Recently I received a copy of The Tangible Kingdom Primer to review here on Coffee Shop Journal. Usually reviewing a book is a straightforward thing: you read it, you decide if you like it or not, and you write about it. The moment the Primer arrived in the mail, however, I knew I was in trouble. This is not the kind of book you can read and forget. It’s a commitment.
The Tangible Kingdom Primer is designed as a small group, communal activity. It’s a wire-bound workbook, divided into seven days of experiences each week. But it is also more than that. “The Tangible Kingdom Primer is about learning how to live in the Kingdom and how to create pathways for others to experience it along with you.” This is one of those books that you have to live out and live in for awhile. Frankly, it scares me. I can’t wait to dig in.
The Primer is designed for an incarnational community, or in simple terms, a group of people who are committed to their spiritual growth together. Really together. Radically together. This is a handbook for how to form that community, and — the missing link in so many small groups — how to bring action and change to that group. There’s solid information here, but there is also motivation and meditation. Days are devoted to concepts, meditation, action, change, community and even rest. It’s kind of like — wait for it — life in the Kingdom.
So in keeping with the foundational concept that life in the kingdom is a journey, this review is going to be a journey, too. I’m going to work through this primer and share what I learn here on the blog. I’m hoping, though I don’ t know if this will work, to have companions on this trip. I’d like to find a small group of people willing to take this trip with us. In any case, I’m ready to go. So go find a copy of The Tangible Kingdom Primer and jump in the journey with me. I leave you with one more quote from the prologue, which is where I find myself literally and metaphorically.
“Everyone is talking about community Everyone seems to want it, most complain if they don’t find it, but it’s harder to pull off than you’d think. People complain of time constraints, busyness, fear, and often have memories of community gone bad. We’ve got children to deal with. Some people struggle to relate well socially. We’re often 30 minutes drive or more away from people we like to hang out with. We’re stressed about money. We overwork, and when we do get some free time, we have a hard time sharing that time with others. Sure, we all know we need this thing called “community” and we even have some inklings that tell us that our friends need it too. Yet, a Grand Canyon-sized gap exists between our hopes and our realities.”
What do you think, you all? Who’s in with me?
To purchase the Tangible Kingdom Primer, go to this link. I was unable to find it on Amazon, so I couldn’t give you all a link straight through. But it’s available on the Tangible Kingdom site.
Related links from Coffee Shop Journal on The Tangible Kingdom:
The Tangible Kingdom Without Words
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Sounds really interesting. Barnes and Noble?
Oh yes…good point! I just updated the blog post to include the link to their site. I couldn’t find it on Amazon yet.
Have decided that ‘community’ is a difficult word. It gives off the sort of warm fuzzies that we so much want..yet.. It can be so superficial… like the “wave” at at sports event…. it then lacks any ‘political’ will power.. (the ability to get something done corporately). Historical community has long been dead since industrialisation and the ability to travel and live in a new place. I think watching “The Village” movie gave me a good understanding of some of the joys and problems involved in community.
Dee, you are just so right. It’s easy to accept a cheap substitute for so many things: love, community, worship. Community is always elusive, and just the time you think you have a good community people move or change or disrupt in some other way. But i’m going to keep on looking…i know one day we’ll ALL live in community!