Monthly Archives: January 2011

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-01-28

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  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-01-21 http://nblo.gs/dix8v #
  • Why Christians Should Care About Our Image Problem http://nblo.gs/diBGy #
  • Yeah, all that cardboard the squirrels have been taking from our compost is now inside the eaves of our house where they've made a th… #
  • Why Christians Should Care About Our Image Problem http://nblo.gs/dlLQz #
  • Beginning with Francis http://nblo.gs/dn2JI #
  • Renovatus is worshiping without us right now…strange… #
  • Naked Vegetarians and God’s Original Plan http://nblo.gs/doVMX #
  • Is he dead? http://nblo.gs/drXuM #
  • Enjoyed spending the evening with eighty(?) people who are committed to doing and being church in/with/for a specific neighborhood. G… #
  • Just finished preparing our taxes and it causes me to remember that the pot shouldn't call the kettle black. I mean, the grass isn't … #
  • I feel like a million bucks (for Ike Graul). #
  • I hope my kids sleep in. They're monsters when they wake up too early. (for Ike Graul). #

Is he dead?

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I refuse to do research to confirm or deny the following allegations. But I’m pretty sure the following famous people have passed away:

  • James Earl Jones–He was seventy-five in Field of Dreams.
  • Willie Nelson–Either he has passed or his hair has…or, it might be that they’re actually the same thing.
  • Ringo Star–Someone tried to convince me with actual evidence that Ringo is still alive. I obviously did not believe them.
  • Dustin Diamond– This is a foregone conclusion. How long can one live without the love of his life?
  • John Matuszak— The only way this guy’s career wouldn’t take off after his star performance in Goonies is if he passed away shortly thereafter.

Naked Vegetarians and God's Original Plan

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We do not usually start our story until Genesis 3. Genesis 1-2 is the story of creation. Whether you take the creation story as literal or not, what we understand about ourselves in that story is remarkable. According to the biblical tradition humanity is not an accident, we were created out of peace and stillness, we were created out of unified love (“let us make man in our image), the created world was not incidental rather it was crafted with intention and purpose, communion and relationship are a part of our story, and man and woman were intended for intimacy and mutual self-sacrifice. Whether or not you take this story as literal or not, we are invited to be shaped by the truth that this is our genesis, this is our original purpose and intended beauty, this is who we really are. We are intended to be defined by peace, stillness, tranquility, fruitful activity, communion, purpose, relationship, and self-sacrifice for the sake of others. Are those markers that define us? Besides the fact that we have raped creation to the point of destroying beautiful species of animals and plants, we live our lives finding our identity in a post Genesis 3 story. We find our identity in our brokenness. Don’t get me wrong, we try to put a good spin on it, but do we not all see the bumper stickers that say “I’m not perfect, just forgiven”? Don’t we all understand Jesus’ saving work on the cross only in juxtaposition to our brokenness? Don’t we think about the coming of God’s future kingdom with some sense of worry concerning his judgement of our brokenness?

While I understand that there is some truth to the reality that brokenness is where we are at, we live in a broken world, we are broken people, and we find hope for healing in the work and life of Jesus Christ…BUT…that is one of the beautiful things about following Jesus…it’s utter foolishness! It was foolish for Mother Teresa to spend so much energy and time with people who are dying. She would have been better off finding healing and eternal salvation for these people right? It was foolish for Jesus to do what he did, to make himself human, to hang out with a bunch of Jews, to tell people to be quiet about his message, and to eventually allow humanity to kill their maker. It’s foolishness to not find your security in retirement and trust funds. Its foolishness to believe that you experience love more fully by giving more of yourself away. Its foolishness.

The invitation, I believe, is to act out of the reality that we put our hope in. The Christian message says that our identity is more clearly understood in Genesis 1-2 than in Genesis 3. The Christian story says that we have a hope in future kingdom (that is breaking in even today) where one day all peoples will be reconciled together with each other and with God. The beginning and end of our story is one of peace, communion, and joy…what if we did the foolish thing and tried to live out of this reality today?

**I feel the need to add that I also really recognize that for many this world just plain ol’ sucks. As a follower of Christ I hope to work toward hope for these people in their lives today (starving people need food, etc.) while also realizing that sometimes our only hope is in God’ future realized kingdom.

Beginning with Francis

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Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
– St. Francis of Assis
What great words to start off the week. I just finished praying and dreaming with four other people about starting a new grassroots Christian movement in downtown Vancouver. I feel blessed to work in partnership with such wonderful people.

Why Christians Should Care About Our Image Problem

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“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and say all sorts of evil things against you because of me. For great is your reward in heaven…”

-Jesus

I keep asking myself the same question: is the good news (as Christians use it) good? It should be, and I think it is. At its very core good news is news that is good, that is welcomed, that is hopeful and of positive value for the recipient. News that is good is not rote, it is the proclamation of a newsworthy event that happened (and is happening). News isn’t an idea, it is the announcement of something that has been experienced. If it is not experienced it is not news. And if its not hope producing, of positive value for the one experiencing it, or joy-inducing then can it be considered good news? Good news must be news that is good.

I think that Christians have allowed some of the words of the Bible to get us off the hook for our image problem. As I re-posted (from Relevant Magazine) on facebook/twitter recently ?”When ‘non believers’ were asked to rank their level of respect for various groups, only prostitutes scored lower than evangelicals.” this should cause us to question the goodness of our news. While I realize that Scripture talks about the Christian good news message being foolishness to those who do not believe (though if I remember correctly the context is more connected to philosophical rather than practical realities) I would argue that there are many things that we as a culture find to be utterly foolish and yet completely good! Mother Teresa acted foolishly in what she did, but we all recognize what she did as inherently good news. Good news is generally pretty easy to spot. In the same way not-good news is equally easy to spot.

Dogma is not good news. Correct doctrine is not good news. Proving someone is wrong is not good news. Showing someone that you’re right is not good news. Past events without present or future implications are not good news (I believe it would be considered ‘old news’ which is neither good nor interesting). None of these are newsworthy events full of goodness! They are not good news.

It’s good news for a single mom to have help with her children, with transportation, work around the house, etc. Its good news to be a part of a community of people who care for you, who celebrate with you, and who hurt with you. It’s good news to learn to let go of self and care for others. It’s good news to have hope in a future that is free of pain, suffering, and brokenness. It’s good news to know that you’re loved, that you’re valuable, and that you have something unique to offer the world. It’s good news to know that your failing body will one day be restored to something more whole and complete. All of those are tangible news worth events that I would consider good. Foolish? Maybe. But definitely good.

In my minimal experience I’ve come to really believe that very very very few people hate Christians (or would place them as the second least respectable people around) when they encounter Christians who are experiencing and pursuing news that is good. The persecution, ridicule, and hate that scripture refers to is more often than not connected to the very Christ-like activity that is in opposition to the powers of this world.  Some will most definitely hate you when you stand courageously in opposition to the death whether it be the death penalty, abortion, or war. People will definitely hate you when you stand up for the marginalized in society whether it is undocumented immigrants, the poor, or the homeless. People will definitely hate you when you pledge allegiance to someone (Jesus) or something (his eternal kingdom) over and above your nation or political system. People will most definitely hate you when you stand in opposition to the destruction of materialism, consumerism, and security. There’s room for people to hate you because of bold (and peaceful) opposition to the powers of our broken world. But when it comes to relationship, when it comes to you, me, our neighbors, and our coworkers the true reality is that good news is…well…good.