What music have you recently discovered (or rediscovered that really speaks to you? or just makes you smile ?
For me its Ziggy Marley. Its just so positive and upbeat. Its got the roots reggae feel like his dad’s music did, but he adds in just the right mix of pop hooks and melodies. It just makes me smile.
If you have kids and would like a children’s album that your kids can listen to with out going crazy check out Ziggy’s new album Family Time
Beautiful Day
Take a look into the sky
‘Cause the world is not so pretty
Free myself from worries
So I can see
It’s just a beautiful day
It’s just a beautiful day
You could be sad
But I rather you not be
Don’t dwell on the negative
Just the positivity
And it’s a beautiful day
It’s just a beautiful day
We’re always trying to satisfy these wants and needs
Take you some time for that inner peace
When your eyes are open
You’ll see things differently
There’s so much gloom
Hiding the reality
It’s just a beautiful day
Yeah, It’s just a beautiful day
Take a look into the sky
Wake up
Take a look into the sky
Keep your head up high
Take a look into the sky
I take a look into the sky
‘Cause the world is not so pretty
Free myself from worries
So I can see
It’s just a beautiful day
I could be sad
But you rather me not be
Don’t dwell on the negative just the positivity
And it’s a beautiful day
And it’s a beautiful day
We’re always trying to satisfy these wants and needs
Take you some time for that inner peace
When our eyes are open
We’ll see things differently
There’s so much gloom
Hiding the reality
It’s just a beautiful day
A beautiful day
Take a look into the sky
Wake up
Take a look into the sky
Look in the sky
Keep your head up high
It’s just a beautiful day
I know it’s a beautiful day
It’s just a beautiful day
I know it’s a beautiful day
No one can take that away
It’s just a beautiful day
I know it’s a beautiful day
Don’t you feel no way
It’s just a beautiful day
According to Mike Clawson the goal with this map will be to create a resource to help network folks with what is going on in their own local area, or help them start something new if there isn’t anything already. I think this is a great idea. I think it can end up being a great way for people who are interested in connecting with other people who are asking the same questions but just don’t know where to start.
I’m not officially connected to Emergent Village, but I do consider my self a part of the broader emerging church conversation. I went ahead and added my self to the map.
Here is a beautiful story I found at Sarcastic Lutheran about a community of believers bringing the Eucharist to a sister who had been denied the opportunity to participate in communion at her parents church.
Quite a while ago Grace from the Emerging Grace blog posted a group of posters in response to some less than grateful posters created by some people who vehemently oppose the emerging church movement. I downloaded the set and I now use them as my screen saver at home and at work. An expanded set of posters can be found at Grace’s current blog Kingdom Grace. ( I stumbled upon this expanded set just now as I was writing this post)
I was sitting in my office over lunch just taking a few moments to meditate on a passage of scripture. I look up from the page and watched as this set of posters flashed across my computer screen. I was struck by the beauty of these images and the values that they embodied. I believe that these images give us a glimpse in to the heart of the emerging church.
Over the course of few posts I would like to use some of these images to take a look at what I see as the heart of the emerging church of which I now consider my self a part of.
Non-conformity and the willingness to challenge traditional expressions of church were two of the first things to draw me to the emerging church conversation. I have never been one to do something just because “everyone else was doing it”, and I have never believed in doing things a certain way just because “thats the way we have always done it.” Thats just not in my nature. I have always thought that Why was an important question to ask.
I believe that it from these two aspects of the emerging church which all the others flow. With out the willingness to break from the herd and forge a new way forward, or the willingness to question the traditional expressions of church there could be no positive change. The church would be stuck in the past as our world changes rapidly around us.
We see these two values modeled by Jesus during his incarnation. All through out the gospels he went against the conventional religious teaching of the day. Jesus never did things the way that the religious leaders of the day thought that he should. In fact it was his unwillingness to conform, and his constant challenging of the religious establishment that got him killed.
I take a lot of flack sometimes for my perspective on many things. Just today I was drawn into a conversation I didn’t want to have and was called a “Greek loving apostate who was going to hell.” just because I don’t believe that the King James is the only true Bible. At times it can be discouraging to say the least but then I remember that Jesus once told his disciples that “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” I find comfort in that statement, because if you look at who was persecuted Jesus while he was on earth it was the religious establishment of his day.
So to all you fellow questioners and non-conformists Don’t give up! I believe we are on the right track
Here are some posts I found this morning while skipping Church.
Heather over at A Decontsucted Christian has a good post entitled Of franching and branding and growth about Hillsong’s global growth which reads more like a hostile corporate takeover than Spirit driven growth and multiplication.
Stuff White Christians Like This site is hilarious, even if you are a white Christian. I found this site by way if this post by Mike over at Emerging Pensees.
Never mind. It looks like I’m not skipping church. Just going to the late service.
Here are some statements that I have heard lately that really concern me. Some of them about left me speechless which is hard to do. (Just ask my wife)
“We need to be good stewards and be concerned about the environment. But we have to remember that ultimately the Lord is coming back and he’s going to destroy it all any way.”
“I think that dropping the bomb on Hiroshima actually saved a lot of lives” When I mentioned that the United States was the only country to ever use a nuclear bomb.
“The Bible is full of wars” Used in the context of defending the war in Iraq
“More people die of cold than the heat. So if global warming is really happening. I think it would be a good thing.”
When asked if Jesus would torture terrorists – “He wouldn’t. He would just kill them”
These are just a few that stuck in my mind. There have been plenty of others that I just can’t recall.
The problem for me is that all of these statements have come out of the mouths of fellow believers that I know and respect. People that I know love God deeply, and try to love their neighbor as themselves.
I am finding my self increasingly at odds with many of the believers I am in contact with on a daily basis. I’ve been told I sound “un-American”. I have been lambasted for daring to question if the American brand of capitalism is the most biblical economic system., or questioning if Wal-Mart is a good company.
Has anyone else had similar interactions?
Do you have any concerning statements to add?
Does anyone else notice an increasing polarization among believers?
If so what do you see as the root cause of this polarization?
Jonathan Dodson gives some tips over at his blog on 8 Ways to Easily be Missional. We don’t necessarily have to become part of some big program or organization to have a positive impact on our community.
We just need to become a part of the local community in which we live.
This is my latest poem and grows out of interactions I have had with some people over the last year or so. In my head it is a song (an acoustic folk song sung with attitude) but I don’t have any musical ability, so if any one wants to help with that it would be great
Don’t Be Bringin No New Fangled Thinkin
I got my guns and my color TV
You try to break through, but I can’t hear
It’s out side my theology
You can’t be right. You must be wrong
It’s obvious – only a fool can’t see
You can’t be right – because you don’t think like me.
I like my religion like an old pair of shoes.
Soft, worn out, and comfy
A pliable philosophy that conforms to my views
So don’t be bringin no new fangled thinkin
With your talk of His Grace & His Love
It’s all about no cussin, no druggin or drinkin
And earning a spot with the big man above
____
I got my Bible and a flag in my hand
Don’t even question American intention
Fall in line – it’s the law of the land
Our God is red white & blue
In God We trust is our battle cry
He watches over us but he don’t care about you
God is on our side and he carries a stick
He rides shotgun in our M1 tanks
As we destroy your village brick by brick by brick
So don’t be bringin no new fangled thinkin
With your talk of His Peace, and His Love
Its about American interest and American lives
It’s been sanctioned by the big man above
No don’t you be bringin no new fangled thinkin
About a God we can’t wear like a glove
We don’t want no God who won’t fit in our box
To whom power means nothing – Only unselfish Love
It’s been just a few weeks shy of a year since I have posted anything. I took a much needed break from the blogosphere. One of the reasons I quit is that I took a look at my life and realized there was a lot of talk and very little action. Basically I felt like a hypocrite. I talked a lot about how the Church was dropping the ball on so many things, while at the same time refusing to even pick up the ball and get in the game.
Last week our family just moved out of an apartment complex in a fairly small town into a three bedroom house in an older working class neighborhood just north of downtown Fort Wayne. The last year has been full of many struggles for our family. We have allowed every area of our lives to become unhealthy. We are looking at this move as an opportunity for us to make a fresh start.
God has given me a heart for the lost, a burning anger at injustice, and a growing dissatisfaction with consumerism and materialism. At times I almost cry when I drive through a once thriving neighborhood and see empty lots where houses once stood, or abandoned houses where families once lived. I feel guilty when I choose Wal-mart over the local market. He has given me a burning desire to stop just talking and start acting.
After a year away from blogging I decided to start up again. This time I hope to do a lot less ranting. (I’ll try any away) I plan to be more constructive in my posts, and plan to post updates and insights along the way as I start living out my faith on a daily basis. As I seek to have a positive impact on our neighborhood and our city.
7catz over at I Don’t Know Yet tagged me with this Meme.
Rules:
1. Post to your blog on the subject “A Manifesto for Church”, outlining your thoughts on what an ideal church would/should be like. Posts can be as detailed or as short as you like.
2. Include a copy of these rules.
4. Put a link to your post in the comments to this post.
5. Tag at least 4 other people.
6. What happened to rule 3?
3. Ah, here it is
When I was tagged for this meme, a rush of things came to mind about what I think an “ideal” church should be. I even started writing them out. As I read over some of the other posts on the topic, I was struck by how similar many of the posts were. There seems to be a growing number of people who are tired of “church as usual” and long for something deeper yet simpler. Church with out the programs, with out the masks, A church were we can be active participants, not just spectators. A Church where we all have a voice, not just the few deemed “spiritual” enough by the leadership or the people who are clean enough on the outside to project the desired image.
Should is a big word, and I don’t even want to attempt to say what an “Ideal” church should be. What a church should or shouldn’t be will vary greatly depending on the make up of the members, the community the church is in, and an endless list of other factors. I decided to post what the Ideal church for my family and me looks like at this moment.
Sunday Mornings at the local State Park
A time of family prayer
A couple devotions with the boys, and good discussion afterwards. It amazes me how much they get it
A short time of Bible Study or discussion with Jenny.
Maybe some hotdogs or brats on the grill and a nice hike.
Extreme teeter tottering with my boys
Tuesdays with another couple God placed in our lives
My wife and I have been going through some tough times in our relationship, and God has blessed us by giving us some great friends who have jumped at the chance to come up under Jenny and I and disciple us and help us to strengthen our marriage. Wednesday mornings with my Friend Rob
Good conversation. Good coffee & Great Bagels.
A place were I can be open, Where I can challenge and be challenged. Friday Night Bible Study.
Good Friends, Relaxed atmosphere, Laughter, Openness.
Active engagement with The Word of God.
I’m supposed to tag some people, but the people I had in mind have already been tagged. So I tag anyone who might be interested in responding.
May family and I had a blast camping up in MI. I’ll post some photos tommorow. It was nice to get some much needed down time. Things have been really stressful since my stay in the hospital back in April. Blogging will be kind of hard for me over the summer since I don’t have much time to spend on the computer. I was tagged 7catz for the Manifesto for the Church meme, and I will get to that this week,a that is a subject that is close to my heart.
Also I think we are going to take a break from “church” this summer, and I want to post some about how that is going.
“Its remarkable how often those two traits coincide”
I love that little interchange between Will Turner and Jack Sparrow as they are preparing to commandeer the Interceptor. I started thinking sometimes following Christ is a matter of walking that thin line between madness and brilliance.
I think about Jesus’ disciples leaving their jobs and their comfortable lives to follow someone they didn’t even know. Or Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church. Or Paul standing on Mars Hill Sharing the Gospel with a group of Pagans. I could post for hours listing others who have walked that line.
I believe Christ calls all of His follower to live their lives where Madness and Brilliance intersect.
“Come follow me” Jesus said “and I will make you fishers of men”
In Part one I dealt with the fact that fishing involved a whole community, and in part two I looked at the training and preparation (discipleship) that was needed to become a professional fisherman.
In this post I just wanted to touch briefly on the need to occasionally mend the nets.
After repeated use nets would wear out. From time to time the nets needed to be unfolded and examined thoroughly, they needed to be inspected for holes, and weaknesses that had developed, and mended accordingly.
I believe that is what the questions being asked by those who consider themselves part of the Emerging Church (or conversation) is all about. Many people (myself included) see that the church has gone to long with out inspecting the nets. We see that a good thorough re-evaluation of what it means to follow Christ and share the Gospel is overdue.
For the critics of the Emerging Church who say that many within the movement are going to far and abandoning the true Christian faith I just ask that you vave some patience and wait and see if God is behind it all
Acts 5:34-39
34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
“Come follow me” Jesus said “and I will make you fishers of men”
Part One was subtitled “Community” I wrote about that when Jesus said that he would make Simon and Andrew fishers of men, he wasn’t talking about a weekend fishing trip, but rather about a full time endeavor that took a whole community working together with a common purpose, and that God transforms communities through communities of Christians living transformed lives in the community.
Discipleship
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Matthew 28:19
Most men in Jesus’ day learned their trade from their father. It would have taken years of preparation to become a skilled fisherman. They would have had to learn many things before they were ready to venture out on their own, How to tie knots, what knot to use when and why, how to use the fishing nets, what nets to use in what situation, how to identify different species of fish, etc. They would even have to learn to predict the weather.
None of these things could be learned over night, they were learned over time. An apprentice fisherman would have spent years learning from his father, or another experienced fisherman. The apprentice wasn’t simply handed a net or a pole and left to their own devices, they were shown how to use them.
Yet that is what happens to many new believers. They are told that they are sinners and that they need a savior, they are told they need to repent of their sins, they are told that they need to put their faith in Christ. Then they are handed a fishing pole or a net (The Bible, prayer, church, etc.) and left to figure out how to use them by themselves.
Discipleship is important, It is important for new believers to be taught the doctrines of the Christian faith. But in addition to being taught the truths of Scripture, new believers need some one to come along side of them to teach them how to live those truths out, and it can’t happen only on Sunday morning, it must happen in the context of day to day life
Discipleship is learning. Its an educational process. That means that disciple-making involves teaching.
But this is not learning/teaching in the conventional sense. Jesus made disciples while walking, boating, and eating. It happened in the homes of sinners, in grave yards, and in gardens. He made disciples by telling stories, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Discipleship is intentional and strategic, but happens in the context of real life – including, but not limited to, a classroom.
I decided to repost a 3 part series from my old blog. I ran accross them recently, and thought they were worth reposting.
My wife and I attend a Bible study on Thursday night, our memory verse over the last few weeks has been Mathew 4:19 Come follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. Of course I have heard and read this verse countless times, but this last Thursday that verse really came alive for me. It got me thinking what exactly is involved in being fishers of men?
This post is part one of at least a three part series.
Jesus wasn’t talking about wasn’t a person with a fishing pole spending a Saturday sitting by the shore. Jesus used the words to call Simon and Andrew, two commercial fishermen. The type of fishing Jesus was talking about was not something that could be done alone it took a group of people working as a team. Depending on the method used there might have been as many as three fishing boat crews involved to bring in a single catch.
After the catch was brought to shore the work was far from over. The fish had to be sorted, preserved in salt, and prepared for transport. Also there were boat builders, blacksmiths who made the metal weights for the nets, etc This took not only fisherman but a whole community working together with a common purpose. Every one did their part their were no passive spectators (pew sitters). Everyone participated as well as benefitted from the industry.
God transforms communities through communities of Christians living transformed lives in the community. As Christians we are all called to participate in God’s mission of restoration. This must be done in the context of day to day living. Fisherman worked long hard hours six days a week. Only on the Sabbath would they cease from their work.
I think for many Christians there is a disconnect between their spiritual life and their secular life. Sundays and maybe Wednesday evening are set aside for spiritual time, many will even add private time through out the week for prayer or morning devotions. The rest of their lives (work, taking the kids to the park, shopping, etc) are thought of as secular time.
If Christianity is to continue to have a positive effect on the culture in the coming years this way of thinking needs to change. Christians need to understand that just as the Father sent Jesus into the world, Jesus has sent us into the world. There is no such thing as a secular pursuit.
It is time for Christians to get out of the pews, get on our knees before God and ask forgiveness, and then get out into the street, and get to work.
I’m not sure what to make of the charts. One one hand they seem fairly accurate, but at the same time I wonder if we need any more labels. There is already enough that divides the Church. I can’t help but wonder if the Enemy loves it when we spend our time thinking about which brand of Christianity is Right and which one is wrong.
Tyler over at Following Him Alone wrote this beautiful post about Grace. Grace that is more than just “God’s unmerited favor towards us” I’ve posted a couple excerpts I really liked. But I would definitely read the whole article.
“Grace wasn’t favor that I didn’t deserve! Grace is simply the overwhelming power of His unfailing love worked through every moment of my life, and really through eternity. I don’t get more of it some days than others, it is as constant as His love, which is the one true constant in the universe.”
“Much of the body of Christ lives as though grace truly is unmerited favor, and so they don’t see it as an act of love but instead as an act of forebearance, staying the hand of an angry God. But Grace is not an act of forebearance, of that I can absolutely assure you.
This misconception positively drives the “normal Christian life” of Americans. You know, now that you are saved you must toe the line and be outwardly righteous because God isn’t going to be patient with all of these sins now that you are saved. Oh yes, they will say, you are always saved, but there are blessings here and in eternity and so you need to behave properly and be one of us so God doesn’t have to constantly be remembering that you are under grace and not available to be wiped off the face of the earth.
And so we live under a false grace that is anything but graceful. A grace that we do not deserve, that is completely unjustified. It is the gospel of guilt, of being unworthy little wretches.”
This is my friend that lives under the bridge. When he is in the police roundup in the local paper they don’t even give his name any more. They just call him the man that lives under the bridge.
But he’s not just the man who lives under the bridge, he not just some one to chuckle at when you see his name in the paper. He is my friend, and he is someone who is created in the image of God. I’m glad that I have a wife who remembers that when I forget. I have known my friend for a few years now. There has been many times I have thrown up my hands and said ” I’m done with him” or “That guy will never learn” or “There’s no hope for him”
Father, forgive my for losing hope for my friend, for not loving him the way you loved me. Help me to see him through your eyes. Help to not just tell him about your Love, but to show him your Love every time I see him
This Meme is inspired by Jonathan Brink’s post Afraid to Hope.
What’s Your Personal Story of Hope?
Four years ago, my marriage was dead. My wife and I had separated for the second and what looked to be the final time. By all human standards our marriage was dead, our family forever fractured.
One of my favorite phrases in the Bible is “But God” Our marriage was dead “but God” brought it back to life. When I came to the realization that Jenny was moving on and that she wasn’t going to take me back this time, I swallowed a bottle of pills and chased it down with some 100 proof Hot Damn. I remember waking up in the hospital bed, and seeing the cross on the wall. After a week I put a smile on my face and they let me out. For the next couple weeks everywhere I looked I either saw God or Death- There was no in between.
Then one night I decided to go to a party with some friends. I was drinking beer, vodka and whiskey, and smoking a little bit of pot. I remember that my Head Started spinning and my whole life started passing before my eyes. God revealed to me where I was at spiritually . I became aware of the urgent times we live in. I ended up running out side in the rain and falling to the ground and in an almost audible voice I heard God say “Aaron, turn your life over to Me now. Or you never will. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE”. I remember being so confused and not understanding what was going on. The next morning I woke up and walked home as fast as I could. I hit my knees and turned my life over to God. It’s been a bumpy road at times but I couldn’t imagine going back.
Over the next few months God slowly restored my relationship with my wife and my children. He provided a job so I could provide for my family. All through this Jenny watched me, and when she finally figured out that it wasn’t just some ploy to get her back and she started seeing the hand of God in my transformation, she saw the peace that I had and she wanted it to. She quietly gave her life to Christ as well.
This is my story of hope. Most people had given up on me years before this. I had been in open rebellion against God since I was a teenager. I do know of two people who never lost hope. My Grandparents who prayed for me every day, and I’m sure that even though they didn’t live to see their prayers answered, they knew well before I did that God would answer their prayers.
So what’s your story of hope?
I tag Jonathan, Glenn, Barb, John and any one else who feels moved to participate. Just link back to this post, so we can all be encouraged by your Stories of Hope.
Moving the church outside the walls doesn’t necessarily make it missional. If the purpose of our activities is ultimately to bring more people into our church, That is not missional.
Being a missional church is about moving outside the walls, not to grow our church, but to extend God’s love to those around us.
A missional church can’t be concerned about getting a return on their investment
A missional church must me a church where people see them selves as participants in the mission of God, not just passive recipients of his Grace.
As the body of Christ we are God’s physical representation here on earth. Being missional is about being a redemptive force in our community. Its about God’s will being done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
A missional church is more concerned about how it can enable and encourage its members to serve the community more than it is concerned about offering “services” to its members.
A missional church must be less concerned with making converts than it is with making disciples.
The old way of doing church was attractional. (How can we bring them in?) A missional church is incarnational. (How can we embody Christ in the community?)
Being missional must come from Love. For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son.
A truly missional church must be a loving church. People are smart if they sense that we are doing the things we are doing with the motive of getting them to come to our church they will know, and it will turn them off.
Being a missional church is about loving people like this.
DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED
I ran across this Smashing Pumpkins video on You Tube. For those who live in comfortable Christian circles whats portrayed in this video is unimaginable, but this is reality for many people. We need to remember that Jesus came to save people like this, and as the body of Christ. It is our calling to come along side people like this and love them. I can say with out a doubt that it is only by God’s Grace that I am not sitting in an alley somewhere caught in the stranglehold of addiction.
This is a POWERFUL VIDEO. I may be crazy but I think this would be a good video to be shown in Church on a Sunday morning.
I was listening a local Contemporary Christian Radio station the other day and Marx’s quote came to mind. There is a lot of truth to his statement. There are very few songs on CCR that challenge people to step out side their comfort zones and follow Christ. On local station boasts that it is “family friendly” and “uplifting and encouraging” and only plays only “uplifting and positive news”. It’s so “soothing” at times I have to change the channel before I nod off on the way to work.
Religion can be like an opiate. The outward practice of religion can bring comfort to us. Singing songs with like minded people on Sunday, sitting passively in the pew, having a nice dinner after church, uttering a prayer before dinner, maybe reading our Bible from time to time,listing to Christian music, etc. We can so immerse ourselves in churchianity that we can become oblivious to the world around us.
That is the difference between being religious and following Christ. Following Christ means facing rejection, stepping out side our comfort zones, putting the needs of others before our own, and at times pain. When we make the shift from just believing in God to Following Christ we will start to be aware of all that is wrong in the world, instead of tuning it all out. The things that bring Jesus to tears will move us to tears. The things that provoke him to anger will provoke us to anger, and most importantly the things that move Him to action will move us to action
?
