Kids & Winning!

Okay, in reading back to back articles from Freakonomics Blog I am not sure if I want my kids spread apart (which the blog says increases their chances of becoming smarter)becuase according to Freakonomics it will raise their chance of becoming a crack heads (again according to Freakonomics)

I believe this to be a situation where you offically cannot win!

Grace and Penn State

Its been a long time since I have broken out the keyboard and blogged. However, I did a post for my small group and thought it could technically be a blog post. Therefore, I decided to post. Here was my email to my small group.

I don’t know how many of you have been following the Penn State debacle, but it’s been on my mind (probably because the entire sports world has an opinion and won’t stop talking about it). While reading an article about “Occupy Wall Street” I read the comment below, and thought it could be applied to multiple issues, circumstances, and especially Penn State like situations that surround us. The articles stated:

“Contemporary American life has become, in so many ways, a spectator sport. We pass judgment on the lives of others without much self-reflection and often without full knowledge of the complexities involved. Doing so gives us a measure of self-assurance in the moral strength of our own character. Such self-assurance may indeed be self-deception.”

While I by no means wish to lift up, defend, or stand by Penn State or Joe Paterno, I have noticed how many people are ready to pass judgment on them without reflecting on their own lives, or actions they partake in. I think back to my own ignorance in with regards to sex trafficking, (as a side, note check out this video I recently saw in regards to trafficking http://vimeo.com/31795904 ), modern day slavery (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y882AajKo1s&feature=player_embedded even chocolate it compromised), and the many other social issues that I indirectly take part in, or support without realizing the effect the implications of my actions. Where I am aiming to lead in this post, is to a place of self-reflection. We all sin and fall short. While it is easy to pass judgment, lifting ourselves up while putting others down, I have been reminded of the sinner that I am and the grace I have been given. As I understand it, as Christians, we are to share that grace with the world.

My prayer is that I am able to give a little more grace to the world, and by doing so be a light for Christ today.

Highlighter...let's see how this works

Betrayal

May has been a rough month for blogging to say the least. I am a week and a half away from finishing my quarter and things have compounded at work to rival the tornados tearing through the eastern parts of the United States. I have been immensely frustrated for the fact that I have been unable to chart or sort through my feelings and thoughts about the ethical dilemmas going on inside of me as a result of my schooling. I believe part of my frustration resounds in the fact that this quarter has been the most impactful quarters of seminary that I have encountered thus far. As I have recently realized, I haven’t had time to reflect on the changes that have been going on. Are they good? Bad? Do they work out systematically? Let's start to look...

I entered this quarter not anticipating it to be different than any other, however, as I finished the remainder of my reading this weekend I realized that one of the books concluded with three short chapters about pragmatically applying my newly acquired knowledge. This was a breath of fresh air! Most of the scholarly work that I read negates the fact that there is more to the intellectual pursuit of knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Thus, professors in the university system forget about the application of their subjects, which is why the ending of Stassen and Gushee’s book on “Kingdom Ethics” was so refreshing.

Reflecting on the application of ethics in my personal walk and not thinking that I had changed that much I was shocked when I tweeted and facebooked a message about supporting Obama’s position on the middle east. Thinking about the ramifications and comments I would be sure to receive I realized that it is more important to care for the downtrodden and outcast in the world. In the case of the middle east(what I tweeted about), the outcast and the weak are the Palestinians. I know I know…everyone thinks they’re terrorists right? Wrong! A large group of Palestinians are Christians and we are Americans are using our tax dollars for their persecution.

Don’t believe me? Check out some recent statistics! These are the people we are commanded to care for! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that injustice has been done. It is weird that an ethics class, and not a Bible class, has provided me with a biblical outlook to see a world divided between the Kingdom of God and the Worldly Kingdoms. I haven’t realized all the ramifications of the changes taking place inside of me, but I have decided that I would like to pursue the Kingdom of God, no matter where it leads me.

As I hit post I realized that my initial thought for this blog had to do with being unfaithful to my upbringing...didn't turn out as the post I had anticipated it being...oo well

It's your fault!!!

Whose fault? My fault!!! About what? Everything.

Lately, I have been perturbed by multiple facets going on in my life. I am a critical person who has a particular way of doing things. Some might say I am opinionated, while at the same time say that I fail to communicate my beliefs openly, or at all. Justifiably, due to my introverted status, communication is not my strong suit. When I add my genetic makeup with my education, or lack thereof, I try not to spout off until I have had adequate time to think and reflect on a subject. This comes from the belief, and empirical evidence, that I am not always right. All that being said, sometimes the pressure builds and I cannot contain myself. As I have seen in my marriage, the mixture of who I am has enough dunamis (potentiality and actuality) for mischief in turbulent waters.

The mischief and trouble that I get myself into is a result of who I am. My failure to share my beliefs, positions, and speak up leads to resentment. Why? It’s because all too often the less educated, more verbal, more judgmental, and extroverted people don’t shut up (and their positions are not in line with mine ;)) The resentment comes from my own rationalization by telling myself, “it really isn’t that important anyway.” But it is!!! Why? Because I am a competitive person and every position, belief, or stance is really a competition which makes it important…TO ME!

Now when a topic arises that I know a little bit about, or that I feel passionately about, vomit comes out. My need to take a stand, mixed with my resentment from not sharing my beliefs, positions, or frustrations leads to a tsunami affect. Ergo, I sound like a nut job. Needless to say, this is not the way I want to act or be perceived.

In light of my realized problem, I have been trying to speak my mind a little more in order to release some of the pressure that builds from holding everything in. Some might think that this release valve has been helpful. Wrong! I keep getting in the way. My critical characteristics take over and I end up tearing down, being destructive, or sounding like someone who just needs to be right. In essence I fail to see the conversation as communication. It isn’t about being right and wrong (although I still like to think it is).

I have realized that my intention in faith settings is to sharing my positions, ideas, and thoughts ultimately to bring restoration in orthodoxy and orthopraxy to the community. I believe Jesus is onto something when he states blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those who show mercy, bringing grace, while attempting to bring reconciliation, and deliverance from those positions that are in contrast to my own (okay I had to throw that last part in).

All this to say that before I do what I want to do right now I need to ask how my intentions are going to correspond with bring peace, mercy, love, and restoration to the situation.

Now that I am thinking about this blog, I believe it would go great with Rachel Evens “Unity” theme for the last week. I am assuming it would because I have not had time to read any of the posts.

Too Good not to Share

Usually the British accents make me think they are smarter...but the picture posted by Clayboy does it without his accent!

If you would like a prayer of repentance Mr. Lillie gave us a great illustration to go with the picture.

"Father, have mercy on me for the ways I arrogantly want to be right, for the ways I have inappropriately wielded my knowledge and education to attempt to overpower others, for the ways that I have refused to patiently listen to those I disagree with, and for my constant refusal to lovingly walk with those who are different than me. If I have harmed your body, Lord, please forgive me. May your peace rule in my relationships with your people."

I hope to be back to blogging regularly soon!

The Perfect Storm

Cool picture huh? It's real too! This picture was captured by someone in just the right place, at the right time, with the right photo equipment, with knowledge how to use that photo equipment, and with the wherewithal to publish it. Thus, they themselves, whoever they might be, are part of serendipitous particulars of the story that was able to contribute to “the perfect storm.”

The term "the perfect storm" that I have heard three times in the last 24 hours, is not referring to the movie with George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Diane Lane, but rather the exacting situation that these three face. The use has been to describe minuscule events compiling at once to create an unstoppable force. In other terms, the individual particulars are nothing but ripples, it is only when the sum of the forces are applied at once there is a tsunami like affect. Hence, the example of the photo above. If one of the particular item is taken out of the mix, camera wasn’t charged, the photo is never produced as the end product seen above.

The perfect storm references I have heard over the last 24 hours have included the tornados in the south, the movement of evangelical adoption in America, and lastly by a man in the gym describing his life over the last week. While all these references were used in the negative fashion, I wonder if I couldn’t elicit the term as more of a positive force. Not to downplay the gravity of any of the hardships befallen anyone in a perfect storm, but to gain a new perspective.

As I look to the story of Jesus in the Gospels, I find Jesus showing up in the right time under the ideal conditions to create a perfect storm. Jesus is seen as the catalyst that acts or submits to increase the force of the storm. In fact theologians over time have argued this exact point for the spread of the Gospel. If Jesus shows up at any other period in history, under any different circumstances, it is argued that the Gospel and Christianity would not have grown at the rapid rate that it did. Time does not permit to go into all the details, or build my argument, but this isn’t my focus. I want to know how to create a perfect storm in a ministry, church, or community.

Is it even possible to create a perfect storm? Or is a perfect storm just a serendipitous event happening at chance? Jesus’ perfect storm I would argue was orchestrated, but can a finite fallible creature create one? In ministry, church, or community growth and success (we need context for correct definitions) often seems attributed to the right leader in the right place at the right time under the ideal circumstances. If anyone of these is missing, like our picture, the end product doesn’t exist or withers away. All of this is dependent on God and our response… almost if God was orchestrating and we needed to blow our trombone. (FYI the leader could be replaced with the right group) The point being, you can have a willing servant, obedient and faithful, but at some moment things have to start falling into place, and what if they don’t? Does the perfect storm pass by with no one knowing it existed or could have existed? The age old question…If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it…did it really fall?

I think I have an answer...

Context + Ekklesia + Mission and Purpose = Easter

Context! It is all about context. Context gives clarity, understanding, and definitions so that the truest form of communication can take place. This is a lesson I have had to learn time and time again. Context has cost me money, time, effort, attention spans, and ultimately, my failure to provide context has hurt and offended people. Therefore, in light of the upcoming Easter services that will take place around the world, I have started to think about the variety of diverse people that will pour into Churches. With this in mind, and the importance that I have learned about context in the business world, I believe it is even more important to define context within the Ekklesia.

Why use the word ekklesia? Context! Church, people of God, and Christians (all terms that I could have used) are all defined differently, depending on who you ask. The use of Ekklesia…that causes people to pause. They have to think, question, and confirm that the definition that I am using is the correct way that they are interpreting me using it. I will be using the definition of Ekklesia out of its Greek definition, “assembly of called out ones.” (It is made up of two Greek works EK – Out of, and Kaleo – shall be called.” Therefore, it is understood to refer to a certain set of people who come together for a special purpose. The Bible uses this term to refer to a people called out from the rest of the world, to be for God, a witness. Context? Established!

Why is context so important for the Ekklesia? First, millions of diverse people will be pouring into our sanctuaries this weekend. Second, because the Ekklesia gets confused about its purpose/mission. Purpose? Mission? Words that need context!!! The Ekklesia’s purpose and mission are things that are flippantly thrown around within the diverse groups of Christians, who meet in churches, that complrise the Ekklesia. To gain a context for the purpose and mission of the Ekklesia, I will return to the definition of Ekklesia. “A people called out from the rest of the world, TO BE FOR God, a witness.”

Clear as mud? The purpose and mission of the Ekklesia is to be “a people called out from the rest of the world.” This is traditionally understood as the holiness, righteousness, and otherness factor. The reason that the Ekklesia is to be set apart is because they are “to be for God, a witness.” The purpose and mission is “TO BE FOR.” This means that the mission and purpose of the Ekklesia doesn’t necesiarliy have a mission or purpose. Rather they are the conduit for which God witnesses to the world. God has the mission and purpose to witness to the world, and the Ekklesia is the way in which he does it.

How is this done? God gave an example in his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, as the “Son of God” came to establish the Kingdom of God, which ultimately culminates in the cross. Jesus walked in humble obedience. He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but realized his role as a servant. He was so obedient to God, that he ushered in God’s Kingdom, through death on the cross. This whiteness that was wholly set apart from the world, gave a testimony for God’s Kingdom, and is where the purpose and mission of the Ekklesia is found. The Ekklesia is simply an extension of the Kingdom that Jesus ushered in through his inauguration on the cross. This is the message we are to preach to the diverse people coming into our churches this weekend.

To do it…we need context.

Ask and you shall recieve

Donald Miller is asking for more dancing...

This church has responded

I will Surve...won't I?

Survival verses the will of God. It would appear that Jesus made a definitive statement in the cross. Survival is meaningless emptiness outside the will of God. But what is the will of God? I just finished John Howard Yoder's The Politics of Jesus and he says that the will of God is made known in the life and ministry of Jesus, which both center upon the Kingdom of God. Yoder says all of this is pinnacled in the cross. Therefore, in a long round about to asking, is God's will for us to die so that there may be life?

I want to yes...but what about when that death comes in the form of a church? This scenario seems to be happening more and more these days, and it’s a hard reality to deal with! People, congregations, denominations, and so forth often plant churches in the belief that they are in God's will, or at least acting on behalf of it. Therefore, when churches die, or their doors are closed, people are left asking questions. Did we misread God’s plan? Did we fail to stick to his plan? Did we ever really know God’s will/plan? Did God come up with a better plan and decide to scrap the people, families, and community touched by us, the particular church, for another plan? How could God just let us die?

I attend a church where these similar questions were asked regarding our recent pastor. The board and congregation ultimately decided that it was time to cut off that branch within our history, or the pastor decided…not really sure but either way he is no longer present. I bring this up because at one point the congregation and board believed that this pastor was sent from God to lead our flock. Yet, regardless of who decided to cut ties, things didn’t turn out as one would guess (that is if this pastor was God’s plan/will as orignally thought).

This leads me to ask, how often are questions asked regarding God’s will/plan for the church/pastor/individual asked? Are they ever really dealt with? I know that in my case there was internal questioning (I am guessing) by the pastor, the congregation, and the board. However, was this ever done in a praying community really seeking the will of God? How often should this assessment be taken? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly? Yearly? And how would the people respond if the decision came back…"not so well…we are off basis and in order to get right with God we are talking about letting our pastor go or closing the church doors for a while?" I am not in this position, but I am guessing not very well. People would be asking, “Who is this team and how did the access our position? And where does their authority come from?"

As American Christians we have inherited a strong sense of self esteem, individuality, and will to win. We often trust ourselves and fail to question our deepest lying motives. Yet, when it comes to God we are supposed to follow and obey. Our lives are not our own. Therefore, when we address issues on survival verses the will of God we are asking a deeper question. Do we, at our deepest conviction trust God? Do we have the blind unswerving devotion that Christ had when he walked into Jerusalem?

This is the week, if none other, that we should take stalk of our trust in God. We should reflect on the past 40 days of lent. The practice that teaches us to control our desires, passions, and will as Christ did. We learn to model our lives after Christ, who did not believe equality with God was something to be grasped (the control factor) and completely and wholly trusted in God's will...even when it meant death.

Sporotheology

I love sports! I love theology! I love mixing sports and theology. On that note I will link this article from The New Yorker. I will admit that it does'nt get into theology too much, but what can you expect from a New Yorker?

New Life

Jesus said that he came so that we may have life until the full. What Jesus offers through his death and resurrection is a new life. This new life is the full life that Jesus was talking about. Apparantly, CEO of Gravity Defyer, a new shoe company, Alexander Elnekaveh is making a similar claim.

"Our logo is deliberate. Our customers feel like they are getting the beginning of a new life when they try our shoes. We are not embarrassed by it."

Elnekaveh doesn't use a cross to symbolize the new life his. His symbol is a little more ....well you see.

Are you afraid of the Gospel and Church? So much so that you need to carry firearms to Church? Is the suffering servant image of following Christ's command to follow him to the cross to weighty?

Truth be told it should scare you. Suffering and servanthood often go hand in hand when we take on Christ’s call to minister to our brothers and sisters, renounce the lordship we hold over our life, and abandon our earthly security for the sake of the Gospel. However, these are not the costly and painful things that we have to worry about. It is the antagonism of the world's response to the threat of the suffering servant. Jesus put the powers of this world on their heels (in a meticulous way)and it is what we are called to do too. This call is not forced. Jesus reitereated free choice and foretold of the cost required to follow him, he continually told the diciples the cost of embarking on his path...will we acknowledge what we signed up for?

Casey at the Bat

Casey at the Bat. The classic cartoon that parents show to their kids to teach about the importance of making the most out of every opportunity. The audience sees Casey with so much potential, so much promise, and yet…he never came through. He squandered the opportunities set before him. He is arrogant, prideful, and overconfident. So much so that he watches two perfect pitches go by while reading the newspaper. Casey had the opportunity to be great, to fulfill his purpose, and become one of the greatest stories in baseball. Casey had the opportunity that most people wait their entire life for. Two outs, bases loaded, and the chance to win the game and become the hero. If you know the story or watch the clip, then you know the result…he, and his team, lose the game.

This last week I felt like Casey. I had to opportunity to do what I have been training to do. The circumstances were set. The stars had aligned and I was called to the plate…for Christ that is. The first pitch…I was coming back from lunch (pulling through the parking lot) and I saw a homeless man, his name is Ed{I met him two weeks ago}, with a sign asking for money. As the pious priest in the story of the Good Samaritan…I quickly passed by. I was running late….excuse. As I drove away the story of the Samaritan popped into my head…much like the priest and the beaten man…I knew that the beaten (whether physical or mentally) had seen me…and I failed to act…STRIKE ONE.

Strike two came a couple days later while I was failing to engage in the act of loving my wife. The excuse, much like Casey, the time for living out my calling wasn’t yet. I figured, like I always do, there would be another opportunity to be the person that Christ has called me to be. I figured I still had another pitch coming…besides, as always, I was right in the argument, and therefore, I would wait for the next pitch to take action and represent Christ the way he has called me too. Then I heard the umpire call…STRIKE TWO.

So now I stand with two strikes ready to play ball…I am ready now…the game is on the line. My team needs me…as the pitch winds up the thought crosses my mind…will I end up like Casey?

Hot Cross Buns...or Hot Topics

In a blog I started, finished, and then had my Mac laptop freeze on me so I was unable to post, I discussed how people who give Christianity a bad name really frustrate me. Well these people are back in the news (as always) and not letting up on the fight to give Christianity a worse name. Here is a video that was linked to another blog yesterday that I couldn’t get out of my mind.

As I cringed, blood curdling and boiling at the same time, I wanted to hide and irradiate him from being synonymous with Christianity and the Church. As this was not possibility, what is done is done, YouTube will keep this video available until the ends of the ages. (Side note- I am thinking about how the digital age has helped St. Peter, he no longer needs to keep records of rights or wrongs in his book, he just hyperlinks YouTube clips, Facebook photos, comments and the rest). I moved on in my day, rationalizing with myself what’s done is done. Hoping next time someone speaks they show a little more humbleness, meekness, and love. I mean these are only the attributes that Jesus teaches about in the Sermon on the Mount and calls us to partake in as ambassadors for his Kingdom.

This morning the video was almost out of my head when an article in The Christian Post regarding Joel Osteen’s Upcoming San Jose Visit brought it screaming back to the forefront. However, as I read the article, particularly Joel’s comments, I realized that Joel, as well as the young man in the clip above, isn’t necessarily trying to be the arrogant bigot that the world sees him as(maybe that is harsh), but rather they really believe that they are speaking is the Truth and God has called them to preach it. Where did they get this truth that they so feel so compelled to preach? Their church, their community, and their mentors that helped raise and shape them into the people that they are today. They were bred into a societal view which was still clinging to a modern understanding of enlightenment.

The problem…we live in a postmodern (possibly post postmodern) world. Things are not as black and white as we once thought. The Enlightenment Project didn’t turn out as we once anticipated. We are left with the reality that we are a particular people living at a particular time. I am not sure we can know timeless truths that we once believed we could. I am not saying that there aren’t timeless truths, but the way we can interact/know them is limited.

Therefore, in light of our misconception I am offering a new way to address the Joel Osteen’s and homosexuals in the world…as broken individuals who, like all of us, are offered God’s grace. We are all sinners and fall short…or at least some theologians think so. I believe that if our starting point is a correct interpretation of ourselves we cannot help but give grace to others. It is when our teachers and community stress the work of Christ and how he has lifted us out of our filth that we can see the long way that Christ has brought us. I believe when the starting place is what Christ has done for us that we start to automatically pick up those kingdom traits that we find in the Sermon on the Mount.

This pattern of thinking should be essential to the forming community known as the Church and the way of disciples people that we are raising up under the guise of Kingdom ambassadors. It should yield a product or model ,as the one I will propose, for dealing with issues like the one Joel and our young friend are so passionate about. I think it would be leading people into the Church instead of away (or at least to talk with).

The starting point for my model is an apology. Whenever there is bad blood, miscommunication, or tension with my wife I find this the best place to start. An apology says that I care more about you than the issue at hand, and I want to work with you to restore our relationship. Our apology should go out to the LGBT community, chosen from the issue above but could go out to any hot topic group, and say that we have failed to like up as the representatives that God has called us to be. In this case, the Church could easily say that we have failed to treat the LGBT as Jesus commanded in the Sermon on the Mount and by doing so have failed to love you as Christ loves you. We may not be forgiven right away, but I believe that we would catch them off guard enough to at least let them hear us out.

The second step, is acknowledging that we don’t know everything(tough step). We could possibly highlight that we, the Church, have been wrong before (Galileo, Slavery, Women’s suffrage…and down the line). By apologizing, acknowledging that we don’t know everything , and admitting that we could be wrong would open a door to further be heard/communicate…possibly evangelise…the method works at least for my wife.

The third step, is to hear their point of view. We cannot just listen and respond. We need to hear and understand their view. Repeat their view in their words to them. Possibly to know it better than they do. To acknowledge that we have heard them and see them as people who God wants to have a relationship with.

It is only after all of this that we can share our position. Our position coming from a position that shares…this is what tradition has taught me. This is what is accepted by my community. Knowing verses and looking at them together within context is key. “Because the Bible tells me so!” Is not an answer.

We have a long way to go.

Jesus, I am your Father!

For the last two months I have meeting with a group of teens on Sunday morning. These teens are not your normal teens. They love reading and collecting books. To be honest I wish that I was more like them in high school. If I only knew that it paid to be smart, push yourself, and not cheat or skate by. Over these last two months I would say that science fiction has come up in almost everyone of our meeting. The last three weeks have led me to start to relate the Bible, our faith, and our reading/interpretation of the Bible to Star Wars (it's the only sci-fi back ground I have). I was super excited to read to read James McGrath blog this morning linking me to a church in Australia that has befun having sci-fi based services. Maybe it the move of the future...

John and the Heavier things...

Pornography is an epidemic and getting worse Little is being done and I am guessing that it is because of stats like these:

• Every second, 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography and $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
• The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink
• There are 4.2 million pornographic websites, which is 12% of all the websites on the internet
• Every day there are 68 million (25% of the total) search engine requests for pornographic terms
• 42.7% of internet users view porn
• The average age of first exposure to pornography is 11 years old and 80% of 15-17 year olds have had multiple hard-core exposure
• The 35-49 age group is the largest consumer of internet pornography
• 47% of Christians say that pornography is a major problem in the home
• 17% of women struggle with pornography addiction and 70% of women keep their cyber activities secret
• The USA produces 89% of all homographic web pages (Germany are the next biggest producer, producing 4% of all pornographic web pages)

Our culture oozes with sex and sensuality. While porn statistics are commonly, the effects of porn on individuals, marriage, the family and the community are rarer. With reports like the following There are endless amounts of negative affects of porn. One I was shocked over a recently forwarded a link by XXXChurch where they gave a quick snippet of John Mayer’s interview with Playboy. In this interview John discusses his porn addiction and how he would ultimately rather view porn verses be with a real person. He talks about staying in bed all day and how people are late to work because they need one more fix.

I can't help but want to ask John if he realizes the addiction he has? Does it bother him? Does he even care that he has lost relationships over his obsession? Like all drugs...they get harder and more frequent with time and usage. The gateway of porn can be disastrous and yet in this interview the interviewer from PB does not seem to be bothered by John's eccentric taste. And it is with all these negative consequences to porn I am left wondering why the temptation is still there.

Please Model our Church after Drug Dealers

Most people who know me, know that I don’t drink coffee. In fact, when people ask me if I would like a cup of coffee I often respond, “I don’t do drugs!” Some people smile, others are confused, and others have heard me say this enough to butt in and say it for me while rolling their eyes. Part of my disgust for coffee is the taste, but the real issue I have is shelling out $4 to $5 for a drink. Call me a cheap skate but to spend $1,116 a year on a drink is ridiculous (5 days a week X 4.50 a day). This is before you add in the accessories, complementing items, spouses drink, gift cards, and other miscellaneous items that people buy at these modern day crack houses. I use the term crack house because crack houses are where addicts congregate to get high. Coffee, like crack, is a highly addictive drug that changes the mood and being of a person. Just ask an addict if he hasn’t had his morning coffee fix. And despite all of this I still want to model our churches after these crack houses.

You are probably asking why? It has to deal with the drug king pin Howard Schultz(Starbucks CEO). Recently, Schultz gave an interview to NPR regarding his new book Onward: How Starbucks Fought For Its Life Without Losing Its Soul. The title alone was to catch my attention, but NPR titled their interview “Starbucks CEO: Can You ‘Get Big and Stay Small’?” These two titles ripped my attention from what I was doing (solid marketing). As I see it, these two questions could be posed to the Church. On the larger scale: Has Christendom lost its soul by becoming Christendom? Is Christendom fighting to retain its soul amongst the power it holds? To a smaller scale: What is the correct size for a church? Can a church turn into a mega church without affect? Can a mega church stay small and committed to its core ideals?

Indirectly, I have been questioning these two themes over the last couple years (power and influence verses Christ's calling). Arguments can be made for both sides and I would argue that both are pretty convincing. However, as I read Schultz interview he brought to the forefront the issues that arise when growth happens. Values, core ideas, principles, and mission statements can be lost when power and prestige are given. What makes a company/church succeed at a smaller level can easily be lost. It takes a continual commitment to hold fast and/or return what made you great. I can’t help but see this delimma in the church today. Listen to his comment and ask yourself if it doesn’t relate to something else within the church:


“Pouring espresso is an art, one that requires the barista to care about the quality of the beverage. If the barista only goes through the motions, if he or she does not care and produces an inferior espresso that is too weak or too bitter, then Starbucks has lost the essence of what we set out to do 40 years ago: inspire the human spirit. I realize this is a lofty mission for a cup of coffee, but this is what merchants do. We take the ordinary — a shoe, a knife — and give it new life, believ¬ing that what we create has the potential to touch others' lives because it touched ours. Starbucks has always been about so much more than coffee. But without great coffee, we have no reason to exist.”

WOW!!! How many people in culture, let alone the church, talk with this much passion and conviction? As the Church, called to make disciples, do we put this kind of love and attention into people? Do we see the ordinary and give it life? Do we see every moment as the potential to touch others’ lives because someone has touched ours? Do we seek to create much more than followers or a church, but true passionate disciples for Christ? Do we believe that without this purpose that we have no other reason to exist?

Schultz in his belief that Starbucks had changed from who they set out to be did something drastic. In order to gain perspective and show the corporation how serious he was to holding to their mission statement and passion, he shut the company down for 3 ½ hours. The estimated loss was 6 million dollars in revenue. The media, his company, competitors, and the team around him all questioned his decision. And yet in the midst of all the doubt and negative impacts he believed that Starbucks “had to restore the passion and the commitment that everyone at Starbucks needed to have for our customers. Doing so meant taking a step back before we could take many steps forward.”

Later, when asked about his decision he gave this response:

“There are moments in our lives when we summon the courage to make choices that go against reason, against common sense and the wise counsel of people we trust. But we lean forward nonetheless because, despite all risks and rational argument, we believe that the path we are choosing is the right and best thing to do. We refuse to be bystanders, even if we do not know exactly where our actions will lead. This is the kind of passionate conviction that sparks romances, wins battles, and drives people to pursue dreams others wouldn't dare. Belief in ourselves and in what is right catapults us over hurdles, and our lives unfold. ‘Life is a sum of all your choices,’ wrote Albert Camus. Large or small, our actions forge our futures, hopefully inspiring others along the way.”


If the Church answered the questions I listed above honestly I think that they would respond negatively. We don’t have the passion, love, and belief to endlessly pour into people. We don’t believe that our purpose really matters. We don’t strive for excellence in all that we do. We look at the drastic steps that we need to take to get us on track and think it is too difficult or unpractical. We look at Jesus’ commands on the Sermon on the Mount and say "not possible. It would be easier to lose 6 million dollars." Schultz responds to us “acting ethically (and purposefully), even if it costs more” is what we are called to do.

It's the tall order that has been given. Our job is pour out our lives as it has been modled for us, no matter the cost.

Mission Impossible

Last night as I was sitting in bed I pulled up my Google reader… only to find 88 articles. Last week was a busy week, Fresno to Yuba City to Menlo Park to Bakersfield to San Jose to Oakland and back home. I logged about 1500 miles and didn’t have much time to catch up what was going on in the blogosphere. As I quickly flipped through the blogs, only clicking on those titles that grabbed my attention, I kept asking myself, when do these people find the time to blog? By the time I got to bed I was exhausted. As I came into work this morning I flicked open my Google reader (out of habit)…24 more posts…What on God’s green earth do people do? Really, does anybody do anything anymore or do they just blog?

Feeling insignificant feeding my small blogger complex I thought to myself, “I should blog and contribute to the endless amount of garbage on the web.” But what to blog?

Blogging/writing continually is like Mission Impossible for me. My mission which I have chosen to accept, is not to endlessly pump out my thoughts, but to sort through them in a meaningful way so that I can process the endless loads of crap that I take in. What I have been working through is Stassen and Gushee’s book, Kingdom Ethics. Stassen and Gushee build a Christian Ethic on Jesus’ largest block of teachings in The Sermon on the Mount. As I set off to embark processing and synthesizing my reading of their work I was looking forward to linking in Rachel Even blog Jesus, The Impossible Mentor , and yesterday’s sermon by Humberto Reyes The Mission Impossible, Loving One’s Enemies (Matt 5:43-48).

These three sources posed a question to me, how serious do I, or should I take Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mont? My conclusion, after 250 pages of reading, Yoder’s Politics of Jesus, Rachel’s reflective blog, and Humberto’s sermon… I should be taking it PRETTY GOSH DARN SERIOUS. With my solid commitment to challenge myself, and without the motivation to blog through my thoughts, I decided to work through my newly found vigor with my wife. As chance would happen, an opportunity had presented itself where I could help my wife work through an issue of loving a difficult person. As I “helped” her discern her actions I soon found myself giving a pious mini sermon on exactly how she was supposed to follow Jesus’ teachings and apply what we had learned that day.

I should have stopped in the middle of my beautiful mini sermon to my wife, but I was on a roll. I was pulling in my reading from class, the sermon we heard that morning, our Bible study, and lastly what I have been learning in Revelation. It was all so brilliantly systematic and solid doctrinally. Everything came together as if I was being led by the Holy Spirit. As I sat in bed patting myself on the back for being the wonderful spiritual leader of our family that I am, I dozed off to sleep in my pious bliss. My last thought was, “God, I am so thankful you made me so smart and that you are tying everything I am learning together so well…” I wish the story could have ended here, however, a couple hours later my alarm signaled the start of my day.

The alarm really signaled that I was off to the races. The rubber was about to hit the road. It wasn’t that long till I was into my day and I realized that my sermon last night was impractical. How could Jesus really expect me to love people who were trying to steal from my company? Had Jesus really dealt with the inspectors that I have to deal with? I instantly started to rationalize and chip away at Jesus teachings. I imagine that I am not the first person to do this. The rationalization process makes Jesus teaching easy…palatable. I mean he couldn’t really want me to wash my enemies feet as he washed Judas’s right?

It all seems to paradoxal, radical, and inconceivable. Then again…if it was easy everyone would be doing it.

Hot Press...not really

I don’t know what the big deal is. I have a bunch of these; some signed by Jesus and others by scattered apostles—I couldn’t get Judas’ signature for some reason; he would hang out with us!

Eisegesis

This is what I call eisegesis...




"WE consider this..." Mark are you the judge, jury, and executioner?

I believe that Mark is speaking out against the recent statistics that continue to come out regarding young men, adolescents, and boys. However, to view men in the way Mark does is very patriarchal and authoritative. The question that Christians must ask, is this biblical? What picture do we observe in Genesis, in Song of Songs, and how does that relate to the marital picture that Jesus and Paul depict?

A believe that it is a little more egalitarian while holding the heart of a servant. When polled I believe that this is much more difficult than being the macho bread winner of the family that Mark starts to paint.

Dying mean Life...

Yesterday, I shared about how I felt that part of my old self has been dying. As I was reflecting on this past week's sermon I was struck that part of the process of the old self dying has to do with baptism and recieving the Holy Spirit. I felt that my reflection (written to my small group) was worth sharing.

In light of yesterday's point I felt like this would be a solid follow up. This post is grounded in the fact that our God is a God of action. Sermons today cannot leave congregations without what it means for their daily encounter with Christ and the world. Part of my critique is an attempt to put to words what "God with us on our journey means."

For those of you who missed Sunday, guest speaker Daniel Chung was back sharing with a message out of Exodus 17. In Exodus 17 we find the Israelites in the wilderness between coming out of the Red Sea and Sinai. Daniel discussed how the Israelites, like us, are often in the in-between places in life. His most concrete example was that we are between the saving grace that God has given us by pulling us out of slavery (us = slaves to sin, Israel = slaves to Egypt), washing us (us = baptism, Israel =the red sea) and the future promises (us = eternal life, Israel = promised land).

Daniel’s sermon mostly dealt with Israel’s question, “Is God really with us? Or has he led us out here to die in the desert?” By the end of the sermon Daniel answered the question affirmatively that YES!!! God is with us and was with the Israelites even through the tough times. He answered this question affirmably by showing that the Israelites acknowledged God’s presence when the water flowed from the rock. While I agree with Daniel that God is with us, I believe he missed an opportunity to share what this means for us today.

As we have learned, and Daniel even touched on, there are many symbols and references in the Bible that when given, draw us back to previous stories and meanings. As Steve as shared sometimes these symbols/references come in the form of standing stones, names, places, etc. What I want focus on is the image of the water coming out of the rock, and what it means for God to be present in the image of water.

If you go back and re-read Exodus 17 the picture that Moses paints is one where he (Moses) goes out to look for God standing on a rock. It is because God is standing on the rock that Moses knows which rock he is to strike with his staff. Upon striking the rock water flows forth. When this mini narrative is viewed in light of the rest of the Scriptures a couple things jump out that have implications for us today.

First, the image that is used again and again throughout Scripture for the Holy Spirit is water. (Jer 2:13. John 7:37-39, Acts 2:33, Luke 3:16, Joel and many more). Daniel indirectly referenced this by reading John 4 which depicts the story of the Samaritan Woman. In the story of the Samaritan woman Jesus offers her spiritual water which he says will quench her thirst. This spiritual water is the Holy Spirit which Jesus again promises in Acts 1:8 and is poured out in Chapter 2.

Even more interesting is the image or the water coming out of the rock, which was struck, while God was standing on top of it. What does it look like? God standing upon Jesus shoulders while Jesus is being struck for our iniquities and the Holy Spirit flowing from him… I could break down all the symbols and references that lead me to this conclusion but Paul does it for me in 1st Corinthians 10:

1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

So what does this mean for us today? The spiritual water which the Israelites drank we too can drink. In Acts 2:38 Peter says “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Further implications, we are given the holy water, the holy spirit, which is the way the world might know that God is present in our lives. We are living ambassadors living as representatives sent to the world. The world will know Christ through us.

Over the next 10 weeks I hope I will be finding time to define what those actions as Christ's ambassadors looks like.

Forward: I think The Politics of Jesus is messing me up.

Sports gods

I would say that over the last year I have become less and less attached to sports. Don't get me wrong I enjoy sports, but I have recently noticed that they are taking a lesser role in my life. I have refused tickets (even let them go to waste, which is sacrilegious where I come from), turned down the opportunity for Spring Training(this was a biggy), backed out of my fantasy leagues, said "no" to playing softball in a couple different leagues, and my time spent on the golf course has been drastically reduced in the last 2 years. I don't say this to pat myself on the back, but to acknowledge that I am changing...is the old self is really dying?

What made me really take stock of the changes in my life was an article I read this morning in Sports Illustrated. The SI writer was comparing different kinds of sports fans where he ultimately labeled soccer fans the truest most hardcore fans. He posted a story and praised a group of friends for taking their gunned down friend (in a coffin) to one last soccer match. In the article that the SI writer linked was another original article.

To be honest, I have to admit that I followed the trail of news because in the second article it stated that the pictures were disturbing. I wondered what kind of pictures could be disturbing if the two lead in articles were so light hearted and praise worthy. The picture the followed was very disturbing. I found a web site in Spanish were a mom in agony cried out holding her bloody lifeless son.

Who would look at this picture and read this story to write, "The spill-a-40oz-on-the-sidewalk-for-fallen-homeboy has been replaced, bitches"??? As I started to think about the writer of these words I found myself answering, a person who doesn't look at the loss of human life, but at the actions of a couple friends trying to give their friend one last hurrah. The writer who places sports above all else...creating an idol in something that is meant to be enjoyed. The only reason that this boy's death made the news is because his friends stepped out and did something radical. They took a coffin to a soccer match!!! It wasn't because this boy was gunned down for no reason, it wasn't because the authorities had still not found the killers, it was strictly because these friends had paid tribute to the sports god of soccer.

What have we made sports into? Is it a distraction to what is really going on in the world? Do we purposly avoid the death, poverty, pain, and hardship by keeping ourselves so busy with entertainment? As I am sitting here finishing this blog I just recieved a text asking if I wanted to go to opening day. Free tickets...right behind home plate...what does it mean to not let sports become your idol while engaging the pain of the world?

Was Jesus serious?

I was sitting in Barnes and Nobles yesterday when I read this,

“…Jubilee acts are not simply to be expected in the future, they are to be given as a concrete expression by the people of God in the present…what had been expected in the future can now be experienced in the present because we are now living in the new age,… characterized by Jubilee activity in the believers.”

WOW!!! I have been preaching the Kingdom of God can start in this life for a while now, but does that include the Jubilee? I would say that I have started to become a little more liberal in my theology, but not this liberal. Yet, I found myself asking, “what would it look life if the church, the new Israel, took God’s words about practicing the year of jubilee to heart?

I know that at this point my blog could tail spin in a variety of different directions and/or opinions, but what if someone tried living the Jubilee year in 2011? Where and how would one start? Would 6 years of preparation be needed? As I thought about this a light bulb went off. A new movement, started by Morgan Spurlock with his documentary Super Size Me, has moved into the theological world. That is, documenting trying a hypothesis out. A.J. Jacobs wrote about his experience of living biblically for one year. Most recently this trend is being continued by Rachel Held Evans by taking Jacobs principal of living biblically for one year, but for woman. During his book Jacobs shares his struggles with abiding by all the Biblical rules as he attempts to suceed with one year of biblical living. In the end, through submission he acknowledges how the Sabbath (one of the most difficult items of biblical living for him) turns out to be a blessing. I know from reading Evan’s blog that she is facing her own struggles.

From reading Jacobs, and assuming the constraints from Evans, I am not expecting them to incorporate an entire year to Jubilee. How could they? Living biblically for one year is tough enough. Let alone the Jubilee year only comes along once every seven years. Therefore, I had an idea. A book chronicling one year in which someone, probably not me, lives out the Jubilee year.

Before you think I am off my rocker and think the Jubilee year was only for ancient Israel I challenge you to read John Howard Yoder’s book The Politics of Jesus. In this book, particularly chapter 3, Yoder makes a pretty convincing argument that Jesus announced a time of Jubilee, and this announcement of the Jubilee is what constitutes the Kingdom of God. When I combine Yoder’s beliefs with my own, which the Kingdom of God is at hand, right now, today…I run into problems. The Jubilee year is impractical. We don’t have records of the Jews actually enacting it so why should I. In fact one of the chief Pharisees Hillel found a way around it. He created something called the prosboul. Why? Because the Jubilee year is impractical and un real!! But does all that really mean that it is not what Jesus called us to? Forgiving debtors...sins and monetary items?

As I trailed off in these thoughts and implications I came across another blog. I realized that I often like to read what Jesus said through my personal lens. I like to take the hard stuff Jesus says and read through a spirituality lens. I don’t want to read it as what it means in the here and now. This all leads me to ask what would it mean for me (or someone out there) to live a year in the year of the Lord, the year of Jubilee? What would be year and life look like by leaving the soil fallow, the remission of debts, the liberation of slaves, and returning to each individual what is their family’s property? How would I even start the last one? Return my home to the previous owner, the original landowner, the Native Americans, and if I could not decide whom the land/home properly belonged to would I leave it vacant for whoever wanted it?

This is one of those times when the followers of Jesus said…his teachings are too hard and left him.

Bigger than God's Love?

Bell's book is over something much bigger than God's love, and if it really wins out. Or at least for Christendom that surrounds it. You may be asking what could be more important than God's love, grace, and its ramifications? I don’t’ think much because it deals with our current and eternal forecast as we interact in the day to day. Indirectly, Bell highlights a problem that is sifting beneath the sands of Christianity in America. As anyone up to date on Bell Gate, you will know that all you have to do is Google Rob Bell + controversy and you will be linked to million of opinionated posts. Actually, if you don't have an opinion and have not blogged about it you might as well be using a dial up modem over the phone line.

So what is going on? Ironically much of what Jesus preached against. Power, control, orthodoxy, and the pride that comes with the ego of being right. This all comes at a cost. Sadly Christians are fighting Christians and the whole world is watching(there will be a blog about this upcoming, if my Mac didn't freeze it would have been over the airwaves already…who says Macs don’t freeze?). What kind of message are we sending to the world? We are called to be lamp stands fueled by the Holy Spirit!!! Unfortunately the world looks at the church and doesn't see much difference from secular. We have failed to do what we have been commanded to do, and if we don't do something soon I believe our lamp stand with be snuffed out (Read Rev 2-3).

I have shared some dreams with some friends about somehow uniting the churches in my area, but on a larger scale the churches throughout the world to ultimately become that catholic apostolic church shown in Acts. Disheartened, Bell brings to light of issues within the church, and it isn't if Love Wins, it is the fact that we (Christians) cannot enter into debate about our different beliefs while acknowledging that we both love and serve Christ. It appears to be getting worse. Just read about what is shifting below the sands...

For you more contemporary readers Rachel
For you older folks Roger

I suggest reading both as you prepare your heart for preparing to be willing to enter into the debate with love for your enemy…even if that person is a fellow disciple of Christ.

Want Free Books...I do!!

If you are interested in a free book give away check out Christian Focus Booknotes to find out how to win. I found them through the top 50 biblioblogs and am always interested in free reading material

Slow Boat

The seminary boat that I am traveling on is moving so slow that I often think the current is moving me backwards. Two nights ago I got into a conversation about my role and purpose of seminary as it relates to my local minister’s license (I have applied and might not get it according to this XYZ). It appeared to my conversyee that there were two main options for seminary graduates while working as a local minister. One being a pastor and the other being a theologian (which can be broken down into a variety of formats. I may inter change theologian with professor). I didn’t and don’t see myself as either and yet I wanted to answer both. Let me explain:

I don’t believe that a pastor can be a pastor without being a teacher. Likewise, a theologian/professor of religion (Christianity in particular) cannot be a theologian/professor without being a pastor. The juxtaposition of the two vocations are often contrasted against each other(when they are seperated one or both dies). However instead of putting them in opposition or in two different career paths I believe that they belong side by side. They are like peas and carrots, chips and dip, Bonnie and Clyde, they are two half’s that make a whole. The scale might be tipped by a couple peas or carrots in one direction or the other, but both are needed to complete the meal. All too often seminaries forget that they are preparing men and women for the mission to give lifeblood to their congregations. Seminaries create spiritual leaders. The purpose of seminary is to lay a solid foundation needed to spring these spiritual leaders into the world. The problem is that seminaries often focus on preparing scholars, which is essential to the trade of pastorship, but is secondary to its primary mission of preparing new disciples of Jesus.

As I am sitting and thinking about my purpose in school, I am thinking of my decision to go to Fuller. I am realizing that I chose it because it was the most respectable, well known, and biblically sound seminary around the area in which I reside. I remember my first preview day. The professors touted themselves as belonging to the Harvard of Theology (even though Harvard has their own school of divinity) due to being the most published seminary in the world. As I remember sitting in my seat I got really excited. Why? Because I had gone to a small private school without the notoriety that I desired. The only cool thing about my alma matar was the location. In fact I steered away from mentioning my school’s name because no one knew it. It wasn’t a USD, UCSD, or SDSU…it was the other SD university. When people played the guessing game and couldn’t come up with the answer I had to tell them. There response… a polite puzzled look. My reply, “don’t worry, not many people have heard about it.”

What I find ironic about my desire to obtain an elite degree from the prestigious university to adorn my office is that I want to become one of the "first of these..." so that I can show I am worth something (people today are snobs who don’t care much or give much attention to a project manager from the construction world). What is ironic is the degree I am seeking is one which is supposed to be teaching me to be a servant leader...one of the least of these.

My current diploma is lost, packed away, or under some boxes in my office I am realizing that despite myself conscious feeling towards the name on my degree, He has given me worth and named me worth. God’s Kingdom, which Jesus displayed so uniquely, is very different from the kingdoms currently occupying the area in which I live. My purpose in seminary is to learn how to become a better server, lover, and evangelist for the one true God.

So why am I on this slow boat? What is my role with my local minister's license? I couldn't give you a certain answer but right now I am just trying to figure out how to become one of the least of these while loving, serving, and sharing about this crazy guy named Jesus. Sorry if I cannot differentiate between theolgian and pastor like Rob Bell. My world view only allows me to see an enmeshed view of pastor and teaher/theolgian.

God Speaks...but through Veggies?

I have been in a dilemma lately. To go to School or Not go to School? That is the question. Along with, what am I doing at school? These questions become more haunting for both me and my wife as I continue to make high priced investments in my mind. Along with these investments that are affecting the family portfolio I have been realizing that more and more time is flying by. My children are becoming little people. I sign my daughter up for kindergarten today and my son went to the bathroom all by himself last night (WOOT WOOT!). These two little events have sent ripples across my brain waves. I am getting older, my children are growing up, school takes up a lot of time, and at this pace I won't be done for another 4 1/2 years. I have been trying to figure out if I should take on more of a work load with school to bang it out so that I can have more time with my children or if I should stay on the path that I am on. In the midst of this decision I have this tugging at my heart for ministry. I feel that I should be doing something more but what?

As of recently our church has been going through a transition process. As one seeking to become a local minister I don't know what my role in all of that is. Should I take on a more decisive role or simply remain in the passive role that I am in??? I am a deliberator by skill set...so I ask a lot of questions with not a lot of answers. I say this because in both instances life seems to be passing me by as I observe everyone else in motion.

I can't decide if I should take on a bigger load in school thus letting the church suffer (not saying I can do much help, but we appear to be in dire straights) and my family time dwindle. OR should I take on more of a role at church but taking the long route with school. I am not sure how my family fits into this situation but I am assuming as I give more time in other places something must suffer. I don’t want it to be my family, but they often get the brunt end of the deal.

As I having be pushing of any decisions...hoping for a sign from God my daughter came up to me with a leprechaun hat and orange beard that she made at school and asked if I knew about St. Patrick's Day. As I was responding to her I was reminded of this Veggie Tale video which gives a fresh take on the life of Saint Patrick.


I might be crazy but I feel like Veggies are talking to me about God…or maybe it is my daughter…

Make Me a Billion and 1

As I start my second day of blogging I am met with another powerful blog post on Christianity Today. (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/marchweb-only/bloggers.html /Note to self, learn how to hyperlink directly into blog) The argument is made, as you can tell from the title, that not many of us should presume to be bloggers, and just because we can, doesn't mean that we should. As far as I can tell this is starting to be a trended subject between well established scholars and writers. Please see James K.A. Smith's blog for March 12th Fors Clavigera: Writing (and) Theology: "There's no dearth of publishing in Christian theology. To the contrary, there has been an expanding universe of theological publishers chur...". As people become more opinionated and we move further away from modernity I can see the educated elite only becoming more frustrated and isolated. Despite me starting my own blog I agree with them. How many times can I read another take on Rob Bell's new book Love Wins? I just pulled up my Google reader and there are another 10 posts having to do with Bell. Charlie Sheen has to be pissed off wondering how he can pull off crazier stunts to get back into the lime light. One would think that professing to drink Tiger's Blood would keep him in the news.

It is upon this note that I take a stand for my blog. I don't want to be the center of attention like Bell or Sheen. It is more of a journal that I will be writing (when possible) to amuse myself...working out what I believe while trying to tie my beliefs to action. Ultimately, does what I believe really matter or affect the way I live and interact within the world?

As I am now wrestling with how to go about this, I have realized that when my beliefs call me to action I avoid it. Particularly when it comes to confrontation!!! How do I espouse my beliefs without stepping on people’s toes...? I enjoy being controversial, rebellious, and saying obscene things...race, religion, sex, patriarchal tendencies...all easy. However, when it comes to the way a Sunday service should ran, relationship advice, or challenging someone's personal walk/life choices I get silent. I see the issues as critical issues that must be addressed…but I don’t know how to do it in love.

I don’t want to be a Mark Driscoll where I am right and everyone else is wrong. I don’t want to be John Piper proclaiming that it is my way or the highway, and if you’re not on my highway you are burning in hell with the rest of the non-elected people. (Please don’t be offended not all Calvinists are bad) To build on this problem, as my wife constantly reminds me…I am socially awkward. So what am I to do?

I have to build trust, be vulnerable, and show that at the heart of it I love him, her, or the organization even if they choose the latter. All tough things tough for men…especially me. In order to accomplish this I am going to implement small actions in my day which force me to reveal vulnerability, grace, love, and trust. The number one person to start with (or that comes to mind as I am blogging) is my wife. I need to call her but all I can do is come up with ways to procrastinate from making the call.


All Kinds of Men Stuggle...at least we are trying

Stepping into the Great Unknown

There are many reasons I have not started blogging. Like using an Apple computer or owning an IPod (instead of just another mp3 player) I desired to rebel against the social movement. I have hoped all three of these items would go out of style and die before I had to drink the apple Kool-Aid and start revealing my life on the internet. Unfortunately and to no avail, about a year ago my mp3 player died and my sister gave me her old IPod. I fell in love with it as I started running periodically. I actually started running more once I had an IPod. Then this last Christmas I ended up with an Apple laptop. I despised who I was becoming because I was increasingly falling in love with overpriced Apple products. By no means am I propaganding for Apple. Rather I am simply hoping that blogging becomes one of these I despised items that I now love.

Part of the reason that I have avoided blogging is because I am self conscious about my poor writing skills. To thrust the dagger a little deeper I HATE BAD WRITTING! I believe that it is for this reason that I avoid writing at all costs. It is the black plague and I am Mary Lennox. With this in mind I have been confronted with the fact that I do a lot of reading but no integrating what I read. I was confronted by this first by Peter Rollins in his short video

I Deny the Resurrection from Peter Rollins on Vimeo.

and then by Will Willimon in his book "Why Jesus?" and then lastly this morning in Clille's blog Ministry, Theology, Reflections: Overcoming Writer's Block. The confrontation of the fact that I am in information dumpster. I read, read, and then read some more. I get all this information and endlessly keep dumping. I realized that of late I am not interacting with what I am reading and it just passes through me. Furthermore, as Clille said what I read "doesn't translate...to articulated thought" or into action. My hope is that this blog is an outlet for what I encounter and in turn process.

So with that...I am stepping off the cliff into blogosphere...