oh heyyy....
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2006, 11 AM.
abandon house aka church at the beach will commence.
lunch will follow, so don't you wish you were in college?
i miss bill too, it's kind of embarassing the way america votes these days. i'm in an american politics class this semester and we're learning crazy stuff about the lack of democracy in our democratic republic... anyway. my main point right now is that in most little fishies minds, the next election is between mr. barak "chi-town" obama and ms. hilary "solid as a freakin rock so i rule the state of new york" clinton. basically either world is fine with me.
i'll be bahck, in the words of my governator. and i'll have church service numero uno to report on.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
i miss bill
occasionally I spot a bumper sticker that expresses the driver's longing for the previous president. i share that sentiment. yes, he did something wrong, haven't we all? but in spite of the wrong thing he did, there were hundreds of right things he did while president. i'm finishing his autobiography and remembering how much i liked having him as president. on election night, my wife and i were watching the results while staying in an incredible bed and breakfast in key west, florida. (if you go to key west stay at the eden house) we ate pizza and cheered. his first inauguration was a celebration of hope. first baby boom president. those were great years for this country; low interest rates, the deficit disappeared, the government was running on a balanced budget with money in the bank, smallest government since the 1930's, the number of abortions performed were reduced, the number of people on welfare was shrinking, college students were getting help for tuition by working in poor areas helping others, layoffs were rare because companies had confidence in the economy, the number of violent crimes went down every year for eight years, and unemployment was at 1950's levels.
the only government waste i noticed was the tens of millions of dollars ken star wasted finding out the president did nothing wrong.
during the past week, president clinton has been on an abundance of news and interview programs. listening to him answer questions reminds me of the incredible president he was.
during eight of little fish's school years, he was the president. i wonder who will be the first peson of her generation to become president. perhaps her generation will have the courage to elect a woman or minority. this country is on its 43rd president; all caucasion males. speaking as a caucasion male, we're okay, but sometimes bland and boring. isn't it time for a little variety in the oval office? not that the texan hasn't given us a few laughs. i am impressed he is bi-lingual. i wonder if he pronounces any spanish words in the same funny way he messes up english words? but i still miss bill.
the only government waste i noticed was the tens of millions of dollars ken star wasted finding out the president did nothing wrong.
during the past week, president clinton has been on an abundance of news and interview programs. listening to him answer questions reminds me of the incredible president he was.
during eight of little fish's school years, he was the president. i wonder who will be the first peson of her generation to become president. perhaps her generation will have the courage to elect a woman or minority. this country is on its 43rd president; all caucasion males. speaking as a caucasion male, we're okay, but sometimes bland and boring. isn't it time for a little variety in the oval office? not that the texan hasn't given us a few laughs. i am impressed he is bi-lingual. i wonder if he pronounces any spanish words in the same funny way he messes up english words? but i still miss bill.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
those people
recently recieved an emial titled "Can a Good Muslim be a Good American?"
I do not know the author so do not have the opportunity to speak directly with him or her
after a list of reasons why, in the author's opinion, a good muslim cannot be a good american (you knew that would be the result didn't you?) the author closes with the observation, "perhaps we should be very suspicious of all muslims."
i suppose an american who is an athiest can live that way, but any american who is also a christian has a higher calling on his or her life
i suggest that the author either never read or has ignored the words in the Bible, "for God so loved the world" and other passages which point to the reality that God not only loves people of all nations, but really wants christians to love people of all nations. God does not want us to become suspecious of a group of people from another religion simply because of the tragedies caused by a very small faction within that group.
if this were true, then people would need to be suspicious of all white, southern christians because of the KKK.
people would need to be suspicious of all white military veterns because of Timothy McVey
people would need to be suspicious of all japanese because of Shoko Asahara
growing suspicious of a group of people because of religious, ethnic, or racial differences is notthing new
it is also nothing good
I do not know the author so do not have the opportunity to speak directly with him or her
after a list of reasons why, in the author's opinion, a good muslim cannot be a good american (you knew that would be the result didn't you?) the author closes with the observation, "perhaps we should be very suspicious of all muslims."
i suppose an american who is an athiest can live that way, but any american who is also a christian has a higher calling on his or her life
i suggest that the author either never read or has ignored the words in the Bible, "for God so loved the world" and other passages which point to the reality that God not only loves people of all nations, but really wants christians to love people of all nations. God does not want us to become suspecious of a group of people from another religion simply because of the tragedies caused by a very small faction within that group.
if this were true, then people would need to be suspicious of all white, southern christians because of the KKK.
people would need to be suspicious of all white military veterns because of Timothy McVey
people would need to be suspicious of all japanese because of Shoko Asahara
growing suspicious of a group of people because of religious, ethnic, or racial differences is notthing new
it is also nothing good
Friday, August 25, 2006
coming attractions
i leave in three days.
it's possible that church could be soon soon soon.
would it be weird to speak about idols on the first sunday?
"idolatry is a state of mind before it is a religious practice- the state of mind that believes it can guarantee security through the manipulation of this world...[under] two false pretenses."
ok so i totally didn't write that. Oswald Chambers (indirectly) told it to me the other day. but after reading that, how can i not want to speak about idolatry?
i was hoping to do a "hippie" sermon about calling on creation as a witness to God's covenants, and other things throughout the bible and then incorporating a yet-to-be determined interactive activity with the beach and ocean. but goodness do i love that quote about idolatry.
how many bibles do you think a church-runner (im super not a pastor) should have?
i bet the big fish has at least 10. i have two that i use on a regular basis. plus God. that's another one. dad swears by the one column bibles. i want one. how many translations do you need? i have two. plus God. that's another one. how many sermons am i supposed to have prepared? i have a lot of half-baked ideas. plus God. that's one. things are getting big around here...
it's possible that church could be soon soon soon.
would it be weird to speak about idols on the first sunday?
"idolatry is a state of mind before it is a religious practice- the state of mind that believes it can guarantee security through the manipulation of this world...[under] two false pretenses."
ok so i totally didn't write that. Oswald Chambers (indirectly) told it to me the other day. but after reading that, how can i not want to speak about idolatry?
i was hoping to do a "hippie" sermon about calling on creation as a witness to God's covenants, and other things throughout the bible and then incorporating a yet-to-be determined interactive activity with the beach and ocean. but goodness do i love that quote about idolatry.
how many bibles do you think a church-runner (im super not a pastor) should have?
i bet the big fish has at least 10. i have two that i use on a regular basis. plus God. that's another one. dad swears by the one column bibles. i want one. how many translations do you need? i have two. plus God. that's another one. how many sermons am i supposed to have prepared? i have a lot of half-baked ideas. plus God. that's one. things are getting big around here...
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Public Service Announcement
Please don't stare.
For me, church at its best is when it's double the trouble.
Two churches, two services, one weekend.
It's good to hear two views, two sermons, two lessons, have two worship times, during a 24-hour sabbath time (except when every church in America is doing an unintelligent Da Vinci Code series- but that's another topic for another day).
At its very best, these two churches would be different- preferably one inter-generational and the other a nice mix of scenesters/hipsters and indie kids (that way, you can wear whatever you want, but the worship team knows how to rock).
The second church, being made up of my people, my worship, my (deep) sermons, is, of course, a little more little-fish-friendly. But the first is of equal importance. That is wehere families can sit together, pray togetehr, worship together. That's where we find mentors, where our parents teach us how to love Jesus, and just generally interact with people oever the age of 25 (gasp!).
But this Sunday, I realized that it might be just as uncomfortable for the old people to go to church with us as it is for us to go with them. As my precious friends sat a row in front of me, and I watched a parent-aged woman begin to stare at them with the "may God save your soul" look, I saw the younger couple through her eyes: the tattoos, piercings, unbrushed hair, unshaven face, pink leggings and vans. To her, they didn't spell "I love Jesus," they didn't convey the talented, blossoming tatto artist and hard-working graphic design major that they are. That lady just saw two hoodlums. And because she saw two of those for thirty minutes, she missed one sermon.
As the intergenerational church continues to decline, following the trend to home churches, and just more stylized churches in general (blame the terrible postmoderns for that, not me!), I have one request when we do show up: Please Don't Stare. We wouldn't come to your church if we didn't want to hang out with you, to soak in some of your life experience and wisdom. And besides, you might be too busy staring to say hello, and meet the future of your world and your church.
For me, church at its best is when it's double the trouble.
Two churches, two services, one weekend.
It's good to hear two views, two sermons, two lessons, have two worship times, during a 24-hour sabbath time (except when every church in America is doing an unintelligent Da Vinci Code series- but that's another topic for another day).
At its very best, these two churches would be different- preferably one inter-generational and the other a nice mix of scenesters/hipsters and indie kids (that way, you can wear whatever you want, but the worship team knows how to rock).
The second church, being made up of my people, my worship, my (deep) sermons, is, of course, a little more little-fish-friendly. But the first is of equal importance. That is wehere families can sit together, pray togetehr, worship together. That's where we find mentors, where our parents teach us how to love Jesus, and just generally interact with people oever the age of 25 (gasp!).
But this Sunday, I realized that it might be just as uncomfortable for the old people to go to church with us as it is for us to go with them. As my precious friends sat a row in front of me, and I watched a parent-aged woman begin to stare at them with the "may God save your soul" look, I saw the younger couple through her eyes: the tattoos, piercings, unbrushed hair, unshaven face, pink leggings and vans. To her, they didn't spell "I love Jesus," they didn't convey the talented, blossoming tatto artist and hard-working graphic design major that they are. That lady just saw two hoodlums. And because she saw two of those for thirty minutes, she missed one sermon.
As the intergenerational church continues to decline, following the trend to home churches, and just more stylized churches in general (blame the terrible postmoderns for that, not me!), I have one request when we do show up: Please Don't Stare. We wouldn't come to your church if we didn't want to hang out with you, to soak in some of your life experience and wisdom. And besides, you might be too busy staring to say hello, and meet the future of your world and your church.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
But Will You Wash the Dishes?
A few months ago, I read a news article concerning a movement among some conservative Christians to turn South Carolina into a modern promised land. Christians from all over the country are urged to emigrate to South Carolina in order to tip the scales of the state further to the right. It sounds like once they have completed their exodus from the other 49 states and driven the democrates out of S.C. they will secede from the union and set up their own country. So far, twenty people have moved there.
This news reminds me of the community living so many of us tried in the early 1970's. We knew that day to day living would be so much easier if we were sharing a house with other Christians. It was going to be our own protestant version of a Catholic monastary without the fancy robes or Latin chanting. Unfortunately, the downfall of many of those community living experiments was dirty dishes. It seemed that everyone wanted to eat, but no one wanted to wash the dishes. Arguments, stessful encounters, and many failed cleaning schedules resulted in strained relationships among Christians who previously really liked each other. Little Fish is going to share a house this fall with several other students. One of my prayers for her is that everyone enjoys washing dishes!
I'm not sure who is going to wash all the dishes in South Carolina, but if my reference to 1970's community living does not disuade anyone, try reading about John Calvin and Geneva. Talk about a failed experiment in Christian community living. If you don't learn from history, you are destined to repeat it. Besides, Jesus commanded Christians to go to the non-Christians, not huddle together with only the Republicans.
This news reminds me of the community living so many of us tried in the early 1970's. We knew that day to day living would be so much easier if we were sharing a house with other Christians. It was going to be our own protestant version of a Catholic monastary without the fancy robes or Latin chanting. Unfortunately, the downfall of many of those community living experiments was dirty dishes. It seemed that everyone wanted to eat, but no one wanted to wash the dishes. Arguments, stessful encounters, and many failed cleaning schedules resulted in strained relationships among Christians who previously really liked each other. Little Fish is going to share a house this fall with several other students. One of my prayers for her is that everyone enjoys washing dishes!
I'm not sure who is going to wash all the dishes in South Carolina, but if my reference to 1970's community living does not disuade anyone, try reading about John Calvin and Geneva. Talk about a failed experiment in Christian community living. If you don't learn from history, you are destined to repeat it. Besides, Jesus commanded Christians to go to the non-Christians, not huddle together with only the Republicans.
conspiracy theories
In visiting church plants, I encountered an old church dogma that I thought was long forgotton and yet has been revived by a new, contemporary church plant. It is the KJV Only dogma. In it's simple form, it is a church dogma that tries to convince people that the King James Bible is the only English translation that correctly communicates the truth of God to English speaking people. The KJV Only folks believe that any other English translation contains errors that lead to watered-down truth. I'm amazed this dogma has ever existed in the church, confounded that it continues to exist and perplexed that a contemporary church plant would voluntarily embrace and propogate this dogma.
The origin of this dogma seems to be the 1940's or 50's and some of the controversy around the publication of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. The dogma re-surfaced in the 1070's with the publication of the New International Version. In some circles the dogma is very anti-Catholic.
The primary fruit I have observed from this dogma is it plants fear into a person's heart; fear that a person will miss the real truth of God if any version of the Bible is read but the KJV. A secondary fruit is it demeans the King James Version, turning it from a beautiful, though archaic English translation, into an object at the heart of a conspiracy theory.
Curb your dogma! If you enjoy the KJV, bless you as you read, study, memorize, and pray over God's word. If you enjoy other translations, bless you as you read, study, memorize, and pray over God's word. If you are really uncomfortable reading an English translation out of fear that God's word has been distorted in the translating process, you can take time to learn Ancient Hebrew & Koine Greek in order to read it in it's original languages. Of course, then you'll have to decide which version of the Hebrew & Greek texts to use...
The origin of this dogma seems to be the 1940's or 50's and some of the controversy around the publication of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. The dogma re-surfaced in the 1070's with the publication of the New International Version. In some circles the dogma is very anti-Catholic.
The primary fruit I have observed from this dogma is it plants fear into a person's heart; fear that a person will miss the real truth of God if any version of the Bible is read but the KJV. A secondary fruit is it demeans the King James Version, turning it from a beautiful, though archaic English translation, into an object at the heart of a conspiracy theory.
Curb your dogma! If you enjoy the KJV, bless you as you read, study, memorize, and pray over God's word. If you enjoy other translations, bless you as you read, study, memorize, and pray over God's word. If you are really uncomfortable reading an English translation out of fear that God's word has been distorted in the translating process, you can take time to learn Ancient Hebrew & Koine Greek in order to read it in it's original languages. Of course, then you'll have to decide which version of the Hebrew & Greek texts to use...
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