Oh My!, NE

I have been remiss not to give an update on a trip to Omaha, NE that happened earlier this month. It was one of the more amazing communal experiences I have had.

A few months ago Hayne moved to Omaha in anticipation of his being wed to Nicole. Their wedding was on December first and was beautiful.

God has been taking me on a journey to understand community and it's impact on my life and it's necessity inside christian spirituality. Hayne has been a huge part of this experience and he and Nicole recognize this need in their lives and likewise in their marriage.

Often it seems that we attend weddings or are involved in the ceremonies and two things dominate the day: the bride and/or the couple. Now, while there may be something to this focus there also seems to be something that is largely overlooked.

There were a few things that really stood out in my mind. Hayne and I talked often that weekend about the role of myself and the other groomsmen hold. We weren't there simply as witnesses, but as those closest to him that will hold him accountable to the promises that he was making to Nicole. We weren't just there for the weekend, we were there to symbolize being there the rest of our lives. I am sure that Nicole discussed similar things with her bridesmaids.

Not only was there this emphasis with the bridal party but there were some differences in the ceremony. Nicole and Hayne wrote their own vows to each other. They both did amazing with this and spoke some beautiful words. The maid of honor and best man both spoke after this. Each giving vows on behalf of the bridesmaids and groomsmen respectively. Then the community that attended the wedding pledged to support Hayne and Nicole with an "I do".

The ceremony was really touching. It wasn't simply two individuals making a promise, but a community coming together, focused on two specific members, all taking part in a covenant that is focused on honoring God.

Hello Denver!

In two days I embark on a journey to Denver. Actually Longmont, but same difference. I expect great things from this trip. I get a couple of days off for one thing, but most importantly I get to see one of my closets friends get married and will get some quality time with people I don't often see.
As this trip has approached I've been overwhelmed with memories, which I find to be somewhat interesting because I typically have a horrible memory, but I suppose that is a different issue. Jeff is getting married on Saturday and I have thought about the journey that has brought him to this point and us to this point in our friendship. We have been friends since my freshman ('99), his senior, year in college. Since this time he has been a cornerstone for frienship in my life and while I won't get into the details of our lives...there has been plenty that has gone on in them over the past 8 or so years.
From fraternity functions (Muggin' at the Gazeebo), to football (Jeff was an all-american kicker for the team I work with), to school things like Battle of the Ravine (Go Tigers!!) I see the things I experienced for 4 years and have many fond memories and it is great to enjoy those memories and be back here to build on them and establish new ones. I also remember the hard times and the heart ache and wish that those things could be mended into something beutiful. But I know God has used them and is using the experiences that Jeff and I have had both as individuals and as friends to let us learn more about who He is.
I believe in miracles, even when they aren't the miracle I expected. In two days, with all these old memories behind us, I will stand beside Jeff as he promises his life to another. (What greater picture of God's love is there!?). As his friend I go there to not only support him and his commitment, but to say that I will hold him accountable to his commitment to love her and be active in that marriage as well. It makes me so excited for him, I know Julie is a blessing in his life and that their lives, their life, will be a blessing to so many.
I am thankful for the memories that I have, even when it is hard. I am thankful for Jeff and Julie and what God has done in their lives. Please offer a prayer of blessing for them and take a moment to dwell on all that God has done and is doing.

My love to you my friends.

Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King

Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King

Come Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

I was lost in utter darkness
‘Til You came and rescued me
I was bound by all my sin when
Your love came and set me free
Now my soul can sing a new song
Now my heart has found a home
Now Your grace is always with me
And I’ll never be alone

Come Thou Fount come Thou King
Come Thou precious Prince of Peace
Hear Your bride to You we sing
Come Thou Fount of every blessing

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart Lord take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Come Thou Fount come Thou King
Come Thou precious Prince of Peace
Hear Your bride to You we sing
Come Thou Fount of every blessing

Passing of Time

There are times in my life that I look back and can't believe how much time has passed. Recently I have noticed how much time has passed since I spent quality time studying my Bible, or in true prayer, or just in general reflection. It is so easy to let life take over and live the basic day to day, without allowing anything seemingly meaningful to cross my mind.

I can say with confidence that this is not the way I want to carry out my life. With these thoughts in mind I have this to say.

A few weeks ago Hayne posted on his blog under the heading Hebel. (You can check him out at pipesandpints.blogspot.com) Hebel being described as a vanishing mist and the undertones of Hayne's statements were that he was having trouble finding general meaning in life because everything seems to pass as a vanishing mist...Hebel.

I have thought about this and the affects we have on the people around us. I recently spoke with a professor at the school I work with. He made some moves that has pulled him out of his administrative rolls and put him back into the classroom. I was talking with him about this and it was a simple realization of the fact that time with his students, and time with his church community are the important things that he needs to be focusing on. It seems evident that he is pleased with this change and that he has confidence that God will honor his actions. (I tend to agree with that and have a great deal of respect for this man just for doing it)

Just last night I was at a concert. A band called 12 Stones was in Little Rock. I have supported the band for years mostly because I know the lead singer. I think their music is outstanding as well, but I could be a little bias. I had the opportunity to talk with this guy last night though. I hadn't seen him since the summer of 2000, but when he saw me he immediately remembered me, by name, and was reminded of some shared experiences and shared life.

I guess my point is this...we can learn from the Hebel. Many of the experiences in life may be but a vanishing mist when you look at the full picture, but that mist affects us. Hayne leaves for Omaha in October. If we never talk again, if the substance of our friendship vanishes like a mist, it doesn't become meaningless. I have been affected, changed, by that friendship. The lives that this professor touches because he is teaching in the classroom and in the community with all of his heart, will forever be affected by him.

My life has affected the singer of a band and likewise his has affected mine. The moments we have, we share, in life may be vanishing by that doesn't equate to meaningless. I know God calls me, as a Christian, to live a life caring for the poor, the broken, the hungry. I am sure he also desires that I show love and give a positive impact on the lives of the hundreds of people I come in contact with every day. I will be a simple vapor in most of their lives, maybe a thick fog in others, but I will have an affect either way. More specifically, I will have an affect on how they see God. Will they see him as meaningless?

I hope that I never overlook the Hebel in my life, for all those things have come together to make me who I am at this moment. I am not complete and I am far from perfect. It is clear that I cannot do any of this on my own...but I don't have to.

It can be easy to let ourselves get discouraged, to think of all that we have lost and will never again hold in our arms. That pain is real and it needs to be felt, it can't be ignored. However, there are blessings all through our lives and there is the good news because the Lord of all creation calls us into relationship with him. My prayer is that with the passing of time we can see how our lives have been affected by those around us, from the seemingly insignificant to the most powerful moments.

"In the arms of your mercy I find rest"

BJ

4Years

This song was sent to me today and I thought I would share it. The name of the song is "I'm Not Who I Was" off the Don't Get Comfortable album by an artist named Brandon Heath. He gives a background and comments about the song at this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrGfA6y9fNI

I'm Not Who I Was

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I'm not who I was

I found my way around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you so

I found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I'm not who I was
You were there, you were right above me
And I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I was

When the pain came back again
Like a bitter friend
It was all that I could do
To keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it's a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
Now I'm not who I was
I write about love and such
Maybe 'cause I want it so much
I'm not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
But I never did forget your name
Hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about
I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was

It has been an interesting day today...there has been plenty to think about and it has been emotionally trying. It is a day that is supposed to be marked as "happy", but it doesn't feel that way, not this year. What do I hope for in the time that follows this day? I hope for healing, acceptance, understanding, redemption, the mending of souls. "The thing I find most amazing in amazing grace is the chance to give it out. Maybe that's what love is all about."

All my love,
B

Routine History

Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approaches and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?".
Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming."
"They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other."
"In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in - nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes."
"Staying with it - That's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during the time, the good news - the Message of the kingdom - will be preaches all over the world, a wwitness staked out in every country. And then the end will come." (Matthew 24: 3-14 of The Message)

I have been spending most of my time, as of late, in the Bible reading through the Gospels. I have been so challenged by God that I really wanted to take time to read and study Jesus' life and teachings. I have read some great things and heard the stories that Jesus spoke and when I really think about it I find the Gospel writing to be quite amazing.
The above portion of Matthew 24 really stood out to me. The rest of the chapter continues with Jesus challenging us to guard ourselves from people claiming to be him. It is pretty neat actually because Jesus is telling them you will know when I return. There will be no doubt in anyone' s mind. He is also very clear that no one but God the Father, knows when the end of times will be.
But, back to the first part. I had never looked at this teaching this way before. First of all, Jesus does not make a big deal of wars and natural disasters. In fact, the thing he does make a big deal of is later in the chapter, regarding a desecration in the temple. But he says clearly, wars and rumors of wars are nothing to get caught up in. Earthquakes and famines...these are things that will occur in the natural order. I don't know if I've ever understood what he was saying here, because I was under the impression that these things might mean something...maybe not.
But, to the thing that really stood out to me. Lying preachers will deceive and evil will overwhelm people to the point that their love will be no more. Nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
Jesus speaks of the end and he isn't banging the drum, warning of wars and destruction, but of a world filled with deception and loveless people.
Master, what is the greatest commandment? He replies to love the Lord your God with all your being, and similarly to love your neighbor as yourself.
"For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in - nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes." It's heart breaking isn't it? A people loosing their ability to love. Can you think of anything more destructive to an individual person and their community than to stop loving? It's so powerful and again more than anything we see Jesus concerned with love over all things. It's because of God's love we are offered redemption. We can be filed with God's love. Our love isn't perfect, it won't sustain us, but God's love is and because of his love of us we can love. It's a beautiful picture that gives a glimpse into the heart of God and what Jesus was trying to do with his life and has continued to do through his death and resurrection.
May you find the love of God in you life. The love that knows all, forgives all, and loves unconditionally, and in knowing God in this way may you love those around you with the same fierceness.

Devastation and Reform

Out of all the bands that I enjoy, I think that Relient K presents the most outstanding lyrics. They have done this for years and in my opinion their Mmhmm record is the most lyrically amazing album out there (Casting Crowns' Lifesong is a close second). Relient K recently released their latest album 5 Score and Seven Years Ago and this song is from that album. The band notes that restoration can be a difficult part of life but, if we allow Him, God can bless us even through devastation. We are not reformed to a life immediately hole, or complete (and I don't think that is God's promise), but from the shell of who we once were we can start anew through Christ.

Devastation And Reform

Fear can drive stick
And it's taking me down this road
A road down which I swore I'd never go
And here I sit
Thinking of God knows what
Afraid to admit I might self-destruct

So lock the windows
And bolt the door
Cuz I've got enough problems
Without creating more

I feel like I was born
To devastation and reform
Destroying everything I loved
And the worst part is
I pull my heart out, reconstruct
And in the end it's nothing but
The shell of what I had when I first started

Usually I'll cause my own first hit
It seems to me to be slightly masochistic
But there'd be no story
Without all this dissension
So I inflict the conflict
With the utmost of contemption

So lock the windows
And bolt the door
Cuz I've got enough problems

Without creating more

I feel like I was born
To devastation and reform
Destroying everything I loved
And the worst part is
I pull my heart out, reconstruct
And in the end it's nothing but
The shell of what I had when I first started

Thank you God
For giving me the insight
So I might make
These wrongs right
If and when
There ever is a next time
Cuz failure is a blessing in disguise

Pull my heart out, reconstruct
And in the end it's nothing but
The shell of what I had when I first started
The shell of what I had when I first started

I feel like I was born
To devastation and reform
Destroying everything I loved
And the worst part is
I pull my heart out, reconstruct
And in the end it's nothing but
The shell of what I had when I first started

FCA

I had the privilege of sharing some of what God has been teaching me these last several months of life at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting on March 28, 2007. I had meant to post this back then, but haven't gotten to it until now. I will do better at staying on top of things. Anyway, I have entered bellow, my notes for that evening. I thought I would share them. I hope they are meaningful to you.

Donald Miller tells a story:

He was speaking at a college to a group of students. No Christians in the room.

A girl raises her hand and says “Don you have presented a wonderful talk, but you mentioned only briefly looking into Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and landing on Christianity. I’m troubled to see how you made an objective search before landing on Christianity.”

He found this to be a very good question and confesses that yes, it wasn’t a very objective search. But, he notes, “I think you are coming to the table with a pre-supposition, and that pre-supposition is that Christianity is a religious or philosophical system. But it isn’t. It has been called one, it has been treated like one, but essentially I am not a Christian because I cognitively subscribe to certain ideas, I am a Christian because I know a Deity, a being, this is a relational system. I am a Christian because I have a relationship with Jesus and through Jesus a relationship with God.”

He goes on to say that essentially the question sounds like this. “Don, you are in love with your wife and yet you do not go on sleeping with hundreds of other women to find a greater love.” Do you see the difference, love in a relational sense, is exclusive.

I want you to consider two things. Why are you a Christian and how does this define you? & What does it mean to be a Christian athlete on this campus?

How can we affect the lives of our friends and teammates who are here? How do we show them, not a religion or system of beliefs, but what a relationship with Jesus is like?

These are some of the things that I have been learning. I realized I related to God as a product. I took a system of beliefs and treated it like a recipe check-list. I prayed today - check. I read the Bible today - check. I went to church this week - check.

I had the world around me telling me that I was incomplete and all I needed was belief in God and that would complete me. If I followed the system of beliefs, the recipe, then the product would be a personal relationship with God. This “personal relationship” is more of a genii in a bottle kind of thing. I can pray and God will answer and I’ll be rich and happy and completely fulfilled. Right?

But I wasn’t complete. I would pray the prayer I was supposed to pray and "bad things" still happened. God, the product, was not holding up to the guarantee on the box. Well maybe I read the recipe wrong. Maybe I should pray more, read more of the Bible, go to church more often, sing in the choir. But no, these things aren’t the answer.

You see God is not a product. The problem with God, the product, is this. I was presented with the fact that I am incomplete and I needed to be filled, so I adopt this system of beliefs that is supposed to complete me. Then I realize that not only has this not completed me, but I am also now aware that I wasn’t even complete in the first place, so things are even worse of then when I started.

How many of you have heard this? There is a hole in your life, a sense of incompleteness. And lets say this is a round hole and you have tried to fill it with the square peg of rock and roll or whatever and your job hasn’t filled this whole, athletics maybe hasn’t. But Jesus happens to be a round peg, who knew, and if you put Jesus in this hole he is the only one that can fit and you will be made complete.

Ever heard anything like that? . . . It’s a lie. How many of you are complete. This is not a biblical thought and yet it is presented to us all the time and it results in us seeing God as a product.

But what if, rather than a system of beliefs, we instead replace this with a relationship? We replace God, the product, with God, the Father.

You see, this is all though scripture. The gospels are not a 3 step sermon to salvation, but the story of Jesus’ life and his relationship with his Father. In this we see how to be in a relationship with Jesus and in turn with God. How does a relationship differ than a system of beliefs? There will be similar actions, but the purpose behind these actions will be different.

I will pray to God, but not because I am checking off my list or rubbing the magic lamp to get a wish, but instead because this is how I can communicate with God. I will read the Bible not in search of a magic formula that will then allow me to have all I have ever wanted but because in the writings of the Bible I can learn about who God is and who Jesus is. I can see what it means to love and to give to the poor and care for the widowed and live a life that is Christ-like, because just like a son loves his father and wants to grow up to be like his earthly dad, so do I, as a Christian want to know about Jesus and God, the father, and grow to be more like them.

See how it is changing? There is a shift from have to, to want to. This makes prayer and bible study so much more real in my life.

Then there is church. Living a life in community. While God is fathering me as an individual, he is also relating me, to us, as the body of Christ, the church, in a relational sense more so described as that of a bride and bridegroom. There is benefit to being involved in life communally. It gives us person to person relationships and this interaction teaches us so much about life and God and strengthens our relationships with God.

This is what God has been showing me. He very clearly allowed me to see how I related to him as a product. A way to fulfill my desires, to fill the round hole in my life. And he showed me that this is what he wanted instead. He wanted me to relate to him. To see that scripture is not a collection of stories that are formulas for personal growth rather they are stories to help me understand His character and nature and how to interact with him. He wanted me to see that prayer is not my chance to complain or beg or find wish fulfillment, but a time to be honest, to relate to God. To sometimes go to God in awe of who he is and other times talk to him like I would my dad. With this, the idea of praying continually makes so much more sense. To constantly be walking through the day communicating with God, much like you would a friend. This is God’s desire. When God is a product we are seeing things this way: “How can God help me get what I want?” When God is Father we ask, “Who is God, and how can I know him”.

Miller tells a story in his book Blue Like Jazz. I don't have it in front of me so I will probably butcher it, but it goes something like this.

Don was being interviewed on a radio station and the host asked him to defend Christianity. Miller responded by saying, no, I won't do that. He went on to explain to the radio host that Christianity has become a term that means so many different things to so many people and he didn't want to add to the ideas out there of what Christianity was. If he defended Christianity to someone who was abused in a church it's like he saying that was right and it wasn't. Miller said what he would do is talk about Jesus and what a relationship with him matters.

The radio announcer was speechless and after the interview they went out to eat together and he said he always wanted to believe in God, but just couldn't because of all the things that Christians do. They talked and Don showed a Father, not a product.

Hide

Without a doubt, my favorite new band of 2006 is a band named Red. In fact, they are probably my favorite band all in all right now. In their debut album, End of Silence, they wrote this song, Hide. It speaks of trying to out run the painful memories of our past, trying to out run God, but in the process we run from the only thing that can really heal us, the love of God.

Hide

Waste away
I'm crawling blind
Hollowed by what I left inside
For you, just you
I'm caught in place
But I ignore what I can't erase

I will run and hide till memories fade away
And I will leave behind a love so strong

Close my eyes
theses voices say
Haunting me, I can't escape
For you, just you
Time will always wait
While I throw away what I can't replace

I will run and hide till memories fade away
And I will leave behind a love so strong

I will run and hide!
And I will leave behind!

I will run and hide till memories fade away
And I will leave behind a love so strong!

Blessings

So far my posts have focused on my reflections on different readings. Well, I'm kind of all read out right now. This has been good because it has given me a chance to not just take things that I agree with from other people (via these readings), but just talking through real life with other people and look at what it means to put thoughts and beliefs into practice.
In looking at real life I have been blown away by the blessings that surround me. Very specifically I had a chance to enjoy an amazing concert put on by Pillar and I enjoyed that with 2 friends that have just been irreplaceable in my life, especially as of late. I had an absolute blast and I love you guys. Thank you for loving me even when it looks like everything is falling apart.
I have also been working a ton lately with no break in sight until the end of May or so. But it hasn't been as stressful as I would imagine it to be. I have been establishing solid relationships with my athletes and coaches and am really having this sense of belonging that I wasn't as aware of during the fall semester. It is truly a blessing.
I have a friend who is just blown away by his relationship with his girlfriend right now. I hear him talk about her and it is amazing to see how God loves the two of them and has brought them together. It touches me to see God be a part of a relationship the way He is with these two. I know if this aspect remains they will reap the benefits of His hand and will live an amazing life together. I don't mean to be playing wedding bells for them or anything, it is just cool to see what two Godly people in a dating relationship can look like. I'm blessed to see it in you guys and I'm praying for both of you.
I got a phone call from a friend tonight. He moved to the Dallas area last summer. He knew there was something about the move that God had orchestrated, but it would be an understatement to say that these last several months have been very difficult for him. But I get this phone call tonight and you can just hear the joy in his voice. He is beginning to see and experience some of what he know God has had in store for him all along and it's transforming his life. I could hear it through the phone like I could feel it. It's just so cool.
When I take an honest look at it, the blessing are endless. My family is amazing, my friends could not be more solid or more of an encouragement, and despite the dark corners of my life I can see God's hand working through it all. I'm not trying to say "follow God and everything will be o.k. and you will be blessed and happy and rich". I think maybe your idea of what it means to be blessed and happy may change some, I know mine has. I do know that tonight was one of those times that I could see clearly that I have been blessed and God is taking care of me. My prayer is that my life will be a reflection of the love God has shown me so that those around me know that He loves them as well.
I love you guys. May the God of heaven be praised tonight and always.

AO

Chosen to be like Him

My most recent readings have taken me through Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. This is another spectacular book in a long line of amazing books that I have had the privilege to read over the past year or so now.
There were a few concepts that Bell pointed out that I just loved. First, he always referred to our lives and the goings on as our story. I don't know why, but this resonated with me. This idea that the things that go on in your life become part of you, who you are. The people in your life impact your story and you impact theirs. I know this is kind of a "well duh" thing, but it made me look at how I might affect the stories around me and it made me really embrace my story. When you think about how your actions now may affect you and those around you, maybe even 30 years down the road, it just makes you think.
I thought there were some great insights into Jewish life and specifically what this meant for Jesus and the disciples.
Bell outlines what it would have been like growing up as a Jewish boy in those days. What Jesus would have learned at what ages and how this impacted him. It's really interesting. One thing he mentions is when a rabbi was teaching and asking questions he would seldom give answers. "Have you noticed how Jesus rarely answers a question, but always responds with another question? This is a way of showing a deeper understanding, that a student not only understands the information, but can take it a step further. "
Those students who excel would become disciples. This isn't just further learning. "The goal of the disciple wasn't simply to know what the rabbi knew, but to be just like the rabbi."
So the question for the rabbi is, can this kid cut it as my disciple. Can he be like me, know the things I know, live how I live, take on my life and live it even after I am gone. The kid would leave everything behind to study as a disciple at the feet of his rabbi. What an honor to be a disciple.
"So at the age of 30, when a rabbi generally began his public teaching and training of disciples, we find Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee". He first calls Simon Peter and Andrew, who were fishermen. This shows that as younger kids they weren't good enough to "cut it" and went off to learn the family trade. Jesus says "Come follow me" and they drop everything. He is telling them "You can be like me". Of course they drop their nets, they are being told a rabbi thinks they can do what he does. He thinks they can be like him.
James and John were fishing with their father. With their father, how old were they then, 14, 15, maybe 20. They are just kids. "Jesus took some boys who didn't make the cut and changed the course of history."
Take Jesus walking on water. I always thought this was a weird story. Was this just some example of Jesus showing that he is God and can do whatever he wants? Maybe, but think about Peter. As a disciple he has been told that he can be like his rabbi and that is the point of it all. So he sees Jesus walking on water and of course he wants to do it. When he begins to sink he cries out to Jesus. Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" "Who does Peter loose faith in? Not Jesus; Jesus is doing fine. Peter loses faith in Himself. Peter loses faith that he can do what his rabbi is doing."
Remember, a rabbi calls disciples because he has faith in them. He believes they can be like him. Note that Jesus gets frustrated with his disciples, but also note why. It isn't because they are incapable, but because they are so capable. It isn't their failures, but because he sees their greatness and they don't.
"God has an incredibly high view of people. God believes that people are capable of amazing things. i have been told that i need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. but what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me. I have been told that I need to have faith in God. Which is a good thing.l But what I am learning is that God has faith in me. The rabbi thinks we can be like him."

Would Jesus be a Christian?

I recently (yesterday) finished a book that I had requested for Christmas. It is titled A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D McLaren. The general (very general) premise of the book is to discus various beliefs that we have as Christians, where those beliefs came from, some of the good and bad of those beliefs and what this means for us in the world that we live in today. It is so much more than that when you get into it, but that is an o.k. summary.
The twist is that McLaren isn't sitting there pointing to the Christian community out there rather talking about his personal experiences as an unfinished, growing, ever changing believer in God. I have half joked a couple of times with Hayne that we should write a book about all the things God has been teaching us over the last year or so. I don't feel that need to write as much now because of this book. With a few exceptions I think it is amazing. At this point I'd say you could read any (all) of Donald Miller's book and this one and have the beginnings of some sort of understanding of what God has been showing me and doing in my life.
Let me give you some little bits form the book. Chapter 3: Would Jesus be a Christian?
"The more I study the Bible and reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus, the more I think most of Christianity as practiced today has very little to do with the real Jesus found there. Often I don't think Jesus would be caught dead as a Christian, were he physically here today. Generally, I don't think Christians would like Jesus if he showed up today as he did 2000 years ago. in fact, I think we'd call him a heretic and plot to kill him, too."
Not a bad start to a chapter right? He goes on. "Has he [Jesus] become less our Lord and more our Mascot? Lord means "master" (the very opposite of mascot)...I feel surrounded by Christians who very much like the idea of an American God and a middle-class Republican Jesus, first and foremost concerned about Our National Security and our Way of Life. "The Lord is my shepherd" becomes "the Lord is our President" elected by us for our national interest, or "the Lord is our secretary of defense", ready to sacrifice 10,000 lives of non-citizens elsewhere for the safety of U.S. citizens here."
McLaren goes on from here discussing what it was that Jesus really came to do in this world and how it applies today just as much as it did when he walked the Roman controlled streets of Jerusalem. He summarizes this chapter with this. "The result [modern Christianity] is a religion that Jesus might consider about as useful as many non-Christians consider it today, just as the Lord said they would (Mat. 5:13-16; 7:21-23).
The chapters that follow get into different aspects and branches of Christianity. Methodist, Catholic, Evangelicals and so on and so forth. It is all wonderful. I happen to enjoy his writing style as well.
In Chapter 17: Why I Am Incarnational he starts to flirt with a very daunting line. Some of his writing sounds like universalism. While he refutes this he also seems to support it. There is a lot of back and forth writing that at times almost seems to contradict itself. However, aside from these things (and really even with this), I find the book very interesting and challenging and meeting me right where I am in trying to live daily in light of Jesus and my desires to honor him.
I know this isn't the most thorough critique of this book, but it would take me forever. I do hope that this little bit that I have written makes you think and just encourages you to take this life God has given us with the seriouseness, love, devotion, humility, aggression, fear, tact, and wildness that it deserves.
Till next time.

AO

Beauty From Pain

Thanks to Superchic(k) for supplying some insightful lyrics. This lyricist seems to have dealt with something dark in her past. Something that could easily keep her away from her relationship with God and community. What a way to react. This is from their album Beauty From Pain...another great idea to think about. Enjoy!

Stand in the Rain

She never slows down
She doesn’t know why but she knows that
When she’s all alone it feels like its all coming down

She won’t turn around
The shadows are long and she fears
If she cries that first tear, the tears will not stop raining down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it’s all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won’t drown
And one day what’s lost can be found
You stand in the rain

She won’t make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself
And the fears whispering if she stands she’ll fall down

She wants to be found
The only way out is through everything
She’s running from, wants to give up and lie down

So stand in the rain
Stand your ground
Stand up when it’s all crashing down
You stand through the pain
You won’t drown
And one day what’s lost can be found
You stand in the rain

Superchic(k)

Belief in God?

I received an email today that struck me as interesting. While there are many aspects of it that I questioned, one stood out to me in particular. I'll see if I can summarize.

The email was challenging the United States of America's foundation on Christianity and questioning why we, as a nation, have abandoned our Christian roots. While there are many facts presented in the email, the closing paragraph is what stood out to me the most. It reads:

"It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore, it is very hard to understand why there is such a mess about having the Ten Commandments on display or "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the other 14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!"

If this is Christianity then I want out! Please do not associate my belief in God, my relationship with Christ, and my fellowship with others with this kind of thinking. Allow me, if you will to take a real look at this previous paragraph.

86% of Americans believe in God.? I find this, simply, hard to believe. I do not see 86% of America living a life that reflects this kind of belief. Are 86% feeding the homeless, taking care of the widowed, and taking steps to preserving God's creation? Are 86% loving the Lord their God first and then their neighbor as themselves? Are 86% involved in going and preaching the good news and baptizing in the name of Christ? Are 86% worried about the AIDS epidemic in Africa or the fact that in the last year some 35,000 Iraqi citizens perished in war fighting?

Yes, I see moral benefit to the 10 commandments. I also recognize that Jesus commanded that we love the Lord our God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. This is the message that needs to be proclaimed.

When we shout "In God We Trust" do we mean it? Trust Him to what, protect our American, middle class lives? To keep everything running smoothly so we can pretend that we are God's chosen nation and everything we do is blessed by Him?

Then to top it all off, since we have it all figured out, we want to tell the other 14% who don't have a clue to "sit down and shut up". Please, tell me where in God's word this is an appropriate action.

No, let me propose an alternative. 86% of the people living in this nation don't believe in God. They may believe in a god, but not the God spoken of in the Bible, and not in the Christ spoken of in the New Testament. Maybe though, as New Testament believes, we should not tell anyone to sit down and shut up. Maybe we shouldn't waist our time arguing over the 10 commandments and the print of money, but we should focus instead on investing in the lives of those around us. Maybe we should give to the less fortunate. Maybe we should show love to those who have not experienced what it means to live in community and to be in relationship with, not a god, but the God. In this way we will see this nation begin to act like a people in which 86% not only believe in God, but know Him, and don't use this to persecute the 14% who don't, but to attract them to the love of God. Isn't that the point?