Tale of Two Churches, Part Two

Not your fathers church

A quick stop at Starbucks (my daughter Heather loves Mocha Frappachinos) and we were off to Mosaic, our second church for the morning. If Sierra Madre Congregational is like California in 1975, Mosaic (to me, mind you) is like, well, um, lets see, the Planet Zork in 2053. No sanctuary, no hymnals, pews, ushers in suits, no organ, no pastors in robes, not even a cross.

Ok, so right there, just now, I guess I exposed some of my questions and "issues" about the whole emergent church thing. Those of you who have been with me since the beginning of my personal Blogorama know that I love the church, in quite all its forms, dearly. But the Emergent Church, for me, is like that strikingly hip couple that moved into the condo next door. They dress so cool, it hurts. Their interior decorating involks all sorts of wild ideas and themes, but not a feeling of home. They have jobs in the internet, and can actually speak entire sentences without using any terms I can understand. And they give you looks on occasion that seem to say, "You are so old school, dude." Sigh!

That said, I would have to also say that in this church (rented auditorium at a Christian school campus, complete with outdoor tents for various ministries of the church) the gospel is proclaimed. But this church is truly emergent, baby. Good, and fairly generic praise music, with three guitars, drums, bongo, and synthesizer. Good vocals. Then a segue video about the theme of the sermon for the morning. Then a short drama/comedy presentation which also illustrated the theme of the morning. An artist off to one site painting the logo of the theme for the morning during the service. Strikingly cool. Complicated, yet simple. Sensory overload, to a point. Is this a movement of God, or another trend. Funny to think, that compared to this, the Vineyard is old and boring.

The demographic: 20s and 30s, and very close to the age and racial demographic I noted for the area I noted below, in that there were all sorts of races present. Lots of crying babies, and "Preschool #s" would occasionally appear on a big screen (quietly) during the service. My daughter and I surmised that this meant if you got the lucky number, your kid was somewhere, at that moment, raising heck, and you'd best go rescue that preschooler. Like leaving your car lights on, only different. I was probably among 50 or so people over 40 years old, in a room with about 1,000 present. So, if you are closing in on your AARP membership, you might feel out of place.

The spoken Word you ask? Very good. Clearly, this sermon had not been dialed in by the pastor. He walked us through four separate New Testament illustrations of Jesus and the Christian life well, making his point, and making it in the context of modern life. Ancient and modern (very modern) connected well. Glory to God.

My one big problem. The thematic of the preaching series of this church since Easter has been "Imagine - Creating the Life of Your Dreams". Ok. This bothered me. So, is this what the church should be promoting - the "Life of Our Dreams"? What if my dreams are selfish, and pointless. What if my dreams sort of, but not really, involve the guiding of the Holy Spirit? What if my dreams are about 14 degrees off of True North of what Christ is really calling me to do and be?

Your dreams? My dreams? I don't trust my dreams. I can only cling to the dreams that God in Christ has for me. Seek out those dreams; pursue God. Perhaps its just my semantical problem, but I cannot be trusted by my own dreams, they must be slowly, daily, painfully sometimes, conformed to the will of Christ.

Better idea for a theme: "Imagine - Creating the Life of His Dreams for you"

For some other very interesting perspectives on this sort of thing try reading here, and here.

Parting thought. In neither of these two places did I feel at home. No one offered to ask my name, or how I was, or how I got there. At least in the Congregational church we got to shake hands during the service. In the end, is not our best experience of the church through the touch, the smile, the listening ear of a human? All the forms of liturgy and pomp (or lack thereof), of worship and order tend to recede in meaning unless we are met by others in a personal way.

Enough said. Grace and Peace

A Tale of Two Churches

Your father's church...

As some of you may know, I have been doing some church exploring for the past nine months or so. I have posted about it before here and several other different places.

Today, I went to church twice. And I have lots of things spinning around inside my head now. A disclaimer before I begin. Following the way in which God has created all sorts of different shapes and kinds of people, so too is His church reflected, and I love this. Some of you will note that I almost turned into a Catholic last month. But no, wouldn't be prudent. So, for anyone reading (that is all 12 of you) nothing I am going to say here is meant to be critical, although it might sound that way. I love the church, in all its forms, and I hope by what I say, that I might, in some small way, help it grow and flourish.

So. First, to understand what I am about to do, go look at Ship of Fools Mystery Worshipper website. Today, I was a mystery worshipper of sorts at two churches. This first is pictured above. Its your father's type of church.

Sierra Madre Congregational Church

This church is located in a serene suburban setting that most people would mistake for "Main Street, USA". I go here because my 11 year old daughter has friends in and enjoys greatly the youth department.

I attended the 9:30 worship service. The pastor seems to be a kind, warm, and very pastoral fellow who has lead this church for many years. This is a very white, upper middle class church; the choir was singing this morning, and there was not a single person in the choir under the age of 40. My guess on the mean age for the choir and congregation is about 50 years old. The median age - 55. This is interesting, as within a five mile radius, the population is 53% white, 29% Hispanic, and 24% Asian. The median five mile radius age is 37.6. Remember this for the other church I visited.

A new Missions Director was introduced to the congregation, and her brief comments were for me, the highlight of the morning. When asked what she had to say about the new opportunity to lead Missions, she commented, "This is about glorifying God". Well done.

The sermon was from Ephesians 1:3-6; and the title "Why do we Worship God?". Pastor Anderson really only had one answer, and it was a good one. Grace. The only challenge for me was that the pastor repeated this about (not kidding here) 30 times. It seems to me that there are many more reasons why we might want to worship God. Good topic, very light on content. And if you were not a frequent church attender, there was too much "church speak" in this message. Not seeker friendly. At the end of the sermon, communion was served, which is always a sweet moment for me in any setting; although no words of institution were offered, and the pastor said, at the end "its time to drink, drink ye all".

My thoughts in summary; I grew up about two miles from this church, and really, this service felt like I had never left home, and been frozen in a time warp. This worship service felt like Arcadia, California in 1975. The clothes, the sermon, the music. Everything.

So then, I went to another church. You might call it the bi-polar opposite of Sierra Madre. See that above.

A "Standing O" for Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

We applaud for politicians...so why not God?

As you may have noted, before all this Pope business began, I was wandering randomly through this book, which is the latest offering from my buddy, Mark Roberts. Wonderful book on the Psalms. Buy it, use it for your small group.

Mark makes a very interesting point about praising God, versus praising the other things in our culture that we love to praise. What are these things, that garner our praise....and our "Standing Os"?

Try:

The President
The Dodgers
Da Bears
The Olympics
U2
A Rod
J Lo

Need I continue? If we so easily will stand and roar and make fools our ourselves for these things, what not for the Creator of the Universe. Hmmm.....think about it. I am.

I Don't Understand This

First, go here.

Tonight, we received news that our dear friend Julie, according to her doctors, may have about two months to live. Her cancer won't seen to give up. But neither will God, and we will continue to pray.

And then, minutes later I stumbled upon this. Interesting how the dots get connected in strange ways by a mysterious Lord.

Pray with us, for Julie, her husband Tony, and their children Thomas and Emma. Pray for a miracle, that is what they need.

File Under: Stupid Ways to Get Noticed in the Press

#1 on the list of stupid things to do...

It seems that actress Maggie Gyllenhaal has this to say about the September 11 attacks.

As I always look first to under 30 actresses who major (at Columbia) in Eastern Religion and Literature for definitive opinions on world affairs, I was overjoyed to learn that Ms Gyllenhaal feels that the US was responsible in part for 9/11. How illuminating.

I am so glad that Maggie has sent the record straight. She has my vote to be given a distinguished teaching chair at the Richard Gere Institute of Actors Who Are Unqualified to Speak a Word About World Polictics.

Using the qualifications and logic of Ms. Gyllenhaal, I, a commercial real estate consultant, will soon be offering my thoughts on Brain Surgeries that can be performed in the safety of your own home.

WWJD About the Judicial Nominees?

Is this alright to do?.....

Although I am a registered Republican, I am not so sure Jesus is.

So I am driving to work this morning, listening to NPR, and I hear about all the hub-bub going on about he Senate Judicial nominees. I think to myself, "darn Democrats". Really, I did think the word darn....well, this time. Democrats bug me a lot. And they like to take my money from me (ok, so its God's money that I am borrowing for a while, I know).

So, then later today I come across this piece by Michael Spencer about this thing that happened this weekend. Disclaimer, it is going to take a few minutes to read, this but it is so very worth reading. I promise. I must admit, Dr. Dobson has always given me a bit of the willies to listen to. While I appreciate what he has done for the American family, I am not sure I buy all his politics. Particularly because I am not so sure that Jesus' politics and Dr. Dobson's are such a perfect match.

After you have digested Michaels piece, here are my reflections. First, the little I know about Jesus is that he did come to present to us all a completely different paradigm about life here, and the life hereafter. So given this, perhaps Jesus might not be too hot on using the church for political purposes. Now, my friend Rob Asghar would be among the first to remind me that Jesus might have a different paradigm for lots of other things political; how we care for those less fortunate, whether war is really "just" or if that is a convenient form of logic to justify our imperialistic tendencies (spoken by a supporter of the Iraq war), and a host of other issues about our political discourse. We like politics that make our world safe, that keep the bad guys at arms distance. But that darn Jesus, he was a lot more fearless than I am. He was quite a heroic figure, that guy.

There really is a lot more I am not so sure of as I grow older. Maybe Jesus has a "third way", that we might all want to pursue together. What are your thoughts? Does Michael Spencer have a point? Are our paradigms wrong? Lets do some thinking, for the Kingdom.

The Tough Part of Being President

"Am I holding this guys hand?
Aw, anything for more oil....open ANWAR quick!"

Who says its not rough being President? From the web:

A major thing you should beware of is knowing if a Saudi Arabian likes you or not. If one does not like you he will not touch you (Gestures, n.d., 58). If a Saudi Arabian ever hugs you, consider yourself honored (Gestures, n.d., 58). This is a good thing and means you are well liked (Gestures, n.d., 58). Hugging and touching in Saudi Arabia is condoned between same sex persons, it is very common to see two males walking together and holding hands, even if it is two government officials or military personnel
(Gestures, n.d., 58).

Thus ends today's culture lesson.

More on Benedict XVI

Not really a nut case....

Cruising around the web tonight got my attention in regards to several issues regarding the new Pope, and how that fits in with what we protestants believe about the centrality of Christ. First, to see the actual words of the Pope in his homily during the Inauguration today, go here. I must excerpt my favorite part here:

All of us belong to the communion of Saints, we who have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we who draw life from the gift of Christ’s Body and Blood, through which he transforms us and makes us like himself. Yes, the Church is alive – this is the wonderful experience of these days. During those sad days of the Pope’s illness and death, it became wonderfully evident to us that the Church is alive. And the Church is young. She holds within herself the future of the world and therefore shows each of us the way towards the future. The Church is alive and we are seeing it: we are experiencing the joy that the Risen Lord promised his followers. The Church is alive – she is alive because Christ is alive, because he is truly risen. In the suffering that we saw on the Holy Father’s face in those days of Easter, we contemplated the mystery of Christ’s Passion and we touched his wounds. But throughout these days we have also been able, in a profound sense, to touch the Risen One. We have been able to experience the joy that he promised, after a brief period of darkness, as the fruit of his resurrection.

So, after reading this, do you suppose the Cardinals have either elected a liberal nut-case, or worse, a conservative weirdo? I think not. But to read the thoughts of some creative-thinking journalists, perhaps the Cardinals are loony. Go check out what Mark Roberts is saying about this, and decide for yourself. I for one, am very tired of relativist pluralism. Please!

I spend some time this morning with Mark at his church, and I can tell you, it is a wonderful place of welcome and grace. Go visit.

Millions!

"The money made everything so much harder"

Alright people. I am not a big movie goer, given most of the fair that Hollywood seems to churn out these days; the last movie I saw in the theater was "The Incredibles". Call me a dud. So be it. Come to think of it, this is the first movie review of this Blog.

My wife and I went tonight to see Millions, which has been released by Fox Searchlight films, and was made in Great Britain. Maybe we have to go that far to find a good movie these days. This is a very good movie. You must go see this movie. This is the sort of film making that deserves our money. Tell your friends.

What if you happened upon $250,000, and wanted to give it to the poor, but there were no poor where you lived, because they had been priced out of the housing market (sound familiar)? And you have only 10 days to spend the money, because the UK is converting to the Euro, and after that, the money will be useless. Add to this a boy of about 10 years old who has frequent visions that he is conversing with the Saints of the church.

Imagine the combination of a crime thriller, a father and two young sons trying to rebuild their lives after the loss of the mother of the family, mix in major ethical and moral questions about money, combined with an other-worldly interplay of heaven and earth; and Saints of the church who move mysteriously through the periphery of the movie, and you have Millions. I have never seen anything like this. Wonderful. Thought provoking. Beautiful.

Now people - get up out of your chairs, and go see it.

Why Did They Run?

And they came running....

I did not know it, but when the bells of St. Peters began to ring on Tuesday, the citizens of Rome, came out of shops, and offices, and homes....and ran to St Peter's Square. What for? For an answer....see this. And then, take a look at this. People running, again. Modern and ancient, brought together.

Beautiful. I love Peggy Noonan.

And might I add a personal reflection? Is this not the world we, those of us who follow Christ, are trying to build? A world where all of us, young and old, rich and poor, lovely and plain, burst forth from out offices, shops, and homes to run to see the King. Jesus. May it be so Lord, help us to see the way.

United State of America!

Alright, this here, is hysterical. My favorite - Hawaii. It sure helps to be able to laugh at ourselves.

Healing Contradictions

From the words of Henri Nouwen:

The many contradictions in our lives - such as being home while feeling homeless, being busy while feeling bored, being popular while feeling lonely, being believers while feeling many doubts - can frustrate, irritate, and even discourage us. They make us feel that we are never fully present. Every door that opens for us makes us see how many more doors are closed.

But there is another response. These same contradictions can bring us into touch with a deeper longing, for the fulfillment of a desire that lives beneath all desires and that only God can satisfy. Contradictions, thus understood, create the friction that can help us move toward God.

White Smoke, and Ringing Bells

Welcome Benedict XVI

A couple of thoughts on the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI. First, see the previous post, which features the words of encouragement from Cardinal Ratzinger to his brother Cardinals prior to the Conclave. In particular:

How many winds of doctrine we have known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking… The small boat of thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves – thrown from one extreme to the other: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism, and so forth. Every day new sects are created and what Saint Paul says about human trickery comes true, with cunning which tries to draw those into error (cf Eph 4, 14). Having a clear faith, based on the Creed of the Church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. Whereas, relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and “swept along by every wind of teaching”, looks like the only attitude (acceptable) to today’s standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one’s own ego and one’s own desires."

And then, what I keep hearing all day on the radio and TV are words describing this new leader as "strict, polarizing, divisive, hard-line". Oh, and don't forget, his "childhood in Nazi Germany", like he could help that! This, quite simply, bores me, and illustrates yet again that main stream media cannot possibly believe that the vast majority of American Catholics might actually approve of this new pope. What a concept, people who could actually be supportive of continuing an orthodoxy that has lead the church well for many years.

And then we have Benedict's words upon announcement of his Papacy:

Dear brothers and sisters,
after our great Pope, John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God's vineyard. I am consoled by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and how to act, even with insufficient tools, and I especially trust in your prayers. In the joy of the resurrected Lord, trustful of his permanent help, we go ahead, sure that God will help. And Mary, his most beloved Mother, stands on our side. Thank you.

Might we all aspire to be simple and humble workers in the vineyard of the Lord.....

Starting the Vote - And Words of Encouragement

The Conclave Begins

I promise, I am not yet Catholic. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent. Stay the Protestant course. A thousand points of light.

Please, please, if you feel any animosity toward the Catholic church, go read this, it is the message given to the Cardinals, prior to the beginning of the Conclave to elect the next Pope.

I think these Cardinal guys may have it right.

Shhhhhh....

Eloquent Silence

I have this habit. Whenever I get in the car, I turn on the radio, or its already on when I start the engine. I would guess that 95% of the time, the radio is on, feeding me important news, relaxing classical music (to counteract my teenage daughters), or perhaps some jazz or rock to slightly (mind you) exceed the posted speed limit by. Schedule to keep, appointments to make, people to see, things to do. Do! Produce! Achieve! I am an American!

And then we have, well, um, the character and call of the Lord. He calls us to something different. Are we capable of slowing down, shutting up, and being quiet? In No Holds Barred, Mark Roberts offers us a taste of change.

We desperately need some quiet; a time to reflect. To be still before our Creator. To think, to feel, to heal. And perhaps, as Mark Roberts suggests, quiet may be a prerequisite to hearing God.

And if we think about it, some of life's most profound moments come out of silence. We all have experienced this. Perhaps the most recent vivid image of profound silence for me was the struggling silence of the final blessing of John Paul II, from his apartment window in the Vatican to the faithful below.

The sign of the cross, the struggling painful face. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Without words. Amen.

I invite you; join me. Be still.

No Holds Barred - Remembering

I wonder if my dog can remember?....

We have a chocolate Labrador retriever. Her name is Cindy. My younger daughter named her after Cinderella from Disney fame, when she was 4 years old. I wonder how it is that dogs actually remember things. Can she remember the first walk we took her on, when she was scared to go around the block when she was a puppy and we had to nearly drag her on her little leash. Can she remember when I may have been unkind to her, because she was eating out of the dishwasher again? Can she remember her mother, her siblings at the great house in Rolling Hills?

Remembering. It frames our lives, doesn't it? In his book "No Holds Barred", Mark Roberts talks about the Psalms as a source of remembering. Our world today leaves us disconnected. Adrift. Set alone to figure things out. Families are separated by thousands of miles, and even farther emotional distances. Everything around us clamors about the instant. The now.

We have forgotten where we come from, and are not sure at all of where we are going. In the midst of this, however, we can “remember together” God’s faithfulness in history, and in our own lives.

As a final thought, Tim Thompson has printed the words to a wonderful and touching Sara Groves song, "Remember Surrender" here. Take a look and think about Remembering......what God has done for you.

Homeless for the King

Homeless on Purpose

Can you imagine doing this. I love the concept, and I might even buy the book. Let me know your thoughts.

Something I Think About...

Do all bloggers look thusly?

Each day, for perhaps 6-8 hours, in order to make a living, I spend much of my time in a seated position. After spending several days in the great outdoors, breathing cold air, and enjoying what God has created, and NOT sitting on my hiney, I have begun to wonder.

Do most bloggers secretly look like Homer? Food (no pun intended) for thought.

No Holds Barred

Alright skiing fans, we are back from Mammoth. The snow was wonderful, the weather great (two days of sun and 50 degrees, one day of snow and 35 degrees), and the laughter abundant. We ran into about 15 or 20 different friends from South Pasadena, and had a generally stupendous time. Thanks be to God for the beauty of His Creation around us, and the precious gift of friends and family.

While on our trip, I finished reading Mark Robert’s latest book, “No Hold’s Barred”, a candid look at the deeper meanings found within the Book of Psalms. By way of a disclaimer, Mark has been a dear friend for more than 20 years. He is a follower of Christ, a husband, a father, pastor, friend, outdoorsman, and perhaps one of the most pathetic golfers I have ever seen. That is ok though, Mark has not yet seen me ski. Pathetic is a relative concept.

On to the book. Have you looked through the Psalms and found them to be difficult to fathom, obscure in terms of our modern world, and perhaps written in a way that doesn’t connect to the places where you live? And yet, do you long for a deeper relationship with God, or maybe even find yourself wondering if He exists in the first place? And when you pray, do you find yourself using the language you used in church as a child; not sure how to express your longing, or whether you can be really honest with the Creator of the Universe? Is all of this just too confusing, too unreal. Can you be mad at God, can you really confess to him the saddest, most tragic and lonely parts of your life? In short, can you, can I, can we be real in our relationship with God?

Mark Roberts takes us on a journey of discovery in “No Holds Barred”. This is done via a variety of ideas and concepts found within the Psalms.

Asking – being unafraid to approach God with our needs.
Remembering – using the Psalms to remember God’s faithfulness
Silence – what, you mean no noise??
Physical Expression – using all of who we are to praise God
Desperation and Doubt – where God comes to be beside us
Vengeance – is it ok to be really mad at others in front of God?
Thanksgiving – living lives that reflect profound thanks for God’s grace?
Praise – what does it mean to give God praise?
Confession – ut oh, telling God about our “dark places”!
Worship – using the Psalms as a source of worship

Without boring you to tears (I have heard that many readers of this blog weep frequently upon reviewing its contents), I will share with you the portions of this book that resonated the most with me, in hopes that you will get a copy, and find parts that will resonate with you – drawing you closer to the heart of God, and in turn, deepening your love for him, and adding joy and grace to your relationships with others.

More on this soon……

Dude! Its like totally shred weather!

Heading here

Tomorrow morning our family heads to Mammoth Mountain. My wife and I have not been on skis for about 20 years, and our girls (aged 11 and 14) have never skied.

So, a family adventure in the making. A late spring time to make some memories together, and hopefully return home together with all of our bones intact. We are thankful for this time together, in the midst of our busy, noisy, and full lives.

I plan on taking this book along with me on the trip. In the few moments of silence I am allowed, I would pray that God might meet me anew, and refresh my busy soul - so that I might know more of his presence and mercy.

Until next Thursday or so.......

Final words....to live by

Goodbye Karol

These words were the first scripture chosen for the funeral mass of John Paul II:

Acts 10:34-43 (New International Version)

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached– 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen–by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

How fitting. We protestants may have our differences about Mary, but our Catholic brothers and sisters know what is the essence of our shared faith. Also, I found it wonderful that the things of the Kingdom of God; hope, redemption, the sacrifice of Christ were being discussed and given great audience on every last major television outlet.

Now, may our individual lives be so filled with grace, love, and mercy, that the Kingdom of God becomes personal to those around us, our neighbors, our friends and those we work with.

Interesting convergence...

Alright, everyone stay calm, I am not becoming a Catholic. But the older I get the less I know for sure. I do know for sure that Jesus is Lord, and has transformed my life. I know for sure that I have been graced beyond measure by my wife, my children, and my friends. I know that The Simpsons is just about the funniest thing on TV, most of the time. And I do know that some of the finest, most joyous, dear, thoughtful, good, and faithfully devoted people I know are.....GASP...Catholic! I love them dearly.

However, there is lots of stuff I am not so sure about. One is this, which I find interesting (HT to Hugh Hewitt). Read, and ponder, good people.

What a Confusing Bunch We Are

Gosh darn Christians!

In the span of 24 hours, this and this appear on separate blogs, both by men who love Jesus. I swear, we Christian folk must drive those looking in on us completely nutty.

I have to admit that I agree more with Michael Spencer than I do with Al Mohler, and I find it highly ironic that Michael Spencer is a graduate of the school that Al Mohler is now dean of. Can you imagine?

While I agree with some of what Al Mohler says, I can hardly imagine using it to THONK some of my dear Catholic friends over the head with; such as "High there Sue, sorry to hear about John Paul, but did you know that his ideas about Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" are just WRONG?! Oh, and have a nice day!" And here is a shocker, my Catholic friends, they actually really do love Jesus!

This type of theological one-upsmanship makes me cringe. I am sorry, Dr. Mohler, but I want to actually get along with my Catholic friends at the city little league field. I wonder if Al has kids that still play little league, or for that matter, if he ever ventures outside of his theological world?

Surely there is a better middle ground to find.

Alergic, Distracted, Annoying and Grace-Filled Church

Although the church may make us nuts sometimes, it is worth it. Please, go read this.

Look to Jesus Christ!

John Paul II 1920-2005

If ever it could be said, "Well done, good and faithful servant!", it has already been said, in Heaven, just over the past 36 hours, with the arrival in Glory of Karol Wojtyla.

This was a life well led indeed. On the news last night, I heard him speaking, years ago, to a crowd in Central Park; "look to Jesus Christ". Shall we not all follow this example, and in each task we do, each person we meet, every relationship we have, look to Jesus Christ! May our gaze be constant.

I also heard it said that some of his final words to his close advisors were to the effect of, "Do not be sad, should you not be happy? I am going to be with my Father". This was a weekend mixed with sadness and loss, but strangely, with great hope and rejoicing. As a middle aged father of two, with a bit of a spare tire around my middle, I have begun to think more about my own mortality. Perhaps it is because my own parents, both of essentially the same age as John Paul, are slowing down and life seems more fragile for them. I must admit it - I am scared of death. I have not had much experience of it. Sad things, things of death were simply avoided in my family as I grew up. And, after college where I met Christ, I knew that as a Believer, death is not an ending. However, from my side of the eternal fence, it sure does look like it. Its scary, man. The lights go out. You are alone.

In a mysterious way, John Paul has taught me something very good about death. It is not all sadness and sorrow. It can be filled with such grace and dignity. Karol Wojtyla has shown me that approaching the end can be good, is such a part of living, and can be so very much a part of knowing Christ. For me, over these past days; with a feeble and frustrated attempt to speak to the crowds, with lighted windows over a darkened Rome, with simple words of hope and promise, John Paul has preached his final and perhaps greatest sermon.

I commented on this just recently here, and it all seems to fit together so well now. Enjoy the company of Jesus and the Saints, John Paul....good and faithful servant.

Searching for True Life

Jesus Christ. Relevant.

I came across this website the other day, on a hat tip from Hugh Hewitt. This concept is wonderful to me. Part of the thematic of Veritas is:

Veritas Forums are university events that engage students and faculty in discussions about life's hardest questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ to all of life.

Imagine that. Jesus Christ, relevant to all of life. In a University setting. As a UCLA alum (back in the days when they would let just about anybody in) I find this ministry exciting.

Check them out.

Oh, and if you think a college education is not useful, check this out; the obvious result of a person without the benefits of thoughtful university discourse informing their worldview. Remember, you cannot "enforce a burger". Thanks Rob Asghar, I nearly wet my pants.

Terri Shiavo 1963-2005

Lets Do Good Works and Do Church Differently

Could it be............?

More on this article interview with Brian McClaren:

Earlier in 2004, Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ was touted by many Christians as “the greatest outreach opportunity in 2000 years.” I have not seen the film, but I imagine it is stunning and powerful, and I hope God will use it in unprecedented ways. But I find this assumption of many Christians disgusting.
What is needed is not the showing of a movie (no matter how great), but a revolution of Christians who are showing the love of Christ by moving into the world and loving their neighbors. In other words, unless disciples are following the Great Commandment, it is fruitless to engage in the Great Commission. If we replicate people who do not love God or their neighbors, we are not fulfilling the mission of Jesus.

I clearly remember hearing a pastor say something to the effect of "the greatest outreach opportunity" when Mel Gibson's movie came out - and I thought to myself, "Oh Please!" Why can't we (me included) rather work toward building a transformed life where people see Jesus in ME, as opposed to up on a screen while eating popcorn, or God forbid, on Christian TV! May it be so, may I love people uncommonly, make I care uniquely, may I love beyond my means.

And McClaren goes on to suggest that "the concept of church may be abused beyond recovery". The Church Lady would not be happy with THAT concept, for heaven's sake!

Hey people, want to "otherwise imagine" the church along with me? How about we begin to question our old, safe, warm and fuzzy models of following Jesus, and begin to take some risks? How about we religious introverts begin working on becoming extroverts? In the imortal words of Bluto in Animal House, "whooooos with me.....arrrrrhhhhhhhhh!

Theology News and Notes and Dieter

"Now is de time vhen we reinvent de church!"

One of my favorite Saturday Night Live pieces ever was "Sprockets" with Mike Meyers. The whole Sprockets concept was a fun poke at trendy Europeans and their snooty views of the rest of the world. Some of the best quotes:

"You are beautiful and angular."
"You disturb me to the point of insanity. There. I am insane now."
"Now is the time on Sprockets vhen ve dance."

Dieter and his trendy European friends had a whole new way of looking at the world. It was hysterical, if not somewhat tragic. They say that comedy is just tragedy separated by time. Anyway.

This leads me to a very interesting article I came across recently, in this publication from Fuller Seminary.

Brian McClaren reminds me in some ways of Dieter; except without the snooty part. Oh, and he is not German either. He is known pretty much as "Mr. Emergent" - the coolest guy around in terms of understanding what is going on in the Emergent Church. He has a completely different view of what "doing church" means. Go ahead, read the article, I dare you.

Have we misunderstood the Good News?

Whoa baby! There is a conversation piece for your next Bible study. Brian notes that "we need to rethink our understanding of the gospel". My goodness, what has this young fella been smokin'? Perhaps the gospel is, as McClaren suggests, "a vision of what life can be in all its dimensions". Worth giving some thought to. Also, this fits nicely with what my friend Pastor Tod is talking about today.

Lets redefine what a disciple is!?
Ok, now I am getting bugged at this bearded guy. A disciple is someone who always attends the men's bible study, is a deacon, usher, helps with the kids puppet show at church, and wears appropriately matched trousers and sport coat for the Ladies auxiliary events, right?

Wait. What? No? McClaren says "evangelism becomes not the recruiting of refugees who seek to escape earth for heaven in a flight of spiritual self-interest, but rather the recruiting of revolutionaries who seek to bring the good and healing will of heaven to earth in all its crises." Wow. Revolutionaries!? You mean my pants don't have to match? And its alright if I don't attend the Deacon's lunch, if instead, I might be playing golf with my unsaved neighbor, or maybe even buying him coffee and talking about what life means?

More on all this.....soon.

Another Voice For Terry

This, by Peggy Noonan, is so worth your reading, I will just shut up.

Favorite part:

"I do not understand why people who want to save the whales (so do I) find campaigns to save humans so much less arresting. I do not understand their lack of passion. But the save-the-whales people are somehow rarely the stop-abortion-please people.

The PETA people, who say they are committed to ending cruelty to animals, seem disinterested in the fact of late-term abortion, which is a cruel procedure performed on a human.

I do not understand why the don't-drill-in-Alaska-and-destroy-its-prime-beauty people do not join forces with the don't-end-a-life-that-holds-within-it-beauty people."

An Easter Surprise

Towering Over Humanity

The Wandering Church Homeless Family traveled here today. The place has very fond memories for me, as it is the church where I first really heard that one can have a personal relationship with Jesus, 25 years ago. After listening to the gospel for about nine months, I quietly gave myself, my life, all I knew of who I was to all I knew of who Christ was. I have never regretted that decision for a moment for the rest of this life.

I experienced something in this Easter service that caught me off guard, took my breath away, and left me pondering the impact of Jesus in history and even today, in our modern world. I need to share it with you.

Before the sermon, the tradition at Bel Air is for a short video to introduce the message. The videos are home-made, but professionally done. The theme was on the difference between the first Easter and Easter today. It was a remarkable contrast. The video consisted of interviews, in period costume, of eye-witnesses of the resurrection - their shock at Christ's death, the period of hiding of those close to him, and the astonishment upon learning that the grave was empty. Their stories were sad, scary, moving, compelling.

AND THEN, interspersed through the interviews of the very first Believers, were quick vignettes of modern day Christians and Easter visitors. However, their comments were so different:

"The pastor says we should invite a friend to church, but if I do that, then they will find out I am a Christian"
"The Easter egg hunt was a disaster last year"
"Parking at church is such a problem on Easter"
"I'm not sure about this whole church, thing, the guy in the robes, all the singing people"
"I am so busy, not sure I can make church this year (talking on a cell phone)"

And then, this is where I lost my breath, and the tears welled up.

ALL of these people, ancient and modern, in current dress and first century grab, we transposed at the foot of the cross, staring up at the crucified Lord. First century and current century, brought together. The looks on the faces of all, of wonder, of confusion, of bewilderment at what was happening. To me, this was a huge shout of what the gospel is all about.

A timeless Christ, towering over history, still, to this day, transforming lives. Amen!

Something Remarkable is Coming

This is not Jesus

My 14 year old (Kelly) and her friend (Allison) and I were in the car tonight. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "Four more days and I get to eat french fries." (This has been my Lenten dietary exclusion, we were driving past my favorite burger place - In N' Out)

Kelly: "Dad, you are such a woose."

Allison: "We get to have an easter egg hunt at our house. The Easter Bunny is coming; that is the best part of having a 9-year old brother - you still get celebrate all the holidays that aren't really real. My brother still believes in Santa and the Easter Bunny."

Kelly: "Oh yeah, I stopped believing in Santa when I was like two years old. I swear. I told all the other kids at school that Santa was not real. They didn't believe me. I told them to go ask their moms."

Me: "Well THAT was kind. Did you make any of them cry?"

Kelly: "Daaad, of course not. But I did tell them to ask their moms, I always did that".

Alison: "How in the world did the Easter bunny get made up?"

Me: "Good question, we need to Google that. With Christmas at least there is a vague connection between Santa Claus and the celebration of Jesus. With Easter its like, what does this bunny have to do with death and resurrection of Jesus?"

Allison: "I know, its so random!"

Kelly: "Totally"

Me: "Maybe the greeting card companies made the holiday up."

Allison: "I think it might have something to do with the beginning of Spring"

Kelly: "Yeah, like something medieval"

Me: "Like a pagan ritual."

Kelly: "And what is the bunny doing handing out EGGS? Bunny's make eggs? Come on!"

Me: "Yeah, how come the Easter Bunny doesn't hand out little bunnies instead?"

Allison: "I had a little bunny once, we found him in our neighborhood"


This is something brief on the origins of the wacky Easter Bunny. But, as we know, Easter is so much more than fodder for sales at Target. More than decorations, family dinners, flowers, greeting cards, and kids having egg hunts.

Here is the focal point of Easter. A life sacrificed for every person ever born, an empty tomb. And ever since the events of those few days, the world has never been the same.

Its not about the Bunny, people.

The Dignity of the Vicar of Christ

Pope John Paul II

Musings below are based in part on this.

Although I am a confirmed protestant, Pope John Paul II continues to be a man who grows in my respect, almost with each passing day. And now, with his declining health, the world is watching as he becomes more infirm, more feeble, and well, less cool.

I mean if he were a cool Pope, he would be younger, dress better, say cool things, be funny, and not wear that zuchetto (skull cap) thingie. Come on please! And, oh yeah, the dude would retire at some mandatory age and go fishing in the Italian Alps. Like all of us western types you know, we are only useful for a season in life, and then it is time to move on. Mandatory retirement and then, off to the Old Pope's Home. Casa De El Papo Retirementamundo. Happy Acres. The Pope Farm. Get on with it old fella, out the door for you! Cash in on the 401k, baby.

But no. He stays. He goes in and out of the hospital. And he won't retire. Not this Pope. And perhaps, just maybe, this decision is infused with some of the things of the Kingdom of Heaven. I posted recently about this. Perhaps Eugene Peterson and the Pope have it right. Perhaps the Kingdom of Heaven is an upside down thing. Perhaps we, with our western civilization view of things, just don't understand this.

From Catholic theologian George Weigel, in the Washington Post, this:

A few days ago in Rome, when I asked Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze what this phase of the remarkable pontificate of John Paul II meant, the cardinal suggested that, from his hospital bed, the pope was putting some serious questions on the world's agenda -- does suffering mean anything, or is it simply an absurdity? Does the suffering contribute anything to the rest of us? Is there dignity in old age?

In Cardinal Arinze's mind, the example of John Paul II offered an answer to those questions. Yes, suffering can have meaning. Yes, that suffering can teach the rest of us: It reminds us that we cannot control our lives, and it elicits a compassion that ennobles us. Moreover, the cardinal suggested, John Paul II, in his weakness and suffering, was a tremendous encouragement to the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the dying, who find strength and hope in his example.

The world has missed a lot of Karol Wojtyla's story in his 26 years as pope, because the world tries to understand him in political terms, as another power player on the global stage. There's no doubt that John Paul II has been the most politically influential pope in centuries. But that is not who he is, or what he's about, at his deepest level. His two recent hospitalizations and his unembarrassed struggle to live out the commitment to service that he made at his election in 1978 should remind everyone that this man is, first and foremost, a Christian pastor who is going to challenge us with the message of the cross -- the message of Good Friday and Easter -- until the end.

As Hanna Suchocka, the former Polish prime minister, described the pope to me recently, "He is living his via crucis," his way of the cross. It's not something the world has watched a pope do for a very long time. We should recognize it for what it is, and be grateful for the example.

It seems to me the Pope gets it. Much about this life is learning how to die, in so many ways. And so, Pope John Paul looks to us to be "out of it", infirm. We don't like this, it is not cool, it makes us uncomfortable. And perhaps, it is in these places where God dwells.

More on Terry

Terry Shiavo

We can't get far now in the car without the news radio telling us the latest on Terry Shiavo. And so it should be. This continues to be a tragedy, slowly unraveling. Today's Wall Street Journal has a great piece which summarizes the whole debate well, written by James Q. Wilson. Just a quote:

This is a tragedy. Congress has responded by rushing to pass a law that will allow her case, but only her case, to be heard in federal court. But there is no guarantee that, if it is heard there, a federal judge will do any better than the Florida one. What is lacking in this matter is not the correct set of jurisdictional rules but a decent set of moral imperatives.

That moral imperative should be that medical care cannot be withheld from a person who is not brain dead and who is not at risk for dying from an untreatable
disease in the near future. To do otherwise makes us recall Nazi Germany where retarded people and those with serious disabilities were "euthanized" (that is, killed). We hear around the country echoes of this view in the demands that
doctors be allowed to participate, as they do in Oregon, in physician-assisted
suicide, whereby doctors can end the life of patients who request death and have
less than six months to live. This policy endorses the right of a person to end
his or her life with medical help. It is justified by the alleged success of this policy in the Netherlands. But it has not been a success in the Netherlands. In that country there have been well over 1,000 doctor-induced deaths among patients who had not requested death, and in a large fraction of those cases the patients were sufficiently competent to have made the request had they wished.

Keeping people alive is the goal of medicine. We can only modify that policy in the case of patients for whom death is imminent and where all competent family members believe that nothing can be gained by extending life for a few more days. This is clearly not the case with Terri Schiavo. Indeed, her death by starvation may take weeks. Meanwhile, her parents are pleading for her life.

Might we together, agree to plea for the life of Terri to The Only Resource Left?

Joel Osteen No Thank You Very Much

I have been thinking about a review of Joel Osteen's book for a while, because the premise really gives me the shivers. I also could not bring myself to buy it, the premise makes me so nutty. Just go read the Amazon Reviews, if you think I am kidding. Read past the first page...its entertaining.

The title, "Your Best Life Now". Lets just take a second and examine these words:

Your - Hmmm....another version of that word might be MINE! The thing a spoiled 3-year old chants in the back seat of the Volvo on the way to Chucky Cheese.
Best - Not average, not mundane, not ordinary as life sometimes just is, but best, always perfect and shiny and happy and no problems. Ever.
Life - ok, this word is ok. Jesus talked a lot about life, but not Joel Osteen's wacky version of it.
Now - oh, great. Another classically American word. Now. Not later. Not someday. Not in the proper season of life. Now, dammit, I am an American, and I want it now!! And get me some fries with that, quick!

Alright, I have said my piece. But what do I know? So go read this, and get a much clearer view of it all.

This is a Sad, Sad Day

Some of you will remember my previous post about Terry Schiavo. Today, America and the world is faced with this.

I am sorry, but this is insane. While I am sure this is heart wrenching for all involved, starving this woman to death is simply unjust. I have to admit that I am feeling pretty pissed about the state of affairs in this country when there seems to be repeated attempts to play God by mere mortals.

Want to learn more; go here. And also, beseech the Lord.

If the Suit Fits, Wear It ...

My buddy Pastor Tod

I don't wear suits much. When I do they tend to feel restrictive. Not into tight collars.

Here is a wonderful piece by my friend Pastor Tod, about a wearing a suit that you might really grow into!

This Remarkable Journey

Its about cotton candy...

I spent the evening tonight with a room full of really wonderful people, at a Young Life evening. These folks really are the best of the best. The purpose of the get-together was to thank our supporters for their gifts of finances and prayer. To thank them, and nothing more. These folks are those who, in my mind, "get it". Its not about denominations or competing ideologies, or even politics.

These dear people understand what is of Great Worth in life, and they throw their support in after it with all their hearts, and substantial portions of their wallets. I love these people. They want teenagers to know Christ. That is all, and its all that really matters. Our special guest for the evening was Hugh Hewitt, who was kind, gracious, told some wonderful stories, and gracefully, was brief. Great job, Hugh, thank you!

Being in a room of loud, laughing people, with a common sense of purpose and joy was energizing for me. And the noise, the din of people mingling, the serious conversations off in a corner, this collection of sounds reminded me, in a way, of what this life is about. It all moves so fast; one minute the kids are little, and need you so much, and the next moment, they have an attitude, and want you to leave the room - so they can talk to their friends on the phone.

When I got home, I stumbled on this bit by Anne Lammott, who's writing I have occasionally enjoyed (except for the silly monochromatic political stuff). She sums up the raising of kids so well, in describing her son:

"I know where he got his gallows humor. I can see myself so clearly in him, many of my worst traits, some of my goodness. I can also still see many of Sam's ages in him: New parents always grieve as their babies get bigger, because they cannot imagine the child will ever be so heartbreakingly cute and needy again. But Sam is a swirl of every age he's ever been, and all the new ones, like cotton candy, like the Milky Way."

I am thankful for the swirl of Milky Way in my own girls. I am also thankful for the swirl of remarkable, amazingly unique folks tonight in that home - all there for love of the Kingdom, and the King, who persistently, relentlessly, makes lives new.

Peterson Meets Real Life - Today Even!

A Sacrament...and a welcoming

More from the wonderful Peterson Interview in Christianity Today:

In church last Sunday, there was a couple in front of us with two bratty kids. Two pews behind us there was another couple with their two bratty kids making a lot of noise. This is mostly an older congregation. So these people are set in their ways. Their kids have been gone a long time. And so it wasn't a very nice service; it was just not very good worship. But afterwards I saw half a dozen of these elderly people come up and put their arms around the mother, touch the kids, sympathize with her. They could have been irritated.

Now why do people go to a church like that when they can go to a church that has a nursery, is air conditioned, and all the rest? Well, because they're Lutherans. They don't mind being miserable! Norwegian Lutherans! And this same church recently welcomed a young woman with a baby and a three-year-old boy. The children were baptized a few weeks ago. But there was no man with her. She's never married; each of the kids has a different father. She shows up at church and wants her children baptized. She's a Christian and wants to follow in the Christian way. So a couple from the church acted as godparents. Now there are three or four couples in the church who every Sunday try to get together with her. Now, where is the "joy" in that church? These are dour Norwegians! But there's a lot of joy. There's an abundant life going, but it's not abundant in the way a non-Christian would think. I think there's a lot more going on in churches like this; they're just totally anticultural. They're full of joy and faithfulness and obedience and care. But you sure wouldn't know it by reading the literature of church growth, would you?

I have a good friend who is in seminary studying for a call to the pastorate. As a part of this process, she has taken a class on Pastoral Care and Counseling; and a requirement of the class is that everyone attend at lease one AA meeting. At the meeting, there was a discussion about the concept of a "Higher Power", which is a mainstay of AA practice.

Attendees were discussing why it is that AA uses the concept of "a Power greater than ourselves", and this discussion had lead to a conversation about God. From this conversation came a number of comments about pain inflicted upon AA folks by people in the church. Judgment, isolation, awkwardness, and a lack of compassion. All from us in the church. Church. That's us, people; me, and you. Causing pain, not loving like Jesus (who hung out with some rather nasty types on occassion) for those most in need of healing. We can be a pretty awkward and judgemental bunch, can we not?

Maybe we need to hang out with some rather dull Lutherans. I believe their church is somewhere in Montana.

A Symbol; The Cross

From John Stott's Daily Thought:

A universally acceptable Christian emblem would obviously need to speak of Jesus Christ, but there was a wide range of possibilities. Christians might have chosen the crib or manger in which the baby Jesus was laid, or the carpenter's bench at which he worked as a young man in Nazareth, dignifying manual labour, or the boat from which he taught the crowds in Galilee, or the apron he wore when washing the apostles' feet, which would have spoken of his spirit of humble service. Then there was the stone which, having been rolled from the mouth of Joseph's tomb, would have proclaimed his resurrection. Other possibilities were the throne, symbol of divine sovereignty, which John in his vision of heaven saw that Jesus was sharing, or the dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven on the day of Pentecost. Any of these seven symbols would have been suitable as a pointer to some aspect of the ministry of the Lord. But instead the chosen symbol came to be a simple cross. Its two bars were already a cosmic symbol from remote antiquity of the axis between heaven and earth. But its choice by Christians had a more specific explanation. They wished to commemorate as central to their understanding of Jesus neither his birth nor his youth, neither his teaching nor his service, neither his resurrection nor his reign, nor his gift of the Spirit, but his death, his crucifixion.

Learning How to Die?

"It's learning how to die..."

More on the interview with Eugene Peterson. Excerpts below:

I don't want to suggest that those of us who are following Jesus don't have any fun, that there's no joy, no exuberance, no ecstasy. They're just not what the consumer thinks they are. When we advertise the gospel in terms of the world's values, we lie to people. We lie to them, because this is a new life. It involves following Jesus. It involves the Cross. It involves death, an acceptable sacrifice. We give up our lives.

The Gospel of Mark is so graphic this way. The first half of the Gospel is Jesus showing people how to live. He's healing everybody. Then right in the middle, he shifts. He starts showing people how to die: "Now that you've got a life, I'm going to show you how to give it up." That's the whole spiritual life. It's learning how to die. And as you learn how to die, you start losing all your illusions, and you start being capable now of true intimacy and love. It involves a kind of learned passivity, so that our primary mode of relationship is receiving, submitting, instead of giving and getting and doing. We don't do that very well. We're trained to be assertive, to get, to apply, or to consume and to perform.

Its learning how to die. Oh my. As I have passed my mid-40s, and have two parents now in their mid-80s, as well as a dear friend battling cancer, I tend to think about the fleeting nature of life more than I used to. So, it really is about learning to die, isn't it? When one accepts Jesus as Lord, there is a real sense of submitting control of life to Another, a letting go (dying to self). As one becomes a disciple, there are new learned behaviors, and letting God have more of the "bad parts" of ourselves (in my case anger and selfishness); another form of dying. Death and dying found in the midst of new life in Christ.

Giving up our lives. Now won't that make a slick "come to church" brochure. "Come to the First Church of Happy Valley (where all the Happy, Handsome, Well Dressed, Normal, Disease Free, Clean and Thrifty People Come!) and learn how to....DIE!? But then, that is what Jesus is calling us to, in many ways, is it not? Much to think about here, in the thoughts of Eugene. Perhaps we can reason together....

Final thought. Go out today, and buy this book. This is the meatier text behind the interview with Eugene Peterson, and will give us all plenty to think about for months to come! I bought my copy today.

OK People, God is Still at the Healing Business

Drop everything, and go look at this.

Warning, it is not for the squeamish, but it is, at least for me, such a wonderful example that God, and his people, are still at work bringing healing to the world. Make sure you hit the "morph" link at the end of the photos....it is wonderful. The morphed pictures make me think of what Jesus' touch did to the lepers.....

Were you moved? Donate here.

My cap

I Wear This Baseball Cap.....

I am involved with Young Life in my area. Young Life steps in where the church has failed to be relevant, and works in partnership with the church to introduce kids to Christ, and disciple them to new life in Him.

In a way, I am like a walking billboard. It is my prayer that where ever I go, I might be light for Jesus this day.

We need to see our world more clearly...

What the Other Steve Says....is Better

I go on and on about Christian American things, post them, and then, I find this. Go ahead, look. Steve (same name as me) lives in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

I am shamed by the beautiful simplicity of this man's commitment to and love for Jesus.

More Peterson - Misplaced Intimacy

The Wrong Kind of Intimacy


As I mentioned yesterday, I was thunderstruck by the thoughts of Eugene Peterson in this article in Christianity Today. More to discuss today:

We've got to disabuse people of these illusions of what the Christian life is. It's a wonderful life, but it's not wonderful in the way a lot of people want it to be.

If intimacy means being open and honest and authentic, so I don't have veils, or I don't have to be defensive or in denial of who I am, that's wonderful. But in our culture, intimacy usually has sexual connotations, with some kind of completion. So I want intimacy because I want more out of life. Very seldom does it have the sense of sacrifice or giving or being vulnerable. Those are two different ways of being intimate. And in our American vocabulary intimacy usually has to do with getting something from the other. That just screws the whole thing up. It's very dangerous to use the language of the culture to interpret the gospel. Our vocabulary has to be chastened and tested by revelation, by the Scriptures. We've got a pretty good vocabulary and syntax, and we'd better start paying attention to it because the way we grab words here and there to appeal to unbelievers is not very good.

The Christian life is not a wonderful life - in the way we want it to be. Oh my goodness, that single comment right there, in my mind takes out about 1/2 of the stuff I see on the bookshelves in Christian Book stores (including this book, which merely by its title, gives me massive willies). Maybe that is why, when I seldom visit my local Christian book store, I get a feeling like I have been dipped in Sweet N' Low; all sugar, no calories, no protein, no carbs, no real nourishment for the soul. A kind of parroting of all the nice neat parts of American culture, without cuss words, and lots of Thomas Kinkade art.

Shame on us church folk for using the language of the culture to interpret the gospel. Eugene is so right, we need to use the the Scripture as the basis for our vocabulary. But this is hard. How do we communicate a gospel that has at its core these two competing ideas (among many others):

Matt 10:38 - "and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
and
Matt 11:30 - "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Darn that Jesus. He is not self-actualized. Not listening to his inner child! How do we communicate this to a waiting world. This stuff is not easy. But our silly Christian culture makes out like it is.

One more quote from Eugene, that speaks for itself:

I've been a pastor most of my life, for some 45 years. I love doing this. But to tell you the truth, the people who give me the most distress are those who come asking, "Pastor, how can I be spiritual?" Forget about being spiritual. How about loving your husband? Now that's a good place to start. But that's not what they're interested in. How about learning to love your kids, accept them the way they are?

My name shouldn't even be connected with spirituality.

Eugene, your views on the "s word" are not so bad after all.

May I love my wife, my kids, my friends, my neighbors all in a most unusual way, and may that love be seen as something of value for the Kingdom. May it be so Lord.

Peterson - Spiritual Intimacy

Softball Season has begun!
Blue Crush 5, Other Team (Name unknown by me) 7 Darn!
Season Record 1-1

The thoughts of Eugene Peterson in the most recent edition of Christianity Today has done me much good. To wit:

Spirituality is no different from what we've been doing for two thousand years just by going to church and receiving the sacraments, being baptized, learning to pray, and reading Scriptures rightly. It's just ordinary stuff. This promise of intimacy is both right and wrong. There is an intimacy with God, but it's like any other intimacy; it's part of the fabric of your life. In marriage you don't feel intimate most of the time. Nor with a friend. Intimacy isn't primarily a mystical emotion. It's a way of life, a life of openness, honesty, a certain transparency.

Hearing this, for me, is like opening a window to a fresh spring breeze, after that drunk uncle has been visiting after eating a bad burrito.

Ordinary stuff. Image that. And all those books on Spirituality. I just Googled "Christian Spirituality" and received back 2,970,000 hits! At Amazon, you get 2,285 relevant book hits for this topic. Whew! I am tired, just thinking about it.

Not mystical. Itimacy as a part of the fabric of your life. I love this idea, and it seems to be a concept I can get my mind around. Openness, honesty, transparency. These are so very much the characteristics of Jesus, and so much of what I struggle against. After all, in our world, isn't it better to have your guard up just a bit, to be cautious of the other person? Perhaps I need to spend my time listening to Jesus, pondering the life he lived here on earth, seeking Him. Imagine that. Ordinary stuff.

More Peterson:

If you read the saints, they're pretty ordinary people. There are moments of rapture and ecstasy, but once every 10 years. And even then it's a surprise to them. They didn't do anything. We've got to disabuse people of these illusions of what the Christian life is. It's a wonderful life, but it's not wonderful in the way a lot of people want it to be.

Not wonderful in the way we want it to be? What could that mean. More later, its late. Work tomorrow.

Spirituality for All the Wrong Reasons

Eugene Peterson

As my plane ride to Sacramento for business hit cruising altitude yesterday morning, I was perusing the latest issue of Christianity Today. From long-time Presbyterian pastor and the author of The Message, we are now blessed with this remarkable interview. If you do anything today, read this please!

My thought: all we Believing folk should take Eugene's ideas, and make them grist for discussions about the way we do church. This interview with Dr. Peterson serves to clear away the cultural fog we face in building the church. As I finished the article, I set down my glasses, and thought to myself, "Wow, now this is clear thinking about life in Christ." And then, out of the window of the plane, laid out before me, were the snow capped Sierras. Wow - look what God has done....and continues to do. Creating!

A Beloved Drunk Uncle

After feeling varying degrees of sadness and angst over being "church homeless", this article renews my faith in what God continues to do each day.

Oh that Believing people might love their communities, their unchurched friends, and even their dysfunctional church like that "beloved drunk uncle"!

Suburban Haiku

My mortgage is large
Debt looms over me like fog
American Dream?

A Response To Derek

A response to Derek

I received a thoughtful response to two posts, here and here, from Derek, who is obviously a kind, handsome, thrifty, brave, and courteous Christian fellow. Oh, and one who takes well to compliments.

Derek had a couple of thoughts that I wanted to respond to here, as they are important ideas that beg further discussion. Derek was concerned about setting a "low bar" to membership in a church. Lowering the bar seemed to be troublesome to Derek, in that some compromising (watering down) of the Gospel may be taking place if a church is too easy on letting in new members. This is a good point. Derek noted that some of the "wild questions" from potential new members about the responsibilities of membership in a church would avoided if we were more strict in our delineation of what membership is all about.

In my mind, the height or depth of the bar to church membership, wild questions, and the general spiritual depth of congregants are all related to three primary things - the Word proclaimed, the Word received, and Christian Community. If we assume together that the Word is being faithfully proclaimed, then we have the issue of whether people hear it with open hearts and minds, and then whether they are acting on the direction of Scripture to lead lives that reflect genuine Christian Community.

My thinking is that one of the big reasons that the Word (once faithfully proclaimed) is not received well, or is received not in the proper context is that we church folk are pretty lousy at practicing Christian Community. Ok, let me rephrase that, we stink (often times) at understanding what Christian community really means. For further very good reading on this subject, please see this book. We can live transformed lives, we can model communities, families, friendships, and fellowships that reflect the grace of Jesus. It is very hard work, but my experience has been this is the single most important thing that leads people into relationship with Christ, not setting the bar high to membership in a religious institution. My life in Christ was brought about by seeing Christian community practiced in a college dorm at UCLA - if you can imagine that.

Derek also made a very good point, and points to something that the modern church is very poor at conveying, the concept of Christ as LORD, as opposed to Christ as Savior. Again, does this not go to the issues of Christian community? Are our lives really transformed, and do we this out in a way that is attractive to others - magnetic, appealing, life-giving and affirming?

I am concerned about the use language such as "ungodly neighbors", or the "remnant" (pertaining to the small band of faithful believers). My neighbors may indeed be ungodly, but I will choose, to my last breath, to persistently express to them, in ways that they might be able to hear, the great and immeasurable love of Christ. I will not dismiss them as ungodly, for the Hound of Heaven pursues us all, to the end. We are all, to the last person, loved greatly. And a remnant we may be, but I think we might want to be a remnant possessed of the need to share our faith to a world dying around us. Not just a defiant and self-satisfied remnant.

Derek, I hope that I have responded with a kind heart, heard your concerns, and in some small way brought understanding and hope. Hope for the church.

P.S. Derek, do you have a blog??