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	<title>The Blind Beggar</title>
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	<link>http://blindbeggar.org</link>
	<description>exploring the missional paradigm</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:53:09 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus &#124;&#124; Spoken Word</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1783</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1783#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:44:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Missional Tribe]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1783</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Great spoken word poem.

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Great spoken word poem.</p>
<p><iframe width="450" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1IAhDGYlpqY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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		<title>Best Selling Bible Translations for 2011</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1777</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1777#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:39:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Bibles]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Bible Translations]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Christian Booksellers Association]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1777</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Christian Booksellers Association has just published its list of best selling bible translations. Here are the lists for 2011, but keep in mind that the ranking is based only on sales in U.S. Christian retail stores.
2011 - Based on Dollar Sales

New International Version
King James Version
New King James Version
New Living Translation
English Standard Version
Holman Christian Standard [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <a href="http://www.cbaonline.org/">Christian Booksellers Association</a> has just published its list of best selling bible translations. Here are the lists for 2011, but keep in mind that the ranking is based only on sales in U.S. Christian retail stores.</p>
<p><strong>2011 - Based on Dollar Sales</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>New International Version</li>
<li>King James Version</li>
<li>New King James Version</li>
<li>New Living Translation</li>
<li>English Standard Version</li>
<li>Holman Christian Standard Bible</li>
<li>New International Readers Version</li>
<li>The Message</li>
<li>New American Standard Bible</li>
<li>New Revised Standard Version</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>2011 - Based on Unit Sales</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>New International Version</li>
<li>King James Version</li>
<li>New King James Version</li>
<li>New Living Translation</li>
<li>English Standard Version</li>
<li>Holman Christian Standard Bible</li>
<li>New International Readers Version</li>
<li>The Message</li>
<li>New American Standard Bible</li>
<li>Common English Bible</li>
</ol>
<p>When comparing with the 2010 list, the top seller are the same. At the bottom of the list, the &#8220;Reina Valera 1960 (Spanish)&#8221; version has been replaced with the &#8220;New Revised Standard Version&#8221; and &#8220;Common English Bible.&#8221;</p>
<p>As you can see from the 2006 list below, the &#8220;Reina Valera 1960 (Spanish)&#8221; version has been in a steady sales decline. Everything else is pretty stable.</p>
<p><strong>2006 - Based on Unit Sales</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>New International Version
</li>
<li>New King James Version
</li>
<li>King James Version
</li>
<li>New Living Translation
</li>
<li>English Standard Version
</li>
<li>Reina Valera 1960 (Spanish)
</li>
<li>Holman Christian Standard Bible
</li>
<li>New American Standard Bible (updated)
</li>
<li>The Message
</li>
<li>New International Readers Version
</li>
</ol>
<p>I doubt much would be different, but research related to online sales would be interesting.</p>
<p>For me, I&#8217;ve been switching between the English Standard Version and the new 2011 New International Version. I&#8217;m enjoying the latter.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<item>
		<title>nothing to say</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1771</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1771#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1771</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://gapingvoid.com/2011/12/28/oh-no-blogging-is-really-really-dead-this-time-d/"><img src="http://www.blindbeggar.org/img/nothingtosay.gif" alt="" /></a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>God With Us</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1764</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1764#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Loose Ends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1764</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.blindbeggar.org/img/god_with_us.jpg" alt="god with us" /></p>
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		<item>
		<title>The Christmas Story</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1749</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1749#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Videos]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[the christmas story]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1749</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Megapolitans</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1760</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1760#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:38:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Missional]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Arthur C. Nelson]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Megapolitan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Robert E. Lang]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1760</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If Robert E. Lang and Arthur C. Nelson are right, there is a birth of a new geography: &#8220;megapolitans,&#8221; regions that encompass counties and cities linked through man-made and natural connections sharing common economic, landscape, social, and cultural characteristics.
Their new book details this urban geography. It predicts that by 2040, there will be 10 distinct [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If Robert E. Lang and Arthur C. Nelson are right, there is a birth of a new geography: &#8220;megapolitans,&#8221; regions that encompass counties and cities linked through man-made and natural connections sharing common economic, landscape, social, and cultural characteristics.</p>
<p>Their <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Megapolitan-America-Understanding-Metropolitan-Geography/dp/1932364978">new book</a> details this urban geography. It predicts that by 2040, there will be 10 distinct clusters composed of 23 megapolitan areas in the contiguous 48 states of the USA.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.blindbeggar.org/img/megapolitan-map-2011.jpg" alt="Megapolitan" /></p>
<p>The rise of megapolitan areas points out the differing pockets of social and cultural characteristics growing within the USA. The old divisions like East/West, North/South, and inland/coast continue to need reexamination.</p>
<p>So I&#8217;m wondering how the authors premise might help develop our understanding, practice, and communication of what it means to be a Jesus follower within this new geographical framework. </p>
<p>No answers yet, but certainly worth some time to contemplate.</p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Need a Good Book to Read?</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1739</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1739#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:05:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1739</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have the Kindle books listed below that can be loaned once for a period of 14 days, at no cost to you. If you have a Kindle (or a Kindle reading app) and would like to read one of these titles, just leave a comment telling me which title you want* and your email [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have the Kindle books listed below that can be loaned once for a period of 14 days, at no cost to you. If you have a Kindle (or a Kindle reading app) and would like to read one of these titles, just leave a comment telling me which title you want* and your email address. </p>
<p>In a couple of days you will get an email from Amazon with instructions. You have only seven days to respond to the email and only 14 days from that response to read the book.</p>
<p>* Just one title per person please so we can spread the love (if a title is still available after 14 days, then feel free to pick another). Titles will be loaned on a first-come-first-served basis and Amazon will only let me loan a title once.</p>
<p><strong>List of Books Available</strong></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-12-11T15:46:33+00:00"><em>The Missional Church in Perspective</em> (The Missional Network) - Craig Van Gelder and Dwight J. Zscheile</del></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-11-29T15:05:13+00:00"><em>Journeys to Significance: Charting a Leadership Course from the Life of Paul</em> (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) - Neil Cole</del></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-11-29T15:05:13+00:00"><em>The Strategically Small Church: Intimate, Nimble, Authentic, and Effective</em> - Brandon J. O&#8217;Brien</del></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-11-29T17:33:08+00:00"><em>Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement</em> (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) - Will Mancini</del></p>
<p><em>Affirming the Apostles&#8217; Creed</em> - J.I. Packer</p>
<p>Linking Arms, Linking Lives: How Urban-Suburban Partnerships Can Transform Communities - Ronald J. Sider</p>
<p><del datetime="2012-03-09T00:52:40+00:00"><em>Missional Renaissance: Changing the Scorecard for the Church</em> (Jossey-Bass Leadership Network Series) - Reggie McNeal</del></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-11-29T15:05:13+00:00"><em>Transformational Church</em> - Ed Stetzer and Thom	Rainer</del></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-11-29T15:05:13+00:00"><em>Untamed: Reactivating a Missional Form of Discipleship</em> (Shapevine) - Alan Hirsch and Debra Hirsch</del></p>
<p><del datetime="2011-11-29T15:05:13+00:00"><em>Simple Life</em> - Thom Rainer and Art Rainer</del></p>
<img src="http://blindbeggar.org/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=1739&type=feed" alt="" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>A Day of Praise</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1736</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1736#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Prayer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1736</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.blindbeggar.org/img/giving_thanks_2011.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<img src="http://blindbeggar.org/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=1736&type=feed" alt="" />]]></content:encoded>
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		<item>
		<title>Spiritual Infants We Are</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1730</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1730#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:54:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Loose Ends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1730</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.&#8221; &#8212; 1 Corinthians 3:1
&#8220;Have we made the church a gigantic nursery full of spiritual infants, some of whom are well into their senior years? May God raise up those who [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.&#8221; &#8212; 1 Corinthians 3:1</p>
<p>&#8220;Have we made the church a gigantic nursery full of spiritual infants, some of whom are well into their senior years? May God raise up those who can lead us out of infancy into maturity!&#8221; &#8212;AW Tozer</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Five Myths</title>
		<link>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1726</link>
		<comments>http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1726#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:20:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Rick Meigs</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Other]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blindbeggar.org/?p=1726</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Barna Group has spent the last five years exploring the lives of young people who drop out of church. The research provides many insights into the spiritual journeys of teens and young adults and uncovers these five myths:
Myth 1: Most people lose their faith when they leave high school.
Myth 2: Dropping out of church [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Barna Group has spent the last five years exploring the lives of young people who drop out of church. The research provides many insights into the spiritual journeys of teens and young adults and uncovers these five myths:</p>
<p>Myth 1: Most people lose their faith when they leave high school.</p>
<p>Myth 2: Dropping out of church is just a natural part of young adults&#8217; maturation.</p>
<p>Myth 3: College experiences are the key factor that cause people to drop out.</p>
<p>Myth 4: This generation of young Christians is increasingly &#8220;biblically illiterate.&#8221;</p>
<p>Myth 5: Young people will come back to church like they always do.</p>
<p>You can read the full details here: <a href="http://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/534-five-myths-about-young-adult-church-dropouts">Five Myths about Young Adult Church Dropouts</a></p>
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