Good News for T's and ND's

I had the chance to enjoy the OSU Mens hoopsters crush the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight... and I'm a bit tired... but I've want to add some thoughts to my post from the other day.

I had some fun posting on Toppers & Name-Droppers last Friday. But sometimes there is a serious issue at hand... and it comes down to your heart. If words and actions flow from the heart... then topping and name-dropping tendencies might reflect deeper heart issues. To get to the "heart" of the matter... some reflective questions can be of help, such as:

*Why do I feel the need to always share my story over-top of someone elses?
*Why can't I just enjoy someones story and affirm them?
*What motivates me to tell others that I know a famous person?
*Why do I tend to drop a well-known name into a story, when it is not necessary?
*What do I seek out of my interactions with others?
*How much affirmation do I need from others?
*What will I do to earn such a response?

This might seem a bit excessive... but let me assure that regularly checking your motives (and inviting others to help you do the same)... will uncover blind spots of self-idolatry in your life. Our hearts are prone to elevate the self and justify our value in the presence of peers. You might say to self-justify our social value... and it all boils down to the motives of the heart in the simplest things like topping or name-dropping. Maybe for you it is being fun, looking good, sounding smart, always winning, "being" spiritual... but the root is the same. Idolatry.

So on to the good news. You can stop trying. The paradox is... you win when you quit. Your value is not left up to the degree that you can improve your relative social worth. God sees behind your act... right to your imperfection and he says... I'll accept that. Jesus gave up his high position and stooped so low... that he identifies with the most broken... and his life-death-resurrection was to redeem your broken-ness so that you don't have to... if you'll quit trying and let that be your story.

So you can stop the effort... and allow your imperfection to be made perfect through the perfect one. You might not always have the best story. You might just enjoy and affirm the other. You might not be the coolest or most connected in the group. But you can rest, knowing that your redemption is secured by means of another savior... not through your own self-saving acts.

Rumors

I heard a rumor about me on Sunday night. I was talking with a local friend who checks up on me once in a while. It was clear to me that this rumor grew from a lack of information about why I made some decisions. And in that vacuum of information, some had tried to fill in the blanks... thus birthing the rumor. I could tell that he was troubled... by what he had heard... and didn't even want to share it with me. I gave him the freedom to share what was troubling him and he did. It really was a harmless thing... and did not bother me... but it was not true. So I was able put him at ease about the situation and we both ended the conversation better.

Rumors... can be damaging can't they. Before I try to get all philosophical on rumors... let me interject a favorite '80's tune called "Rumors" by the Timex Social Club. Enjoy...



OK, back to the serious....

The power of rumors is tied to the power of words. Words can give life... or take life. Words can be used as agents for the gospel or against the gospel. In the gospel, King Jesus defeats the power of Satan through his substitutionary death and victorious resurrection. In doing so he inaugurates his reign over all things and begins... in part... a process of restoring all of creation to its pre-Eden wholeness and perfection (biblically shalom). At the appointed time... His reign will fully come.

As his ambassadors and agents of this good news, the church (those who gain citizenship into this kingdom through faith) is to live redemptively in these last days... in all that we do. The churches existence as a community of the redeemed is a foretaste of the future shalom that will wash over all things. When shalom exists... things are knit together as they should fit... as they were designed to fit... not frail and frayed... not disordered and dissected.

Our words, too, can express shalom or disturb it. Our words when truthful and righteous and godly can affirm and do the work of bringing shalom in communities and individuals and families. When our words are truthless and rumorful... we can tear apart individuals and families and communities.

The Church is the place where the wholeness of life (shalom) should be most fully evident. Our speech... our disagreeing... our demeanor... our attitudes... our community life... is to be a foretaste to the world of what life is like when Jesus reigns in our hearts... in our homes... and in our communities.

So practically how should we deal with rumors? Reject them... they are probably not true. Instead personally seek out the individuals involved... because truth is most often discovered in healthy, face-to-face dialogue. With truth in hand you will actually escape the trouble that comes from the destructive power of rumors. Reject + Dialogue = Truth.

The righteous man is rescued from trouble,
and it comes on the wicked instead.
With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
Proverbs 11:8-9

Missional Hip-Hop

I was over at the Resurgence at bumped into a great 15 minute interview on being missional. The specific topic is how to redeem the hip-hop culture. And while you might not give a rip about that specifically... we can all learn missional principles that will apply to our own local, sub-cultures.

The interview is with the Ambassador... who was a classmate of mine at Dallas Theological Seminary. I think we took some Greek and Bible Study Methods together. My man Duce is a crazy-smart, theologically astute brother, who can flat out rhyme. It was hilarious being in class with Duce wearing baggy pants, construction boots and walking with a swagger.

Duce is both an ambassador of Christ to the hip-hop culture... and an ambassador of hip-hop to the church culture. Both are important roles... I think... in the kingdom ministry of the church... being God's agents of reconciliation as he redeems all things (Col 1:20).

17 years to GRACE

Grace is experienced in relationships. It is not something coldly received off a shelf or in a letter. It is personal. It is intimate. It is most alive when face-to-face. Here is a true story of grace....

In the summer of 1990 something happened in my church that became quite a traumatic experience in my life. It didn't exactly happen to me... just around me... but it had a huge impact upon my life. At the end of that summer I went off to college and slowly stuffed the experience further in the back of my mind. It was not resolved... the situation had not improved... damage was done... but life went on.

Then a few years ago I quite randomly bumped into one of the individuals who was at the epicenter of that situation. Immediately my life's story turned back to that unfinished chapter... and with it all the hurt and confusion and misunderstanding came to the surface. I was quite ignorant as to many of the facts about the original situation... but was quite in touch with how they had affected me. I did not know what to do... so I avoided this individual... and tried to avoid dealing with the situation... content to leave that chapter of my life in the suspense of an unresolved conflict...

But God had another plan. Earlier this summer I once again bumped into that same individual... but something in me was different. My life experience encouraged me to pursue closure to this situation. So I didn't not avoid the individual... in fact I did just the opposite... I initiated conversation. Nothing was solved... but the ice was broken.

Then a few months later when I again bumped into this individual (are you seeing a pattern) I asked for a breakfast meeting. We met and I... for the first time opened the pages of my life back to the summer of 1990 and invited the individual to walk through the situation with me.

I needed to understand the situation more fully... and he needed to walk me through it. I needed to ask some questions... and he needed to delicately answer. I need to hear an apology... and he needed to receive my forgiveness. But most of all... we both needed to experience grace. We needed to understand one another to lovingly help each other move on with life... a progress that could only happen in the midst of grace. So after 17 years we did... we experienced grace.

That day our relationship was reconciled (2 Cor 5:18) and as two men who have been forgiven much by our heavenly father ... we were able to grant one another a much smaller degree of forgiveness(Matt 18:21-35).

I've come to believe that my life is a story... about redemption. The characters and the tragedies and the conflicts allow for the master storyteller to work out his redemption in my story... and to ultimately redeem my story. And redemption involves the often painful, face-to-face discussions in which grace is worked out.

Stories & Memory

My oldest Caden, (who survived the first and second day of pre-school just fine)... is really interested in family stories. Before I kiss him goodnight he often wants me to tell or re-tell a family story. He'll say... "Daddy... tell me a story about you and Uncle Matt" or "tell me the story of when I ate peanut butter and you had to call the Rescue Heroes". They are typically short 3 minute vignettes about growing up or a particularly memorable experience.

I've built up a repertoire of about 12 true, family stories that we regularly tell. Sometimes a new memory pops in my mind and I introduce a new story. Each story tells a unique tale... or has its own moral... or shows how a different part of life can be explored. I like the ritual, because there is power in these stories. They are historical and at the same time Caden and I are connected to them. They bond us together not only in the moment of re-telling... but in re-experiencing... together, the memory of the past.

And it gets me thinking about the Power of Memory. Isn't it amazing how much we remember... and to think that God made us that way. God gave us memory. We remember people and places and songs and smells and experiences... some conjure up good emotions and others bad. Some memories we would like to forget... but... they are an integral part of our story.

God explains at least a couple of reasons why he embedded us with memory... the ability to remember our story. And he often encourages the people of God to remember certain things... because forgetfulness can be sinfully foolish. So here are a couple of things that God tells his people to remember...

(1) Remember how you screwed up: The people of God are prone to wander away from God and from obedience to Him. So we are commanded to remember how we and those before us did such wandering... and faced the consequences. (Deut 9:7-12)

(2) Remember how God showed up: God is constantly redeeming... and rescuing his people when they least expect it. He is constantly saving people from themselves and the consequences of their rebellious, hard-hearted stupidity. (Deut 8:17-20)

(3) Remember who you were: We are naturally natural. Not interested in God. Faithless. Following our own way. Cut off from God. Strangers and aliens to the promises of God. (Eph 2:11-12)

(4) Remember who you are: When we cast off our self-reliance and receive the obedience of Christ we become new people. We become truly... spiritually alive. We have life... new life. (Eph 2:13-16; 2 Cor 5:17)

Some might argue that this is living in the past. That would be paralysis. But our lives are a story... and memory of our mistakes and others can have a profoundly positive impact upon our future. Remembering God's grace and goodness and activity on our behalf... can empower us to press on in truth and love.... so did I tell about the time that we fed Caden peanut butter?

The Crew in Review

Well I just landed back in Columbus after a great weekend in Huntington, WV. You might be saying... what... how is that possible? Well let me explain. The reason is... I had great company. I spent my time with the people of Crew Community Church.

Marshall University currently keeps Huntington on the map. It has its own story of redemption that is currently being told on the silver screen. If you haven't seen We are Marshall yet. Buy the DVD when it comes out. I took a few pics... so let me break down for you, why I enjoyed my time with the Crew.



















The leadership: Crew publicly launched in September 2006. At the epicenter is Josh Perry (lead pastor), his lovely wife Sarah and three kiddoes (Daniel, Jack and Allie). Josh and Sarah are an infectiously joyful and loving couple. They are the type of people that you like being with... that you want to join up with... and that you trust. They love one another. They love their kids. They love the people at Crew. And they love the city of Huntington. They were great hosts and really made us feel like part of the family.



















The people: The church is really the people. They own no building. They have no offices. They are a gathering of people who are following Christ, or considering Christ and are connected to one another.

The people are friendly and welcoming. They love to eat and laugh and live the good life that God offers through Christ. Some are new believers. Some come because their old church sent them out to serve. Others are coming back to church after being burned by church.

We had the chance to attend their BBQ and Baptism on Sunday night. Three people were baptized. One of the elders even baptized his own brother and his sister-in-law. It was a celebration... Crew style.



















The space: The Crew does not have a building. They out grew the living room that they started in and the classroom at Marshall that they moved to... and now meet for Sunday worship at the Renaissance Theater. It is right off the edge of the Marshall campus and is just blocks from the heart of Huntington.

The Renaissance is the old Huntington High School and has the nostalgic feel of the classic high school auditorium.... complete with balcony. There is plenty of room for growth in this space... with the freedom to pick up and move the gathering somewhere else as the Lord leads.



















The vision: The first word that I think of when I think of Crew is... grace. It is truly a place where a wide variety of people can feel at home and accepted. The typical rules and external expectations of church just don't hold water at the crew. The focus is on the heart... and that is grace.

The church has embraced a God-sized vision... to make the name of Jesus famous in Huntington by helping to rebuild the city. They want to rebuild individuals by introducing them to Christ... but they also want to literally lift the hope of the city. Huntington needs hope... and the Crew has hope in Jesus. They have a Nehemiah-type of vision to restore and redeem their city... to bless their city... and to give the credit to Jesus.

Thank you Perry's and people of the Crew... I'm following your story and praying for your progress.

Words of Life

These have been difficult days for my family. The emotions that we have faced in the leaving of Northwest and trying to piece together a future have been all over the board. There has been a lot of spiritual warfare. But feelings of loss... loneliness... depression... joy... hope... confusion... betrayal... fear... are regular visitors to our home. Hey I'm just keeping it real. You know how the Adversary fills our minds with lies.

Many friends are tracking our journey and sometimes shoot some encouragement our way. Late last week I received such e-mail from a friend. He identifies exactly with where I am and has walked many of the trails which I have. He has experienced the redemptive power of grace in a way that I have not and may never. So when he speaks I listen. Here is the last paragraph of his e-mail to me.

I pray, my friend, for you and your family every day. I believe that
God is doing something huge through you and preparing you for
incredible things. I'm just looking forward to seeing what they are.
The beauty of God is that, one way or another, the dragon always gets
slain. Sometimes it's just not in the timing or the manner that we
think best.

Thank you my friend for speaking words of life to my family.

Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
Psalm 37:37

Come what may... the VIDEO

...the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return...

Come what may...

Calling all lovers... I watched one of my favorite love stories... again... over the weekend. Moulin Rouge. It is love story that speaks to me of the hope and redemptive power of love. Many people are tripped up by the setting "a French burlesque" or the music "redone 80's pop music"... and sadly they miss the story.

They miss the beautifully redemptive and powerful hopefulness of love. I think it should required pre-marital viewing. Within the story 3 characters represent the 3 arc of love.

(1) Love as Control as seen in Harold Zidler: Zidler runs the Moulin Rouge and his star Satine is truly his sparkling diamond. She has hopes of escaping the Moulin Rouge under-world and becoming a "real" actress. But Harold... greedy for a dollar... realizing that Satine brings in the money, manipulates and controls her to keep her right where she is. He lies and deceives her for his own end. His love for Satine is only for what she can give to him... and control is his mode of operation. Satine is his slave.

(2) Love as Lust as seen in The Duke: The Duke is the financial investor in the upcoming play "Spectacular, Spectacular". He can give Satine the life she always wanted...but for a price... her very life. If she accepts his offer of salvation from the underworld... she will be his love slave for life. His love for her is a lust for her beauty and her affection... which he buys. He will make her a star in return for her slavery to his lusts. He wants to buy Satine's freedom but only to function as a new slave owner.

(3) Love as Hope as seen in Christian: The bohemian, penniless writer Christian... falls in love with Satine. He sees within her a beauty that transcends the underworld and the Duke. He believes she should be owned by no man and stuck in no place and that she does not belong at the of ZidlerMoulin Rouge. He wants to set her free from her chains so that she can live a life of freedom. His love for her... is set in a hope that she can rise up and live the life that she is capable of. He is willing to risk his own life for the possibility of setting her free. His desire is to redeem her from slavery... and this hope is rooted in his love for her. His love is not perfect... yet it is not rooted in control or lust... but I suggest in hope.

This movie fails at many levels as a picture of truly redemptive love... for each character is largely self-motivated and flawed... and no character ever expresses any repentance. But it is a story about love and does illustrate the common flaws that motivate love.

Now consider... some more thoughts on love.

(a) We must first be loved in order to truly love others.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

(b) True love is self-giving and full of hope for the other.
Love is patient, love is kind...
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4, 7

Is your God GREEN?

There is a new issue on the agenda for some churches these days... being eco-friendly. That is right... some who call themselves Christians have heard Al Gore's call for repentance and are preaching and practicing a lifestyle which is friendlier to the earth. Some even suggesting that our ever-increasing consumption of natural resources is sinful at worst and devastatingly ignorant at best.

I just listened to a 5 week series from Mars Hill Bible Church entitled God is Green. The content ranged from a theology of creation care to practical ways to live a simpler, less consumptive lifestyle. One Sunday they invited Dr. Matt Sleeth author of Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action. Rob Bell even suggested that this issue of green-ness is the new seatbelt.

Then yesterday I saw that Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas was written up in the Dallas Morning News as going green. The article did not so much focus on caring for the environment as saving money wasted on energy consumption to free it up for "real ministry." Christine and I visited Preston-"world" for a few months when we lived in Dallas. If Southern Baptists are going green... does that mean it is becoming a mainstream evangelical issue?

So what do you think.
Is God Green?
Does Jesus care how we consume or care-for the environment?
Should the church lead this charge or leave it liberal, tree-huggers?

Life is like an Unfinished Bus

Right after my post on the "f" word... FEAR... I went over to my friend Derek's blog and read on how life is like an Unfinished Bus. It said in a fresh way... what I am experiencing in my own life in the area of dealing with fear. Here's a good taste:

"Often times I want my life to be whole, fully restored and complete now. Not tomorrow. Not next week, but today. I don't want to have to go through the hard restorative process of the soul work, often needing to take place for wholeness and full restoration to be completed. I want my own interior world to healed and at peace. Yet, I know it is a process and it takes time. I'm just thankful God himself is the restorer of my soul as I plod ahead, following after Jesus."

So whether you like buses... or restoring things... or realize you're not fully restored... I think you'll relate to my monk in a bus friend.

A Long Way Gone… the redemption

A Long Way Gone is a book about redemption. Boy soldiers lose everything… their family… their opportunity… their hope… their childhood… their innocence… and many lose their lives, but a few are able to be delivered and receive a new life.

The Fall: Without warning the war will come to a village and in an instance an 11 year old boy (like Ishmael) will be thrust into a war. He is handed an AK-47 and sent out to face an ambush. He quickly learns to kill out of fear. He numbs the pain with marijuana and cocaine. He then is motivated to kill out of revenge for the loss of his family. He further numbs the pain with more drugs. Then he kills for mere survival. By no choice of their own… boys become inhumane killers.

In an interview with Jon Stewart, Ishmael said, "It is easy to turn a boy into a killer… It is hard to help him regain his humanity."

The Road to Redemption: Only by mere grace are boys allowed the opportunity to have a second chance on life. In Ishmael’s case some UNICEF soldiers bought him from his commander and took him to a rehabilitation camp. But that is just the beginning, because real change comes from the inside out. Here is a story from Ishmael’s first week in rehab (p. 135)…

It was war all over again. Perhaps the naïve foreigners thought that removing us from the war would lessen our hatred fro the RUF. It hadn’t crossed their minds that a change of environment wouldn’t immediately make us normal boys; we were dangerous, and brainwashed to kill. They had just started this process of rehabilitation, so this was one of the first lessons they had to learn.

Ishmael was one of the lucky ones. He has regained his humanity. He has a new family… new opportunity… a new life.

A Common Story: In one sense (not to diminish Ishmael’s story) this is a universal story. It is the story of the Bible. We have all been thrust into a spiritual war and we often don’t grasp onto the larger story of what is going on. Life strips away our innocence and can turn us into narcissistic, self-reliant, skeptical survivalists. We need someone to graciously lift us out of the turmoil and give us a new life… but the change comes from within. New life is a gift that gives us new hope… a new future… and a second chance.