Cheers!

Today marks the 75th Anniversary of New Beer's Eve. A day in 1933 when many looked forward to having a weak watered down beer legally. The 18th amendment was not fully repealed till later that year, but Budweiser and others are using today to sell, sell, sell. I was once asked by a pastor's kid if drinking beer was a sin. I replied, "That's a pretty controversial issue, but I'm sure of one thing". "What's that?" he asked. "Drinking Cheap beer is a sin!" I said.

I'm pretty sure none of my spiritual ancestors were there celebrating that day. In fact, I'd bet my pentecostal forefathers would be pretty upset that I'm blogging about this... and even more upset that I just said "I bet." I think few people in the evangelical church today care too much about drinking alcohol in moderation, yet I am sympathetic to the prohibitionists who were concerned about the abuse and drunkenness that was affecting their communities. I see many similairities today with those who want to ban abortion or protect marriage. I am against abortion and I am for traditional marriage, but considering the grand success of the "noble experiment" called prohibition, I wonder if our efforts are still misplaced.

Why don't we love people better? Why don't we take better care of our traditional marriages? Why aren't more christians all about adoption? Why don't we engage people where they are at, and pray for His kingdom to come? That's sounds difficult, it'd be easier to go protest politics. Anybody want to drink to that?!? Enough ranting for today... Cheers.

Devour Someboby Else... Not me

This was the main application point from our guest's sermon at church tonight. Pastor Ted delievered a whole message on avoiding the enemy. Point number two...steer clear of those false doctrines. Came home and saw this from Dan Kimball...

Which one is truth? Truth? Common? Sacred? Profane?

Can we at least put the pick ax away until we figure it out? I have good friends who might be described as "rampaging fundamentalists". I also have good friends that some might call "hyper-Calvinists". (see previous post) It makes it really hard to have a bithday party. The first group freaks out if you serve beer and the second group freaks out if you don't. Neither of them have enough grace for O'douls, not even the amber! What would it take for us all to hang out on the same rock and try to show the rest of the world Jesus?

"It Smells Like Beer"

My wife, and kids, and I were at Wendy's after church last sunday visiting with some long time friends of ours. Brian and Paula, are missionaries home on furlough, and both have had quite the impact on Leah and I. Brian is one of the deepest, most profound, persons I know. There's times when he takes these long breathes, and then he makes this face, this face that might look mean if you didn't know him well, and following those long breathes he speaks these words that seem like radio transmissions directly from Heaven. He has been a prophetic voice in my life and I can recall the times he has prayed over me better than most other times. Paula has a smile that cuts to the heart and brings encouragement with out words even being spoke. These two are some of my favorite people.

So Brian had mentioned to me that his family would be partaking in their annual Christmas tree burning ritual the following day. I was intrigued by this unorthodox practice, and was sure that this must be a deep, powerful, and moving experience for his family. I approached Paula about it and asked several times... "but what is the signifigance of the ceremony". Finally she explained... "nothing, I'm just married to a pyro!" Laughing she insisted that we smell their van. Hesitant, because ours often smells of old chicken nuggets and french fries, I did. The van, stuffed with fir branches, was full of Christmas conifer aroma, and I felt like they were some how sharing their family tradition with us. Isaac, wanting to do whatever his dad does, also smelled the van; and in his loudest four year old voice proclaims... "It smells like beer!"

Now I have not been able to figure out why Isaac associated the smell of tree branches with the smell of fermented beverage, but in a group of fundalmentalist, charismatic, recovering pharisees this was about the funniest thing anyone could have said! We said good night, got in our own van and drove home. Laughing... Quietly... then outloud, and again quietly. I was so encouraged by the fellowship of other believers. Why is it I sometimes expect God to only work in profound deep "aha" moments? Why is it I sometimes miss the general revelation he has intentionaly placed with in creation?

I am reminded once again, and I am so thankful, that God has created us to be in relationship, not just with Him, but also with others... and sometimes those relationships or at least the places where those relationships grow... are very ordinary and somewhat routine. I am reminded that if I'm not careful I might miss these moments. I am reminded that these messages of encouragement often come from unexpected places and that sometimes...well, they may smell like beer.