29.5.05
28.5.05
T-Ball Season Draws to Close: Robot Monkeys Undefeated!
Of course, in this league, we don't keep score or count outs. But in Jack's very last game he got two hits and fielded two balls, tracking down grounders and making a throw in the general direction of first base.
After the game Jack was awarded "Best Team Player" for his kindness, patience and generosity to his team mates. Good Job Jack. Also the players were all given trophies. As you can see Jack is proud of his trophy. And we're proud of Jack.
After the game Jack was awarded "Best Team Player" for his kindness, patience and generosity to his team mates. Good Job Jack. Also the players were all given trophies. As you can see Jack is proud of his trophy. And we're proud of Jack.
27.5.05
Blogger is being fickle today!
My friend Dan and I are trying to get our church website up and running. He has done excellent work for us but blogger is being uncooperative. This is a test to see what I can post. Hope it works. Sorry you all had to read this boring and useless post. Bye.
The Slacker Leadership Model
And just when I've all but written off the emergent movement, they go and produce this little gem of an article!
THE SLACKER LEADERSHIP MODEL
by Casey Tygrett
I admit it, I’m a slacker. I do nonsense things like have two-hour conversations with friends or church members when I should be up and about doing “administrative” things for the church. In the eyes of some Christian leaders, I’m not quite the type that should be leading a healthy community of believers. From the previously celebrated leadership paradigm, I would have to agree with them.
Can a case be made that the best perspective on leadership and ministry for the emerging church will come from “slackers?” By “slackers,” let’s from now on understand that I mean those who do not fit the CEO/Type-A mentality that was the hallmark of American Christian leadership a decade ago. Leaders who are driven to see productivity and efficiency increase within the Body of Christ, ultimately culminating in a new facility or national recognition. I realize this stereotype is laughably general, but the core of it is still taught as normative for Christian leaders. Me, I’m not that guy—I’d rather spend my time talking to our people about what kind of music they like or who they most admired as a child than working on flow charts and organizational development models. What does this say about leadership for the emerging church?
We are in an age of transition, especially in the area of rethinking faith and ekklesia, where we are hard pressed to find models by which to do ministry and leadership. Christ’s model of ministry seems to have less to do with motivating people and “coaching” (as one egregious leadership book recently suggested) and more to do with wasting time involving himself in the life of the people who surrounded Him. In the last few months, I have discovered that the things my seminary leadership profs taught as normative actually take me out of the culture and society that exists in my community. Now, I am not advocating “laziness” or “passivity” in ministry because there is still a drive and passion for those of us involved in leadership ministry to see the Kingdom grow. The key question is: Have we set up a personality model that is incongruous with the model of leadership and ministry set by Christ?
The “slacker” mentality for leadership, I believe, has some distinctive characteristics:
Life is holistically present in “slacker” leadership. We lead with our whole life and existence, fresh and on the surface of who we are. The illusion of “having it together” for the sake of vision and mission momentum is a false notion because it is not a normal human life. Figure heads have starved the Kingdom of leadership that is real and tangible in every sense, even in the daily failures and struggles of life. Instead of actively putting on a front of professionalism, let the energy of protection slip in lieu of authentic personhood.
People are the “process.” It is difficult to come to the realization that as a leader you have used people simply to effect the change or execution of an organizational plan. The parables of lost things should show us that each life is invaluable to God. The “slacker” leadership takes seriously each person’s life and circumstances above their own plans for organizational advancement. In this case, working to have everyone “on board” takes on a whole new meaning: it now means a level of respect and relationship that comes with time wasted in conversation and shared experience.
Personality has little to do with leadership. In our effort to line up spiritual gifts, we have lost the focus that if leadership is “influence,” then we are all leaders in our lives. Everything that we do and don’t do influences someone, somewhere, somehow. It appears from the ministry of Christ that He was attempting to slow down the pace of life and center people’s attention on the Kingdom. “You don’t need the corporate-driven mindset to lead people. Slow down, hang out with me. Let the afternoon slip by while you and I get down to business about who you are and what you’re doing with my kids.” Slackers have an insight into life because their personality enables them to stop and look at it without feeling like they’ve wasted their time.
There is a sense that I might be wrong, or that this may not make sense to anyone else. Yet as we look toward the future of the Kingdom in the “already” stage, what do we need more of: organizational structure and professionalism in ministry, or leaders who are humble enough to let down their guard and value wasting time with people for the sake of Christ? I think there is insight in the slacker mentality toward leadership, and if nothing else it helps us slip the driven and professional paradigm that seems to inexplicably lead to burnout and frustration. As a leader, take today and waste it with someone. Be a slacker for the sake of the Kingdom.
THE SLACKER LEADERSHIP MODEL
by Casey Tygrett
I admit it, I’m a slacker. I do nonsense things like have two-hour conversations with friends or church members when I should be up and about doing “administrative” things for the church. In the eyes of some Christian leaders, I’m not quite the type that should be leading a healthy community of believers. From the previously celebrated leadership paradigm, I would have to agree with them.
Can a case be made that the best perspective on leadership and ministry for the emerging church will come from “slackers?” By “slackers,” let’s from now on understand that I mean those who do not fit the CEO/Type-A mentality that was the hallmark of American Christian leadership a decade ago. Leaders who are driven to see productivity and efficiency increase within the Body of Christ, ultimately culminating in a new facility or national recognition. I realize this stereotype is laughably general, but the core of it is still taught as normative for Christian leaders. Me, I’m not that guy—I’d rather spend my time talking to our people about what kind of music they like or who they most admired as a child than working on flow charts and organizational development models. What does this say about leadership for the emerging church?
We are in an age of transition, especially in the area of rethinking faith and ekklesia, where we are hard pressed to find models by which to do ministry and leadership. Christ’s model of ministry seems to have less to do with motivating people and “coaching” (as one egregious leadership book recently suggested) and more to do with wasting time involving himself in the life of the people who surrounded Him. In the last few months, I have discovered that the things my seminary leadership profs taught as normative actually take me out of the culture and society that exists in my community. Now, I am not advocating “laziness” or “passivity” in ministry because there is still a drive and passion for those of us involved in leadership ministry to see the Kingdom grow. The key question is: Have we set up a personality model that is incongruous with the model of leadership and ministry set by Christ?
The “slacker” mentality for leadership, I believe, has some distinctive characteristics:
Life is holistically present in “slacker” leadership. We lead with our whole life and existence, fresh and on the surface of who we are. The illusion of “having it together” for the sake of vision and mission momentum is a false notion because it is not a normal human life. Figure heads have starved the Kingdom of leadership that is real and tangible in every sense, even in the daily failures and struggles of life. Instead of actively putting on a front of professionalism, let the energy of protection slip in lieu of authentic personhood.
People are the “process.” It is difficult to come to the realization that as a leader you have used people simply to effect the change or execution of an organizational plan. The parables of lost things should show us that each life is invaluable to God. The “slacker” leadership takes seriously each person’s life and circumstances above their own plans for organizational advancement. In this case, working to have everyone “on board” takes on a whole new meaning: it now means a level of respect and relationship that comes with time wasted in conversation and shared experience.
Personality has little to do with leadership. In our effort to line up spiritual gifts, we have lost the focus that if leadership is “influence,” then we are all leaders in our lives. Everything that we do and don’t do influences someone, somewhere, somehow. It appears from the ministry of Christ that He was attempting to slow down the pace of life and center people’s attention on the Kingdom. “You don’t need the corporate-driven mindset to lead people. Slow down, hang out with me. Let the afternoon slip by while you and I get down to business about who you are and what you’re doing with my kids.” Slackers have an insight into life because their personality enables them to stop and look at it without feeling like they’ve wasted their time.
There is a sense that I might be wrong, or that this may not make sense to anyone else. Yet as we look toward the future of the Kingdom in the “already” stage, what do we need more of: organizational structure and professionalism in ministry, or leaders who are humble enough to let down their guard and value wasting time with people for the sake of Christ? I think there is insight in the slacker mentality toward leadership, and if nothing else it helps us slip the driven and professional paradigm that seems to inexplicably lead to burnout and frustration. As a leader, take today and waste it with someone. Be a slacker for the sake of the Kingdom.
Calvin & The President
I recently read this article and was encouraged by it. This one sentence resonated with me greatly: "We are not right wing; we're not left wing. We think our faith trumps political ideology." Read the rest below.
Bush's Calvin College surprise
by Jim Wallis
As I've traveled the country this spring - 82 events, 48 cities, and hundreds of media interviews since January - I've witnessed a new movement of moderate and progressive religious voices challenging the monologue of the Religious Right.
An extremely narrow and aggressively partisan expression of right-wing Republican religion has controlled the debate on faith and politics in the public square for years. But that is no longer true.
At packed book events around the country these days, I often make an announcement that elicits a tumultuous response: "The monologue of the Religious Right is finally over, and a new dialogue has begun!" Smiles light up the faces of thousands of people as they break out in thunderous applause.
That new dialogue was visible recently at Calvin College. Karl Rove, seeking a friendly venue for a commencement speech in Michigan, approached Calvin and offered President Bush as the speaker. The college, which had already invited Nicholas Wolterstorff of Yale to deliver the speech, hastily disinvited him and welcomed the president. But the White House apparently was not counting on the reaction of students and faculty. Rove expected the evangelical Christian college in the dependable "red" area of western Michigan to be a safe place. He was wrong.
The day the president was to speak, an ad featuring a letter signed by one-third of Calvin's faculty and staff ran in The Grand Rapids Press. Noting that "we seek open and honest dialogue about the Christian faith and how it is best expressed in the political sphere," the letter said that "we see conflicts between our understanding of what Christians are called to do and many of the policies of your administration."
The letter asserted that administration policies have "launched an unjust and unjustified war in Iraq," "taken actions that favor the wealthy of our society and burden the poor, " "harmed creation and have not promoted long-term stewardship of our natural environment," and "fostered intolerance and divisiveness and has often failed to listen to those with whom it disagrees." It concluded: "Our passion for these matters arises out of the Christian faith that we share with you. We ask you, Mr. President, to re-examine your policies in light of our God-given duty to pursue justice with mercy...." One faculty member told a reporter, "We are not Lynchburg. We are not right wing; we're not left wing. We think our faith trumps political ideology."
On commencement day, according to news reports, about a quarter of the 900 graduates wore "God is not a Republican or a Democrat" buttons pinned to their gowns.
The events at Calvin, along with the growing crowds at our events around the country, are visible signs that the Religious Right does not speak for all Christians, even all evangelical Christians. What I hear, from one end of this country to the other, is how tired we are of ideological religion and how hungry we are for prophetic faith. The students and faculty at Calvin College are the most recent sign of that hunger.
Bush's Calvin College surprise
by Jim Wallis
As I've traveled the country this spring - 82 events, 48 cities, and hundreds of media interviews since January - I've witnessed a new movement of moderate and progressive religious voices challenging the monologue of the Religious Right.
An extremely narrow and aggressively partisan expression of right-wing Republican religion has controlled the debate on faith and politics in the public square for years. But that is no longer true.
At packed book events around the country these days, I often make an announcement that elicits a tumultuous response: "The monologue of the Religious Right is finally over, and a new dialogue has begun!" Smiles light up the faces of thousands of people as they break out in thunderous applause.
That new dialogue was visible recently at Calvin College. Karl Rove, seeking a friendly venue for a commencement speech in Michigan, approached Calvin and offered President Bush as the speaker. The college, which had already invited Nicholas Wolterstorff of Yale to deliver the speech, hastily disinvited him and welcomed the president. But the White House apparently was not counting on the reaction of students and faculty. Rove expected the evangelical Christian college in the dependable "red" area of western Michigan to be a safe place. He was wrong.
The day the president was to speak, an ad featuring a letter signed by one-third of Calvin's faculty and staff ran in The Grand Rapids Press. Noting that "we seek open and honest dialogue about the Christian faith and how it is best expressed in the political sphere," the letter said that "we see conflicts between our understanding of what Christians are called to do and many of the policies of your administration."
The letter asserted that administration policies have "launched an unjust and unjustified war in Iraq," "taken actions that favor the wealthy of our society and burden the poor, " "harmed creation and have not promoted long-term stewardship of our natural environment," and "fostered intolerance and divisiveness and has often failed to listen to those with whom it disagrees." It concluded: "Our passion for these matters arises out of the Christian faith that we share with you. We ask you, Mr. President, to re-examine your policies in light of our God-given duty to pursue justice with mercy...." One faculty member told a reporter, "We are not Lynchburg. We are not right wing; we're not left wing. We think our faith trumps political ideology."
On commencement day, according to news reports, about a quarter of the 900 graduates wore "God is not a Republican or a Democrat" buttons pinned to their gowns.
The events at Calvin, along with the growing crowds at our events around the country, are visible signs that the Religious Right does not speak for all Christians, even all evangelical Christians. What I hear, from one end of this country to the other, is how tired we are of ideological religion and how hungry we are for prophetic faith. The students and faculty at Calvin College are the most recent sign of that hunger.
26.5.05
The High Fidelity Challenge
Birty has challenged me to take the High Fidelity Challenge. This is hard & subject to change daily !!!
Top Five Lyrics That Move Your Heart
(I don't listen to a lot of Christian music and I son't ever listen to hymns when I'm not singing them in church. I was therefore surprised to find lots of that kind of thing on this list. I guess it tells you what moves me).
5. Take to the World- Derek Webb
go in peace to love and to serve
let your ears ring long with what you’ve heard
and may the bread on your tongue
leave a trail of crumbs
to lead the hungry back to the place that you are from
and take to the world this love, hope and faith
take to the world this rare, relentless grace
and like the three in one
know you must become what you want to save
‘cause that’s still the way
He takes to the world
go, and go far
take light deep in the dark
believe what’s true
He uses all, even you
4. Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder - (John Newton 1774)
verse 1:
Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior’s name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God
3.All I Need Is Everything - Over the Rhine
Slow down. Hold still.
It's not as if it's a matter of will.
Someone's circling. Someone's moving
a little lower than the angels.
And it's got nothing to do with me.
The wind blows through the trees,
but if I look for it, it won't come.
I tense up. My mind goes numb.
There's nothing harder than learning how to receive.
Calm down. Be still.
We've got plenty of time to kill.
No hand writing on the wall:
just the voice that's in us all.
And you're whispering to me,
time to get up off my hands and knees,
'cause if I beg for it, it won't come.
I find nothing but table crumbs.
My hands are empty. God I've been naive.
All I need is everything.
Inside, outside, feel new skin.
All I need is everything.
Feel the slip and the grip of grace again.
Slow down. Hold still.
It's not as if it's a matter of will.
Someone's circling. Someone's moving
a little lower than the angels.
This voice calling me to you:
it's just barely coming through.
Still, I clearly hear my name.
I've been fingering the flame
like tomorrow's martyr.
It gets harder to believe.
All I need is everything.
Inside, outside, feel new skin.
All I need is everything.
Feel the slip and the grip of grace again.
So from now till kingdom come,
taste the words on the tip of my tongue.
'Cause we can't run truth out of town,
only force it underground.
The roots grow deeper
in ways we can't conceive.
All I need is everything.
Inside, outside feel new skin.
All I need is everything.
Feel the slip and the grip of grace again.
All I need is all I need.
2. Double Cure - The Vigilantes of Love
yeah today i'm sick of all i am
today is my setback
first i swear i love you
then i stab you in the back
i wanna drink out of that fountain
on a hill called double cure
i wanna show you my allegiance Lord
yes i wanna be a son of Yours
so tired of all my toys
they never last for long
they keep beaming dreams and wishes
to a big dish on my front lawn
bet you all have got a story
you're just aching to tell
haven't we thrown our coinage
down the wishing well
so go and call your neighbor
proceed with all due haste
go grab your wife and sweet family
see there is no time to waste
we're gonna drink out of that fountain
on a hill called double cure
i wanna show you my allegiance Lord
yes i wanna be a son of Yours
ask me why i love Him
He gave riches to this poor
yes and i will one day see that face
over yonder shore
1. Be Thou My Vision- (ancient Irish poem, ca. 8th century)
verse 4:
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritence, now and always
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure thou Art
Top Five Instrumentals
(This one was hard. I don't listen to many instrumentals, I guess).
1. Freddy Freeloader - Miles Davis
2. Blue Train - John Coltrane
3. Run Dark Olive - Linford Detweiler
4. Willoughby - Over the Rhine
5. Linus & Lucy - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Top Five Live Musical Experiences
(There are so, so many! I guess these 5 just stand out in my mind).
1. The Actual Hoots of Joy live at Taylor University, 1995ish
2. U2 - Busch Stadium, St Louis 1993
3. Over the Rhine - Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio anytime in the early to mid 90's
4. James- Bogarts, Cincinnati 1995ish
5. Adam Again - Bushnell, Illinois, 1997
Top Five Artists You Think More People Should Listen To
1. Over the Rhine
2. Derek Webb
3. Joseph Arthur
4. Ryan Adams
5. The Shrubs
Top Five Albums You Must Hear from Start to Finish
(Why don't you just ask me whaich of my kids I love most?!?)
1. The Joshua Tree - u2
2. Good Dog Bad Dog - Over the Rhine
3. Scenic Routes - The Lost Dogs
4. Bee Thousand - Guided By Voices
5. Real Folk Blues - John Lee Hooker
Top Five Musical Heroes
1. Johnny Cash
2. Bill Mallonee
3. Bob Dylan
4. Robert Rottet
5. Bob Pollard
Top Five Lyrics That Move Your Heart
(I don't listen to a lot of Christian music and I son't ever listen to hymns when I'm not singing them in church. I was therefore surprised to find lots of that kind of thing on this list. I guess it tells you what moves me).
5. Take to the World- Derek Webb
go in peace to love and to serve
let your ears ring long with what you’ve heard
and may the bread on your tongue
leave a trail of crumbs
to lead the hungry back to the place that you are from
and take to the world this love, hope and faith
take to the world this rare, relentless grace
and like the three in one
know you must become what you want to save
‘cause that’s still the way
He takes to the world
go, and go far
take light deep in the dark
believe what’s true
He uses all, even you
4. Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder - (John Newton 1774)
verse 1:
Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior’s name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God
3.All I Need Is Everything - Over the Rhine
Slow down. Hold still.
It's not as if it's a matter of will.
Someone's circling. Someone's moving
a little lower than the angels.
And it's got nothing to do with me.
The wind blows through the trees,
but if I look for it, it won't come.
I tense up. My mind goes numb.
There's nothing harder than learning how to receive.
Calm down. Be still.
We've got plenty of time to kill.
No hand writing on the wall:
just the voice that's in us all.
And you're whispering to me,
time to get up off my hands and knees,
'cause if I beg for it, it won't come.
I find nothing but table crumbs.
My hands are empty. God I've been naive.
All I need is everything.
Inside, outside, feel new skin.
All I need is everything.
Feel the slip and the grip of grace again.
Slow down. Hold still.
It's not as if it's a matter of will.
Someone's circling. Someone's moving
a little lower than the angels.
This voice calling me to you:
it's just barely coming through.
Still, I clearly hear my name.
I've been fingering the flame
like tomorrow's martyr.
It gets harder to believe.
All I need is everything.
Inside, outside, feel new skin.
All I need is everything.
Feel the slip and the grip of grace again.
So from now till kingdom come,
taste the words on the tip of my tongue.
'Cause we can't run truth out of town,
only force it underground.
The roots grow deeper
in ways we can't conceive.
All I need is everything.
Inside, outside feel new skin.
All I need is everything.
Feel the slip and the grip of grace again.
All I need is all I need.
2. Double Cure - The Vigilantes of Love
yeah today i'm sick of all i am
today is my setback
first i swear i love you
then i stab you in the back
i wanna drink out of that fountain
on a hill called double cure
i wanna show you my allegiance Lord
yes i wanna be a son of Yours
so tired of all my toys
they never last for long
they keep beaming dreams and wishes
to a big dish on my front lawn
bet you all have got a story
you're just aching to tell
haven't we thrown our coinage
down the wishing well
so go and call your neighbor
proceed with all due haste
go grab your wife and sweet family
see there is no time to waste
we're gonna drink out of that fountain
on a hill called double cure
i wanna show you my allegiance Lord
yes i wanna be a son of Yours
ask me why i love Him
He gave riches to this poor
yes and i will one day see that face
over yonder shore
1. Be Thou My Vision- (ancient Irish poem, ca. 8th century)
verse 4:
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritence, now and always
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure thou Art
Top Five Instrumentals
(This one was hard. I don't listen to many instrumentals, I guess).
1. Freddy Freeloader - Miles Davis
2. Blue Train - John Coltrane
3. Run Dark Olive - Linford Detweiler
4. Willoughby - Over the Rhine
5. Linus & Lucy - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Top Five Live Musical Experiences
(There are so, so many! I guess these 5 just stand out in my mind).
1. The Actual Hoots of Joy live at Taylor University, 1995ish
2. U2 - Busch Stadium, St Louis 1993
3. Over the Rhine - Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio anytime in the early to mid 90's
4. James- Bogarts, Cincinnati 1995ish
5. Adam Again - Bushnell, Illinois, 1997
Top Five Artists You Think More People Should Listen To
1. Over the Rhine
2. Derek Webb
3. Joseph Arthur
4. Ryan Adams
5. The Shrubs
Top Five Albums You Must Hear from Start to Finish
(Why don't you just ask me whaich of my kids I love most?!?)
1. The Joshua Tree - u2
2. Good Dog Bad Dog - Over the Rhine
3. Scenic Routes - The Lost Dogs
4. Bee Thousand - Guided By Voices
5. Real Folk Blues - John Lee Hooker
Top Five Musical Heroes
1. Johnny Cash
2. Bill Mallonee
3. Bob Dylan
4. Robert Rottet
5. Bob Pollard
25.5.05
Johnny Cash T-Shirt
I've always wanted a Johnny Cash t-shirt. Once I made my own with a white hanes and a black sharpie marker. But now I have a real one. My wife bought it for me. Pretty cool, huh?
24.5.05
Who needs the Easter Bunny?
In children's church Sunday night, Jack's class made family albums. They drew pictures of all their family members and things that happen at their house. Afterwords he was showing us his album. "This is mommy, and this is a picture of daddy, and this is me and Sam... And this page is Bob Dylan coming over to our house. Elvis was going to come too, but he couldn't because he was dead".
In the picture, the purple guy with crazy legs walking through the door is Bob Dylan. That's Jack opening the door for him. Most five year olds get excited to draw pictures of the Easter bunny coming to the house. Jack draws Bob Dylan.
I know I'm his dad and so I kinda have to like him, but if Jack weren't my kid, I'd still want to hang out with him. Coolest five year old ever.
In the picture, the purple guy with crazy legs walking through the door is Bob Dylan. That's Jack opening the door for him. Most five year olds get excited to draw pictures of the Easter bunny coming to the house. Jack draws Bob Dylan.
I know I'm his dad and so I kinda have to like him, but if Jack weren't my kid, I'd still want to hang out with him. Coolest five year old ever.
Recovering the treasure.
I saw myself rooting around in a large pile of stones and gravel. I was looking for something. I'm not sure what it was. Something valuable. A diamond perhaps. Or a painting of great value or maybe some other work of art. I don't know how I knew, but I knew there was some great treasure hidden in this place. Burried. And it had to be uncovered. I'd been asked to recover it. But the field of rocks and debris was large and expansive. And there was dust everywhere and I couldn't find the treasure. Only rocks. I started to get angry with the rocks. Surely if I could just clear these rocks away, if I could eliminate these stones, haul them off, then surely I would see clearly where the treasure was hidden.
Then I saw it. It was in my hand. A stone. Like all the other thousands of stones that lay scattered and stacked around me. As I prepared to discard the stone, to toss it aside, I saw that it was not a stone of no consequence. It had a form. An edge. A corner. It had been hand worked. It was broken, yes. And dusty. But it was not random. This stone had been labored over long ago by some great artisan. Some master mason had formed this stone. Then as I looked around me I began to see it. These stones, all of them, were like the one in my hand. This was not a field of random stones. I was standing amidst the rubble of some ancient edifice.
Each of these stones had it's place in the architecture. They could be cleaned. Polished. Reparied. Maybe the stones could be re-assembled, this temple rebuilt. The broken and jagged rocks were not concealing the treasure. They were the treasure. To uncover the beauty was not a matter of discarding what was of no value, or digging beneath what was there, but rather of seeing the value in what lay all around, in plain sight and doing the hard work of repairing what was shattered.
Now I could see order. That stack of stones to my left must have been the south wall. This pile near my feet seems to have been a column, perhaps a portion of some marvelous collonade. And the gravel... the small pieces, blue and green, red and white, not gravel at all. This was a tiled floor. A mosaic. There was once a picture beneath me. It told a story. This too is a part of the treasure I was told to recover.
I knealt down and took a small colorful shard of broken stone and placed it against another. The pieces fit. The work begins.
Then I saw it. It was in my hand. A stone. Like all the other thousands of stones that lay scattered and stacked around me. As I prepared to discard the stone, to toss it aside, I saw that it was not a stone of no consequence. It had a form. An edge. A corner. It had been hand worked. It was broken, yes. And dusty. But it was not random. This stone had been labored over long ago by some great artisan. Some master mason had formed this stone. Then as I looked around me I began to see it. These stones, all of them, were like the one in my hand. This was not a field of random stones. I was standing amidst the rubble of some ancient edifice.
Each of these stones had it's place in the architecture. They could be cleaned. Polished. Reparied. Maybe the stones could be re-assembled, this temple rebuilt. The broken and jagged rocks were not concealing the treasure. They were the treasure. To uncover the beauty was not a matter of discarding what was of no value, or digging beneath what was there, but rather of seeing the value in what lay all around, in plain sight and doing the hard work of repairing what was shattered.
Now I could see order. That stack of stones to my left must have been the south wall. This pile near my feet seems to have been a column, perhaps a portion of some marvelous collonade. And the gravel... the small pieces, blue and green, red and white, not gravel at all. This was a tiled floor. A mosaic. There was once a picture beneath me. It told a story. This too is a part of the treasure I was told to recover.
I knealt down and took a small colorful shard of broken stone and placed it against another. The pieces fit. The work begins.
Jesus must be so proud of us!
Wow. This is evangelism and apologetics at it's finest. Good work, brothers.
23.5.05
My Friend Jason Loftis Always Reads My Blog But Never Leaves Comments
Even when some entries are custom desgined for him to leave comments. Like the Adam Again record review. And like this one.
Book Cover Reviews
"Of the making many books, there is no end, and much study wearies the body" (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
Amen. There is an endless stream of books I would like to read and I never seem to get caught up. In fact, as more and more books are relased I am falling farther and farther behind. Originally my desire was to write a few book reviews for my good readers, so that you can become accquainted with the sorts writings I find helpful. Unfortunately it takes a very long time to read a book. It's hard work. The Bible says so.
Instead, I've decided to write reviews of book covers. That's right! Why put in several hours of labor to decipher all those tiny little letters when you can pretty much just look at a book's cover and judge wether or not its any good? So my friends, the funky presbyterian now will provide you with the great community service of reviewing book covers of the books I would like to read if I had the time and energy.
This week we will be reviewing "Simplicity" by a guy named Mark Salomon or something. At first glance, I find the cover intriguing. Who is this person on the cover? Is it the author himself? Perhaps as a child? One can not be certain. The face is obscured. A mystery! Next we notice that the title of the book is printed askew and in style that looks hand etched. This gives the viewer the impression that the ideas contained therein are slightly unconventional and perhaps the relfections of an independant minded author. And then we have the endorsement. Yes! An endorsement on the front of the book! This is unconventional indeed! An informed viewer will notice that the endorsement is penned by the lead singer of Christian heavy metal group POD. This would lead one to believe that the author is perhaps himself either a Christian or a heavy metal dude. Or even both.
Over all, I feel the visual impression made by this cover is a positive one. The composition is engaging and friendly. The colors are well balanced and coherent with the title of the book. However, Salomon does loose a few points for putting the POD guy's endorsement on the cover. I mean first of all, what do heavy metal dudes know about books? And secondly it seems a little like name dropping. A bold and unconventional move, but ultimately it comes off as little desperate. Over all though, a decent cover. I'd say that if I had the time, and actually read this book, I'd probably like it.
Rating: B+
Amen. There is an endless stream of books I would like to read and I never seem to get caught up. In fact, as more and more books are relased I am falling farther and farther behind. Originally my desire was to write a few book reviews for my good readers, so that you can become accquainted with the sorts writings I find helpful. Unfortunately it takes a very long time to read a book. It's hard work. The Bible says so.
Instead, I've decided to write reviews of book covers. That's right! Why put in several hours of labor to decipher all those tiny little letters when you can pretty much just look at a book's cover and judge wether or not its any good? So my friends, the funky presbyterian now will provide you with the great community service of reviewing book covers of the books I would like to read if I had the time and energy.
This week we will be reviewing "Simplicity" by a guy named Mark Salomon or something. At first glance, I find the cover intriguing. Who is this person on the cover? Is it the author himself? Perhaps as a child? One can not be certain. The face is obscured. A mystery! Next we notice that the title of the book is printed askew and in style that looks hand etched. This gives the viewer the impression that the ideas contained therein are slightly unconventional and perhaps the relfections of an independant minded author. And then we have the endorsement. Yes! An endorsement on the front of the book! This is unconventional indeed! An informed viewer will notice that the endorsement is penned by the lead singer of Christian heavy metal group POD. This would lead one to believe that the author is perhaps himself either a Christian or a heavy metal dude. Or even both.
Over all, I feel the visual impression made by this cover is a positive one. The composition is engaging and friendly. The colors are well balanced and coherent with the title of the book. However, Salomon does loose a few points for putting the POD guy's endorsement on the cover. I mean first of all, what do heavy metal dudes know about books? And secondly it seems a little like name dropping. A bold and unconventional move, but ultimately it comes off as little desperate. Over all though, a decent cover. I'd say that if I had the time, and actually read this book, I'd probably like it.
Rating: B+
Mystery Solved!
My friend Keith has saved us all alot of time and effort by providing this quick and simple syllogism to prove that there is baseball in heaven.
There are no tears in heaven (Rev. 21).
There is no crying in baseball.
Therefore, there is baseball in heaven.
Thanks for wrapping this up for us, Keith. You are a true scholar.
There are no tears in heaven (Rev. 21).
There is no crying in baseball.
Therefore, there is baseball in heaven.
Thanks for wrapping this up for us, Keith. You are a true scholar.
Creation, Redemption, Baseball & the City of God: Part One
If you are just joining us on this topic, be sure to scroll down and read the introduction.
1. Creation is good.
This is our starting point to argue that there may in fact be baseball in Heaven. Unfortunately there has evolved in Christian thought throughout the centuries, a presupposition that the physical world is somehow less important, less "religious" than the spiritual world, or even that the physical world is somehow more corrupt or sinful than the spiritual world. Perhaps you are aware of the line of thinking in Christendom that says "I'm just a'passin' through. This body is just my shell, etc etc". This physical/spiritual dichotomy is not true and probably stems more from the influence of greek thought (Platonism) upon Christianity than from scripture itself. All of creation is created good. And all of creation is broken, suffering the effects of the fall into sin.
Consider: Genesis chapter one records for us scriptures account of the creation of the universe. Now at this point many more questions may be raised about this account. Is it historical? Is it allegorical? Are the "days" literal 24 hour days? What about evolution? It is not our intention to answer any of these questions in this discussion. So set those questions aside for now. The point we must take note of here is that after each stage of creation, God declares that what he has made is "good".
1:4 - And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
1:10- God called the dry land Earth,* and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
1:12 - The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:18 - the sun to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
1:21- So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:25- And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:31- And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
So again and again throughout the creative period, God stops to observe what he has made and to enjoy it, calling it good. Six times he says it. And then after making mankind on the sixth day, God declares it "Very Good!" If God has called something good, we ought not call it bad! We ought not call it unimportant, trivial or even "neutral". Nothing is neutral. What God has created is good. He says so.
2. The development of culture, though mediated by man, is an important part of God's Creation.
Ok, but what about baseball? I mean it's not like God made baseball in the same way he made the sea and the animals. This is true, but there is more to be said. God creates man & woman "in his own image". This little phrase has many many ramifications, but for our discussion we will note that being in the image of God means that we are little creators the way God is the Big Creator. We are little rulers of creation the way God is the Big Ruler of creation. God shares with men and women something of himself that is not shared with other aspects of the created world. And after making man & woman, God gives them the command to rule over what he has made. Theologians have called this the "cultural mandate" whereby mankind is given the job of developing culture in a responsible way. Here's the text:
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Then later in the book of Genesis we read of the beginnings of cultural development:
Gen. 4:19-22
And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron.
In this passage filled with strange names we see the first seeds of argicultural development & animal breeding, of music and the arts, and even of technology as tools are forged from bronze and iron. This is the development of culture and it records for us the obedience of mankind in fulfilling the God given cultural mandate. If you enjoy music, you own something to Jubal. If you've ever eaten a hamburger, you have some debt to Jabal. If you are reading this on a computer then thank Tubal-cain. And if you enjoy the sport of baseball, then thank Abner Doubleday for his obedience to the cultural mandate in Genesis 1:28.
In addition to the cultural mandate, and the recording of culture's first baby steps in Genesis 4, we have also to consider the entire trajectory of the Christian view of history's unfolding. Civilization starts with two naked people in a garden and culminates in a city with streets and gates and nations and music and architecture (Revelation 21). In between these two is implied a necessary development of civilization and culture that is a part of God's plan. And it is God honoring for any person to participate in the unfolding of God's plan of cultural development, regardless of wether that person is a Christian or even believes in God at all. I don't know who first bred German Shepherds. I don't know what his religious beliefs were. But I'm glad he did it, because I love my dog. I don't know if Elvis was a believer or not, but I sure am glad he made a giant leap forwards for the development of rock and roll, because I love rock and roll. And sure am glad that Al Gore invented the internet, because I enjoy blogging.
Now granted, this develpoment of culture is for a time, distorted and broken by sin, but it is not obliterated. In otherwords, yes, sin has scarred the process of cultural development so just as we forge implements from bronze for good purposes, we forge implements for killing that were never intended to be a part of God's creation. Just as our artists develop their skills in painting and photography and film in ways that are beautiful, dignifying and honoring of God, we also have invented pornography, Nazi propoganda, and Thomas Kincaid paintings. But this distortion of cultural development is a cancer, a parasite. If your dog gets a tick, you don't shoot the dog. The dog is good and so you seek to remove the tick. The dog is worth saving, because he is good. God says so.
If baseball is good then it too is worth saving. more to come...
1. Creation is good.
This is our starting point to argue that there may in fact be baseball in Heaven. Unfortunately there has evolved in Christian thought throughout the centuries, a presupposition that the physical world is somehow less important, less "religious" than the spiritual world, or even that the physical world is somehow more corrupt or sinful than the spiritual world. Perhaps you are aware of the line of thinking in Christendom that says "I'm just a'passin' through. This body is just my shell, etc etc". This physical/spiritual dichotomy is not true and probably stems more from the influence of greek thought (Platonism) upon Christianity than from scripture itself. All of creation is created good. And all of creation is broken, suffering the effects of the fall into sin.
Consider: Genesis chapter one records for us scriptures account of the creation of the universe. Now at this point many more questions may be raised about this account. Is it historical? Is it allegorical? Are the "days" literal 24 hour days? What about evolution? It is not our intention to answer any of these questions in this discussion. So set those questions aside for now. The point we must take note of here is that after each stage of creation, God declares that what he has made is "good".
1:4 - And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
1:10- God called the dry land Earth,* and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
1:12 - The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:18 - the sun to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
1:21- So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:25- And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
1:31- And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.
So again and again throughout the creative period, God stops to observe what he has made and to enjoy it, calling it good. Six times he says it. And then after making mankind on the sixth day, God declares it "Very Good!" If God has called something good, we ought not call it bad! We ought not call it unimportant, trivial or even "neutral". Nothing is neutral. What God has created is good. He says so.
2. The development of culture, though mediated by man, is an important part of God's Creation.
Ok, but what about baseball? I mean it's not like God made baseball in the same way he made the sea and the animals. This is true, but there is more to be said. God creates man & woman "in his own image". This little phrase has many many ramifications, but for our discussion we will note that being in the image of God means that we are little creators the way God is the Big Creator. We are little rulers of creation the way God is the Big Ruler of creation. God shares with men and women something of himself that is not shared with other aspects of the created world. And after making man & woman, God gives them the command to rule over what he has made. Theologians have called this the "cultural mandate" whereby mankind is given the job of developing culture in a responsible way. Here's the text:
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Then later in the book of Genesis we read of the beginnings of cultural development:
Gen. 4:19-22
And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron.
In this passage filled with strange names we see the first seeds of argicultural development & animal breeding, of music and the arts, and even of technology as tools are forged from bronze and iron. This is the development of culture and it records for us the obedience of mankind in fulfilling the God given cultural mandate. If you enjoy music, you own something to Jubal. If you've ever eaten a hamburger, you have some debt to Jabal. If you are reading this on a computer then thank Tubal-cain. And if you enjoy the sport of baseball, then thank Abner Doubleday for his obedience to the cultural mandate in Genesis 1:28.
In addition to the cultural mandate, and the recording of culture's first baby steps in Genesis 4, we have also to consider the entire trajectory of the Christian view of history's unfolding. Civilization starts with two naked people in a garden and culminates in a city with streets and gates and nations and music and architecture (Revelation 21). In between these two is implied a necessary development of civilization and culture that is a part of God's plan. And it is God honoring for any person to participate in the unfolding of God's plan of cultural development, regardless of wether that person is a Christian or even believes in God at all. I don't know who first bred German Shepherds. I don't know what his religious beliefs were. But I'm glad he did it, because I love my dog. I don't know if Elvis was a believer or not, but I sure am glad he made a giant leap forwards for the development of rock and roll, because I love rock and roll. And sure am glad that Al Gore invented the internet, because I enjoy blogging.
Now granted, this develpoment of culture is for a time, distorted and broken by sin, but it is not obliterated. In otherwords, yes, sin has scarred the process of cultural development so just as we forge implements from bronze for good purposes, we forge implements for killing that were never intended to be a part of God's creation. Just as our artists develop their skills in painting and photography and film in ways that are beautiful, dignifying and honoring of God, we also have invented pornography, Nazi propoganda, and Thomas Kincaid paintings. But this distortion of cultural development is a cancer, a parasite. If your dog gets a tick, you don't shoot the dog. The dog is good and so you seek to remove the tick. The dog is worth saving, because he is good. God says so.
If baseball is good then it too is worth saving. more to come...
22.5.05
Down and dirty.
If you've ever played, coached or watched a game of T-Ball, you understand why I love this photo.
Thanks to my friend Eric who snapped the picture. I stole it from his website.
Thanks to my friend Eric who snapped the picture. I stole it from his website.
20.5.05
Creation, Redemption, Baseball & The City of God: An Introduction
Will we play baseball in Heaven?
This question was recently posed, I believe at least partially in jest. This is understandable, as it seems absurd to us. We have difficulty reconciling such an earthly, and seemingly insignificant pleasure like baseball with the concept of Heavenly, eternal, spiritual life spent in communion with the Triune and Almighty Creator God of the universe. Won't such physical and earthly preoccupations as baseball be transcended at that point?
If such a question seems absurd, it is only because our understanding of God and the world is warped, unbiblical, and ultimately sub-Christian. There is good reason to believe that we may perhaps play baseball in Heaven. This is good news. This is Good News- capital G capital N.
Here's what I intend to demonstrate: Creation is good and though fallen, stands to be redeemed by the victory of Christ. The develpment of culture, though mediated by mankind, is a legitimate and important part of God's creation. Thus cultural forms also stand to be redeemed by the victory of Christ. This redemption ultimately culminates in the coming of the City of God in it's fullness. This City, and this Redemptive Climax is not merely spiritual and heavenly, but is physical and earthly as well. This new city, this coming age of glory, represents not only a discontinuity with the world as it exists now (for instance in it's falleness and rebellion against God) but also (and this is the whole point!) continuity with the world as it currently exists as well (for instance in it's beauty, and it all of it's God pleasing cultural structures, and many of it's people, which will at that point be entirely freed from sin). As the nations bring their treasures into the new city we may in fact see the sport of baseball ushered into this new age and offered up for the glory of God as a demonstration of the faithfulness of God and the obedience of man to "image God" in being a sub-creator of good things. In which case, yes there would be baseball in Heaven. And God would like it. Even more than he does now. Which is a lot. I'm not joking.
Obviously, demonstrating this will be a somewhat lengthy endeavor. I will therefore write in installments.
Some of you may be asking yourselves at this point if I am serious. I am. Others will be asking if I am making this stuff up. I am not. I am deeply passionate about this aspect of the Christian faith. This is the Gospel. It is my only comfort in life and in death.
Why do I say this? Becasue ultimately, for the Christian, the question "will there be baseball in Heaven" is not a question about baseball, or even heaven. It is a question about the nature and scope of the victory of Christ.
This may be difficult reading. Please please please post comments, ask questions etc etc. as you need clarification. I am a pastor and teacher at heart and nothing brings me more joy than questions. And beer. So if you don't bring me joy, then bring me beer and we'll call it even.
This question was recently posed, I believe at least partially in jest. This is understandable, as it seems absurd to us. We have difficulty reconciling such an earthly, and seemingly insignificant pleasure like baseball with the concept of Heavenly, eternal, spiritual life spent in communion with the Triune and Almighty Creator God of the universe. Won't such physical and earthly preoccupations as baseball be transcended at that point?
If such a question seems absurd, it is only because our understanding of God and the world is warped, unbiblical, and ultimately sub-Christian. There is good reason to believe that we may perhaps play baseball in Heaven. This is good news. This is Good News- capital G capital N.
Here's what I intend to demonstrate: Creation is good and though fallen, stands to be redeemed by the victory of Christ. The develpment of culture, though mediated by mankind, is a legitimate and important part of God's creation. Thus cultural forms also stand to be redeemed by the victory of Christ. This redemption ultimately culminates in the coming of the City of God in it's fullness. This City, and this Redemptive Climax is not merely spiritual and heavenly, but is physical and earthly as well. This new city, this coming age of glory, represents not only a discontinuity with the world as it exists now (for instance in it's falleness and rebellion against God) but also (and this is the whole point!) continuity with the world as it currently exists as well (for instance in it's beauty, and it all of it's God pleasing cultural structures, and many of it's people, which will at that point be entirely freed from sin). As the nations bring their treasures into the new city we may in fact see the sport of baseball ushered into this new age and offered up for the glory of God as a demonstration of the faithfulness of God and the obedience of man to "image God" in being a sub-creator of good things. In which case, yes there would be baseball in Heaven. And God would like it. Even more than he does now. Which is a lot. I'm not joking.
Obviously, demonstrating this will be a somewhat lengthy endeavor. I will therefore write in installments.
Some of you may be asking yourselves at this point if I am serious. I am. Others will be asking if I am making this stuff up. I am not. I am deeply passionate about this aspect of the Christian faith. This is the Gospel. It is my only comfort in life and in death.
Why do I say this? Becasue ultimately, for the Christian, the question "will there be baseball in Heaven" is not a question about baseball, or even heaven. It is a question about the nature and scope of the victory of Christ.
This may be difficult reading. Please please please post comments, ask questions etc etc. as you need clarification. I am a pastor and teacher at heart and nothing brings me more joy than questions. And beer. So if you don't bring me joy, then bring me beer and we'll call it even.
Baseball in Heaven: Part 1?
Will there be baseball in Heaven? Well, before we launch into a theological exposition of this question, let me submit this photo as evidence that there will certainly be basketball in Heaven.
This kind of evidence is conclusive. There will be basketball in Heaven. Now, I will soon address the question of baseball in heaven.
The answer may surprise you. Seriously.
This kind of evidence is conclusive. There will be basketball in Heaven. Now, I will soon address the question of baseball in heaven.
The answer may surprise you. Seriously.
19.5.05
I'm back.
Hey, all. Sorry it's been so long since I've offered up new and exciting content for your consumption. I've been out of town and without computer access. But today your despair will come to an end. I have returned home. As a peace offering, I submit to you this photo, which I have titled "drunken greek with exploding afro". I hope it means as much to you as it does to me. >sniff, sniff<
16.5.05
If you comment, he will blog.
Reposting this at the top so some of you can give your two cents. Please let me know what you think. Thanks to those of you who have already commented here.
Much like the whispery voiced ghost of baseball's boys of summers past in their spooky quest for a place to play, I the not-so- whispery funky presbyterian put forth a similar request to you, my beloved family, treasured friends and valued readers. Post here and tell me to what topic you think I should devote some blogging time:
1. Why I believe in God (and still consider myself to be at least somewhat reasonable).
2. Is there a sensible way to be a Christian in a post-modern culture?
3. What should we think about evil, suffering and injustice?
4. Or give me another topic of interest... whatever.
You tell me which topics you'd find most helpful or interesting. So post here and let me know. When I have a number of votes (10-15) I'll call for a tally and we'll see what develops. I'm especially interested in hearing from people who are not already on the Jesus bandwagon. I value your perspectives whatever they be and would like to facilitate further discussion, thought and dialogue about spiritual issues. Thanks people.
Much like the whispery voiced ghost of baseball's boys of summers past in their spooky quest for a place to play, I the not-so- whispery funky presbyterian put forth a similar request to you, my beloved family, treasured friends and valued readers. Post here and tell me to what topic you think I should devote some blogging time:
1. Why I believe in God (and still consider myself to be at least somewhat reasonable).
2. Is there a sensible way to be a Christian in a post-modern culture?
3. What should we think about evil, suffering and injustice?
4. Or give me another topic of interest... whatever.
You tell me which topics you'd find most helpful or interesting. So post here and let me know. When I have a number of votes (10-15) I'll call for a tally and we'll see what develops. I'm especially interested in hearing from people who are not already on the Jesus bandwagon. I value your perspectives whatever they be and would like to facilitate further discussion, thought and dialogue about spiritual issues. Thanks people.
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