An Interesting Quote From Detective Tony

I've been rereading the book by Tony Campolo called Speaking My Mind - I read it a year or two ago or so, and I remembered that I thought that some of his views on theology and the church were pretty out there. But then I remembered that I have changed a lot of my thinking during that time, so I started reading it again and found out that a lot of what I've been thinking about is talked about in his book (at least so far) - namely women leadership in the church, racism, and more.

I labeled Campolo as Detective Tony, because although the subtitle of his book calls him a prophet, he resists that name and calls himself more of a detective - someone who "works hard trying to ferret out the truth about what God is doing in the church and in the world, and the part we are to have in that work." Hence the name.

Anyway, I thought this was an interesting quote as I'm always struggling with the idea of marketing within the church. Here it is:

"It has been said that Christianity started in Israel; was exported to Greece, where it was made into a philosophy; taken to Rome, where it was made into an organization; sent to Europe, where it was made into a culture; and sent finally to America, where it was made into a business enterprise."

I am just now getting into Campolo's chapter on Evangelicalism and Science - should be interesting, especially considering that he brings up a book that Roger, the senior minister of the church I am worship minister at, has talked about in a message. The book is called "Flatland" and it's written by a mathematician who talks about the dimensions of the universe. In the book (according to Roger and Campolo), he brings up an illustration of what it would be like if a three-dimensional person arrived on a two-dimensional planet. He could do "miracles", at least in the eyes of the two-dimensional people, because he could "disappear", i.e. because he's three dimensional, by jumping up, he would be on a different dimension than the two-dimensional people see. I will probably post again on this illustration and apply it to our increasing understanding of the universe, and how the Bible was written in a time when people thought the earth was flat, and how slowly Christianity accepts new ideas that come out in the science realm - but that's way too much thinking for this early in the morning!

Just when I thought the apocalypse was happening right now...

with all of the hurricanes and the earthquake in los angeles yesterday, as well as the fact that our neighbor finally parked one of their cars in their driveway for the first time since they've moved in, I mean they don't live right next door, but since the only thing next to us right now is the construction trailer and the nearest house is three lots away I guess you could say that they are our neighbors, anyway they have something like nine cars that they park along the street and it is really annoying but today one car was actually in the driveway like I said a minute ago, anyway back on the topic, just went I thought the apocalypse was happening and that I should go on ebay and find an old copy of "88 reasons why the rapture will happen in 1988", or at least find an old Hal Lindsey book or even rent A Thief In The Night which was a lot better than some of the other cruddy movies that came out in the '70's and '80's with the Christian moniker on them, like SuperChristian and An Ordinary Guy, just when I thought I needed to check for the mark of the beast on people's heads at Kroger or was the mark of the beast supposed to be on our wrists, I don't remember, just when I thought the apocalypse was happening and the Russians took over America like in Red Dawn or Amerika or at least they nuked us like in The Day After, just when I thought the apocalypse was happening, one of my favorite shows found its way back on the air.

For Napoleon Dynamite Fans

I loved the movie Napoleon Dynamite.

For those of you who also love that movie and need another Napoleon fix, here are some commercials, video and audio, that ran for the Utah State fair and featured Napoleon and Pedro. Enjoy!

Video Commercials:

The Horse

The Duel

The Box - never could get this one to work right

Audio Commercials:

Ninjas

Cakes

Sesquicentennial

Diary

Pedro's Song

Nothing Without You

Take these hands and lift them up
For I have not the strength
to praise You near enough
See, I have nothing
I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out
Let it sing the songs of mercy
I have found
For I have nothing
I have nothing without You

And all my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing
I have nothing without You

And all my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing

That I love You
With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
And all the strength I can find

Take my time here on this earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing
I am nothing without You

- Nothing Without You by Bebo Norman

A Chest Full Of Treasure

I have been trying to remember a certain website ever since I moved from Arizona to Ohio - I knew that it was a website that had a bunch of Christian classic books online to look at, but I couldn't remember the web address. Then, I was in the middle of reading The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan tonight, and in his footnotes, he tells what website it is. Thank God! I thought I would never find it again.

Go to this treasure chest to find classics such as Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross, Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Augustine's Confessions and City of God, Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, and more. I prefer having the written copy to read, but online reading isn't too bad, especially since it's free!

Simon Weisenthal Dies

Simon Weisenthal died today. He was a Jewish man who survived five different stints in concentration camps during World War II, and was instrumental after the war in finding and capturing Nazi criminals, including one of the masterminds behind the attempted extermination of the Jewish people, Adolf Eichmann.

I wonder if his life has been made into a movie or not - it would be an interesting one to watch, I would think.

What An Opportunity...

One of the things that really impressed me about Velvet Elvis (the book by Rob Bell) is the "behind the scenes" background to some of what Jesus did and taught. For example, when Rob talks about "the yoke", as well as "the dust from the rabbi's feet", it really opened up to me how significant it was for Jesus to call these ordinary men, men who had already "flunked out" of rabbinical training - to be his disciples.

Anyway, if you read the notes in the back of the book, you find out that Rob Bell gets some of his background information from the teachings of Dwight Pryor, who teaches the Bible from a Jewish perspective (He's a Christian). I looked at the website that Rob Bell gives in his notes, and sent an e-mail to see what I could do to be a part of what is called The Haverim - a group of people who study the Bible from, again, a Jewish perspective. In the mail today, I received a CD, as well as several other pieces of literature and advertisements for upcoming events - in the same area where I live. I thought that was odd, until I looked at where Dwight Pryor's ministry is based out of - Dayton, OH. Right up the street from me. That's exciting news. There is a seminar that's coming up, but unfortunately it's a little out of my price range. However, I am contemplating joining The Haverim at 10 bucks a month to receive the teachings.

What a "coincidence" that this ministry is located so close to me. It's exciting news.

Forget Home Schooling, The Christian Thing To Do Now Is Home Churching!

Although I know that this article isn't true (it does come from The Onion, after all), I can definitely see some people from the church I worked at in Dallas actually jumping on board with this idea. After all, they were all about controlling everything about their kids anyway, why not control what they learn at church by churching them by themselves?

The Beauty of Simplicity

We sang the song "Beauty of Simplicity" at church today, and it reminded me of something I recently read in a book:

- The problem we face today needs very little time for its statement. Our lives in a modern city grow too complex and overcrowded...we are too busy to be good wives to our husbands, good homemakers, good companions of our children, good friends to our friends, and with no time at all to be friends to the friendless. But if we withdraw from public engagements and interests, in order to spend quiet hours with the family, the guilty calls of citizenship whisper disquieting claims in our ears...but we're weary and breathless. And we know and regret that our life is slipping away, with our having tasted so little of the peace and joy and serenity we are persuaded it should yield to a soul of wide caliber. The times for the deeps of the silences of the heart seem so few. And in guilty regret we must postpone till next week that deeper life of unshaken composure in the holy Presence, where we sincerely know our true home is, for this week is much too full.


True words for today's time. Except this was written by Thomas Kelly, in the book A Testament of Devotion, back in 1941. Before the internet (Al Gore may have been alive, but he hadn't invented it yet, ha), before interstate highways, before two income families (mostly, at least). And yet, even back then the pull to a busy life was a temptation.

I live in a community where everyone is entirely too busy. Between keeping up with their kids' schedules with seventeen different sports and activities, work and a little church on the side, people are too busy. I yearn for a life that is simpler, a life that isn't so busy, yet it's hard to say no, isn't it?

Chris Simpson

The guy above - his name is Chris Simpson. The first thing you might notice about him is that he looks (at least in this picture) like that guy named Charlie on the T.V. show "Lost". (The actor's name is Dominic Monaghan) Chris is pretty well known in music circles, at least in independent music circles. He was in a band named Mineral, who along with Sunny Day Real Estate are credited as a couple of the pioneers of the "emo" music style. Later, after Mineral disbanded, he and the bassist founded the popular independent band The Gloria Record. Now he's doing some solo stuff, from what I've heard.

Chris and I were in a band together in the early 90's, called Mortal Enemy. That band, alas, did not survive (we were real close to signing with R.E.X. records, well, I should say they because by that time I was out of the band due to being in California in college), but obviously Chris went on to bigger and better things. I bring Chris up because not only was he a friend of mine (every once in a long while I'll hear from him, most likely I'll hear about him from another friend), but because he really taught me how to pray. I had learned in my home church to pray, eyes closed, face towards the ground, with as many KJV sounding words as I possibly could. Chris didn't pray that way. He had his eyes open, face towards the sky, and he simply prayed like he was talking to a friend. And he was.

Why did I start thinking about this today? I have no idea. Maybe it's because as a minister, I feel like I need to impress people with my prayers on Sunday mornings during the worship service. Or even because I want to make a good impression on my fellow staff members by praying powerful, wordy prayers - focusing my whole attention on the crafting on the prayer than the relationship behind the prayer. I want to become more like Chris. I guess I'm going to have to start doing some worship songs with an emo sound, though.

Velvet Elvis Discussion Group With Rob Bell

Thanks to the heads-up from my buddy John, I have enrolled in an online discussion group class for Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis. Rob Bell will be a part of the group, and I'm very excited to be a part of this, since his book has really caused me to rethink several things about the Christian life. Class starts October 3rd.

Grow Your Crowder

I'm really excited about the release of David Crowder's new CD "A Collision" - I preordered it today, not only to receive the CD when it comes out, but because of all the goodies that is sent with the CD (at least according to my friend Darrin). The CD comes out September 27, and to help us all celebrate this new release (it has been two years since Illumination), I am encouraging everyone to grow your very own "crowder". I know this is a little more difficult for the womenfolk to do, but that's no excuse. Maybe women can rise up in celebration and grow an armpit crowder.

Of course, because I'm the one to think of this celebration idea, I am exempt from growing a crowder. Plus my wife would kill me.

"The poor you will always have with you" - at least that's one of our many excuses...

I happened across this great article written after the devastation that took place this month in New Orleans. I'm not going to say much about what took place, better writers than me have done a great job analyzing both the tragedy, and the poor response by our government to give aid.

As I was looking online at some of these discussions, as well as horrific pictures in Time Magazine about the aftermath of the hurricane, I was also reminded about a book I just recently finished, called "The Last Word and The Word After That" by Brian McLaren. It's the conclusion to his wonderful "A New Kind Of Christian" trilogy. I think that people have been so focused on the fact that McLaren doesn't really come right out and explain really what his view on hell is - is he a universalist, does he not believe in a literal hell, etc. The great thing for us about focusing on that part of this book is that it continues to keep us away from the real questions we should be asking ourselves after reading this book: Do I really believe that eternal life begins now and not only in the future (after all, eternal life is knowing Jesus and the one who sent Him), and if I believe it, why am I not concerned about the same things Jesus was concerned about while he was here on earth? Namely, the poor, the downtrodden, those who are sick and need healing. Christian "leaders" (I use that term loosely) have already come out and blamed the hurricane on the Mardi Gras celebrations that take place in New Orleans every year - again, another great distraction (one that isn't true, by the way) that will take our mind off of what we should be doing - helping the poor.

I was talking with my eighty-two-year-old grandmother today (she came into town unexpectedly, but it was nice to see her again), and she brought up the fact that the middle class was created in the 20th century so that the poor wouldn't focus on the rich, and the rich didn't have to worry about the poor. I don't know if I agree with her assertion, but it does make me think about it. The poor could aspire to become middle class, and the rich didn't have to take care of the poor or worry about them, because there was always the chance that the poor could move up to the middle of the economic ladder. The problem is that those who belong to the middle class are always looking up - how to get rich, how to keep up with those who are reaching that rich rung of the ladder quicker than ourselves - and we certainly don't want to think about those below us, those poorer than ourselves. Again, another way to distance ourselves away from people with real needs.

The Missional Church Foundation Model

This is the missional church foundation model. Part of me hates these two pictures, because basically everything about my position as a worship minister at a church follows right along with the traditional church model. My whole job is basically about what takes place during the Sunday services. And I like it. However, my heart is also with the other model, because I believe that that church model is more healthy. So once again, I find myself having to become almost spiritually and "churchilly" (yes, I made that up) bipolar so that I can survive in the church culture.

The Traditional Church Foundation Model

Well, my internet connection finally was worked out, so I can actually post something again finally. Let's just say it's not fun when your DSL company keeps sending your bill to a different city because according to its computer, the community you live in doesn't exist.

Anyway, a couple of posts ago, I alluded to Dan Kimball's book "Emerging Worship", and in that book, he did a good job of describing the huge difference foundationally between a regular church and a missional church. So, voila, I found the diagrams I did when I read the book (yes, they're in black and white and not very good, but you'll get the point, I think), so above is the first model, which is what churches usually do.

Challenge Of The Month: September 2005

Okay, so I got through one challenge successfully so far. And to celebrate my victory, I went to Starbucks today and got a triple venti Mocha. What's nice though is that I don't really crave Starbucks anymore. If I have it, I have it, but I don't have to go almost every day to get my fix. I have learned to trade really good coffee (Starbucks) for pretty cruddy coffee (mine). And the money that I saved on Starbucks will go to people who most definitely need it right now.

I have two challenges this month - one that I can't share until after the month is over, and one that I can share that will probably seem a little silly. The one I can share has to do with a habit I've had for years and years and years. It's something I do so subconsciously without even thinking about it - especially when I'm driving or riding in a car. Or I'm in a meeting. Or in a hundred other places.

I bite my fingernails.

Again, silly - but I've done it for so long, that I really don't know if I can handle this challenge. I have to figure out some kind of signal I can give myself when I'm about ready to start biting. Hmmm. If you have any ideas, let me know.

We'll see what happens.

Untitled Rant

One thing that I like about The Ooze Website is the amount of poetry and other short forms of writing expression that they "publish" on their website.

Today, I was looking on The Ooze for the first time in a month or so, and saw this poem. The reason I link to it here is that it is something that I struggle with the Church as a whole as we try to seek the heart of God when it comes to success and results. Does success hinge upon the usual church ABC's (attendance/buildings/cash) or does it hinge upon something else? And is that something else even measurable? I don't think it is, personally - who can really measure whether actual transformation is taking place in someone's life? You can fake it. You can lie about it. Sure, eventually people figure out that you're really not where you say you are on your journey of faith, but by that time you can leave that church and find another one to fool.

This is something I think about all the time. Unfortunately, thinking about it doesn't mean coming up with an answer.

So Many Books, So Little Time

I have added to my sidebar a section devoted to those books that are on my Amazon book wish list. I have put them there for two main reasons: one, to remind myself of the books that I really want to read - before I decide to buy other books first. Because I have such a bad short term memory, I already have forgotten the books that are on there. The second reason is to remind myself that no matter how many books I read, there are still so many more that I can learn from. I never want to stop reading and growing and thinking and chewing on books. I just received four days ago a box of five books from amazon, and I'm already looking forward to the next time I buy books. I have already read two of them (Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell and Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller), I'm halfway through The Last Word and The Word After That, I've read the first chapter of God's Politics, and the other book is a resource book on worship.

The moment I stop reading, I stop growing and learning.

Books That Have Impacted Me The Most (So Far)

I thought this might be an interesting list. And this interesting list is in no particular order.

- Dangerous Wonder - Mike Yaconelli. This book, which I read while I was a youth minister in Colorado, shattered my view of what to live a good life was all about. I like his second book, Messy Spirituality, but I think this one's better.

- The Wind In The Wheat - Reed Arvin. Reed Arvin was Rich Mullins' producer (as well as being a very good musician himself, as evidenced by his piano work on several of Mullins' albums). This novel is about a young man named Andrew Miracle, who lives in a small town. Yet Andrew has been born with an incredible musical talent, and his prayer is that he would be able to do great things for God. About the same time, a Nashville producer comes down to Andrew's home town, and hears Andrew and sees dollar signs. This novel is about the struggle of a young man who has a gift from God to figure out what true greatness really means in God's eyes. I read this book at least once a year, if not twice. It's a reminder to me that when we serve God, no matter how big or small our talent is, we experience true joy.

- Disciplines Of A Godly Man - R. Kent Hughes. I read this book when I was in college, and it really helped me view disciplines in a different light.

- Celebration Of Discipline - Richard Foster. I went through a time in college where I seriously thought about becoming a monk. This book was one of the reasons why I almost did.

- Your God Is Too Safe - Mark Buchanan. This is another book that I read at least once a year. It has some of my all time favorite quotes, and it's so passionate and life-changing. A must read.

- Ordering Your Private World - Gordon MacDonald. I'm not a very organized kind of guy, but this book helped me to see that I needed to organize my inner life before the outer life would ever be ordered.

- Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire - Jim Cymbala. A moving story about a church on the brink of closing its doors, when it decided to do the one thing that every church should aspire to become: a house of prayer.

- The Imitation Of Christ - Thomas a Kempis. A classic, filled with practical thoughts on imitating Jesus.

- Sacred Pathways - Gary Thomas. If I could teach material from any book, it would be this one. I'm passionate about helping people find their own unique way and personality to experience God, and this book helps on that journey. I've heard Bill Hybels reference it as one of his favorite books, and Andy Stanley even is coming out with a book based on this one, which seems kind of plagiaristic, but it's not really my call.

- Ruthless Trust - Brennan Manning. I love all of Manning's books, but I would have to say this is my favorite.

- Soul Salsa - Leonard Sweet. I was leading a small group back in Arizona, and the last thing we started to do (before I left) was go through this book. It's a great postmodern practical book. Easy to read, harder to live by.

- A Testament Of Devotion - Thomas Kelly. Another great book written by a Quaker (See Celebration of Discipline above). His main point is focusing on the center, namely Christ.

- Spiritual Leadership - Oswald Sanders. A great older book on...spiritual leadership...written by a missionary. Very compelling, very convicting.

- What's So Amazing About Grace - Philip Yancey. Yancey is my favorite Christian author, and I could have put every single one of his books down on this list, but this one's my favorite. I love his definition of grace: "There is nothing we can do to make God love us less. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more."

- No Wonder They Call Him The Savior - Max Lucado. His books are very easy to read, and play more on the emotional side of me than the intellectual side, but I love them all the same. This one is my favorite.

- Broken In The Right Place - Alan Nelson. This book came at a much needed time in my life. If you've heard the song "Blessed Be Your Name" by Matt Redman, then you'll understand that the book contains the same premise as the song - let's bless God in all times, whether good or bad.

- The Life You've Always Wanted - John Ortberg. Another great book about spiritual disciplines.

- The Cost of Discipleship - Dietrich Bonhoeffer. There are some authors when you read their books that make you wonder if they really believe what they are writing. Bonhoeffer is not one of them, and he proved he believed what he was saying by paying the greatest cost of discipleship - his life.

- A New Kind Of Christian - Brian McLaren. A great, great book. Although I attribute the works of Leonard Sweet as the impetus on my journey towards the emergent movement, this book has become the cornerstone of my decision to leave the old way of thinking behind me.

- Theirs Is The Kingdom - Robert Lupton. This book is a must read for anyone interested in inner-city missions work or just want a new perspective on the poor, homeless and downtrodden. It was required reading for my youth ministry students who were going on the L.A. missions trip with me back in the day.

- Return of the Prodigal Son - Henri Nouwen. Again, I could have listed all of Nouwen's books here, but this one impacted me the most. Shows the story of the prodigal son in a different light.

- Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller. How could I almost leave this off my list? This is my favorite book, hands down. I love the way Miller writes, I love how he says things that at first I disagree with, but as I read Scripture, chew on his words, and pray about them, I end up agreeing with him.

- Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell. How could I have not really heard of this guy, watched any of the nooma videos before this week? I'm an idiot. I'm still in the midst of this book, but I will tell you right now. Get this book. Read it. It's that good. It will change you. I have been reading it for the past couple of days, and I can't get it out of my head. Seriously, get this book.


I'm sure I'm missing some, but I think this is a good start. :^)

Twenty Questions From Leonard Sweet's Book

I read the newest book by Leonard Sweet called Out of the Question...Into The Mystery a few months ago. However, I keep going back to one chapter that I find rather fascinating, because it's something I've never thought before concerning a certain Bible story. I'm not saying I necessarily agree with Sweet on his point, but it's still something worth chewing over, mulling over, studying and asking.

The biblical story is the story of Abraham and Isaac going up Mount Moriah after God tells Abraham to take him and sacrifice him. I'm sure we're all familiar with the story, we've probably all read it several times or at least heard sermons on the story.

Sweet's premise is this: that Abraham passed God's test of obedience, but failed the second test God was giving him, namely the test of relationship.

God expected Abraham to question God as to why He would even ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham did not do so. Therefore, Abraham failed the test and the relationship between Abraham and God was never the same again.

Interesting, huh?

Sweet then gives twenty questions concerning this story that don't necessarily prove his point beyond a reasonable doubt, but are intriguing:

1. Why didn't Abraham argue with God about the killing of his innocent son like he did when God told Abraham about His intention to kill the Sodomites' sons and daughters?

2. Why did Abraham keep the planned sacrifice a secret from those closest to him? Why didn't he tell Sarah, Eliezer, or Isaac about what God had ordered him to do?

3. Why did the very Son of God, the perfect God-man, wrestle with his Father on the cross about his own death more than Abraham wrestled with God about the death of his entirely human son?

4. If Abraham was so special to God, why didn't Abraham get translated into heaven like Enoch and Elijah?

5. Why did God no longer speak to Abraham after the outcome of this itest was known? God delivered the Mount Moriah test in person, but as Abraham was about to carry out the command, an angel intervened and saved his hand. Why didn't God show up to intervene? And after the conclusion of this episode, God never spoke to Abraham again. The intimacy of their relationship was over. Likewise, from that point on, Abraham never speaks to God, but only speaks about God.

6. How did Isaac deal with the fact that his father had to be focibly restrained from cutting his throat? Abraham may not have wounded Isaac with a knife, but he wounded him nevertheless.

7. What did Abraham and Isaac talk about on their three-day journey home? In fact, it appears more likely that Abraham returned alone to Beersheba. Abraham climbed Mount Moriah with his son, but he arrived alone when he returned from the mountain. And he never spoke to his son again. Isaac never saw his father alive again - only reuniting with his brother Ishmael to bury their dead father.

8. How can it be a good thing that Isaac and Abraham no longer "walk together" after Abraham's triumph of faith? Abraham didn't pass on the blessing to Isaac in person. He didn't even pass on his marriage instructions to Isaac personally.

9. Is it reading too much into the text to wonder why Isaac grieved for his mother when she died, but the Scriptures say nothing about his grief upon his father's death?

10. What did Abraham say to Sarah when he got back from the high place? He never seemed to explain himself to those around him. Why?

11. Why did Sarah die at the end of this story? Did she die from shock upon hearing that her son had been spared execution?

12. Why did God choose to name the people of God after Jacob and not Abraham?

13. Why did Abraham call the place of the interrupted sacrifice "The Lord Will Provide."? Isn't that a pretty wussy name to come up with after the severity of the test?

14. How could it be good that in the end, Abraham was alone? He dwelled in Beersheba. Sarah was in Hebron. Ishmael was in Egypt. Isaac was far from him. God had withdrawn from Abraham's life. Abraham ended his life separated from all those he loved the most.

15. The angel applauded Abraham for his fear of God. But the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom - shouldn't Abraham have been further along this path?

16. Abraham told his servants to stay with the animals while "I and the boy go to worship." Why worship instead of sacrifice? The word seem so cruel in its choice.

17. Isaac was of an age when he knew what was happening to him. Why did Abraham make his son carry his own funeral pyre?

18. How does Abraham's willingness to slaughter his son qualify him to be the founder of the faith? Why would such a thing as this be the litmus test?

19. Does God expect followers to commit immoral acts when commanded to do so by divine voices or holy prophets?

20. If God sometimes asks us to suspend moral judgments, how do we distinguish the true voice of God from counterfeit voices?


Again, I'm not sure I agree with his premise, but it gives you something to think about, that's for sure.