At War in the Fields of Myself

Hope in Egypt

2011-01-28T17:40:00.001-05:00

These are the moments where hope is realized...

Watching

2011-01-21T16:04:00.003-05:00

Sitting in America
the sense of disregard
rampant and alive
would that we thought
and wondered
or cared

Sitting in America
McDonald’s land my home
sipping modest coffee
observing modest life
sweet diversity
but broken

Sitting in America
the nation of your placement
of this life
whose country is displacement
there or here
sojourning

Sitting in America
land of the (I’m) right
and the (your) wrong
cynical fear masked in words
words of nothing
words of

Sitting in America
forlorn in my, our, its (the) state
of the soul
defeat in victory
laughter of one
whose name is lie.

Sitting in America
beauty in multiplicity of
faces—disfigurement in voices
sitting in the milieu
watching
exhausted.

Watching

RDM : March, 2010

An Undisturbed Life Equals God-Forsaken

2011-01-21T16:03:00.001-05:00

Now, beloved, if the divine government is a disturbing element, to be undisturbed is to be God forsaken. If we know nothing of the voice calling us to alter plans and set aside arrangements and simply step out upon the divine word in faith as Abraham did, then we are God forsaken men and women. Beyond that, to be God forsaken is to settle to failure.

“Oh,” you say, “let me stay here; my home is so comfortable, I am so happy.”

God says: “Move from this place and go yonder.”

You say: “I cannot. Let me remain where I am.”

What are you asking? You are asking for your own breakdown and failure. God’s plan for you is progress, growth; and you are asking for arrested development and for failure.

“Oh no,” you say, “I am only asking not to be disturbed.”

They are the same things. When you and I pray, in our foolishness, that God will not disturb us, we ask Him to give us no more progress, but to let us settle where we are and pass down to failure.

—George Campbell Morgan, THE TRUE ESTIMATE OF LIFE AND HOW TO LIVE IT, p. 69-70

Fresh Vision for the Muslim World

2009-12-07T13:37:00.002-05:00

This is my friend Mike Kuhn's new blog, birthed out of his new book, Fresh Vision for the Muslim World. I believe that any and all would significantly benefit from reading this book...But I especially think any Christians out there need to read this book. Mike's key theme: Incarnation instead of Confrontation as the change in thinking and approach we MUST have as we think about "others" (see: neigbor)...All "others," but in particular our Muslim neighbors--in the U.S. and worldwide. Check out his blog...and then buy the book.

New Era? Let's Hope So...

2009-05-06T12:55:00.003-05:00

Here was a thought from a friend on Facebook. It came a day after President Obama had his picture taken, shaking hands and smiling with Hugo Chavez. Aftermath, of course, was typical on the Rush Limbaugh side of the fence...But I agree with my friend Matt, who said, "I'm glad that our President is shaking hands with leaders with whom we disagree sharply...it gives me hope that our reputation in the world might improve, and it doesn't mean that we have to compromise our principles. It's called leadership, and I'm encouraged." Hopefully, that is yet another sign that we are leaving the era of hawkish foreign policy to actual diplomacy. Would be nice if the moniker Ugly American weren't so representative of our national identity and yet hard to refute based on our leadership.

What does this say about...?

2009-05-06T09:32:00.003-05:00

Well, unfortunately, I think I know what it says about many of us who would call ourselves Christian-evangelical-conservative...Whatever. All titles that seem to have loaded connotations to them. Following Jesus...God's mercy...The radical nature of grace...Loving the enemy...Leaving room for God's justice...Where is any of that in the corporate confessional world of the church? Here you go...Sad, but (ugghh!) true...

"More than half of people who attend services at least once a week — 54 percent — said the use of torture against suspected terrorists is “often” or “sometimes” justified. Only 42 percent of people who “seldom or never” go to services agreed, according the analysis released Wednesday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified — more than six in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only four in 10 of them did..."

His Actions Lend Credibility

2008-07-21T13:23:00.007-05:00

This is an excerpt from the book Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas and is about four years old, but it still speaks volumes. It is one of the reasons I like Bono...Not because he's a Christian, but because he speaks and acts in a way that legitimizes the hope, truth, and reality of Christ. I think being hands and feet and speaking as necessary needs to have a far greater place at the table of expressed orthodoxy than simply espousing orthodoxy. Here it is.

Bono: My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don't let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that's my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that's not so easy.

What about the God of the Old Testament? He wasn't so "peace and love"?
Bono: There's nothing hippie about my picture of Christ. The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is. I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that's why they're so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you're a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross.
Religion can be the enemy of God. It's often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. [laughs] A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship.
I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity.

The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.

Bono: But I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there's a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let's face it, you're not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That's the point. It should keep us humbled… . It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.

That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that far fetched?

Bono: No, it's not far fetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's far fetched …

Enjoy...Taste of Heaven?

2008-07-14T10:38:00.000-05:00

Sit back and smile...This is great.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Everything is Spiritual

2007-10-09T13:47:00.000-05:00

Check it out...

We wouldn't watch sports if...

2007-10-05T10:14:00.000-05:00

Ok...So I've had this thought for a couple years now, and am finally beginning to formalize its implications.

I say this definitively (I write that because, well, I'm writing, and you may not be able to pick up how sure I am of this by simply reading a bunch of words written in boring font...But I digress): We would not be interested in watching sports the way we do, in this day and age, if they didn't wear such video game like UNIFORMS.

This goes, pretty much for ALL sports, though I think it is probably one of the single biggest reasons that football is so popular. They've got the best accessories in sports. They ARE a living video game (This is the other reason why football is king--its seamless transition to a video game format--And look how NFL broadcasts do all their graphics in similar video game format). As a kid--any of you ever "design" football uniforms/helmets while sitting in school? Baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey (which by the way might not even exist as a spectator sport,at least in the U.S., were it not for the exceptionally cool jerseys--or sweaters, to put it in puck lingo--they wear and can market. We barely care about it now because it doesn't translate to t.v. well for those of us uninitiated. (See also Soccer.)

Even, well maybe especially, NASCAR--I mean, seriously, I know there are some car guys out there who love to hear a hemi rumble, but for most people, would there be much interest at all if they couldn't associate their team/driver with those colorful uniformed cars and sweet driver jumpsuits?! And we don't even care that the uniform is just graphically well placed and displayed sponsor icons! But this country loves it some NASCAR.

Hmmm.....What's missing in mass spectator viewing popularity (mind you; no less the athletic prowess involved)? Swimming and Diving; wrestling (the real kind); tennis; track and field; cycling... All of these have A fanbase, no doubt. But they don't have mass media appeal. There are, admitedly, a variety of reasons for that, but lack of an "eye candy"/video game type uniform sets them all behind the eight ball to start.

Now, Golf, on the other hand, is it's own animal. To me golf's uniform is The Course itself. The one's that the Tour plays on week in and week out have a beauty and uniqueness to them that even those of us who are only occasional golfers like to see. The only people caring about what the actual golfers are wearing are the people who play the sport and want you and I to know that they play the sport/game... What I'm saying is that golf is an island. And let's be honest, without Tiger, golf would have waned in popularity as a spectator sport in the modern era (Again, I think video games help this too).

Please note: None of this is a critique of any one sport. We like to think up various reasons why certains sports do well and others don't as spectator sports.. and there is more than likely truth in most intelligent assessments. But we are a VISUAL valuing culture. We like color, cartoonish designs, and change. In the sports above--we get them all. Quick question: What is one of the reasons any of us like reading the extremely mediocre, written (literally) at a 5th grade reading level USA TODAY? THE COLORFUL DESIGN of it's front pages. That is one of the reasons they did it that way in the first place. Similar concept. And local newspapers have taken a cue from USA TODAY...Compare them now to even 15 years ago and you see the use of much more color...And then look at the Wall Street Journal. You really have to want to read it.

Uniforms unify...hence their desgnation. They unify us around a certain team. They, obviously, help the teams know who's who. But they could do that with shirts/skins or wearing just plain white/grey, etc. But that doesn't sell and it doesn't attract interest. Now I know sports have always been around with varying levels of uniform emphases...But even in ancient times, gladiators and the like got to use/wear stuff that most people did not. And the ancient Olympics--hey, they were naked. How great of a uniform is that? And heck, those guys even had to fight against Centaurs, who had the coolest uniforms ever.

Embrace Your Mess

2007-09-28T10:06:00.000-05:00

From Mike Yaconelli in his book Messy Spirituality...

“Sadly, spiritual is most commonly used by Christians to describe people who pray all day long, read their Bibles constantly, never get angry or rattled, possess special powers, and have the inside track to God. Spirituality, for most, has an otherworldly ring to it, calling to mind eccentric “saints” who have forsaken the world, taken vows of poverty, and isolated themselves in cloisters.
“Nothing wrong with the spirituality of monks. Monks certainly experience a kind of spirituality, a way of seeking and knowing God, but what about the rest of us? What about those of us who live in the city, have a wife or husband, three children, two cats, and a washing machine that has stopped working? What about those of us who are single, work sixty to seventy hours a week, have parents who wonder why we’re not married, and have friends who make much more money than we do? What about those of us who are divorced, still trying to heal from the scars of rejection, trying to cope with the single-parenting of children who don’t understand why this has happened to them?
“Is there a spirituality for the rest of us who are not secluded in a monastery, who don’t have it all together and probably never will?
“The answer is yes!
“What landed Jesus on the cross was the preposterous idea that common, ordinary, broken, screwed-up people could be godly.”

ahhh....Freedom for the weary.

Iraq War Creating A Safer World?

2007-05-15T14:29:00.000-05:00

I don't claim to know as much about this conflict in Iraq as I ought, but I try to know as much as I'm able to absorb. I would find it humorous, if it were not so deadly serious in its consequence, that part of President Bush's justification for this war in Iraq had to do with "known" links between Sadaam Hussein and Al Qaeda. As with most of our nations justification for entering this war, this one proved to be falacious, aside from the fact that Hussein and Bin Laden had met but maintained a general dislike of each other.

NOW, on the other hand, we see Al Qaeda's influence and activities rampant throughout Iraq. We also see Iran's heavy handed, yet "covert," influence throughout Iraq as well. We must be fairly convinced by now that the words "Mission accomplished" uttered by our President shortly after Baghdad was taken are some of the most ridiculous ever uttered. They rank up there with, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman...Miss Lewinski," and "Read my lips: No new taxes."

Only problem is the falacious, arrogant nature of the current President Bush's words only add fuel to the out of control fire that is our current (whether real or perceived) foreign policy. Do we actually think our nation is safer as a result of these actions? Do we think any nation is better off based on what we've done in Iraq? And understand, I'm not saying our military has done a bad job on their end. To the contrary, I would say they've probably done as best they can considering what they were thrust into. I am saying the remarkable nature of our currernt administration's lack of foresight and planning(?) of this venture have proven to be more damaging than helpful. And some folks have been helped, withouth question. But when we start talking about long range security as a result of our actions there, well, we certainly can't be saying this with a straight face. Again, not because of our military, but more because of the policies, motivations, and actions of the current administration.

As a side: If you are a follower of Christ, anywhere in the world, I would say the world has become more, not less, hostile toward you. Being a Christian in Iraq has not been made easier, but more dangerous, as an idea of "Imperial America" and Christian continue to be increasingly viewed as synonymous. This has long been the case, but the constant point of Bush being a "Christian President" does not help, nor does the fact that so many in the evangelical camp so aggressively support what we're doing over there.

Read below first of Christians in Iraq and then of some in Turkey. The story in Turkey may seem like a bit of a disconnect, but note that with two of the men, Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel, comes the first known martyrdom of Turkish converts from Islam since the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Maybe there is no connection to what our nation is doing in Iraq, but maybe there is. So are we quelling radicalism or exacerbating it? And this second occurence in a nation that has a strong desire in it to remain governmentally secular.

http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&length=long&lang=en&idelement=4834

http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&length=long&lang=en&idelement=4836

One of my favorites...Switchfoot

2007-05-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

ENJOY...A FUNNY ONE

A Few Random Thoughts on Sacrifice

2007-03-14T08:56:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I was listening to "The Herd," on ESPN radio...and Colin Cowherd, (whom I do like and find pretty funny and who is one of the few guys on radio who while classically "over sure" of himself and his opinions, generally offers some fairly good perspective on things--if not revolutionary) made some comments on Ash Wednesday about Lent. What Lent was about, in very basic terms, how it involved giving something up, etc. Anyway, he brought up how this involved sacrifice. "Another reason," he noted, "I'm not big on religion." Continuing, he sized up his relationship to sacrificial living along these lines:

"I sacrifice everyday. I'm 42. I've got a family. I've got a good job. And I drive a Honda CRV everyday. If that's not sacrifice, I don't know what is."

That perspective didn't necessarily surprise me, but it's clarity did. And while I realize that he says such things to illicit response from listeners, I think he succinctly stated what, in reality, we, especially in the West, believe. We would never say it, and I think for most of us, we don't like the fact of it, but scratching below the surface of our false humility and proper social platitudes that dominate so much of our dialogue, lies this ugly reality. The big problem is that we end up, more often than not, assessing it in one of two ways:
1. We act like this is not really how we feel and, as a result, don't really have to question whether or not our attitudes and priorities need to change or be challenged.
2. We think such ways of living really are a great sacrifice.

Why do we do this? Because we cannot help but compare ourselves to anyone who has more or doesn't "sacrifice" in the ways we do. They have a new Lexus. They bought a whole home entertainment system with an LCD screen. They only have 2 kids and built a 4500 sq. ft. house. They have 40 pairs of shoes.
MEANWHILE, we (our poor, Mother Theresa in the West self), only drive a four year old Honda. We only have 200 cds, two ipods for me and my spouse (with the external speaker hook-ups), and high speed internet and cable, watched on our piddly 60" t.v. We only have a 3000 sq. ft. home...with 3 kids! We only have 10 different pairs of shoes. It's a wonder we are even alive.

We have made it so that in our country we maintain a very small paradigm in which to think or talk about sacrifice. We are a consumer culture...period. You are, I am, we are, "they" are. It is one of, if not the greatest, blocks to a deeper walk with Christ and more significant relationship with others. Why? Because to build a society around such a core value is antithetical to the Kingdom Jesus was/is about building in and through us. It is why we are so drawn to health & wealth preaching, thinking and praying in this country--whether this is explicitly or implicitly done(Ever concertedly asked for prayer that you would get the specific asking price for your house, if not more, when you were selling it? Ever really thought about why you needed that specific price?). Because our thoughts on blessing and the favor of God are wrapped up with a theology of the"American Dream." And even those of us who attempt to live even slightly outside of an overtly consumer mentality, still demand the cheapest prices for things (regardless of what that means about where the "cheap" things we buy are made, if the people who made them are paid a fair wage, if they are even old enough to be working, if they are voluntarily working or are forced to), and our right to get cafe lattes on demand.

Maybe we need to see sacrifice through a different lens. Is it sacrifice if it doesn't cost anything? Convenience? (Perceived) Safety? Best school district? Our sweet tooth? Things we own? Food preference? Employment "value" of our higher education cost?

Maybe God calls us, not in every instance but probably most, to things like the lower paying job. Healthier living at the cost of what we most enjoy eating. Getting rid of lots of our stuff--the good stuff, some of which we still even like but don't really need, so we don't need such a big house. Being a part of serving, living, and helping to change the rougher part of town at the cost of the best school district. Why? So that we might draw nearer to God and rely on Him more than our things. So that we might love others more than our stuff. So that we might reflect the values of the Kingdom of God and not the Empire of Man. So that we might experience life and life to the full here...now.

I am as guilty as anyone of ignoring such pleas on God's part to my heart. The pleas that come from his heart and his actions in coming to earth. But I must, you must, we must first admit that we are actively ignoring Him in our hearts, especially when it comes to talk of sacrifice.

Here's the link

2007-03-13T09:18:00.000-05:00

Sorry. Forgot to put the link http://www.rightnow.org/

Been a long time

2007-03-13T09:03:00.000-05:00

I know it's been a while since I last put anything up here, but no one reads this, so it doesn't really matter does it? I wish I was a more consistent writer, but I just don't feel like I have the time or mental energy to spend crafting witty thoughts and comments together on a daily basis. I don't know how some of these folks do it, unless it's written into their job description.

I have been thinking alot these days...I suppose that could be said for every day for just about every one of us. But my thoughts have been all over the place of late. But, of course, the most pertinent of things is what has drawn me out of hiding to actually type something today: the NCAA Tournament. Since my alma mater, Ohio State, is a number one seed i guess I'm excited. But I'm probably more nervous and pessimistic than excited....especially since the football team's debacle in the desert against Florida. I would much prefer to to be about a three seed with limited expectations. The other quandary I'm in with regard to the tourney is that my two other favorites, Xavier and Tennessee, happen to fall into the same small "sweet 16 possible" group with OSU. How much of a bummer is that? Well, at least I can say that a team I'm pulling for has a better than average shot of making it past the Sweet 16. But somehow, some way, probably none of them will. My pessimism runneth over.

Well...nothing like very "surfacy" sports thoughts to get the ball rolling again. But coming up in the next day or two: A Larry King like commentary on multiple topics, but with more commentary on each thing. Oh stop...You're salivating.

P.S. Go to the link...Has nothing to do with basketball. Everything to do with doing something with our lives that matters.

OSU/Florida Debacle

2007-01-09T00:58:00.000-05:00

As an OSU alum and big Buckeye fan, my thoughts:
1. Florida kicked the crap out of us, no ifs, ands or buts.

2. Their defense dictated the game, as was plain to see. And their speed was the difference. OSU has not matched up against anyone in the past few years with that kind of comparable speed...Yes I said comparable. And yes, I would also give Florida the speed edge. When OSU won the Title in '02 and '03, Miami ran into the same situation--not having played a team with that kind of defensive speed in a long time.

3. As is often the case, the returned kick-off to start the game is a bad omen. I told the crowd at my house as much as soon as it happened.

4. I agree with your FOX blast...And had pretty much decided midway through the game that it was the real reason OSU would lose. Where's ABC when you need 'em?
5. The long wait between end of season and this game was/is ridiculous...especially for Ohio State. You can't help but be a step slower, at least early in a game when you've been off for 51 days! Florida's was plenty long too...but OSU's was ridiculous.

6. Many will say that this outright proves who the toughest conference in the country is. Not so fast. Florida was the best team, hands down tonight, deserving of the National Championship. Still, that game played 10 times, finishes 5 and 5. OSU looked as bad (in large part to how well FL played) as they have in 3 years. Florida looked as good as they have in about 7 years. They had everything to play for and nothing to lose. OSU had expectations to play for and everything to lose. (SEE Miami in 2002-03 when they lost to OSU). BUT, the Big 10 went 2-1 against SEC powers in bowls this year. And, this little nugget came from the pen of John Pennington (in Saturday's Knoxville News Sentinel): Florida's win over the Bucks means that in the last 14 head-to-head bowl games, the "toughest" conference in America is now 6-8 against those poor slobs from the Big 10. Of course, I do think that top-to-bottom, the SEC is probably the toughest conference, but that point gets WAY overplayed, and is not as absolute as the football mad southeasterners wish us all too believe. Passion bears out quite a bit...And the SEC is far and away the most passionate about their football. But just because you're more passionate does not mean your teams are that much better. It just means you have a slightly greater form of idolatry when it comes to your feelings about college football than every other conference and/or team in the country. Except, that is, for OSU which really worships the Buckeyes as ridiculously as any SEC school.

8. I'm less a fan of Urban Meyer than I was before. Was he still petitioning for Florida to get a shot at the Title in the post game interview with Chris Meyers. Urban, you won. Please shut your hole for a minute. And somebody wipe that smug, condescending, smirk off your face. Get over the chip on your shoulder deal. Wow, I really miss Steve Spurrier as their coach. At least his smugness came with humor on the side.

THAT IS ALL. This one stung.

What does this say about us? (<---click here to read)

2007-01-06T20:49:00.003-05:00

This is an article about my alma mater. I love The Ohio State University, but I don't know that it would be for the reasons mentioned in this article. It's not that it's all bad, but I think it speaks to the clear misplacement of our priorities. And know that I am a big sports fan...But I'm growing less so every year. Anyway, I know OSU is the biggest in a lot of things, not just in what this article is talking about. But in regard to the articles subject matter. I don't think being the biggest equals being the best. (Below is the link as well)
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2007-01-04-ohiostate-finances-cover_x.htm

The Book Issue

2007-01-05T13:44:00.000-05:00

Not that anyone really cares to know what I've been reading, but it's good for me to put down what it is that I've been reading and when, for future reference. Anyway, I just finished a great book called Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith, by Rob Bell. This was an excellent book and one I highly recommend. Bell provides excellent analysis of Scripture, who Jesus is-really is/was-and what the life of faith in Christ often looks like in it's ugliness (missing the point) but also what it could be and is designed to be (getting the point). He's very honest about the difficulty of following Jesus, but reminds us that the difficulty is a good thing. When it becomes easy, well, then it's probably just an add on that is merely another placebo in a world of placebos.
Near the end of the book, Bell makes a great point about who we are as the Church and who we should be:

"I am learning that the church is at its best when it gives itself away. And this is because blessing is always instrumental. Let me explain. In Genesis 12, God tells a man named Abram that he's going to bless him, and through him, he is going to bless the whole world. This is the birth of the Jewish people, whom God wants to use to reach everybody. This blessing is instrumental in nature. God wants to use Abraham, to flow through him, to have him be the conduit through whom God can bless everybody else. Abraham is just a vessel. God doesn't choose people just so they feel good about themselves or secure in their standing with God or whatever else. God chooses people to be used to bless other people. Elected, predestined, chosen-whatever words people use for this reality, the point is never the person elected or chosen or predestined. The point is that person serving others, making their lives better...

"So what is a group of people living this way called? That's the church. The church doesn't exist for itself; it exists to serve the world. It is not ultimately about the church; it's about all the people God wants to bless through the church. When the church loses sight of this, it loses its heart. This is especially true in the world we live in where so many people are hostile to the church, many for good reason. We reclaim the church as a blessing machine not only because that is what Jesus intended from the beginning but also because serving people is the only way their perceptions of the church are ever going to change. This is why it is so toxic for the gospel when Christians picket and boycott and complain about how bad the world is. This behavior doesn't help. It makes it worse. It isn't the kind of voice Jesus wants his followers to have in the world. Why blame the dark for being dark? It is far more helpful to ask why the light isn't as bright as it could be."

This is a small bit in a much larger context, and might even, as a result of including it here sans context, be misunderstood. But the point he is getting at is so true, isn't it? We protest abortion, the "homosexual agenda," the breakdown of family values (a term I loathe and is such a ridiculously misconstrued and contrived idea as it is used in modern day vernacular), paying too much in taxes to a "godless government," the liberal media, blah, blah, blah...But we don't take seriously God's commands to love the poor, the sick, the foreigner (with our giving not only of our money, but of our time and our touch), take good care of His creation, and to be an advocate for those most hurting in our society and in our world. Anyway, a great book for anyone...whether you think much of the church or not. And especially for anyone who wants to take a look at Jesus apart from his forced partnership with conservative America. That is all. Try the veal.

I include the following in hopes that someone will actually have thoughts, reviews, questions, whatever about these books. Some other books I'm into or am getting ready to dig into:

Those which are coming soon:
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin (This one is great but may take me two years to get through!)

The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South, by Philip Jenkins

The Audacity of Hope, by Barak Obama (as my conservative friends and family cringe....)

The Peaceable Kingdom, by Stanley Haurwas

Those which I am currently in:

Traveling Mercies, by Anne Lamott (This is a great book and of a very different sort when you are talking about someone's unique journey to faith in Christ...In other words, Lamott came to Christ kicking and screaming...and still does some of that. She is very funny and very vulnerable about her life in this book. HIGHLY RECOMMEND)

Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (A classic by an incredible man...I wish he were alive today. We can learn much from his writing and his life....I just wish he was still alive and teaching/writing...)

The Propehtic Imagination, by Walter Brueggemann (Just started....Will let you know how it is...So far, I like very much. A little academic in how he writes, but if you can get into that, it seems to be an excellent read.)

Politics and Faith

2006-12-19T17:12:00.000-05:00

Hola...Well, it's been a little while (once again)....But I just re-read a section of this book earlier today, and thought it was worth putting up here. No original thoughts from me, but good one's from a guy named Shane Claiborne. The reason I looked it up is because I met someone this weekend who thought it was a good idea that a certain church was reciting the pledge of allegiance...This after I had mentioned how disappointing that was to me. I said that well before I had any idea where this fella was coming from, but to be honest, I couldn't and wouldn't have said anything different had i known. Oh well....Take a read and tell me what you think.

"I have become well acquainted with the dualism in the North American church. Once, after taking a trip to Iraq to protest the war, I went to Willow creek and gave a talk titled “The scandal of Grace.” Afterward, they explained to me that the pulpits are not for political messages. I thought about what would have happened if Reverend King hadn’t allowed the gospel to get political. My heart sank as I walked into the foyer and noticed something I had never seen before: the American flag standing prominently in front of the auditorium. And never before was I so heartbroken that the cross was missing. For the flag and the cross are both spiritual. And they are both political. It is a dangerous day when we can take the cross out of the church more easily than the flag. Now wonder it is hard for seekers to find God nowadays. It’s difficult to know where Christianity ends and America begins.[1] Our money says, “In God We Trust.” God’s name is on America’s money, and America’s flag is on God’s altars.

"For those of us who grow instantly nauseated at the mention of the word politics, maybe we can break it down a little bit. The English word politics derives from the Greek word polis, as in “metropolis” or “Indianapolis.” The word is rooted in the concepts of “city,” “civil,” “citizen,” “civic,” basically what it means to be a society of people. Anything involving humans living together purposefully is political, a polis. As the people of God, we are building a new society in the shell of the old, a new polis, the New Jerusalem, the city of God. This is essentially a political act. Without a doubt, envisioning the radical countercultural values of God’s kingdom is by its essence political. Imagine the Gospels with every mention of king, kingdom, Lord, Savior, crowns, banners, and thrones (all words from the imperial lexicon) all edited out. A gospel that is not political is no gospel at all. The root of the word allegiance means “Lord”; that’s exactly what the early Christians were executed for, for pledging an allegiance to another kingdom, another Lord — treason. In 2004, as the presidential election rolled around, many of us studied the Scriptures and considered what it means to claim Jesus as Lord, or as president. When people asked who I was voting for, I would say, “My president has already ascended the throne and has already delivered the State of the Union address. I don’t believe that God needs a commander-in-chief or a millionaire in Washington, and I have little faith that either of the likely options will incarnate the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, and the fruit of the Spirit. I will declare my allegiance from the mountaintops, joining the chorus of the saints and martyrs. And I will raise the banner of love above all flags.” After all, we vote every day by how we live, what we buy, and who we pledge allegiance to, so I just resolved to write in my vote, as I did not find it on the national ballot. And I was determined not to let my vote be confined to a private booth, secret ballot, or taboo conversation."

LATER IN THE SAME CHAPTER, CLAIBORNE CONTINUES….

Shortly after September 11th, I traveled to speak to a large congregation in the Midwest (And no, it wasn’t WillowCreek). Before I got up to preach, a military color gurard presented the US flag at the altar. The choir filed in one-by-one, dressed in red, white and blue, with the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” playing in the background. I knew I was in big trouble. The congregation pledged allegiance to the flag, and I wished it were all a dream. It wasn’t. I got up to speak, thankful I was standing behind a large podium lest anyone try to pelt me with a pew Bible. I went forward to preach the truth in love with my knees knocking and managed to make it out okay with a bunch of hugs and a few feisty letters. This is a dramatic (though painfully true) illustration of the messy collision of Christianity and patriotism that has rippled across our land.

–Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution
[1] Two of the more troubling signs I’ve seen are a red, white, and blue T-shirt that says “jesUSAves”…and a new line of old-school Christian fish symbols you can put on your car, but instead of “Jesus” in the middle of the fish, it has “Bush.” Truth is stranger than fiction: see http://www.bushfish.org/

OSU v. Michigan: My story Part 1

2006-11-20T16:38:00.000-05:00

Ok...well, I've held off posting until the game was over. Some of that was just business, and some of it was just the fact that I didn't have much to say...I'm always nervous before these games and pretty much expect to lose. All that said, I hope folks got to see that game.

For basic highlights here I go: I happened to get up really early on Satruday morning (6:00)...Had actually fallen asleep at 9:30 the night before with my little boy, Michael, so I had slept plenty long. Getting up early was perfect though because I wanted to head down to my favorite place on campus, Buckeye Donuts....I lived at this place in college, especially between the hours of 10:00pm-2:00am for studying after I got off work. Hole in the wall place and quite the diverse crowd flowing in and out, always has been. Anyway, as I drove down Lane Ave., the main road leading into campus from the west, vendors were already fired up and hundreds of people already lining the streets. The Varsity Club (one of the classic campus bars) had probably 150 people waiting to go in. Turning onto High St. (OSU's main retail strip) the large amounts of people already out and tailgating in parking lots was a comical scene--it was still 6:15am mind you. As I drove past Eddie George's 27 restaurant on South campus, I saw another 100-150 peopl waiting to enter...It was hilarous, and I've never seen the environment here like this.

I spent a good hour in Buckeye Donuts talking with three guys I'd never met about music, with, amazingly enough, a Huey Lewis and the News song getting us all started. The music conversation went from Led Zeppelin and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, to Bob Marley and Flock of Seagulls(this final one brought a round of well deserved ridicule by the way). While we were all talking, one of the guys, "Hawk" did a sketch of me in ten minutes that was pretty amazing. What was really cool about the conversation was when, at one point, for some unknown reason, one of the guys asked me what I did, and when I said "Pastor," he replied "No S***! That's awesome. Oh, sorry; and sorry for everything bad I've said up to this point." I told him it was no big deal and it didn't really bother me. Once the "pastor cat was out of the bag," I loved the fact that our conversation took a more deliberate turn toward spiritual things, but was no less colorful and real on these guys part. Hawk shared with me how he had been, and sometimes still was, a con artist, and had spent a little time "in the pen" for some of the things he'd done. Anoter of the guys started talking about where he was and where he has been in his faith journey. He'd accepted Christ many years ago and knew he wasn't living right now, but really seemed to have a good understanding of God's grace and his own necessary response. He even said, "Oh yeah, and I've been reading that book by that guy, you know, from California...Really good, oh what's the title....?" "The Purpose Driven Life," I suggested. "Yeah, that's it....It's great."

Anyway, after two of the guys left, the other guy, who happened to be homeless, sat down and we hung out for another hour and half. Tim sat down next to me and said, "You know, it's really funny that you're here today and that you're a pastor...." The conversation went from there and I found out many things about Tim--major heart issues; divorced, but didn't talk bad about his wife; seeing a married woman currently, knowing he shouldn't be. After sharing that he asked very earnestly, "But can I really be responsible for who I fall in love with? Can any of us?" My answer to him was "No and Yes," and that he should stop seeing her. And that, even though you know you should, that doesn't make it any easier to do. Well, we talked all about faith, Jesus, churches, why he didn't like taking advantage of living in homeless shelters, and what he might have to offer some of the other guys at the homeless shelter. We finished with a little bit of OSU v. Mich. pregame analysis and then I bought him a hot chocolate, wrote down Hebrews 4:14-16 on a little piece of paper for him, gave him a couple bucks and let him know I hoped I would see him again next time I was in town. It was a great morning and it helped keep the rest of the day in perspective. Which of course was not easy considering it was now only about 9:00am, and the campus area appeared as if the game would be starting in two hours...Of course it was still six and a half hours to kick-off. (TO BE CONTINUED)

Great website...

2006-11-14T09:37:00.000-05:00

This is a great site....especially if you have a dry sense of humor like myself.
www.dullmen.com

Even the aesthetics of the site are perfect....enjoy

Music worth hearing

2006-11-08T23:06:00.000-05:00

Just want to provide you with a place to go get some good music. My favorite musician is Derek Webb. I was fortunate to see him here in Knoxville this past weekend. Great music. Real guy. Honest. I'm thankful he's out there. The first link is to a video of his called "A New Law." Listen to the words....Prophetic. Especially for us in the American Church.

http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/index.php5?ct=store.details&pid=V00044

Check him out. And then got to www.freederekwebb.com and download his entire new album "Mockingbird" for FREE.

Election 06

2006-11-08T09:47:00.000-05:00

Well...Yesterday was election day. Interesting political times of late; not that this is not always the case. But I think for me, I've been especially trouble (?), confused (?), frustrated (?) over the last year when it comes to politics, especially in relation to faith.

I have loathed the way in which faith--and Jesus in particular--has continued to be used as a pawn in people's/parties political aspirations. I think the ways in which the right has thrown around Jesus and morality on behalf of their causes has bothered me more than the ways in which the left has, but since the left "found religion" after the last presidential election I've been frustrated with them as well. I feel like every time a candidate would talk about their desire and our need for them to be elected, I was getting an (all too familiar type of) email that had as it's last line, "You can show your love for Jesus and pass this along to every one you know, OR you can just delete it and know that you're denying him in your heart." And like such emails, these candidates have loaded their exhortations with a good amount of false facts and/or half truths.

All that said, I am deeply disappointed that Harold Ford was not able to defeat the Bob Corker machine in the Tennessee Senatorial race (I think he started campaigning for this in about '98, after frustration from losing in '94 and boredom from making his millions in Chattanooga). It's not like I really expected Ford to win....but I really did want him to win. Don't get me wrong...I realize that Harold Ford has his own machine, as well. I don't believe Harold Ford to be a saint or have all the correct views on particular issues. It's more that, in Corker, we get more of the same in Washington. An avoud economic conservative cloaking himself in social conservatism. And more of the same pretty much seems to sum up the political philosophy of President Bush and the more stringent proponents of "republicanism." "If it aint broke (for me) then don't fix it", eh?

With the House balance of power moving to the democrats, at least there will be some challenge to the bullying through of policies on the part of President Cheneyrumsfeldbush. We'll see about the Senate. More thoughts to come....

A Layoff

2006-11-03T11:24:00.000-05:00

Well....Seeing as it's been almost four months since my initial post, I'm sure there's no one out there who cares at all what is to be written now. But I am going to try and be more active on this...Let it be a bit of an online journal for me. This is the beginning...More interesting(hopefully) thoughts too come.

The First Time

2006-07-14T17:40:00.000-05:00

Well...It's my first time to blaaaag on blogger. How exciting! Well, this particular blog won't say much. But if you're looking for something deeply insightful, letting you know what's in my soul, well, here goes....My philosophy on intelligence and books:

Really smart people like to read lots of good fiction as well as intense biographies.

Fairly smart people like to read lots of good non-fiction and a piece of fiction or biographical piece thrown in every now and then to fell more intelligent or creative, or artsy.

Intelligent enough to read, but not that interested people read some non-fiction and People magazing, US magazine, email, and text messages.

I would love to say I place myself in the top category...Alas, I can't. I'm probably in the 2nd, with occasional dips into the 3rd category(though I hate even the idea of text messaging and don't ever use it)....Well, you've learned so much about me haven't you? And remember, my tongue is partially planted in cheek.
--DM