Craziness:
Well, it's crazy time right now...Sr. Hi Spring retreat this weekend, and my parents are coming home next week, along with 8th Grade Excursion the next weekend. Whew!
Really looking forward to this weekend to hang out with the students in a less constricted environment, and also to have my good friend, Jordan Rickard (we went to school together), on the retreat with us.
And I'm really really looking forward to being reunited with my parents. Woohoo! It's been a year and a half since I saw them last.
Salvation:
Been thinking about salvation. And about how when God "saves" me from my sin, he is also "saving" those around me from it. So, since I deal with laziness, God saves people from my sin of laziness by calling me to a life imbued with intentionality and planning. This may seem trite, but it goes with some of the stuff that I've been mulling over in my spirit...
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Return
Ah the familiar. It was so nice to return home after being gone for a week.
Now I am sitting beside my lovely wife in the library while she is doing research for some project for school. Sometimes I wish I was back in school, but right now I don't.
Anyway, I have started this book called Missional Church by Darrell Guder, and am really getting into it. Brian Hull http://gilborules.blogspot.com recommended it to me, and thanks to him I am sucked in.
I like it because it's trying to get churches to have the same attitude people have when they are on a missions trip: an attitude of being sent to be a blessing.
Now I am sitting beside my lovely wife in the library while she is doing research for some project for school. Sometimes I wish I was back in school, but right now I don't.
Anyway, I have started this book called Missional Church by Darrell Guder, and am really getting into it. Brian Hull http://gilborules.blogspot.com recommended it to me, and thanks to him I am sucked in.
I like it because it's trying to get churches to have the same attitude people have when they are on a missions trip: an attitude of being sent to be a blessing.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Day 4: Songs of Justice
Well, my time wrapped up nicely yesterday at the Emergent Worship, Art, Liturgy and Preaching conference. Randy and I had a great trip home, even though it was raining much of the way...(I got to drive the VW...what a sweet ride.)...I'll never think of Twizzlers the same way again.
Well, Randy and I started thinking of nick-names for some of the Emergent leaders present at the conference. First there was Robert "Hands" Webber. I've never seen a dude use his hands so well in a presentation. Then there was Doug "Shorty" Pagitt. That guy was flippin huge. And we can't forget Barry "Yellow Pants" Taylor. He had some seriously yellow pants on. That's all we could think of, but I'm sure there will be more eventually.
The final session basically asked these questions: Can we worship God without serving Him? Can we sing praises and not love our neighbor? Can we read the Scripture together without remembering our starving brothers and sisters in Africa? Can we be redeemed without changing the world around us?
Claude, from Africa, spoke about how the gospel was presented in his churches. The gospel was about Jesus saving you from your sins to get you into heaven. The church was the place to wait for Jesus to come back. So, when the genocides came in Rwanda, the churches did nothing. As a matter of fact, there was a memorable story that two survivors told of a band of men bearing machetes and clubs singing worship songs. How empty those songs were. How empty are our songs if we do nothing to partner with God to change the world.
My question would be: how can I help my students bring about change? How can I make them aware? How can I stop the bastard gospel of "salvation only in heaven" and bear the truth of God's desire to change the hear and now?
Well, Randy and I started thinking of nick-names for some of the Emergent leaders present at the conference. First there was Robert "Hands" Webber. I've never seen a dude use his hands so well in a presentation. Then there was Doug "Shorty" Pagitt. That guy was flippin huge. And we can't forget Barry "Yellow Pants" Taylor. He had some seriously yellow pants on. That's all we could think of, but I'm sure there will be more eventually.
The final session basically asked these questions: Can we worship God without serving Him? Can we sing praises and not love our neighbor? Can we read the Scripture together without remembering our starving brothers and sisters in Africa? Can we be redeemed without changing the world around us?
Claude, from Africa, spoke about how the gospel was presented in his churches. The gospel was about Jesus saving you from your sins to get you into heaven. The church was the place to wait for Jesus to come back. So, when the genocides came in Rwanda, the churches did nothing. As a matter of fact, there was a memorable story that two survivors told of a band of men bearing machetes and clubs singing worship songs. How empty those songs were. How empty are our songs if we do nothing to partner with God to change the world.
My question would be: how can I help my students bring about change? How can I make them aware? How can I stop the bastard gospel of "salvation only in heaven" and bear the truth of God's desire to change the hear and now?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Day 3 Part 3: Sleep and Tears
Sleep:
I chatted with Joe Myers (author of the Search to Belong) about some ideas I've been bouncing around for youth stuff. During our talk we talked about the role of grace in programs, and how often programs force people to belong in spaces they don't feel like belonging. he said that programs need to have more space for people to choose whether or not they will participate in a certain activity (small groups, prayer group...).
then I brought up how many quality interactions for me are spontaneous. There really isn't a form for what happens, it just happens. And I wonder how we can intentionally create those interactions, those spontanaieties (SP?).
He described intentional spontanaeity (SP?) like sleeping. You can intend to sleep, but sometimes you just won't. You can set up your room to sleep, but you aren't guaranteed to sleep. The same goes in planning places for people to interact...
Tears:
During the night service we were lead through the creation and fall and redemption...it's hard to describe what was done, but it was moving. There was a point where the lady acting out God mimed that she was weeping, and she drew water and put it on her eyes and ran it down her face. While she did that a person was reading from the Psalms where the psalmist feasts on his tears day and night. And then we were invited to put tears on our face, to share in the sorrow of God, or to allow God to share in our sorrow. There were basins of water around the building, and you could walk up and pull the water onto your face. it stung the eyes, leaving them with a burning feeling for the rest of the night, and it tasted of salt on the lips. All thru the talk I could taste it and feel it.
And later in the service, God offered the world her living water, and we were invited to go to the same places where we had feasted on tears and we drew water to drink.
I chatted with Joe Myers (author of the Search to Belong) about some ideas I've been bouncing around for youth stuff. During our talk we talked about the role of grace in programs, and how often programs force people to belong in spaces they don't feel like belonging. he said that programs need to have more space for people to choose whether or not they will participate in a certain activity (small groups, prayer group...).
then I brought up how many quality interactions for me are spontaneous. There really isn't a form for what happens, it just happens. And I wonder how we can intentionally create those interactions, those spontanaieties (SP?).
He described intentional spontanaeity (SP?) like sleeping. You can intend to sleep, but sometimes you just won't. You can set up your room to sleep, but you aren't guaranteed to sleep. The same goes in planning places for people to interact...
Tears:
During the night service we were lead through the creation and fall and redemption...it's hard to describe what was done, but it was moving. There was a point where the lady acting out God mimed that she was weeping, and she drew water and put it on her eyes and ran it down her face. While she did that a person was reading from the Psalms where the psalmist feasts on his tears day and night. And then we were invited to put tears on our face, to share in the sorrow of God, or to allow God to share in our sorrow. There were basins of water around the building, and you could walk up and pull the water onto your face. it stung the eyes, leaving them with a burning feeling for the rest of the night, and it tasted of salt on the lips. All thru the talk I could taste it and feel it.
And later in the service, God offered the world her living water, and we were invited to go to the same places where we had feasted on tears and we drew water to drink.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Day 3 Part 2: Going East
Father Thomas Hopko taught the main session this morning. He is a father in the Easter Orthodox church. Fascinating man, fascinating talk, evidently in love with Maker.
Three basic thoughts from him:
1. Christocentric
Everything about the Church is oriented to Christ. All Scripture points to Christ. Christ is present as the Word made flesh. Christ enables us to become divine. The Psalms are God's prayers to himself for us to pray so that we can be shaped into being like him.
2. Tradition
The eastern orthodox church does church the way it has since the beginning. They desire to stay above culture, to have an unadulterated way of doing things. They believe that they have been removed from the dark ages, the enlightenment, and modernism. They continue to sing the words of their fathers, tying them to their greater family.
3. Standing Room Only
Apparently, there are no seats in the EO tradition. You come into the church and either stand or kneel or lay prostrate through a pretty long service.
4. Tongues
Okay, I said three basic thoughts, but I had to include this. This dude used the greek text and latin words like crazy. It was flipping awesome how well versed he was.
5. Prayers
Prayers are to put the mind where the mouth is. The mouth says the words that Christ has said, or that Christ is saying, in the hope that the heart and mind will be shaped. Prayers aren't to connect the mouth to the mind. That is meaningless expression, and not useful in divinization (not sure what I think of this yet...).
Okay, I must actually go to sup with my friends.
My question to him: how can his tradition remain so outside of culture? Is it possible?
Three basic thoughts from him:
1. Christocentric
Everything about the Church is oriented to Christ. All Scripture points to Christ. Christ is present as the Word made flesh. Christ enables us to become divine. The Psalms are God's prayers to himself for us to pray so that we can be shaped into being like him.
2. Tradition
The eastern orthodox church does church the way it has since the beginning. They desire to stay above culture, to have an unadulterated way of doing things. They believe that they have been removed from the dark ages, the enlightenment, and modernism. They continue to sing the words of their fathers, tying them to their greater family.
3. Standing Room Only
Apparently, there are no seats in the EO tradition. You come into the church and either stand or kneel or lay prostrate through a pretty long service.
4. Tongues
Okay, I said three basic thoughts, but I had to include this. This dude used the greek text and latin words like crazy. It was flipping awesome how well versed he was.
5. Prayers
Prayers are to put the mind where the mouth is. The mouth says the words that Christ has said, or that Christ is saying, in the hope that the heart and mind will be shaped. Prayers aren't to connect the mouth to the mind. That is meaningless expression, and not useful in divinization (not sure what I think of this yet...).
Okay, I must actually go to sup with my friends.
My question to him: how can his tradition remain so outside of culture? Is it possible?
Day 3 Part 1: Nostalgia
Well, today was a trip down the memory street. I crossed Lexington Avenue and went over the the College and saw some of my old friends and professors.
Went up on my former hall, Johnson Second Main. There are still many students who were there when I was there. It was cool to catch up with them. It seems like so many of them have gotten married.
I stopped by to see some of my proff's. Wanted to thank them for their contribution to my life development. Dr. Hamilton and Budd were out, but Dr. Anderson (theology) was in. I sat and chatted with him for quite some time. It caused me to miss a seminar or two, but it was worthwhile to catch up.
Snapshots of return: Ale8 (Kentucky Softdrink...nectar of the gods); Dr. Neil Anderson; Hughes Auditorium; FireHouse (Second Main); Joel Handwerk (Crazy hair); flowery tree (smells great too); CPO; the Green; yearbook; dump in former favorite stall; Dr. Van Arragon (who is sadly leaving...Asbury needs guys like him).
Went up on my former hall, Johnson Second Main. There are still many students who were there when I was there. It was cool to catch up with them. It seems like so many of them have gotten married.
I stopped by to see some of my proff's. Wanted to thank them for their contribution to my life development. Dr. Hamilton and Budd were out, but Dr. Anderson (theology) was in. I sat and chatted with him for quite some time. It caused me to miss a seminar or two, but it was worthwhile to catch up.
Snapshots of return: Ale8 (Kentucky Softdrink...nectar of the gods); Dr. Neil Anderson; Hughes Auditorium; FireHouse (Second Main); Joel Handwerk (Crazy hair); flowery tree (smells great too); CPO; the Green; yearbook; dump in former favorite stall; Dr. Van Arragon (who is sadly leaving...Asbury needs guys like him).
And Aubrey was her name
I love my wife, Aubrey. Tell you what, being away from her for a couple days ain't easy.
It's cool how God brings us together and develops a sense of need for the other. I'd hate to not want to be around her.
It's cool how God brings us together and develops a sense of need for the other. I'd hate to not want to be around her.
Day 2: Firehose
Alright, it's late. I just got done talking with my good friend Sam Cullum. Randy and I are staying at his house while we are going to the Emergent Convention. It was great to sit and chat with him for a couple of hours while everybody else was in bed. There is a certain type of community that is created when there are only two people around who deeply care for the other. It's almost godly...
Anyway, today sent me head a spinning. Kevin Snow described it similarly. One word to describe it all: firehose. I felt like I was trying to take in loads of thoughts with one swallow. NOT possible. I'm sure that I'll be working through some of this stuff for a while...
There were three or four dominant thoughts from my day and many many new practical ideas for work with youth. I wrote them down in my notebook, so I won't put them all down here...but the heaviest stuff I will put on here tonight.
1. Church Life as Spiritual Formation.
Brian McLaren actually had a lesson called, Worship as Spiritual Formation. But his talk ended up reflecting the whole experience of Sunday morning, rather than just the time in the service. (Obviously, he was probably trying to stretch our conception of what "worship" really is, but it is helpful for me to use the title I gave it, and you will see why.)
McLaren suggested that everything we do somehow forms us spiritually. Everything we do is packed with meaning. And he tried to point us in a way to give the things we do meaning by giving us 10 values (I expected like eight or nine, just because it wouldn't be a neat #10 or something...) to put on the public experience...
But he went on to talk about how the Celtic Christians found meaning in the washing of the face in the morning, somehow tying the baptism rites to that morning ritual. They also found meaning in the stirring of the embers in the morning, using that time to pray that God would stir a fire in their hearts. So, McLaren suggested that maybe we give our people some significance to their entrance of the car, their arrival at church.
It made me wonder what would happen if we put signs on the doors that say something like, "When we open these doors, may our hearts be open to God's reality. When we pass through these doors, may enter God's covering safety. When we sit in our chairs, may we sit at our Father's feet." I don't know, maybe something too wordy...maybe I can shorten it a bit. I think I'll try it on a retreat or something and bring it back to mid-week stuff.
Everything we do is imbued with meaning. How do I bring that out to our youth?
2. Scripture as Word of God?
Maggi Dawn worked us all over tonight. Anglican lady from England (no kidding?). Favorite statement: When we use the term "Word of God" we have to be careful that we are meaning Jesus Christ. We must not make the mistake of making the Bible the fourth person of the trinity.
In talking with Sam after this teaching, we realized that the battle over how Scripture is handled is often whittled down to pride and control. Ask Sam about it sometime. He's a smart guy.
3. Worship leader as Worship Curator.
This came from a workshop by Mark (mark@cityside.org.nz) something or other, who is a lead pastor at some church in NZ. It is the goal at their church to encourage all people to participate (pro-participation) in the liturgy of the week. But when I say liturgy and participate, I mean something other than what I would have understood before I came to this conference. Liturgy is the voice of the people, the life of the community. Participation is more than singing, more than reading responsively, more than standing at the right times, more than listening during the teaching. Liturgy involves every aspect of the service. Participation means actually performing a different part of the liturgy.
This church has like 15 different set aspects of their weekly service. They have people sign up to carry out one element of a service 3 months in advance. And then when the time arrives, the person will come and give the prayer of invitation, or the prayer of confession. The person can do it however she feels. She can read a poem she wrote, sing a song she heard, play a video clip she watched, call for silence. She expresses herself.
The emphasis on participation causes the attitude of anti-excellence. Because if anybody can do part of the service, then it's not always going to be pretty. But it will always reflect the liturgy, the life of that church.
From this I want to figure out ways to incorporate our students into the life of the service. I know that there are students who write poetry, students who paint, students who draw, students who make movies...I'm sure that an atmosphere has to be created for this...I think I'm going to work on it...this certainly reflects the fact that we have a creative God, a God who is happy when she sees that we are being creative like her.
So, the worship leader is a worship curator. A curator sets up an experience for others. A curator makes sure that people enter the experience. A curator understands that many will get different meanings from the same experience. This happens in non-participatory services too (think about sermons on election). A curator isn't the center of the experience.
Whew, that was long...I'm out.
Anyway, today sent me head a spinning. Kevin Snow described it similarly. One word to describe it all: firehose. I felt like I was trying to take in loads of thoughts with one swallow. NOT possible. I'm sure that I'll be working through some of this stuff for a while...
There were three or four dominant thoughts from my day and many many new practical ideas for work with youth. I wrote them down in my notebook, so I won't put them all down here...but the heaviest stuff I will put on here tonight.
1. Church Life as Spiritual Formation.
Brian McLaren actually had a lesson called, Worship as Spiritual Formation. But his talk ended up reflecting the whole experience of Sunday morning, rather than just the time in the service. (Obviously, he was probably trying to stretch our conception of what "worship" really is, but it is helpful for me to use the title I gave it, and you will see why.)
McLaren suggested that everything we do somehow forms us spiritually. Everything we do is packed with meaning. And he tried to point us in a way to give the things we do meaning by giving us 10 values (I expected like eight or nine, just because it wouldn't be a neat #10 or something...) to put on the public experience...
But he went on to talk about how the Celtic Christians found meaning in the washing of the face in the morning, somehow tying the baptism rites to that morning ritual. They also found meaning in the stirring of the embers in the morning, using that time to pray that God would stir a fire in their hearts. So, McLaren suggested that maybe we give our people some significance to their entrance of the car, their arrival at church.
It made me wonder what would happen if we put signs on the doors that say something like, "When we open these doors, may our hearts be open to God's reality. When we pass through these doors, may enter God's covering safety. When we sit in our chairs, may we sit at our Father's feet." I don't know, maybe something too wordy...maybe I can shorten it a bit. I think I'll try it on a retreat or something and bring it back to mid-week stuff.
Everything we do is imbued with meaning. How do I bring that out to our youth?
2. Scripture as Word of God?
Maggi Dawn worked us all over tonight. Anglican lady from England (no kidding?). Favorite statement: When we use the term "Word of God" we have to be careful that we are meaning Jesus Christ. We must not make the mistake of making the Bible the fourth person of the trinity.
In talking with Sam after this teaching, we realized that the battle over how Scripture is handled is often whittled down to pride and control. Ask Sam about it sometime. He's a smart guy.
3. Worship leader as Worship Curator.
This came from a workshop by Mark (mark@cityside.org.nz) something or other, who is a lead pastor at some church in NZ. It is the goal at their church to encourage all people to participate (pro-participation) in the liturgy of the week. But when I say liturgy and participate, I mean something other than what I would have understood before I came to this conference. Liturgy is the voice of the people, the life of the community. Participation is more than singing, more than reading responsively, more than standing at the right times, more than listening during the teaching. Liturgy involves every aspect of the service. Participation means actually performing a different part of the liturgy.
This church has like 15 different set aspects of their weekly service. They have people sign up to carry out one element of a service 3 months in advance. And then when the time arrives, the person will come and give the prayer of invitation, or the prayer of confession. The person can do it however she feels. She can read a poem she wrote, sing a song she heard, play a video clip she watched, call for silence. She expresses herself.
The emphasis on participation causes the attitude of anti-excellence. Because if anybody can do part of the service, then it's not always going to be pretty. But it will always reflect the liturgy, the life of that church.
From this I want to figure out ways to incorporate our students into the life of the service. I know that there are students who write poetry, students who paint, students who draw, students who make movies...I'm sure that an atmosphere has to be created for this...I think I'm going to work on it...this certainly reflects the fact that we have a creative God, a God who is happy when she sees that we are being creative like her.
So, the worship leader is a worship curator. A curator sets up an experience for others. A curator makes sure that people enter the experience. A curator understands that many will get different meanings from the same experience. This happens in non-participatory services too (think about sermons on election). A curator isn't the center of the experience.
Whew, that was long...I'm out.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Day 1: Infiltration
Alright, we just wrapped up with the opening session of the Worship, Art, Liturgy and Preaching Conference put on by Emergent Village.
Randy and I had a great trip up here. He is such a great guy with an honest heart and sincere love for people and our Maker. We laughed quite a bit and tried our hand at the physics of Knight Rider and the moving truck (what would the speed of Kit be if his tires are spinning at 70 miles an hour while the truck is moving at 65?).
Anyway, it's great to be with a group of people who are wrestling with similar questions and issues.
Tonight we heard Sister Rose Pacatte, a lady within the catholic church dedicated to finding God's truth in films and media. Nothing crazy new in her presentation. The normal thoughts of "movies show reality" and "God is reality" so "let's learn from movies". Obviously the thought process is much more extensive, but that's the basic idea...forgive me if I'm off there. But I was struck by her challenge to help young people develop a process of evaluation. She didn't lay the process down, but it was basically, "How was God shown in this and what can we learn from it?" I gathered that there are two extremes that result from not teaching the evaluation process. One extreme is the complete avoidance of any entertainment, thus shutting oneself and one's children off from healthy interaction with others who are involved with entertainment. The second extreme is the complete permission of all entertainment without any restraint, thus exposing oneself and allowing oneself to be shaped by the content.
I went to Solomon's Porch (ah it's nice to be back in Wilmore, KY) afterwards with Randy and Pete (guy from Hagerstown, MD). There we met some other people from the convention. I sat down with Ken (from OR) and Shawn/Sean (from MA, originally from Midlothian, VA...knows Julie Scott, sister of my friend, David Scott). There we wrestled with some questions. Ken seemed to have an abundance of questions. One question was, "What does the Emergent conversation have to add to my questions? I have already asked many questions. I don't want another place that just asks questions." Another was, "Where do we draw the line in what we view as entertainment? Isn't truth shown in other ways? Is showing movies of Christ?" And, "can we be countercultural and biblical?"
Quick answers.
1. It is my understanding that Emergent is about asking questions together, about being honest, about being ecumenical, about seeking to tell the truth in manners appropriate for each setting. Emergent isn't all about form, or new ways of doing things. It's about rethinking our former ways, about making sure that the direction we are heading is God's direction. You can find more info about it at http://www.emergentvillage.com/Site/index.htm.
2. After talking for quite some time, we came to the conclusion that there is no official line. Our boundary is the holy Spirit, the breath of God, who is given to us to guide us to all truth. So there will be different spaces for each person...
3. Biblical is entirely countercultural and entirely cultural. Maybe being biblical isn't the main concern. Maybe being true to God's essence is the greatest concern...We didn't get to this question, but I wish that we did. It seems that God is always moving within and against culture...maybe a better way to put it is that God is always wanting to stretch culture, wanting to make it reflect him more. This doesn't mean a neat tidy culture where everybody always does the right thing and never drinks or smokes. But more of a community that attempts to become like Him. A community that when someone jacks it up, seeks to reconcile the situation...okay, this is bigger than this blogspot, but being God-like doesn't seem to be about culture.
Alright, I'm off to bed. It's late and I'm going to hear McLaren tomorrow morning...can't sleep through that now...
Randy and I had a great trip up here. He is such a great guy with an honest heart and sincere love for people and our Maker. We laughed quite a bit and tried our hand at the physics of Knight Rider and the moving truck (what would the speed of Kit be if his tires are spinning at 70 miles an hour while the truck is moving at 65?).
Anyway, it's great to be with a group of people who are wrestling with similar questions and issues.
Tonight we heard Sister Rose Pacatte, a lady within the catholic church dedicated to finding God's truth in films and media. Nothing crazy new in her presentation. The normal thoughts of "movies show reality" and "God is reality" so "let's learn from movies". Obviously the thought process is much more extensive, but that's the basic idea...forgive me if I'm off there. But I was struck by her challenge to help young people develop a process of evaluation. She didn't lay the process down, but it was basically, "How was God shown in this and what can we learn from it?" I gathered that there are two extremes that result from not teaching the evaluation process. One extreme is the complete avoidance of any entertainment, thus shutting oneself and one's children off from healthy interaction with others who are involved with entertainment. The second extreme is the complete permission of all entertainment without any restraint, thus exposing oneself and allowing oneself to be shaped by the content.
I went to Solomon's Porch (ah it's nice to be back in Wilmore, KY) afterwards with Randy and Pete (guy from Hagerstown, MD). There we met some other people from the convention. I sat down with Ken (from OR) and Shawn/Sean (from MA, originally from Midlothian, VA...knows Julie Scott, sister of my friend, David Scott). There we wrestled with some questions. Ken seemed to have an abundance of questions. One question was, "What does the Emergent conversation have to add to my questions? I have already asked many questions. I don't want another place that just asks questions." Another was, "Where do we draw the line in what we view as entertainment? Isn't truth shown in other ways? Is showing movies of Christ?" And, "can we be countercultural and biblical?"
Quick answers.
1. It is my understanding that Emergent is about asking questions together, about being honest, about being ecumenical, about seeking to tell the truth in manners appropriate for each setting. Emergent isn't all about form, or new ways of doing things. It's about rethinking our former ways, about making sure that the direction we are heading is God's direction. You can find more info about it at http://www.emergentvillage.com/Site/index.htm.
2. After talking for quite some time, we came to the conclusion that there is no official line. Our boundary is the holy Spirit, the breath of God, who is given to us to guide us to all truth. So there will be different spaces for each person...
3. Biblical is entirely countercultural and entirely cultural. Maybe being biblical isn't the main concern. Maybe being true to God's essence is the greatest concern...We didn't get to this question, but I wish that we did. It seems that God is always moving within and against culture...maybe a better way to put it is that God is always wanting to stretch culture, wanting to make it reflect him more. This doesn't mean a neat tidy culture where everybody always does the right thing and never drinks or smokes. But more of a community that attempts to become like Him. A community that when someone jacks it up, seeks to reconcile the situation...okay, this is bigger than this blogspot, but being God-like doesn't seem to be about culture.
Alright, I'm off to bed. It's late and I'm going to hear McLaren tomorrow morning...can't sleep through that now...
Emergent Worship Conference
Well, Randy and I are off to Wilmore, KY, to attend a conference focused on worship hosted by EmergentVillage.
It will be cool to be with people who are thinking new or old thoughts about worship and the role it plays in the life of the Church.
McLaren, Morgenthaler, Joe Myers, Webber...they're going to be there too.
Looking forward to it...I'll try to post on here what I'm learning.
It will be cool to be with people who are thinking new or old thoughts about worship and the role it plays in the life of the Church.
McLaren, Morgenthaler, Joe Myers, Webber...they're going to be there too.
Looking forward to it...I'll try to post on here what I'm learning.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
McLaren Shakes it Up
I just bought and read Brian McLaren's "The Last Word and the Word After That." He seems to think it will be his most controversial book. We'll see about that.
But I really liked it. I did. It has some good thoughts on the afterlife and whether or not the gospel is about then or now or both. Interesting thoughts on hell, actually.
And then he got me thinking about faith and beliefs. How our church has been based around sets of beliefs rather than sets of practices. I can't really explore all the implications right now, but the question it has me asking is, "What if our church found it's identity in being like Christ, rather than in what it believes about him?"
But I really liked it. I did. It has some good thoughts on the afterlife and whether or not the gospel is about then or now or both. Interesting thoughts on hell, actually.
And then he got me thinking about faith and beliefs. How our church has been based around sets of beliefs rather than sets of practices. I can't really explore all the implications right now, but the question it has me asking is, "What if our church found it's identity in being like Christ, rather than in what it believes about him?"
Where's Hans?
I just got back from District Assembly yesterday. It was great to be with my district friends. We have a great time passing notes during the business sessions. We give the pages a run for their money.
It was refreshing to be with Brian, Brian, Kevin, Andrea, Nate (very briefly), Matt, Robb and Kevin. But I didn't see Hans anywhere. Dang! He makes me laugh.
I might get to know people other than youth workers some day. I wonder when that will happen.
Anyway, I received my district license on Friday night. That's a pretty neat thing, I think. It's a way of having the Church show that it believes God is working in my life. It's cool to think that this type of process has been going on for centuries, and that it dates back to Paul and Peter and Timothy. Jesus laid hands on somebody who in turn laid his hand on someone else, who laid her hand on someone...all the way down to me. That's a cool connection.
It was refreshing to be with Brian, Brian, Kevin, Andrea, Nate (very briefly), Matt, Robb and Kevin. But I didn't see Hans anywhere. Dang! He makes me laugh.
I might get to know people other than youth workers some day. I wonder when that will happen.
Anyway, I received my district license on Friday night. That's a pretty neat thing, I think. It's a way of having the Church show that it believes God is working in my life. It's cool to think that this type of process has been going on for centuries, and that it dates back to Paul and Peter and Timothy. Jesus laid hands on somebody who in turn laid his hand on someone else, who laid her hand on someone...all the way down to me. That's a cool connection.
The Over Driven Church
Just chatting with my parents online and thinking about the whole driven church thing (purpose driven, values driven...).
There seems to be this stigma that if we have the right values, the right purposes, and if we give them enough attention, then a church will succeed and be godly.
And then our society seems to be moving at a rapid pace. There is a notion that keeps us busy, as if busyness is the point. I wonder if this has bled into the Church. I wonder if the church has become so busy that it consumes it's people so that they can't even have a life outside of it. I wonder if we have become overdriven...
Anyway, I wonder what would happen if the Church attempted to be balanced.
I will have to think of some way to do this within our ministry...
There seems to be this stigma that if we have the right values, the right purposes, and if we give them enough attention, then a church will succeed and be godly.
And then our society seems to be moving at a rapid pace. There is a notion that keeps us busy, as if busyness is the point. I wonder if this has bled into the Church. I wonder if the church has become so busy that it consumes it's people so that they can't even have a life outside of it. I wonder if we have become overdriven...
Anyway, I wonder what would happen if the Church attempted to be balanced.
I will have to think of some way to do this within our ministry...
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Amusement Park with Legs
I recieved one of the best compliments a man can get this week. I was with my cousins Jonathan and Linda on Thursday. We played a rousing game of frisbee tag (which would be much more violent if it were played with older fella's), where the person who is it has to "tag" the others by hitting them with the flying disc. We had a blast running all over the yard from base to base, avoiding the others.
On the way inside for dinner, Jonny looked up to me and said, "Josh, you're like an amusement park with legs."
I laughed.
On the way inside for dinner, Jonny looked up to me and said, "Josh, you're like an amusement park with legs."
I laughed.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Lashon Hara
No, that is not the name of a woman I just met today. It is literally “tongue of evil”, a Jewish way of describing the act of using spoken words for destruction.
Apparently the Jews put a ton of emphasis on words that are spoken. Words that come out of the mouth hold more meaning than the words on paper. Words spoken hold significance, potency and power to build and create. There is the notion that we are to use our words with intentionality, that we should always mean what we say, and say what we mean, in a way that builds the world, that brings the world to completion. They find the source of this belief in how God created the world. Before the world, there was God. No earth…then God spoke…and BAM there was light. And God spoke…and BAM there was a separation of the waters. Then God spoke and BAM there were animals and plants and sea plankton. And God spoke and BAM there was this pile of animated dirt called Adam.
So being made in God’s image gives us the same type of potency in our language. We can build, we can create, we can restore with our words.
But we can also use our tongue to destroy. This is Lashon Hara. Anything that doesn’t build up; anything that would destroy the image of God in another person.
Rabbi's put this sin with murder and adultery. If I see murder about to happen, I would try to stop it...I wonder what would happen if I had the same attitude about gossip and backbiting.
So, now, I want to be the kind of person who uses his words to build up, to restore and to recreate. I want my words to be gifts to people.
Ephesians 4.29 says, “Don’t let any unwholesome (that is not bringing things to completion) talk come out of your mouth, but instead only speak those things that are useful to build each other up.” (JKV…Josh Kleinfeld Version)
James 3 talks about the tongue being an unwieldy beast. He was very set in this Jewish mindset…probably found his mode of thinking in lashon hara.
What if I always intended to build up...what if I always checked my spirit when someone was getting ready to give me a dose of the lashon hara?
Apparently the Jews put a ton of emphasis on words that are spoken. Words that come out of the mouth hold more meaning than the words on paper. Words spoken hold significance, potency and power to build and create. There is the notion that we are to use our words with intentionality, that we should always mean what we say, and say what we mean, in a way that builds the world, that brings the world to completion. They find the source of this belief in how God created the world. Before the world, there was God. No earth…then God spoke…and BAM there was light. And God spoke…and BAM there was a separation of the waters. Then God spoke and BAM there were animals and plants and sea plankton. And God spoke and BAM there was this pile of animated dirt called Adam.
So being made in God’s image gives us the same type of potency in our language. We can build, we can create, we can restore with our words.
But we can also use our tongue to destroy. This is Lashon Hara. Anything that doesn’t build up; anything that would destroy the image of God in another person.
Rabbi's put this sin with murder and adultery. If I see murder about to happen, I would try to stop it...I wonder what would happen if I had the same attitude about gossip and backbiting.
So, now, I want to be the kind of person who uses his words to build up, to restore and to recreate. I want my words to be gifts to people.
Ephesians 4.29 says, “Don’t let any unwholesome (that is not bringing things to completion) talk come out of your mouth, but instead only speak those things that are useful to build each other up.” (JKV…Josh Kleinfeld Version)
James 3 talks about the tongue being an unwieldy beast. He was very set in this Jewish mindset…probably found his mode of thinking in lashon hara.
What if I always intended to build up...what if I always checked my spirit when someone was getting ready to give me a dose of the lashon hara?
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Grief
There is a point in the grieving process where one goes completely numb. You know that what's going on around you is excrutiating, but for some reason only flat emotion is evoked. The pain becomes objective, like you are an observer of your own circumstances. I'm not quite sure why this is.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Thoughts about the Weather
Dang, I just typed something up and realized I had no connection and when i pushed the back button, all that I had written was gone...
What I had said was that there seems to be a tremendous change in attitudes when there is a change in the weather.
Yesterday the temperature got up to 82 degrees. It was beautiful.
And when the Jr. Hi students came in for Gel last night, there was an obvious air of excitement. It's almost an electricity...cackling through the group.
I remember last year, at the same time, it was my first spring in youth ministry, and I just couldn't seem to keep them focused. But this year, I was prepared. I gave them things to do, I had them stand up and jump up and down. Get that crazy pubescent energy out!
Anyway, when I got home and was in bed with Aubrey, we felt that cackle from outside. We heard people laughing and running and screaming outside the window of our dorm. And then we heard the familiar "whish" that precedes a "Ka-boom" from the infamous bottlerocket...
Ah spring. Ah warmth. Ah change...
What I had said was that there seems to be a tremendous change in attitudes when there is a change in the weather.
Yesterday the temperature got up to 82 degrees. It was beautiful.
And when the Jr. Hi students came in for Gel last night, there was an obvious air of excitement. It's almost an electricity...cackling through the group.
I remember last year, at the same time, it was my first spring in youth ministry, and I just couldn't seem to keep them focused. But this year, I was prepared. I gave them things to do, I had them stand up and jump up and down. Get that crazy pubescent energy out!
Anyway, when I got home and was in bed with Aubrey, we felt that cackle from outside. We heard people laughing and running and screaming outside the window of our dorm. And then we heard the familiar "whish" that precedes a "Ka-boom" from the infamous bottlerocket...
Ah spring. Ah warmth. Ah change...
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Parents
I love my parents.
They called on Friday and it was so good to hear their voices. I never thought that it would be this hard to be away from them for 1.5 years, but it's hard. So, those times when we can hear each other's voices are really important. You almost don't want to waste your time. You want to spend it laughing or crying or something memorable...
They come home in a few weeks and Aubrey and I are so excited. We can't wait to see them and go on vacation with them and Susan.
They called on Friday and it was so good to hear their voices. I never thought that it would be this hard to be away from them for 1.5 years, but it's hard. So, those times when we can hear each other's voices are really important. You almost don't want to waste your time. You want to spend it laughing or crying or something memorable...
They come home in a few weeks and Aubrey and I are so excited. We can't wait to see them and go on vacation with them and Susan.
Chesterton Confirms It
G.K. Chesterton talks about this issue of heaven really well in Orthodoxy (Yes, I do like reading, and NO, I am not limited to books written in the last 10 years).
"To the orthodox there must always be a case for revolution; for in the hearts of men God has been put under the feet of Satan. In the upper world hell once rebelled against heaven. But in this world heaven is rebelling against hell. For the orthodox there can always be a revolution; for a revolution is a restoration."
Chesterton then goes on to talk about the Christian way of bringing back Eden, or bringing heaven down. Eden is the fixed point which we aim for any improvement. Without heaven and Eden as our models, we are aiming in the dark if we are attempting to improve the world. Interesting thoughts...
"To the orthodox there must always be a case for revolution; for in the hearts of men God has been put under the feet of Satan. In the upper world hell once rebelled against heaven. But in this world heaven is rebelling against hell. For the orthodox there can always be a revolution; for a revolution is a restoration."
Chesterton then goes on to talk about the Christian way of bringing back Eden, or bringing heaven down. Eden is the fixed point which we aim for any improvement. Without heaven and Eden as our models, we are aiming in the dark if we are attempting to improve the world. Interesting thoughts...
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Heaven
One quick thought.
The Gospel is often thought of as a message that gets people to heaven. It is often taught that we want to make sure that people are saved from hell. We preach salvation as if it is only limited to the afterlife, as if salvation only means safety from the flames.
What if salvation is about my life now and in the future? What if I am being saved from a hellish existence here? What if the gospel is about changing my world to be more like heaven, more like the way God wants it to be? What if the gospel isn't about getting people to heaven, but instead about getting heaven to people?
The Gospel is often thought of as a message that gets people to heaven. It is often taught that we want to make sure that people are saved from hell. We preach salvation as if it is only limited to the afterlife, as if salvation only means safety from the flames.
What if salvation is about my life now and in the future? What if I am being saved from a hellish existence here? What if the gospel is about changing my world to be more like heaven, more like the way God wants it to be? What if the gospel isn't about getting people to heaven, but instead about getting heaven to people?
Dekker's New World
I just finished Red by Ted Dekker.
I am fascinated with his reconception of God and his people. The way he tells the story brings to light some things I have forgotten or skimmed over in the past. If you have not read the Circle (Black, Red and White) and would like to in the future, I would not recommend reading the following paragraphs, because I am going to give away part of the plot. This is not because I want to ruin the book, but because I am fascinated about what this says about our God.
Pre-Disturbance
Ted brings his readers to a world before sin, that is a world before humans had chosen evil over God. In this world the people engage with Elyon (God) in the Great Romance. It is pure innocence, with noone thinking only of themselves, but always celebrating each other and Elyon as Maker. This Great Romance (which sounds really cheesy and John Eldredgesque, but does a pretty good job at showing who God is) is the story of God choosing and pursuing humanity and fighting for her and winning her affection. Everything about the world revolves around Elyon's Romance. There are nightly Gatherings where the people bask in the waters of Elyon, the healing and powerful waters.
Yet there is a dark side to this world. It is in the Black Forest where Evil resides. Evil cannot come into the other side of the world unless one of the humans drinks the water from the Black Forest. On this side of the world live black bats, who rip into any human they come close to. Teeleh is king of the bats and wants more than anything to bring humanity under his power, to steal Elyon's humanity and make it his. So, he tempts the first man, Father of the rest of the residents, Tanis, and Tanis chooses to drink the water. Once he drinks the water, the evil bats wisk into the other side of the planet to reek havoc on the rest of the citizens.
Post-disturbance
Dekker has incredible and insightful details about how the world changes because of the unleashing of evil. The water that used to heal, the fruit that used to strengthen, the seeds that took away dreams, all lost their powers. The world was flipped upside down. Men and women fought against each other, no longer thinking of each other or Elyon. And worst of all, the skin of humans began to disease and grey and crack without the waters of Elyon. This disease makes their bodies stiff, their minds crazy, and their spirits more selfish.
Renewal
It would seem that all is lost. But there are forests across the desert which have lakes in the center. These lakes contain the waters of Elyon. The people must bathe each day to keep their skin fresh, to keep the disease from turning their skin and tainting their minds. And so people colonize around these lakes and remember the Great Romance, even though they cannot know Elyon the way they once knew him. Elyon gives them six standards of the Romance, and they expound the standards so to be sure of obeying the Great Romance.
At the same time there are people who gather in the desert, taking the group name of the Horde. These are the diseased people, who hate the water because of the pain it causes their flesh. They hate the Forest People and make up their minds to wage war with them.
The Forest People believe that the Horde represents everything evil and against Elyon. So they make it their mission to defend the lakes and forests and defeat the Horde. Some of the Horde has come over to the Forest People and become like them by bathing in the lakes, but most have the greatest aversion to that idea. And the Forest People don't really want the Horde to come to the waters, because they believe that there won't be enough water for all.
A New Way
And into this war comes a man named Justin. He talks of a new way between the Horde and Forest People. He talks of peace.
This is not recieved well by the Forest People. How could they make peace with enemies of Elyon. But Justin constantly reminds them that Elyon did make all man, and so he loves the Horde just as much as he loves the Forest People. This enrages the Forest People. And Justin goes on to say that the bats that used to live in the trees of the Black Forest now live in some of their hearts.
Justin recieves the children with joy and talks in cryptic code. And he pisses off the Horde and the Forest People (though not all of them, because some of them, including the children, believe that what he has to say has merit) and they put him to death by drowning him in one of the lakes used to bring healing.
After the Night
But something strange happens in the night. When the Forest People wake up the next day, they find that they are covered with the grey skin, infected with the disease of the Horde. And they rush to the lake, which they find is blood red and no longer brings restoration to their skin. They also find that Justin's body is no longer there, even though it was guarded in the night.
There are a few characters who knew Justin well, and whom Justin had told, "If you die with me, you will live." And so they dive into the lake, opening their lungs to the waters, and through the pain they find that they are brought back to life without the disease.
Thse characters now begin to beckon others into the water, but the rest remain skeptical and attempt to seize the members of the new way. The new members escape to the desert where they find Justin alive without the wounds he recieved the night before.
This encounter is wonderful. Each new member trembles with sorrow before Justin, and he forgives them all. Then he talks to his father, Elyon, and thanks them for his bride. After which he draws a circle, the sign of marriage, in the sand around them. The Great Romance had been fulfilled through Justin, and now these new members were to extend that Romance to others.
My Thoughts
I am blown away at the similarities between this story and God's story in the scriptures. The Jews had a system in place that was designed to keep them in line with God's reality and love. But they become more dedicated to that system, that they actually sold themselves to the opposite of love. And Jesus came to free them of the system, to restore the original order of things. So we no longer have to continually come before God for cleansing of the disease. We have been made clean and are beckoned to invite others into the purity.
This telling of the story shows that the gospel isn't about getting people's tickets punched so they can get to heaven. It's all about changing the way of life here. Elyon desires to change the way of life here through us, by changing us.
Here's to change...here's to the circle that binds us...
I am fascinated with his reconception of God and his people. The way he tells the story brings to light some things I have forgotten or skimmed over in the past. If you have not read the Circle (Black, Red and White) and would like to in the future, I would not recommend reading the following paragraphs, because I am going to give away part of the plot. This is not because I want to ruin the book, but because I am fascinated about what this says about our God.
Pre-Disturbance
Ted brings his readers to a world before sin, that is a world before humans had chosen evil over God. In this world the people engage with Elyon (God) in the Great Romance. It is pure innocence, with noone thinking only of themselves, but always celebrating each other and Elyon as Maker. This Great Romance (which sounds really cheesy and John Eldredgesque, but does a pretty good job at showing who God is) is the story of God choosing and pursuing humanity and fighting for her and winning her affection. Everything about the world revolves around Elyon's Romance. There are nightly Gatherings where the people bask in the waters of Elyon, the healing and powerful waters.
Yet there is a dark side to this world. It is in the Black Forest where Evil resides. Evil cannot come into the other side of the world unless one of the humans drinks the water from the Black Forest. On this side of the world live black bats, who rip into any human they come close to. Teeleh is king of the bats and wants more than anything to bring humanity under his power, to steal Elyon's humanity and make it his. So, he tempts the first man, Father of the rest of the residents, Tanis, and Tanis chooses to drink the water. Once he drinks the water, the evil bats wisk into the other side of the planet to reek havoc on the rest of the citizens.
Post-disturbance
Dekker has incredible and insightful details about how the world changes because of the unleashing of evil. The water that used to heal, the fruit that used to strengthen, the seeds that took away dreams, all lost their powers. The world was flipped upside down. Men and women fought against each other, no longer thinking of each other or Elyon. And worst of all, the skin of humans began to disease and grey and crack without the waters of Elyon. This disease makes their bodies stiff, their minds crazy, and their spirits more selfish.
Renewal
It would seem that all is lost. But there are forests across the desert which have lakes in the center. These lakes contain the waters of Elyon. The people must bathe each day to keep their skin fresh, to keep the disease from turning their skin and tainting their minds. And so people colonize around these lakes and remember the Great Romance, even though they cannot know Elyon the way they once knew him. Elyon gives them six standards of the Romance, and they expound the standards so to be sure of obeying the Great Romance.
At the same time there are people who gather in the desert, taking the group name of the Horde. These are the diseased people, who hate the water because of the pain it causes their flesh. They hate the Forest People and make up their minds to wage war with them.
The Forest People believe that the Horde represents everything evil and against Elyon. So they make it their mission to defend the lakes and forests and defeat the Horde. Some of the Horde has come over to the Forest People and become like them by bathing in the lakes, but most have the greatest aversion to that idea. And the Forest People don't really want the Horde to come to the waters, because they believe that there won't be enough water for all.
A New Way
And into this war comes a man named Justin. He talks of a new way between the Horde and Forest People. He talks of peace.
This is not recieved well by the Forest People. How could they make peace with enemies of Elyon. But Justin constantly reminds them that Elyon did make all man, and so he loves the Horde just as much as he loves the Forest People. This enrages the Forest People. And Justin goes on to say that the bats that used to live in the trees of the Black Forest now live in some of their hearts.
Justin recieves the children with joy and talks in cryptic code. And he pisses off the Horde and the Forest People (though not all of them, because some of them, including the children, believe that what he has to say has merit) and they put him to death by drowning him in one of the lakes used to bring healing.
After the Night
But something strange happens in the night. When the Forest People wake up the next day, they find that they are covered with the grey skin, infected with the disease of the Horde. And they rush to the lake, which they find is blood red and no longer brings restoration to their skin. They also find that Justin's body is no longer there, even though it was guarded in the night.
There are a few characters who knew Justin well, and whom Justin had told, "If you die with me, you will live." And so they dive into the lake, opening their lungs to the waters, and through the pain they find that they are brought back to life without the disease.
Thse characters now begin to beckon others into the water, but the rest remain skeptical and attempt to seize the members of the new way. The new members escape to the desert where they find Justin alive without the wounds he recieved the night before.
This encounter is wonderful. Each new member trembles with sorrow before Justin, and he forgives them all. Then he talks to his father, Elyon, and thanks them for his bride. After which he draws a circle, the sign of marriage, in the sand around them. The Great Romance had been fulfilled through Justin, and now these new members were to extend that Romance to others.
My Thoughts
I am blown away at the similarities between this story and God's story in the scriptures. The Jews had a system in place that was designed to keep them in line with God's reality and love. But they become more dedicated to that system, that they actually sold themselves to the opposite of love. And Jesus came to free them of the system, to restore the original order of things. So we no longer have to continually come before God for cleansing of the disease. We have been made clean and are beckoned to invite others into the purity.
This telling of the story shows that the gospel isn't about getting people's tickets punched so they can get to heaven. It's all about changing the way of life here. Elyon desires to change the way of life here through us, by changing us.
Here's to change...here's to the circle that binds us...
Friday, April 01, 2005
Non-illegitimate day with Ted Dekker
Well, I took today off.
Eugene Peterson wrote that a day off is a bastard sabbath. There was nothing illigetimate about my day.
I slept in, snuggled with Aubrey, woke up, read in bed, ate at 12, read some more, did the dishes, read again, shopped for Aubs, read, ate ham for dinner, read some more, talked to Ben Lavin (college Friend), read some more, kissed my wife hello (she came home from school), read some more. That's a great day. These days may not be possible with the arrival of children, so I am soaking it up while I can.
I am reading Ted Dekker's trilogy which includes Black, Red and White. I finished Black and started Red today. He does an excellent job at retelling the fall and redemption of man, and shows the fall in a thought provoking way. I was driven to tears at parts where the characters are experiencing communion with Elyon (God). It would be hard to explain the premise of the book, but it's fascinating, and I may write more about it in the future...
Eugene Peterson wrote that a day off is a bastard sabbath. There was nothing illigetimate about my day.
I slept in, snuggled with Aubrey, woke up, read in bed, ate at 12, read some more, did the dishes, read again, shopped for Aubs, read, ate ham for dinner, read some more, talked to Ben Lavin (college Friend), read some more, kissed my wife hello (she came home from school), read some more. That's a great day. These days may not be possible with the arrival of children, so I am soaking it up while I can.
I am reading Ted Dekker's trilogy which includes Black, Red and White. I finished Black and started Red today. He does an excellent job at retelling the fall and redemption of man, and shows the fall in a thought provoking way. I was driven to tears at parts where the characters are experiencing communion with Elyon (God). It would be hard to explain the premise of the book, but it's fascinating, and I may write more about it in the future...
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