UnChristian

I pretty much stopped calling myself a Christian in most contexts a while back. It's because of my experiences here in USA and in Europe that I began calling myself a "follower of Jesus."

The whole issue of the testimony of the church is one that is near and dear to the hearts of some of my friends and me... a new book is out which addresses the issue...

I heard an interview last night driving from DC. Some of the author's ideas are that Christianity is seen in America by unbelieving folks as:

1. Judgemental
2. Sheltered (not in the world)
3. Too Political (should we have national flags in churches??? or photos of presidents??? am I against Romney or Huckaby because they are so outspoken about ?)
4. Anti-Homosexual (I think they mean the people not the act)
5. There were more but i can't remember them...

This is a link to a generous sample of the book, click here...

I think this is some important material for those of us who are followers of Jesus to be aware of... how can we possibly present Jesus to folks without understanding them???

American Gangster

rough film, yes... film
it does not glorify drugs, it shows the lengths men will go to to be rich, to have power, it shows that all men are screwed up, even those who are faced with the task of law enforcement, they too are screwed up people... even the one guy who wound not steal money, he was faced with the fact that he had put his job before his family and finally realized he was no better... is any man any better?
This film shows the truths of Romans 1, 2, and 7...
interestingly a rendition of Amazing Grace is playing when the gangster is cornered outside a church...
its also a film about influence, how men influence one another...
at the end the bad guy stood alone, older, alone, on the street outside the gate of the prison he had just spent fifteen years in... no one to greet him, he was alone...

a radical on extremists

I almost called this post "an extremist on extremists," but...

I heard people in Iraq call leaders in the US “Christian extremists,” just as leaders here [USA] speak of “Muslim extremists.” Everyone is delaring war and asking for God’s blessing. One beautiful Iraqi mother threw her hands in the air and said, “Your country is declaring war in the name of God and asking God’s blessing, and that is the same thing my country is doing. What kind of God is this? What has happened to the God of love, to the Prince of Peace?” Her question haunts me.

- Shane Claiborne in The Irresistible Revolution, p.218-219

I read this on Veterans Day but decided to wait a couples of days to post. When I read this I was reminded of the story I heard from the war in Yugoslavia when priests would bless tanks going to battle on both sides of the fron as Serbs fought Croats... how does one make sense of such? how?

points 4 and 5

Christian Humanism

point 4 - The Christian Humanist asserts the rightful place of reason - that Christian theology is rational and the Bible is its main text; with the Story, the Gospel as a rational foundation for knowledge [I hope I have not interpreted him too much].

point 5 - Christian Humanism provides guidelines for Christian Identity which includes education (providing wisdom, not skills - an understanding of Truth - embracing difference while being tolerant of difference - patriotic, but critically - science and technology should serve the common good not themselves... Christianity Identity includes embodied in the world but transcendent in ideals...

Christian Humanism

point 2

Christian Humanists stand in contrast and opposition to that which dehumanizes people.

Christian Humanism

SO, I went to these two lectures sponsored by the local university. The speaker was from S. Africa. The second lecture was titled "Christian Humanism against Fundamentalism and Secularism."

In his talk the speaker (more on him later) gave a manifesto. One point of the manifesto is that a Christian Humanist believes that

Christians are humans first and Christians by choice.

more to come.

a gift that reminds of a promise

my good friends, the "emperor" and "empress" gave me a cool, cool gift... a pen that is made from bullet casings from the 1990s war in the Balkans. There is a cottage industry in Bosnia, in particular, which take the brass(?) from these instruments of war and turns them into works of peace...

back in Feb. I brought home a Turkish Kave set made from the same material. I thought of a prophesy of peace... click here to read of the promise of peace on earth to come...

Thanks, von Lazo, as you see it is my prayer journal instrument now... may His peace be upon us all as He extends His Grace to us through His Son and The Spirit.

think on this

"...after seeing plenty of poor folks forced into economic crimes by their poverty, and after seeing plenty of rich folks so content in their riches that they forget that they need God or anyone else, I think we are all ready for something new."
- Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution, (p. 172)

Read Proverbs 30:8-9

I live in a rich town. I am struck by this quote and how the Proverb speaks to me in this culture of wealth...

a big question

there is a big question being discussed on the John Templeton Foundation website... if you would like to consider some thoughtful answers to the question "Does the universe have purpose?" click here

(thanks Steve A. for the tip from the New York Times)

((several days till the 2nd birthday of Kingdom Travelin))

last post for a while

I think this will be my last post for a while (probably a bit more than a week). I have been pretty wrapped up with the last post and there is more I want to do with it 'cuz i think its important. Anyway, on Tuesday sweet Anna and I board a plane for HU. We are excited about seeing our friends in service to the Lord and we will be staying in our daughter Joanna's flat in Budapest while there. Lots of conversations are lined up for this trip.

'till then, here are some thoughts from the news (I've been a little ill and laying around listening to the news...)

The news from the Iraq-Turkey border isn't good. The PPK is creating a further complication in an already crazy situation...

I read an interesting story about the Kosovo-Serbia situation which describes Serbia as a Russian client state. Read here. I have found this interesting historically but I want to make sure that people realize that there are many folks in Serbia who do not look at Putin as a hero-savior.

A friend and I are discussing God and world events. The question we are wrestling with is how involved He (God, not my friend) is in world affairs and how much He allows humans to take their own 'fallen' course of action. In a similar conversation, a student once said, "if God chooses to do nothing, isn't that still a choice God makes?" Indeed, and the good thing is the assurance that we can have that the ultimate good is going to prevail in the end and that He is with us today, tomorrow and from now on... He will never forsake us. For this I am so grateful.

a great thought about the heart and my job among students

My job is in a high school. I try to teach seniors about God. I have been saying for a good deal of time that quite often, the reason so many young people "leave" the faith (Christian... uh.. evangelical-?ish??) in college is because it was not a real faith of their own to them to start with. This book I'm reading speaks to the point of this topic:

"I would suggest that in most cases he has not forsaken his faith. In reality, his faith was the faith of his parents; he simply lived within its limits while he was still at home. When he went away to school and those restraints were removed, his true heart was revealed. He had not internalized the faith. He had not entrusted himself to Christ in a life-transforming way. He did the "Christian" things he was required to do at home, but his actions did not flow from a heart of worship. In the college culture, he had nothing to anchor him, and the true thoughts and motives of his heart led him away from God. College was not the cause of his problem. It was simply the place where his true heart was revealed. The real problem was that faith never took root in his heart." (Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, p.64)

I have not heard this stated quite as succinctly as this. This is what I have observed and suspected for a long time but not read put quite this way. Herein is the answer to seek to reach hearts with the Gospel. Nothing new here, just affirmation of what we knew to be true. I just wish I could generate some conversation about this. Maybe I can get something started through Facebook with some twenty-somethings. I would love to hear the agreements and disagreements from people who are close to this topic and have been there recently.

back from the retreat, catching up

Driving home this afternoon from our GREAT retreat, I was thinking what a busy fall I'm in the middle of... the beginning of school, the bi-annual retreat, next up is interims (ugh), football games, a wedding to do in Oct, a CEO meeting in Oct. to get ready for in mid-Oct, a CEO trip to get ready for... man, it'll be Nov. before I get to breathe...

I cleaned out my inbox, SO, I get this email from a friend. A fwd... (have I ever mentioned how annoyed I get at some fwds?) I often delete fwds, but I looked at this one. It was about British Muslims and the hatred that surrounds them. They carried placards of real hate. I was shocked and concerned. I invested some time researching this issue and discovered that most of the stuff out there is from "anti-" groups, either anti-God, anti-Muslim, anti-liberal, or anti-something. It was saddening. I wrote my friend that only the work of Jesus in hearts or His return will bring this to an end.

...sort of related...

From MSN.COM, "Greenspan charts our economic course in 'The Age of Turbulence." Who is Greenspan kidding? Please tell me an "age" during the existence of the human that WASN'T an 'age of turbulence'?

next post will have some quotes from the talks at the retreat...

62 years ago today

Sixty two years ago today, the atomic bomb was birthed in the Nevada (right?) desert (eleven years later, I was born). This birthed the atomic age, and was, in my opinion a MAJOR factor in the development of the Cold War. (I just returned from the former Soviet Union and am bringing home some memorabilia from the Cold War. I'll post more about that later) I don't know what day July 16th gets... but it's up there... at least in my experience in life, politics, history and reality itself. I think that July 16 is second in the twentieth century after June 28th but I think I already posted about that... hmmm, let's see...

I've never seen a list of the word's most important days. But these two would (on my list) be up there. I do know what #1 would be though... The Thursday or Friday (depending on what you do with the day of Jesus' death) before passover in 29 AD and the Sunday after Passover that year would share #1 (we can argue why the first day of man is not #1 in the comments if you wish (" bring it") on the list. Why? Easy! Cuz, this screwed up world was, with that act of death, burial and Resurrection, offered REAL peace, from Grace!

remembering Jerry Falwell

As most have heard, Jerry Falwell has gone to glory... I shook his hand twice: once when I received my B.S. from Liberty University and then when I received my M.A.R. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, both times, he said "Congratulations buddy." He had no idea who I was, but thanks to his vision, I learned how to learn.

I heard about his death as I was driving from Greenberry's back to school just before 2, when my daughter called me to let me know, she graduates with her B.A. from Liberty tomorrow, she had heard on campus and called me. About an hour later I heard it on the radio. Then I got to school and a colleague sent an email around (this person, like many, didn't like Jerry because of something he had done, she made some comment in the email which announced the death, I was a little put off by the crack but let it go, until now). That night I scanned the beginning of the news shows, they all led with the death of the "controversial figure." I watched the networks (I don't have cable) and there seemed to be a generally civil discussion of Jerry's words and his accomplishments.

Of course, the Moral Majority was discussed, it seemed that Falwell was given the credit for the election of Reagan and both Bushes and the development of the Christian right as the most powerful single political force in America today. But as I listened to Tony Campolo on The News Hour, he really hit a kind note. Campolo, no Falwell Fundamentalist, stated that while Jerry might disagree and debate you on TV with force, he did so with kindness. He was gracious, he was a gentleman. Yesterday a friend told me that Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton had made similar comments.

On the News Hour, Campolo said these things

"My wife, who, unlike myself, is a strong advocate for gay marriage, once had a meeting with him. And she said, "I came away feeling that this man was a gentleman, and he spoke with kindness and with civility." And, off camera, he was as gracious a man as you could possibly imagine. And I have found him to be the same.

We differed politically, not theologically very much, but politically. And we will stand in awe of his impact in history. Of course, his greatest impact is not his politics. His greatest legacy is going to be Liberty University, where thousands of people will be raised up to support the things that he believed in." (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/jan-june07/falwell_05-15.html)

I learned to learn at Liberty. I was glad that one of our girls went to Liberty. I have met some amazing servants of God who trained at Liberty. I think Campolo and the other guy on TV got it right, Jerry's greatest accomplishment was founding Liberty.

But now, Jerry is so enthralled in the glory of God, that he cares no longer of these things, now he sees the Maker, the Saviour, face to face, not darkly like we do... Thanks be to God for Jerry. I'll see you there Jerry.

bono and the naacp

Bono got an award from the NAACP.

his speech is on YouTube.

Its very worth the 7.5 minutes it will take you to watch.

we should slow the heck down

I have been thinking about boundaries lately...

It is my busiest time of year: school is near an end and thus going at warp 5, the reading of papers (about 750 pages worth), the giving of exams, the organizing of this and that... I enjoy the pace, but it's stressing sometimes... so I'm extra sensitive to the pace of life... so I need to recognize boundaries...

Last week the guy who was speaking at a church we attend mentioned a violinist in the Washington Metro...

I was blown away by the idea...

A leading violinist playing phenomenal music on an amazing violin for 45 or so minutes at a busy Washington D.C. Metro... who would notice? This is the question posed by the Washington Post. An article in the Washington Post Magazine, that I found long but really nicely written and fairly compelling, describes the whole deal in some detail, click here or not.

The bottom line... virtually no one noticed. Apparently one guy made time to slow down and listen. Everyone was just too busy... we should slow down...

Along those lines a friend sent me some words, that someone she knows received, that fit in this theme... think about this little tid-bit of what was said...

"To overextend yourself on any level would require a time of extended recovery" (M. Burns)

This writer then posts Psalm 32.8... I went to Psalm 32 and it really spoke to me... read the entirety of Psalm 32

As a follower of Jesus, I need to slow down... to hear the direction He has for me... I should not be like a horse or a mule... thoughtlessly and without understanding plowing ahead... I must slow down, listen to Him and follow Him... but if I refuse to stop and listen... how can I hear?

we should slow down... if you didn't go to the article above, go now and watch the video, and be warned...

to slow the heck down...

Obama 'gets' Jefferson

Obama states...

"Many of the leading lights of the Revolution, most notably Franklin and Jefferson, were deists who--while believing in an Almighty God--questioned not only the dogmas of the Christian church but the central tenets of Christianity itself (including Christ's divinity). Jefferson and Madison in particular argued for what Jefferson called a "wall of seperation" between church and state, as a means of protecting individual liberty in religious belief and practice, guarding the state against sectarian strife, and defending organized religion against the state's encroachment or undue influence." (p. 217)

did I mention I'm readin Obama?

Back a few months ago, I picked up Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope. It has not been priority reading. But it has gone from a window sill, to bedside table (a worthless place for meeee...zzzzzzzzz) and to the table beside my spot in the living room. So yesterday when I didn't feel like heavy reading I picked it up and began where I left off maybe a month ago... I was in the chapter titled "Faith." I was and am facinated by what the man has to say. It sounds to me like he will be worshiping Him forever. He writes in this chapter what amounts to a "Beliefs Thesis" (my students will get that) without the theological jargon.

"I felt God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth." (p. 208)

huh...

capitalized pronouns and all...

can Rush say this? oh, sorry...

further, Mr. Obama says...

"But religion is rarely practiced in isolation; organized religion, at least, is a very public affair." (p. 213)

and

"Our failure as progressives to tap into the moral underpinnings of the nation is not just rhetorical, though. Our fears of getting 'preachy' may also lead us to discount the role that values and culture play in addressing some of our most urgent social problems." (p. 214-5)

"...the problems of poverty and racism and the uninsured... are also rooted in societal indifference and individual callousness--..." (p. 215)

interesting, very interesting...

unrelated ideas?

"The church's unwitting capitulation to powerful cultural forces has caused it to lose its prophetic, other-worldly voice. We must remember that we are the people of the future formed by the past, and living in the present." - W. Tullian Tchividjian

I got this quote from a missions conference recently... during the same session, I wrote these things down that I heard said...

'We must not be so pipelined (tunnel-visioned?) in our vision to reach the lost that we lose sight of who we are as the Church of Jesus Christ.' - This comment is aimed at causing the church to consider how its tactics to reach the lost have caused it to lose some sight of itself, who she is, and how she should live. I think a good challenge... then I, days later, in reviewing these ideas thought this...

The church should be involved in the world, in culture, flavoring the world, but this should be done in such manners which hold her true to who she is... The spotless bride of Christ.

Thus one must consider what is appropriate for this bride to be a part of? How can this be clearly seen day-to-day? The bride has mandates from her groom. To be holy as he is holy, thus demonstrating she is his. As a bride is set apart at a wedding from the guests, so is the bride set apart from the world by her robes of righteousness. This bride is set apart but not removed, indeed, after the wedding she may walk down the aisle and smilingly acknowledging some of the guests present. At the reception, she and her groom mingle with all present, thanking them for their participation, their presence, their friendship. She radiates happiness and joy. People are happy to meet her because of her joy. The friends that surround her. Some from the past, some new, some will be around in a few years, some will not... What is the impact of this day and its memory on them? How will her reaction to them impact how they view her and her groom? Would they, having seen her, cause them to wish to be friends with them? Consider these questions in light of the fact that if you are a follower of Jesus, you are the part of the bride of Christ...

How does these 'unrelated ideas' inform us about the impact of the church? What lessons can we learn from this? Several, I hope. I hope to consider these ideas in the future... The plan of the wedding. The cost of the wedding. The gown/robe she wears. The joy she shows. Her attractiveness.

the death of Saddam raises questions

My friend J.R. posted a thoughtful response to the execution of Saddam...

I commented this way...

"good thoughts man, i used to argue for capital punishment all the time... then i thought about it more deeply... i have felt and thought exactly the same kind of things that you are expressing... we should all ask ourselves is in regard to your closing thoughts, do we have all the answers? do we know enough? i know we think we do... but do we??? N.T.Wright has some interesting thoughts in his recent book _Evil and the Justice of God_... in Nov i heard him speak about the war in the context of this book and during the Q & A it was clear that many of the Americans (it was an all American audience in the DC area) really struggled with one of the concepts that he put forth: FORGIVENESS... now, that is not to say that there should be no consequences... but CAPITAL PUNISHMENT???? I dunno, man... thanks for getting the conversation going in my head and in the head of others... do we really know enough to kill? Oh, another study on this subject is the film 'Capote'... but that's another post and comment isn't it?"

Here are some quotes from a page on which i have three flags in my copy of the book...

"Forgiveness doesn't mean 'I didn't really mind' or 'it didn't really matter.' I did mind and it did matter, otherwise there wouldn't be anything to forgive at all, merely something to adjust my attitudes about."

"Nor is forgiveness the same as saying, 'Let's pretend it didn't really happen.' This is a little trickier because part of the point of forgiveness is that I am committing myself to work toward the point where I can behave as if it hadn't happened. But it did happen, and forgiveness itself isn't pretending that it didn't; forgiveness is looking hard at the fact that it didn't; forgiveness is looking hard at the fact that it did and making a conscious choice - a decision of the moral will - to set it aside so that it doesn't came as a barrier between us. In other words, forgiveness presupposes that the thing which happened was indeed evil and cannot be simply set aside as irrelevant. Along that route lies suppressed anger and a steady distancing of people who no longer trust one another. A much better plan is to put things out on the table, as indeed the New Testament commands us to do, and deal with them."

Okay, that's too much quoting... this is too long a post... I need to think more... but the death of Saddam raises this question: is capital punishment okay? I'm not sure anymore...

Jesus died to forgive sin, which can enable us to be forgiving too... if we are willing...