Birthdays and Deathdays
Jan. 26 was Trish's and my Mom's birthday. My Grandma happened to go to Jesus that day too. I feel so sorry for my Mom because she has never had the relationship she would have liked with her mom. In her 50's she is just coming to grips with some of the hurt she has about it. I never felt particularly close to Grandma, nor do I have any particularly good memories about her. She was just there. It's kind of sad really...
Many of us have a lot of crap to work through regarding our blood families. It reminds me how our communities function as spiritual families. I think God designed the spiritual family to be more important and powerful than our blood families in the long run. Accepting God as our Abba, Father and Jesus as our brother will take some practice for those of us that come from dysfunctional families (don't most of us in one way or another?). We may have to go to some uncomfortable places and explore our family experiences with our parents and family values.
Icenogle says, "The gathered group around God as parent begins to exist as a countermodel to the families of origin of each member of the group... The new group is gathered by Christ to be a new family system , with new values, new relational dynamics and new disciplines... [communities] must define a theology of family for their [communities] to embrace and model."
Do you have a theology of family for your community?
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
We happened to catch an hour long interview with Mel Gibson about his movie The Passion of the Christ on EWTN, a Catholic TV channel. I am not one to believe the hype about movies, but the interview was really interesting.
Gibson was not totally comfortable explaining his faith, but talked about deep theological subjects. The artistry, symbolism etc. that went into the film. You can listen to the interview here. Here are a few quotes:
"Making art is about throwing it all out there! And if you ain't makin' the fur fly, you ain't doing nuthin!"
"I wanted to accentuate the reality and not make the story a fairytale [like other films have done]."
[On the set] Did you see people changed spiritually? "Yea, they began to ask themselves questions...a lot of them made decisions based on the investigations they'd done. There were people who converted to Christianity from other religions. A daughter of somebody was healed...stuff like this happens. It's those little glimpses you get that says, okay, there's something big out there...a realm beyond our nature that we have a very limited understanding of, and not even in a logical way...it's mostly just a whole other kind of intelligence that is affected by these other realms. "
You took steps to try to protect yourself from these other realms onset. "Of course, we had a service every morning... Jim (played Jesus) and I were sticklers about not going to work until we were 'armored up'...because we were vulnerable. There's a dark force that didn't want us to make the film. If you don't venture into these areas, you don't ever notice it. But as soon as you start getting out of your comfort zone these things start coming into play big time."
"It's about the "big war", the sandwich...this must mean something. I must be more important in the scheme of things than I thought, and so must all humanity be. If we are the meat in the sandwich, and the big realms, the dark and light realms are battling over us. And the battle happens. We can't see it, but it's there. That's what I wanted to show in the film. That it's bigger than all that. That the diabolical shows itself at times and sometimes the divine peaks through, so that you just look under the surface and there it is, your looking right at it."
Kinda sounds like he understands a little about the Kingdom and spiritual warfare to me. If you are even the least bit interested in the film, listen to this interview. I'm even more excited to see it now....
Gibson was not totally comfortable explaining his faith, but talked about deep theological subjects. The artistry, symbolism etc. that went into the film. You can listen to the interview here. Here are a few quotes:
"Making art is about throwing it all out there! And if you ain't makin' the fur fly, you ain't doing nuthin!"
"I wanted to accentuate the reality and not make the story a fairytale [like other films have done]."
[On the set] Did you see people changed spiritually? "Yea, they began to ask themselves questions...a lot of them made decisions based on the investigations they'd done. There were people who converted to Christianity from other religions. A daughter of somebody was healed...stuff like this happens. It's those little glimpses you get that says, okay, there's something big out there...a realm beyond our nature that we have a very limited understanding of, and not even in a logical way...it's mostly just a whole other kind of intelligence that is affected by these other realms. "
You took steps to try to protect yourself from these other realms onset. "Of course, we had a service every morning... Jim (played Jesus) and I were sticklers about not going to work until we were 'armored up'...because we were vulnerable. There's a dark force that didn't want us to make the film. If you don't venture into these areas, you don't ever notice it. But as soon as you start getting out of your comfort zone these things start coming into play big time."
"It's about the "big war", the sandwich...this must mean something. I must be more important in the scheme of things than I thought, and so must all humanity be. If we are the meat in the sandwich, and the big realms, the dark and light realms are battling over us. And the battle happens. We can't see it, but it's there. That's what I wanted to show in the film. That it's bigger than all that. That the diabolical shows itself at times and sometimes the divine peaks through, so that you just look under the surface and there it is, your looking right at it."
Kinda sounds like he understands a little about the Kingdom and spiritual warfare to me. If you are even the least bit interested in the film, listen to this interview. I'm even more excited to see it now....
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Individualism, the "I" and the "We"
Individualism is devious. It sneaks into our conversations, thoughts and communities so easily. It can be in the blatant self-serving ways we demand our "needs" be met, or it can be subtly hidden in our view of the Church itself. It sneaks into our thoughts as we interpret and apply the Bible to our individual situations, without thinking about how those stories apply to our community or the Body as a whole.
Someone once said, "The Bible knows no individual Christians." The Bible is a book of community. Even when Paul writes to individuals, he is writing the context of that individual's relationship to the larger community. In fact, the whole concept of the Trinity implies community.
It is good for me to remember that while my decision to follow God is as an individual, I am joining those who went before me, and those who will come after me as a follower of Jesus. I immediately join a family of others who choose to call themselves followers of Christ too. My identity is linked to a group of people who have been called, gathered and sent to proclaim, serve and represent God's reign on earth. I become part of a covenant community, a new family, with Jesus as my brother, and Abba as my Father.
Whether I like it or not, as a Christ follower, the decisions I make affect the "we". The decisions my family makes affects the "family of families" of which I choose to be a part. The decisions that our communities make affects the worldwide Church.
So, I am thinking about how my individual Biblical interpretations integrate into the "we". How do my spiritual practices integrate with the "we"? My family decisions.... My financial decision... My choice of vocation....
For instance, our community discussed 1 John 2:20ff. If I believe that God has given me some insight, knowledge, prophecy etc. I need to bring it to the community. Let them hear, it, pray about it, interact with it, test it....
Would love to hear about how your community integrates the "I" into the "we"!
Individualism is devious. It sneaks into our conversations, thoughts and communities so easily. It can be in the blatant self-serving ways we demand our "needs" be met, or it can be subtly hidden in our view of the Church itself. It sneaks into our thoughts as we interpret and apply the Bible to our individual situations, without thinking about how those stories apply to our community or the Body as a whole.
Someone once said, "The Bible knows no individual Christians." The Bible is a book of community. Even when Paul writes to individuals, he is writing the context of that individual's relationship to the larger community. In fact, the whole concept of the Trinity implies community.
It is good for me to remember that while my decision to follow God is as an individual, I am joining those who went before me, and those who will come after me as a follower of Jesus. I immediately join a family of others who choose to call themselves followers of Christ too. My identity is linked to a group of people who have been called, gathered and sent to proclaim, serve and represent God's reign on earth. I become part of a covenant community, a new family, with Jesus as my brother, and Abba as my Father.
Whether I like it or not, as a Christ follower, the decisions I make affect the "we". The decisions my family makes affects the "family of families" of which I choose to be a part. The decisions that our communities make affects the worldwide Church.
So, I am thinking about how my individual Biblical interpretations integrate into the "we". How do my spiritual practices integrate with the "we"? My family decisions.... My financial decision... My choice of vocation....
For instance, our community discussed 1 John 2:20ff. If I believe that God has given me some insight, knowledge, prophecy etc. I need to bring it to the community. Let them hear, it, pray about it, interact with it, test it....
Would love to hear about how your community integrates the "I" into the "we"!
Friday, January 23, 2004
Been having some good times of fellowship and discussion with friends lately. I am reminded of the different places we are on the spiritual journey. This really hit home as I read this article on Theocentric. This will be on my reading list.
With much shame and humility I remember a time when I thought I had all the answers. About my third or fourth year as a Christian. I had been serving at a church as a youth leader and started reading Len Sweet and dabbling on home church sites. No one in our leadership had a clue about what I was talking about. I had knowledge, so I thought I had the "truth". I knew there were serious problems in the church and looking back, I was right about that, but how I handled it was horrendous. I left a path of destruction and hurt in my rearview mirror. I had the knowledge, but not enough experience to really know what to do with it, how to handle it, or when to use it. Those lessons are learned in TIME. Even after Neo downloaded all of the data into his brain, there were lessons he still had to learn to use the knowledge effectively.
Time and experience has led me down a path that finds me in a different place on the journey. I find myself in a time of questioning, rethinking, deconstructing the things I thought I knew. Searching for a holistic gospel instead of the fragmented "five steps to this" and "three points of this" that I was fed in my early Christian experience. Seeking faith that exists everyday, not just on Sunday. I realize how my view of the Church is limited by the experiences that I have had, and not had. I find myself face-to-face with my own woundedness, sinfulness and ignorance.
I know in the eyes of some these questions and realizations are seen as weakness. I will join the Apostle Paul and boast in my weakness. I think it's in realizing what I don't know, in knowing how far I have yet to go, that the Holy Spirit has room to work in my life. And one day I will fully lose myself and find wholeness....
With much shame and humility I remember a time when I thought I had all the answers. About my third or fourth year as a Christian. I had been serving at a church as a youth leader and started reading Len Sweet and dabbling on home church sites. No one in our leadership had a clue about what I was talking about. I had knowledge, so I thought I had the "truth". I knew there were serious problems in the church and looking back, I was right about that, but how I handled it was horrendous. I left a path of destruction and hurt in my rearview mirror. I had the knowledge, but not enough experience to really know what to do with it, how to handle it, or when to use it. Those lessons are learned in TIME. Even after Neo downloaded all of the data into his brain, there were lessons he still had to learn to use the knowledge effectively.
Time and experience has led me down a path that finds me in a different place on the journey. I find myself in a time of questioning, rethinking, deconstructing the things I thought I knew. Searching for a holistic gospel instead of the fragmented "five steps to this" and "three points of this" that I was fed in my early Christian experience. Seeking faith that exists everyday, not just on Sunday. I realize how my view of the Church is limited by the experiences that I have had, and not had. I find myself face-to-face with my own woundedness, sinfulness and ignorance.
I know in the eyes of some these questions and realizations are seen as weakness. I will join the Apostle Paul and boast in my weakness. I think it's in realizing what I don't know, in knowing how far I have yet to go, that the Holy Spirit has room to work in my life. And one day I will fully lose myself and find wholeness....
Monday, January 19, 2004
Cannibal dismembered Barbie dolls when boy
This headline caught my eye...I wonder what my future holds for blowing up my G.I. Joe with an M-80?
This headline caught my eye...I wonder what my future holds for blowing up my G.I. Joe with an M-80?
E-Sword - FREE Bible Software
I just found out about this software. It is well done with tons of free commentaries, dictionaries and other Bible versions. Check it out here! The price is right!
I just found out about this software. It is well done with tons of free commentaries, dictionaries and other Bible versions. Check it out here! The price is right!
Friday, January 16, 2004
Role of Friendship in Spiritual Transformation
I've been giving a lot of thought lately to the role of mentors/friends in our spiritual transformation. I think this gets to the heart of why community is so important in our culture. I happened upon an article while writing a paper for school by Christy Morr from Talbot School of Theology that brings up some interesting points:
1. Spiritual transformation is an ongoing, dynamic, cooperative work between God and the individual.
2. Spiritual transformation is more than a cognitive pursuit with the end goal of a correct set of beliefs. It is a dynamic, interactive relationship with God himself.
3. "The Old and New Testaments are filled with reminders of our connectedness to others and our fruitlessness without that awareness. Nor is it possible to grow up in Him by simply embracing the concept without allowing the reality of needs and presence of others to cut across our lifestyle" (Gorman 1993).
4. "God's relationship with humans is one of intimate bonding, so that all human intimacies are 'rehearsals' for the ultimate reunion of humans with their creator."
There is no doubt that I need relationships to grow. But, seeing my relationships with others as an experiential model for friendship with God takes it to another level for me. If I can't trust others, can I trust God? If I can't be transparent with my friends, can I be transparent with God? If I don't know what it's like to be a friend and have a friend, will I be able to accept the friendship of Jesus (John 15:14)?
I've been giving a lot of thought lately to the role of mentors/friends in our spiritual transformation. I think this gets to the heart of why community is so important in our culture. I happened upon an article while writing a paper for school by Christy Morr from Talbot School of Theology that brings up some interesting points:
1. Spiritual transformation is an ongoing, dynamic, cooperative work between God and the individual.
2. Spiritual transformation is more than a cognitive pursuit with the end goal of a correct set of beliefs. It is a dynamic, interactive relationship with God himself.
3. "The Old and New Testaments are filled with reminders of our connectedness to others and our fruitlessness without that awareness. Nor is it possible to grow up in Him by simply embracing the concept without allowing the reality of needs and presence of others to cut across our lifestyle" (Gorman 1993).
4. "God's relationship with humans is one of intimate bonding, so that all human intimacies are 'rehearsals' for the ultimate reunion of humans with their creator."
There is no doubt that I need relationships to grow. But, seeing my relationships with others as an experiential model for friendship with God takes it to another level for me. If I can't trust others, can I trust God? If I can't be transparent with my friends, can I be transparent with God? If I don't know what it's like to be a friend and have a friend, will I be able to accept the friendship of Jesus (John 15:14)?
Monday, January 12, 2004
Mayhem was very cool! Paul and Nicki provided me with great hospitality. The teachers taught, the worshipers worshipped, the creators created, the organizers organized, the servers served and the Kingdom was present in our midst.
Bryan McLaren talked about being monastic missional urban catholic communities. If we substituted rural for urban it would be a description of where we are headed.
I got a lot out of the discussion about mentoring with Owen and Sandy. They are great folks that have "been there and done that" with regard to living in community. Having mentors is something that I really struggle with. I have never really been "discipled". I have never really lived in a real "community", so there is some risk involved in this adventure. Risk was a word that used more than a few times this weekend.
Risk -> Fear -> Questioning of self -> Paralysis is the formula that came to my mind. Knowing that I am not alone, not crazy, and only bound by my own woundedness is freeing! I am praying for some likeminded, mature believers who want to join the adventure of entering into a missional community for the long haul.
I've got more to say, but I have even more statistics homework to do before tomorrow night...oh, joy.... more to come....
Bryan McLaren talked about being monastic missional urban catholic communities. If we substituted rural for urban it would be a description of where we are headed.
I got a lot out of the discussion about mentoring with Owen and Sandy. They are great folks that have "been there and done that" with regard to living in community. Having mentors is something that I really struggle with. I have never really been "discipled". I have never really lived in a real "community", so there is some risk involved in this adventure. Risk was a word that used more than a few times this weekend.
Risk -> Fear -> Questioning of self -> Paralysis is the formula that came to my mind. Knowing that I am not alone, not crazy, and only bound by my own woundedness is freeing! I am praying for some likeminded, mature believers who want to join the adventure of entering into a missional community for the long haul.
I've got more to say, but I have even more statistics homework to do before tomorrow night...oh, joy.... more to come....
Monday, January 05, 2004
Friday, January 02, 2004
We have had an a great time the past couple of weeks. Our friends, the McCubbins, have opened their house to our emerging community. We have experienced times of fellowship, worship and friendship. Last night we hung out and sang worship songs, read Scripture, and talked about Kingdom things (can you believe it?!) all without an program or agenda! This is the stuff I've been longing for.....add some missional focus and I'll be in heaven....
Started reading Waking The Dead . One of my friends graciously gave it, and the manual to me as a gift. We are meeting for lunch to discuss what we are experiencing and learning. I like the concept of "An adventure, a battle and a beauty to win," but I wonder how that plays out in our society. We finally saw Return of the King and it has all of those elements.
I almost wish life was as black and white as that. Tangible enemies. Tactile weapons. Clear battle lines.... We have a battle to fight, just as real as Lord of the Rings, in the spiritual realms...
2 Cor. 10:4 The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; 5 we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.
Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Started reading Waking The Dead . One of my friends graciously gave it, and the manual to me as a gift. We are meeting for lunch to discuss what we are experiencing and learning. I like the concept of "An adventure, a battle and a beauty to win," but I wonder how that plays out in our society. We finally saw Return of the King and it has all of those elements.
I almost wish life was as black and white as that. Tangible enemies. Tactile weapons. Clear battle lines.... We have a battle to fight, just as real as Lord of the Rings, in the spiritual realms...
2 Cor. 10:4 The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; 5 we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.
Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
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