This article by Micheal Moore is really good. Don’t get me wrong, I am not what you would consider a fan of his. Even when I want to like him, I struggle to find him compelling. But when someone, anyone, gets Jesus right, I am committed to being the trumpeter. So check it out.
I have found facebook fairly useful. However, there is one thing that is causing me some confusion. I have friends that I have had for a long time. People I love very very dearly, that are now on Facebook. What I notice is that many of these people post purposefully inflammatory stuff, via status updates, links, videos, polls, etc… I am wondering what people are asking for when they post these things. Do they want those who agree to say so? Do they want dissenters to bring it up? Perhaps this is overly generous, but perhaps they want to invite public discussion? Given that when I see people who dissagree post, it seems to always end poorly, I can’t see discussion really being wanted.
When I post, I desire people to think. I try to not say “believe this”, or “X person is stone cold stupid”. I would like for people to get their hands on dirty, subversive little things called facts, wrestle with them in public forums, and see how things end up for them. My problem is also thus, however: When i see someone make a comment, or insinuate something I consider erroneous or misleading, I feel the need to correct it, since these people posting as my friends makes me feel like I give passive assent to their comments by my own inaction.
I just get tired of picking on the same friends for posting the same agendized, non-helpful pot-stirring stuff. And actually, I just don’t like it when Christians do it. My other friends I actually don’t care. But Christ followers should know better.
And before you ask, Scott, I am not talking about you. I think you are funny in your passion. Plus, I agree a lot. But not always. But you are still funny then.
I know, I know. I need to listen to more music. But to be honest, I haven’t exhausted the bands I like yet. So I suppose Fiver Iron Frenzy, Sixpence, Zeppelin, and BNL will continue to get lyric time on my blog.
I love this song.
Despite our selfish selves
Despite all loss of hope
Despite our lack of faith
Despite our stony hearts
Despite the waning moon
Despite the ebbing tide
Of how we think this world should be
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye Heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Today at school, I heard a pastor say, “I don’t care about the education, I just need the piece of paper”, in regards to degrees, etc… He was echoed by a person hoping to go into ministry, who eagerly agreed. The situation came up because they found themselves disagreeing with something a professor said. They proceeded to grow in solidarity that they simply “survive” seminary by ignoring everything they don’t believe already. Therefore, although they have the “piece of paper”, they couldn’t have been bothered to stretch themselves, considering their singular experience in life as superior to the diversity that comes from lifelong students and worshipers of God from other sides of the fences. Still, I just don’t understand why some churches grow to be so narrow minded and shallow…
Regarding atheists: Descartes was called an atheist. It is because he pushed a little too hard on the church’s role in society. It wasn’t a question of belief in God, it was a question on belief in the church as God, hehe. Ooooh, you know who else bore the atheist nomiker? Christians. Yep. The pre-Constantinian Roman Empire called them “no-gods” because they rejected belief in the pantheon that was worshiped in Rome. So we see that atheists can sometimes be better Christians than the ones slinging the name… I am an A. I am an A-T. I am an A-T-H-E-I-S-T. And I have C-H-R-I-S-T in my H-E-A-R-T….
The following people have my mental hugs today…. Mike Story, Jason Crow, Jeff Swan
Been thinking about an Eikon Catechism. I know for a lot of folks that is intimidating, but I think it could be really cool, along with being highly beneficial. i was doing a bit of research and on the Vatican’s website, there is a table of contents here describing their catechism. That might be a little much for us. I am seriously thinking about something like a 12-week interactive deal, that would act as a form of pre-baptism initiation into the faith. Service projects? The story of God? Bible? Prayer? Spiritual practices? life? Which docterines, if any? God, naturally, Christology? Attitude? What would it look like to have an initiation about how to practically love your neighbor? worship? God and science? Church? Kingdom? Our purpose?
Also, what age would be most helpful? I think that around 16-17 would be the best time for children to make any commitments they might make. Any earlier than that, they are still at the whim of parents and don’t have the freedom afforded to them by cars. Getting your liscence is really the new American Bar Mitzveh. Not that I dissaprove of children making commitments earlier, I hope they do. However, I have been toying around with putting off any kind of confirmation until they have the most freedom with which to make that decision. Thoughts?
However, I would love to make a really fun meeting time for all ages of kids. Kids in ancient Hebrew schools learned appropriate parts of the Bible as they matured. Psalms and proverbs were very helpful for them as learners, age 5-8, getting their foundations formed. The prophets didn’t come till later. Is there something to this?
I would love any input you have that might be helpful. Also any thoughts from parents who had/have kids having gone through a baptism/confirmation class, ritual, etc…. Thanks.
I do remember when I was younger, going to chapel midweek at private school. I was 5. I remember that being boring. What wasn’t boring was when I was caught climbing under the pews and dragged along the concrete all the way to the principle’s office where I was paddled for disrespect.
I can also remember attending a church when I was in 5th grade. I don’t recall much about it other than that it was boring. I sat in the service with my mother because the alternative was going to their Sunday school class for pre-teens. During one of such meetings I was asked which Bible story was my favorite. It seemed like an eternity that I sat in silence with everyone in the class staring at me, wondering what was wrong with the kid who had never heard of Adam or Noah.
Those were not regular experiences for me. The first time I attended church regularly was in college. I attended a community Christian church with my mom. The music was hauntingly familiar, sung by a guy who belonged in an opera house, backed up by mediocre singers and a staggeringly ok piano player. Downstairs was different though. The high school group played music that the kids listened to, or at least it sounded the same. Singing heartfelt songs to Jesus, and they even closed their eyes and raised their hands. I confess this last part made me cringe, and I felt embarrassed for them because they looked like cult members. Still, the music moved me, and I joined in.
Since, I have worshipped at black charismatic churches, Pentecostal healing services, with 10,000 other people at festivals, intimate times with 5 and a guitar, and everything in between. I enjoy Catholic services, and especially Episcopal ones. I currently worship at a Presbyterian church on Sunday mornings, while I secretly wish I could raise my hands and close my eyes.
There have been some amazing times where I have felt that the balance of people using their musical talents lines up with the heart of people desiring to be led in worship and it is magic. Joseph at his best is simply transcendent. At his worst he is like low quality pizza. Still pretty damn good. The times when our old Remnant community worshipped together, or now when Eikon does, the boundary between God’s kingdom and ours becomes incredibly thin for me.
Of course, worship is more than music and/or liturgy. And to that end, some of my deepest worship experiences have come from building homes, befriending homeless, teaching weekly classes at poor community centers, and having amazing Christ-centered conversations over Blue Moon and cheap cigars. I love to read and feel like God speaks to me very powerfully when a book and a highlighter is involved.
Please. Share with me some things that you have experienced in worship, for good or ill. Thanks.
A calling is not what God has preordained for you to do. Therefore no one has just one “calling”. A calling is what happens when you marry your passion and your abilities into something that furthers God’s kingdom.
I have found my calling.
Apparently, I am the best karaoke singer around. Sure, there are others with better voices, but no one knows their source material as good as me, really owns the song, and interacts with the crowd. My unique background as a pastor (making me comfortable upfront), love of 80’s music, and retarded devotion to analyzing song lyrics has made me a karaoke monster. Now to use it for the kingdom…
Check out this article in the NY Times. I know where I stand on health care reform. I am getting pretty tired of special interests and lie-machines getting in the way of reform. I have been thinking about this for a while. We have set up a system where simply because someone is wealthier than someone else, they will get to live longer, despite their life choices (I think of many famous people who get pushed to the front of the line for kidney transplants after a life of abusing their bodies). I used to be on the other side of the fence. You know what changed my opinion? Becoming poor. Working multiple jobs and trying to go to school with a disabled wife and 2 kids. And pay health insurance? Heh. You know how I have health insurance? The Presbos. First Presbyterian of Granbury pays for my medical insurance. I digress. The right to life and how long you live should not be determined by how wealthy you are.
Another note: many fiscal conservatives (I am not referring to pro-life, yay God social conservatives) say they like the idea of competition in business because it drives them to make better products at cheaper prices in order to compete. They are lying. That is really what the public option is about. Breaking the oligopoly that exists now in health care and producing a public (read: not socialist) option for people to go to. So there. I took a stand on an issue. I am not pro-Obama, or anti-Obama. I simply think that this is the most Christlike thing to do, given the options presented.
Argue. Discuss.
In his sermon on the mount, Jesus informs us that Kingdom living involves letting go of our anger and contempt for others. I realized while I was preparing to preach about that, I had someone who was angry with me, and part of the problem was my anger and contemptible attitude. Therefore I
was convicted to “leave my gift at the altar” and reconcile with this person. I tried to call him, but I had the wrong number, so I emailed him. Here is the conversation:
On Apr 27, 2009, at 4:08 PM, you wrote:
Mr. X,
My name is Chad from Lone Star Comics in Fort Worth. I was told from
Cass, our manager, that you came in and let him know of your
displeasure with my service. A week or so afterward, I saw you
outside the store, and you called “F-You!” and gave me the finger. I
could not figure out why you had such a hostile attitude towards me
or what I had done to offend you. A few times you mentioned my
poilitics, but I didn’t remember having a conversation about that.
It took me a little bit, but I believe I do remember having a
conversation with you sometime. At any rate, I wanted to apologize
to you for any rudeness I may have given you or any way in which I
was disrespectful. I hope you can forgive me for my poor choice of
words and poor attitude towards you. This is coming from me, not
Lone Star. Thanks.
Chad
from Lone Star
His response was a follows:
Hi Chad,
I was the one that was too harsh the other day. I was not in a very
good mood and even if I have issues with you on the political side I
should not have yelled out.
I think we do not mix well but I have found that people can often find
common ground after events like this.
Yes I do accept your apology and I offer you mine as well. We should
just take a step back.
Thanks for taking the time,
X X
I wrote back that I look forward to seeing him again and that there is a firm handshake waiting… Apparently Jesus knows what he is talking about.
