New City Resources

Friends,

A very special opportunity through a partnership with Redeemer Church and New City Resources is coming to Knoxville in just a few weeks—an intensive weekend with James K. Smith, February 3-5, 2012.

Dr. Smith is associate professor of Philosophy at Calvin College and a critically acclaimed author: Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism (Baker Academic, 2006), Introducing Radical Orthodoxy (Baker Academic, 2004), Desiring the Kingdom (Baker Academic, 2009), Thinking in Tongues (Eerdmans, 2010).

Perhaps what has captured my imagination most about Smith’s thinking is his Christian vision for the imagination. As with the heart, Smith sees in the imagination the essential well-spring from which our all our thoughts and actions are drawn.

While sounding rather deep, this is also radically practical. We are what we love. We love what we desire. We do what we desire. As God’s image-bearing creatures what we do reflects in no uncertain terms what we truly desire.

Since our imagination feeds our desires, we are quite literally nourishing or impoverishing ourselves each and everyday upon the basis of how well the stirrings of our hearts serve us. If our imaginations enjoy the transforming presence of God’s Spirit then we live fruitfully as new creatures in Christ from the inside out—and from a heart that knows what it means to grow soft toward God. And if our imaginations do not enjoy the transforming presence of God’s Spirit then…I’ll let you reflect on what that looks and feels like for yourself.

Please come join us as we host Dr. Smith in an effort to explore what it looks like to do and desire the kingdom from the inside out. We’ve already got a great group committed to participate in the learning community component of the weekend, and there is room for more.

As with all our offerings, if you wish to participate but cannot cover the full amount, please offer what you can—and come join us. Thanks for your time. We hope to hear from you soon.