Failure...

can actually be kind of funny. Actually very funny.

Click here.

Tax rebates? Maybe, but then there's this...

Click here.

(wink wink, thanks Tyler)

Some thoughts on calling

Since when did calling ever equate with a paycheck?

It's a question I've been pondering some time now.

Isn't it odd that most people that talk about calling as far as churches go are the ones that are getting paid by the church? Even when they start talking to others about 'calling' it's often in regard to ministry or church vocation.

Is that Biblical?

How many Biblical characters that have responded to God's call on their life ended up (or started off) as holy people working for that particular generation's expression of church? It seems like I can remember a lot more people that weren't than were. I think a good example is Amos.

Amos the fig farmer is sent by God to speak some very harsh words to the king. Interesting though that Amos is a fig farmer before he goes off and, by all accounts, returns to the fig farm after he's done what God asked of him.

I can think of very rare occasions where people have opted to NOT take a new job in a new location because they felt called to remain doing their part in a local community of believers. It's as if 'calling' equates 'I get paid by the church' and if one isn't employed then there's a different idea of 'calling.'

What if we viewed calling apart from vocation? Sure, some have a vocation that matches their calling, but it seems as though those that are lifted up in churches are those in leadership.

What about the plumber who's served in the youth ministry forever because he's called to serving young people?

What about the mom working half-time that spends her spare time visiting shut-ins and folks at the nursing home?

What about the retired grandma that spends every Sunday in the nursery at church so that young families can have a worshipful experience together?

I am fortunate. I am one of the fortunate few that have a calling and vocation that intersect. One of the things that bring such great joy?

Seeing people that understand that calling is more about who they are, and less about what they do.

It was too soon,

We'll miss you.

You are a beautiful soul.

You've helped us all see God, and maybe understand Him a little more...

Swim in this thought for a second...

May you be subject to God's imagination.

What would that world look like?

Practicality in the Theology of Worship

So, even though there hasn't been a lot of discussion here, the facebook note of the last post generated some decent conversation.

So, I have some more thoughts about 'theology that is eminently practical.'

Let me start by saying that by 'eminently' I mean 'obviously' or 'overtly.' Not huge or massive. :)

My thoughts really center on a couple of main areas. I'll share about one for now. Theology of worship:

Now there are lots of ideas about worship and what it is and how one does it or even how communities of faith do it in general, but to me, in worship's purest form, it's us humans telling God how great He is. It's our opportunity to give our thanks for the ways that God chooses to be active in our midst. It's our opportunity to pour ourselves out in thanks...spill our guts if you will.

Now if you asked 25 people how this happens best, you'll get 25 different answers. Probably because it all boils down to our theology of worship, or how we view the connection of God and God's people through worship. The trouble comes in when components of worship start to get confused with worship itself. And so, many discussions about worshiping God degenerate into a debate about form, function, or style.

We go around and around about all sorts of different things: those liturgical dancers make me crazy with those ribbons, why the hell is there a choir anthem, or, my personal favorite, I didn't get anything out of that. The issue is that all of these ideas (or any related ones) put the focus on us when worship was never meant to be about us. It's about God.

So, any discussion about worship and how we and God connect during it (whenever it happens) must begin and end with this question:

How did we do? Were people able to tell God how cool He is? Have folks left understanding who they are in relation to God?

Quick theology lesson. God is God. We are not God. Therefore, our primary function in worship is to celebrate that. And then, something funny just happens:

We start to value what God values. We start to feel passion for the things that God is passionate about. All because worship gives perspective.

And around and around we go: We worship God, we love God , we love God for being in charge, we grow passionate about God's passions, God breaks into our lives and in the lives of others as we live out God's role versus ours, we get excited, we worship God...

In my humble opinion, anything beyond that is colored bubbles.

We can debate the theology of components of worship. But it's not practical. It's not useful. It pulls the focus off of what matters most.

May we all be good stewards of our energy.

Where does my brain meet?

This may sound like a funny question, so let me help to clarify.

As a church leader, I often find myself in the middle of all sorts of philosophical discussions. 'What did God mean when He said this or that?' or 'How does my view of _____________ have any bearing on ________________?' It's a part of my brain that I love to use. I love engaging in conversation.

However, there's this other part of my brain that sees people in situations that defy logic and I wonder how the first part and the second part relate. Do they even mesh at all?

How does my understanding of a person's process of conversion relate to my understanding of a friend losing their job at a church? Any attempts at follow up have been met with impersonal emails saying, "I can't meet with you for 2 months." In other words, a pastor who refuses to be pastoral...

How does discussion the ins and outs my philosophy of ecclesiology relate to a young mother who's been told that her husband's cancer is no longer treatable? How does my thoughts about worship design and order help to bring 'order' to her life and the two boys that will be fatherless...sometime...?

I guess the big question that I'm posing here is, in terms of communities of faith, when does the theoretical become practical?

I can go around and around about abstract ideas about God, communities of faith, and worship, but I can't offer anything (seemingly) of worth to someone who's really in the midst of a very dark time.

So, where does my brain meet?

I get that how we understand communities of faith 'working' has huge implications on how we minister to people. I get all of those things...

...but I don't...

My exhortation to all those reading this today:

My your 'theoretical' be 'eminently practical'...

...because it's about people; people that God loves.

The words we use...

...in reference to 'church,' I'm learning carries much more weight than I ever knew.

I have begun reading a blog called IAmJoshBrown, and it's very good. One of his most recent posts asks a great question.

Does the word 'church' carry enough baggage that it's worth re-thinking how we use it?

Josh Brown refers to the church as 'playing a role in helping to create and shape a community of people,' and goes on to say 'that is drastically different than your typical church.'

Here's the whole post.

Hmmm...

Aquinas on a Thursday night

Give us, O Lord,
steadfast hearts, which no unworthy thought can drag downwards;
unconquered hearts, which no tribulation can wear out,
upright hearts, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.
Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God,
understanding to know Thee,
diligence to seek Thee,
wisdom to find Thee,
and a faithfulness that may finally embrace Thee.

I cannot add anything to these words. Nor do I want to.

These words are timeless.

May they find you well.

Made me laugh...OUT LOUD

Apparently the emerging church isn't making friends yet. While I knew that was the case, it seems that the beef isn't a perceived lax stance on doctrinal issues. At least not anymore...

I guess we're all cussers. Read here.

Thanks, Trevor for the link...dammit

We made it!

The journey to get Wifey through the first three seasons of the Office ended last night. Now I'm thinking she'll turn into and NBC.com junky and try to catch up on as much as possible. A couple of observations:

This show is brilliantly written.
I can't count the number of times that I had to put a pillow over my face because I couldn't watch the stupid crap Michael was doing. (i.e. Phyllis' wedding, Cocktails at the CFO's house, Business School)

A couple of lists as well:

Top five pranks:

1. Faxes from future Dwight
2. Hiding Andy's cell phone in the ceiling
3. Dwight's personal affects in the vending machine
4. Dwight's Pavlovian response requiring and altoid when Jim reboots his computer
5. Jim dresses as Dwight and Dwight's response is 'identity theft is not a laughing matter, Jim!'

Top five episodes (including season 4)

1. Season 4 premier (Jim and Pam finally hook up and Andy's nipple bleed)
2. Christmas Party (season 2)
3. Women's Appreciation
4. Traveling Salesmen
5. Sexual Harrassment

Top 5 moments:

1. Jim and Pam's kiss (season 2)
2. Andy Bernard floating in Lake Wallenpaupack in a sumo suit
3. Anytime Dwight shows off weapons
4. Jim and Dwight's sales call (face smack!!)
5. Andy sings ABBA

These are my top, but they're so tightly bunched that it's hard to pick 5. Add your's in if you want. It'll be fun if we all do it together...

...that's what she said...

:)

Finally...

Just when I thought it would never be possible to read the local paper's opinion page with a straight face it happened...

Someone wrote in and was the voice of reason.

It would be great if I could link to some of the recent conversations, but they don't put reader's views on their site. Besides, the content or topic isn't really the issue. The issue is bigger than the topic. In fact, it doesn't seem to matter if the topic is leashes for your dog or defending (or criticizing) God's 'chosen' president. People always attack the writer and fail to enter into the conversation.

Why?

It's a whole lot easier that way. You don't have to use your brain to call someone an 'idiot.' The extent of the creativity or thoughtfulness I see there is to see how imaginative readers can be. I confess I read the section more like a Jerry Springer fan than someone who wants to be part of the dialogue.

Frankly, it's why churches can be such a drag sometimes. There's no conversation there. At least there's no room for it. It's generally a bunch of people repeating the things they've read or heard to each other. It's as if there's a point at which we stop engaging with each other because we've figured out there's no place for it.

Here's, potentially, the most damaging implication: If there's no place for good, honest conversation between folks on the journey, then God must not want it to happen, right? Kind of feels that way...

So, when we talk at church and imply (because most people don't out and out call people stupid) another has 'lost their mind.' It also implies that God must think we've lost our minds.

So we stop trying to talk.

We stop trying to make observations that are critical in helpful ways.

We stop trying to learn how to disagree in love and still stay friends.

And then we wonder why people leave the church...or even how it's possible how the church creates crisis (see McKnight posts) in people and then have to choose between being thoughtful or being 'Christian.'

I know, I know. Not new info. Just worth mentioning...

Fellow bloggers...

...I appreciate you.

You all make me smile. You make me think.

Thanks!

Open mic at Amici 11/30

Here's some photos courtesy of Evan's dad...Thanks!

Hope to see some of you next time:

McKnight 3- Apostasy

If one can get to the crisis, whether you're walking to Christ or away, you can usually find the reasons why things went down the way they did. - a paraphrase

McKnight contends that if you look at this whether it's walk to or away from Jesus, you can learn about why churches work. He calls it ecclesi-ology, or the study of 'church.'

My question?

Do we, as a church, stand to learn more about the function of church (or community) when it doesn't work rather than when it does? Do we learn more from our failings, the failings of the church's function for people, than when our churches are growing and 'healthy?'

How quickly do we try to frantically gather those leaving and try to get them to come back using the same, psuedo-tired rationales that probably made them leave in the first place?

We probably need to understand the 'crisis' and go from there-for those entering or exiting our worshipping communities-and find the truth both of the struggle and in the struggle.

What do you think?

Scot McKnight part 2- Context and Crisis

A question...does context trump over process as it relates to conversion and evangelism? Where do they inter-twine and cross over?

'One who finds resolution is often prompted by some sort of crisis"

Catylsts for generating crisis in people
- mystical expereinces
- near death experiences
- illness and a need for healing
- general dis-satisfaction for life
- desire for transcendence
- experienced an altered state
- psychological problems
- other types of pathologies- interest in Jesus as a psychological problem rather than a sincere love of Christ
- conversion from a different faith perspective
- because of external factors (politics perhaps)
- tragedy


"we have to avoid provoking crisis. Life is good enough at it. Anything else is manipulative" -a paraphrase

I tend to agree with many of these points. Do you? Post your thoughts...

Scot McKnight Live Blog

I'm sitting here at Winebrenner Seminary in Findlay listening to Scot McKnight.

I'll be blogging my thoughts live here for the day...

First issue worth talking about:

When does conversion happen? He's told many stories of conversion and many of them don't fit the processes and 'orthodox' structures that have permeated the church. I am interested in these "un-orthodox" stories as they relate to the recent Young Life push for a Statement of Non-negotiables. Here's a link to Christianity Today's article. I'm hoping to be able to ask him his thoughts on orthodox conversion versus 'non-orthodox' conversion in light of YL's stance on conversion. If I get to ask, I'll try to get a synopsis on the blog.

EDIT: asked the question. And he referred to the Statement of Non-negotiable as the potential bludgeoning and institutionalizing of something that doesn't quite resonate with much of the New Testament. I think the Campus Life table wanted to punch him (and me for asking :) ) It was awesome...

Do you have thoughts after reading the article and perhaps Tony Jones' blog and his thoughts?

Post them here...

While not 100%...

...it's a pretty good day.

I stepped out off of my porch and it's 60 degrees. I've got some good music coming through my iPod. (THANK YOU, BABY!) The wind is strong, but refreshing. The sky isn't all that pretty, but it sure is comfy outside.

This afternoon I'm heading to our chiropractor, which is a very good thing. We like him very much. More than that, we appreicate his approach, and I have high hopes for this afternoon's visit.

I had my smart teeth follow up yesterday, and things seem to be healing very nicely. That's good news considering that the healing process has made the mouth smell terrible and taste worse. My poor, lovely, patient wife (who has a ridiculous sense of smell thanks to the pregnancy) is enduring like a champ.

Okay, so the Buckeyes laid another egg last night. Not near as dissapointed this year as last. But...

...pitchers and catchers report...when?

It's the first day in a long, long time that I actually believe that I might be better soon, and one cannot underestimate the power of hope :)

Right?

I am frustrated

So, I've been a wreck lately...

Wisdom teeth...check
Catch a cold...check
Flu...check

I'm so out of whack right now.

I'm looking so forward to the end of all this health stuff. I actually even had a migraine yesterday on top of puking on I-75.

I just want to get right. I'm getting frustrated...

Seriously...

January Album of the Month

Here it is...



This is a great album. It's good for nearly every occasion. The lead vocalist's voice sounds a lot like Sting, and, actually, the album sounds like a 21st century version of the Police.

Big fan...