Considerations

evangelism?

2012-01-31T15:04:00.000-08:00

Evangelism in the 21st Century is intriguing subject. In a society so often at odds with Christianity - for a whole host of reasons - how can and should we envision this “sharing of the good news” so implicit to Christianity?

In this age of expertise there is a tendency to seek just the right techniques or strategies in an effort to “maximize the return” on our evangelistic efforts. Thus for many people, evangelism often elicits a negative image or idea encountered or participated in (e.g. door-to-door ministry or sharing your “testimony” with a stranger). These stereotypes, however, are part of what makes it hard to envision evangelism in our time. Stuck with stereotypes, evangelism can seem anything but sharing good news.

I’m convinced that the “how-to” of evangelism can’t be about technique or expertise. Evangelism is the creative process of God’s people living out the good news in concrete ways - loving God and neighbor in whatever time, whatever country, whatever way. Which is why a recent look at stories of evangelism in history has given me hope - good news comes in many forms through many people. Take a look:

Polycarp of Smyrna - evangelism unto death: He led a church under the persecution of the Roman Empire in the 1st Century. Facing martyrdom, he asserted: “80 and 6 years have I served him, and he never did me wrong; and how can I now blaspheme my King that has saved me?”

Saint Francis of Assisi - evangelism in all of life: Simplicity and devotion were his good news to others. He was even known to preach to animals!

“Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words” (attributed to Saint Francis)

Dirk Willems - evangelism by love of enemy: Fleeing his persecutors across frozen water, he turned around to help a soldier drowning in the frigid waters. He was arrested and shortly after executed for not renouncing his Anabaptist Christian faith.

Nikolaus von Zinzendorf - evangelism in joy: He emphasized the joy of the Lord in the all of life. He displayed a zealous, if not naive, optimism in dreaming as a boy that the ‘pagans’ wouldn’t all convert before he got a chance to convert the rest. “My joy until I die...is the win souls for the lamb.”

John and Charles Wesley - evangelism as marathon: I’m not a fan of statistics evaluating faithfulness, but these at least reflect an immense commitment and effort in sharing their faith: John - 250,000 miles (most on horseback), 40,000 sermons, 200 written works; Charles - 8989 hymns.

William Wilberforce - evangelism as justice: His faith led him to work tirelessly in the British parliament towards the abolition of slavery. “You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”

These stories should be our evangelism handbook - a testimony of the saints through ages seeking to share of the good news of Jesus for their time and for their place. As Jesus would say, “go and do likewise.”

"let's give them cookies"

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

I consider peace and nonviolence a central part of what it means to follow the way of Jesus. I don’t hold this belief lightly and realize how complex it can be (ignorant to some) to maintain such a position in such a violent world. It’s hard to live nonviolently. Just ask my 3-year-old son.

It was storytime last week and my son picked a bible storybook - the Easter story. We got to the part where there were soldiers guarding the tomb and he asked where Jesus went. He was genuinely concerned. “Where’s Jesus?” I told him not worry, Jesus was coming back (I’m such a pastor, I know!). This was his immediate response:

“And I’m gonna fight the soldiers!”

What!?! So much for a teachable moment on eschatological hope!

It seems whatever the age, nonviolence is not natural.

“Now what?” I thought.

Thinking on my feet as any good pastor should do in a theological emergency I brought us back to an earlier part of the story. “I think Jesus would rather we washed their feet” I suggested.

“Why?”

“That’s what Jesus would want us to do.”

That was enough for him. He got excited. He liked my idea! Phew... I’d quelled the violent tendencies of my 3-year-old. “I showed him nonviolence!” was my mental pat on the back.

“Goodnight son” (more mental pats on the back).

Not so fast.

“Let’s give them cookies too, Dad.”

“Um, yeah, of course.”

Of course.

My moral superiority met genuine generosity. Roles reversed. I wanted to be a good dad, to limit my son’s violence. My son wanted to be a good person, to expand his generosity.

At their innocent best, kids don’t easily draw lines or limit their generosity (unless toys are involved). If we’re going to wash their feet (i.e. “love our enemies”), well, obviously we’ll give them cookies. In my son’s mind, loving the bad people shouldn't have limits.

How true.

There shouldn’t be limits to loving with peace and nonviolence. It’s a whole way of life as we live and relate to a violent world. Peace, after all, is giving them cookies too!

mainstream Anabaptism is an oxymoron

2012-01-24T15:08:00.000-08:00

In my previous post, responding to The Naked Anabaptist, I asked this question: what to do when a fringe movement becomes mainstream and relevant - when its' “time has come” as seems to be the case for Anabaptism?

As I continue through the book Murray hasn’t explicitly answered my query. But as I reflect on his proposal of popular Anabaptism today, a thought came out of his discussion of post-Christendom that addresses my question above (ch. 4 - "After Christendom").

You see, my question above assumes that popularity will change Anabaptism as it evolves into more prominent forms of organization and authority (e.g. Mennonite World Conference or the Anabaptist Network). Basically, fame comes with a cost - Anabaptism will change.

But there's a problem with my line of thinking. The question assumes categories incongruent with the Anabaptism Murray describes. The assumptions that popularity and growth must be managed and organized assumes that Christian faithfulness in the world be achieved ourselves - achieved if we only try a little harder, or exert our influence a little more. This type of language, however, represents the Christendom (Christian culture) model that Anabaptism has so ardently opposed in its 500 year history. It’s hard to apply the language of the majority to a minority. Never having been the majority Anabaptism (in theory) doesn’t have this default desire to maximize popularity or ascend the ladder of cultural influence. In a sense, Anabaptism, even if gaining popularity, will never be “popular.” Or at least it shouldn’t be.

I see Murray’s emphasis on the shift “from control to witness” as one reason Anabaptism can avoid the pitfalls associated with being mainstream. In leadership speak, control involves strategies that maximize effectiveness. With this mindset churches compete for the market share so to speak (i.e. people’s allegiance). Witness, however, has a different vocabulary and basis - and thus a different approach altogether. Murray comments that “Anabaptism, at its best, offers a model of peaceful witness that integrates words and deeds, personal and communal testimony, listening and speaking.” Instead of strategies for faithfulness the focus is on stories of faithfulness - the ongoing act of the church “witnessing to our story and its implications” in the world we find ourselves.

These are just some musings - I still have some reading to do. But essentially this is what I’m considering: mainstream Anabaptism is an oxymoron.

Next question on my radar is this: is the language of "witness" just semantics, or does the church's role in the world significantly change once we accept our role as witnesses in our post-Christian reality?

Mainstream Anabaptism

2012-01-17T15:43:00.000-08:00

I’m finally reading Stuart Murray’s Naked Anabaptist. It’s a great little book giving an overview of the “bare essentials of a Radical faith,” as the subtitle suggests.

In a world increasingly at odds with organized religion and in a time of waning Christian influence in Western culture, Anabaptism is gaining popularity in many places. To quote Gregory Boyd’s forward,

While the mainstream church has, to a significant degree, unwittingly absorbed the values of intense individualism, consumerism, and materialism, more and more post-Christendom disciples in the West are becoming convinced that these values are at odds with everything Jesus was about. They are realizing that we are called to live in community with others, to live simply, humbly, and justly, and to share our lives and our resources with one another an with all who are in need.

At it’s core, Murray presents Anabaptism as a history and tradition of people - oftentimes struggling on the fringes of society and culture - committed to follow in the way of Jesus, not just believe in him. Part of the attraction, Murray suggests, is that Anabaptism cannot be represented by one organization, church, or denomination. It’s diverse in expression, yet united in values. He ponders:

Why are Anglicans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, and others interested in the Anabaptist tradition? Most are not searching for a new denomination to join or looking for a way to leave their own. They are seeking inspiration, resources, and fresh perspectives to enrich and enhance their own lives, local church, or denomination, and tehy suspect that the Anabaptist tradition might have something to offer. Because Anabaptism is a tradition rather than a denomination, [people] can explore it without feeling disloyal to their own community.

By appealing to a tradition - stories of faithfulness - Anabaptism can offer an alternative to the church shopping mentality seen in church and theology, where success comes through competition and relevance usually wins the day. Anabaptism, in this regard, holds values all can learn from.

The challenge, which I hope Murray addresses, is what to do when a fringe movement becomes mainstream and relevant - when its' “time has come” as seems to be the case for Anabaptism? And Murray realizes a generalized Anabaptism can lose some of its force if only an "idealistic or disembodied" vision. Mainstream Anabaptism faces some obstacles, no doubt.

I look forward to reading more.

"I will remember"

2012-01-12T16:25:00.000-08:00

Starting a new year always brings reflection and anticipation, memory and foresight. Here in mid-January, as the buzz of New Years’ resolutions quiets (or disappears altogether!), the year ahead can seem daunting, a blend of uncertainty and excitement.

Looking ahead to a new year can be one of those things that keeps us up at night - job, relationships, money, contentment (or lack thereof) burdens our already busy and wearied selves.

And this is okay. Or, at least it’s important to honestly face.

Psalm 77 speaks of this restlessness:

“I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted” (vv. 1-2)

Restlessness can and should direct our relationship with God. In the Bible, worship is honest whatever the situation. So it should be for us.

Perhaps you need to ask, then, what’s daunting in the year ahead? (i.e. what keeps you up at night?)

But lest we get stuck in despair, like the Psalmist we need to think beyond the stress and uncertainty even in the midst of it. We need to remember the bigger picture of our lives.

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds” (vv. 11-12).

So easily we forget the past. We forget the stories of God’s faithfulness, where uncertainty switched to clarity beyond anything we could have imagined. Sickness gone. A relationship restored. A new job. In these past times we remember how God’s presence was tangible - thankfulness came easy, natural. Such remembering can bring hope to an uncertain future.

We need to remember. A good memory helps us move forward.

So, consider this January - with a full year in view - what do you need to remember?

Yes, I’m blogging about Tim Tebow

2012-01-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

Football fan or not, you’ve likely heard of Denver Bronco's quarterback Tim Tebow in recent months. If not, well, you probably have this week!

Tebow, outspoken about his Christian faith, has endured criticism for being too outspoken about his beliefs. Add to that one of the worst seasons for a quarterback in NFL history and it’s no wonder many people remain miffed at the attention Tebow gets. He’s got two things going against him: public faith and mediocre ability (supposedly).

But there is one thing in sports culture that cuts through religion and athletic ability: winning!

Again and again, Tebow has proved he’s a winner. And so he won’t go away.

Usually, in the face of such winning, criticism would fade away. Not so for Tebow.

You see, there is the suggestion that Tebow gets his success directly from God - for some serious, for others a joke. Kneeling to pray at every opportunity, wearing “3:16” eye strips, and “thanking the Lord” in every interview can leave the impression that Tebow’s thinks his religion leads to his victory. In a culture as secular as ours, it’s not surprising people find this ridiculous. I know I do. We all know God doesn’t have have a favorite team.

But after this past Sunday’s game, the Tebow saga has become almost comical. Tebow threw for 316 yards and a 31.6 yard average in Sunday’s dramatic victory. It’s like God is gloating! Maybe Tebow is God’s quarterback! (just google “Tebow god” to see what I mean for this line of thinking). I find it all quite amusing to watch how people react.

But cut through the polarizing hype and there is a lesson here.

First, we need to concede that Tim Tebow is God’s quarterback. But then, so is Ben Roethlisberger. And Tom Brady. And Drew Brees. And the back-up no one knows. Before Tebow’s favorite verse says “whoever believes in him” it says “for God so loved the world" (Jn 3:16). Christians, and perhaps even Tebow himself, revel in the fact they are the “whoever” - they are “in” with God. But such a view, far from the interests of NFL football, skips the most important part: God loves all.

But that’s not controversial. That’s not newsworthy. That’s maybe even offensive to some who prefer Tebow’s public displays of piety over the struggles of someone like Ben Roethlisberger. I mean, really, how do we pick sides if God loves everyone? Who’s the hero? We want winners and losers. Sports gives us that. And for many, religion does to. Doesn't God want winners?

But God plays by different rules. Winning isn’t a competition, but a gift - a gift of love for all. And we don’t accept this gift - become part of the “whoever believes” - because we are winners, or spiritually mature, or a limited group of special recipients of God’s favor. That just makes choosing God a competition. Faith isn’t football. No, accepting God’s love means realizing love is at the core of being human - to love and be loved in all we do. We can't compete for such love. No, with the gift of God's love, we can all be winners, Tim Tebow and all.

new years presence

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, now Christmas is over.

Officially, Christmas ends with Epiphany, a celebration marking the journey to worship of the Magi - a story paralleled by the violence and control of Herod.

These stories illustrate how varied our response can be to the Christmas reality of God in our midst - and how challenging it is to integrate the awe and wonder of the Nativity into a new year.

Really, the account of the Magi and Herod is a story of dichotomies.

While they both have the same initial experience – hearing the news of Jesus’ birth and going about searching for the baby - Herod and the Magi both have very different responses.

Herod is scared. Closed-fisted as he grasps to maintain control of his position, doing whatever it takes eliminate any threat to his power. His response to Jesus is one of fear and distance.

How different from the Magi!

The Magi display an openness in their journey of discovery - a journey of giving and receiving. They travel miles and miles, not for themselves, but to pay homage to a king - to worship. It’s not about them. Their response to Jesus is one of journey and welcoming presence.

The week of Christmas, the Magi are inspirational - we are on holidays and such actions are befitting of holiday life. But with a new year - and holidays over - comes new challenges. How quickly we find ourselves more in the shadow of Herod’s grasping than the light of the Magi’s worship. Uncertainties produce fear which produces a desire for control and distance. We feel the pressure to “keep it together.”

This dichotomy in the story of Herod and the Magi has led me to ask several questions relevant to a new year. I hope we can all accept the journey of the Magi as our own. Consider for 2012:

What would it look like to adopt a posture of openness in relationship to God and others, even amidst fear or uncertainty?

Where, when you are tempted to eliminate whatever danger or uncertainty you might face, do you need to worship instead of control, to pray instead of fight?

Where on your journey can you seek presence with God and presence with others instead of distancing yourself when difficulties come your way?

May 2012 bring New Years' Presence!

still christmas

2012-01-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

For the second year now I’ve hung the Christian Seasons Calendar on my office wall. In case you don’t know, the calendar follows the church liturgical calendar, not the typical 12-month dating system. For example, here’s the current page:

While at times confusing in the weekly life of church ministry (I’ve gotten more than a few confused looks as people try to locate a date), I’ve found the calendar to be a helpful reminder in prioritizing what directs my life - not my schedule!

And in the a time when many are looking back at 2011 and looking forward to 2012, my calendar tells me it’s still Christmas (until the 5th anyway). The story goes on.

Upon entering a new year - re-entering the life of routine that January often brings - it’s amazing how quickly the Christmas story fades away. The wonder and mystery of “God with us” gives way to meetings, work, preschool, swimming lessons, exercise (I hope!), NFL playoffs, rain (or snow), and on and on and on...

Each January I find myself looking back at Christmas and thinking, “whoa, that was a blur.” It’s a good blur, don’t get me wrong. I love the celebration with family and church. But my memory of the week is a sort of hazy jumble of one event after another. Christmas, I tend to think, is over. It was last week. Now it's a new year.

But my calendar says Christmas isn't over.

Thank goodness!

What was marked by our celebration last week is not limited to last week. Again, the story goes on. And it should. Perhaps like Simeon and Anna in the weeks following Jesus’ birth, the reality of Christmas doesn’t meet us at the moment marking Jesus’ birth. If we're honest, this is probably true for many. We are still waiting for “God with us.” We still need Christmas.

In fact, once January settles in, we likely need Christmas more than ever. Behind the January routine lies deep longing and expectation that the feelings of Christmas could extend beyond last week. We want wonder and mystery, peace and goodwill, all the time. We need a Simeon-like encounter where we can see God’s salvation in our midst (Lk. 2:30) even in the most unexpected moments of the grey winter months. Here, early in 2012, we need to remember: Christmas isn’t over.

This January, then, may we join Anna and give thanks to God (Lk. 2:38)! It's still Christmas after all.

Merry Christmas!

god with us

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

A family struggles to make ends meet. The father faces sporadic work. The mother endures chronic illness. Three kids. Two in school. One just born this fall. Eviction notices greet them monthly as they just barely scrape together enough to pay the bills – a roof over their heads for one more month. This year’s Christmas hamper smaller than usual. 2012 looms with much of the same. They just want to get back on our feet.

A young man lives with rejection. Last year’s holiday included a marriage proposal. Joy. Elation. Expectation ran deep. Plans were made. But then plans have changed. Well, her plans changed. Last year’s expectation is this year’s loneliness and despair. He just wants to be happy again.

She has a great family, career, home, church – independence. “The good life” many would say. She loves her husband and 10-year-old son. But in the rare moments of quiet and self-reflection, dissatisfaction creeps from the shadows. Life is a blur. Christmas only increases the busyness. She barely has time to enjoy this good life she’s made for herself. Success hasn’t brought fulfillment. She just wants some peace and contentment.

At Christmas, the search for happiness and fulfillment is present in many ways, for all people...

Perhaps you hear parts of your story this Christmas in these stories here. We all, in different ways, long for fulfillment in our lives.

The right amount of money.
The right relationships.
The right spirituality.
The right, well, anything.

Everything is fair game in the search for personal happiness. “It’s all about me” is the world’s mantra.

And it’s the same for religious folks. Only now it’s me with God. My ability to connect with God. “Me with God.”

It’s an age-old search, this desire for fulfillment.

But...

all our striving,
all of history’s examples of societal bliss,
all of religion’s attempts to get the spiritual formula just right
all our attempts to have a successful life
all these things are revealed to be, in the words of a wise old man, “a chasing after the wind,” meaningless even. Meaningless in the sense that self-created happiness fades away.

If it ever comes at all.

Striving for happiness and fulfillment, this idea of “Me with God,” is a tragic reversal of the actual reality of Christmas.

It’s not “me with God,” it’s “God with us.”

We read about it. We sing “O Come O Come Emmanuel” – come, God, with us!

The picture is profound, but not in the way we’d expect from the Creator of all things. Not in an “out-there,” esoteric, spiritual way, God identifies with the very reality of human existence; life in this often confusing and broken world.

You know the story:

A questionable couple. A dirty barn. Farm animals. Stench and loneliness intermingled in a picture of physical and social struggle. And then the he comes. The Messiah, the Son of God, Immanuel. Names suggesting royalty, power. But here?

This One comes not in power but in weakness. A baby. God with us in weakness.

We know weakness. In our striving, we fail to find fulfillment. If we’re honest, we’ll never get enough money, or find that perfect relationship, or be continually content with life’s circumstances.

But we don’t walk this journey alone. In our search for fulfillment we're confronted with a different picture altogether. Not God-fixing-everything-in-our-life-so-we’ll-be-happy-all-the-time-with-no-reason-to-complain-ever-again. No, our lives will likely continue to mirror the life of an outcast family in stable of a small obscure town. But weakness meets God’s presence.

God immerses himself in this common part of human experience. Identifying with weakness is God’s avenue to overcoming brokenness, pain and death. After all, what begins with the birth of a baby culminates in the re-birth of new life, resurrection.

No more tears.
No more death.
No more striving for that elusive fulfillment.

After conquering death, rising from the grave, Jesus reaffirmed the Immanuel message of his birth. “I will be with you until the end of the age.”

Our hopes and dreams for this life – and the next – can be complex, filled with a combination of hope and uncertainty. Christmas sometimes brings these to the forefront. And in that moment of trying to figure everything out in our lives, we pause.

We remember
We remind
We treasure
We share
We place our hope
We rest in the presence

of “Immanuel, God with us”

Christmas – all of life! – God. With. Us.

Emmanuel prayer:

God, we thank you for your gift of Emmanuel
God with us!
Where there is pain, sorrow and sickness
God with us!
Where there is healing, care and comfort
God with us!
Where there is addiction, abuse and brokenness
God with us!
Where there is recovery, belonging, and meaning
God with us!
Where there is loneliness, conflict, and despair
God with us!
Where there is belonging and reconciliation
God with us!
May we live our lives and our lives with others in your presence
Emmanuel, God with us!

hum of the holidays

2011-12-22T15:28:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or does the week leading up to Christmas have a buzz in the air? Literally. You could almost say that Christmas is actually audible. Call it the “hum of the holidays.”

At Christmas, there is just more of everything.

Traffic.
People.
Food. LOTS of food.
Conversation.
Music.
Drink. LOTS...oh wait...No :-).
Honking.
Advertisements. LOTS of advertisements.
Gatherings.

My initial reaction is to say this is the sound of busyness. Each individual aspect of Christmas coalescing into a holiday carol that transcends them all - this “hum of the holidays” chorus. And depending on your personal disposition, this all-encompassing noise can be either exhilarating, exhausting, annoying, or simply go unnoticed. For me, it depends on my mood. In general, though, I think our world could do with a little less busyness. So when such busyness is amped up like at Christmas (who controls the volume dial?), part of me cringes and wonders if this is the way it has to be. I hope not.

But before my inner-Scrooge takes over, I need to remember that not all the verses of this cultural carol have to sing of the dark side to busyness. The song isn’t called “The Negativity.”

Perhaps one verse sings of connection - relationships strengthened in a time that for some reason, people are that much more ready to commit to a few extra hours together. We are relational beings after all. Being together can be a bright side to busyness.

And maybe another verse sings of generosity. Despite the consumeristic selfishness lurking behind the tradition of Christmas gift-giving, the premise itself remains a good one. As we celebrate the ultimate gift - Immanuel, God with us - our gift-giving reflects our nature - a nature made in the image of a self-giving God.

Lastly, as a parent, I can’t help but think another verse has to be for the kids. And not just in a fun "Frosty the Snow Man" or "Jingle Bells" sort-of way. There is something about the wonder and mystery of Christmas from a child’s perspective that shines through the busyness (be it the Santa-version or the Jesus-version). Trust combines with awe combines with expectation that - although at times infused with sugary-induced, present-crazed zaniness - should inspire wonder and hope in the most cynical of holiday observers. Jesus was onto something.

Connection.
Generosity.
Wonder.

As we continue to participate in this cultural carol - “hum of the holidays” - may we remember to sing these important verses loudly, harmonized for all to hear.

Rob Bell, celebrity pastors, and...a baby

2011-12-20T15:51:00.000-08:00

Popular American pastor Rob Bell has preached his final sermon in advance of moving on to pursue other opportunities. You can read the transcript here. (h/t Kurt Willems)

Whether you like Rob Bell or not, there is no denying his departure from Mars Hill Bible Church will impact the mega church. Observing his transition, and reflecting on leadership transitions in the church in general, reminds me of just how much emphasis Christians put on good leadership. And while there is biblical basis for strong leadership, in a culture that highly values trained expertise, Christian leadership has become a sort-of subculture itself, separate from the church it’s supposed to serve.

As a result, churches can easily become dependant on their leader, not the fact that they are a dynamic group of Jesus-followers called to gather in life together regardless of who leads them (Acts 2:42). Like a celebrity-endorsed product, too often the church’s success depends on the pastor - the celebrity.

In his final address, Rob Bell calls out against this danger, offering an alternative vision for his church family:

when people ask 'what about mars hill?' or 'what's mars hill
going to do?' it's as if mars hill is a disembodied reality with a life of its own.
here's the twist: the church is not an inanimate, impersonal product. there is no 'mars hill' in theory.
there is no abstract, disembodied entity mars hill apart from the people in this room who ARE mars hill.
so when people say what's going to happen to mars hill? they're asking what's going to happen to you.
what are you going to do? how are you going to respond?
you are the answer,
because you are the church.
mars hill is not a product,
it is a gathering of people.
you.

The cynic in me thinks Bell’s church will struggle in his departure. Whether he likes it or not, he is a celebrity leader to a lot people. But the optimist in me sees hope in Bell’s words - hope for the broader Christian church in general. The church is not a product, it is a gathering of people. As a pastor myself, this is an important reminder.
Such a message is especially relevant this time of year - a time of year when the Nativity story redefines the categories of leadership, blatantly opposing the celebrity pastor model.

A questionable couple. A dirty barn. Farm animals. Stench and loneliness intermingled in a picture of physical and social struggle. And then the leader comes. The Messiah, the Son of God, Immanuel. But he comes not in power but in weakness. A baby. This is the church’s model for leadership. This is God’s model of leadership - “servant...humble” (Phil 2:7-8).

What does the success of Mars Hill Bible Church depend on? What does the success of your church depend on? What does the success of the global church depend on?

The greatest leader to ever live - a leader who’s strength is genuine weakness.

Our leader is a baby.

a story of waiting

2011-12-13T10:27:00.000-08:00

During Advent, Christians often focus on the parts of Christmas story leading up to Jesus’s birth - Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and the angel Gabriel, Joseph’s dream, the Magi beginning their journey.

But the events surrounding the nativity story go even further back, years before Jesus’ birth...

There was this young Jewish man – he encountered God, not unlike the prophets of old. The Holy Spirit was upon him. To others, he was always distracted. His attention was never on the present. In the marketplace, in conversation, in his home with family, and especially in the Temple, his gaze – his attention – was always on the horizon. It was like he lived in a constant state of waiting.

Because he did. You see, he’d received a promise that he would see the Messiah of Israel in his lifetime. “The Messiah?” he thought. “Wow! The One who will restore our nation back to greatness; restore God’s favour like it was in the days of David and Solomon!” What a message! It was an exciting time. It was distracting in the most hopeful of ways.

His expectation ran so deep he moved to Jerusalem and made of point of going regularly to the Temple to worship, committing himself to this waiting, often telling others of his hope.

But time passed. Waiting got difficult, monotonous even. Excitement waned. Yet even in uncertainty,, the man kept going to the Temple, committed to the promise that his waiting was not in vain. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Waiting. Waiting for the consolation of Israel.

The man was still waiting in old age. His body aching. His mind wandering. He was tired. Navigating the slopes of Jerusalem streets got more and more difficult. Yet, he persisted. He didn’t lose hope. Seeing this hobbling old man day after day - often muttering strange things under his breath - the people in the Temple wondered, “What is he waiting for?”

Yet the man wasn’t the only one waiting. There was an old woman in the Temple who didn’t join the others in questioning ridicule. She could relate. Hers was a similar story.

As was the norm, she had married at a young age. But tragedy struck, and she was widowed shortly after marriage. But rather then remarry, the woman dedicated herself to worship and prayer, choosing a life of simplicity and devotion, day and night fasting and praying in the Temple. It was here that God met her.

At first, people were surprised to see this young widow of seeming insignificance hear from God. She developed a reputation as one with great wisdom, a prophet even. All of this despite her obscure family background from one of the Northern tribes of Israel, a place God was thought to have abandoned long ago.

Nearly 70 years passed. Day and night in the Temple.

She could remember the day the man first showed up, young and full of excitement for this great promise he had received. But where others doubted his message, she believed him. “The Messiah was coming! Our oppression at the hands of Romans will end. Our limited freedom to worship as Jews will be gone. The king of David will reign again!” She was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. She joined the man in his waiting.

But that was decades ago.

Now in their old age, even she wondered if the promise of a Messiah would be fulfilled. She was weary, often dozing instead of praying - hunger pangs that much more intense as her aging body endured the toll of regular fasting again and again. She was getting weak.

But like the man, she persisted. Waiting wasn’t a curse, but a blessing, accompanied by the presence and promises of God.

Together, the man and woman found purpose in their waiting. The words of the great prophet Isaiah remained their hope:

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

They watched together, their daily commitment spurred on by the prophet’s promise, “They will see it with their own eyes.” Where some in the Temple lamented Israel’s waiting, the man and woman found hope in the very act of waiting. Waiting wasn’t passive. Waiting wasn’t to be avoided.

For Simeon and Anna, waiting was holy.

Where is the Advent music?

2011-12-09T22:21:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about waiting this Advent.

I also like Christmas music. I don't mind spending the month of December listening to cheesy holiday music breeze the airwaves in home, car, mall, etc...

But most Christmas music isn't Advent music. There isn't much waiting.

O Come O Come Emmanuel is about it - which happens to be one of my favorite Christmas songs.

So I was surprised to note the lyrics of one popular Christmas tune that I'd never noticed before.

When a Child is Born - my favorite version is by Boney M - places the good news of Christmas firmly within the context of waiting - waiting in hopeful expectation that sorrow of this life won't reign forever. The hope of the baby's birth is meaningful in the very fact that we wait. It's good news because we wait.

...And all of this happened
Because the world is waiting
Waiting for one child
Black, white, yellow, no one knows
But a child that would grow up and turn tears to laughter
Hate to love, war to peace
And everyone to everyone's neighbour
Misery and suffering would be forgotten forever...

This comes to pass when a child is born...

In a time of countless shallow Christmas songs, the depth of this song - even in all its cheesiness - has enriched my Advent journey.

Any other good Advent songs to recommend?

For your listening and watching pleasure, check out this music video of the Johnny Mathis version of When A Child is Born:

conspiracy fatigue?

2011-12-06T16:11:00.000-08:00

I’ll start by saying this: I like Advent Conspiracy. I’ve shown my support several times here before. The call to “worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all” during this season of incessant me-centered spending is greatly needed. I continue to lead my church through the project (we’re conspiring now for the 3rd time).

But I wonder, has Advent Conspiracy run its course? I’ve noticed less cyber-buzz as in past years. Have we reached conspiracy fatigue?

Here’s the problem as I see it. I’m not convinced a conspiracy can sustain itself. Can and should Christian faith and practice (in this case, Advent) be framed as a conspiracy? I like the counter-cultural undertones, yes. Jesus was very counter-cultural himself. So was the early church and many other examples in the past 2000 years. No, my concern is that conspiracy is a limited concept. People conspire together for a specific task, like the overthrow of a government. A conspiracy by definition, is temporary and measurable.

Advent - the season of expectation and remembrance of the coming of Christ into the world - is in many ways unlimited and immeasurable. We celebrate it every year. You don’t overthrow the government every year (I hope not at least!). And more importantly, I believe, is the message that Christ’s coming is a permanent reality that calls for a radical change in our whole lives - to “worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all” are not just practices to seasonally conspire at. I worry that Advent Conspiracy becomes a droning “do do do” that, ironically, ends up mirroring the very busyness it’s trying to conspire against.

I don’t mean to be negative or cynical. The movement has wonderfully raised millions of dollars for clean drinking water and hopefully inspired millions of people to reconsider how they celebrate Christmas. And I pray that continues. But as a conspiracy, I worry that the change in behavior is temporary, which I don't think is the intention of the movement. Perhaps Advent Conspiracy has served it’s purpose. It’s raised awareness and new action. But in our conspiracy fatigue, perhaps it’s time to move on.

I want to suggest that the conspiracy needs character. Perhaps a new name is in order: Advent Character (boring, I know). Instead of practices just at Advent we need character to sustain us the other eleven months of the year. The fruit of the movement needs the fruit of the Spirit! The traditional Advent themes - hope, peace, joy, and love - are needed to sustain our conspiring actions. Worship, giving, and love, while represented in the actions of Advent Conspiracy, are rooted in our character as God’s people. We are worshiping people. We are giving people. We are loving people. As we embrace this character of our identity, practices will come naturally. We don’t need a conspiracy if we have character.

No doubt my suggestion won’t become popular. Or turn into a movement. Nor should it. If we’re honest, the path of Christian character is difficult and frustrating. Our ideals bump up against the reality of sin and brokenness every day. Darkness overwhelms glimmers of light. It’s hard to wait for the world to get better.

But that’s what Advent is all about, is it not? Waiting. Advent character can help us as we wait.

dealing with destruction

2011-12-01T15:50:00.000-08:00

“We accept the Bible as the infallible Word of God and the authoritative guide for faith and practice.” (MB Confession of Faith)

This phrase is part of my denomination’s confession of faith, asserting the centrality of the Bible for the Christian life. I have no trouble accepting this assertion...usually.

Stories about Jesus and phrases like “God is love” and “love one another” (1 Jn. 4) form some of the best testimony for the world to follow Jesus.

But there is a problem.

The Bible also includes some words and sections and images that provide some of the worst testimony for the world to follow Jesus. Old Testament records of judgment and destruction portray a God bent on wrathful destruction not loving embrace. In the New Testament, grotesque apocalyptic images from Revelation are enough to scare anyone away from God.

In today’s world, as much as love is a common reason to accept God, judgment and destruction are common reasons to reject God. How do biblical texts about wrath and judgment fit with the message love? This is a common objection to Christianity. “God is love” is seen as a facade, hiding the real God - a wrathful, destructive, judging ruler of the universe.

As Christians, how we respond to this objection is crucial, especially if we want to hold onto the view that the Bible is still authoritative in matters of life and faith. Dealing with destruction is no small task.

But Christians often quickly leap to answering the how and why of God’s judgment as we find it in the Bible, without taking time to pause. And be honest.

Christians are allowed to struggle with God’s judgment too.

Already in my early tenure as a pastor, I’ve had three sermons I didn’t particularly enjoy. God destroying Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18-19), David defeating the Amalakites (1 Sam. 30), and God enacting various forms of judgment on the world (Rev. 8-9). On the surface, there are very few, if any, redeeming features in these biblical texts. If anything, they just confirm the negative image of a mean God held by so many people. And so for each sermon I’ve started out by admitting my hesitation to speak of God’s judgment. I don’t like it.

And only then do I go about dealing with destruction. Answers come, for sure. Perhaps another post is warranted. But before answers comes honesty: I don’t like wrath and judgment. Considering God’s intention for humanity (Gen. 1-2, Rev. 21-22), I don’t think I’m supposed to.

patient Advent

2011-11-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

Advent.

Literally means "coming."

For Christians, Advent is about anticipating, waiting, and imagining the kingdom of God in the world - a kingdom marked by love, gentleness and humility. A kingdom beautifully revealed in birth of a baby - Jesus. Power and might unexpectedly small, understated. In fact, power and might redefined by God's self-giving love. "Emmanuel, God with us!"

The celebration of Advent, then, is a reminder that our faith, victorious indeed, is also about waiting:

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me (Micah 7:7 NIV)

Or as Stanley Hauerwas remarks about Advent:

Advent is patience. It’s how God has made us a people of promise in a world of impatience...And Christ has made that possible for us to live patiently.

During the Christmas season, as the busyness ensues and impatience ends up reigning (and ruining!) the day, Advent offers a chance to step back - a chance to step back and accept an alternative way of living in a world bent more towards what's hectic than what's holy. Advent teaches us that waiting is holy. Patience is holy.

Have a patient Advent!

branding our faith

2011-11-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

A consistent image in the New Testament is allegiance. Allegiance to God or the world is the dilemma facing the early church. In Revelation 4-5 allegiance is portrayed in “bowing down” before the throne of God - a clear sign of allegiance to God and a radical portrayal of human identity in a culture where the Roman Emperor demanded allegiance (worship) to himself alone. For 1st-century Christians, “Jesus is Lord” (Rom. 10:9-13) was as much a political statement as a spiritual one.

Not living under the rule of a dictatorial emperor, we may think it’s now easier to declare “Jesus is Lord.” We are, after all, free to choose the religion of our choice, at least in the West. But such freedom comes with a cost: we neglect the reality that allegiance remains a central theme in life and faith. While allegiance no longer comes with the threat of death, it remains nonetheless. For us today, allegiance is subtle.

Back to branding. The process serves to illustrates the subtlety of allegiance. Companies no longer just market a product or service, but an identity. The popular Apple commercials are a great example. Often unawares, in the process of buying an Apple computer, people are buying an identity, showing an allegiance to certain image - cool, hip, edgy, etc... Quoting Skye Jethani again, we live in a “culture that values style over substance, image over reality, and perception over performance.” We end up showing our allegiance to these brands, these identities we are marketed and sold on.

Christianity buys into this paradigm - Christian music, art, movies, entertainment. Flashy worship services geared to attract people and provide something they are looking for.

It’s no wonder Christianity and the church struggles to retain members. We buy into trying to present an attractive brand, which ends up cheapening allegiance to mere style, image, and perception. It’s shallow. Christianity is simply another brand to choose from.

We need to remember that while Jesus is indeed Savior (Jn. 3:16), Jesus is also Lord. To ascribe lordship is to give allegiance. Faith in Jesus is our whole life. Christianity is a way of life. It makes sense that Jesus called this the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Mt. 22:37).

As I said before, brand that!

inefficiency wins

2011-11-15T16:23:00.001-08:00

I have had some good discussions this week around what it means to be a peacemaker, pacifist, or hold a “love and nonresistance” position. In a time when wars continue to wage around the globe, and violence and abuse of many kinds is perpetrated in our very own communities, Christians need to continually consider what it means to follow Jesus’s way of peace.

My denomination has this to say in our Confession of Faith:

Believers seek to be agents of reconciliation in all relationships, to practice love of enemies as taught by Christ, and to be peacemakers in all situations. We view violence in its many different forms as contradictory to the new nature of the Christian. We believe that the evil and inhumane nature of violence is contrary to the gospel of love and peace. In times of national conscription or war, we believe we are called to give alternative service where possible. Alleviating suffering, reducing strife, and promoting justice are ways of demonstrating Christ’s love.

I agree.

But a common rebuttal to peace churches asks this question: what about injustice? Surely you can’t sit idly by and watch someone suffer, can you? Sometimes violence has to beget violence for the greater good, especially the victim, right? Call it “redemptive violence" if you want. It’s a make-the-best-of-it, common sense way of loving your neighbor in a violent world. The way of peace is impractical, inefficient, and idealistic. I’ll admit, it’s hard to argue this one.

Although I’m not convinced.

Part of the problem is with the measuring sticks: practicality and efficiency. And while I’ll concede the idealistic critique - I see this as a compliment - I think our categories of practicality and efficiency are challenged when we look at Jesus. In fact, Jesus doesn't seem to care much for success in the way we like to define it. He taught a subversive response to violence and abuse (Mt. 5:38-48) and modelled creative engagement with the authorities in times of injustice and confrontation (Jn. 7:53-8:11). But there was no guarantee of success. In fact, you could say that with Jesus’s death, his way of peace is the most impractical and inefficient model we have. Weakness. Suffering. Death.

Yet such a path ended up bringing life. The way of the cross, however inefficient, ends up securing life and peace (Jn. 11:25-26) that outlasts any violent revolution or overthrow of unjust rulers. Inefficiency wins.

For us, then, to accept Jesus's way of peace means giving up our categories of practicality and efficiency, trusting that with the potential of lost life, there is the promise of new life (Mt. 10:38-39).

Remembrance Day - "The Peaceable Kingdom"

2011-11-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

On this day of remembrance for lives lost and violence exacerbated for better (but usually worse) I offer this perspective and hope - God's intention for life in the world - "the peaceable kingdom."

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:1-10 NIV)

Picture by Will Bullas - "Peaceable Kingdom with two olives"

what’s your favorite brand?

2011-11-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

What’s your favorite brand?

In our consumer culture, branding is everything. For example, Starbucks and Apple don’t just market products and services. They sell an experience, an identity wrapped up in their product. It’s common to hear, “I’m an Apple girl.” Or, “He’s a Starbucks guy.” Brands reflect who we are, our very identity.

The problem is when we associate Christianity as just another brand. Our faith ends up being a sort-of accessory or label we wear, often without the transformed way of life taught by Jesus himself. Faith becomes shallow. “I’m a Christian” is professed in the same breath as “I’m a Canucks fan” (often with less passion). Christianity ends up as just another choice among the many choices we make each day. And then we wonder why we struggle to be competitive and offer a product that is appealing to the masses! This is a troubling reality.

In The Divine Commodity, Skye Jethani offers an inspiring alternative:

Rather then putting on a “Tommy Hellfighter” T-shirt, a “Got Jesus?” bumper sticker, or “Jesus Is My Homeboy” underwear (all real products), why not follow Paul’s advice and focus our energy toward putting on “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Col. 3:12). This is how our identity is revealed, not by the brands we display, but by faith working through love. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35). Christ’s true people are branded with love.

'Successful' Christianity, then, while deeply counter-cultural, is profoundly simple: "Love one another" (1 Jn. 4:7-21). Brand that!

sacred consumption

2011-11-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Why faith?

Why God?

Why Christianity?

I ask these questions not for the point of abstract or intellectual interest, although much has been said or written on these ideas themselves.

No, I ask this question in terms of our personal perspective on God and faith. For those of us who carry a religious/spiritual bent why do we choose the path we're on? Or "why not" for non-religious folks? What's your motivation to follow the particular religious path you are on?

Wary of blind/ignorant/naive religious devotion, the question of "why?" (or "why not?") can form a helpful backdrop to our religious choices, helping us maintain some consistency between what we believe and how we live day-to-day. Keeping the "why" in mind helps us live with at least some level of self-awareness. This is a good thing.

It was with this "why" question on my mind that I read with interest a quote from one of my current reads, The Divine Commodity. Author Skye Jethani examines the influence of a consumeristic mindset on how we view God and religion, suggesting,

"The reduction of even sacred things into commodities also explains why we exhibit so little reverence for God. In a consumer worldview he has no intrinsic value apart from his usefulness to us. He is a tool we employ, a force we control, and a resource we plunder. We ascribe value to him (the literal meaning of the word "worship") based not on who he is, but on what he can do for us."

God is only beneficial is his direct value to us. The "why" question really asks, is God worth it?

For many of us, if we're really honest, this is the only question we know. We want God to relate to our experiences after all. So we choose God because it works for us. Or it makes sense to me. Or it gives you comfort, hope, and peace of mind. All good things, no doubt.

But I think Jethani makes a crucial point in making the connection between pervasive consumerism and our choice of God: it becomes solely about us. The reality of God - is God worth it? - is completely dependent on our ability to make that decision. But if you're like me, you have doubts, disappointments, struggles, and inconsistencies that left to our own devices, will lead us to reject God, perhaps even demanding a full refund for lost time, often paid out in the currency of bitterness or apathy.

If such sacred consumption is our only grid to faith, God, and religion, God is a tough sell. In fact, I think the God of the Bible, revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, is an impossible sell when value is based on consumer satisfaction. As I said, God's existence is dependent on us. But is that really even God?

Interestingly, with all its talk of faithful living and right belief - the idea that individuals need to respond to or "choose" God - the Bible consistently emphasizes that all of life is created and sustained by God. Life is "good" not because we declare it so, but because God made it that way (Gen. 1:31). Life with God isn't dependent on our ability or desire to believe and follow him, but finds basis in his sustaining presence as the loving creator of all things:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.” (Rev. 4:11 NIV)

Sacred consumption demotes God to nonexistence, irrelevance, or at best, sentimentality. God as a product is just not worth it my opinion.

Which is why I need this reminder: the source of life is not a product of life.

Who is God?

"I AM WHO I AM" (Ex. 3:14)

Jesus was sacrilegious

2011-10-31T12:57:00.000-07:00

Jesus was sacrilegious.

This is the message of the book, Sacrilege: Finding the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus by Hugh Halter.

Using the Beatitudes as a guide, Halter asserts that Jesus’s message and mission was anything but religious - it was sacrilegious. “To commit sacrilege means to disregard, disrespect, or be irreverent toward those things that have traditionally been considered holy, venerated, or dedicated as sacred.” This is what Jesus did in the face of the religious leaders, over and over. As someone who makes a living in religion - leading people to encounter the sacred - for me the book was a practice of examining assumptions throughout. And while this could have turned me off - insulted me even - it didn’t. Halter has a straightforward openness, makes his point through engaging stories, and desires to take the words of Jesus seriously. Reading the book was a breath of fresh air to one (me) who runs the risk of getting bogged down in the heavy air of religious ritual.

And Halter lives what he preaches. He’s part of a faith community in Denver, Colorado that seeks to embody Jesus’ kingdom in the culture they find themselves. Traditional church things are held loosely. They don’t have a building. They occasionally skip Sunday worship gatherings (everyone!). They don’t have any full-time pastors. On the surface, some might say they are a bunch of jaded, anti-church folk. They’ve looked at Jesus’s sacrilegious teaching and gone too far, leaving the church behind. Not so. Halter’s clear disappointment in organized Christian religion is paralleled by an even greater passion for the church to remain central. The church community is of utmost priority. Halter offers an inspiring summary of Jesus’s teaching, “Although going to church is not that big of a deal to Jesus, being the church and becoming his winsome representatives does matter to him. A lot.” To all the religious cynics out there, I think this is Halter’s strongest point: “please don’t give up on your church. Find some friends and start being the church...The least we can do is stop bellyaching about [the church] and try to make [it] as beautiful as as Jesus intended [it] to be.” Each chapter resonates with common frustrations, but challenges us to consider creative ways forward. Again, this was refreshing.

I did have one frustration with Sacrilege, not limited to this book alone (e.g. Brian McLaren's New Kind of Christianity). The book follows a trend one could call the “find-the-real Jesus” trend. Mostly this is a good trend. It challenges what we take for granted and forces us to look seriously at what Jesus actually said and did. But I worry. The trend can do injustice to two-thousand years of faithful Jesus followers muddling their way through life and faith trying just as hard to find the real Jesus as we do now. It’s not as if we’ve all of the sudden stumbled upon a never-before discovered Jesus. I’m not saying Halter explicitly suggests this, but I’d prefer the term “rediscovering” over “finding” in the title. Alan Hirsch is more intentional in this manner.

All this to say, for anyone tired of religion, for anyone seeing an absence of “sacred” in the institutional church, and for anyone who thinks Jesus still matter, Sacrilege is for you. Halter offers a vision of hope for the community of Jesus followers we like to call church. And in a time when many bemoan this and that about the church, a little hope can go a long way. It did for me.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

challenging assumptions

2011-10-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

Religion is full of beliefs and practices that carry with them a whole host of assumptions that are taken for granted, yet oftentimes profoundly impact the way religion is lived out. Evangelical Christianity is no exception.

Personally, I've found it helpful to consider the assumptions I've adopted. Such consideration prevents my faith from becoming a bunch of routine practices or shallow and naïve beliefs. I want to know why I believe what I believe and why I act how I act. I think such questioning is a natural part of maturity, regardless of your religion/worldview.

So I was challenged to read this list of evangelical assumptions from Hugh Halter. He offers them to point out how easy it is to stray from what Jesus actually taught. While caricatures, no doubt, see if some of these resonate with - and perhaps challenge - your assumptions:

Western ways of doing things are intrinsically superior to Eastern ways.
Truth is ultimately a body of propositions rather than a Person--a doctrinal download that we are to download to others.
It is wise to invest my money in financially prospering neighborhoods because I will get the best return on my money rather than investing in a poor neighborhood where the return might be eternal but not monetary.
The kingdom is in the afterlife, so there's no need to help folks on this side of eternity. What matters is whether we get them into "the kingdom," another word for "heaven."
Jesus prefers me to spend most of my time with other Christians.
The best investment of time and energy in relationships should be determined by what I get in return.
My family should have the best of everything, and I define "best" as life in a safe neighborhood with good schools and where government and social services work well.
My job as a parent is to protect my kids, avoid anything that could hurt them, and pray that they will always stay in church. Never mind preparing them to live a life of sacrificial mission in a wider culture.
Stewardship is giving God 10 percent of my money after taxes instead of seeing everything as truly his to be used for his purposes.
An increase in my income is a way to enjoy a better lifestyle, not a way to bless more people.
Planning for retirement means laying aside enough money to ensure that I can maintain the lifestyle I am used to and comfortable with.
Holiness is defined in terms of what I don't do instead of how much I act like Jesus did, with the kind of people Jesus loved. Holiness is separating me and my friends and family from the dark and dirty world.
The Good News is a message I should communicate verbally. Good deeds are for those liberal churches. My job is to get the message out, and if people don't respond, they'll sadly burn in hell.
Salvation is only for those who have prayed the right prayer of repentance to God.
Discipleship is growing in head knowledge about God and not doing any of the "biggie" sins.
My relationship with God is "personal," with very little emphasis on faith in the context of a committed community.

(Hugh Halter, Sacrilege: Finding Life in the Unorthodox Ways of Jesus)

The Road to Missional

2011-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Recently I asked, “what is missional?”

After reading Michael Frost’s latest book The Road to Missional, I have a better idea.

Seeking to clear up confusion around the term “missional,” Frost offers a clear presentation of key concepts for how churches can become missional. The problem of the concept’s growing popularity, as Alan Hirsch points out in the preface, is that “when everything becomes missional, then nothing becomes missional.” Basically, talk is cheap. And so far, for many, the church and missional has been primarily a shift in language only.

As the one who first coined the term, Frost wants more than words. For the church be missional, it has to be more than “just another way of saying get-out-there-and-invite-your-unsaved-friends-to-church, which it is definitely not.” This traditional paradigm for the church’s role in the world places the impetus on us. And wrongly so. Frost clarifies the alternative: the church is missional only in its relation to God. Mission, then, must start with the Missio Dei - “the reign of God.”

When the church is about us, mission can turn into a mere sales pitch amidst the competing marketing of anything and everything. Frost labels this the “market-shaped church,” where evangelism - sharing the good news of Jesus Christ - measures itself in terms of efficiency and initial impact, instead of acknowledging the “slow” work of alerting people to God’s work in the work. The chapter “slow evangelism” is an incisive challenge evangelicals would do well to hear (and respond!).

For the church to be truly missional, Christians must give up control, being reminded of the mandate to follow the way of Jesus as Lord and not just Savior (much more could be said about this important point). I think Frost’s phrase, “triumphant humiliation,” is genius in describing this way of Jesus (probably my favorite phrase in the book). In suffering, Jesus brought life through his resurrection. Humility brought triumph. The same is true for the church today. Mission, then, is about “participating” with God, not being gods ourselves. Instead of complex strategies to reach people, the church is with people in their day-to-lives (Frost offers some helpful practical ways the church can be present with the people around them).

I’ve read a lot of books on the missional church. I’ll admit, I was skeptical in reading another. The discussion can become a bit redundant (boring even!). Not so here. The Road to Missional is the best summary of the missional church I’ve read. It’s accessible and readable, but without compromising a rich theology and conceptual foundation. As well, Frost writes with integrity. He’s personally wrestled through the subject matter himself. To be sure, liabilities exist in any summary project such as this (e.g. Frost’s critique of pietism needs more clarification), but such points don’t detract from the greater value the project. Here we have clarification and inspiration on a topic (the church and its mission) so many confuse, abuse, or simply ignore.

Thank you Michael Frost!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

story sense

2011-10-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

As I continue to adjust to life with a newborn, I'll keep sharing some of the meaningful quotes/ideas I encounter as I work up energy/motivation/inspiration for more original blog posts.

And so, consider this:

Churches are not franchises to be reproduced as exactly as possible wherever and whenever—in Rome and Moscow and London and Baltimore—the only thing changed being the translation of the menu.

But if we don’t acquire a narrative sense, a story sense, with the expectation that we are each one of us uniquely ourselves—participants in the unique place and time and weather of where we live and worship—we will always be looking somewhere else or to a different century for a model by which we can be an authentic and biblical church. The usefulness of Acts as a story, and not a prescription or admonition, is that it keeps us faithful to the plot, Jesus, and at the same time free to respond out of our own circumstances and obedience. (Eugene Peterson, The Pastor, 119)

In a time when churches continue chasing after relevance, success, and popularity, these are wise words from a wise pastor.

what is missional?

2011-10-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

What is missional?

It's a term bandied about with regularity in evangelical church circles. Missional has become a bit of buzz word if you or your church want to ensure you are "with the times" when it comes to being faithful Christians. But again, what is missional?

Is missional a new set of programs? Is it a synonym for evangelism, but more tasteful in our sensitive post-Christian (and anti-evangelical) culture? Is it a fad to sell more books? Is it being on a mission, not just doing missions? Google the word and you realize pretty quickly just how diverse this whole missional concept really is.

Would someone clear up the confusion!?!

Well, hopefully it's Michael Frost. I just received his latest book that looks to clear the whole missional discussion up. The Road to Missional sets out to do the following:

It has recently become acceptable, and even fashionable, to refer to one's church as "missional." But many churches misunderstand the concept, thinking of "going missional" as simply being a necessary add-on to church-as-usual. This domestication of what is actually a very bold paradigm shift makes missional nothing more than one more trick to see church growth.

With a light hand and a pastoral spirit, Michael Frost points out how church practitioners are not quite there yet. He reestablishes the ground rules, redefines the terms accurately, and insists that the true prophetic essence of "being missional" comes through undiluted. This clear corrective will take ministry leaders from "not missional yet" to well on their way.

I look forward to reading it and will share more in the weeks to come.

--If you're wondering why the relative silence on the blog, go here. Valid excuse I think!--

"dark beauty"

2011-10-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

I'm blessed to share life with our new baby daughter. We love our "dark beauty"- Laila!

Laila Julianne was born October 3, 2011 at 8:54pm, weighing in at 8lbs.

hope in waiting

2011-09-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

Waiting.

Waiting can be a big deal. Waiting isn’t always a simple action we perform (e.g. waiting for the bus), but can also characterize a part of who we are. Waiting, in many instances, is a condition placed upon our lives. And it's hard.

Waiting for the birth of a child illustrates such a condition. Three days past due, Julie and I are in the midst of waiting to meet out second child. And such waiting, while filled with much hope and anticipation, isn’t always easy. We are impatient. Come on baby, come out already! It’s a helpless feeling, really.

In our impatience to meet baby, I was led to read this famous Bible passage in Isaiah: “those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31 NRSV). This verse offers a good reminder to place my focus on God and remember the promise that strength lies in God’s work in our lives. Timely words, no doubt.

Trouble is, the verse can easily become shallow sentimentality, not affecting the situation whatsoever. Nice words, but no difference to me. Or, we put all our energy on the renewal/strength part. But when renewal and strength don’t ensue, we get frustrated. Again, nice words, but for us, we want the baby out now (especially Julie!)! Insert your own pressing situation and I think you’ll understand.

We too easily neglect the waiting in the Isaiah passage. We think waiting, with God’s help, is the part to overcome. Yet in the Hebrew of Isaiah, waiting is an integral part to the experience of the faith journey. Not negative or passive as we often see it, the word insinuates intention on our part. Waiting is active. And more importantly, waiting is hopeful. Hence the NIV, “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.”

As I find renewal and strength still absent (and likely the case in some ways for the next several months with a newborn baby!), I’m trying to place my waiting in the right context. It’s necessary, even good. But it’s still hard and I’m still impatient. Yet I’m hopeful. In the Bible, bizarre for us fast-paced moderners, waiting and hope are the same thing.

Waiting needs hope. Waiting is hope.

"gospelizing"

2011-09-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Gospel - literally, “good news.”

As Christians, we tend to think of the gospel in terms of ideas, beliefs, and religious constructs. To share the gospel - often part of our “testimony” - is to explain the significance of the Christian faith, making clear the credibility of belief in God revealed in Jesus Christ.

In the process, however, we neglect an important fact in the New Testament story: “gospel” is often a verb. Unlike a noun, a verb describes action. We don’t simply share “the gospel” as an idea (noun), but we live it out with our whole lives (verb). As Bruxy Cavey suggests, Christians go about “good-newsing” the world, “gospelizing” the people around us in word and action. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” means your whole life (Mt. 22:37).

So, how you drive, how you treat others in the grocery store, how you respond to the homeless women on the sidewalk, how you resolve conflict with your neighbor, how you treat your boss...all these things matter because they are part of the “good news.”

As we consider, then, how to share the gospel may we recognize that this “good news” isn’t merely an idea to agree with, but a whole-life-lived reflecting the ongoing transformation of Jesus in our midst - the gospel “written on our hearts, known and read by everyone” (2 Cor. 3:2).

This reflection is based on a conference I attended last week with pastor/teacher/writer, Bruxy Cavey of The Meeting House.

life, death, and “happy Terry Fox”

2011-09-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Life: Existence, yes. But also all that brings joy, peace, wholeness and unity. Synonyms are vivacity, sprightliness, vigor, verve, activity, energy.

Death: The end of life. Destruction. The absence of joy, peace, wholeness and unity. Synonyms include decease, demise, passing, departure.

Life has been on my mind lately. Julie and I are eagerly anticipating the birth our 2nd child - the entry of new life into our family and the world. I can’t wait!

But death lingers in my mind as well, especially when my 3-year-old asks me, “Where’s Terry Fox Daddy?”

You see, this past weekend we took our son to participate in his first Terry Fox Run. We explained to him how Terry got sick and lost his leg. But then courageously ran with a metal leg. Our son liked that part. He’s mesmerized by video of Fox running. But he didn’t like the part about Terry Fox dying. “I want to see happy Terry Fox” my son exclaimed as we watched clips of Terry’s Marathon of Hope online. I found myself emotional as my innocent 3-year-old naively expressed this deep human aversion to death.

As I reflect on these mixed experiences, I realize how easy it is to compartmentalize life and death. The birth of a child - life! The passing of a loved one - death... But life experience tells me it’s never that simple. On the day our child is born, thousands of children around the world - just as deserving as ours - will suffer and even die. Ever since Terry Fox’s tragic death, life has been breathed into communities around the world, celebrating Terry’s example and raising millions of dollars to preserve life through cancer research. Life and death together. It’s perplexing.

In this messiness of life and death, I’m starting to realize that death doesn’t have to mean the end of life. On Sunday, amongst the crowd of Terry Fox Run participants, there was hope, life. People rallied to support a worthy cause. Terry’s inspiring memory leads people to create their own memories. In some ways, the annual Terry Fox Run is our attempt to overcome death, however limited or incomplete. In Terry’s death, there is still life. We are resilient.

As a Christian, I place such human resilience in the context of a greater hope. This life at the Terry Fox Run or through the birth of my child, are reflections of my ultimate hope in the face of death. This is a hope that my son’s desire to see “happy Terry Fox” isn’t merely sentimental. This hope is real - a hope that one day death will finally be overcome.

God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Rev. 21:4 NIV).

Playing for Change Day

2011-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

“Play a song. Change the world.”

Really?

“Yes!” according to people around the world on this, the first annual Playing for Change Day - “a global day of action where musicians of all varieties perform on stages, cafés, city squares, and street corners worldwide and raise money to bring music into the lives of young people.”

Playing for Change is an organization that believes there is uniting power in music. They are “dedicated to creating positive change through music & arts education.” Gathering musicians from around the globe, songs are recorded, videos made, and money raised - all with the expressed purpose to make the world a better place. It’s an inspiring project - one which I’m happy to endorse.

questioning technology

2011-09-15T14:32:00.000-07:00

Technology is everywhere.

And these days, the technology we hear about is related to all-things social - Facebook, twitter, Google+, on and on and on... And technology is often represented by those cool, hip devices that have an “i” affixed to their name and which we all have to own - purely for functional purposes, of course ;-).

This week I received in the mail (yes, and on paper no less!) a challenging set of articles out of Regent College discussing the understanding and use of technology from a Christian perspective. It’s well worth the read - available online here.

A few things stood out to me:

1. Technology can enhance existing relationships, but is limited in creating them. Dr. Albert Borgmann makes the interesting comment that while “we should certainly recognize [social media strengths] and use social media to reinvigorate parishes and families...if there is no existing community, then social media is unsatisfying in and of itself.” His comment made me think how when it comes to technology - social media in particular - the old adage “quantity vs. quality” still applies. That is, don't place too much value on your number of Facebook friends, or you Twitter ranking, or blog stats - these present an incomplete image of reality for who you are in relationship to others. A timely reminder for all.

2. Creativity is needed to break our technological addiction. Too often basic techniques of addiction therapy are applied to how we respond to overuse of technology. “To combat the addiction, you have to discard the addicting substance” David Stearn quotes about common practice. But Stearns feels such an approach is both unhelpful and unrealistic, failing to account for the complexity of life in our technological culture. “If we cannot realistically give up a new device or social medium, we are left feeling hopeless.” And in the process, Stearns suggests, we miss examining how we might envision “an active domestication that reshapes the device or medium to be more closely aligned with our particular social values.” We need to figure out how to use technology well, not just get rid of it.

3. Hesitant technology users (“Luddites” says Ron Wilson) are often looked down at. I'll admit, I've experienced this. The “what, you don’t have a cell phone?” of a mere 3 years ago (to which I finally relented) has already turned into “what, you don’t have a iPhone? You are a pastor, aren't you?” Any questioning of technological advance, especially regarding social media or personal devices, is seen as regressive on all levels, however relevant the questions are. Yet isn’t it good to evaluate our use of technology in light of pointed observations such as this one Wilson makes: “Technology has lulled us all into a belief that we are available, accessible, and responsible 24/7 (a claim that belongs only to the triune God!).” My wife and I like to say (only partially joking): if you can’t reach us at home, that probably means we don’t want to talk to you.

4. And this is just funny: Upon receiving a Facebook friend request from “Martha S (623 friends)” Iwan Russel-Jones offers this comical observation: “What!! Martha and I have been close acquaintances for more than twenty-three years, during all of which time she has been my daughter. But she, too, at this point in time, feels the need to be my friend.”

These articles set up nicely for a set of lectures next month at Regent College. Dr. Albert Borgmann will be presenting this years Laing Lectures on October 19-20, titled “The Lure of Technology: Understanding and Reclaiming the World.” Should be very interesting.

heaven: some things to remember

2011-09-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

This is the final post in a series, Heaven: Out of this World?

When we reorient ourselves around a view of heaven that is not merely “out of this world” there are some important things to remember.

1. When considering specifics of the afterlife (heaven, hell, consciousness, etc...), we need to remember: don’t get caught up in the details. There is much ambiguity when it comes to the afterlife. For example, at one point, Paul describes death as a vague spiritual experience of resting “with Christ” (Phil 1:21). Elsewhere, however he talks extensively about our resurrection bodies (1 Cor. 15). While “spiritual” (different than our current bodies), Paul envisions a future physical reality. Which view is right? Well, maybe it is both. There may be two realities after we die. N.T. Wright describes this distinction by saying there is “life after death” – this “resting with Christ” – and then there is “life after, life after death.” And it is this second distinction – this time in which Christ returns and gathers his resurrected people in the new heavens and new earth – that much of the Bible is talking about.

But we just don’t know exactly what this will all look like. What will “resting with Christ” be like? Conscious experience? Like sleeping? We can only speculate. And what do a new heaven and a new earth look like? Earth, but a little better than now? It’s something totally new, yet an extension of God’s good creation. It’s still physical. But really, who knows!?! Again, we can only speculate. When we try to figure exactly how this works, we run the risk of distracting ourselves from the main point of it all: the hope that resurrection - new life - actually happens!

2. Not getting caught in endless speculation, we’re then called to remember that life in this world – the physical world around us – still matters to God. The “it was very good” of the creation story carries forward in this vision of the new heaven and new earth. God is not done with the earth and the physical side of creation.

Things like caring for the environment, feeding the hungry, working for the common good of people around us can reflect God’s plan of redemption for the world. How we treat the physical world and those around us is our testimony as Christians to our hope in the resurrection and a new heaven and a new earth. Our actions can become a foretaste of heaven.

3. And finally, in relaying this hope, we must remember such a reality is not our own doing. God initiates the new heaven and earth. Jesus announces and initiates the kingdom of God in the world. As followers of Jesus, we are exactly that: followers – empowered by the Holy Spirit to participate in God’s plan of salvation for the world.

New heavens and a new earth. The kingdom of God. Future hope, indeed. But present reality as well. Revelation 21 sends us off with a vision of completion that is most inspiring to keep hoping in this salvation:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Rev. 21:3-6 NIV).

This series is adapted from a sermon I preached at Killarney Park MB Church, Vancouver BC.

"my kingdom is not of this world"

2011-09-08T16:10:00.000-07:00

This is the third post in a series, Heaven: Out of this World?

Jesus once said, "My kingdom is not of this world...my kingdom is from another place" (John 18:36).

By itself, you could say this is affirming an other-worldly view of God’s kingdom or heaven such as I outlined in my first post. Yet if we look at the Gospels, we realize that the Kingdom of God/Heaven is more about allegiance and action in the world, than a literal place out in the cosmos.

For example. if we look at the Gospel of Mark, Jesus announces, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (1:15). Surely he doesn’t mean heaven is near? He said this some 2000 years ago and nothing has changed! Plus, Mark’s whole gospel elaborates how the Kingdom of God is the work of God through Jesus in the world – healing, miracles and transformation are all recorded by Mark in describing what it looks like when God’s kingdom is near. Even for Jesus, then, the kingdom of God/Heaven - is not “out there” in some strange metaphysical location no one knows exists.

So we need to realize this important point: Jesus may have said God’s kingdom was "not of this world," but he didn't say God’s kingdom was out of this world. With Jesus’ victory over sin and death through his life, death, and resurrection, God’s kingdom comes to us.
Through Jesus, then, we can realize there is a concrete hope in the image of “a new heaven and a new earth.” "Your kingdom come" echos in history, making the future hope of heaven a realized hope today.

Next I’ll explore some things to remember in light of this understanding of heaven.

This series is adapted from a sermon I preached at Killarney Park MB Church, Vancouver BC.

"a new heaven and a new earth"

2011-09-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

This is the second post in a series, Heaven: Out of this World?

So, as I explored in my previous post, beliefs about heaven are fueled by cultural assumptions that skew our understanding of what the bible actually teaches about heaven.

I closed my post with a question: Is God’s “good” creation - “heavens and earth” - really describing two realities, one of which we’ll finally escape from?

The phrase “a new heaven and a new earth” (Is. 65:17, Rev. 21:1) helps us answer this question.

In Hebrew and Greek, the words translated “new” in English also carry with them a meaning of renewal or restoration. In Isaiah 65, then, it’s not surprising that the rest of the passage is loaded with images of a prosperous earthly kingdom (houses, vineyards, good health, and long life). For Isaiah’s audience, heaven was a this-worldly vision. But lest we think this is just Old Testament ignorance - the New Testament people had progressed in their metaphysical beliefs - Revelation 21 extends the Isaiah vision. Heaven is seen as the “New Jerusalem” not up in the clouds but as a physical reality that is “coming down” to us (Rev. 21:2).

This image of “a new heaven and a new earth” reveals to us a hope not in some sort of vague, intangible, ethereal, hyper-spiritualistic reality separate from God’s creation. We must remember, God didn’t create with different levels of importance (heaven up there, and now for fun, let’s create this earth place to keep things interesting for a little while). God created the heavens and the earth, and all of it was “very good” (Gen. 1:31). Isaiah and Revelation remind us that God’s plan continues – heaven and earth in full unity, “a fusion” as N.T. Wright puts it.

“A new heaven and a new earth” – shalom – life as God intended it – this is our vision of the future, and should be our hope for today.

But you might be wondering, what about Jesus’ words, “My kingdom is not of this world...my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36)?

Stay tuned as my next post will explore that very question.

This series is adapted from a sermon I preached at Killarney Park MB Church, Vancouver BC.

heaven: out of this world?

2011-09-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

Heaven is an intriguing topic. Many people imagine what the afterlife will involve with a hopeful expectation that life in this world - oftentimes filled with sorrow and suffering - is not all there is. There has to be more. Human experience in some form will continue. We often call this hope “heaven.” But what shapes our vision of heaven?

Pop-culture for sure (Gary Larson’s Far Side comics come to mind).

And let’s not forget the influence of Platonism, or Dante’s Paradiso, or even the recent story of a little boy’s journey to the heaven.

Personally, my childhood naïveté helped shape my view of heaven, where all the talk of praise and worship actually made me a little hesitant about this whole heaven place. I mean really, I thought, who wants to go to an eternal church service in the sky!?! - quite uninspiring for an active young boy.

In all these examples, heaven is literally out of this world - a spiritual reality “out there” so to speak.

The Bible talks about heaven, no doubt. In it we see phrases like “new heavens and a new earth” and “Kingdom of God/Heaven” along with the apocalyptic visions of certain OT prophets and the daunting book of Revelation. But all too often we import our cultural assumptions to these biblical references of heaven. We can forget that while Gary Larson may have been a comic genius, biblical scholar he was not.

For Christians, accepting these assumptions can be problematic. If heaven is “out there,” distinct from any concrete form of experience here on earth, we can develop the idea that life is only about putting in our time until “real” life begins (i.e. heaven). We long to “fly away” to the “sweet by and by.” And while we wait we withdraw from engaging the world around us. It is only temporary after all.

With such an understanding both within and outside of Christian circles, it’s no surprise technology has become a source of fulfillment in and of itself (as opposed to a tool for engaging life in this world). It’s an escape. And at its worst, such escaping to cyber-reality - be it pornography, games, Facebook, or even blogging (yes, me!) - can consume us, where in our own minds we are only ourselves if we’re online. Our only taste of heaven in this world is to escape it. Which only makes sense if we accept the cultural assumptions of heaven in the first place.

But as a Christian, I need to ask, is this really the biblical vision of heaven? Is God’s “good” creation - “heavens and earth” - really describing two realities, one of which we’ll finally escape from?

I’m not so sure...

Next, I’ll explore the biblical phrase, “new heavens and a new earth.”

This series is adapted from a sermon I preached at Killarney Park MB Church, Vancouver BC.

stop: randomness ahead!

2011-09-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit of a random week - one of those periods where my blogging radar hasn't been able to pinpoint a specific topic to consider. But these types of weeks don't always mean an absence of interesting thoughts and ideas - some of which could eventually turn into a blog post. So stop! And consider some (hopefully-beneficial) randomness:

A quote:

“If we don’t learn to live with one another we will not live. We will either love each other as neighbors or we won’t be. I believe that it is an insult to me as a Christian to say that I cannot love as neighbor somebody who thinks differently than I do. Where did we ever get that idea?” (Miroslav Volf)

A lame church sign: "Tithe if you love Jesus, anyone can honk!" Boy, there is an explicit plea for money if I ever saw one. Budget struggles anyone?

An idea in my upcoming sermon: "Jesus said his kingdom was "not of this world" (Jn. 18:36). He didn't say his kingdom is out of this world." Subtle, but important distinction if you ask me.

A free sampler of songs based on the Lord's Prayer: "Abba Father ."

A cool website that let's you explore the Sistine Chapel (still not the same as in person)

And finally, a music video of Willie Nelson singing Coldplay's "The Scientist" with a very interesting story to tell:

what's in a name?

2011-08-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

As my wife and I anticipate the birth of our second child we find ourselves immersed in the project of picking names (we don’t know the gender). The resources at our disposal are immense and oftentimes overwhelming - books, websites, and opinion after opinion. At times name-picking is an arduous task, with endless dislike or disagreement. Yet there are also moments when the process is quite fun, even comical.

Take “David” for example (no, there will not be a David Jr. if the baby is boy!):

David remains a consistent favorite, as high as #15 in popularity.
Origin: Hebrew/Biblical
Meaning: “beloved”
Nicknames: Dave, Davy, Doftja (low-German for "little David")
Suggested sisters: Karen, Deborah, Diana, Susan, Kathy
Suggested brothers: Michael, Stephen, Alan, Mark, Daniel
Random: David is a death row name; a name for smart kids (yes!); future Olympian (curling?); workoholic (uh-oh!); charmer.

For fun, check out the random baby name generator. A few of my “favorites” were Hooper, Chet, and Ugo (boys) and Platt, Welby, and Poppy (girls).

All this naming has gotten me thinking, what’s in a name?

We picked Landon for our son mainly because we liked the sound, not because of its meaning (“long hill or grassy meadow”) or history (e.g. Michael Landon). For others, the meaning or history of a name is central (especially true in the biblical narrative). You know, the third son on the husbands side of the family has to have a capital "T" in their middle name - or something like that. It’s a big deal!

Names also carry with them associations, both positive or negative depending on who we’ve met or heard of with a certain name. When I hear “Stanley” I think of the theologian I wrote my Masters thesis on. I like the name (Julie does NOT!). Oh well :-).

But I don’t think it’s beneficial to over-analyze names and the whole naming process (some would disagree). It’s just so different for everyone. Yet there is something powerful about the process of naming - this gift from a parent to a child that will last a lifetime (most times).

Which is why I think God’s act of naming in the Bible is such a central characteristic to God’s action in the world. Christians believe that salvation is not something we attain through our own doing, but is God’s gift to us. In the biblical story, we see how God’s initiates - God calls individuals, oftentimes changing their names to reflect this calling (e.g. Abraham, Jacob, Peter, and Paul). And while most of our names don’t reflect such a dramatic calling, there is one name - or label - that God gives to all of us which reflects who we are:

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Whether you’re a Bob, a Michelle, a David, a Brayden, or even a Hooper or Poppy, your name itself may be insignificant or trivial. The fact your are called a child of God, however, is anything but insignificant or trivial.

What’s in a name? At times, not much. At other times, everything.

“over and over again”

2011-08-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

I’ve been preparing to lead worship this week at our church. For the most part I enjoy preparing songs, selecting scripture readings, and crafting an overall experience that will hopefully lead the congregation to connect with God and one another.

Coincidentally this past week I’ve come across some thought-provoking pieces on the role and purpose of worship in the life of a church.

First, I read an article by religion professor Debra Dean Murphy, that asks the question, “should worship be entertaining?” She suggests “we ought to regard worship as the slow transformation of our desires and our dead-end ways.” By focusing on the resources at hand (e.g. people, not just technology or style), Murphy leaves the reader with this challenge: “if we’re not consumed with being consumers of entertainment, this work, our worship, in whatever setting we find ourselves, will be a beautiful thing” (emphasis mine).

Second, I came across this interview with author and artist Ian Morgan Cron:

Here’s a few lines that stuck out to me as I listened:

"God most often works very slowly..."

"We keep amping [worship] up. It is like being a junkie."

"When Christianity becomes an instinct...that's when you know you've arrived...telling the story over and over again..."

In both these reflections, we’re confronted with a tension in worship: our desire to experience God now is contrasted with the reality that experiencing God is often an elusive endeavor. We try so hard to meet God by the many worshipful means at our disposal: a vast blend of catchy songs, relevant sermons, a few hymns, some artsy images, all kinds of prayers, intellectual readings, and some feel-good testimonies. Oh, and maybe some scripture if there’s time :-(. I was struck, however, how both individuals commented on the patience required to worship God. Worship isn’t supposed to be easy.

In some ways, this adds pressure to my worship leading preparation. I don’t want to force my concept of worship onto the congregation or simply pander to the tastes of those in my church out of my own insecurities. Yet this reminder also takes some of the pressure off as well. Each Sunday gathering is but only one day in the year in the life of our church in the gathering of the saints around the world throughout history. I can’t do it all in one worship service. Nor should I.

In the routine of weekly worship, let’s remember this: each Sunday is one chapter of many as we gather to rehearse and remember the story of God in our midst “over and over again.”

fads

2011-08-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

Fads.

Our culture is prone to fads. Social media only increases the faddishness of our culture. Take fashion. My wife asked me recently, “who picks the fashion trends each year?” It seems completely random - most times absurd - what is deemed popular. Yet every year new fashions catch on. Fads are born. “Mom-jeans” anyone!?!

In general, I find fads quite intriguing. They make cultural history so interesting and colorful, even if mostly ridiculous looking back. And yes, we all do it. No saying, “I’m glad I’m not faddish!” Even 'counter-cultural' can become a fad.

A few random fads I’ve noticed are:

Planking: lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location and posting a picture on the Internet.

Sliders: mini-hamburgers. I think every restaurant has these now.

“whassup”: ad campaign that had men all over greeting each other in this really annoying, yet catchy, manner.

Reality TV: Even though it's been running for over ten years, I still hope this is only a fad!

Calculator watch: really thought this one would stick around...

As a pastor, I’m also led to think of religion and spirituality - fads abound here as well:

Prayer of Jabez: an obscure Old Testament passage used to ‘guarantee’ prosperity and success.

The Secret: Oprah-endorsed philosophy suggesting that positive thinking can literally change the energy of the universe, creating life-changing results such as increased wealth, health, and happiness.

WWJD bracelets: a whole industry of merchandise asking the question, “what would Jesus do?”

So, I’m curious, what’s your favorite (or least favorite!) fad?

Rumors of God

2011-08-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

ru·mor /ˈrumər/ [roo-mer]
noun
1. a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: "a rumor of war."

There are rumors all around us. Relationships. Sports. Politics. Celebrity gossip is an industry built on rumor. Rumors can be intriguing, but they also create uncertainty and even fear. Some have called ours a “culture of fear.” People live in a constant state of distress, often fueled by rumors that such and such did or may happen. The result: people live disoriented lives, unsure what reality is. Unhappiness wins.

Well, such a state also applies to Christianity in America, or at least so says young(er) evangelical pastors/leaders Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson. In their new book, Rumors of God, these men raise an important issue for Christians in America: “Christians talk a lot about what we are doing or how we are doing it, but don’t discuss why any of it even matters.” Any basis for faith is left unexplored or ill-defined. Any knowledge of meaning and reality is mere rumor.

In the face of this problem, the book sets out to confirm the rumors “that God is doing something new in the church.” In doing so, the author’s trace central aspects of 21st Century evangelicalism, all under the rubric of these “rumors of God” - life, kingdom, generosity, love, grace, freedom, commitment, community, justice, and hope.

Stylistically, the book is easy to read, full of engaging stories and straightforward explanations. I’ll be clear, at times depth is lacking (e.g. definition of the gospel - ch. 5) and the chapters could have been integrated better - it seems like ten separate sermons.. But if anything, the book should push the reader explore the themes further, testing for ourselves whether these “rumors” are true. There is only so much you can do in 189 pages!

I appreciated how in summarizing these broad topics, the authors present a balanced perspective that refuses (mostly) to pick sides of the evangelical theological spectrum on most topics. Their interaction with a variety of sources exemplify this strength. The main exception, however, is central. They limit the gospel to a penal substitutionary view of atonement (ch.5). Including their discussion on justice here (ch.9) would have enhanced their definition of the gospel. It's just too narrow. In fact, it was the discussion of justice I found most illuminating. A holistic “biblical justice” is defined, one which refuses to accept justice in the world as “optional initiatives for Christians looking for extra credit from God.” This is part of the “good news” of God’s kingdom, no!?! Intended or not, chapter order can communicate importance.

If I were to summarize my evaluation, I'd say Rumors of God is incomplete. But that’s okay. It succeeds in confirming what the rumors are (grace, love, community, justice, etc...) with the real task left to the reader. Knowing the rumors, now it’s up to the people of God to indeed confirm these rumors as reality and hope in our world. Rumors of God can help us along the way.

**The publisher provided me with an extra copy to give away. Let me know if you want it and I'll pass it along (comment and I'll arbitrarily decide who gets it)**

"Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson".

post-vacation blues

2011-08-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

Summer is winding down. Vacations have or are wrapping up. The nights are cooler (although the days are hotter, thank goodness!). Vacation and rest shift to work and activity.

It can be a troubling time. Wikipedia calls it “post-vacation blues” - a time when the end of vacation can result in various levels of anxiety or depression. Unfortunately, this problem is fueled by a certain view of life: vacation = good; work = bad. The end of summer highlights this perspective. But we also carry it with us the rest of the year. We compartmentalize our lives (work/home, weekends/weekdays, summer/school year, etc...). We live differently in each “compartment” of life. Even our faith reflects such a view, summarized by the term “Sunday Christian.”

But as Christians, we aren’t called to follow Jesus some of the time. And rest and relaxation isn’t supposed to be a summer or weekend luxury. The encouragement in Hebrews to “make every effort to enter [God’s] rest” (13:11) is a call for how we live our whole lives. Which is why we need to find ways to incorporate rest into all of life.

I have two pretty straightforward questions for consideration (with some suggestions to guide your reflection):

What priorities guide your schedule (e.g. money, family, recreation, etc...)?

-Pray the Lord’s Prayer as you reflect on this question.

What steps can you take to make rest part of your whole life?

-Pray the Lord’s Prayer again, allowing it to direct your priorities (e.g. work can be God’s way of meeting our needs - “daily bread” - but working lots and lots to accumulate excess wealth may not be “[God’s] will on earth as it is in heaven”).

I’ll leave you with this prayer from the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith:

On the seventh day God finished all the work of His hands,
and He rested from all His labors.
O Lord, You thought it a good thing
to pause,
reflect,
enjoy
what You had done.
Help us to do the same.
Help us to rest, thankful for our daily bread.
Help us to rest, enjoying a sweet foretaste of eternal peace.
Help us to rest, relying on your goodness,
and not on our own activity.
Help us to worship You, the giver of every perfect gift,
and slow us down
so that we can
be still and know that You are God.

the forgotten airshow

2011-08-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the Abbotsford Airshow (in the town I grew up). I have great childhood memories of the event. I saw the Blackbird fly and the annual aerobatics of the Snowbirds directly over our house were a special treat. It was exciting every time.

As I grew up, however, my airshow appreciation waned, particularly as I became aware of the history of violence and what the evolution of the airplane has done for modern warfare. To be sure, I still marvel at the sights and sounds of an F-18 screaming through the sky. The airshow remains an amazing spectacle. But I'm hesitant to celebrate it. I’m no longer an innocent child in awe. I live in a globally connected world where I know that one jet’s show in Abbotsford is paralleled by another jet’s reality in war-torn regions of our globe.

But not all is lamentable in the world of aerospace. I got a letter this week highlighting the work of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and their response to the drought and food crisis in Northeast Africa. I also have family connections to MAF. The organization has planes and pilots around the world and specializes in bringing supplies to isolated and impoverished areas. But we don’t hear much about them. They fly small planes (not jets) that are relatively quiet and uninspiring from an aviation-fan perspective. You don't go to an airshow to see a small Cessna!

Yet for a starving child in Africa, seeing a small MAF plane circle and land must be the airshow of a lifetime!

This is the forgotten airshow - the type of airshow our world so desperately needs.

Go here to support the work of MAF in their African relief efforts.

If the Bible was still being written...response

2011-08-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here my response to my previous post, “If the Bible was still being written...”

Much more could be said on each of these ideas/situations, but I throw them out for your consideration:

Greatest commandment: We can never get enough of this one if you ask me! Loving God and loving neighbor should push each one of us wherever we find ourselves. Perhaps some of Mother Theresa’s story, as suggested, would be appropriate.

Letters to unknown Christians: My initial thought was that the Bible would address popular Christians. You know, those with the most influence to make a difference or those models of success so often praised (e.g. megachurches, popular writers, etc...). And they might be included (although not necessarily in positive light). Instead, I’m thinking of those Christians toiling in the trenches of society, being ‘salt and light’, not looking for the spotlight. The shelter volunteer. The high school teacher. The church nursery worker. The roofer. They need encouragement!

Challenging modern day Pharisees: I need to be careful with this one (maybe I’m one of them!). Jesus’ harshest teaching was reserved for the religious majority, the ones leading and shaping the religious culture of the day. And he wasn’t impressed. I wonder if much of the labeling and conflict in North American evangelicalism wouldn’t be the topic of a warning or two, to which people on all sides of whatever spectrum is created receive more than just a light slap on the wrist for their behavior? I’m thinking a contemporary 1 John here.

Encouraging the persecuted church: I live in Canada. I don’t experience persecution for my faith - and I don’t dare pretend the minor challenges to my faith in a post-Christian culture equate to persecution in the Biblical sense. There are people around the world who are disowned by their families and even die for their decision to place Jesus as Lord. Christians in Iran, China, parts of Africa live in constant danger. They need to be encouraged to persevere.

Money: Need I say more?

Care for the “least of these”: Likely specific people and places came the minds of Jesus’ audience when he taught this. The same should be true for us. The person living in the cardboard shack. The socially awkward coworker. The gang member. Your alcoholic neighbor. You get the point...

Prayer and song: A modern day book of psalms would be great, no!?!

Faithfulness in a culture of religious freedom: This one is primarily addressed to Christians in the developed world. The early church in the New Testament lived in constant odds with their society, not just spiritually, but politically. Not the case for many of us. We are free to practice our faith to our hearts content, so long as it doesn’t intrude too much. Here are a few areas I think need addressing:

-the church in suburbia
-the church in the city
-the church who’s trying to be culturally relevant
-the church who’s trying to be culturally pleasing
-the church and democratic government
-leadership in the church

There you go. This list is far from exhaustive, I know. Feel free to add more!

If the Bible was still being written...

2011-08-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

I’m always intrigued when I’m reminded of some of the background stories (context) behind the actual words of the Bible. John’s famous line “God is love” was born of out of a messy leadership conflict (1 John 4:8). Paul’s unifying dictum “you are all one in Christ” addressed social and racial tensions (Gal. 3:28). The book of Revelation wasn’t written to inspire a whole industry of apocalyptic ‘art’ (I use that term very loosely!), but addressed those first Christians who literally faced death for their decision to place Jesus as Lord. I could go on and on.

And really, we shouldn’t be surprised when we we’re confronted by such messiness. History, and our own lives for that matter, tells a story full of conflict and struggle. I take comfort knowing the themes of scripture arise from a world not unlike our own.

From this idea, a hypothetical question recently came to mind:

If the bible was still being written, which issues or stories would be addressed?

I’m not asking this to delve into issues of the closed biblical canon. I have a pretty strong confidence in the decisions made by the early church fathers in the first 300+ years of church history. No, I just think it’s an intriguing question. The Bible addressed specific places, people, and situations. I can relate to that. So, which people, places, and situations would be addressed today?

I’d love to hear your responses. I’ll post a follow-up later in the week.

“the world is not the way we thought it was going to be”

2011-08-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Anytime conflict arises - personal or social - it’s easy to become caught up in the moment. For my 2-year-old son, “no!” or “mine!” are provoked easily, even leading to moments of hysteria if things don’t go his way. But that’s normal. Yet even adults or groups in culture broach similar hysteria if specific things don’t go their way.

Take the ongoing saga of homosexuality and Christianity for example. For some, recent legislation in parts of the U.S. and the full-on acceptance of gay marriage in Canada should be accepted by Christians and within the church. To disagree with this is seen as ridiculous! Yet others aren’t so quick to accept such change. For many Christians, the cultural shift to accept homosexuality is one of the greatest battles Christians should fight. Thus, sides are picked, theologies defended, and relationships broken. Both sides are prone to hysterics in defending their side (or simply bashing the other side).

It’s interesting, though, because oftentimes the conflict centers around specific definitions of homosexuality itself (e.g. biological, social, or biblical definitions) without much consideration for the factors driving the conversation.

Renowned biblical scholar, Walter Brueggemann, offers an insightful comment on the issue in a recent interview:

“It is an amorphous anxiety that we’re in a free fall as a society. And I think we kind of are in free fall as a society, but I don’t think it has anything to do with gays and lesbians particularly.”

Instead, Brueggemann suggests, the emotionally charged conflict around homosexuality has more to do with people’s unease when “the world is not the way we thought it was going to be.” Like my two-year-old when things don’t go his way, people from all perspectives can act irrationally if the world around them is not as they’d like it to be. Homosexuality just happens to be the current illustration. I think Brueggemann’s onto something.

When expectations aren’t met, fear, loss, frustration, and unease fuel the conflict for all involved. Engaging in dialogue and achieving understanding around the dynamics of homosexuality and Christianity are furthest from the minds of many. They just want their world back (or for the first time). And they’ll do whatever it takes to get it.

Unless people process their feelings of loss and frustration, emotionally charged conflict will likely continue to guide the debate on this and many other issues facing Christians in the 21st Century.

So I ask: what comes to mind when you hear Brueggemann’s phrase?

“the world is not the way [I] thought it was going to be.”

And if you’re honest, how does your answer influence your life and faith in the world?

the exception of good music - "farther along"

2011-08-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

It’s not often a song stops you in your tracks. You see, music is everywhere, not just in the elevator (thank goodness!). But such a presence dilutes the quality of music we hear. Quantity does not equal quality! But there are exceptions.

To me good music connects with the listeners experience not just through the lyrics, but the music. Like all good art, a song shouldn’t just tell the truth, but represent the truth - rhythm, vocals, lyrics, and overall band dynamics combine to communicate reality as we know it. And in the case of Josh Garrells’ “Farther Along.” a little bit of hope along the way is always welcome.

Garrells’ soulful voice, tasteful blend of musical styles, and creative ability to communicate hope in the midst of earth’s chaos is inspiring. “Farther Along” does just that.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://joshgarrels.bandcamp.com/track/farther-along"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Farther Along by Josh Garrels&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
So, cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We'll understand this, all by and by

Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves 'em both...

I found Josh Garrells via Noisetrade. Check it out, it’s great!

"Flood Waters" is another great hopeful song:

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://joshgarrels.bandcamp.com/track/flood-waters"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Flood Waters by Josh Garrels&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

rest and reading

2011-08-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

I came back from vacation last week rested. As I mentioned before I left, I think rest is important. I recently read how our rest should be likened to the agricultural concept of fallow (when a field uncultivated - plowed but left unseeded for a season or more). A pastor friend asks, “Do you confuse fallow time with shallow time?” He goes on to quote Len Sweet. Here’s the closing snippet:

When it looks on the surface like nothing is happening, down deep, everything is happening...

Let the soil of your life lie fallow for a season, plowed but not planted. To rest from doing allows the soil to be enriched by God, making the soul more fertile for God's next planting.

"Plowed but not planted..." I like that. These are wise words in a world where success is most often associated with concepts like productivity, results, and growth.

Personally, a great way to practice such rest is to read novels. This spring/summer I ‘plowed’ through the Harry Potter series for the first time. I loved it. The narrative of Harry and his escapades at Hogwarts and beyond captured my attention right from the get-go. It wasn’t that I love fantasy novels. I don’t. I just like good stories. And J.K. Rowling writes a good story.

And in a way, reading a good story can be like the time of rest in the quote above. I mean, practically speaking, I didn’t need to read seven books to be told that we can have hope that good triumphs over evil and that the true depths of love are of the sacrificial variety. People make such claims a lot. I could have saved myself a lot time.

But the life of hope and love isn’t just an idea captured in a sentence or a paragraph or a sermon. For the depth of these virtues to become reality in the world, they need to be deeply rooted. And such rootedness takes time. Seven Harry Potter books only scratch the surface.

And so I look forward to reading more good stories, however unproductive such a practice seems from the outside. For whether it’s reading a novel, watching a film, biking with my son, or walking along a beach with my wife - when it looks on the surface like nothing is happening, down deep, everything is happening...

do you have a personal debt ceiling?

2011-07-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

People are talking a lot about debt this week as the U.S. attempts to sort out how to manage their few dollars owing. This short video traces the history of U.S. debt. As a Canadian and one with limited knowledge of economics (on all levels!), I have little comment, except to say I found it very interesting.

Take a look:

But if you follow the story closer to home (your personal finances), there are definite parallels, especially when it comes to our ability to justify exorbitant amounts of personal debt. As I watched, I found myself asking, “Do I have a personal debt ceiling?” I’ve never really thought about it like that before. At what point do I look at my standard of living and the resources it takes to sustain it, and say, “Enough is enough!”? And in the context of raising a family in one of the most expensive regions of the world, I find these are hard questions to ask.

Which brings me to the statement I found most challenging (and true!):

“It might be hard to wean off of all this borrowing we’ve gotten used to.”

No doubt!

Reminded me of some challenging words we hear once in awhile, but tend to avoid:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Mt. 6:19-21,24 NIV

I'm a winner!

2011-07-25T15:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm privileged to have won my first blogging award: the Versatile Blogger Award!

And no, this award is not blog spam. For whatever similarities there are to those pass-it-on emails everyone loves to hate, there is one important difference: it's an award. And I won. Yay!!!

Plus it's a great way to ease back into blogging two weeks of vacation.

So, here's my 'prize':

1) Thank the giver of the award and link to them.

Thanks Ryan!

2) Tell readers seven things about yourself.

Our second child is due to be born on our son's birthday.

I went on a 3 month snowboarding missions trip with YWAM when I was 19.

I'm left handed ("everyone's born right handed, but only few overcome it").

I just finished reading the Harry Potter series - I couldn't put it down!

I'm still a Canucks fan.

We have plums, cherries, blueberries, peaches, pears, apples, and strawberries in our suburban backyard.

I just had an article published in the Mennonite Brethren Herald - "Adapting Faith in Changing Culture - A Look at the Emerging Church."

3) Confer this prestigious award upon someone else.

Phil, over at Intersect, you win too!

blogs to consider IV

2011-07-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

While I'm vacationing for a few weeks, I've decided to post a set of recommendations for blogs I regularly read and highly recommend (in no particular order).

#4: Jesus Creed

Scot McKnight is a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois)...

Scot McKnight is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Society for New Testament Studies. He is the author of more than thirty books, including the award-winning The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (Paraclete, 2004), which won the Christianity Today book of the year for Christian Living.

blogs to consider III

2011-07-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

While I'm vacationing for a few weeks, I've decided to post a set of recommendations for blogs I regularly read and highly recommend (in no particular order).

#3 The Pangea Blog

I (Kurt) served as a youth pastor and in adult ministries for a total of seven years. Currently, I am discerning a possible call to plant a church in the Northwest (2012) and have gone back to school full time to finish a Masters of Divinity at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary. For the past couple of years I have been active in the ministry of blogging, which began as a hobby for getting my thoughts ‘out there.’ Now, I am in frequent contact with my readers. They send me questions, ideas, prayer requests, and continue to challenge me to dream about the Kingdom of God. There are lots of good Christian folks who are hungry for a faith that stretches beyond the status quo and it seems that for the moment, God has given me a platform to minister to such Christ-followers (and even some skeptics). If I would have to label myself (which I am hesitant to do), I would probably say that I am an Anabaptist, lower-case evangelical, fairly charismatic, sometimes contemplative, follower of Jesus. I am passionate about theology, spirituality, social justice, creation care, ethics, ministry, and leaving behind the right answers.

blogs to consider II

2011-07-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

While I'm vacationing for a few weeks, I've decided to post a set of recommendations for blogs I regularly read and highly recommend (in no particular order).

#2: Intersect - Community Reflection on Faith and Culture

About Phil: Phil and Julie recently moved from the Abbotsford, BC, to Longview, Washington. Phil serves as the Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Congregational Life at Longview Community Church. Phil has an MDiv from Regent College in Vancouver BC.

About The Blog: This blog seeks to be a venue for community reflection on how our faith, life, and culture intersect.

blogs to consider

2011-07-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

While I'm vacationing for a few weeks, I've decided to post a set of recommendations for blogs I regularly read and highly recommend (in no particular order).

#1: Rumblings - Hope, Humour, and Other Eschatological Goodies

I’m Ryan Dueck—a husband, father, pastor, blogger, student, and follower of Jesus Christ. I began blogging in 2007 while a graduate student as one way of “unstopping” my ears in response to the God whose “thunder” is unmanageable and unpredictable, but which also responds to the most profound human needs for meaning, acceptance, forgiveness, and redemption. I write about a variety of things here, often related to faith, philosophy, culture, church, etc. Mostly, though, my writing here is simply an exercise in remaining open—open to the God who does speak, in strange, unexpected, mysterious, even puzzling and obscure ways, to be sure, but also in ways more beautiful and challenging and hopeful than we could expect or imagine.

vacation and rest

2011-07-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Vacation.

Kids out of school. Time off work. Traveling. Home projects. Beaches and mountains. Family and friends.

For many of us, summer offers a drastic change of pace from the rhythm and routine of the rest of the year. The word “vacation” originates from the idea of “freedom or release from activity or occupation.” We literally vacate our normal lives for a period of time. And in our busy N.A. work-based lives, a vacation is exactly what we need.

The author of Hebrews raises an important point for consideration:

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest... (Heb. 4:9-11 NIV).

Personally, I sometimes wonder if my vacations are actually restful. Special activities. Road trips. House projects. Day trips. You know the saying: “places to go, people to see.” I may have vacated my busy routine, but often I simply trade one type of busyness for another. Is this really rest?

In a world of adventure and activity, rest is hard. Vacations can be fun, sure, but not always restful. Ironically, as Hebrews points out, rest actually takes “effort.” Rest is hard work. And clearly, rest is necessary. Even God rests.

So as I embark on vacation next week, and as you consider your own change of pace this summer, I challenge us to not simply vacate our normal routines or trade one form of busyness for another. May we also rest. Such an “effort” is exactly what we need!

hesitant nationalism

2011-07-04T15:29:00.000-07:00

In Canada, July 1st was Canada Day. Today, July 4th, is Independence Day in the U.S.

On many levels, I enjoy celebrating my country (Canada). The holiday offers time for fun, family, and food - a window into a few of the benefits that many Canadians get to enjoy as citizens of this great country. For Americans, I’m sure, it’s similar (just with a lot more fireworks!). These holidays remind us that nationalism is alive and well - personal identity is tied to your country (e.g. you are Canadian or American). National holidays highlight this identity, giving opportunity to celebrate who we are. Some may even say it is God’s blessing to be North American. Thus the celebrations are loaded with religious overtones - “God keep our land...” and “God Bless America.”

Yet every year I’m hesitant in my celebration. People in other countries aren’t celebrating. It’s hard to party when our global neighbors live in poverty and face countless injustices (e.g. AIDS in Africa or sex-slavery in Southeast Asia). Additionally, many people in North America itself don’t have the privilege of “fun, family, and food” on these holidays (or any day for that matter). Nationalistic celebrations, while endorsing tolerance and inclusion, may actually hide the sad reality of exclusion in our countries and around the world. Sorry to rain on the parade, but it’s true.

But my hesitation is also religious. How can I identify with my country when as a Christian I’m called to identify with Jesus (Mk. 1:15, Phil. 3:20)? The MB Confession of Faith (my denomination), offers what I think is a pointed challenge:

The primary allegiance of all Christians is to Christ’s kingdom, not the state or society. Because their citizenship is in heaven, Christians are called to resist the idolatrous temptation to give to the state the devotion that is owed to God. As ambassadors for Christ, Christians act as agents of reconciliation and seek the well-being of all peoples... (Article 12 - "Society and State")

There is a danger that our nationalism - both in Canada and the U.S. - can prevent us from more important identifications - as humans in general, but also as Christians in particular. I wonder, what would happen if the same energy and resources we put towards our nationalism went into caring for fellow humans? Or for Christians, to being “agents of reconciliation”? July 1st and 4th would be seen (and practiced) in a new light, no doubt.

Faith of Leap

2011-06-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. The Faith of Leap: Embracing a Theology of Risk, Adventure, and Courage. Baker Books, 2011. 224 pgs.

“All disciples of Jesus (not just a select few) are called to an ongoing, risky, actional, extravagant way of life--a life resonant with that distinctly wild--and yes, Christlike--faithfulness of their Lord and Master.”

Thus begins the book Faith of Leap: Embracing a Theology of Risk, Adventure, and Courage. Teaming up once again, missional church frontiersmen Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost collaborate in challenging Western Christians to get out of the safety of the pew and enter the risk of the real world. And for them, such an approach to the Christian life is not optional.

The book’s title - “Faith of Leap” - is more than simply a play on words; it offers an important distinction: Risk and adventure are not merely actions we take once in a while when necessary (e.g. “leaps of faith”), but rather encompass a posture we need to take to life in the world as followers of Jesus. Our whole lives must incorporate a faith that is willing to risk. I appreciated the emphasis on our whole lives, not just isolated actions. Echoing Stanley Hauerwas I suspect, the authors emphasize this whole life approach to life and mission: “The church doesn’t have an agenda; it is the agenda. The church doesn’t have a missional strategy; it is the missional strategy.”

Two key concepts in developing their proposal are liminality (ch. 1) and communitas (ch. 2), terms borrowed from the field of pyschology. Liminality literally means “a threshold,” which related to Christianity is said to describe the current cultural situation. The church is in a time of transition. Words like “danger, marginality, disorientation, or ordeal” describe the Christian life in the 21st C. (or at least they should). And naturally, in a time of unpredictability people are drawn together, not by choice, but because of the situation. This is called communitas. “The bonding is deep; people get to need each other, they get to know and rely on each other.” While I’m not a big fan of new terms, the concept is true to the biblical account: God’s people are on a journey - all people, really - and significant circumstances create significant bonds. My lingering question - not easily answered - is this: should Christians go out and seek this “liminality” all the time (the author’s suggestion) or simply be ready to navigate it when it comes along?

The rest of the book (ch. 3-7) provide rationale and examples for Christians to accept risk and adventure in theology and practice. The authors draw from a variety of disciplines and stories to make their case, which begins to get a bit repetitive after awhile, I’ll admit. For the church to be truly missional, we need to take risks, be heroic and overcome our fears. All helpful themes, for sure. I’m just not convinced they needed to fill a whole book. I’d rather see risk and adventure explored alongside other aspects of theology and Christian practice, not as a concept by itself as the authors propose here. Perhaps an essay or chapter in another book would have been more appropriate.

The book's greatest strength is probably the repeated emphasis on risk and adventure being for the whole church not just individuals. In an age where personal taste and individualistic spirituality reign supreme, Hirsch and Frost do well to assert that navigating the unpredictability of faith and mission in the 21st C. is not a solo endeavor. I wholeheartedly agree.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone engaged in the missional church conversation who are wanting a little more motivation or rationale to risk implementing missional concepts in your church. 3.5/5.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group

"teach what is appropriate"

2011-06-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

More on the expectations of a pastor.

I throw out this verse for consideration (fitting, I think, that it comes from Paul’s Pastoral Letters):

“You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1 NIV).

Ah, you might thinking. There is the answer to all the questions raised in the previous post. Teaching sound doctrine is central to the role of the pastor. Paul says so.

But wait, Paul doesn’t stop with this clear assertion. Actually, his main point isn't sound doctrine, but what is appropriate to it. And so he continues by talking about temperance, respect, self-control, sound faith, love, endurance, reverence, more self-control, goodness, purity, kindness, integrity, and godliness as the very things that are appropriate to good theology. Doctrine, for Paul, was connected directly to life and relationships. Reminds me of how Jesus summed it all up: Love God and love others.

Paul closes the section of his letter saying, “These, then, are the things you should teach” (Titus 2:15 NIV). These “things” aren’t ideas, but ways of living in the world.

Too often Christians misuse or misinterpret passages like this, which in turn has implications for the role of the pastor. Sound doctrine itself is made the central issue, the pastor the main source. Formal apologetics, denominational study conferences, theology books, ancient creeds, and yes, even blogs (all good things by the way) tend to focus mainly on the intellectual aspects of the Christian faith. Pastors are expected to display an adherence to orthodoxy as it’s defined by their church or denomination. This is all well and good.

But it's incomplete.

For Paul, sound doctrine doesn’t stand alone. Sound doctrine coincides with sound living. Orthodoxy and orthopraxy go together. Thinking well must include living well.

If you think I’m saying this to take the pressure off of pastors - you know, lower the expectations - far from it. If anything, expectations on pastors should increase. It means our ideas in a sermon must relate to the lives of the people we share with. Pastors lead people in their whole lives, not just in what they think about this or that.

Brings me back to relevance (again, I know!). Relevance isn’t the result of dynamic and engaging presentation or an ability to preach orthodox, biblical sermons. A pastor’s relevance occurs only when the lives of the hearers begin to reflect “what is appropriate” to the teaching.

May our lives reflect such appropriateness!

Rob Bell and expectations on a pastor

2011-06-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

The recent Rob Bell controversy has led me to consider expectations around the role of the pastor, particularly in communicating biblical truth. Many people believe Love Wins was irresponsible pastorally, leaving too many questions unanswered instead of guiding people towards clarity. I do find it fascinating that what is acceptable for C.S. Lewis in a novel - The Great Divorce - is overboard for a pastor in a theology book. Just sayin’...

Seriously though, s a pastor myself, I think this is a critical issue, both personally and for the church. Christian leadership is important, for sure. But also important, is the type of Christian leadership. At this point, Bell’s situation only raises more questions than answers for me. For example:

When is it appropriate for a pastor to “sit on the fence” on certain issues, at least publicly?

How should pastoral leadership provide not just good answers, but good questions?

When it comes to theology nowadays, are expectations on pastors too low? Too high? Just fine? Or, “Theology? Just make us feel good about ourselves”?

And finally, how do these wise words from Eugene Peterson factor into this whole issue?

"The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. The Holy Spirit gathers them and does his work in them. In these communities of sinners, one of the sinners is called pastor and given a designated responsibility in the community. The pastor’s responsibility is to keep the community attentive to God."
(Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity)

I throw these out there for consideration. More to come...

the Vancouver riot - hope in humility

2011-06-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

Following the Vancouver riots, it wasn’t long before most people and groups in and around Vancouver distanced themselves from the incident. The city and police blamed anarchists. The public blamed drunken hooligans. It was a small select group of people who wreaked havoc on the beautiful, and typically peaceful, city of Vancouver. Enough said.

But this past week has revealed it’s not that simple. Normal people were involved. Aspiring athletes. People with jobs. Pictures reveal men and women of a variety of ages - albeit mostly under 30 - participated in the mayhem. And if not directly, participation was indirect through the reverberating ‘cheers’ on social media as the destruction was broadcast to a watching world.

While some no doubt went downtown intending to riot regardless of the hockey outcome (let’s not forget there was a hockey game that night!), for most, a few bad decisions shifted their intention from partying to rioting. From construction to destruction. From joy to hate. How quickly things change despite the good intentions of a day, an hour, or even a minute before.

How quickly indeed.

And then I wonder, what about me? How many bad decisions would it take for my life to become destructive? Or more sobering, what bad decisions do I already make that are destructive, but are just hidden from the peering eyes of social media? “Judge not lest ye be judged...” Shucks.

If anything, the Vancouver riot should force us all to consider what we want our lives to stand for. But humility needs to follow such consideration. Humility acknowledges our weakness - a tendency towards a few bad decisions - yet refuses to blindly accept our weakness as a defining characteristic, be it individually or collectively. Humility goes beyond apathy. Whether amid literal riots or merely in the chaos that can consume everyday life, we recognize our weakness but refuse to accept it as the norm. A few bad decisions - destruction even - don’t have to be our only story. There is hope in humility.

Cos' when you find yourself a villain,
In the story you have written
It's plain to see
That sometimes the best intentions
Are in need of redemptions
(Death Cab for Cutie - “You Are a Tourist”)

"Dad Life"

2011-06-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day!

Canucks and Community

2011-06-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, last post related to the Canucks...maybe ;-)

I’ve spent a lot of time on this blog and elsewhere talking about community - my passion and belief that humans are meant to be in meaningful relationships with one another and strive to make a difference in this world...together.

The difficulty is that community cannot be fabricated. Try as we might, we cannot simply flick a switch and choose to get along, be it in friendship, marriage, church, or politics. Community is hard work!

Oftentimes it’s crisis or trial that unites people together. It’s why sports are such a great venue to form community. Do you think the Bruins or Canucks would have gotten as far as they did this year if it wasn’t for the uniting process of struggle through the playoffs? Not to sound cliche (!!!), but overcoming adversity creates harmony. As Alan Hirsch describes, in his book Faith of Leap, “any member of a sports team can recall something of the profound sense of intimacy they with their teammates, when each of their contributions to the game create a force greater than the sum of their individual parts.”

Hirsch goes on to describe biblical images of community, highlighting themes of exile and pilgrimage to remind the people of God that our purpose is not safety and comfort in the world, but unity and witness to a world so often lacking the distinct character of unity God calls us to. This type of community - “communitas” as Hirsch calls it - “propels us out of self-concern to other-concern, from holy huddle to venturing out into God’s world.”

As hard as it was to watch as a Canucks fan, this togetherness was evident in the Bruins post-victory comments. Praise for teammates, family, coaches, and teachers were on the lips of the players. I didn’t hear anyone say, “I did it.” Similarly, even in loss, the Canucks reiterated their shared responsibility and disappointment. The struggle of the journey, whether it ends in victory and loss, unites.

But the hockey playoffs end. Player disperse, get traded, retire, or sign elsewhere. Next year is a new team. Life, however, doesn’t have the same turnover. We continue on the journey. While a sports team experiences a sort-of insulated and short-term community over the course of a playoff run, we have the opportunity of experiencing such community over the course of our lives.

Instead of going it alone, consider asking these questions about your community and circle of friends:

-What are the adversities that we share?
-What are our common goals?
-Where will my sacrifice bless someone else?

Beyond being hyper-connected in our technological age, a shift from self-concern to other-concern pushes us to also be deeply-connected. We see it in hockey playoffs. We read about it in biblical stories of faithfulness. Now we need a willingness to risk the venture ourselves.

The Stanley Cup brings out all the clichés

2011-06-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

On this, probably the biggest day in Vancouver sports history - Canucks in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals - the river of sports clichés is flowing in abundance. You know:

“They have to remember what got them here.”
“They have to treat this just like any other game.”
“It's do or die.”
“The best players have to be the best players.”
“Just give it 110%.”
(feel free to share your favorite sports cliche)

Clichés aren’t limited to sports either. In particular, Christianity is full of clichés that describe our beliefs and the life of faithfulness. For example:

“God has a special plan for you”
“Just trust the Lord”
“I will pray for you”
“Hate the sin, love the sinner”
“Jesus saves”

In many ways, clichés are accurate statements of truth. If you lose Game 7, well, your season is dead. And if you get caught up in the hype and don’t play a good game of hockey, the result won’t be good. Or when life is tough, trust in God and the prayers of others are good things.

But the very definition of cliché describes the problem I see with the whole phenomenon: overuse results in a loss of the original meaning behind the statement. The statements themselves take on a character of their own, as if they carry some sort of magical power able to carry the recipient through whatever trial is being faced.

Whether its sports or faith, we need to remember the substance behind the cliché. Athletes give it their all to win championships (“110%”) because they have experienced the gruelling journey that got them there. Christians claim “Jesus saves” because of our belief in the historical reality that the God of universe displayed his love most clearly in the act of becoming human and experiencing all (good and bad) that life has to offer, overcoming death in the process. Too easily we forget that all clichés have a story - an important story that relates the truth of the statement to the reality of human experience. Without these stories, clichés will continue to cheapen the deep values of life, be those athletic achievements, or more importantly in my opinion, the life of faith.

And so personally, it’s from a whole lifetime of Canuck futility, close calls, and missed expectations that l say it’s time for the Canucks to leave everything on the ice, put the past behind them, lay everything on the line, live the dream and claim the prize that is the Stanley Cup. Go Canucks Go! We are all Canucks! This is what we live for!

quotable

2011-06-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but share a few quote highlights from this past week:

On art and Christianity:

“I’m convinced that bad art derives, like bad literary theory, from bad theology. To know God falsely is to write and paint and sculpt and cook and dance Him falsely. Perhaps it’s not poor artistic skill that yields bad Christian art, in other words, but poor Christianity.” (Tony Woodlief via Experimental Theology)

On Jacob and God's love:

“...even for a dyed-in-the-wool, double-barreled con artist like Jacob there are few things in this world you can’t get but can only be given, and one of these things is love in general, and another is the love of God in particular...God doesn’t love people because of who they are but because of who he is.” (Frederick Buechner, “Jacob” in Peculiar Treasures)

On doubting Christian leadership:

"[the disciples] doubted Jesus’ authority, or at least his good judgment, in commissioning a rag-tag group of losers like them to, 'Go…make disciples….baptizing…teaching….'" (Will Willimon at A Peculiar Prophet)

On technique and parenting:

“We live in a technique society. On any topics from growing flowers to creating scrumptious gourmet dishes to raising children we can find a hundred and one how-to formulas which promise that the right technique will produce beautiful flowers, succulent meals, and perfect children. This may work for flowers and gourmet dishes, but children and parenting are more complex than that.” (Balswick's, The Family)

subversive marriage

2011-06-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

People often think things that are creative, or even subversive, in culture will be the newest or best things around - the type of ideas that no one else has thought of. Risk and originality go against the grain of what’s generally accepted as the norm. And every period of history has examples of people subverting culture by modeling a different and better way of being in the world. These examples are both big (abolition of slavery) and small (rock’n’roll - ok, I guess, that’s big too!). Or take technology. The last decade has seen Apple dominate with innovation after innovation. Forget love wins, new wins!

But in the process of this creativity for how we function in this world, we too easily forget that what’s old can be just as creative or subversive as what’s new.

I had the privilege of officiating a wedding this past weekend. Every time I go through the process of preparing for a wedding I’m reminded how this most ancient of rites (Gen. 2:24) is perhaps one of the most counter-cultural and subversive acts one can participate in. For many today, the old adage “two are better than one” (Eccl. 4:9) has been amended: “Two are better than one...only if it suits me."
Love gets relegated to mere personal satisfaction - where any notion of sacrifice and commitment is secondary to personal happiness. Too often, to quote a pastor, “marriage in our society has become a commodity” where if we grow tired of our partner, we simply trade them in “for a newer and sleeker model.” Love – even love within marriage - becomes something we create by ourselves, a sort of intangible force that is somehow supposed to sustain us through thick and thin. Sadly, such love repeatedly falls short of sustaining relationships over the long haul.

Marriage commitment on the other hand - a covenant relationship - isn’t built on a set of principles for relational success, high running emotions, or simply a bunch of words couples say to each other in a marriage ceremony. To be sure, the feeling of love in a wedding are a great thing and should be celebrated! (I make sure I say this in the ceremony :-). But significant to love within the covenant of marriage is its root, beyond ourselves, in the character of God - a God who himself “is love” (1 Jn. 4:8) And this love isn't new. It's old, eternal. God’s love is a giving love. A persistent love. A sacrificial love. A truly beautiful love. And a love, that today, makes marriage a subversive reflection of God’s intention for all us - to love and be loved.

Let us love one another, for love comes from God. (1 Jn. 4:7)

canucks - a lesson in history

2011-06-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

In case you didn’t know, the Vancouver Canucks are in the NHL’s Stanley Cup final. Growing up in the greater Vancouver area, naturally, I’m a huge fan. People across Canada sometimes struggle to understand Canucks fans. We are a strange mix of sporadic emotion, boisterous cheers and deafening boos (often of our own team!). With Canucks’ success, the bandwagon is full, but with trial or loss, complaints abound. People think we’re arrogant and whiny. But if you look at history, you just need to realize, we’re simply starved for success. For a great take on the dynamic between Canada and Canucks fans, watch this video - "History of the Canucks"

40 years - 2 trips to the final - 0 Stanley Cups. These 40 years have seen periods of terribly low-expectations met or at times exceeded (e.g. 1982), and many examples of high-expectations never met. Essentially, it’s been like this: the greater the disappointment, the greater elation with success. 3 victories from the 2011 Stanley Cup, I’m hesitantly confident. If the Canucks win, I’ll be elated.

But let’s say the Canucks had already won several championships. Or never traded Cam Neely or Trevor Linden. Or never acquired Mark Messier. Let’s say Pavel Bure became a team-player and stuck around. Who knows what could have happened...

I do know, however, that our response now would be different. You see, history matters. Our culture loves to live in the moment - carpe diem, right!?! But if we forget history, moments of victory or meaning lose significance. It’s part of being human. Who we are today, and who we will be tomorrow, is shaped by our past.

I’m a life-long Canucks fan, I should know.

constrained freedom

2011-05-31T15:24:00.000-07:00

If you watch or read the news, likely you’ve heard the story of the genderless baby. A family in Ontario has decided to keep the gender of their baby - named “Storm” - a secret, so as to not allow social expectations around gender influence the development of their child. In the words of the parents, “We've decided not to share Storm's sex for now — a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation.”

As you can imagine, their choice has caused quite a stir.

It got me thinking though, how does/can/should society influence our development as human beings? Or more close to home, speaking as a parent myself, what role do parents play in their child’s identity? For this family, they say as little as possible. Unconstrained personal freedom, they suggest, is the path to true humanity.

This approach to human identity is nothing new. Ancient philosophers, medieval mystics, modern rationalists, and postmodern spiritualists - and yes, Oprah! - often approach identity from this individualist perspective. Freedom to choose one’s own path is of utmost importance. Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms serves to protect our fundamental freedoms: "Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression.”

But I wonder, is “unconstrained freedom” realistic? Or even healthy? Much of the emphasis on freedom is placed over and against the countless examples in history where authority is abused (e.g. Communist Russia, residential schools, abusive parents, etc...). And true, the many examples provide good reason to maintain the freedoms we protect. But if I put these easy targets aside, I wonder: is it possible, necessary even, to have a positive view of constrained freedom? I think so.

As parents, this starts with the basic fundamentals of life in the world - e.g. teaching our kids to look both ways before crossing the street. We accept this constrained freedom as necessary for the well-being of our kids. Beyond this obvious example, however, I think a level of constrained freedom can be healthy in many relationships, not just parent-child interaction. Sharing wisdom, maintaining accountability, and mentoring are all examples where individuals can speak constructively into each others lives providing opinion and direction to positively influence our development as people. In our haste to reject abusive authority, we tend to forget the possibility of positive influence in our lives.

I realize this issue is far more complex than this brief reflection identifies, but I think we need to consider the possibility that constrained freedom doesn’t have to be negative or harmful. We should heed these words from St. Paul: “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).

"theologically dazzling"

2011-05-26T15:44:00.001-07:00

A recent video circulating the interwebs once more brought up the whole issue of heaven and hell that Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins, already initiated. It got me thinking some more around the issue. But not about heaven and hell itself. Rather, I’ve been thinking lately about how our process of understanding truth, how we understand God, faith, and the Bible.

In Christianity, theology (the study of God) is often presented as an intellectual pursuit. Sure, belief isn’t the only thing - spirituality, worship, faith, etc... help express the emotional and experiential side of our religion. But these are often separate from theology, separate from what we believe. And so there are thousands upon thousands of books, confessions, tracts, and now podcasts and blogs explaining the intellectual viability of Christianity in one form or another. Even Rob Bell, for all his creativity, sticks mainly to considering belief in the abstract concepts of heaven and hell. Not much in the area of theology could be described as "theologically dazzling." Sadly for many, "boring" would be a more fitting term.

Which got me thinking, what about other methods of understanding? Plays? Novels? Movies? Paintings? In understanding our beliefs, are these genres given the same weight as a theology book? Is Calvin superior to Shakespeare? Is N.T. Wright better than the Coen Brothers? If we look at the genres of the Bible, we realize pretty quickly how diversely truth is communicated - poetry, imagery, exposition, narrative, and letters all combine to reveal what we know about God.

After reading Love Wins (and reviewing it, in case you missed it), I’ve decided to read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. Perhaps it’s the intriguing narrative or perhaps it’s the brilliant characters, but I think Lewis was on to something by doing so much of his theology in novel format. It’s real. It’s honest. We can relate. And it’s fun to read!

And speaking of The Great Divorce, Vancouver’s Pacific Theatre is currently running a stage production of the book. Talk about a great way to do theology! I hope to check it out. Here's the write-up:

Hell resembles nothing so much as a dreary industrial city in the north of England, its denizens free to leave whenever they like — aboard a bus bound for a heaven that’s like nothing you’ve ever imagined. A theologically dazzling journey studded with memorable characters, mind-spinning dialogue and images of human folly and sublime hope that will forever change the way you see eternity.

Our world could use a little more creativity to help bring some "dazzle" to our often narrowly intellectual discussions around faith and belief in God.

tough love

2011-05-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

I couldn’t help but quote N.T. Wright’s commentary on 1 Cor. 13 (our wedding passage), on this our 8th wedding anniversary. I’m so thankful to be married to my wonderful wife Julie. It’s been a great journey so far!

“First Corinthians 13 is one of the best-known passages in all of Paul - partly, I suspect, because many couples still choose to have it read in public at their wedding, though if they reflected on it line by line they might find it quote a daunting challenge:

Love is great-hearted; love is kind,
knows no jealousy, makes no fuss,
not puffed up, no shameless ways,
doesn’t force its rightful claim;
doesn’t rage, or bear a grudge,
doesn’t cheer at others’ harm,
rejoices, rather, in the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things;
love hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails...

Fair enough to hold before yourselves that astonishing portrait. But don’t imagine that you can just step into it on a cheerful sunny morning and stay effortlessly forever. The last lines tell their own story: bearing, believing, hoping, enduring, never failing - all these speak of moments, hours, days, and perhaps years when there will be things to bear, things to believe against apparent evidence, things to hope for which are not seen at present, things to endure, things which threaten to make love fail. The phrase ‘tough love’ now sounds hackneyed, a relic of social debates from the day before yesterday. But the love of which Paul speaks is tough. In fact, it’s the toughest thing there is.” (N.T. Wright, After You Believe)

Thanks for the continual “tough love” Julie! I love you!

the gift of “friendship with God”

2011-05-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

As I read on this theme of friendship with God, I continue to be challenged in how I define my faith. This quote also jumped out at me:

"...a life of friendship with God should create a church of distinctive character and witness and, therefore, special responsibilities. At the very least it suggests that people should be able to look to the church and see embodied there genuine joy, peace, mercy, kindness, generosity, hospitality, and a people who are not afraid to be truthful with one another. What a gift the church could be if people really could see these qualities alive in it today.” Paul J. Wadell, Becoming Friends: Worship, Justice, and the Practice of Christian Friendship.

I especially like Wadell’s comment on the church as “a gift” to the world. How Christians relate to one another determines how the world will see God. Now that’s a sobering thought! Yet it’s also inspiring. Too often consider our faith as Christians as an idea or worldview we need to communicate to the world. And it is. But it is so much more. Our faith is “good news” embodied in our lives together. Friendship with God, then, challenges us to go beyond an abstract, individualistic, and spiritualized faith to one which takes seriously the words of John, “Let us love one another, for love comes from God...God is love” (1 Jn. 4:7-8).

This is the gift of friendship with God.

"friendship with God"

2011-05-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what comes to your mind when you hear this phrase: "friendship with God." Likely it produces a variety of response, ranging from positive affirmation for a relational faith to outright rejection of an overly-romanticized faith of the "falling in love with Jesus" variety. I'm afraid we often throw around the concept of friendship with God rather loosely, not really grasping the nature of what it means to be in relationship with God. We describe our relationship with God on our terms, when in fact, it is so much more than that.

Reading and reflecting on this dynamic, I couldn't help but pause as I read this quote:

“To speak of friendship with God can sound so cozy and consoling, as if we are all snuggling up to God; however, there is no riskier vulnerability than to live in friendship with God, because every friendship changes us, because friends have expectations of each other, and because friends are said to be committed to the same things. Suddenly the metaphor is not so comforting because it suggests that any friend of God is called to faithfully embody the ways of God in the world, even to the point of suffering on account of them. There may be grace and glory in being a friend of God, but there is also clearly a cost.”

Paul J. Wadell, Becoming Friends: Worship, Justice, and the Practice of Christian Friendship

rooted in relationships

2011-05-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Relationships…

With friends. Lifelong friends vacation together each year. They seen each others kids grow up. They supported in sickness, shared joy in achievement, and had many a late night discussing faith and life, usually over a good drink (coffee or coke of course) and a game of cards.

Relationships…

At work. A cohesive team completes tasks efficiently and effectively. Each team member’s contribution is valued. At other times, a grumpy manager or a lazy co-worker make going to work a chore, draining energy beyond the value of the paycheck.

Relationships…

In marriage. Day after day – a commitment to love one another brushes up against the stress of busy suburban life. Conflict can easily overpower intimacy. Yet in the dance of marriage, intimacy can beautifully weave its way in-between and out of struggle. Raising kids, paying bills, moving, vacations, going for walks, making decisions, laughing, crying, loving.

Relationships…

In loneliness. No one likes me. Something is wrong with me. No one wants to be my friend. Loneliness and exclusion. Relationships are what's missing!

Relationships…

In church. Sunday after Sunday, weekly meeting after weekly meeting. We meet. We pray. We talk. We might even fight the odd time. Life and faith ideally shared with each other, but at times hidden from each other.

Relationships…

Whether we like it or not, life really is rooted in relationships.

As Christians, we like to think we have lots to say about relationships. I mean ,we have the Bible, right!?! Yet rather than giving us answers, or an ideal to strive for, the Bible gives us more of what we already know in our own lives: an honest dose of reality. This makes some people uncomfortable. They want answers, not reality. But I like how this quote describes the function of the Bible when we consider the reality of relationships:

“[The Bible] invite[s] us into the complexities and depths of life as we experience it. We can see our own conflicts and problems and may even find comfort in seeing ourselves in the company of these ancient family members of Jesus. If we think our lives are a mess, look at what they went through! And God never abandoned them. God’s grace somehow managed to work through all of their imperfections. Perhaps we can lean, then, on the promise that God’s grace will never leave us, and even trust that God is working through our struggles...We can see reflections of ourselves in their messy and troubled escapades...The twists and turns of relationships and brokenness of being fallen humans are all there in these stories. Yet it is in those broken places that we catch glimpses of God’s grace and healing, of God silently reaching in to touch the wound, and often, of fragile and broken people stepping up to do what is right” (David Garland, Flawed Families of the Bible).

This post is an excerpt from a recent sermon I preached - “Rooted in Relationships”

Review - Rob Bell, “Love Wins”

2011-05-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

If you frequent the blogosphere, you’re probably glad to see the recent controversy surrounding Rob Bell subside. I know I am.

But amidst the aftermath of Love Wins’ release, I had the privilege (?) of reviewing the book in the May edition of my denominational magazine, the MB Herald.

You can read my review here - “Heaven and Hell, Here and Now.”

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous publishing my opinion on what has become such a polarizing issue. I didn’t anticipate so much prayer going into a book review! Likely I’ve pegged myself in some way - Bell sympathizer? Evasive? Fair? Unfair? We’ll see. There isn’t a comments function for the online version of the article, so it will be hard to gauge people’s specific response (maybe that’s a good thing!).

But the process got me thinking about the role of pastoral ministry. In particular, the public nature of being a church leader. Prior to my life as a pastor, my wife helpfully reminded me that there are times when I’ll have to make up my mind on issues. Leadership rarely happens on the fence. Wise words from a wise woman!

And so I offer my review of Love Wins tentatively, yes, but also confident in my assessment of the book. I don’t want to get caught solely trying live up to others expectations (or perceived expectations at least). For the review, I wondered, what will happen if I’m not critical enough of Rob Bell? Or overly critical? I tried not to let this sway my opinion. It was my book review after all.

I also think good leadership is more than authoritative opinion. If I reflect on leaders I admire their lasting influence usually relates not to their ability to provide authoritative answers to difficult questions, but how they lead others through the transformative process of answering these questions for themselves. Christian leadership, then, is about whole-person discipleship not just authoritative opinions. I wonder what would happen if people could read Bell and others through this leadership grid?

Hopefully my review is seen as but one voice on the journey of faith and life as people wrestle with the reality of heaven and hell, here and now...

"pray for each other"

2011-05-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

I recently received another reflection from MCC's "peace is a choice" series, which I've been posting on my blog from time to time. I've been meaning to post this one for awhile, but with recent world news, this week seems quite appropriate (albeit very challenging!):

Pray for each other, remember that we are all children of God. When God created the world, God made man and woman in God's own image. Each person on earth is a child of God and is precious in God's sight. This includes people that we dislike the most. It includes our enemies. It is important to remember that no human life is outside of God's care. Worshiping and praying, either alone or with others, helps us to remember that we are all children of God.

...have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do repay evil for evil; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called. 1 Peter 3:8-9

denominations?

2011-05-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was in Kelowna attending the BC Mennonite Brethren annual convention. It’s the one time a year where churches across the province gather to process our denominational business as a group. You may be thinking: BORING!!!

I actually look forward to these events. It’s a family gathering of sorts as I get to connect with friends from across the region and hear stories of God’s work beyond my little realm of experience. And hey, who doesn’t like a good road trip! I’ll admit, my enjoyment is mostly selfish.

I still wonder, however, as we gather to do our “business,” are denominations really that important? Is what my church does in Port Coquitlam related to what others are doing in Prince George? Or Kelowna? Or Abbotsford? Is committing part of our annual budget to a provincial conference worth it - what’s the pay-off? How does a provincial leadership team really impact our little church? Does anyone beyond a few old-timers and pastors really care? Do you care?

It’s easy to get cynical about denominations if we think of them mainly as centralized power and control - they tell us what to do and what to believe. Our denomination has several important programs that most local churches would have trouble pulling off. Summer camps, Columbia Bible College, leadership development, and church planting are all large-scale projects requiring specific leadership and resources. My church can’t do all that. But still, aren't these just a bunch of programs removed from the local church? Wouldn't we be better off investing our time and resources locally? It’s easy, you see, to remain cynical.

Which is why i think we need to hear the stories beyond the programs. During this weekend's reports we heard several moving stories. An autistic boy’s realization of God’s love became a face for summer camps. The journey of faith for a wealthy immigrant brought to life the challenges of church planting in Vancouver. Story after story. God’s story extending beyond me. Beyond my church. There are stories all around us. Stories behind the programs.

So, rather than see denominations as power and programs this weekend helped me see them as an extension of God’s story of transformation in the world. A story worth telling, one denomination at a time!

colors of resurrection

2011-04-26T15:11:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, our church's cross transformed from a drab empty piece of wood to a colorful image of life.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Pt. 1:3).

New birth.
Living hope.

The colors of resurrection - the impact of God's love in our lives and in this world - are beautiful indeed!

"resurrection wonder"

2011-04-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

"It is not easy to convey a sense of wonder, let alone resurrection wonder, to another. It’s the very nature of wonder to catch us off guard, to circumvent expectations and assumptions. Wonder can’t be packaged, and it can’t be worked up. It requires some sense of being there and some sense of engagement" (Eugene Peterson).

Easter is full of surprises. Embrace the wonder: He is risen!

Resurrection wonder indeed!

waiting

2011-04-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

Mark 15 retells the story of Jesus' trial, crucifixion, death, and burial. This year, I've been particularly challenged by the implications of Jesus' burial.

The stone is rolled over the entrance. The door is closed. And if we place ourselves with the women there, we’re forced to wonder, is this the end? As one writer reflects, “Joseph’s stone is like the period that stops the sentence. Boom!—the story’s done. And when the story’s over, the very air is empty…silence” (Walter Wangerin). Like the women left lingering after their dead leader is buried, we cry out, “Jesus, Without you I am a nothing. I am nowhere. You are dead. My world is gone…”

And so we wait.

But we don’t like waiting. In our fast paced lives where efficiency drives our social and self-satisfaction, waiting is weak. We hate waiting. Waiting in line. Waiting for our birthday. Waiting to find a spouse. Or, waiting for our spouse! Waiting to save enough money for that vacation. Waiting to get healthy. Waiting for that person to forgive me. No one really likes waiting.

So we find ways around it. We skip ahead in line. We buy our own birthday gifts. We rush into relationships. We pay for things on credit. We demand forgiveness instead of waiting for it.

Yet along with the suffering of Jesus, Good Friday is all about waiting…

Mark tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was waiting “for the kingdom of God.” His waiting, in fact, led to a risky action even Jesus’ own family or disciples wouldn’t do. A respected member of the very group who hours earlier pushed Pilate to execute Jesus, now asks for Jesus’ body. What would people think? Won’t Pilate be confused? Or worse, threatened? That’s dangerous. Do nothing! But you see, we often think waiting is passive or a waste of time. Joseph’s waiting is purposeful, intentional. We remember, he's waiting “for the kingdom of God.” Joseph’s is a risky type of waiting. Waiting doesn’t have to be a waste a time.

Part of the mystery of God’s love in Jesus on the cross is the waiting. Death and sin aren’t easily overcome. There is a cost. We are forced to wait. And it’s hard. It’s uncertain. “The thunderous events on Golgotha give way to a scene that is subdued and sober, an almost anticlimactic finale to the passion story…Jesus is indeed dead and buried” (Donald Senior). The stone is rolled over the grave. Jesus is gone.

And like Joseph. Like the women. Even like the other disciples, who have all deserted Jesus in this dark hour. We wait. We’ve seen the injustice and suffering borne on our behalf. Jesus has walked the path we were destined to walk. And now, in his suffering and death, he’s disappeared behind the stone. That was supposed to be us! And now he’s gone. Buried. The end?

We’re left to wait…

helplessness and hope

2011-04-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

With a mug of coffee ready to indulge my senses, sun beaming on my cushioned corner of the local coffee shop, I sat to read and reflect; and mainly, to clear my head of a stressful situation swimming in the corners of my consciousness. Ahh...finally, an escape from suffering.

Not so fast.

Have you ever tried reading a book when you’re distracted by something? Reading has to be one of the least productive activities one can participate in when stressed or distracted. It feels more like tedious work than a relaxing indulgence of story and ideas. In my case, no matter how warm and bright the rays of sunshine were, it felt more like a dark, rainy day - the persistence of stress washing away any sense of peace.

It’s a helpless feeling, really.

Life’s stresses and complications often bring a clear sense of futility, a deep-rooted feeling of helplessness and an inability to overcome whatever obstacles we face. It’s paralyzing. We lose hope. At least we’re in good company. The psalmist cried out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Ps. 13). Thankfully, it’s not wrong to feel helpless.

But it’s difficult.

And often hopeless. Hopeless, that is, until something breaks through our distraction - a glimpse of hope in despair. For me it wasn’t any sort of deep illumination or practical solution to my stressful circumstance. Nor was it a mental escape or numbing of the emotional exhaustion. I couldn’t fabricate hope. Hope came from outside of myself.

Piercing my reading stupor, there echoed a raw lyric of reality and hope from the coffee house airwaves:

there ain't no reason things are this way
its how they've always been and they intend to stay
i don't know why i say the things i say,
but i say them anyway.
but love will come set me free
love will come set me free
i do believe
love will come set me free
i know it will
love will come set me free
yes (Brett Dennen, “Ain't No Reason”)

I’ll admit, I don’t like stress. I don’t like feeling out of control. I don’t like that at times God can seem absent. I don’t like that I can’t explain my problems - “no reasons...I don’t know why.” In these words I heard my blight. These feelings of futility inform so much of human suffering.

But love will come set me free

At the core of our helplessness is this longing to be released, to have hope overcome the futility in making sense of our suffering. My hopeful escape lasted only three minutes in a coffee shop corner, problem unsolved. Suffering remained. Yet I was left with an unexplained hope captured in a moment through the honest words of a musician:

But love will come set me free

The backdrop to Easter is suffering. But a suffering infused with hope. The Suffering Servant (Is. 53), as we know, rises to new life to bring healing and restoration to all things (Col 1:20). In our attempts to manage and overcome our own suffering, it may very well be true, “There ain’t no reasons things are this way.” In Easter, however, the futility of suffering is overcome with the assurance of God’s love.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

Palm Sunday ambivalence

2011-04-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Last year I called Palm Sunday "bittersweet." This year I'm ambivalent about the whole celebration. Here's part of the story from Mark's Gospel (11:8-10):

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

My ambivalence is with this: the celebration is misguided. These same people change their tune in a matter of days. "Hosanna" turns into "crucify him!" (Mk. 15:13-14). When Jesus doesn't look and sound like the king they expect, adulation shifts to condemnation. A mob-mentality has a powerful effect, no doubt. “Everyone deserted” Jesus in the days following Palm Sunday, even his closest friends (Mk. 14:50).

Makes me wonder, how often is our faithfulness to Jesus caught up in a sort of mob-mentality akin to Palm Sunday and Passion Week? Are we able to admit it when this is in fact the case? Just a few questions arising from my Palm Sunday ambivalence...

it's that time of year again!!!

2011-04-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

I mentioned a few weeks back how our culture has it’s own sort of liturgy. Basically, liturgy refers to public ritual, typically associated with religious worship. “Cultural liturgy,” then, refers to those public rituals that command the attention of our culture at various points throughout the year.

Well, for many, today marks a high point in Canada’s cultural liturgy. The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs! For Vancouverites, the first public gathering - dare I say "worship" - takes place tonight when the Canucks take on the Blackhawks to open up round 1. As Canucks fans we have been waiting a whole year for another chance to beat Chicago. The excitement is palpable.

I can’t wait!

And speaking of liturgical calendars, this Sunday is Palm Sunday too. Oh, and game 3 starts at 5pm PST, so you shouldn’t have a scheduling conflict.

Hmm, wait a second...

Perhaps it’s time to pause and reflect on my reaction to these two liturgies in my life. Which one commands greater attention!?! Puts things in perspective, that’s for sure.

how to read a book (and not miss the point)

2011-04-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

So, I’ve finally read Rob Bell’s Love Wins and am working on a review. When I think about all the controversy surrounding the book, I wish more people had a chance to take a study seminar I took while studying at Regent College.

Professor John G. Stackhouse Jr. offered these helpful tips for reading nonfiction. Note how actually reading a book’s main content is step five! And considering these tips, it makes you wonder how much time and energy could have been saved responding to Love Wins!?!

1. Examine the front cover. Ask yourself: what can I learn about the book from this first impression?

2. Read the back cover. It typically provides good summary of the book’s argument.

3. Take time with the front matter (e.g. publication info, table of contents, preface, introduction). This step is key! These sections will most often reveal the background to the book’s content and the author’s intent for writing the book (definitely the case in the preface for Love Wins).

4. Read the conclusion before the body of the book. This allows you to find out where the book is headed without getting caught up in unnecessary confusion over specific parts. And really, it’s not like it’s a novel where the ending will be spoiled :-).

5. Read the body of the book. This comes last! And in doing so, to avoid getting bogged down, but your primary focus on the introduction and conclusion of each chapter. Again, this will help grasp the main points.

summer school!?! Or, why you need to take an edu-vacation at Regent College

2011-04-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

No doubt the thought of summer school is far from positive for you. Memories of forced confinement in the heat of summer for past academic negligence likely makes the idea of choosing summer school ridiculous. Been there, done that!

Well, I urge you to reconsider. In particular, consider Regent College summer school.

But that’s for pastors, you say?

Well, if you know me personally, I can see how you’d think that. Isn’t Regent College a seminary with the purpose of training Christian leaders for “The Ministry.” In many ways, that’s what it was for me. But that’s only a small part.

Regent College - a Christian graduate school (not a seminary) - began in the 1960’s with the specific intent to give all people a chance at Christian theological education. As their mission states,

Continuing the vision of its founders, Regent takes seriously the education, nurturing and equipping of the laity—the whole people of God—to live and work as servant leaders in vocations within the home, the marketplace, and the church.

Regent’s summer program offers a variety of courses intended to address the intersection of faith and life. Perhaps you’re in business - why not sit in on “Business as Mission: Engaging with Christian Social Enterprise.” Or for you green-thumbs, how about “Gardening the City of God”? For sports enthusiasts, “Grace and Play: Christianity and the Meaning of Sport” may peak your interest. Or consider a course on the Psalms with renowned OT scholar, Bruce Waltke. And the list goes on. Here’s your chance to redefine your image of summer school!

So, even if you aren’t a pastor - no, especially if you aren’t a pastor! - why not consider taking a course from Regent College this summer? Instead of a staycation, consider an edu-vacation!

And I promise, it will be far from the forced confinement of your youth!

(If I’m wrong - which I won't be - I’ll apologize by taking you to Grounds for Coffee near UBC for one of their amazing cinnamon buns. I promise, it will make up for any wrongdoing on my part :-)

no greater relevance

2011-03-31T15:55:00.000-07:00

A pastor was reflecting on the debate over how churches should be relevant to their surrounding culture. Noticing that Jesus had some good things to say, he asked him, “Out of all the ways we can be relevant to culture, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: Hear, O Church: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater relevance than these.”

“Well said, teacher,” the pastor replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all cool music, hip pastors, edgy sermons, seeker sensitive programs, and Facebook pages.

When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions about relevance.

(paraphrase of Mark 12:28-34)

rendered absurd

2011-03-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

As a pastor - one with a specific role of connecting my local church to the surrounding community - I’m constantly wrestling with the question of relevance (as this blog continues to reflect). How does what we do as a local church impact our community? Would our neighborhood change if our church wasn’t here? How do we make church appealing in Greater Vancouver suburbia?

But I’ll be honest, sometimes I think Christians try too hard. Frustration and failure result. Being culturally relevant is like “chasing the wind” (Eccl. 1:14).

I think the journey through Lent puts our striving in perspective. As we pattern our lives around Jesus’ suffering, we can recognize how Jesus modeled relevance. In his Lent reader, Walter Wangerin Jr. helps redirect our focus in his description of Jesus’ trial before the Temple leaders:

“Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’

‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven’” (Mk. 14:60-62 NIV).

Only now, finally, does Jesus publicly claim the office of Messiah...Now is the best time. Now is the Christ’s time, because this is the Christ: a prisoner and a failure.

From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus charged those who experienced his power to say nothing about it....When he was at the height of his ministry (as the world assesses height, as the world assesses greatness) he demanded no one say he was the “Christ.” When he was dazzling crowds, confuting enemies, causing shepherds and lepers and kings to ask, “Who is this man?”; when masses were “astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak!’”...Jesus commanded them “to tell no one about him.” Apparently none of this was the real work of the “Christ.”

The world would have misunderstood the glory.

The world might have expected a warrior-king, someone triumphant in its own terms. A winner, you know. A number-one, against-all-odds, pride inspiring, tear-in-my-eye, flat-out, all-round, good-guy winner! A hero.

Only when that characterization is rendered absurd and impossible does Jesus finally accept the title “Christ.”

It is only in incontrovertible powerlessness that he finally links himself with power...This, then, is the Christ that Jesus would have us know and accept and reflect: One who came to die.

One who, in the assessment of this age, failed - an embarrassment, a folly, a stumbling block. An offense!

(Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion)

Kind of puts relevance into perspective, don’t you think?

my Orthodox experience

2011-03-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, as promised, here’s a few observations from my experience with the Orthodox Church.

Centrality of communion

The ”Mystery” of holy communion forms the basis for everything Orthodox Christians do in their life of worship together. They believe the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ in communion. "How" is the mystery. To say they take the Eucharist seriously is a huge understatement. This was clearly evident in the service I attended. The whole service builds towards partaking in the communion elements. Prayers, readings, songs, and actions of the priest are all geared towards this communal event with the divine. And the Orthodox view of the literal body and blood of Jesus in communion makes it a physical experience in addition to the spiritual reflection us evangelicals are accustomed to. At the gathering I attended, it was communicated how the nourishment of communion brings strength to our weary bodies, literally. I think mystery is often a missing category for evangelicals and oftentimes our emphasis on the symbolic nature of communion neglects the this-worldly implications of faith in Jesus. And as a worship leader and pastor, I realize communion shouldn’t simply be “tacked on” to the end of worship service if what we profess in the event is actually what we believe.

Worship style

I’m sure my Orthodox friends won’t like me referring to their particular “worship style.” It’s that type of language that drives many away from Evangelicalism towards the Orthodox tradition. Yet it is a specific style, let’s be honest. It’s just a style that hasn’t changed much...for almost two thousand. Attending their liturgy gathering, my observation is that instead of attempting cultural relevance the Orthodox concern themselves with historical relevance - consistency with how Orthodox Christians have worshipped throughout the centuries. And I’ll admit, this is a big stumbling block for me. Thankfully they do everything in English, so there is some willingness to adjust culturally. Yet the incense, chanting, icons, and other Orthodox worship practices don’t transcend cultures easily. I found it hard to connect. But for them, that’s okay, perhaps even the point of staying the same. I heard someone comment that you don’t adjust Orthodoxy to suit the tastes of culture - you adjust your tastes to the Orthodox tradition. And so I wrestle with this one. I prefer singing over chanting and the incense made my eyes water :-). Yet at the same time, for us “relevant” Evangelicals, I think there’s a lesson here somewhere...

Openness...to a point

I really appreciated the open and inviting atmosphere at the Orthodox gathering. The people were very welcoming, even though we were outsiders. Father Lawrence took time to personally greet us beforehand and give us a brief introduction to what we were about to experience. His warmness helped ease any anxiety in the strange surroundings. We were also invited to stay for a potluck gathering afterward. Even observing the regular participants, I sensed a strong connection with one another throughout the evening. And seeing the little kids free to participate in their own way was great (one even attempted to bring some “rhythm” to the hymns). The absence of pews also creates an informal (yet highly intentional I think) connection with one another and with God. I did struggle with not being allowed to take communion. I felt left out. Yet I also understand why (it’s like a family meal that only Orthodox “family members” partake in). I’m still working on what I think about this one.

Anyway, those are few quick observations after attending one Orthodox Lent liturgy. Much to learn, I know. I’ll be honest, though, I don’t see myself converting to the Orthodox Church (no offense to anyone:-). I do, however, hope my continued interaction/experience with Orthodox friends and ideas will deepen my own faith and how I practice it in my Mennonite Brethren tradition.

ancient attraction

2011-03-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Following my posts on church shopping, I got into some interesting discussion with a couple of former schoolmates from my days at Columbia Bible College. Since our time studying together, one of these friends has left his evangelical faith...for the Orthodox church tradition.

Among many things, this friend was drawn to the historical consistency in Orthodoxy. What about church shopping? Or theological preference? What church shopping!?! What theological preference!?! Orthodoxy is Orthodoxy. It always has been. As Wikipedia describes, Orthodoxy “considers itself to be the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles almost 2,000 years ago.” Schisms, conflict, denominations, church splits, and the like are said to be absent. Orthodoxy has been the same for 2000 years. And in our age of shallow attempts at relevance and depth, I can see the appeal in such a long-standing, consistent tradition - a sort-of ancient attraction.

I’d like to offer more comment, especially on some of the interesting aspects within the Orthodox tradition, like the beliefs around salvation and personal transformation. And their dedication to liturgical worship is intense, personally and corporately (e.g. Lent and fasting). But first I’d like to experience it in person.

So upon invitation, I’m going to check it out tonight - date night! Julie and I are going to attend a Lent liturgy (similar to a church service, but not called that) at Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Langley, BC. I’m quite looking forward to journeying through Lent with these brothers and sisters in faith that I know so little about.

And if you’re unfamiliar with Orthodox gatherings, this little read was quite interesting in preparation to attend: "12 Things I Wish I'd Known...First Visit to an Orthodox Church."

Look for a reflection on my experience next week...

"Hold Us Together"

2011-03-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

I’ve had a song by Matt Maher ringing in my head for a few days now:

Love, will, hold us together
Make us a shelter
to weather the storm

And I'll, be, my brothers keeper
So the whole world will know
That we're not alone

I hear this song and think of the graphic images coming from Japan. The earthquake/tsunami tragedy continues to haunt many around the world as we try to process the immense loss the Japanese continue to endure. May our prayers remain with them, but also our actions. In these days and the days ahead, I hope Japan experiences how they are not alone.

I also think of Christians around the world and even a little closer to home. It seems even more petty in the face of natural disaster, but us Jesus-followers continue to fight with one another. All I have to do is say, “Rob Bell,” and many will know what I mean. His book, Love Wins, is finally released today. So is Brian McLaren’s book, Naked Spirituality. Sadly, these two authors illustrate how followers of Jesus tend to accuse, vilify, condemn, write-off, or ignore each other when we disagree or don’t like one another. Too often, love doesn’t hold us together.

But I also just think of life in general. How do I relate to my wife? How do I treat my neighbours? Or people in rush hour? Or children at the park? My parents? My coworkers? People I like? And people I don’t like? You get the point: How do I treat EVERYONE?

And then I think of these words I shared on this past Sunday at Neighbourhood Church in Nanaimo (where we also sung “Hold Us Together”):

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:7-12 NIV).

God is love...Love one another.

Japan. Christians. Everyday encounters. LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

Now that’s something to hold us together!

narrative of lent

2011-03-08T21:03:00.000-08:00

Lent isn't exactly a new topic on this blog. I've spent time reflecting on Lent for a few years now. Yet each year I find myself drawn to reflect on Lent once more. Not having grown up in a liturgical faith tradition, I feel I'm only beginning to understand the value in of the season.

("Dust to Dust" - Linda C. McCray - Christian Seasons Calendar)

My friend Phil, someone with a similar background to myself, recently asked, "Is Lent a good idea?" Phil explores Lent and the implications for an integrated life of discipleship, not simply a 40-day practice of superhuman spirituality. His thoughts got me thinking.

On their "Lent" entry, Wikipedia suggests:

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer - through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial - for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Preparation for Easter is characterized by this practice of spiritual disciplines. At it's worst, however, Lent can easily become a guilt-laden exercise in ascetic futility. Like unattainable New Year's resolutions, Lent exposes our spiritual un-discipline. However helpful or needed a little guilt-induced spirituality can be (I'm not convinced it's helpful at all), we complete Lent even more frustrated followers of Jesus than before.

Plus, think about Easter, our celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death. Really, what's there to be so serious about? Jesus wins, right!?!

If Lent is supposed to be an intentional way of life, one in which we identify with Jesus' journey to the cross, I wonder: does the focus on spiritual disciplines require more?

I made this comment on Phil's post:

I’m learning to appreciate Lent not only in terms of spiritual discipline, although that’s part of it, but also as an intentional focus on the narrative of Jesus’ life. The road to Jerusalem is marked with struggle and pain, yet wrapped in a persistent hope we see in Jesus’ comfort to his disciples and then ultimately, in his resurrection. But if we simply live in Easter-Sunday-mode, we neglect other important aspects of our discipleship journey – “take up your cross” (Mk. 8:34) anyone?

At it's best I think Lent reminds Christians that Easter, and Christmas for that matter, doesn't stand in isolation as the pinnacle event in Christianity. They are pinnacle events, it's true. But without the in-between narrative of Jesus' life and ministry, the good news of Easter has no real-life context. Lent reminds us that Easter is only good news because Jesus identified with human suffering in this world.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb. 4:14-16 NIV)

I'm looking forward to the narrative of Lent.

heaven, hell, and...humility

2011-03-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

The afterlife is quite the topic. Christians have long-debated the inhabitants of eternal destinations: heaven and hell.

Dante’s graphic images of the afterlife portray places of literal fire and torment, fueling a legacy of afterlife prediction that remains until today. Bible believing Christians, it’s thought, must hold to this type of literal view of hell. Some people, perhaps even most people, will be excluded from heaven.

At the same time, however, modern sensibility tells us that exclusion of any sort is wrong. In a culture where tolerance is the virtue, talk of a literal hell as a place of eternal torment is simply politically incorrect. And so we hear the popular generic spiritual mantra: “all paths lead to God.”

Rob Bell, influential writer and speaker, wades (dives!?!) into the issue of heaven and hell in his forthcoming book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, slated for release on March 29. From the sounds of it, Bell's usual thought-provoking ways are no different in this presentation. Google “rob bell, love wins” to witness the stir he's caused among Christians across the interwebs. And the book’s not even released yet!

Here’s the book’s promo video:

I look forward to the book. In his past writings, Bell provides an accessibility to important theological issues that some theologians aren’t able to produce. I suspect that readers of N.T. Wright, Miroslav Volf, and perhaps even C.S. Lewis, will find in Bell’s project an accessible exploration into some of the ideas of these deep thinkers. We’ll see. But as to the firestorm of controversy over the book and it’s supposed universalism, I agree with Scot McKnight and Ben Witherington: read the book first!

On the subject of heaven and hell itself, well, I refuse to make my own conclusions. How can I, a “mere mortal” (Ps. 8), pass judgment on eternal issues out of my control? Much humility is required, lest we forget Jesus’ teaching on judgment (Mt. 7:1-5).

Facing questions of eternal destiny, I choose to place my hope in this final vision of reality, hoping all encounter this restoration from the God who is love (1 Jn. 4:7-21):

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:3-5).

Perhaps a tad ironic, but Bad Religion’s song, “Sorrow”, is one of my favorites, communicating this hope I have:

one year later...

2011-02-28T11:15:00.000-08:00

Exactly one year ago today Canadians held their collective breath and then followed this with a collective cheer as the 2010 Winter Olympics came to a dramatic and victorious end (thanks Sidney Crosby!).

One year later I’m wondering, what’s the Olympic legacy?

Positively:
-Canada winning the gold medal in hockey (this was a BIG deal to Canadians)?
-Canada winning the most gold medals (14) by one nation in Winter Olympic history (again, a pretty big deal for a supposedly “passive” country)?
-The fun two-week party in the streets of downtown Vancouver?
-The beautiful weather and scenery that make up many of the images of the event?

Or negatively:
-The tragic death of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the Georgian luger?
-The Olympic Village fiasco?
-Tensions between VANOC and Vancouver’s homeless community?
-The exorbitant amounts of public money the whole show cost?

Or, as CTV’s summary program recently induced in many, perhaps it’s simply the good feelings one gets remembering all the stories of courage and dedication by hundreds of gifted athletes from around the world?

So, what was it?

Well, it’s probably impossible to summarize the legacy into one thing. Yet reflecting on my own experience of the event, I did realize a lasting impact on me personally: stories and cheering.

Think of Alexandre Bilodeau. Sure, he’ll always be remembered as the first Canadian to win gold on home soil, but stuck in the minds of everyone is the inspirational story of his brother, Frédéric, shamelessly cheering Alex on. Then there's Joannie Rochette’s courageous bronze medal performance only days after the sudden death of her mother. Or Petra Majdič, sustaining 5 broken ribs in the warm-up to competition, persevering to win the gold medal in cross-country skiing. And the stories go on.

Consequently, these stories inspired the audience to cheer. I think as humans we naturally rally around people’s stories. Gold medals are great. Great stories are gold. We celebrate victory. We connect with stories. In stories we realize that Olympic athletes aren’t superhuman (at least not in everything). Our cheering in the Olympic events becomes just as much a cheering for their lives. We cheer on their courage and dedication, in part, because we know we need the same in our own lives.

If we really want a lasting Olympic legacy, then, I’ve been wondering:
-What if we shared our stories with one another?
-And likewise, what if we cheered one another on?

resurrection and acceptance

2011-02-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

Related to my post on atheist/religious dialogue, I came across a fascinating quote that for me accurately describes what’s central to Christianity. Oh, and it’s from the openly secular organization, Centre for Inquiry Canada:

Only claims of his supposed and unsupported resurrection from the dead elevated Jesus above the many lower-level social and religious charismatics who were common in Galilee and Judaea during his time. If Christianity hadn’t become the only Jewish sect that eventually allowed non-Jews to convert, it is doubtful that the life of Jesus would have gone on to influence Western civilization to the degree that it has. "Christ" - Extraordinary Claims

Okay, so “supposed and unsupported” is debatable. Many reasonable individuals look at the historical evidence and do think the resurrection is supported. But that’s not what I want to focus on. The quote describes two key Christian beliefs: resurrection and acceptance. In my view, the authors get it (even if they don’t like the results).

As the quote summarizes, without resurrection and acceptance, Christianity likely would have failed. Yet even the Apostle Paul recognizes the implications for the reality (or unreality) of Jesus’ resurrection: “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.” But Paul continues, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead...in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:17,20,22). This is the hope that has inspired millions in history. It’s true, hope in the resurrection is critical to Christian identity.

When it comes to acceptance, Jesus himself taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mk. 12:31). And Paul boldly stated a new reality of human relationships: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). Again, it’s true, this acceptance is central to Christian identity.

Very likely, I agree, the influence of Christianity on Western civilization would have been minuscule without these keys. And sadly, the rest of Christian history hasn’t always displayed the same life-giving message of resurrection and relationship that the early church lived-out.

But these inconsistencies and the speculations on what may or may not have been doesn’t negate the truth in the analysis of these atheists: resurrection and acceptance are central.

As a Christian, I’m glad for this reminder.

"everything we need"

2011-02-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share what's been ringing in my head this morning. Enjoy!

"Everything We Need" – Steve Bell (Music and Lyric by Gord Johnson)

In the morning Lord we do look to you
For the strength we need just to make it through
Have mercy

In the evening Lord we look back and say
It was in your strength that we made our way
Have mercy

You are everything we need
Feed us Lord

And for those more adventurous in your music tastes, there is this collaboration between Steve Bell and rapper Fresh I.E. that is excellent as well:

who makes the rules?

2011-02-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

I’m no expert on the topic of science, atheism and religion. To me, there is much to lament on how both sides can err towards fundamentalism in their own regards. The lack of honest and respectful dialogue is quite sad, really.

I recently came across two good examples of bad (or absent) interaction:

1. The Handy Dandy Evolution Refuter by Robert E. Kofahl.

The preface describes the book as “an ideal reference guide and tool for the new sport of evolution refuting.” While outdated in presentation and content (1980) - I found it in a box of donated books - I fear the tone of this work is alive and well. Any interaction between science and religion gets framed in conflict. One side is right. One side is wrong (and we all know which is the right side to be on!). Automatically we are asked to pick sides. The author make the rules for engagement (a specific Christian worldview) and any opinion that strays from this is seen as less-than-adequate, to put it mildly.

2. Extraordinary Claims Campaign

Promoted through the Centre for Inquiry Canada, the focus of this campaign is to “challenge well-known and widely believed claims by demanding evidence as extraordinary as the claims themselves.” Okay, that’s fine. But what irks me is the lack of historical attention in the method of this inquiry. For instance, they ask, “Why is belief in Bigfoot dismissed as delusional while belief in Allah and Christ is respected and revered? All of these claims are equally extraordinary and demand critical examination.” Would most people agree that all claims religious or otherwise are equal? I’m not so sure. Yet again the rules are set in advance, only this time it’s non-religious inquiry that prevails. All claims at belief are equal, regardless of the historical track-record for these claims.

Both examples illustrate an unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue. Both sides start with their conclusions, and evaluate alternatives from that perspective. It’s no wonder each side sounds right on their own. They aren’t really engaging in dialogue, only unfair conflict in which they set themselves up to win.

But what if we actually listened to apparent opposing viewpoints? What if we took the time to engage the people we disagree with (and not just “refute” their ideas)? And perhaps this is the scary question for some, but what if we found in our dialogue and increased understanding, that atheist and religious folks actually agreed on some pretty important matters?

Maybe some books would disappear and some websites would go offline.

If so, in my estimation, we’d be better off for it.

For a voice far better equipped to tackle the topic of science, atheism, and religion, I highly recommend my friend Ryan’s blog. He gets it, I think.

the ‘maelstrom’ of adolescence

2011-02-15T12:51:00.000-08:00

As a parent in the midst of potty-training my two-year-old, I could only partially relate to these wise words on the efforts of parenting. I have much to look forward to!

Too often the parents make absolutely nothing of their children’s coming-of-age. They let it happen, as it were, by accident. Ho! They took more time over potty training than they take over training toward adulthood. They imply, then, that it is nothing, this ‘growing up’--or else that it is a distinct hazard in the household, a problem, a sin, a sickness, something that wants correcting. In consequence, the adolescent, unprepared, is shocked by the maelstrom which he has entered. Next, he feels an abiding, unspoken guilt at the changes occurring in him. And when he most needs resources to fight this good fight, he least has them. Indeed, the fight seems anything but good and heroic when his voice breaks, her cramps come, but the family (neither parents nor society) has given no dignified name or place to these profound and exhausting efforts. (Walter Wangerin, Jr., Ragman: And Other Cries of Faith).

This is the "maelstrom" of adolescence.

Naturally, as a pastor, I wonder how the church contributes to these problems of unpreparedness in today’s youth. Perhaps we need another program to help kids transition into adolescence? Oh wait, we have youth groups. Maybe youth groups need to talk about real issues? Hmm, I think they try and do that too, often through a myriad of guest speakers, retreats, devotionals, and one-to-one mentoring. In some cases, I even think youth groups tackle issues of adolescence quite clearly, exploring the relationship of faith and life in helpful and honest ways, acknowledging just how difficult it can be to navigate the murky waters of teenage-dom. Personally, youth group was vital as I danced through adolescence.

So, maybe the church has nothing to do with problems associated with adolescence. It’s all on the parents! Yes and no.

True, parents need to realize that any church program doesn’t replace our responsibility to raise our kids. We shouldn’t bracket out spirituality and leave that up to a Sunday School teacher or youth pastor. But do we? And does the church contribute to this?

At this point, I mainly have more questions:

How much inter-generational ministry goes on in an average N.A. church? Who are the youth sponsors? In my experience, they are often (not always!) recent youth. How many baby boomers are youth leaders!?! How many grandpa’s teach Sunday School (or men in general)? How many business executives mentor young leaders in the church? In any given congregation, how many teachers, nurses and other “social” professionals walk with youth through the messiness of adolescence inside the church? Sure, parents also need to take responsibility for their kids’ lives, opening up honest dialogue that engenders trust for whatever situation arises. The church can’t do it all. Yet, the church does act as the family of God - “one body.” I think Paul’s words in Romans remind us that parents aren’t alone:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality (Rom. 12:3-13 TNIV).

Apply that to youth ministry!

"dancing in the minefields"

2011-02-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

I think all people realize the experience of love is complex. Valentines Day reminds of this complexity as we celebrate those special someones, or perhaps lament loss or the absence of a loving companion. Regardless, Valentines Day brings love in all its glory (and occasional difficulty!) to the forefront. I like how Andrew Peterson describes love in the song below: love is like "dancing in the minefields...that's what the promise is for."

And so, happy Valentines Day to my wife, Julie, and to all who journey through life together "dancing in the minefields."

(h/t to Len for posting the song)

Well I was 19 you were 21
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much to young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago

We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for

Well ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin
Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found

And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose loves chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith
to the end of all my days
when I forget my name, remind me

Cause we bear the light of the son of man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands
Till the shadows disappear
Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos baby
I can dance with you

So lets go dancing in the minefields
Lets go sailing in the storms
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for