Jesus was not a rockstar.
hello, postmoderns.
you can keep your abstract church.
your non-christmas pagents.
your technologically-difficult church.
your metaphoric church.
i do not appreciate going to church to be told that my life lacks imagination, lacks excitement, lacks inspiration.
Christmas is not about the manger, you're right. but Christmas is not about a rock concert either. It is not about cirque du soleil.
Christmas is about Jesus. a humble man, who never met expectations, only prophecies. He never followed trends. Christmas is a time for reflection, for anticipation of being saved, cleansed. Not saved from a vague conception of unimagination, but from our sins as people. How can it be that church has become so watered down that even the "Christmas special" at the local church doesn't talk about the saving power of its savoir? Christmas is no time to back away from Jesus, it is time to step up to the alter.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
the holidays
long ago there was the "keep christ in christmas" campaign.
retailers were found guilty of placing signs in their store windows which read, "merry xmas." as is usually the case, someone with a dry sense of humor created a sign admonishing, "keep christ in xmas."
in recent years there has surfaced the "anti-happy holidays" campaign, again aimed at evil retailers who instructed their employees to bless shoppers with the words, "happy holidays" rather than "merry christmas."
does jesus need our help with this?
no.
but i think it is good for people to get upset. it is evidence they believe something and possess convictions.
i'm not an issues person.
i am not electrified by proclaiming, promoting, announcing, arguing about or otherwise calling attention to issues. but i admire people who are. they keep the rest of us honest. they keep us reflective. they cause us to evaluate and re-evaluate what, why and wherefore we are doing things.
was it bad to proclaim "merry xmas?" no. anyone with five minutes of greek experience will tell you that xmas is the same as christmas because "x" is the first letter of xristos, the greek work ofr christ and "x," for centuries, has been used as short hand for christ. much like elvis' close friends called him "e," some of jesus' theological buddys, a.k.a. theologians, shortened his name to "x." so exclaiming "merry xmas" is the same as "merry christmas."
what about "happy holidays?" in my opinion there is nothing wrong with blessing people with "happy holy days" because christmas is a holy day, a set apart day, a special day, plus i like including st. nicholas day, hanukkah, new years eve, new years day and epiphany in my celebrations so i don't mind the plural blessing.
but, it was the campaigners who stimulated my reflection and that is a good thing for me.
plus, i firmly believe, "the lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."
read habakkuk lately? it's a good one.
retailers were found guilty of placing signs in their store windows which read, "merry xmas." as is usually the case, someone with a dry sense of humor created a sign admonishing, "keep christ in xmas."
in recent years there has surfaced the "anti-happy holidays" campaign, again aimed at evil retailers who instructed their employees to bless shoppers with the words, "happy holidays" rather than "merry christmas."
does jesus need our help with this?
no.
but i think it is good for people to get upset. it is evidence they believe something and possess convictions.
i'm not an issues person.
i am not electrified by proclaiming, promoting, announcing, arguing about or otherwise calling attention to issues. but i admire people who are. they keep the rest of us honest. they keep us reflective. they cause us to evaluate and re-evaluate what, why and wherefore we are doing things.
was it bad to proclaim "merry xmas?" no. anyone with five minutes of greek experience will tell you that xmas is the same as christmas because "x" is the first letter of xristos, the greek work ofr christ and "x," for centuries, has been used as short hand for christ. much like elvis' close friends called him "e," some of jesus' theological buddys, a.k.a. theologians, shortened his name to "x." so exclaiming "merry xmas" is the same as "merry christmas."
what about "happy holidays?" in my opinion there is nothing wrong with blessing people with "happy holy days" because christmas is a holy day, a set apart day, a special day, plus i like including st. nicholas day, hanukkah, new years eve, new years day and epiphany in my celebrations so i don't mind the plural blessing.
but, it was the campaigners who stimulated my reflection and that is a good thing for me.
plus, i firmly believe, "the lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."
read habakkuk lately? it's a good one.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
the boutique church
the baby boomers, many from the early days of the jesus movement, helped found, establish, build, fund, etc the recent phenomenon known as the mega-church movement wherein churches in this country have grown numerically much larger than previously thought possible. the results are a variety of large, multi-thousand member churches which are doing great things in their respective communities. i've had the honor at serviing with several churches that fit this description and can and will testify to the effectiveness of these churches.
the question that arrises is, what is next?
for the baby boomers and the next generation down.
will they stay involved with these large churches or do those churches primarily minister best to single adutls (who can connect with other single adults) couples with children, (who can find great children and teen programs for their kids), single parents (who find incredible personal support as well as the aforementioned great programs for their children) and multi-generational families who live in close proximity and can attend church together, grandparents, parents, children, etc.
what of the empty nester couples who no longer need the exemplary children and teen programs? will they continue involvement with the mega-church or look for something different.
i think many will seek something different.
the mega-church is similar to the big box stores where a consumer is able to find everything desired under one roof, and at affordable prices. i think empty nester couples are going to begin looking for boutique churches; smaller fellowships with incredibly creative, diverse music, inspiring messages and worthwhile opportunities to support and serve others, but without the mad dash from theme park size parking lots.
for those of you ministering at small churches, your time is coming and perhaps has already arrived. but you will need to offer creative, high quality music and messages.
mega-churches will continue, because they offer something small churches cannot, and there are still huge numbers of people who need and want the mega-church experience.
one does not cancel the other. god is at work in churches large and small.
it is time, though for small churches to begin improving their quality and be ready for the rush of empty nesters who will begin walking through your doors. most of them are already christians, already tithers, and already willing to volunteer time, but you need to be ready because if you're not, they will move down the street until they find a boutique church that is ready.
the question that arrises is, what is next?
for the baby boomers and the next generation down.
will they stay involved with these large churches or do those churches primarily minister best to single adutls (who can connect with other single adults) couples with children, (who can find great children and teen programs for their kids), single parents (who find incredible personal support as well as the aforementioned great programs for their children) and multi-generational families who live in close proximity and can attend church together, grandparents, parents, children, etc.
what of the empty nester couples who no longer need the exemplary children and teen programs? will they continue involvement with the mega-church or look for something different.
i think many will seek something different.
the mega-church is similar to the big box stores where a consumer is able to find everything desired under one roof, and at affordable prices. i think empty nester couples are going to begin looking for boutique churches; smaller fellowships with incredibly creative, diverse music, inspiring messages and worthwhile opportunities to support and serve others, but without the mad dash from theme park size parking lots.
for those of you ministering at small churches, your time is coming and perhaps has already arrived. but you will need to offer creative, high quality music and messages.
mega-churches will continue, because they offer something small churches cannot, and there are still huge numbers of people who need and want the mega-church experience.
one does not cancel the other. god is at work in churches large and small.
it is time, though for small churches to begin improving their quality and be ready for the rush of empty nesters who will begin walking through your doors. most of them are already christians, already tithers, and already willing to volunteer time, but you need to be ready because if you're not, they will move down the street until they find a boutique church that is ready.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
t-shirts to polos
once upon a time a young man lived and ministered in a place called the jesus house. in said house he had several closets. one of these closets contained a shelf upon which young man neatly (most of the time) folded and stacked his assortment of t-shirts. these t-shirts were a nice accompanyment to said youn man's normal attire of jeans, jeans, and cut-off jeans. on special occasions he doned a sport coat that correctly matched the jeans and t-shirts. (sure he was known to wear an occasional suit, but this is the t-shirt blog). the t-shirt normally proclaimed special days, events, and other assorted universal spiritual truths; i.e. sonshine music festival, muster weekend, conglomerate weekend, adamsfishodor reunion tour (four of them!), french lick retreat, and many other too numerous to remember. for cold weather, the t-shirts were covered by sweatshirts proclaiming some of the same messages but also announcing the various colleges and universities the young man was known to visit for the purpose of speaking or performing a concert. (the young man learned that in addition to a love offering, a free meal and place to sleep most campus ministires were happy to include a school sweatshirt as part of the honorium so it became part of the contract!)
fast forward several years and young man, now older, still has a few t-shirts but now finds that the closet includes many polo shirts. most with addornment of various churches, ministries, schools and/or retreats. there was a time when said young man would not have worn these polos. has the world gotten fancier or has the young man, now older, moved into a new life stage. admittedly, the t-shirts do not look as nice. they fit tighter around the middle! o from what hights the mighty have fallen!
fast forward several years and young man, now older, still has a few t-shirts but now finds that the closet includes many polo shirts. most with addornment of various churches, ministries, schools and/or retreats. there was a time when said young man would not have worn these polos. has the world gotten fancier or has the young man, now older, moved into a new life stage. admittedly, the t-shirts do not look as nice. they fit tighter around the middle! o from what hights the mighty have fallen!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
lunch is served
I know you've all been holding your breath since october 1, waiting to find out how the church is going, and so you're probably all dead because there was no oxygen flow in your body so your brain couldn't tell your heart to beat and all that...
But here is the long-awaited update.
Abandon House is just what I was hoping it to be. The first week there were 6 of us, and it's been around that number the past two weeks as well. We served mac and cheese the first week, grilled cheese and tomato soup next and last week was chicken and rice casserole. The food is reason enough to drive out to gloucester at 11:30 on a Sunday morning.
But we also talk about Jesus. The first week was entitled "reckless abandon," and we talked about why the abandon house is called such, and also what it looks like to abandon your life, faith, etc to Jesus. We ended up talking about living in community and how cool that would be. (i know, i know, but who will was the dishes?)
The second week was "we mistake panic for inspiration," and i spoke about how when something is wrong in our spiritual life, our first instinct is to do more "religious" things: read our bible more, tithe more, go to church more, go on a mission trip, almost in an effort to bargain with Jesus, or else we're just assuming that those are always the answers. We drew/collaged our spiritual life maps, including what we think God has in store for us in the future, trying to keep in mind that our first option is not always God's option.
Last week was a time of fellowship. aka jon and i were both super busy all week and didn't have time to prepare. so we all made lunch and ate and relaxed.
This week there is no church. It is fall break, and we all need one. But things are going well.
Things you can pray for would be people's commitment to come, we're having trouble getting the same people there week after week, and almost feel like we're starting over with publicity every monday. Also pray for time. As i said, Jon and i are both really busy with school, bands and really cool jobs which leave little time for preparing worship songs or a sermon anytime before Saturday really, and I have some really cool things i want to talk about that need more preparation time than one day.
Overall, I am really pleased and can't really believe that for three weeks i've managed to get people to my house in the hopes of talking about/with Jesus. So thanks for the prayers that have already been prayed and the ones that will be.
But here is the long-awaited update.
Abandon House is just what I was hoping it to be. The first week there were 6 of us, and it's been around that number the past two weeks as well. We served mac and cheese the first week, grilled cheese and tomato soup next and last week was chicken and rice casserole. The food is reason enough to drive out to gloucester at 11:30 on a Sunday morning.
But we also talk about Jesus. The first week was entitled "reckless abandon," and we talked about why the abandon house is called such, and also what it looks like to abandon your life, faith, etc to Jesus. We ended up talking about living in community and how cool that would be. (i know, i know, but who will was the dishes?)
The second week was "we mistake panic for inspiration," and i spoke about how when something is wrong in our spiritual life, our first instinct is to do more "religious" things: read our bible more, tithe more, go to church more, go on a mission trip, almost in an effort to bargain with Jesus, or else we're just assuming that those are always the answers. We drew/collaged our spiritual life maps, including what we think God has in store for us in the future, trying to keep in mind that our first option is not always God's option.
Last week was a time of fellowship. aka jon and i were both super busy all week and didn't have time to prepare. so we all made lunch and ate and relaxed.
This week there is no church. It is fall break, and we all need one. But things are going well.
Things you can pray for would be people's commitment to come, we're having trouble getting the same people there week after week, and almost feel like we're starting over with publicity every monday. Also pray for time. As i said, Jon and i are both really busy with school, bands and really cool jobs which leave little time for preparing worship songs or a sermon anytime before Saturday really, and I have some really cool things i want to talk about that need more preparation time than one day.
Overall, I am really pleased and can't really believe that for three weeks i've managed to get people to my house in the hopes of talking about/with Jesus. So thanks for the prayers that have already been prayed and the ones that will be.
Monday, October 16, 2006
birthdays
"i don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve"
so goes one of literature's great birthday speeches. imagine inviting 144 people over for a birthday party and including that line in your speech.
i just had a birthday, turned 55. one of my friends signed a card, "to the aarp man of the year." now I can sign up for all those "senior discounts" and eat early bird specials in restaurants. i wonder if paul mccartney flashes his senior discount card when he dines out?
people tend to be very nice on birthdays. it's almost like birthdays are a time off from anything nasty or bad relationships or anything harsh...but when bilbo spoke the words i quoted at the beginning of these thoughts he was breaking the cardinal rule of niceness on birthdays and speaking harsh truth, at least truth as he saw it.
a hobbit does not recieve gifts on his or her birthday but gives them. one year i did that with my family. i surprised them with gifts. years later my son was still asking when i would do that again. it is still his favorite my birtday.
i like good surpises. rick mapes gave me a good surpise on my 30th birthday when the normal jesus house concert was turned into a surprise birthday party for me. it was quite an evening. i still have the photos.
if you have a birthday soon, i hope you spend it with people you, at least, half like.
so goes one of literature's great birthday speeches. imagine inviting 144 people over for a birthday party and including that line in your speech.
i just had a birthday, turned 55. one of my friends signed a card, "to the aarp man of the year." now I can sign up for all those "senior discounts" and eat early bird specials in restaurants. i wonder if paul mccartney flashes his senior discount card when he dines out?
people tend to be very nice on birthdays. it's almost like birthdays are a time off from anything nasty or bad relationships or anything harsh...but when bilbo spoke the words i quoted at the beginning of these thoughts he was breaking the cardinal rule of niceness on birthdays and speaking harsh truth, at least truth as he saw it.
a hobbit does not recieve gifts on his or her birthday but gives them. one year i did that with my family. i surprised them with gifts. years later my son was still asking when i would do that again. it is still his favorite my birtday.
i like good surpises. rick mapes gave me a good surpise on my 30th birthday when the normal jesus house concert was turned into a surprise birthday party for me. it was quite an evening. i still have the photos.
if you have a birthday soon, i hope you spend it with people you, at least, half like.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
danger fish in the abandon house
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.
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.
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