblical, more faithful - ultimately more conservative, even fundamentalist - form of Christian faith.
I am sure you are about to tell everyone anyway what I am about to say now, Adam, so I don’t mind saying this publicly.
As you’ve been corresponding with myself and the elders at First Baptist over the last few months, having made yourself accountable to the spiritual leadership of myself as pastor and the staff here, you’ve intimated many times that you sense the Lord drawing you back to an understanding of Scripture as inerrant, infallible and authoritative. Through our emails and our weekly meetings, you’ve already renounced many of your previous errors, such as your openness to modern views of marriage, your acceptance of the unproven theory evolution and your association with the unbiblical Emerging Church.
Adam, it has been a joy to see how you’ve been wooed by the Holy Spirit to rediscover what you rightly identified as truly progressive Christianity - a steadfast faith built firmly on the fundamentals of biblical teaching.
I hope you will seriously consider what I said to you in our last telephone conversation about your rebaptism. And I hope before you leave behind Pomomusings, your last post will be a testament to your newfound faith in the gospel and your rejection of your past errors and associations with unorthodox and ultimately destructive postmodern ideas.
God bless, you, Adam. The elders and I are praying for you, and we look forward to meeting for our Bible study next week.
April 1st, 2005 at 9:33 am
Hello Adam. I see Pastor McFarlane has already said something about your return to faith, so I won’t say any more than that, except to say that you have been as much a blessing to the eldership here at First Baptist as we have hopefully been to you. Pay no attention to mockers, my son. They have already started here on this post, and the closer to the Lord you become, the more intense it will get. Bless you, Adam!
April 1st, 2005 at 9:36 am
Adam, Andy said I should post something to encourage you. Everyone in the ladies group this morning prayed for you! Bless the Lord. I echo what Andy and Pastor Paul said, I hope you find the courage to stand up for Christ despite the mockers, and denounce the emerging movement publicly and loudly just as Christ died for you in full view. Bless you so much. See you at the potluck.
April 1st, 2005 at 9:53 am
i agree, you should quit… some of the stuff you write stinks
April 1st, 2005 at 10:16 am
Thanks for the ride and may God draw you close during this time. Peace, Bro.
April 1st, 2005 at 10:16 am
Adam - I just wanted to say 3 things:
1) I completely understand your desire to quit blogging, as I myself woke up one morning not long ago and simply felt that it was over for me. Don’t sweat it man. I’ve enjoyed your blog while it has been up, though, and I’ve even read it retroactively.
2) Some people have said some nasty things on here and, while I’m hoping that they are people that you know who are just giving you a hard time, if they are not such they should be ashamed of what they have written here. Even those who are sure they are right are to be generous and gracious.
3) About this whole thing with First Baptist and reclaiming conservative roots…I would love to have a conversation with you about this. Seriously. E-mail me if you’re interested and we’ll have lunch or something.
Via con Dios
April 1st, 2005 at 10:24 am
Bro - I’m with you. If you need to talk, let me know. Okay?
April 1st, 2005 at 10:32 am
Your blog has been an inspiration in our church from day one when my wife and I were surfing the internet together some two years ago. Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. We would use it as an illustration for what NOT to do.
Since you blog is about to go under, I figured I (like my friend PP (Pastor Paul), I would go public
What am I going to do for chessy illustrations in the middle of my sermon? How am I going to tell the youth director what not to do?
Thanks a lot Adam.
Seriously screwed in Seattle
Pastor Jones
April 1st, 2005 at 10:37 am
Rev. Paul: thanks - I was going to get around to telling everyone…but, I’m glad you just posted the comment. I’ll see you all tonight at the potluck.
April 1st, 2005 at 10:51 am
April fools or not– you are pathetic. You’re killing me man. Do you have an ounce of self-respect? Here are a few pearls for you:
1. All blogs suck. yours is no different. actually, it sucks more than most blogs suck. so what, people read it, they have fun. they are dumbasses just like you.
2. if you’re going to delete your blog– cool. just stop being a bitch about it. no need to hold a vigil, change the banner, leave your post up for people to debate about the life of your blog– whether you should keep it up, whether you should take it down; oh adam i love your blog, i’m gay now, you have liberated me….
Just tell these slaps its over, and pull the plug. this kind of crap makes me crazy.
your little blog cadre can tell the world– and i might respect you for it.
let the blog die with dignity.
April 1st, 2005 at 11:03 am
APRIL DORK DAY!!!
You burned your fingers on some candles and the smell of the things fried your brains for the day…
April 1st, 2005 at 11:05 am
I weep.
April 1st, 2005 at 11:09 am
so yeah… i was wondering if it was an april fool’s day prank, or not, but regardless i can appreciate your feelings. it seems like no matter what you post someone gets pissed off, even over the littlest things. but then i think that’s what makes this blog worth doing. why NOT piss people off? why not say things that get people stirred up? why not promote your friends and your own writing? this is your blog, you can do whatever the hell you want with it.
so if this is really the end, then good luck. thanks for sharing your wisdom and humor and opinions regardless of the anticipated onslaught.
if this is an april fool’s prank, then HELL YEAH! awesome job! and way to get even more people riled up. that rocks.
April 1st, 2005 at 11:23 am
The jig is up. You edited my comment and took out my question. I love it.
April 1st, 2005 at 11:38 am
Adam
I have not let blogging eat my brain yet. Nor have I read much of the ‘dialogue’ that has distressed you. Last night I was reading through your ‘In a hard place’ and this morning the comments by Rev. Paul Mc Farlane.
This seems to confirm what Yahweh was bugging me with as an answer to you.
A little background; I come out of Occultic/ New Age child of the 60’s life. Worshiped idols not figuratively exploring Eastern Religions as I explored what I have come to call ‘Satan’s denominations’. I heard teachings about Jesus in every belief system. My grandmother who understood what I was doing better then I it turns out gave me a Bible as I left home in my early teens. While hitchhiking and through empty time that needed to be filled I read and read. The short of this is in John 14:6 Jesus’ claim about Himself bore a total contrasting image to Satan’s denominational teaching of Him- you know Shaman, enlightened one, teacher, prophet, and Guru of every form and type.
However, He said that He was the Creator come to us in flesh. I’m quite sure these ideas you know and have commitment to.
The point is this and follows what Rev. Paul is saying, except the terminology I will not employ because the embodiment such terms picture, are not necessary Biblical. More often then not they embody cultural foundations and norms. These norms are incrusted with the rebellion of the reformation almost a stripping away if you will the very foundations of our God’s nature and intent.
David put it this way,‘ If the foundations are destroyed what will the righteous do?’ Psalm 11:3.
Isaiah takes up this theme in chapter 28. He opens speaking to Ephraim- the son of double portion blessed by their past faithfulness. Yahweh searches for one to hear His voice but the Priest and Prophet are deaf because of intoxication. If we take Peter into account, ‘The end of all things is at hand; therefore be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.’ (prayer is our conversation with Yahweh how we learn of His heart and mind) 1st Peter 4:7 this intoxication can and does include lack of spiritual sobriety ie clear thinking. Moreover, if we take into account the many other Scriptures on intoxication the picture in Isaiah comes alive around us. Isaiah continues the tables of the Spiritual leaders are ‘full of filthy vomit, without a single clean place’ verse 8. From verse 9 on he spells out the judgment ( for those of you in the Pentecostal /Charismatic persuasion this is not a prophecy concerning tongues this depicts the inability of the leaders to understand the Voice of Yahweh and is judgment.). Jeremiah in the famous Peace Peace section contains this pivotal statement, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not walk in it” Jeremiah 6:9-21 (quote v.16). Ezekiel speaks this, ‘Disaster will come upon disaster, rumor will be added to rumor, then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the Law (Torah-foundation) will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders.’ Ezk.7:26.
I could continue Jesus says, ‘You search the Scriptures…’ but I am confident that you, Adam can continue from here if you desire. The seeking that you and others engage in by taking up diversionary ‘fads’ sweeping the Spiritless and foundationless Western Church shouts of despair of the Heart and starvation of the mind and soul robbed from the Body of Christ. There is only one who comes to lie, steal, and destroy; Lucifer. We are told in 2nd Corth. 10 to destroy speculations ect. This sometimes cryptically understood concept speaks to these things; the moved foundations. We must take up truth, like rejecting Evolutionary- what I call ‘Satanic Science’ and begin to like Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Holy community so that growth can take place with in those stones of protection.
Nehemiah 4:11-14
Meanwhile, our enemies were saying,
‘Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them
And kill them and end their work.’
The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again,
‘They will come from all directions and attack us!’
So I placed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall
In the exposed areas.
I stationed the people to stand guard by families,
Armed with swords, spears, and bows.
Then I looked over the situation,
I called together the leaders and the people
And said to them,
‘Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember Yahweh,
Who is great and glorious, and fight for
Your friends, your families, and your homes!’
Adam, and others reading this ponder these things see if they are not true, Acts 17:11. Adam if you would like to discuss further in a less public setting my e-mail is artandme@frontiernet.net, feel free!
Pastor Art
April 1st, 2005 at 12:21 pm
hilarious stuff really
April 1st, 2005 at 12:33 pm
Does anyone else not think this is an april fools joke?
April 1st, 2005 at 1:19 pm
Orlando. Priceless.
April 1st, 2005 at 1:22 pm
Adam,my brother,
I hear you and I agree. You got to use Emergent like U2 uses the ipod. If it works for you as way to disseminate your message and your art, go for it (even if it seems a bit cheesy) but if it’s sucking you dry, then ditch it.
I don’t usually call what I’m doing ‘emergent’ church b/c I think EC is still too evangelical and traditional. I stick with ‘postmodern’ or ‘incarnational community’ and skift about on the edges of things. (I just made that word up.) But I don’t mind the EC conventions because they give me a chance to exchange ideas with the handful of fast trackers that are out there living on Mars with me.
I was hoping to meet you in Nashville though. Come anyway, don’t register, and just hang at the alt convention (also known as wine and beer in the hotel room with Jen, myself, and a gaggle of friends.) Seriously. It would be great.
Oh, and only blog because you love to write. As the priestess herself, Ms. Lammot would say “Publishing (insert “blogging” here) is rarely what it’s cracked up to be, but writing is. Writing is worth it.”
Much love to you my thoughtful invisible friend.
Shalom,
Rachelle
April 1st, 2005 at 1:33 pm
Hey, Adam . . . i don’t know if you’ll get down to these comments, but i just wanted to thank you for giving us a glimpse of your life these last few months. I agree with some of your comments, and even when i don’t, they’re always presented in a thought-provoking and kind way. Good luck in Palestine, and reading some of the comments that have been left already, i can see that this may not be a difficult choice to make.
take care
ken
April 1st, 2005 at 2:09 pm
I just logged on to your sight for the first time yesterday because I heard all of these people talking about it (good and bad). But while reading this “In a hard place” piece I knew it wasn’t true. It was a great April fools joke though. I was just reading through that stuff laughing my head off. People were all like, “Don’t leave us Cleave. We love you.” That’s hilarious. It’s funny because there is one thing I do know about Emergent (granted, it is an observation based on my limited exposure to it), and that is that those who seem to be at the center of it (Holy Spirit excluded) really enjoy the attention they call to themselves (actually un exclude the Holy Ghost from that). I have met some people (at PTS) and thought, “Wow! They sure think alot of themselves.” And then I find out that they are part of the Emergent movement. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do think that self centeredness is at the root of the sinful human condition and that it will manifest itself in whatever way it can. But it seems to me that many pomomusing bloggers are so wrapped up in their own thoughts that even the idea of Emergent being “progressive” seems not so much an attempt to explore God’s design for the Christian faith as much as it is an attempt to be an inovator for the sake of being recognized as just that.
I want to be a part of a relevant progressive Christianity that brings the light of Christ to a dark world in a way that isn’t stale and bound to western anthropocentric fettered tradition. But at the same time I want to be aware that I don’t shine the spotlight on me by saying look at what I can make Jesus do… “Roll over, roll over… good boy.”
I knew your post was a farce because after looking at your blog twice, it was my guess was that you were way too wrapped up in yourself to actually stop what seems to have granted you these fourteen minutes of fame. Maybe you should put it on hold for a while. Not because people aren’t fed or challenged but because I see a big CLEAVE and a little god. I think God has big plans for you. I think your readership testifies to that fact. However I also think your God is too small, or at least he looks that way standing in your shadow.
But as one who loves attention myself I know what sweet poison it can be. What is truly emerging here? Is it a fresh manifestation of God’s Church or the buding career of an internet quazi celebrity?
I may have overstepped my bounds but even if some of this is harsh I really do want see what God will do through you. I’m not so interested in finding out what you want to do with God.
Fight the fight man. Condsidder taking your April fools joke seriously. Would you be able to?
Chancy Blithe
April 1st, 2005 at 2:43 pm
hey adam,
i think you are right about much of the EC swirl being around smoke and mirrors and book deals, but i still have hope that many of the ‘evangelical, younger white guys with candles and coffee’ can deepen with the rest of us, into a fresh committment to living the reign of God in today’s culture - and in this reign, or ‘new thing’ God is always trying to do (which we seek to behold and participate in in our own times), being younger, white, male and ‘evangelical,’ is neither a prerequisite nor an advantage, as the cruciform following of Christ into the reign of God in today’s culture has no preferred race or sex, and even moves beyond the human ‘organizational tags’ of evangelical, fundamentalist, mainline, emergent and progressive.
blessings to you my friend
April 1st, 2005 at 2:55 pm
This is a joke right? You can’t stop blogging. I have been an regular reader for the last year, and I have come to trust in you for spiritual and theological insight. While I have never commented, because I’m more the wallflower type, this occasion calls for action. Adam, you are truly a light. I hope that you are just playing a joke, but if you’re not, know this… you will be missed. Tony Jones doesn’t deserve a tribute, you do. Jones will be riding your coat-tails soon enough. Peace my brother, peace.
MC
April 1st, 2005 at 3:00 pm
Michael, I appreciate the fact that you enjoy pomomusings - but…I’m sure you can find some WAY better theological insight and spiritual guidance somewhere else…
While Tony Jones is involved with Emergent, I don’t want to bash him by any means and I hope everyone else here respects that wish…it is not my desire to leave Jones behind in my dust…for the time being, I simply have to leave…
April 1st, 2005 at 3:07 pm
Adam,
Your “God Bless Our President” bumper stickers and “Four Spiritual Laws” tracts are ready to be picked up in the mailroom.
Your pal,
Jim
April 1st, 2005 at 4:38 pm
WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE STOP thanking Adam for his comments about the emerging church and leaving the blog! It was an April Fools joke (confirmed by a 2:00 AM phone call) and you all look like fools for thinking he was serious and then going off on things. I guess this was a way for Adam to see everyone’s true colors.
And thanks to all the people who are sarcastic and actually got the joke and ran with it instead of using this a soapbox to bash something. The bashers need to get over themselves!
And Adam…enough of the editing of people’s comments!
April 1st, 2005 at 4:44 pm
April Fools or not I think it was a great way for Adam to stroke himself. Embarrasing for someone who really will be on a grand stage someday. I’m sorry you need this so much Adam. Furthermore, I hope all of you who are lamenting the passing of your savior and his blog site were equally as moved last weekend when we celebrated my true Savior’s death.
April 1st, 2005 at 4:45 pm
Interesting, regardless of whether this an April’s fools joke or not, I haved enjoyed and enjoy reading this blog. Coming from a tradition (Acappella Churches of Christ) that claimed to have something new under the son a few hundred years back, I do think that Emergent is nothing new (though Quoheleth said as much thousands of years ago). However, in being an observer and small partcipator of Emergent and the quote ‘Emerging Church’ I do have to say I see it falling into two categories — those pragamatic evangelicals that see it as the latest tool to reach 20 somethings and be cool and revelent, and then those that see it as a way to revisit the though that the church is constitently in reformation or restoration. The second is the best strain and the authentic strain. Will postmodern, emerging churches have candles and be cool? Maybe, but not neccessarily. One point that resonates with me is that Emergent (if there is such a thing) is about the journey, not the destination — a sense (very conservative and biblical btw) that being a Christian means being a pilgrim in world that is not my home.
About progressive Christianity (while I’m not exactly sure what exactly it means to be a progressive Christian), I think it’s good to extent, but I also think it frames the question in wrong way (as does conservative Christianity too btw). I just wonder what we are progressing toward or away from. If its progressing away from Englightenment modernism, I’m all for it. If its progressing away from Biblical revelation, I’m more weary of it. If we are progessing toward becoming more like Christ and like God, I’m all for it. If we are progessing toward something next undefined and neblous, that’s ok too (in the post-modern sense that it’s about question, not the answer). Instead being progressive or conservative Christians, lets frame the question in a way that allows to be disciples of Christ and let him and his spirit do his work in and through us.
Anyway, whatever you decide to do Adam, best of luck, and if this is joke, it was damn good one.
April 1st, 2005 at 4:45 pm
if this is true then i’m just going to go over to Chris’ blog. i mean what other recourse do i have. and as for Tony Jones, we’ve all been thinking it, is he really emergent? he still has short hair and I’m sure still sings “heart of worship”.
i am befuddled.
April 1st, 2005 at 4:53 pm
I have been so hurt by the Tony Jones bashing that’s gone on in these comments that I am leaving the blog world forever. What have I done that is so hurtful to you people? Is tranversal rationality and phenomenological hermeneutics really so bad? Do they make me apostate? I will be cancelling my speaking commitments at the Youth Specialties conventions next fall and taking the next several months to practice contemplative exercises…
…which you can read about in my recently published book, The Sacred Way (with a foreword by Phyllis Tickle).
April 1st, 2005 at 6:19 pm
hilarious, hilarious. A bit childish, but we’ve all done this or thought about doing this before haven’t we? I have.
April 1st, 2005 at 6:53 pm
hey adam…i tried to post and my computer weirded out but in know that if two comments come up you will delete it cause you are a perfectionist like that. ;) dude, this is funny…you are a dork! i will believe all this the day that you throw out your rainbows and stop drinking beer…and hell freezes over…
April 1st, 2005 at 7:11 pm
As I said in a comment on another blog today… I am automatically suspicious of any major announcement made on a blog on April Fool’s Day. Peace, brother. :)
April 1st, 2005 at 9:10 pm
ha!
i’m sorry. once emergent always emergent. God will not let you go from his hands!
after all… you own a hookah man.
you are very creative.
April 1st, 2005 at 10:01 pm
adam, i totally feel you man. but DAMN! i have been totally looking forward to drinking together in nashville!!
April 1st, 2005 at 10:19 pm
I was really sad for a moment…I thought that I would never see any more pictures of PTS drinking parties. I’m still waiting to see Kenda Creasy Dean and Bruce McCormack getting hammered together…
April 1st, 2005 at 10:24 pm
Adam,
I think I can relate to you. I have just recently decided to get more involved with Emergent. As one deeply influenced by prophetic black Christianity Emergent struck me as a gathering of recovering conservative Evangelicals disconcerted by the strong critique of modernism and its child foundationalism. Maybe you have seen more than me, but I am seeing something here. I am seeing a critical mass of Christians that are re-thinking Christianity and its role in the world. What I see in Emergent, at least from within Evangelical camps is a humbler form of Christianity. A Christianity that doesn’t want to takeover. I admit that the Emergent mystique can be easily sold out to lesser gods, but dude…so has Jesus. How do you think I feel when I go to white Evangelical seeker-sensitive churches with power-point presentations and kick-ass media graphics WITH a white Jesus zipping through a power point slide. I get a little discouraged sometimes myself, but I hope. I see a healthy non-conformity in the Emergent Church that is much needed in American Christianity. And your blog contributes to this healthy non-conertedness that American Christianity is experiencing now.
I hope you keep planting seeds my brutha.
The revolution will not be televised, but it sure as hell is being blogged.
Ant
April 1st, 2005 at 10:41 pm
“…which you can read about in my recently published book, The Sacred Way (with a foreword by Phyllis Tickle).”
Does anyone else chuckle every time they see the name Phyllis Tickle? Or even be tickled any time they hear the name Phyllis Chuckle?
And hey, I hear Tony Jones has a new book out, too. And if you buy it, I hear his children can have shoes and gruel on the table. Well, shoes on their feet and gruel on the table. You get the idea. Shoes on the table are tacky no matter how poor you are.
April 1st, 2005 at 11:57 pm
I think I’ve noticed a trend. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong (I probably don’t actually need to say that. If I’m wrong, many of the people on this comment board will condemn me to the fiery depths of hell, oh unforgivable sinner that I am).
If Adam takes the time to write a deep, well thought entry on something theological, he gets a comparatively small number of comments on his blog.
However, if Adam posts anything involving something like alcohol, a hookah, a shout-out to a friend and/or colleague, any type of self-promotion, or a perceived April Fool’s Day prank he is flooded with comments; most of which call into question his theology, his character, his morals, his allowance to have a blog, even his ability to classify himself as Christian (and maybe even human). In fact, if you even DARE to comment on Adam’s blog, and make a statement that in anyway sounds as some sort of defense on Adam’s behalf, be warned. The haters may actually spill into your blog, as well.
And to all of this, I have to say “Holy shit. Give it a rest.” This is Adam’s blog. He is allowed to whatever the hell he wants to with it. If he wants to post pictures of him and his friends enjoying adult beverages and tobacco, then he can! If he wants to post pictures of his friends and wish them happy birthday and promote the sale of a book he contributed to, then he can do that, too! If he wants to post about how he’s going to stop posting, well… what do you know?!? He can to THAT, too!!!! You know why? Because it’s HIS blog!! Isn’t that amazing?
And, of course, you are free to respond. You are free to question him, to disagree with him, to defend him, to agree with him, whatever… but you think that people would have the decency to at least use some tact. Because in their attempt to show the world (or at least the readers of pomomusings) that Adam Cleaveland is an arrogant prick, all they’re really doing is showing the rest of the world (or at least the readers of pomomusings) that they can be rude, ignorant, obnoxious and/or flaming assholes.
April 2nd, 2005 at 1:09 am
will april fool’s day never end?????
April 2nd, 2005 at 1:33 am
Satan is pumped you are quiting. Nice, bro.
April 2nd, 2005 at 2:06 am
I would also like to take this opportunity, here on Cleave’s blog, which drives such great traffic, to announce that I hereby resign from ever reading any of your blogs. I mean, I quit. I mean, wait… no. I’m confused. Cleave…
April 2nd, 2005 at 3:21 am
…candle’s and coffee…?
i may be mistaken, but wasn’t one of your very first posts called “candles and coffee”?
April 2nd, 2005 at 8:17 am
Whoa, Mark. I think that guy was kidding about the beers. Calm down a bit…the guys that are actually pissed at cleave are making a fool of themselves already.
Chuck
April 2nd, 2005 at 8:48 am
Adam: EXACTLY why I stopped, quit, gave up, refocused, yadda yadda months ago. I YEARN for Kingdom come! The blogs I even read have reduced drastically the past year but yours is one I frequent and will miss greatly!! I never met you but met many who met you and felt like I could call you friend.. (thats weird I guess) But I will have 3 dissappointed college girls with me in Nashville whose sole motivation for going was to meet you! (they didnt pay!) Peace to you my brother! I hope our paths do cross!
April 3rd, 2005 at 11:37 am
Things run their course. Your energy was great here. Place it elsewhere if that is what needs to take place. Remorse and celebration, always a progressive transformation.
April 4th, 2005 at 1:43 am
This was an April Fool’s Day joke…more info here.