Welcome to My New Website and Blog!
Hi, and welcome to my new website and blog!
This is the place where you can learn about my speaking schedule, read my musings about life, culture, writing and faith, download some of my music and sung liturgies (eventually), and get the latest news about what I’m doing and thinking. Hopefully the latter will not be boring, insipid, or overly self-interested. Regardless, I would be grateful if you’d let one or two people know about the new site.
First, good news. A few weeks ago a friend tweeted me and asked if I had heard the talk the Archbishop of Canterbury gave at the Fresh Expressions: Changing the Landscape gathering in Lincoln, UK. (Fresh Expressions is the equivalent term to our Emerging Church in the UK). It turns out he spoke at length about my book, Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale. I was blown away by his enthusiasm for it, so I reached out to him and asked if he would be willing to give an endorsement to the next printing, which will probably run this summer. To be honest, I didn’t expect he would write back. Its not like he doesn’t have a lot on his plate at the moment. I was surprised when he got back to me right away with this endorsement:
“I’ve now read it twice and found it equally compelling both times. It’s challenging, disarming and delightful, and the vision behind it is a serious one. It’s a remarkable book.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams
Needless to say, I was honored.
Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale is a weird book. It came out three years ago, but seems to have nine lives. In fact, it has recently been picking up in sales and getting reviews in more and more blogs. My friend Mike Morrell says Chasing Francis is a book with “a long tail.” I sure hope so. I have a yearly college bill that rivals the national debt. Navpress has dedicated some money towards promoting the book again and I’m hoping it will get more traction. Regardless, I am pleased to have received such enthusiastic endorsements from someone whose writings and work I admire so much.
Please feel free to tell people about Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale and thanks for stopping by my new and improved site.
11 Responses to “Welcome to My New Website and Blog!”
Leave a Reply
Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me
“When I first discovered the grainy picture in my mother’s desk—me as a towheaded two year old sitting in what I remember was a salmon-orange-stained lifeboat—I was overwhelmed by the feeling that the boy in the boat was not waving and laughing at the
Ian – Wonderful to have your new blog up and running. And re: Chasing Francis – agree with the Archbishop… it is a special book – simultaneously prophetic, witty, engaging, and joyful. Blessings.
Hi David!
Good to hear from you and thanks for the kind words. When will you come visit us in Franklin?
Have not had time to order or read the book but I will. Love the cover and looking forward to reading it.
Hope you love Tennessee……we lived in Nashville for 3 years before moving to New Canaan and now have lived in Colorado for 16 years. I love all three areas!
Thanks Sarah. Hope you enjoy the book. I’ll be grateful if you let a few other folks know about it.
Really enjoying “Chasing Francis” right now. I’d like to post a review on my blog upon completing the book. Maybe I’ve been out of the loop, but I feel like you’ve struck on a genre that has been neglected by Christian authors. Really enjoying the blend between fiction and history, geographical and spiritual journey, and the beautiful setting of the Tuscan landscape. I’m looking forward to more!
Hi Jared,
Glad you are enjoying the book and I’d be honored and psyched if you wrote a blog review of it! let me know what you think when you’re done!
Hello Ian & congrats on the launch of th new site. It looks fabulous. While I have yet to read your raved about book, I do look forward to it. I have been drawn to Francis in many ways over the years and still have yet to visit Assisi in my travels. I was close however during my last trip to Italy! I’m so glad the connection with Archbishop Williams worked out and you were able to hear the talk. I’m really stoked to hear you and the fam are moving to Frankin, TN – the very place my family and I are hoping to relocate to in the coming weeks after our 11yr odyssey in the UK & Ireland. I look forward to connecting once we both get settled. Every blessing on you and yours friend!
Hello Ian & congrats on the launch of th new site. It looks fabulous. While I have yet to read your raved about book, I do look forward to it. I have been drawn to Francis in many ways over the years and still have yet to visit Assisi in my travels. I was close however during my last trip to Italy! I’m so glad the connection with Archbishop Williams worked out and you were able to hear the talk. I’m stoked to hear you and the fam are moving to Frankin, TN – the very place my family and I are hoping to relocate to in the coming weeks after our 11yr odyssey in the UK & Ireland. I look forward to connecting once we both get settled. Every blessing on you and yours friend!
One day I hope I will be able to express in writing to you the shift that has occurred within me since I first read Chasing Francis 1 1/2 years ago. LOL, each time I read it something new emerges within me, amazing!
For now I have a question for you. When I first read your book and now once again I am reading it for the 4th time, I was knocked out by Chase’s vision for his church. I live in Lakeland, Florida mega churches everywhere you turn. Are there churches like Chase’s vision…is the Big Tent Christianity like his vision? Are Emergent Churches like his vision?
The truth is I’m lonely and within the churches that surround me I find it makes me feel even more lonely…they are so huge and even within the smaller groups it is hard to know people. I want a home, where I can participate in discussing Jesus, where there is transparency and openness toward all. How do I find the kind of church Chase envisioned? Thank you for any help you can give.
Hi Courtney,
I am glad you connected with Chasing Francis. The term “emergent church” is difficult to define these days. I would check in with folks at emergentvillage.org. See if there is an emergent cohort near you and contact them.
I wish you the very best of everything. I pray you find the community that most feeds your soul.
One day I hope I will be able to express in writing to you the shift that has occurred within me since I first read Chasing Francis 1 1/2 years ago.
For now I have a question for you. I was knocked out by Chase’s vision for his church. I live in Lakeland, Florida mega churches everywhere you turn. Are there churches like Chase’s vision…is the Big Tent Christianity like his vision? Are Emergent Churches like his vision? How do I find a church like the one Chase envisioned?