For those of you familiar with Impact World Tour there has been quite a wake in it's leaving. Apparently, a few hundred kids either became Christians for the first time or re-committed their lives to Jesus.
Many folks here in town have also felt a little duped by the lack of info that people were given heading into the events. Many have vocalized some frustration (most of it very fair albeit not so nice) regarding IWT's willingness to be upfront in publicizing what reallywas to happen at the events. The IWT folks spent time a local schools giving a 'positive' message passing out invitations to the full event.
Honestly, it was a little deceptive. They didn't lie per se, but they really weren't all that up front either which always feels a little shady.
Read the Courier's article here.
And here's IWT's response from the local chairperson.
Dearly beloved,
By now you have read the article in the Courier concerning the Findlay City School Board reaction to the IWT tickets that were passed out during some school assemblies. Pastor Bill, Scott and I have had a lengthy conversation with Nicole Coleman who was responsible for arranging the local school assemblies. Nicole spoke with Findlay City Schools public relations officer Jen Ruhe this morning. It is our assessment that this is a valid concern but not because anyone did anything wrong.
As week six of the tour, we had no indication from the previous city assemblies that promotional ticket flyers would be a problem. However, there was a problem with handing the tickets to each student and with passing the tickets out in the classrooms. We agree that this put the School Board in a tenuous situation by implying that the school was endorsing the events at Koehlor center.
We understand the school board’s reluctance to be perceived as endorsing an evangelistic crusade. If they were to endorse our event, they could also be obliged to endorse events that would be contrary to our Christian faith. We are blessed by the strong relationship between the faith community in Findlay and Findlay City Schools. However, these events have brought a need for policy clarification to the surface. We are offering to serve the school board to seek a mutually satisfying principle that protects our children and allows us to continue our ongoing cooperative relationships within the public schools.
We should all agree that protecting our children is a worthy objective. These are complex times we live in. The school board is not diminishing the healthy values that our Christian faith promote. They are not trying to remove our influence from the schools. It doesn’t seem that there is any other agenda than addressing a line of safety that was unintentionally crossed. We strongly urge you to refrain from polarizing statements that would create enmity between those who serve our schools and the faith community of Findlay . We recommend that you do not write your opinions to the Courier. This would only escalate differences in community convictions and intensify the situation.
Finally, we are in the process of setting up meeting with Marty Emmett and Al Caperna. We feel blessed to have worked with an organization that has such a heart for youth. Our experiences with this tour have been faith inspiring but also sometimes confusing. As in all efforts to serve the Kingdom, communication and intentions sometimes conflict. Our prayer is that God will continue to fill the gaps of our limitations with His grace and that His Spirit will strengthen us to proclaim the love of Christ to a broken and hurting world.
Wanna chime in? Go right ahead...
Monday, June 04, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I want to blog...
...but I'm not sure what about. I'm right here at Coffee Amici, planning on a frozen Amici Mocha...the best cold drink ever made--by humans.
I have been thinking a lot about how much in need of a vacation I am. We've got one on the books. Heading to a retreat center in the Poconos and then up to visit some friends in Connecticut.
'Connecticut' is a word that has a pronunciation that defies it's spelling. Others worth mentioning:
Wednesday
Government
Environment
Illinois
I'm sure you can think of others.
I'm glad I don't remember actually learning English. I remember learning grammar, but not learning English. It would've been hard. There are a slew of things that I'm glad I don't remember, such as:
How scared I was the first time I puked.
Wetting my pants in public.
Figuring out that I should pee in the potty and not in my pants when given the choice.
You might have some additions as well.
This random post ought to end.
But I don't know how to do it.
-OVER-
or maybe like an old telegram
-STOP-
Music I've listened to today:
Ellery
Derek Webb
Anberlin
and Alanis Morisette is on the radio at Coffee Amici
...so I guess that counts too...
-STOP-
I have been thinking a lot about how much in need of a vacation I am. We've got one on the books. Heading to a retreat center in the Poconos and then up to visit some friends in Connecticut.
'Connecticut' is a word that has a pronunciation that defies it's spelling. Others worth mentioning:
Wednesday
Government
Environment
Illinois
I'm sure you can think of others.
I'm glad I don't remember actually learning English. I remember learning grammar, but not learning English. It would've been hard. There are a slew of things that I'm glad I don't remember, such as:
How scared I was the first time I puked.
Wetting my pants in public.
Figuring out that I should pee in the potty and not in my pants when given the choice.
You might have some additions as well.
This random post ought to end.
But I don't know how to do it.
-OVER-
or maybe like an old telegram
-STOP-
Music I've listened to today:
Ellery
Derek Webb
Anberlin
and Alanis Morisette is on the radio at Coffee Amici
...so I guess that counts too...
-STOP-
Monday, May 28, 2007
Revved Up...
Last night, jOURney was pretty great.
Never have I been in and around such an atmosphere of muted excitement. The excitement about the Pentecost story was bigger somehow than other pentecosts that I've experienced. Honestly though, I don't remember many others :)
In its own way, I think the Holy Spirit descended on us last night. We all were there and on the same page on a deeper level. Our comments were different, but I think we were all feeling the same thing.
It was cool.
We do still have work to do. It's almost as if a wonderful foundation was poured out, but we have to still frame up the house. If you drive around, you don't see a whole bunch empty concrete slabs...they've been built on.
We've got a house to build...
...and I'm ready...
Never have I been in and around such an atmosphere of muted excitement. The excitement about the Pentecost story was bigger somehow than other pentecosts that I've experienced. Honestly though, I don't remember many others :)
In its own way, I think the Holy Spirit descended on us last night. We all were there and on the same page on a deeper level. Our comments were different, but I think we were all feeling the same thing.
It was cool.
We do still have work to do. It's almost as if a wonderful foundation was poured out, but we have to still frame up the house. If you drive around, you don't see a whole bunch empty concrete slabs...they've been built on.
We've got a house to build...
...and I'm ready...
Friday, May 25, 2007
a new blog
True, it's mine, but it's new.
It's a blog to chronicle my effort in training for a triathlon.
Check it out if you want...
Find it here.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
sorry to hear about this...
Some readers of this blog may know the above two men. They are Ted and Lee, a comedic duo, skit writers, and very talented men. They've used their gifts to bring laughter and relief and rest to many. Mennonite Youth Conventions, churches, Youth Specialites NYWC, and the Zondervan NPC are just a few of their credits.
Lee, pictured above on the right, recently took his own life.
Sad.
He lost a long battle with depression. One that brought so much goodness to many...
...crap...
He leaves behind a wife and three kids. If you think about it, send one up for them.
You can read more here.
an interesting sight...
My workout regiment now includes bicycling. The past few mornings, I've found myself on the streets of town trying to break a sweat on my Wal-Mart special bike. This morning, while riding past a local dining establishment, two folks were out talking...no biggie. I finished my ride and started my day.
This day included a ride out to jOURney...'some' schmuck left his cellie at work :) On my way out, on my bike again, I passed one of the folks that were out talking earlier that morning. He was on a bike too...a sweet chromed out one. You know, the one's that look like a chopper. Cigarette hanging out of his mouth, milk in one hand, and a 24 of Natty Light in the other.
It was a sight to behold...apparently not everyone in town is on their bike for health reasons. If I really think about it, I knew that, but the picture was enough to make me chuckle...
...I'll probably wreck next time I'm out...
-rc
Thursday, May 03, 2007
how bi-partisan politics is making America dumber
With an election coming up in my town next week, I am reminded of how much I love our country and it's freedoms to vote and have a say. At the same time, I despise the party system. I think it's making America dumber. Here are my reasons:
First, very few people investigate what candidates stand for and what it will mean in the long run. Most people have been inundated with rhetoric that has become it's own language. Problem here? Everyone simply repeats what they've heard for years and years...no thoughtful conversation there. No conversation equals no exposure to alternate ideas. Why re-learn the same thing over and over? What's worse is that we end up arguing using someone else's brain, someone else's words...no real way to get real solutions.
Second, speaking of real, party politics deal in the ideal rather than the real. Or said this way, "If I was ______________, things would be better." There's no effort to work together for solutions now, just an effort to gain power to fix the 'other guy's mess.'
Third, don't ever EVER change your mind. That's political suicide. It's also the way most people live their life. Suppose you're driving a car. You see a cliff coming up. You decide that the current plan of action (going in said direction) will end badly or at least your GPS shows a better way. You stop, or turn, or at LEAST ASK FOR AN IDEA... There seems to be some pervasive idea among politicans that there's something to be valued by 'driving off the cliff.' Maybe there is, but if I mature, have a set of experiences...anything that illicits a different response than one I would've given in the same situation years before, I am dumb (and spineless).
Fourth, people have to take sides. Suppose I agree with policy from both sides. Person A tells me that one issue the biggest deal. Person B tells me that another is. Worse, my church tells me I'd better vote one way on an issue or another. "Jesus hates abortion" (I think he does), but Jesus probably also hates poverty, injustice, killing (read war) and a number of other things. So, what does Jesus hate the most? Who knows? All I know if I hate abortion and poverty and would like programs to end both...I have no candidate? Freakin' sweet...
I'm sure y'all can think of other reasons, but what it all boils down to is that we've been stripped of the reward of thinking for ourselves. We re-tell the same thing over and over...nothing new. We don't have to think anymore, we just have to look for the elephant or the donkey and they we un-critically digest and thus vote for said symbol. I am convinced that there would be a people that would vote for a person that 100% end all abortions and make them illegal even if said person jailed all those that had ever had an abortion in the past...and then killed them, just to get even...
That's stupid...
First, very few people investigate what candidates stand for and what it will mean in the long run. Most people have been inundated with rhetoric that has become it's own language. Problem here? Everyone simply repeats what they've heard for years and years...no thoughtful conversation there. No conversation equals no exposure to alternate ideas. Why re-learn the same thing over and over? What's worse is that we end up arguing using someone else's brain, someone else's words...no real way to get real solutions.
Second, speaking of real, party politics deal in the ideal rather than the real. Or said this way, "If I was ______________, things would be better." There's no effort to work together for solutions now, just an effort to gain power to fix the 'other guy's mess.'
Third, don't ever EVER change your mind. That's political suicide. It's also the way most people live their life. Suppose you're driving a car. You see a cliff coming up. You decide that the current plan of action (going in said direction) will end badly or at least your GPS shows a better way. You stop, or turn, or at LEAST ASK FOR AN IDEA... There seems to be some pervasive idea among politicans that there's something to be valued by 'driving off the cliff.' Maybe there is, but if I mature, have a set of experiences...anything that illicits a different response than one I would've given in the same situation years before, I am dumb (and spineless).
Fourth, people have to take sides. Suppose I agree with policy from both sides. Person A tells me that one issue the biggest deal. Person B tells me that another is. Worse, my church tells me I'd better vote one way on an issue or another. "Jesus hates abortion" (I think he does), but Jesus probably also hates poverty, injustice, killing (read war) and a number of other things. So, what does Jesus hate the most? Who knows? All I know if I hate abortion and poverty and would like programs to end both...I have no candidate? Freakin' sweet...
I'm sure y'all can think of other reasons, but what it all boils down to is that we've been stripped of the reward of thinking for ourselves. We re-tell the same thing over and over...nothing new. We don't have to think anymore, we just have to look for the elephant or the donkey and they we un-critically digest and thus vote for said symbol. I am convinced that there would be a people that would vote for a person that 100% end all abortions and make them illegal even if said person jailed all those that had ever had an abortion in the past...and then killed them, just to get even...
That's stupid...
Saturday, April 28, 2007
insert random title here...
...because honestly, I don't have a quip-ish one today.
I'm just at home with the boy watching Mickey Mouse and now he's asking for 'muziks' which is the plural form of music...which means he wants to wear my headphones and listen to iTunes.
Perhaps by now some of you have noticed the red music@jOURney picture to the right side of the page. That one of many things on my plate over the past few days. The jOURney house band (or JHB*) recorded 6 originals. It's worship music that is part of our community. Although it took 10 and a half hours, it was awesome! When it drops, please consider purchasing one as all the proceeds benefit the Global AIDS Fund and blood:water mission.
It seems as though I've been the middle of a whirlwind of activity, and I'm just trying to keep my feet on the ground. Lots of great things happening, just overwhelming. In the meantime, I've been wrestling with a question: If a Jesus-centered life is to be distinctive, then how am I living distinctively?
I've run into several people over the past few weeks that are rather stand-offish in their attempts at being distinctive. It's almost as if it's been a bass-akwards way of saying 'I've got something you don't.' While it may be true, it doesn't feel like an approach that might illicit the kind of view of God that should be distinctive.
If you've read wifey's blog, you know that we've been growing more and more concerned with our 'footprint' in the world. Where is all this going? Well, it seems that we live in a time where alcohol consumption/abstention and not watching R-rated movies (just examples) don't speak in the same way as showing sacrificial love for others might. In many ways, Jesus style sacrificial love is counter-cultural as we acquire more and more stuff while the gaps between the have and have-nots grows bigger...especially here in the states.
We may be "God's chosen country" (hope you can hear the sarcasm), but we haven't chosen Jesus back for some time now...we'd rather just choose the comfy stuff that we then baptize with our church's name and call it God-honoring.
I am so far from the ideal that I project in this post. I have not arrived, probably never will. jOURney hasn't arrived either, in case you were wondering :) But we're trying. And maybe that's the issue.
We're all trying, maybe we shouldn't try to convince everyone else we're not...
I'm just at home with the boy watching Mickey Mouse and now he's asking for 'muziks' which is the plural form of music...which means he wants to wear my headphones and listen to iTunes.
Perhaps by now some of you have noticed the red music@jOURney picture to the right side of the page. That one of many things on my plate over the past few days. The jOURney house band (or JHB*) recorded 6 originals. It's worship music that is part of our community. Although it took 10 and a half hours, it was awesome! When it drops, please consider purchasing one as all the proceeds benefit the Global AIDS Fund and blood:water mission.
It seems as though I've been the middle of a whirlwind of activity, and I'm just trying to keep my feet on the ground. Lots of great things happening, just overwhelming. In the meantime, I've been wrestling with a question: If a Jesus-centered life is to be distinctive, then how am I living distinctively?
I've run into several people over the past few weeks that are rather stand-offish in their attempts at being distinctive. It's almost as if it's been a bass-akwards way of saying 'I've got something you don't.' While it may be true, it doesn't feel like an approach that might illicit the kind of view of God that should be distinctive.
If you've read wifey's blog, you know that we've been growing more and more concerned with our 'footprint' in the world. Where is all this going? Well, it seems that we live in a time where alcohol consumption/abstention and not watching R-rated movies (just examples) don't speak in the same way as showing sacrificial love for others might. In many ways, Jesus style sacrificial love is counter-cultural as we acquire more and more stuff while the gaps between the have and have-nots grows bigger...especially here in the states.
We may be "God's chosen country" (hope you can hear the sarcasm), but we haven't chosen Jesus back for some time now...we'd rather just choose the comfy stuff that we then baptize with our church's name and call it God-honoring.
I am so far from the ideal that I project in this post. I have not arrived, probably never will. jOURney hasn't arrived either, in case you were wondering :) But we're trying. And maybe that's the issue.
We're all trying, maybe we shouldn't try to convince everyone else we're not...
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Every once and a while...
...there comes a day or at least an evening you kinda wish would never end. It's like you've escaped everything else and the only thing that matters is being with the people you love. For me, my work life and consequent to-do list is a hard thing to unplug from...
Tonight was different...
As far as I'm concerned, the hours of 5-11:30p were better than any 6 hour block I can remember. Amazing music, A. at my side, great conversation, many laughs...
Thanks, friends...
Tonight was different...
As far as I'm concerned, the hours of 5-11:30p were better than any 6 hour block I can remember. Amazing music, A. at my side, great conversation, many laughs...
Thanks, friends...
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
just treading water really...
People like to follow visionary leaders.
These days, I am not that person, and I don't like it.
I have visions and ideas, but I haven't the time to try to put them into practice. I haven't had the time to sit, and look strategically at where things might be going.
Personally, job-wise, not really anything to speak of, but...
...today that all changes.
I pitched some ideas to my team. I like them, and I think God gave them to me. We'll see...
Starting a new book too:
I'm hoping it'll be a winner.
Past few days=
30 Hour Famine...sweet...
St. Marks and jOURney articles in the paper...sweet...
no time with the family...
Next few days=
Ellery concert...sweet...
recording CD...sweet...
Sitting down with A. to look at my calendar to block out time with her and the boy...best...
These days, I am not that person, and I don't like it.
I have visions and ideas, but I haven't the time to try to put them into practice. I haven't had the time to sit, and look strategically at where things might be going.
Personally, job-wise, not really anything to speak of, but...
...today that all changes.
I pitched some ideas to my team. I like them, and I think God gave them to me. We'll see...
Starting a new book too:
I'm hoping it'll be a winner.
Past few days=
30 Hour Famine...sweet...
St. Marks and jOURney articles in the paper...sweet...
no time with the family...
Next few days=
Ellery concert...sweet...
recording CD...sweet...
Sitting down with A. to look at my calendar to block out time with her and the boy...best...
Monday, April 16, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
just to clear something up...
I love the action on the last post. Woo hoo!
BUT, it seems that I may have put too much emphasis on something when my point was going somewhere else.
I was not trying to give credence or support to any one theory over another concerning this 'Jesus Family Tomb' thing.
Angry Old Hack, if you remember the character's name, but more importantly, his manner, was the real reason for the most recent post.
I'm tired of hanging around a church, or seeing more and more evidence of a church that puts 'being right' and 'winning the debate' over compassion and conversation.
I don't need to see it on TV, I've seen enough of it already...
There, done, that's it...
...by the way, I'm not angry or frustrated, so I hope you don't hear that being the tone of this particular post; just wanted to set the record straight :)
BUT, it seems that I may have put too much emphasis on something when my point was going somewhere else.
I was not trying to give credence or support to any one theory over another concerning this 'Jesus Family Tomb' thing.
Angry Old Hack, if you remember the character's name, but more importantly, his manner, was the real reason for the most recent post.
I'm tired of hanging around a church, or seeing more and more evidence of a church that puts 'being right' and 'winning the debate' over compassion and conversation.
I don't need to see it on TV, I've seen enough of it already...
There, done, that's it...
...by the way, I'm not angry or frustrated, so I hope you don't hear that being the tone of this particular post; just wanted to set the record straight :)
Friday, March 23, 2007
too long
First, let me start by saying that my lack of postings have no bearing on how often I actually read everyone else's blogs. I guess I'm just not keeping up my end of the bargain. So, now that the boy's had the flu, I'm on the mend after passing the flu bug without actually getting the flu and my wife is asleep on the couch doing the same thing, I feel like I have some time to put some thoughts down.
Out of respect for my sleeping wife, I'm in the office at our house using the Dell. Can I just say that I LOVE my Mac? It completely destroys this thing. I'm never going back...I'm such a convert that I was watching tv today and say a commercial for the Motorola Q and I was like, 'Windows based piece of crap. Where's my iPhone?' Just the other day, my buddy showed me his Q, and it was cool. I think the next time I have to get a phone, I'll hopefully be able to get something that talks with the ol'Mac a little better than my Razr.
Can I also say that the Cingular software for the razr completely blows? i guess I just did...
Anyway, Wifey and I were watching the Today show a couple of mornings ago and they set up my favorite thing that happens on television: religious 'debate' that makes for good tv. Super conservative old guy versus middle aged agnostic. Problem is it ends up making the rest of us look bad, so there it is...
They were talking about this 'Jesus family tomb' business. And this old hack comes out swinging. Not just jabbing, but throwing some serious haymakers, and I'm sitting here watching and my jaw is having a race with A.'s to see who's hits the floor first. So, angry old hack (as we'll call him) relentless bashes any sort of sound coming from the slick agnostic's mouth. And then it happened, slick agnostic says, 'there really are some strong cases for faith here, Merideth...' He goes on to say that of all the coffins in the Jesus family tomb, that Jesus' was the only one with no bone fragments or particles in it. DID YOU HEAR THAT, OLD GUY? No bones in the tomb!! Freakin' frackin' sweet, I say... Angry old hack, unphased by this sacred moment of 'seriously?!' AOH goes on to talk about these guys piggybacking on the research of some guy that everyone agrees is a fraud.
Fantastic...we 'win' the debate, but lose face...and the person...
...know what that means?
..we lose...
Out of respect for my sleeping wife, I'm in the office at our house using the Dell. Can I just say that I LOVE my Mac? It completely destroys this thing. I'm never going back...I'm such a convert that I was watching tv today and say a commercial for the Motorola Q and I was like, 'Windows based piece of crap. Where's my iPhone?' Just the other day, my buddy showed me his Q, and it was cool. I think the next time I have to get a phone, I'll hopefully be able to get something that talks with the ol'Mac a little better than my Razr.
Can I also say that the Cingular software for the razr completely blows? i guess I just did...
Anyway, Wifey and I were watching the Today show a couple of mornings ago and they set up my favorite thing that happens on television: religious 'debate' that makes for good tv. Super conservative old guy versus middle aged agnostic. Problem is it ends up making the rest of us look bad, so there it is...
They were talking about this 'Jesus family tomb' business. And this old hack comes out swinging. Not just jabbing, but throwing some serious haymakers, and I'm sitting here watching and my jaw is having a race with A.'s to see who's hits the floor first. So, angry old hack (as we'll call him) relentless bashes any sort of sound coming from the slick agnostic's mouth. And then it happened, slick agnostic says, 'there really are some strong cases for faith here, Merideth...' He goes on to say that of all the coffins in the Jesus family tomb, that Jesus' was the only one with no bone fragments or particles in it. DID YOU HEAR THAT, OLD GUY? No bones in the tomb!! Freakin' frackin' sweet, I say... Angry old hack, unphased by this sacred moment of 'seriously?!' AOH goes on to talk about these guys piggybacking on the research of some guy that everyone agrees is a fraud.
Fantastic...we 'win' the debate, but lose face...and the person...
...know what that means?
..we lose...
Thursday, March 08, 2007
busy, busy, busy
That's me these days, but I did want to hop on the ol' blogger and reflect over the past several days:
I have seen joy, sadness, and numbness in those around me. Sometimes in the same person all at the same time.
I have looked at my little family and felt the pure joy that comes in moments you never think about having when you're dreaming about what your life will be like when you're a kid.
I have stared at the ceiling of my house and thought, 'How the crap did I get here?'
I have become more keenly aware that God's idea for life here involves me DOING something and not just waiting for it to happen, and it excites me and paralyzes me all at the same time.
I have written music that people tell me they like, but sometimes I don't believe them. Mostly though, I do. In the end, it doesn't matter much...
I love my wife.
I love my boy.
It's clear that God is a God of grace because I don't deserve them...
...but I do get to enjoy them; God is a God of blessing.
Probably more than ever, it's in my tiredness and depravity that I most keenly aware of God's power, God's faithfulness, God's love, and God's character. While I see it in my own life, I see it in the lives of brothers and sisters in the midst of unspeakable pain.
Who can stand in the light of God's glory?
Who is like God in faithfulness?
Who's eyes have seen the face of our Creator?
Is there anyone? Anyone at all?
Despite all my doubts and fears that I lay at Your feet,
You've made me and You've held me and you call me complete
You call me
You say I'm Your Beloved
I have seen joy, sadness, and numbness in those around me. Sometimes in the same person all at the same time.
I have looked at my little family and felt the pure joy that comes in moments you never think about having when you're dreaming about what your life will be like when you're a kid.
I have stared at the ceiling of my house and thought, 'How the crap did I get here?'
I have become more keenly aware that God's idea for life here involves me DOING something and not just waiting for it to happen, and it excites me and paralyzes me all at the same time.
I have written music that people tell me they like, but sometimes I don't believe them. Mostly though, I do. In the end, it doesn't matter much...
I love my wife.
I love my boy.
It's clear that God is a God of grace because I don't deserve them...
...but I do get to enjoy them; God is a God of blessing.
Probably more than ever, it's in my tiredness and depravity that I most keenly aware of God's power, God's faithfulness, God's love, and God's character. While I see it in my own life, I see it in the lives of brothers and sisters in the midst of unspeakable pain.
Who can stand in the light of God's glory?
Who is like God in faithfulness?
Who's eyes have seen the face of our Creator?
Is there anyone? Anyone at all?
Despite all my doubts and fears that I lay at Your feet,
You've made me and You've held me and you call me complete
You call me
You say I'm Your Beloved
Friday, March 02, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
I promised myself...
...when I re-listened to this last week, that I would post it.
Here's a poor soul that forgot to take the capo off of his guitar before starting the next song.
It starts nice, until it all goes terribly, terribly wrong...
Click here if you dare...
-R
Here's a poor soul that forgot to take the capo off of his guitar before starting the next song.
It starts nice, until it all goes terribly, terribly wrong...
Click here if you dare...
-R
Thursday, February 22, 2007
ash wednesday
what a funky observance for people to...well...observe...
During the jOURney ash Wednesday service, I read a snippet of Psalm 103. In verse 14 the psalmist mentions that God is aware of our nature and knows that 'we are but dust.' Truth be told, I know that I am but dust. But, God knows it better than I do. God is aware of the extent of my dustiness.
I am aware of my limitations, but God is more aware. I am aware of my shortcomings, but God is MORE aware.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty darn aware of my shortcomings and to think that God is more aware and knows more fully the extent of them. Well, I'll put it this way...I can't believe that God allows me to brush my own teeth.
Still, I (we) have a role to play in God's redemptive purpose in the world. It seems more and more that what I feel is my biggest weakness (shortcomings, limitations, all that jazz) might be my biggest asset. Who wants to relate to someone, or at least try to, that comes across as perfect? Not me. Not anyone I can think of...
It's a pretty amazing thing. God truly has no NEED of me, but God has a deep WANT of me...despite all that extra crap...
...and if you're reading this, the same is true of you...
...all of it...
During the jOURney ash Wednesday service, I read a snippet of Psalm 103. In verse 14 the psalmist mentions that God is aware of our nature and knows that 'we are but dust.' Truth be told, I know that I am but dust. But, God knows it better than I do. God is aware of the extent of my dustiness.
I am aware of my limitations, but God is more aware. I am aware of my shortcomings, but God is MORE aware.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty darn aware of my shortcomings and to think that God is more aware and knows more fully the extent of them. Well, I'll put it this way...I can't believe that God allows me to brush my own teeth.
Still, I (we) have a role to play in God's redemptive purpose in the world. It seems more and more that what I feel is my biggest weakness (shortcomings, limitations, all that jazz) might be my biggest asset. Who wants to relate to someone, or at least try to, that comes across as perfect? Not me. Not anyone I can think of...
It's a pretty amazing thing. God truly has no NEED of me, but God has a deep WANT of me...despite all that extra crap...
...and if you're reading this, the same is true of you...
...all of it...
Friday, February 16, 2007
It's been far too long...
...since I actually blogged any of my own ideas, so here goes...:)
I've been thinking about the fact that God is God and we're not. Not anything terribly profound, but kind of it is. In teenie tiny ways we establish ourselves as God of our lives. We prefer one thing to another at church. We harbor ideas about other people or at least their situations and that begins to govern our behaviors and attitudes. The result is that the line between us and God gets to blurry and that NEVER helps the discernment process. Our desires for the future become idealized in our own minds and if we marinate in them long enough, we trick ourselves into thinking that is indeed what God wants and where God is heading.
Last Sunday at jOURney, I heard myself blurt out something about how things like healing and comfort and the promise of Heaven are the benefits to a life lived with God here and now. That what matters most is that God is God and we treat God that way. It's in our constant attempt to be more like God in our lives and in this world that creates opportunities to see healing happen in our lives and in those around us. As I leaned back into my couch, I know that it was God using my mouth to speak truth into our lives...or at least mine and everyone else was there to hear it.
In a spiritual sense, I am needy, but in an everything else sense, I'm not. I think that's where most people live, but more times than not, the way we talk about God is that God is a supplier of needs that our depravity has created. And that's not an approach that is all that relevant...at least not in the suburban US where I live.
I pray for the day when people will see that living for God and each other is a better way to live and is the secret to the inbreaking rule of God's love (or the Kingdom of God). That God's way is a benefit to all...not just to me. It's not about me, and it was never supposed to be.
I live in 'God is God and I'm not-ville.'
population, 1 (at least)
I've been thinking about the fact that God is God and we're not. Not anything terribly profound, but kind of it is. In teenie tiny ways we establish ourselves as God of our lives. We prefer one thing to another at church. We harbor ideas about other people or at least their situations and that begins to govern our behaviors and attitudes. The result is that the line between us and God gets to blurry and that NEVER helps the discernment process. Our desires for the future become idealized in our own minds and if we marinate in them long enough, we trick ourselves into thinking that is indeed what God wants and where God is heading.
Last Sunday at jOURney, I heard myself blurt out something about how things like healing and comfort and the promise of Heaven are the benefits to a life lived with God here and now. That what matters most is that God is God and we treat God that way. It's in our constant attempt to be more like God in our lives and in this world that creates opportunities to see healing happen in our lives and in those around us. As I leaned back into my couch, I know that it was God using my mouth to speak truth into our lives...or at least mine and everyone else was there to hear it.
In a spiritual sense, I am needy, but in an everything else sense, I'm not. I think that's where most people live, but more times than not, the way we talk about God is that God is a supplier of needs that our depravity has created. And that's not an approach that is all that relevant...at least not in the suburban US where I live.
I pray for the day when people will see that living for God and each other is a better way to live and is the secret to the inbreaking rule of God's love (or the Kingdom of God). That God's way is a benefit to all...not just to me. It's not about me, and it was never supposed to be.
I live in 'God is God and I'm not-ville.'
population, 1 (at least)
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
THE really big favor...
I thought this was pretty funny...
"yeah, well, obviously that's the downside"--freakin' priceless...
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
if only...
I could ever approach the perspective of this guy:
Prayer Regarding Critics and Enemies by Serbian Orthodox Bishop
By Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, Serbian bishop who spoke out against Naziism, was arrested, and taken to Dachau.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them. Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have. Friends have bound me to earth; enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.
Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world.
Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless and do not curse them.
They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world. They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself. They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments. They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself. They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance. Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish. Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a [fly].
Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.
Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of your garment.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
So that my fleeing will have no return; So that all my hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs; So that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul; So that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins: arrogance and anger;
So that I might amass all my treasure in heaven; Ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.
Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself. One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.
It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies. Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies. A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life. Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them. Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Prayer Regarding Critics and Enemies by Serbian Orthodox Bishop
By Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, Serbian bishop who spoke out against Naziism, was arrested, and taken to Dachau.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them. Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have. Friends have bound me to earth; enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.
Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world.
Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless and do not curse them.
They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world. They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself. They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments. They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself. They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance. Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish. Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a [fly].
Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.
Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of your garment.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
So that my fleeing will have no return; So that all my hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs; So that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul; So that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins: arrogance and anger;
So that I might amass all my treasure in heaven; Ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.
Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself. One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.
It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies. Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies. A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life. Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them. Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
out of the cold
hello friends...
posting from San Diego, CA and am very happy to be doing so after a FREAKIN' long travel day thanks to Mommie Natura. Our flight from Columbus to Chicago to SD was supposed to be in the 4-5 hours of flight time range...yeah, weather made the whole trip take close to 25 hours. Been a LONG time since I've been awake for 25 hours straight. (Trevor and Lori, you're my heroes)
I'm on the edge of what will be a wild ride of a week. God spoke very loudly last time I was here, and I think He might again. Pray that I'll have the guts to follow through with His words. Listening's not very often the problem; I just tend to chicken out sometimes.
I've already snagged a few books that I'm looking forward to reading and utilizing for study. Even though my travel company is great and the weather here is better, I miss being around my family (both church and home). I plan to put a running list of my book aquisitions and the like on my facebook if you want to keep up. (and make suggestions, Trevor...all the Zondervan stuff is 50% off!!)
I hope to blog more as the week continues with updates, ramblings, and reactions to both speakers and seminars alike.
miss you all...
-rc
posting from San Diego, CA and am very happy to be doing so after a FREAKIN' long travel day thanks to Mommie Natura. Our flight from Columbus to Chicago to SD was supposed to be in the 4-5 hours of flight time range...yeah, weather made the whole trip take close to 25 hours. Been a LONG time since I've been awake for 25 hours straight. (Trevor and Lori, you're my heroes)
I'm on the edge of what will be a wild ride of a week. God spoke very loudly last time I was here, and I think He might again. Pray that I'll have the guts to follow through with His words. Listening's not very often the problem; I just tend to chicken out sometimes.
I've already snagged a few books that I'm looking forward to reading and utilizing for study. Even though my travel company is great and the weather here is better, I miss being around my family (both church and home). I plan to put a running list of my book aquisitions and the like on my facebook if you want to keep up. (and make suggestions, Trevor...all the Zondervan stuff is 50% off!!)
I hope to blog more as the week continues with updates, ramblings, and reactions to both speakers and seminars alike.
miss you all...
-rc
Thursday, February 01, 2007
I think that Billy Joel said it best...
when he said that he doesn't know why 'he goes to extremes.'
Today, I find myself living in the middle. Probably where you are as well. In recent days, I have been acquainted with a certain musician whose name will get NO AIRTIME on this blog. He's bought into the lie that God prioritizies sin; I'll give you a guess on what town he's pitched his tent in...yup, Homosexualville. He's even written a song (thankfully banned from myspace, youtube, and others) creatively titled, "God Hates a Fag."
As you might imagine, he's received plenty of 'criticism' concerning this song, and frankly the ministry that goes along with it. As a response, he then posted a video (in which he says "Jesus loves you, but God hates you...that's just the Bible"-- has he read the New Testament at all?) on youtube that fires back at his critics, chastizing them being rude about comments about his weight. His reply? He excitedly tells folks that "he's proud to have already lost 120 pounds and can dunk a basketball."
Uhh, no he can't...I've seen the guy..but that's beside the point...
Put that up against the documentary I saw on TLC last night. It was about the amish school shooting. It was gut wrenching. It contained news and images I'll never be able to un-hear or un-see. Parts of it were about how the shooter allowed all the adults and children to leave the school except for the little girls, bound their arms and legs with plastic ties and began to execute them.
And the the voice of an Amish gentlemen interviewed for the documentary is another thing that I'll never be able to un-hear. "It was a terrible thing that Charles did. It hurts a lot, but we can't forget that Charles' family is dealing with a loss as well. So, we pray for our families along with the family that lost a husband and father."
And then 75 people from the local Amish communities came to the shooter's funeral in an act of forgiveness and support of his widow and two children...
I teared up last night, and I might again today thinking about it...
May we all be so bold as to clam up and DO what God asks.
"God has shown you, O people, what is good and what the He requires of you. Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly." --Micah 6:8
Today, I find myself living in the middle. Probably where you are as well. In recent days, I have been acquainted with a certain musician whose name will get NO AIRTIME on this blog. He's bought into the lie that God prioritizies sin; I'll give you a guess on what town he's pitched his tent in...yup, Homosexualville. He's even written a song (thankfully banned from myspace, youtube, and others) creatively titled, "God Hates a Fag."
As you might imagine, he's received plenty of 'criticism' concerning this song, and frankly the ministry that goes along with it. As a response, he then posted a video (in which he says "Jesus loves you, but God hates you...that's just the Bible"-- has he read the New Testament at all?) on youtube that fires back at his critics, chastizing them being rude about comments about his weight. His reply? He excitedly tells folks that "he's proud to have already lost 120 pounds and can dunk a basketball."
Uhh, no he can't...I've seen the guy..but that's beside the point...
Put that up against the documentary I saw on TLC last night. It was about the amish school shooting. It was gut wrenching. It contained news and images I'll never be able to un-hear or un-see. Parts of it were about how the shooter allowed all the adults and children to leave the school except for the little girls, bound their arms and legs with plastic ties and began to execute them.
And the the voice of an Amish gentlemen interviewed for the documentary is another thing that I'll never be able to un-hear. "It was a terrible thing that Charles did. It hurts a lot, but we can't forget that Charles' family is dealing with a loss as well. So, we pray for our families along with the family that lost a husband and father."
And then 75 people from the local Amish communities came to the shooter's funeral in an act of forgiveness and support of his widow and two children...
I teared up last night, and I might again today thinking about it...
May we all be so bold as to clam up and DO what God asks.
"God has shown you, O people, what is good and what the He requires of you. Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly." --Micah 6:8
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
huh...
yeah, so I just posted this new blog below.
I am not near as depressed as it sounds.
I promise.
I am in the middle of something SO MUCH BIGGER than me...
...and I dig it...
-rc
I am not near as depressed as it sounds.
I promise.
I am in the middle of something SO MUCH BIGGER than me...
...and I dig it...
-rc
when life and job intersect...
I was thinking.
I was thinking about the fact ministry is a strange animal. There are vocations in the world that you go and do and then when you're done, you flip the switch off and you go home. Some jobs aren't like that. Ministry is not one of those jobs.
A former colleague said once that they loved ministry because you enter into the lives of people, sometimes at extreme ends of the spectrum, and they let you. God allows us all to be parts in each other's story. My lot in life is no different...and then some. I've performed a wedding, been part of funerals and committals, walked with kids through crud when their parents divorce...walked with kids when a parent dies suddenly.
I live my life along side the very people I serve, and when things get sticky or daunting, the line gets blurry.
For some reason, it feels like pockets of my life are heading on some collision course. Not necessarily a bad thing. Just different. I think that we all have different circles where we see people. For instance, I've got church people. Then there's family. Then there's my jOURney life. College friends/life. In fact, there's even a certain set of people that I only see at the chiropractor.
They all seem to be converging. It's strange. It's kinda like if a college friend married a family member. One side of the room people know you one way, and the other side have seen your bare butt from when you were a baby.
The more I think about it, the more I'm gaining confidence that we weren't meant to live compartmental lives. It's all converging at a time where God is teaching me that being the body is not about learning with your head about something, it's about conforming to someone. Perhaps I, we, whomever need to quit relying on our mouths so much and conform our lives to that of Jesus. (see jOURney january newsletter)
And I don't know where the line is between Ryan and Pastor Ryan...
I think God's erasing it...
...hmpf...cool...
Monday, January 22, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
juggling act
So, these last few days have been crazy for me. Between a ski trip being planned and the jOURney launch just a few days away it's been crazy. I find myself in a strange place (kinda). I know that I am living a life, but it doesn't feel like mine. But whomever it belongs to...it rocks!!
Never have I been involved in such a widespread...well...whatever it is you call what I'm in. I can say that there is going to be a tremendous outpouring of God sometime soon. All roads in my life are heading in some general direction, and that's good...I just don't know where that is.
I have been spending the last few days getting re-connected with lots of folks from different 'pockets' of my life. It's been great and surreal all at the same time. I miss everyone I don't see with any amount of regularity. That's the truth.
I am awed by the breadth of God's scope and plan. and God's faithfulness. and God's love.
the support of my family. A. and the boy, they rock.
this is short, introspective, ramble-ish...
...and honest
peace out, yo
Never have I been involved in such a widespread...well...whatever it is you call what I'm in. I can say that there is going to be a tremendous outpouring of God sometime soon. All roads in my life are heading in some general direction, and that's good...I just don't know where that is.
I have been spending the last few days getting re-connected with lots of folks from different 'pockets' of my life. It's been great and surreal all at the same time. I miss everyone I don't see with any amount of regularity. That's the truth.
I am awed by the breadth of God's scope and plan. and God's faithfulness. and God's love.
the support of my family. A. and the boy, they rock.
this is short, introspective, ramble-ish...
...and honest
peace out, yo
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
a couple of new additions
I wanted to take the time and update some of the links on the bottom left of the page. Some of the newer links are jOURney's home on facebook and a link to the Journey Newsletter, which gives a great look at what we're about and who we are.
If you are reading this and find the time, I'd invite you to check them out as well as the other links listed.
later...
If you are reading this and find the time, I'd invite you to check them out as well as the other links listed.
later...
Monday, January 15, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Most overused statistic (in my opinion)
I heard it again. Tonight, I heard it again. I heard what I think is the most overused statistic that 'church folk' use to plea for the those in the flock to 'reach the world for Christ.' The stat? Polls show that a majority of Americans are open to spirituality more than they have been in for some time. It's true. The stat, I mean. Many folks are.
Why is it then that most people that quote this particular piece of info often follow it up with some statement about how the world needs Jesus or that we need to preach the good news to everyone in our de-Christianized society. I heard it spoken again tonight. That exact same stat with that exact same line to follow it. I found myself asking...what exactly does that mean? If I told you to preach the gospel or the good news, what does that mean?
People may be interested in spiritual things, but I'm sure they're NOT open to the pre-packaged answers that accompany our efforts to 'reach the lost.' I think the mainstream church has lost the ability to desire even to embrace the mystery of the gospel. Even our mystery is pre-packaged.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to teach a world religions class, and the first thing I had the students learn were the major factors that make something a religion; one of the key components was mystery, that is to say that there are elements of a belief system that simply cannot be known. We haven't taught people how to be okay with mystery, or even more how to embrace it.
I think that folks are ready to explore the mystery of spirituality, and our church speak is confusing. Why? Because it sounds like an answer. There comes a point in time when we have to be okay with having frank and open conversation about matters of faith. Our doubts, fears, the things that make no sense...all those things and more. We are going to have to live in the tensions of human minds trying to articulate something that we simply can't.
We can only articulate what God is like. Anyone that has encountered the one, true, living God knows what god is like. The only ways we can begin to articulate the way that God is, is by emulating what God is like. It doesn't even really help, or at least it never helped me, to simply say that I'm 'messed up.' What does that mean? We all are. Messed up people don't need folks to reciprocate their wording. We talk about being 'messed up,' but we never actually say to what extent we're 'messed up.'
Not that we have to know that about each other. It's the mystery of our existence, our lives with each other, our lives as Christians that the world is interested in. How does my doubt and the things I don't get fit into God's redemptive purpose in the world? That's a mystery...
May we be a church that embraces rather than seeks to eliminate the mystery of God and God's church...
Why is it then that most people that quote this particular piece of info often follow it up with some statement about how the world needs Jesus or that we need to preach the good news to everyone in our de-Christianized society. I heard it spoken again tonight. That exact same stat with that exact same line to follow it. I found myself asking...what exactly does that mean? If I told you to preach the gospel or the good news, what does that mean?
People may be interested in spiritual things, but I'm sure they're NOT open to the pre-packaged answers that accompany our efforts to 'reach the lost.' I think the mainstream church has lost the ability to desire even to embrace the mystery of the gospel. Even our mystery is pre-packaged.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to teach a world religions class, and the first thing I had the students learn were the major factors that make something a religion; one of the key components was mystery, that is to say that there are elements of a belief system that simply cannot be known. We haven't taught people how to be okay with mystery, or even more how to embrace it.
I think that folks are ready to explore the mystery of spirituality, and our church speak is confusing. Why? Because it sounds like an answer. There comes a point in time when we have to be okay with having frank and open conversation about matters of faith. Our doubts, fears, the things that make no sense...all those things and more. We are going to have to live in the tensions of human minds trying to articulate something that we simply can't.
We can only articulate what God is like. Anyone that has encountered the one, true, living God knows what god is like. The only ways we can begin to articulate the way that God is, is by emulating what God is like. It doesn't even really help, or at least it never helped me, to simply say that I'm 'messed up.' What does that mean? We all are. Messed up people don't need folks to reciprocate their wording. We talk about being 'messed up,' but we never actually say to what extent we're 'messed up.'
Not that we have to know that about each other. It's the mystery of our existence, our lives with each other, our lives as Christians that the world is interested in. How does my doubt and the things I don't get fit into God's redemptive purpose in the world? That's a mystery...
May we be a church that embraces rather than seeks to eliminate the mystery of God and God's church...
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Repeated blows to the forehead for 3 hours straight
Just watched my guys lay an egg in Glendale, AZ.
Might have been the worst game I've ever watched from beginning to end.
How long until pitchers and catchers report?
Friday, January 05, 2007
A little less and a little more all at the same time...
Remember my inner conflict? Well, in some ways it's dwindled and in some ways it's become stronger. I am relatively unsurprised that many of Oprah's critics have begun to talk. Most have gone with the 'why didn't she do this in US?' Honestly, I can't blame her for going overseas with this whole idea. For two reasons:
1. Less red tape after the school is open. My hunch is that the South African government would be more hands-off than any type of governing body in the States would be. I'm not saying that's a good thing (or a bad thing), it's just likely the case.
2. Frankly, why should we should we in the US have to rely on people like Oprah's benevolence. It speaks to a fundamental issue, at least it does for me. That is, how did the most wealthy and resourced nation in the history of the world become so crummy at taking care of its own? Any educator can tell you (in great detail I might add) the many holes we have in the ways we fund our schools. In fact, the Ohio supreme court has declared our system unconstitutional and our best solution in recent years has been legalized gambling and the lottery. Great...
So, needless to say for any number of reasons, our government needs some help on this one.
My question, is there any reason that our churches haven't stepped up in overseas efforts to educate people. It seems that we 'educate' people about Jesus (and rightly so) but our efforts in helping people become citizens of the world are falling short. It seems that efforts to educate people about the needs of the 'least of these' worldwide should be higher up on the list than it is.
Don't we have some sort of calling to do something preventative? Isn't that what the teachings of the Bible are? Aren't they on some level efforts to prevent us from going down paths that aren't God-glorifying or efforts to keep us safe in one way or another? Couldn't we look at funding things like abstinence education in Africa, OR putting our massive amount of dollars together to do what Oprah did with no other agenda other than to make people better citizens of the world and to understand how to be someone's NEIGHBOR?
I have an idea why...because we can't agree on how we tell people about Jesus when they get to where they're listening. Some folks think you do it one way or maybe with a tract or even with a megaphone. I happen to remember that there were times when Jesus did things for people and didn't want them to tell who had done it. Education, in this sense, doesn't need a big 'Jesus' sticker plastered on it. People just need educated about some very important things.
Our ability to be unified (or lack of unity) is the single biggest challenge facing the church. We focus more on being right than being Jesus...and being Jesus is inherently right...
1. Less red tape after the school is open. My hunch is that the South African government would be more hands-off than any type of governing body in the States would be. I'm not saying that's a good thing (or a bad thing), it's just likely the case.
2. Frankly, why should we should we in the US have to rely on people like Oprah's benevolence. It speaks to a fundamental issue, at least it does for me. That is, how did the most wealthy and resourced nation in the history of the world become so crummy at taking care of its own? Any educator can tell you (in great detail I might add) the many holes we have in the ways we fund our schools. In fact, the Ohio supreme court has declared our system unconstitutional and our best solution in recent years has been legalized gambling and the lottery. Great...
So, needless to say for any number of reasons, our government needs some help on this one.
My question, is there any reason that our churches haven't stepped up in overseas efforts to educate people. It seems that we 'educate' people about Jesus (and rightly so) but our efforts in helping people become citizens of the world are falling short. It seems that efforts to educate people about the needs of the 'least of these' worldwide should be higher up on the list than it is.
Don't we have some sort of calling to do something preventative? Isn't that what the teachings of the Bible are? Aren't they on some level efforts to prevent us from going down paths that aren't God-glorifying or efforts to keep us safe in one way or another? Couldn't we look at funding things like abstinence education in Africa, OR putting our massive amount of dollars together to do what Oprah did with no other agenda other than to make people better citizens of the world and to understand how to be someone's NEIGHBOR?
I have an idea why...because we can't agree on how we tell people about Jesus when they get to where they're listening. Some folks think you do it one way or maybe with a tract or even with a megaphone. I happen to remember that there were times when Jesus did things for people and didn't want them to tell who had done it. Education, in this sense, doesn't need a big 'Jesus' sticker plastered on it. People just need educated about some very important things.
Our ability to be unified (or lack of unity) is the single biggest challenge facing the church. We focus more on being right than being Jesus...and being Jesus is inherently right...
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Conflicted, but I don't really know why...
This morning on the way home from the Y, a story came across NPR. They were doing a story on Oprah and the $40 million school she built in South Africa. I must admit, I often have a knee-jerk reaction to Oprah and it's often not great. I can't decide how I feel about the school.
Actually, I know how I feel about the school. It's a fantastic thing. Educational opportunites for 150 7th grade-aged girls in Africa. Fantastic. Did I mention that another criteria for this school is that the family has to be under a certain income level. No doubt this school will be a great thing, and since Oprah owns...uh...earth maybe, it's great to see someone doing something with such a possibility of impact.
It's all the peripheral stuff that was in the report (and article in the local newspaper) that stirred the pot a little bit for me. The NPR reporter interviewed a couple of the accepted girls. Yup, Oprah hand selects all of the students in the school...all 150 of them. So, the girls get into the school and are asked a series of questions by the NPR reporters and their responses sounded so canned. Sounds insensative, I know, but they did. Each of the girls interviewed had aspirations to the presidency of South Africa.
On some level, it sounded like the girls knew what to say to Oprah to get in, and what to say to the reporters who were there at the opening. It almost reminded me of being in Mexico and having every person selling something, every child selling something even, saying the same thing. Even when one started to haggle with the owner of one of the markets, the verbage and pace and tone and everything was the same from person to person to person.
From all reports the facility has state of the art everything, and the idea for the place came from a conversation Oprah had with Nelson Mandela. Oprah even said in her speach upon opening the school that its opening was 'her destiny realized.' Of course, a new school should have state of the art everything. The library has books and computers and learning centers for the students to study...and fireplaces for them to read and study by...and a beauty salon...in the library. The rationale was that when you look and feel your best, you do your best. I can buy that...but not in a library. It toes a little too close to Starbucks in Barnes and Noble because people like to read with a hot drink in tow.
So, I'm conflicted, but not sure why. We should all expect a gazillionaire to give a little back, especially an American one since our great nation monopolizes so much of the worlds resources. Oprah gave back, and gives back time and time again. Shouldn't we in our own little corners of wherever we are?
Part 2 comes tomorrow: Why the church in its current state wouldn't probably be able to build something like this...
By the way, you can listen to the NPR report here or you can read the article here.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
What then should we do...
A response. The response of those listening to John the Baptist. Forgive me as I have to have somewhere to get some thoughts out for consideration. This blog is going to be my place for it today.
An interesting question, a response to John's preaching. John is merely doing his job, pronouncing the coming of Jesus. He talks about the obstacles that Jesus is going to overcome. Hill and mountains (depending on the translation) made low. Valleys being lifted up...words describing the leveling of the playing field so to speak.
Repent, the Kingdom of God is near. John uses the imagery of fire and water. "I baptize you with water, but one is coming who will baptize with fire..." Water makes things clean, fire can change the nature of something. It transforms. I've never heard this as an allusion to 'repent or you'll go to hell.' Think about it. When is the last time you heard those words? Probably the last time you saw bullhorn guy (thanks Nooma). I don't think Jesus came to burn us up...he came to change our nature. Good thing too...he showed us what nature to turn into.
There are three major times in the NT when the 'what should we do' comes into play. First, here in Luke 3...I'll get back there in a sec. Next, Acts 2:37, and the listeners are told to repent. Repent=say I'm sorry and work at allowing God to change your nature on _______ issue. Next, Acts 9:6...Saul's conversion to Paul, Saul can't see and is told to go into the city and he'll be told what to do. Jesus doesn't threaten him (never really thought of it this way until now) just asks why he's persecuting him. Paul is not burnt up with 'fire,' the fire of Jesus changes his nature.
Next Acts 16:30, Paul and Silas in jail. Big earthquake, doors opened but nobody leaves. Jailer: 'What must I do...' Paul: believe on Jesus. Jailer gives Paul a meal the next day (and some medical attention). No fires, no hell, just a penitent heart.
Finally, back to Luke. John uses all his repentance stuff. The people respond, 'what should we do?' Answer? Give away your extra clothes, treat people fairly, do your job honorably...someone is coming who can and will change your nature, I mean come with fire. It seems that firey hell wasn't part of the plan, and doesn't sound like Jesus came to send us there. Doesn't even really sound like Jesus came to keep us out of there.
Seems that Jesus wants to change our nature into his. You light something on fire and pretty soon it's all fire and you can't tell the difference between what was and wasn't on fire to begin with.
John? A social activist? No, not John. He uses that fire language...
Hmpf...turns out you can be both, and be better for it...
See, he's crazy, not stupid...
An interesting question, a response to John's preaching. John is merely doing his job, pronouncing the coming of Jesus. He talks about the obstacles that Jesus is going to overcome. Hill and mountains (depending on the translation) made low. Valleys being lifted up...words describing the leveling of the playing field so to speak.
Repent, the Kingdom of God is near. John uses the imagery of fire and water. "I baptize you with water, but one is coming who will baptize with fire..." Water makes things clean, fire can change the nature of something. It transforms. I've never heard this as an allusion to 'repent or you'll go to hell.' Think about it. When is the last time you heard those words? Probably the last time you saw bullhorn guy (thanks Nooma). I don't think Jesus came to burn us up...he came to change our nature. Good thing too...he showed us what nature to turn into.
There are three major times in the NT when the 'what should we do' comes into play. First, here in Luke 3...I'll get back there in a sec. Next, Acts 2:37, and the listeners are told to repent. Repent=say I'm sorry and work at allowing God to change your nature on _______ issue. Next, Acts 9:6...Saul's conversion to Paul, Saul can't see and is told to go into the city and he'll be told what to do. Jesus doesn't threaten him (never really thought of it this way until now) just asks why he's persecuting him. Paul is not burnt up with 'fire,' the fire of Jesus changes his nature.
Next Acts 16:30, Paul and Silas in jail. Big earthquake, doors opened but nobody leaves. Jailer: 'What must I do...' Paul: believe on Jesus. Jailer gives Paul a meal the next day (and some medical attention). No fires, no hell, just a penitent heart.
Finally, back to Luke. John uses all his repentance stuff. The people respond, 'what should we do?' Answer? Give away your extra clothes, treat people fairly, do your job honorably...someone is coming who can and will change your nature, I mean come with fire. It seems that firey hell wasn't part of the plan, and doesn't sound like Jesus came to send us there. Doesn't even really sound like Jesus came to keep us out of there.
Seems that Jesus wants to change our nature into his. You light something on fire and pretty soon it's all fire and you can't tell the difference between what was and wasn't on fire to begin with.
John? A social activist? No, not John. He uses that fire language...
Hmpf...turns out you can be both, and be better for it...
See, he's crazy, not stupid...
Saturday, December 23, 2006
it's late...
...after our first family Christmas gather of the season. My Dad got me a wireless router for Christmas, and now I can sit on my comfy couch and blog away. Tonight, I found my way to the God's Politics blog and have done some reading. I wanted to share a little bit; I have thoughts and here they come...
Labels just stink, don't they? The more I think of it, the more it seems like labels emerge because we just don't have the time to get to know a broad base of folks. Some of the labels that have been re-occurring in my path over the past few days:
Christian Right- label given to anyone that voted for Bush based only on issues of abortion, same-sex union, and even Iraq since Hussein was (at least for a period of time) the anti-Christ. If this is you, you tend to think that James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson are the 21st century names of guys like John, Peter, and Phillip. Can't you just hear it in the text? "Simon, who is called Dr. Dobson." You may think that homosexuality is a communicable disease, and of all the stuff God said that God didn't like, this is the worst. Not because that thought ever came out that ever came out of a mouth, it's just the impression that I get.
Progressive Christianity- If you're a coffeehouse jumping, post-modern, almost social activist, than this you. You may or may not like it, but progressive is just another word for liberal and you might feel like the people at church might lynch you for voting for Kerry. After all, if you're not conservative than you must be liberal, right? (see above description) The dualism of the established church just ticks you off--or as I call it either/or-ism; you're more likely to sip your latte and be ticked with your friends than do anything about it.
Red Letter Christian- you're a baptist that might actually talk to someone who's had an abortion or sex with a partner of the same gender. In an effort to distance yourself from an intolerant bunch of folks, you've given yourself a whole new name to be known by. The Jesus Seminar has categorized you folks (basing this next statement on color alone) as the one's who follow what we are most certain Jesus actually said...so good then, I guess.
Homosexual- your life revolves around sex. Your orientation is the sum total of your personality and personhood, so you've got that going for you. The crusade to legalize same sex unions are more about proving a point than love for your 'partner' and to make those crazies on the right squirm. That's precisely why we see footage of two guys getting married and see them SWAK the marriage with a little tongue. You hate Eminem, are more likely to be a member of PETA and are a better dancer than me.
And the list could go on and on...
Ticked off yet? Labels suck, don't they?
Anyone besides me ready to stop using them to refer to people?
John Burke, in his book, No Perfect People Allowed, says that we must all live in the tension of the Scriptures...that there are things in the bible that don't add up in our minds. The only way to live 'in the tension' is to create an atmosphere of dialogue and be ready to admit your own struggles and shortcomings and that you may have to say 'I don't know' in a conversation about Jesus.
I am committing to try to eliminate the labels from my lexicon and enter into relationship and conversation with people...
...who's in with me...
Oh, yeah...Merry Christmas, friends...
Labels just stink, don't they? The more I think of it, the more it seems like labels emerge because we just don't have the time to get to know a broad base of folks. Some of the labels that have been re-occurring in my path over the past few days:
Christian Right- label given to anyone that voted for Bush based only on issues of abortion, same-sex union, and even Iraq since Hussein was (at least for a period of time) the anti-Christ. If this is you, you tend to think that James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson are the 21st century names of guys like John, Peter, and Phillip. Can't you just hear it in the text? "Simon, who is called Dr. Dobson." You may think that homosexuality is a communicable disease, and of all the stuff God said that God didn't like, this is the worst. Not because that thought ever came out that ever came out of a mouth, it's just the impression that I get.
Progressive Christianity- If you're a coffeehouse jumping, post-modern, almost social activist, than this you. You may or may not like it, but progressive is just another word for liberal and you might feel like the people at church might lynch you for voting for Kerry. After all, if you're not conservative than you must be liberal, right? (see above description) The dualism of the established church just ticks you off--or as I call it either/or-ism; you're more likely to sip your latte and be ticked with your friends than do anything about it.
Red Letter Christian- you're a baptist that might actually talk to someone who's had an abortion or sex with a partner of the same gender. In an effort to distance yourself from an intolerant bunch of folks, you've given yourself a whole new name to be known by. The Jesus Seminar has categorized you folks (basing this next statement on color alone) as the one's who follow what we are most certain Jesus actually said...so good then, I guess.
Homosexual- your life revolves around sex. Your orientation is the sum total of your personality and personhood, so you've got that going for you. The crusade to legalize same sex unions are more about proving a point than love for your 'partner' and to make those crazies on the right squirm. That's precisely why we see footage of two guys getting married and see them SWAK the marriage with a little tongue. You hate Eminem, are more likely to be a member of PETA and are a better dancer than me.
And the list could go on and on...
Ticked off yet? Labels suck, don't they?
Anyone besides me ready to stop using them to refer to people?
John Burke, in his book, No Perfect People Allowed, says that we must all live in the tension of the Scriptures...that there are things in the bible that don't add up in our minds. The only way to live 'in the tension' is to create an atmosphere of dialogue and be ready to admit your own struggles and shortcomings and that you may have to say 'I don't know' in a conversation about Jesus.
I am committing to try to eliminate the labels from my lexicon and enter into relationship and conversation with people...
...who's in with me...
Oh, yeah...Merry Christmas, friends...
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Interesting discussion
Jim Wallis- one of this days most prophetic progressive Christian voices has one of the more interesting blogs I've run across. This video is on it:
Love to hear your thoughts on it...
Love to hear your thoughts on it...
Sunday, December 17, 2006
today...
Yeah, so not really in a good mood. Just finished teaching Sunday school, and I am finding myself having less and less patience. And, no, I'm not losing patience with the kids...it's their parents. Actually it's really not the parents either. I think it's the bubble of mediocrity that people have pitched their tents in.
I just finshed up spending an hour with kids...didn't mention Jesus. Not that one has to mention Jesus to have a good experience, but I don't know how much longer I can go on feeling no support from several of the families here. Don't get me wrong, there are some great things and great people here, but when it comes to values expressed in words and values expressed in actions (as in what the people value in a youth ministry)...yeah, so not quite equal.
I really feel like I'm doing all that I can, and I don't want to blame stuff on other people because I know what that looks like and sounds like. Like I DO NOT want to come off as 'I could do better if the rest of you gave me a little help here.' But that's how I feel. Like I feel the words, but not the arrogance that statement portrays.
Is this what youth ministry really feels like? Was I on some utopian youth ministry planet until we moved here?
I will persevere. We have a white elephant Christmas thing this afternoon. Doesn't sound like anyone's coming, but we'll see.
We'll see...
I just finshed up spending an hour with kids...didn't mention Jesus. Not that one has to mention Jesus to have a good experience, but I don't know how much longer I can go on feeling no support from several of the families here. Don't get me wrong, there are some great things and great people here, but when it comes to values expressed in words and values expressed in actions (as in what the people value in a youth ministry)...yeah, so not quite equal.
I really feel like I'm doing all that I can, and I don't want to blame stuff on other people because I know what that looks like and sounds like. Like I DO NOT want to come off as 'I could do better if the rest of you gave me a little help here.' But that's how I feel. Like I feel the words, but not the arrogance that statement portrays.
Is this what youth ministry really feels like? Was I on some utopian youth ministry planet until we moved here?
I will persevere. We have a white elephant Christmas thing this afternoon. Doesn't sound like anyone's coming, but we'll see.
We'll see...
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
hee hee hee
made me smile. there are several of these on youtube (thanks DG) I shall post some more at a later time...
-rc
Monday, December 11, 2006
Warm and Fuzzy
All of your well wishes as I step in Mac world are much appreciated. I LOVE that thing already. I will never go back...unless I win some sweepstakes, but you've got to play to win, right?
Now that everything is official, I'd like to be less cryptic about my life over the past couple of months. God has been doing some mighty crazy stuff and there have been a few of us that have been privileged to be part of what God's doing here in this community. Two churches, mine and one from down the street (literally!) have put their trust in God and their young, dare I say, post-modern leaders. If you read my blog with regularity, you may have noticed the links on the right. Two such links are Five02 and Journey. Five02 being the 'post-modern' (dang it I hate labels!!) community effort of St. Marks UMC and Journey, the 'post-modern' (did I mention I can't stand labels) effort of St. Paul's UMC have co-op'ed into a new relationship.
It's still called Journey and their link remains the same. Five02 has merged into Journey...which is in the form of a church plant. The cool thing is that...
(it should be said that I just took at 10 minute break to read the boy books and put him to bed. tonight's selection? Walter the Farting Dog goes on a Cruise)
...there are several other of these communities springing up in town. Some have spaces, some are meeting in homes, and for the most part many of us are keenly aware that there is something much bigger going on than any of us have ever been a part of. It's a very exciting time.
Now, over the past few weeks, you have read some of my laments about the ways that some aspects of church get it wrong. Conversations happened that I would've much rather never have been a part of. In the midst of prfound peace I experienced moments of despair--thinking that it MIGHT be possible for something to go nuts and have bunches of people collectively turn their backs on God and stick a fork in the whole idea. But they didn't.
For my wife and I, these are very exciting times. Even the boy, now nearly two, can distinguish between 'church' and 'new church' as I straddle the line as youth director in place and worship leader in another. I have went to bat for God, God's vision, and for my Mac (which is a deeper seeded issue than one might think). I am at the same time exhausted and energized.
My partner, Journey's founding pastor, is in Europe right now and will be there for the next several weeks going thru an adoption process. Pray for him, his wife, and his kids...one he's met and is now 4 and one they'll meet there and bring home. I have never felt so comfortably polarized.
So, if you want to, visit us online by clicking here
-rc
Now that everything is official, I'd like to be less cryptic about my life over the past couple of months. God has been doing some mighty crazy stuff and there have been a few of us that have been privileged to be part of what God's doing here in this community. Two churches, mine and one from down the street (literally!) have put their trust in God and their young, dare I say, post-modern leaders. If you read my blog with regularity, you may have noticed the links on the right. Two such links are Five02 and Journey. Five02 being the 'post-modern' (dang it I hate labels!!) community effort of St. Marks UMC and Journey, the 'post-modern' (did I mention I can't stand labels) effort of St. Paul's UMC have co-op'ed into a new relationship.
It's still called Journey and their link remains the same. Five02 has merged into Journey...which is in the form of a church plant. The cool thing is that...
(it should be said that I just took at 10 minute break to read the boy books and put him to bed. tonight's selection? Walter the Farting Dog goes on a Cruise)
...there are several other of these communities springing up in town. Some have spaces, some are meeting in homes, and for the most part many of us are keenly aware that there is something much bigger going on than any of us have ever been a part of. It's a very exciting time.
Now, over the past few weeks, you have read some of my laments about the ways that some aspects of church get it wrong. Conversations happened that I would've much rather never have been a part of. In the midst of prfound peace I experienced moments of despair--thinking that it MIGHT be possible for something to go nuts and have bunches of people collectively turn their backs on God and stick a fork in the whole idea. But they didn't.
For my wife and I, these are very exciting times. Even the boy, now nearly two, can distinguish between 'church' and 'new church' as I straddle the line as youth director in place and worship leader in another. I have went to bat for God, God's vision, and for my Mac (which is a deeper seeded issue than one might think). I am at the same time exhausted and energized.
My partner, Journey's founding pastor, is in Europe right now and will be there for the next several weeks going thru an adoption process. Pray for him, his wife, and his kids...one he's met and is now 4 and one they'll meet there and bring home. I have never felt so comfortably polarized.
So, if you want to, visit us online by clicking here
-rc
Friday, December 08, 2006
Oh...my...WORD
Someone got their MacBook a couple days early!!
While I am still adjusting to the mac life, I couldn't be more excited about actually having the thing in front of me.
Yeah, so I'm not sure if I can convey the sheer, pure, excitement I'm feeling...
Yay for my mighty mouse too...
Rock on!!
While I am still adjusting to the mac life, I couldn't be more excited about actually having the thing in front of me.
Yeah, so I'm not sure if I can convey the sheer, pure, excitement I'm feeling...
Yay for my mighty mouse too...
Rock on!!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Mac Watch: Day 3
The Mighty mouse has indeed arrived...woo hoo!
Backpack: en route...should see it tomorrow...
The MacBook...has shipped FINALLY!! ETA? Monday...grrr
This is why you listen to the wisdom of the the guy that says 'it'll will be fine and if we wait much past Thanksgiving, all the shoppers will be buying stuff and our precious 1-3 day shipping becomes precaiously 5-7 day shipping'
BUT...it is coming, and I'll be waiting with open arms...
Backpack: en route...should see it tomorrow...
The MacBook...has shipped FINALLY!! ETA? Monday...grrr
This is why you listen to the wisdom of the the guy that says 'it'll will be fine and if we wait much past Thanksgiving, all the shoppers will be buying stuff and our precious 1-3 day shipping becomes precaiously 5-7 day shipping'
BUT...it is coming, and I'll be waiting with open arms...
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Mac Watch: Day 2
The mighty mouse and the back pack have shipped. Mighty Mouse may be here today. The Applecare Plan is to be here already though I've not heard anything about it.
The MacBook hasn't shipped yet though...argh!
My frustration runs deep on this one...
..deeper than FedEx anyway...
The MacBook hasn't shipped yet though...argh!
My frustration runs deep on this one...
..deeper than FedEx anyway...
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Mac watch
Day 1...nothing...
My mighty mouse shipped, but no word on the mac...
That thing needs to get here today
For real
My mighty mouse shipped, but no word on the mac...
That thing needs to get here today
For real
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Quaker's Meeting
While most of the snow either isn't here yet or is heading north of us, we got hit with some very, very high winds. I actually heard the house make some noises that I'm not sure that any structure should ever make. Nonetheless, me and the boy had much fun on our Daddy and Boy Friday. Friday's are my day off and the best time for me to bond with kiddo. As we were reading books before nap time, the wind whistled through the teenie tiny cracks of the window in his room. Didn't seem to bother him much...he went straight to sleep.
While on the phone, I hear a minor explosive boom outside. Sounded kinda like a transformer. Not Optimus Prime...the kind on the poles outside. We instantly lost power. Thus losing my connections with the outside world. Of course, I still had my trusty Razr, but A. and have been treading a little to close to major minute overages, so that was no use. Besides, A. was cleaning for the day, so it was just me. No power, no nothing. My feeble home computer (unlike the Mac on the way for my job...woo frickin hoo) is about 5 1/2 years old now so any thought of the elderly battery inside lasting for more than 12 minutes was a wasted one. No power, no nothing.
But wait...there was hope. My new SanDisk Sansa m240 had arrived in the mail a day previous. I had had some time to put some music on it (Starfield-Everything's Beautiful...great album), so I had some back up. Cabin fever had struck. What do I do? Eat! Yeah, that's it. Pretzels and pistachios. Snacks though, not meant for the long haul. So I poured a bowl of raisin bran, but the fever had set in and I paced around the house with cereal in hand...I'm not sure if I sat at all for a good hour. I just paced.
I FELT like I should've taken the time to decompress. Obviously, I was wound tighter than all get out. It felt like I was being asked to. I remember the thoughts in my mind. Ryan, dude, this would be a good time to sit and chat with God. I didn't. I couldn't quiet myself enough to do it. So, I bided my time. I passively listened to music...dozed off hoping that I wouldn't miss the power company's visit. Soon it was 5pm. Wife home. Power, nope. Light...losing it. Boy, awake. So, we packed up and headed to the in-laws. A truly life giving place, honestly.
Their plans? Go to a book sale at their church. Hmmm, books. That idea sucked earlier in the day, but now...not so bad. So I went. Bought 5. The one the screamed at my soul? Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality I couldn't get that one back to read fast enough. It wasn't until later that I caught the irony of my crazy quiet and the strong feeling to read about Quaker spirituality--a spiritual perspective strongly rooted in active silence; clearly, God was going to get me one way or another on this one.
So many of the words that I've read over the past 20 hours have resonated with my soul. An excerpt:
"Spiriual silence...is a scalpel. It slices our souls open. It cuts through the layers of our fears and insecurities and our reliance on others instead of God...Just as surgery can be scary, so can silence. Especially at first. Silence leads us to self-discovery of any sin hidden deep within us. I'm not talking about big sins. I'm talking about the little sins that hold us back from being the people that, deep in our souls, we know God wants us to be.
I just wasn't prepped for surgery...yet...
...but I'm closer...
While on the phone, I hear a minor explosive boom outside. Sounded kinda like a transformer. Not Optimus Prime...the kind on the poles outside. We instantly lost power. Thus losing my connections with the outside world. Of course, I still had my trusty Razr, but A. and have been treading a little to close to major minute overages, so that was no use. Besides, A. was cleaning for the day, so it was just me. No power, no nothing. My feeble home computer (unlike the Mac on the way for my job...woo frickin hoo) is about 5 1/2 years old now so any thought of the elderly battery inside lasting for more than 12 minutes was a wasted one. No power, no nothing.
But wait...there was hope. My new SanDisk Sansa m240 had arrived in the mail a day previous. I had had some time to put some music on it (Starfield-Everything's Beautiful...great album), so I had some back up. Cabin fever had struck. What do I do? Eat! Yeah, that's it. Pretzels and pistachios. Snacks though, not meant for the long haul. So I poured a bowl of raisin bran, but the fever had set in and I paced around the house with cereal in hand...I'm not sure if I sat at all for a good hour. I just paced.
I FELT like I should've taken the time to decompress. Obviously, I was wound tighter than all get out. It felt like I was being asked to. I remember the thoughts in my mind. Ryan, dude, this would be a good time to sit and chat with God. I didn't. I couldn't quiet myself enough to do it. So, I bided my time. I passively listened to music...dozed off hoping that I wouldn't miss the power company's visit. Soon it was 5pm. Wife home. Power, nope. Light...losing it. Boy, awake. So, we packed up and headed to the in-laws. A truly life giving place, honestly.
Their plans? Go to a book sale at their church. Hmmm, books. That idea sucked earlier in the day, but now...not so bad. So I went. Bought 5. The one the screamed at my soul? Holy Silence: The Gift of Quaker Spirituality I couldn't get that one back to read fast enough. It wasn't until later that I caught the irony of my crazy quiet and the strong feeling to read about Quaker spirituality--a spiritual perspective strongly rooted in active silence; clearly, God was going to get me one way or another on this one.
So many of the words that I've read over the past 20 hours have resonated with my soul. An excerpt:
"Spiriual silence...is a scalpel. It slices our souls open. It cuts through the layers of our fears and insecurities and our reliance on others instead of God...Just as surgery can be scary, so can silence. Especially at first. Silence leads us to self-discovery of any sin hidden deep within us. I'm not talking about big sins. I'm talking about the little sins that hold us back from being the people that, deep in our souls, we know God wants us to be.
I just wasn't prepped for surgery...yet...
...but I'm closer...
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
here it comes...I can hardly wait
The MacBook that I have gone to bat for just over 416 times in the last month is on its way. I...am...so...pumped...!
Man, that thing is gonna be slick!!
It's also finally official...there will be community merger and church partnership! heck ya! As exciting as it is for me personally, and it truly is. I am more excited about the message it sends the folks in our pews and folks in our town. It seems as though there are finally people willing to walk hand in hand that don't see eye to eye. And in a hurting world; who am I kidding-- a hurting church, Christians working with other Christians rather than distancing themselves from each other because of rampid pettiness...well, it's a breath of fresh air.
We still have a long way to go (see my last blog), but it's a start...
Rock on, rocker...
Monday, November 27, 2006
When one doesn't blog as often, things pile up. It's made it harder to blog regularly.
With so much going on, it's hard to know where to start. I'll just dive in...
Actually, one topic today. It's about the church's witness to the world. It sucks. Worldwide, the church across the board is doing some great things. Missions, feeding those that need it, working on grassroots leves to create jobs that are needed in the rebuilding of certain regions...all of these things and more are being done by churches. However, one thing that the church hasn't quite got is unity.
This is where I'm living right now. Churches can't seem to get along with each other. Specifically American churches...actually American Christians can't get along. So many times in church lives, people seek out the political answer to intra-church issues instead of doing the right thing. Believe me. I've eaten a lot of crow for following some crappy advice on what info to communicate to people. I was advised to give the political answer, when I should have given the right answer. What's worse is that we've set up structures in churches that make it impossible to fix the problem. We've strayed so far away from the manners in which God asked us to live in with each other that it feels nearly hopeless.
In a culture of people looking for authenticity in their leaders...in their churches, there's none to be found. People stray into churches and find that in most cases it's just as fake and overblown as the life they left at their job just a couple days before. Makes me wonder what it would look like if were able to put band-aids and casts on our emotional injuries just like our physical ones. Just the other night at a Bible study I was leading, a student showed up on crutches and with a cast on her foot. She got in to the house and put the crutches down and walked around on her cast like nothing was wrong...but she still had the cast on, and still had the limp to go with it. If things were more visible, maybe we'd know how to show love to the folks that need it. Show love by listening. Not solving, but by merely being present to listen, to cry with, to walk beside...no solution giving allowed.
It's time for the church to be a strong witness to the world in its unity and love for people. The voices from the right wing 'Christian' political perspective probably need to pipe down. The more I listen, the more sure I am that there's not love for people there, and there's no desire for unity...at least not the kind I think God wants. More like borg unity. They've convinced half of America that God only cares about what gay people can and can't do and that God only cares about unborn babies...but forgets about them once their born.
That's not the God I know. I so much want to introduce people to the God who's bigger than all the issues and problems. I want to introduce people to the God that's madly in love with His creation. I want people to know the God that allures us into the desert and speaks tenderly to us. (read Hosea 2)
So, just like Uncle Jesse, I've got my ears on...
With so much going on, it's hard to know where to start. I'll just dive in...
Actually, one topic today. It's about the church's witness to the world. It sucks. Worldwide, the church across the board is doing some great things. Missions, feeding those that need it, working on grassroots leves to create jobs that are needed in the rebuilding of certain regions...all of these things and more are being done by churches. However, one thing that the church hasn't quite got is unity.
This is where I'm living right now. Churches can't seem to get along with each other. Specifically American churches...actually American Christians can't get along. So many times in church lives, people seek out the political answer to intra-church issues instead of doing the right thing. Believe me. I've eaten a lot of crow for following some crappy advice on what info to communicate to people. I was advised to give the political answer, when I should have given the right answer. What's worse is that we've set up structures in churches that make it impossible to fix the problem. We've strayed so far away from the manners in which God asked us to live in with each other that it feels nearly hopeless.
In a culture of people looking for authenticity in their leaders...in their churches, there's none to be found. People stray into churches and find that in most cases it's just as fake and overblown as the life they left at their job just a couple days before. Makes me wonder what it would look like if were able to put band-aids and casts on our emotional injuries just like our physical ones. Just the other night at a Bible study I was leading, a student showed up on crutches and with a cast on her foot. She got in to the house and put the crutches down and walked around on her cast like nothing was wrong...but she still had the cast on, and still had the limp to go with it. If things were more visible, maybe we'd know how to show love to the folks that need it. Show love by listening. Not solving, but by merely being present to listen, to cry with, to walk beside...no solution giving allowed.
It's time for the church to be a strong witness to the world in its unity and love for people. The voices from the right wing 'Christian' political perspective probably need to pipe down. The more I listen, the more sure I am that there's not love for people there, and there's no desire for unity...at least not the kind I think God wants. More like borg unity. They've convinced half of America that God only cares about what gay people can and can't do and that God only cares about unborn babies...but forgets about them once their born.
That's not the God I know. I so much want to introduce people to the God who's bigger than all the issues and problems. I want to introduce people to the God that's madly in love with His creation. I want people to know the God that allures us into the desert and speaks tenderly to us. (read Hosea 2)
So, just like Uncle Jesse, I've got my ears on...
Monday, November 20, 2006
Lawn Mowers and the like
Okay, so kind of a lot has happened since I left a cryptic blurb about some visioning process. While I can't really go into details yet, things are progressing swimmingly...except for one thing.
Can a brother get a stinking computer? I am beside myself in frustration. Given all the much, much more major things that have already been accomplished, it seems that simply purchasing a computer would be simple...right? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
It's a little something called the lawn mower principle. I've now fallen victim to it for the first major time...
Suppose you run a hospital and it comes time for some technological upgrades. The folks want to purchase a new MRI machine. It comes with all the bells and whistles. It's got features that no one knows about except for all the technicians and they say this is definately the way to go. The bean counters don't know an MRI machine from a hole in the ground and they rely people in the know and they drop the $500K for an MRI machine.
Same group of people get together because buildings and grounds need a new lawn mower. That takes FOREVER to get done because everyone's bought a lawn mower and they think they know what sorts of features that were important to the lawn mower. Do they let the B & G guys make the purchase based on their recommendations? Nope.
There it is, my computer is stuck in...somewhere...
Fun...
Can a brother get a stinking computer? I am beside myself in frustration. Given all the much, much more major things that have already been accomplished, it seems that simply purchasing a computer would be simple...right? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
It's a little something called the lawn mower principle. I've now fallen victim to it for the first major time...
Suppose you run a hospital and it comes time for some technological upgrades. The folks want to purchase a new MRI machine. It comes with all the bells and whistles. It's got features that no one knows about except for all the technicians and they say this is definately the way to go. The bean counters don't know an MRI machine from a hole in the ground and they rely people in the know and they drop the $500K for an MRI machine.
Same group of people get together because buildings and grounds need a new lawn mower. That takes FOREVER to get done because everyone's bought a lawn mower and they think they know what sorts of features that were important to the lawn mower. Do they let the B & G guys make the purchase based on their recommendations? Nope.
There it is, my computer is stuck in...somewhere...
Fun...
Saturday, November 04, 2006
I probably still have friends
although you'd never know by the hermit I've become in the past few days.
An exciting visioning process is unfolding at church right now and it has monopolized all my time. Hopefully, I'll be able to elaborate at a later time.
Your thoughts/prayers/well-wishes for clarity and discernment are welcome at this time.
ps-my mac dreams have been resurrected...
-R
An exciting visioning process is unfolding at church right now and it has monopolized all my time. Hopefully, I'll be able to elaborate at a later time.
Your thoughts/prayers/well-wishes for clarity and discernment are welcome at this time.
ps-my mac dreams have been resurrected...
-R
Monday, October 30, 2006
Forgive me...i got nervous
I went to Lowe's on Saturday AM to get some stuff to hang a shelf. Wall hooks, screws, things like that. To get at the heart of what actually happened, there's something about me you should know.
I hated high school. It wasn't fun for me. There were fun times, but high school was a bad time for me overall. I never felt like I fit in. I was in some sort of weird pocket of existance. Not popular enough to ever really be included, but at least popular enough to not have to take the brunt of public humiliation. That was Tricia's job...
Trica was a girl with some issues. Not particularly attractive. Very bad speech problems. She always had something in her mouth to make her sound twice as challenged as she was. She was in special ed. classes as long as I knew her. Tricia grew up a few doors down from me. There were days (as much as I tried to avoid them) that she would include herself in our re-enactments of the Dukes of Hazzard or Star Wars. As a younger kid, there was little I wouldn't do to get around talking with her...that was an hour long investment.
She was also the girl that some guys on the bus tricked her into eating large amounts of Ex-Lax. I remember seeing her walk out of the washroom at school that day after she had most likely spent most of her day to that point uncomfortably in that room.
So, as I walked toward the check out at Lowe's last Saturday. There she was. Walking to the same line. I don't think she recognized me, but I could never forget her. It's not surprising that she'd TRY to forget everyone she went to school with, and I'm probably no exception. She was right behind me. I felt my ears get hot (which happens when I get nervous or embarassed)...kinda like they are as I write this...
All I would've had to say was "Hi, Tricia. It's been a long time. How are things going for you?" Spend an extra 5 minutes and go hang the shelf.
But I didn't. I knew I should, but I didn't. Then I left and nearly cried. I had an opportunity to, on a very very small scale, make something right about this part of my past.
But I didn't...I knew I was being asked to...
...but I didn't
I hated high school. It wasn't fun for me. There were fun times, but high school was a bad time for me overall. I never felt like I fit in. I was in some sort of weird pocket of existance. Not popular enough to ever really be included, but at least popular enough to not have to take the brunt of public humiliation. That was Tricia's job...
Trica was a girl with some issues. Not particularly attractive. Very bad speech problems. She always had something in her mouth to make her sound twice as challenged as she was. She was in special ed. classes as long as I knew her. Tricia grew up a few doors down from me. There were days (as much as I tried to avoid them) that she would include herself in our re-enactments of the Dukes of Hazzard or Star Wars. As a younger kid, there was little I wouldn't do to get around talking with her...that was an hour long investment.
She was also the girl that some guys on the bus tricked her into eating large amounts of Ex-Lax. I remember seeing her walk out of the washroom at school that day after she had most likely spent most of her day to that point uncomfortably in that room.
So, as I walked toward the check out at Lowe's last Saturday. There she was. Walking to the same line. I don't think she recognized me, but I could never forget her. It's not surprising that she'd TRY to forget everyone she went to school with, and I'm probably no exception. She was right behind me. I felt my ears get hot (which happens when I get nervous or embarassed)...kinda like they are as I write this...
All I would've had to say was "Hi, Tricia. It's been a long time. How are things going for you?" Spend an extra 5 minutes and go hang the shelf.
But I didn't. I knew I should, but I didn't. Then I left and nearly cried. I had an opportunity to, on a very very small scale, make something right about this part of my past.
But I didn't...I knew I was being asked to...
...but I didn't
Saturday, October 28, 2006
One way to look at it...
The sad thing is that there's a good chance that there are people seeing this that actually AGREE with this guy.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
the joys of fatherhood
A story...
The boy's ever growing vocabulary now includes the word "poop." Although when he says it, it often rhymes with the word 'good.' He's now telling us that he has indeed pooped whenever he does it. He also tells us he pooped when he fact peed.
It's not an uncommon occurance to be doing something else and have him say, 'I poop.' So, the conversation goes this way:
"Daaaah Daaaah."
"Bucka bear?"
"I poop."
"Did you poop? Should daddy smell?"
"Uh huh."
(daddy doesn't smell poop at this point) "I think you're good. Can you play with toys?"
"Uh huh." And he runs away.
Last night was a particularly interesting conversation:
Boy runs into the dining room. "I poop"
Mommy- "Did you poop?" "Uh huh," he responds. Mommy then smells...no poop. "Did you pee?"
"Uh huh."
"Can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Daddy- "can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Mommy- "Can you say (p)?" Boy makes the sound of the letter p. "Can you say (ee)" Boy says eee. "Now can you say pee?"
"Uh huh," he says. "Okay, buddy, can you say pee?"
"I poop."
...at least he's telling us something, right?
The boy's ever growing vocabulary now includes the word "poop." Although when he says it, it often rhymes with the word 'good.' He's now telling us that he has indeed pooped whenever he does it. He also tells us he pooped when he fact peed.
It's not an uncommon occurance to be doing something else and have him say, 'I poop.' So, the conversation goes this way:
"Daaaah Daaaah."
"Bucka bear?"
"I poop."
"Did you poop? Should daddy smell?"
"Uh huh."
(daddy doesn't smell poop at this point) "I think you're good. Can you play with toys?"
"Uh huh." And he runs away.
Last night was a particularly interesting conversation:
Boy runs into the dining room. "I poop"
Mommy- "Did you poop?" "Uh huh," he responds. Mommy then smells...no poop. "Did you pee?"
"Uh huh."
"Can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Daddy- "can you say pee?"
"I poop."
Mommy- "Can you say (p)?" Boy makes the sound of the letter p. "Can you say (ee)" Boy says eee. "Now can you say pee?"
"Uh huh," he says. "Okay, buddy, can you say pee?"
"I poop."
...at least he's telling us something, right?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
I'd like to introduce you to my friend Brennan
So, he's not really my friend, but I am reading one of his books right now. Brennan Manning, who actually used to be a Franciscan monk, it one of the guys I love to read. He just gets it, and I love being around folks that 'just get it.'
In his book, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, the first chapter is titled 'Healing our Image of God and Ourselves,' and he writes this:
"For a disciple of Jesus, the process of spiritual growth is a gradual repudiation of the unreal image of God, [rather it is] the increasing openness to the true and living God. In my life, obeying the First Commandment-'I am Yahweh, your God and you shall have no other gods before me' has meant repudiating the god of wrath and fear handed on to me by preachers, teachers, and other church authoritiesin my youth, repudiating the strange god who sees all heathens to hell, who has give any one denomination a bonded franchise for salvation, who rubs his hands together with malicious glee and sends a Catholic to hell becasue he ate a hot dog on Friday, April 27, 1949. It has meant repudiating the strange god who flinches at gracing other churches with his presence; who despises beleaguered couple who practice birth control; who forbids a divorcee the Eucharist; who ordains that some of his creatures (whether for race or creed or some other reason) shall be denied equal opportunity for employement or housing; who tells married Catholic priests that they are excommunicated and mature women that in America that they can be vice-president but in the church they must sit down, submit and shut up."
Rock on with your bad self Brennan...
In his book, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, the first chapter is titled 'Healing our Image of God and Ourselves,' and he writes this:
"For a disciple of Jesus, the process of spiritual growth is a gradual repudiation of the unreal image of God, [rather it is] the increasing openness to the true and living God. In my life, obeying the First Commandment-'I am Yahweh, your God and you shall have no other gods before me' has meant repudiating the god of wrath and fear handed on to me by preachers, teachers, and other church authoritiesin my youth, repudiating the strange god who sees all heathens to hell, who has give any one denomination a bonded franchise for salvation, who rubs his hands together with malicious glee and sends a Catholic to hell becasue he ate a hot dog on Friday, April 27, 1949. It has meant repudiating the strange god who flinches at gracing other churches with his presence; who despises beleaguered couple who practice birth control; who forbids a divorcee the Eucharist; who ordains that some of his creatures (whether for race or creed or some other reason) shall be denied equal opportunity for employement or housing; who tells married Catholic priests that they are excommunicated and mature women that in America that they can be vice-president but in the church they must sit down, submit and shut up."
Rock on with your bad self Brennan...
Monday, October 23, 2006
Quick Question
I rarely do this, but I want to pose a question...
In a July article in the New York Times, Karell Roxas (a senior editor at gURL.com) says this:
"[Slut] is definately a term of familiarity with teens. They'll say 'Hi, slut' the way my generation would say 'Hi, chick' or 'Hi, dawg."
This idea is given support by Atoosa Rubenstien of Seventeen Magazine:
"Today slut, even ho, is used by girls in a positive way."
Apparently, slut is making the transition that pimp has already made.
Seriously?
Or am I too old fashioned...
...at 29...
In a July article in the New York Times, Karell Roxas (a senior editor at gURL.com) says this:
"[Slut] is definately a term of familiarity with teens. They'll say 'Hi, slut' the way my generation would say 'Hi, chick' or 'Hi, dawg."
This idea is given support by Atoosa Rubenstien of Seventeen Magazine:
"Today slut, even ho, is used by girls in a positive way."
Apparently, slut is making the transition that pimp has already made.
Seriously?
Or am I too old fashioned...
...at 29...
For the 1st time
I shook the hand of a person who was older than 100 years. This young lady was born in 1906! It blew my mind. Oh, the changes she's seen in those 100 years. My guess is that the technological advances in this past 100 years is far greater than the previous 100. Shoot, I'm 30 (almost) and I've seen some crazy stuff already...
Admittedly, I'm usually akward around elderly folks. Yesterday was no different. I feel like they can see through my handshakes and smiles revealing a person who is pretty uncomfortable. They probably can't, but I feel like they can.
The 4th Sunday of every other month, St. Mark's is slated to provide worship for the folks at the Heritage nursing center. In a pinch, I volunteered to help our music minister. Our normal group wasn't able to make it and it fell to him. Actually, there's a group of high schoolers that do it normally, so I felt like I should pitch in.
There is a song in their song books there. It's one of my favorites. After yesterday, it means a little more. It's called Brighten the Corner Where You Are. To talk and sing and share with folks who are shells of who they once were is a powerful thing. To hear them singing 'brighten the corner where you are,' knowing that even though they were 80, 90, or even 100 years old, stamped into my brain that Jesus was still important to them and that God still had a job for them.
It's one of the things I love about ministry...
...you pour yourself out, thinking you're doing something for someone, and it turns out that God touches you...
Admittedly, I'm usually akward around elderly folks. Yesterday was no different. I feel like they can see through my handshakes and smiles revealing a person who is pretty uncomfortable. They probably can't, but I feel like they can.
The 4th Sunday of every other month, St. Mark's is slated to provide worship for the folks at the Heritage nursing center. In a pinch, I volunteered to help our music minister. Our normal group wasn't able to make it and it fell to him. Actually, there's a group of high schoolers that do it normally, so I felt like I should pitch in.
There is a song in their song books there. It's one of my favorites. After yesterday, it means a little more. It's called Brighten the Corner Where You Are. To talk and sing and share with folks who are shells of who they once were is a powerful thing. To hear them singing 'brighten the corner where you are,' knowing that even though they were 80, 90, or even 100 years old, stamped into my brain that Jesus was still important to them and that God still had a job for them.
It's one of the things I love about ministry...
...you pour yourself out, thinking you're doing something for someone, and it turns out that God touches you...
Saturday, October 21, 2006
these are the times...
...that try the souls of folks in ministry...
I know that there are things I could do that would 'pack the gym,' but that's not good enough for me. I would know that it would only be to protray health.
I want things to be healthy, and there's no shortcuts on the way there...
...and the kids are far too important...
I know that there are things I could do that would 'pack the gym,' but that's not good enough for me. I would know that it would only be to protray health.
I want things to be healthy, and there's no shortcuts on the way there...
...and the kids are far too important...
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Oh I hope...
...that the powers that be here at church allow me to purchase a new MacBook.
I'm tired of my triceratops of a computer.
All those offering their well wishes and quick quips to answer the 'it'll never work on our network' are welcome...
I'm tired of my triceratops of a computer.
All those offering their well wishes and quick quips to answer the 'it'll never work on our network' are welcome...
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Pimpin' ain't easy
As I sat sipping a warm beverage at George House yesterday, I glanced out the front window. To my surprise I saw a Ford Windstar with spinner rims on it. My guess is that the owner spent some serious coin on the spinners. Not really...
Can you imagine the conversation that surrounds a decision to put spinners on a minivan?
Needless to say, I want a minivan now. Spinners just wouldn't look as cool on my Lancer.
Don't know if you read this, but thanks Lacie for introducing me to Jesus Camp. I was mortified. Seriously. I'm not sure what's going on there, but I would guess that there isn't much more than teaching kids how to scare the hell out of people.
I most often advocate the kind of things that Jesus did, like love people and stuff. You know, spending time and investing myself into people? Jesus was very patient with folks.
Not so much with the people who didn't get it and were supposed to. Like church leaders that don't get it...but I digress...
Project Runway Finale tonight! I wanna see Jeffrey's stuff, and I don't think he cheated. Take that Cruella deLaura.
Can you imagine the conversation that surrounds a decision to put spinners on a minivan?
Needless to say, I want a minivan now. Spinners just wouldn't look as cool on my Lancer.
Don't know if you read this, but thanks Lacie for introducing me to Jesus Camp. I was mortified. Seriously. I'm not sure what's going on there, but I would guess that there isn't much more than teaching kids how to scare the hell out of people.
I most often advocate the kind of things that Jesus did, like love people and stuff. You know, spending time and investing myself into people? Jesus was very patient with folks.
Not so much with the people who didn't get it and were supposed to. Like church leaders that don't get it...but I digress...
Project Runway Finale tonight! I wanna see Jeffrey's stuff, and I don't think he cheated. Take that Cruella deLaura.
Monday, October 16, 2006
I love to tell the story
Had lunch with a high school buddy and his wife after worship. It was cool.
The boy has recently learned that dipping things is tasty. His first favorite was ketchup. He started with fries and then moved onto his fingers and just ate the ketchup.
Yesterday, the four of us got to watch him dip everything into his applesauce. Fries, fingers and, yes, the grilled cheese.
Mom and Dad (especially Dad) we so proud...
Another Sunday...but not just another Sunday. It was laity Sunday and once a year, the ministry staff doesn't have much to do for the worship services. We basically get to participate, which is a great thing. Instead of a 'sermon' (I really despise that term by the way), folks who are serving in the church give a 'testimony' (another term that sits funny with me) about how God led them to St.Marks (and yes, there really is no apostrophe) and how their lives have been since coming.
It really is a time for people to tell God's story of activity in their life. And it was awesome...
There's not near enough of it happening in the context of worship, and there's no good reason why.
My take? Telling the story of God's activity causes us to worship. It allows us to hear and see the truth of God's love and grace and, actually, existance. It causes us to examine our own lives and see where God is being active...even to the point we might tell others, inside and outside the church. People may actually come to worship to, well, worship; which is just a word to label our saying 'thanks' to God and to make sure that we tell God how cool He is.
And we'd want to be telling God these things. Maybe even telling others these things...
The flip side is just as important. There's often times that our stories include hurt, stress, confusion, or doubt. Not one is immune to these feelings. Even Jesus freaked a little bit in Gethsemane. When people tell this part of their story it helps another body function...walking together through the deserts of life. We weren't wired to go at things alone.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Matt. Matt's a middle schooler that has some challenges. Honestly, if you didn't know him, you may think he has some developmental delays. Socially doesn't always get it either. But, Matt has said some of the most insightful things that this blogger has ever heard. Yesterday, we sang a song during worship. It had a very heavy waltz-like rhythm. 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3...you get the idea.
I looked over and caught a glimpse of Matt. He swayed back and forth with the music in his Matt sort of way...very akward, kinda goofy, eyes strangely rolled in his head, mouth wide open and it was the most beautiful thing. It was so pure and honest. I can still see him...
awesome, just awesome...
The boy has recently learned that dipping things is tasty. His first favorite was ketchup. He started with fries and then moved onto his fingers and just ate the ketchup.
Yesterday, the four of us got to watch him dip everything into his applesauce. Fries, fingers and, yes, the grilled cheese.
Mom and Dad (especially Dad) we so proud...
Another Sunday...but not just another Sunday. It was laity Sunday and once a year, the ministry staff doesn't have much to do for the worship services. We basically get to participate, which is a great thing. Instead of a 'sermon' (I really despise that term by the way), folks who are serving in the church give a 'testimony' (another term that sits funny with me) about how God led them to St.Marks (and yes, there really is no apostrophe) and how their lives have been since coming.
It really is a time for people to tell God's story of activity in their life. And it was awesome...
There's not near enough of it happening in the context of worship, and there's no good reason why.
My take? Telling the story of God's activity causes us to worship. It allows us to hear and see the truth of God's love and grace and, actually, existance. It causes us to examine our own lives and see where God is being active...even to the point we might tell others, inside and outside the church. People may actually come to worship to, well, worship; which is just a word to label our saying 'thanks' to God and to make sure that we tell God how cool He is.
And we'd want to be telling God these things. Maybe even telling others these things...
The flip side is just as important. There's often times that our stories include hurt, stress, confusion, or doubt. Not one is immune to these feelings. Even Jesus freaked a little bit in Gethsemane. When people tell this part of their story it helps another body function...walking together through the deserts of life. We weren't wired to go at things alone.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Matt. Matt's a middle schooler that has some challenges. Honestly, if you didn't know him, you may think he has some developmental delays. Socially doesn't always get it either. But, Matt has said some of the most insightful things that this blogger has ever heard. Yesterday, we sang a song during worship. It had a very heavy waltz-like rhythm. 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2 3...you get the idea.
I looked over and caught a glimpse of Matt. He swayed back and forth with the music in his Matt sort of way...very akward, kinda goofy, eyes strangely rolled in his head, mouth wide open and it was the most beautiful thing. It was so pure and honest. I can still see him...
awesome, just awesome...
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The Year of Jubilee
Remember a few years ago when Bono (and others) pushed for world debt relief? Well, Bono is still pushing for it, and rightly so. This idea of debt relief was part of a bigger picture of the Hebrew year of Jubilee. It's all in Leviticus 25, read it if you never have...I guess you don't have to, but it is cool.
As I have studied the Lord's Prayer over the past few weeks, I came to this peculiar line about forgiving others. Jesus teaches us about forgiveness in many ways. In Matt 18, he teaches the parable of the unforgiving servant. A parable about forgiveness using a situation that was financially motivated. Which led me to read more about the Year of Jubilee. There are teachings there about land returning to it's original owner, freeing workers that were working to pay off debts, and how to decide on fair prices for land among other things. It's a very descriptive and thorough explanation. The real tragedy is that there's no conclusive evidence that it ever happened the way God layed it out.
To me though, it looks like an effort on God's part to make sure that we remember that the whole world is really God's and that we don't become so indebted to each other that those debts outweigh our 'indebtedness' to God. After all, no one is to during the Year of Jubilee either. God promises a bounty from the previous year that will supply the needs of the year everyone takes off!
Steering the car back onto the road...we get the whole debt thing, right? As in, most of us have some? And so it seems that relieving our indebtedness to each other begets a special kind of freedom; almost a restoration to an orginal form of living and a truer sense of what life is. As we show the same kind of mercy toward others that God has shown us we start to become the citizens of God's kingdom. In fact, Jesus starts this whole story with the familiar, "The Kingdom of God is like..."
Forgiveness isn't about living forgiven...is probably more about living together.
The beauty of the picture of the Year of Jubilee is just that. It's not the nuts and bolts of debt relief and real estate returned. It's the picture that I start to see in my mind of how we might be able to live together as a result of the living out of Jubilee. It's not about the fact that we don't have to pay our money to our debtors. It's about the freedom of being debt-free.
This is another time when I am sure that God isn't just fire insurance. I know that God's way is a step up from the normal that we find ourselves in. Oh, and by the way,
Jesus died and was resurrected during a Jubilee year...
As I have studied the Lord's Prayer over the past few weeks, I came to this peculiar line about forgiving others. Jesus teaches us about forgiveness in many ways. In Matt 18, he teaches the parable of the unforgiving servant. A parable about forgiveness using a situation that was financially motivated. Which led me to read more about the Year of Jubilee. There are teachings there about land returning to it's original owner, freeing workers that were working to pay off debts, and how to decide on fair prices for land among other things. It's a very descriptive and thorough explanation. The real tragedy is that there's no conclusive evidence that it ever happened the way God layed it out.
To me though, it looks like an effort on God's part to make sure that we remember that the whole world is really God's and that we don't become so indebted to each other that those debts outweigh our 'indebtedness' to God. After all, no one is to during the Year of Jubilee either. God promises a bounty from the previous year that will supply the needs of the year everyone takes off!
Steering the car back onto the road...we get the whole debt thing, right? As in, most of us have some? And so it seems that relieving our indebtedness to each other begets a special kind of freedom; almost a restoration to an orginal form of living and a truer sense of what life is. As we show the same kind of mercy toward others that God has shown us we start to become the citizens of God's kingdom. In fact, Jesus starts this whole story with the familiar, "The Kingdom of God is like..."
Forgiveness isn't about living forgiven...is probably more about living together.
The beauty of the picture of the Year of Jubilee is just that. It's not the nuts and bolts of debt relief and real estate returned. It's the picture that I start to see in my mind of how we might be able to live together as a result of the living out of Jubilee. It's not about the fact that we don't have to pay our money to our debtors. It's about the freedom of being debt-free.
This is another time when I am sure that God isn't just fire insurance. I know that God's way is a step up from the normal that we find ourselves in. Oh, and by the way,
Jesus died and was resurrected during a Jubilee year...
The boy takes a pooh (and leaves it)
It's not very often that I end up with a free evening, but after flying solo for yet another meeting, I headed home. Home in time to go to Wal-mart with the family. So, it was me, wife and boy on a scavenger hunt at the new Wal-Mart in town (that's 2 here now in case you're keeping score).
I think many of you know that the boy is using more words now and can talk in sentances if he wants to. This is a cool thing, however the not cool thing is that he expects you to listen and respond to everything. And as you could probably guess, we grow somewhat tired of hearing 'Da da (or mama), I boom!' 461 times in a row. So after a short time in Wal-mart, we were trying to occupy him with stuff so he wouldn't go crazy for us not responding to him every time.
He also loaded our cart up with 5 extra toothbrushes and 3 tubes of toothpaste...just trying to helpful.
So, we made our way back to the baby section...someone's out of his highchair and now get to sit in a booster. By now, he's starting to go nuts, and A. has a 'great' idea...give him a toy from the shelf for him to play with and then tell him that he needs to leave it behind for next time when it's time to go. Her choice? A soft Winnie the Pooh bear that's as big as the boy. He sees it, and then begins to hug it and give it kisses, all the time saying 'Eyeunn Pooh!' (translation I want Pooh)
A.'s reaction? Oh crap, he's never gonna put that thing back...
Mine? He can say Pooh?
By now I am really impressed that the boy can say Pooh when referring to the bear. He's actually been able to say poop for some time now and daddy's so proud. I am so impressed I'm ready to buy the bear for him, while A. (the smarter one of the two of us) is urging the boy let go of Pooh. I'm oblivious...
Needless to say, leaving Pooh behind was quite an ordeal and the few parents that were back there in the section with us had a good time at our expense. Well, A.'s actually...she looked at me and said, 'I take full responsibility for this.'
Eyeunn Pooh...I can still hear him saying it over and over again. Oh and just in case you're wondering, we did find him something to play with that he could take home...
...a gallon of skim milk...
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
ideas on tolerance
Today I find myself struck by the ways in which Christians are viewed/portrayed by the writers of some mainstream television shows. Most folks are viewing (as evidenced by the writing) Christians as ultra-conservative, insensative phrase using, condesending, judgemental, holier-than-thous. Let me start by saying a few things...
First, most Christians today, at least the ones with voices in the mainstream aren't really doing anything to bust the stereotype. I think it might be because the backlash is the sort of 'persecution' Jesus talks about in Matthew 5. Anyone can turn on the 700 club or any number to TV preachers to get enough ammo in their gun. In fact, if you have the time search 'God Stuff' or 'This Week in God' on You Tube and you'll see all the stuff that 'Christians' do to give such a bad taste to folks.
Second, it is nothing less than frustrating that I, as a Christian (a 'pastor' no less) that I get to be painted with that brush. Woo frickin' Hoo, I say. So, the loud voices of the minority of Christians need to use their voice to start entering into some dialogue with others in the church, and quit using it to tell us who's going to Hell for reading the Da Vinci Code or how soon I'll be into guys by watching SpongeBob or playing with a purple Teletubbie. I send out a resounding 'thanks for that.'
Third, I am a Christian, and I am painted with all sorts of brushes. So, I feel compelled to say something I think is very important in the conversation. I'm sorry. I apologize to all the folks that have a serious problem with the way some evangelists do their thing. I apologize on their behalf. Oh, and if you have disagreed with most of what I've said to this point...spare me the "Jesus used harsh language, so we should too" crap. The truth is that the vast majority of the time HE WAS TALKING TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF THE DAY and not the 'so-called' heathens when using that particular lexicon. Jesus' harshest words came out against those who were supposed to be getting it and they weren't.
So, again, I'm sorry. I know it isn't much, but it's a start...
One last thing though, all the folks on the tolerance band wagon as in, 'the Christians don't have any of it.' (tolerance that is) Maybe you all could do a little better job tolerating the views of the percieved 'wack-jobs' and try to enter some sort of conversation with those folks just like you have said you have with the Bhuddist, Hindu, Muslim, homosexual, atheist, white-collar criminals etc. Maybe it isn't fair to put a characture of a personality type on a television show just to prove a point.
It's not quite fair to put that picture of Christians at their worst against people at their average...maybe even their best. If you wanted to be fair, perhaps a worst versus worst would illicit a more accurate picture...
...but that's not always the best TV now is it...
Monday, October 09, 2006
Good News...
...I spent way too much time finding video on you tube last week. But it inspires me to share a few of my favorite things.
- SNL- Mr. Peepers and Alec Baldwin as Pete Schweaty.
- Blue Man Group...they ROCK!
- I heart all forms of Super Mario Brothers
- Tecmo Bowl
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn
I know, I'm such a dude.
or try this one, I like it a little better
Five02 is still kicking and that's a good thing.
So, I'm learning all the time. I hope I never stop...
...but that's kinda up to me, right?
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Enough is enough
and no, I'm not fed up with anything in particular today...
in fact, the opposite is true. It's been a good day so far. Coffee Amici, a bike ride, and a good book...other recent highlights:
in fact, the opposite is true. It's been a good day so far. Coffee Amici, a bike ride, and a good book...other recent highlights:
- getting a free preview on DISH that allows us Bravo so, we WILL be seeing the finale of Project Runway (woo frickin' hoo)
- me and the boy's first bike ride together--reports are that both of us loved it
- sesame sticks, sesame stick, sesame sticks
- another trip to the thai restaraunt, Satang Thai Cuisine on Tiffin...go spend your money there and keep them open; first trip to Maria's Taco on N Main...it's Chipotle without the price tag (again I say woo frickin hoo, baby)--12" soft taco...yum
- nearly done with my book and it's been a great read. well worth the time...'Everybody Wants to go to Heaven, But No One Wants to Die' by David Crowder
And about this 'getting ahead' business. I think it's fair to say that it is a tremedously overused phrase and futhermore the concept is greviously over-appreciated. It's just that people say it when they feel behind. So, I find myself completely identifying with the author of this snippet of Proverbs when he says that he'll forget about God if he has too much; and I'm far too much of a wuss to rob someone...so there's that too...in any case, I think the feeling I deal with is not so much about conentment, but knowing when I have enough.
Can I also say that money helps/make people do some crazy poo? (I guess I just did; so no permission needed) So then, am I saying that rich people will not enjoy the comforts of heaven? Ummm..no, not really even close. The fact of life (and capitalism) is that some people will have money and stuff than others. I am saying that extreme tight-fistedness and disregard for human need is in fact an issue. Sort of a 'to whom more is given, more is required' line of thinking if you will.
Here's the thing for me today...there is a difference between feeling 'secure' and feeling 'blessed'. Understanding one's being blessed illicts a certain kind of security, that's true. Shouldn't there be though a measure of faith in our dealings? I think that's (in some way) the proverbs guy is saying; that if there's no measure of faith in us understanding God's provision in our lives, then why even bother thanking God for it? Moreover, I've heard people talk about how blessed they are when what they're really saying is 'I'm rubber-stamping the Heavenly Wal-Mart smiley face on my situation to make you think I more humble than I really am.'
(please pardon the broad, sweeping generalizations here, but I think you know what I'm saying)
What am I saying exactly? A life rich of God's blessing isn't always a secure one. Security wasn't promised to us, but God does, in fact, lavish His love and grace and mercy and faithfulness and provision on us. And a life of enough allows us to feel God's blessings and still require the measure of faith that keeps the cycle going; it allows us to see God at work in our lives and in the lives of others...
...and there's no better blessing than that...
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
and from the news of the weird desk...
...Poisoned Pigeons Fall from the Sky in Texarkana
read it, but only if you want to...
I've been wrestling with the idea of what it is to live with enough. Not too much, not too little. Proverbs 30:8-9 states (in a nutshell) if I have too much, then I'll tend to forget God and if I have too little, then I might steal and dishonor God; just give me my daily bread. I know the conversations in my house often revolved around getting ahead, as in when are we going to... and unless I write a great book or something, chances are it's not going to happen anytime soon. Or at the very least, our idea of what getting ahead won't be happening anytime soon.
I have a good friend (also in ministry) that says that we're always trying to work ourselves out of a job...and he's right. This fact doesn't bode well for me and the wife's plan either.
Here's the thing that often kicks me in the pants: we do in fact have enough now. Not only that, if so many of our dollars weren't committed otherwise we might have more than enough. I feel so blessed that God provides despite our decisions which in some way inspires me to make better ones, while at the same time it urges parts of me toward complacency...knowing that God is good and wants bless us.
'So then, should we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Certainly not.' Once again. Paul, you're right...
...when I find out what all this means to me, that'll be a good thing...
...at the very least, I'll be able to teach on it for Saturday night...
read it, but only if you want to...
I've been wrestling with the idea of what it is to live with enough. Not too much, not too little. Proverbs 30:8-9 states (in a nutshell) if I have too much, then I'll tend to forget God and if I have too little, then I might steal and dishonor God; just give me my daily bread. I know the conversations in my house often revolved around getting ahead, as in when are we going to... and unless I write a great book or something, chances are it's not going to happen anytime soon. Or at the very least, our idea of what getting ahead won't be happening anytime soon.
I have a good friend (also in ministry) that says that we're always trying to work ourselves out of a job...and he's right. This fact doesn't bode well for me and the wife's plan either.
Here's the thing that often kicks me in the pants: we do in fact have enough now. Not only that, if so many of our dollars weren't committed otherwise we might have more than enough. I feel so blessed that God provides despite our decisions which in some way inspires me to make better ones, while at the same time it urges parts of me toward complacency...knowing that God is good and wants bless us.
'So then, should we go on sinning so that grace may abound? Certainly not.' Once again. Paul, you're right...
...when I find out what all this means to me, that'll be a good thing...
...at the very least, I'll be able to teach on it for Saturday night...
Monday, October 02, 2006
Sunday, October 01, 2006
I love it when..
...profound truth comes at you in an unexpected package.
And it happened today in Sunday School.
We were talking about gaining perspective on how God views our wants and needs. We watched Rob Bell's nooma video entitled 'kickball.' The long and short of it is a story about him and his son at the mall. His 2 1/2 year old son sees something at one of those kisoks in the walkway that he 'needs.' It's a ball on an elastic string that one attaches to their wrist and can throw and catch in the same motion. The boy is told no, and procedes to melt down.
Meanwhile, Rob (as if we're on a first name basis :)) had planned the whole time to take his son across the street to purchase a brand new kickball. His son, overjoyed, picked one out...I think you see the point.
Upon a discussion about our own ability to see past our own situations, a couple of the teens in the class started talking about how their marching band instructors are always on them to make sure that even if it seems that band members are in (or out) of position, that they must keep the whole picture in mind and trust that their director has them in the right spot for the whole picture to make sense.
Clearly, those folks got it...
...and so did the folks listening to them.
who am I kidding, I got it just a little better too...
And it happened today in Sunday School.
We were talking about gaining perspective on how God views our wants and needs. We watched Rob Bell's nooma video entitled 'kickball.' The long and short of it is a story about him and his son at the mall. His 2 1/2 year old son sees something at one of those kisoks in the walkway that he 'needs.' It's a ball on an elastic string that one attaches to their wrist and can throw and catch in the same motion. The boy is told no, and procedes to melt down.
Meanwhile, Rob (as if we're on a first name basis :)) had planned the whole time to take his son across the street to purchase a brand new kickball. His son, overjoyed, picked one out...I think you see the point.
Upon a discussion about our own ability to see past our own situations, a couple of the teens in the class started talking about how their marching band instructors are always on them to make sure that even if it seems that band members are in (or out) of position, that they must keep the whole picture in mind and trust that their director has them in the right spot for the whole picture to make sense.
Clearly, those folks got it...
...and so did the folks listening to them.
who am I kidding, I got it just a little better too...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
