(e)mergent Voyageurs

When I started this new blog, I chose the name "A Living Alternative" with a very specific intention. When asked why he did not rebuke the sinfulness of the people around him, St. Francis of Assis responded:


In an era where Christians are largely known for the sin they oppose, this wisdom could not be more timely. Francis calls us to face the compromises of our culture by becoming living alternatives with how we live. As sin is defined, not by what it is, but by what it fails to be (thus it's meaning "to miss the mark"), so to our approach to facing the systemic sin in our world should be battled by becoming that which is fails to be. For example, in the face of rampant individualism, we must embrace radical community, not simply condemn it as wrong.

Along this line, I am starting this meme to challenge your creativity:


Missional, Meme

Last week I asked for some questions from you, the readers of this blog. Thankfully, in the 11th hour two people posted some great questions, which I have been thinking about over the last day or so. The first set of questions come from my friend Duncan (whose blog is a daily must for me):

I'd really like to ask you about what books you read in your life that you found most helpful to bring you to the point of where you are at?

Who has influenced you most?

What's your hopes for Winnipeg, Canada and the church for the next decade?

The next ones come from another blogger I follow faithfully, Mary:

What is your favorite passage of Scripture and why?

Is there a passage of Scripture with which you are currently wrestling?

On this line, Grace tagged me in this meme (started by Brother Maynard), asking what my favourite book of the Bible is and why:

To read my answers, visit my new blog:




Missional, Meme, Books, Church

It has been weighing heavily on my heart, of late, as to whether I am cut out for the ministry I am in. Or rather, I have wondered if, within my calling to this context (of which I feel confident), am I doing that which best suits the strengths and giftings God has given me. At the heart of it is the more frightening question: If I am not doing what I should be, what price am I paying for it? What price is the community paying?

This week our little community is spending some time looking at our individual and communal giftings, strengths and weaknesses. Among other things, we are utilitizing the MBTI and Strengths Finder, both of which I have great confidence in. The first is a temperament/personality indicator which I have used personally and in community for more than 10 years with great success, helping people get a general understanding of the dynamics of who they are. The second is a more recent test developed with Gallup to help discover the five core strengths of an individual with resources on how best to apply the knowledge. Together, they can be a very affirming and inspiring combination.

To read more of this post, visit:

St. Francis pursued a life of genuine discipleship. And yet, his example stands in stark contrast for what we so often call discipleship today. Francis embraced a spiritual formation that called him into a community. Community is a popular topic these days, especially as individualism continues to prove itself empty.

Francis, however, was drawn to a very particular kind of community, one of shared participation in the life, suffering and resurrection of Christ. This requires that we realign our lives around entirely new values, often counter to our culture or even our own "self-interest", for it draws us to a community of service to Christ, especially Christ in the other. It means that we do not live our lives for ourselves, but for Christ and for our neighbour. Let me repeat that and truly consider the implications: We do not live our lives for ourselves, but live entirely for Christ and for our neighbour.

So what does this look like? Visit my new site for these important points:

Hey there!

For some strange reason, some of you are still visiting here, my now retired blog.  Perhaps you found it via a search engine, a link or are signed up for the feed.  In fact, we I am still getting more hits here after so many months! So here's the scoop:


Please update your blogrolls, bookmarks, feeds and links.  See at the new site!

Peace,
Jamie Arpin-Ricci