What I 'm Reading

I am a little irritated that it's taking so long to receive...

I should be more patient since it only costs me 75 cents.

I've decided to go ahead and do a quick read of Orthodoxy while I'm waiting. This should make my friend Mr. G very happy. Here's a quote from the first chapter where Chesterton is seeking common ground with his reader on the basis of "...this desirability of an active and imaginative life, picturesque and full of a poetical curiosity..." Beautiful. He goes on to say, "...we need this life of practical romance; the combination of something that is strange with something that is secure". I'm a little anxious to find out what lies ahead.

Don't tell my pastor

Here are my results from the theological worldview quiz. Check out the link at the bottom. How do you score? You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 86% Neo orthodox 64% Emergent/Postmodern 64% Fundamentalist 61% Charismatic/Pentecostal 57% Reformed Evangelical 57% Classical Liberal 36% Roman Catholic 25% Modern Liberal 21% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

"I-bot-a-hon-da-I-should-a-bot-a-yah-ma-ha"

Today's post has nothing to do with my lack of interest in motor cross, but it is a suggested theme for some Jesus Junk I was re-introduced to through my friend Dan.

I spent the past week at the 2007 Fellowship of Christian Assmeblies International Conference at Church for All Nations in Tacoma, WA. Not the coolest conference you could go to, but a breath of fresh air into my spirit. The theme was Live a Legacy, Leave a Legacy... and I am so thankful for the history, and legacy, and traditions, that have brought me to the place I am. I was moved by Bishop Joseph Garlington's message from the Emmaus road ( a re occuring theme in my devotinal life as well as a major launch point for the BLC retreat I did around Easter). "Dance with the one who brung you" was his application point. I get so tired of christians being wierd...especially petecostals. Like who thinks it's a good idea to print "tongue phrases" on a white t and then sale them for $50!?! I get just as fed up with the guys on TV that claim Jesus wants everybody to be healthy and wealthy. Casey Treat and Bishop Garlington, speakers at the conference, I'm sure are friends with those guys, but I did appreciate their balanced perspective and approach, at least at this conference. Somehow I left this conference realizing these weird people are my brothers and sisters, some of them are spiritual fathers and mothers, and for that...I'm happy to be connected to these weirdos!

I remember sitting in a room with Brian Mc Laren and hearing him say something to the effect of "there is nothing wrong with charasmatics, they're just like 4th graders". Like "they have a good foundation they just haven't learned the 6th grade curriculum yet." I know it wasn't his intention, but I strangely felt he was saying he was better than me. I have found heart harmony with Mc Laren and other emerging authors like Tony Jones and Len Sweet. I've been capivated by the writings of folks like Mc Manus, Bell, Nouwen, Willard. I have found friendship and grace among those in the "emerging conversations", and I have yet to meet someone who is really for moral realivitism. Many of my friends have found wholeness, peace and rest in more orthodox mainline churches. I look at the freedom, resources, and tools available to church planters in other traditions, and all of these things lead me to ask the question... "Why am I serving in the church I grew up in?" Perhaps I should not only jump ship, but like Cortez... burn the ships so I don't ever go back.

And then I spend this week at this conference. There were alot of other young people there. Granted, most of them are related to someone on the national board, but there were alot of other young people there. There was a diversity of races at these meetings. Workshops were directed at politics, cultural events, and some were specificaly focused to youth workers. Issues such as race, justice, and the excessiveness of word faith teaching were at least addressed, albeit much differently than I would have liked to seen. These are good signs. It seems like this old white gentleman's club is at least looking for a different horse than the dead one they are riding. I feel hopeful that this purposefully unorganized and non authoritive organization is moving through some exciting changes. I am hopeful that this fellowship of automous churches would begin working together to plant many new autonomous churches. I am hopefully that there will be enough grace extended to emerging thinkers like myself that the "young fellowship ministers" don't feel compelled to become Baptists or Vineyarders or Presbyters. Maybe I'll start a new group... "The Reformed FCA" or "FCA village" or maybe some cool name like "FOUTH WAVE". Maybe not. For now I am content to dance with the one who brung me. This sometimes confused "post-charasmatic" is hopeful. I am thankful to recieve a legacy of purity, faithfulness, and mystery. And I am committed to leaving a similair legacy that leaves more room for inclusion, education, diversity, disciplines, and mystery.

I think I'm going to download that old Petra song... "Dance with the one you know who got you there, Dance - with the one who brung ya, Don't change hats. You know which one you wear!" Does anyone still have the "Unseen Power" cassette?

God of Wonders...

There is an interesting piece in TIME magazine titled Einstein & Faith. I don't think Al would appreciate me quoting him to support my belief in a loving good God who has a wonderful plan for my life. And I doubt he would agree with me when I invite others to "surrender their life to Jesus" or even when I suggest they "be more open to acknowledging Him and His Kingdom". I struggle with his fatalistic views and then I wonder what he would have thought if he was around today?

I think me and Einstein find common ground in what I would call the "Mystery of God" and I was inspired by this man's thoughts this morning;

"Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything that we can comprehend is my religion. To that extent I am, in fact, religious."

Me too Al, well said. As a student of theology, and a seeker of truth (as well as Truth), I find this even more applicable in trying to penetrate the secrets of not just nature, but the nature of God. This "veneration" drives my faith, my ministry, and my morality, but also challenges me to hold these things, especially the cultural applications of them, a little more loosely. Does that make me a scientist? Maybe only in the sense that I desire truth. Today I pray a prayer for all scientists.

May God Bless us, and allow us to discover truth... and (forgive me Al) may we be more open to Him and His Kingdom. Amen.

"We are Idolaters"

So I once again got roped into the Easter drama production. At Sunday's rehersal we were talking about "messianic Jews" and someone refered to them as "completed Jews". I made some comment about this being a real divisive term. It might make regular ol Jews feel incomplete, much like refering to people in my own circles as "full gospel" makes others feel like they only got part of the gospel, like they may not really be saved...

I was then told, by the director, if they didn't accept Jesus as messiah they were worshiping a false Jesus and they we're idolaters. (which I actually agree with it, but I get a little uncomfortable with the us and them stuff). I got real bold and said "Yeah, but alot of what's happening in evangelical churches is people worshiping an inaccurate picture of Jesus", We're idolaters too!

Oh how I don't want to be. Will there be Idolaters in heaven? Only by the grace of God. Will any of us make it? Only by the grace of God.

"I'm starting to change the way I think..."

For the first time in my life, I'm leading a small group in a house where I actually saw a DVD titled something like, Spiritual Warfare Tools to Recieve the Lord's Annointing in your Finances. I believe it is starring someone with a last name like Dollar or Price. (I could never teach prosperity with a last name like Spoon).
Anyway, these folks, the one's who have opened their home, are fabulous people with four generations attending our church. Sunday night as we were discussing the Kingdom, Rwanda, faith, and those guys on TV, she brings up wealth and says "I'm starting to change the way I think..." I wanted to stand and shout! It was so good! People do change! This is what it looks like when His "Kingdom comes".

Shovels

I hate to be such a metaphorical guy that no one ever understands what I'm saying. But Jesus was metaphorical, and most people didn't understand Him, so I guess I'm in good company. I read this story a little over a year ago, and yes, that is my comment at the bottom. It should say, A man just called and said the shovels HE was going to deliever are not coming...

Over a year later, the man has called back. The shovels are already there. There are more on the way. I now know where to dig. Who cares that the fence is falling? I have some digging to do.