Do we complicate Christianity, to the point of losing Christianity? How about silencing Jesus, and replacing him with someone a little less invasive upon how you spend your personal time. Have you ever done that? I call it muffling Jesus with the ol' pillow case.
I'll raise my hand and admit that I do it. Yes, yes I do. We all do it. We tack on teachings and opinions at a nauseating clip. We lug around revised editions of the Bible with our own Jesus penciled in.
You know what I'm talking about right? It's the magic trick performed as you rationalize Jesus in your own mind. Rationalize mean Jesus out, and pencil in new baby Jesus! You pencil in your wanna be teachings in the margins and pray they make the death-defying leap into the text.
Then we hastily hide the ink to admire our newly created baby Jesus. We slow down to reflect on what we created, but we toss cookies because we've dizzied ourselves from our dazzling sound and light magic show. Coming to, we recognize that this Jesus is mind-boggling, and no one can make heads or tails out of this Christianity. Why would they kill this Jesus with his nice reasonable teachings? Anything salvageable is left abstract and in the clouds. It’s all so deranged and obtuse. But one thing is clear, this Jesus is cute, and cuddly too! I want to pet him. Aww, nice Jesus, nice Jesus, good boy.
Let the Jesus of the Bible cut into you today, instead of you cutting him out. We make it complicated, because we don't like what is plainly written. And what is plainly written is Messiah Jesus infringing upon our nice neat lives.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Chillin' with too much
Last night I challenged the youth group with the following message. It kicked off a sub-theme in the joy series, which is "joy in repentance." We are thinking through 3 major bread texts. Exodus 16:1-20, 31-35. Israelites in the Desert, and God provides bread. John 6:1-14. Feeding the 5,000. John 6:25-58. I am the bread of life.
We looked at the Exodus 16 manna text last night. Many things were said, but the killer point was found in Ex. 16:4, 16-20. In these verses each person should gather enough manna for that day, but not take anymore than they needed for that particular day! But did the Israelites listen? Of course not! They hoarded, and were greedy, and lacked trust in the Lord and the Lord's word to them. They kept some overnight, which of course became spoiled, was full of maggots and smelled. What does this mean to our audience today? Me, chillin' in America, what is the Lord's voice to me in this passage?
It's rather clear, zeroed in on this particular point what this means for me. The forest has broader richer theological messages, but this tree, this gaint redwood stands out. And it is this tree, which our greedy, hoarding, selfishly blinded American heart deserves to be nailed.
One extraction point follows. It means I am that Israelite. They are grumbling, complaining, and whining to God about there being no food, and the entire situation of leaving Eygpt (v.3, 7). God in his sovereign mercy and grace provides bread and responds kindly to their childish grumbling ungrateful attitudes. With food and provision provided by God everyday, still that was not enough for these sinful Israelites, and me, the sinful American.
I am the Israelite in the mirror, whining and grumbling about God's provision for me. IT'S NOT ENOUGH WE SCREAM! WE WANT MORE! WE HOARD MORE! GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME, MORE MORE MORE! The kicker with this is that their manna was ruined within a day. We today, can continue to gather and not be policed immediately about this sin like our Israelite counterparts were centuries ago. While their's became full of maggots, ours is still shiny, at least for a few years. Their manna was spoiled, but we, WE CAN CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE! Will we police ourselves, or just feed our greed again today? FEED YOURSELF, OR GIVE OF YOURSELF? You decide. GATHER MORE THAN YOU NEED, OR GATHER ONLY WHAT YOU NEED? You decide. ARE YOU CHILLIN' WITH TOO MUCH JUST LIKE ME? What are you going to do about that today?
When we choose to follow Christ we have given up our rights. And yes, that even includes us being greedy, hoarding Americans, who keep too much for ourselves and give too little to our neighbor in need. God will provide for you what you need, He proved that with the manna He provided for the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. Be content with the Lord's provision for you today, and don't grasp for more, more, more. Lord have mercy on me.
We looked at the Exodus 16 manna text last night. Many things were said, but the killer point was found in Ex. 16:4, 16-20. In these verses each person should gather enough manna for that day, but not take anymore than they needed for that particular day! But did the Israelites listen? Of course not! They hoarded, and were greedy, and lacked trust in the Lord and the Lord's word to them. They kept some overnight, which of course became spoiled, was full of maggots and smelled. What does this mean to our audience today? Me, chillin' in America, what is the Lord's voice to me in this passage?
It's rather clear, zeroed in on this particular point what this means for me. The forest has broader richer theological messages, but this tree, this gaint redwood stands out. And it is this tree, which our greedy, hoarding, selfishly blinded American heart deserves to be nailed.
One extraction point follows. It means I am that Israelite. They are grumbling, complaining, and whining to God about there being no food, and the entire situation of leaving Eygpt (v.3, 7). God in his sovereign mercy and grace provides bread and responds kindly to their childish grumbling ungrateful attitudes. With food and provision provided by God everyday, still that was not enough for these sinful Israelites, and me, the sinful American.
I am the Israelite in the mirror, whining and grumbling about God's provision for me. IT'S NOT ENOUGH WE SCREAM! WE WANT MORE! WE HOARD MORE! GIVE ME, GIVE ME, GIVE ME, MORE MORE MORE! The kicker with this is that their manna was ruined within a day. We today, can continue to gather and not be policed immediately about this sin like our Israelite counterparts were centuries ago. While their's became full of maggots, ours is still shiny, at least for a few years. Their manna was spoiled, but we, WE CAN CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE! Will we police ourselves, or just feed our greed again today? FEED YOURSELF, OR GIVE OF YOURSELF? You decide. GATHER MORE THAN YOU NEED, OR GATHER ONLY WHAT YOU NEED? You decide. ARE YOU CHILLIN' WITH TOO MUCH JUST LIKE ME? What are you going to do about that today?
When we choose to follow Christ we have given up our rights. And yes, that even includes us being greedy, hoarding Americans, who keep too much for ourselves and give too little to our neighbor in need. God will provide for you what you need, He proved that with the manna He provided for the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. Be content with the Lord's provision for you today, and don't grasp for more, more, more. Lord have mercy on me.
Friday, July 18, 2008
What the Future Holds
Who are the brilliant people shaping the age to come?
May I suggest some of the people in the following camp. I'm a rookie on these folks, but their ideas are what will diffuse and spread. They have ideas worth spreading (www.ted.com). And ideas that spread, win! Thank you Seth.
These are the voices:
Garr Reynolds, http://www.presentationzen.com/
Sir Ken Robinson, watch one of the most brilliant talks ever on www.ted.com
Daniel Pink, http://www.danpink.com/
Seth Godin, http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
Steve Jobs
Check out Brandon Brown's blog in early Feb. '08 for his musings. http://brownsquirrel.blogspot.com.
These guys know how to speak to a generation that reads in images and has an attention span of that of a 3 yr old on speed. They are the messangers, the preachers, and the orators of our day. Pastors stop and learn. Monologues kill you, and put your congregations to sleep. Your blah blah blah monologues are disallowed. Only 2-way streets are allowed, where both parties are in sync mentally and thinking together. Take minds with you this Sunday instead of Lala Land for 20+ minutes. The above listing are the voices. Listen and learn from what they say, and how they say it. They speak in audible voices, through the web, and in print.
What are the saying? What thread brings them together? How can you win in the future? Be creative! Creative, innovative, creative marketing, imaginative. Brilliant ideas can only survive if you can figure out how to spread them! And in a day of information overload you must figure out how to spread your ideas creatively! Creativity is what will help make you stand out and be remembered. Be remarkable. Be worth someone making a remark about you. Stand out from the noise by using your imagination.
May I suggest some of the people in the following camp. I'm a rookie on these folks, but their ideas are what will diffuse and spread. They have ideas worth spreading (www.ted.com). And ideas that spread, win! Thank you Seth.
These are the voices:
Garr Reynolds, http://www.presentationzen.com/
Sir Ken Robinson, watch one of the most brilliant talks ever on www.ted.com
Daniel Pink, http://www.danpink.com/
Seth Godin, http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
Steve Jobs
Check out Brandon Brown's blog in early Feb. '08 for his musings. http://brownsquirrel.blogspot.com.
These guys know how to speak to a generation that reads in images and has an attention span of that of a 3 yr old on speed. They are the messangers, the preachers, and the orators of our day. Pastors stop and learn. Monologues kill you, and put your congregations to sleep. Your blah blah blah monologues are disallowed. Only 2-way streets are allowed, where both parties are in sync mentally and thinking together. Take minds with you this Sunday instead of Lala Land for 20+ minutes. The above listing are the voices. Listen and learn from what they say, and how they say it. They speak in audible voices, through the web, and in print.
What are the saying? What thread brings them together? How can you win in the future? Be creative! Creative, innovative, creative marketing, imaginative. Brilliant ideas can only survive if you can figure out how to spread them! And in a day of information overload you must figure out how to spread your ideas creatively! Creativity is what will help make you stand out and be remembered. Be remarkable. Be worth someone making a remark about you. Stand out from the noise by using your imagination.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Keep the Lean 2
The problem with being in ministry even for a short while like myself is the cumulation of hoards of ministry handouts and materials. I'm a spry young 27 yr old and already I find myself far too often thinking, "now where did I put that again?" I'll dig through my materials (a large percentage of which is self-created), and most of the time I'll find it. But still, it takes some serious time to to this, and I'm a rather organized guy.
This has led me to thinking, if I were 25 years into ministry how large would the temptation be to rely on preexisting material as a crutch and do ministry as a resource guru with tons and tons of file cabinets and no longer as a shepherd? My guess is that it would be pretty enticing.
25 years from now will I seek to hear the voice of God afresh, or be content with a handy-dandy handouts whose effectiveness has been approved by church x and church y? Will I care to listen and have a breaking heart for my people, or can I solve all issues of sin with another photocopied handout?
Even already at this point in ministry I find myself giving people handouts or some canned material I prepared in the past. Sure, this CAN BE fine AT TIMES, but it is never a substitute for hearing afresh the voice of God. And sometimes after these meetings, I wonder, was this what they really needed? Did I hear their heart, then God's heart, and then respond? Or maybe I just heard, well, this works for 1.3 million people (or at least the back covers say it), and let me slap this on you too.
Canned cirriculum although it is good at times is also a negative for sinful scheming humanity. This happens when I'm dry on God's voice in a particular passage and have nothing to say, and therefore look to the canned cirriculum gods and collected materials and handouts over the years and let them speak. That way I can do ministry without ever having to do the dirty work of listening to God in my own heart.
If handouts from 1962 are being repeated far beyond their useful years, throw them out. Don't let them become a crutch hindering you from hearing God's voice. Throw them out. Keep the LEAN, throw out everything that hinders the vibrant voice of the Lord in the pastor's life.
Jesus didn't go through canned cirrculum too often, at least I don't think. Jesus said, "follow me." And so today, let us THROW OUT THE LIVELESS WORDS ON COUNTLESS PAGES, and follow instead. Maybe today Jesus will pick up a muster seed and teach from that, maybe tomorrow he'll examine a vine and it's branches, we'll play it by ear each day. Hear afresh God's voice everyday. Each day Jesus heard from his Father and responded to his disciples saying, "ok, I'm ready, follow me."
This has led me to thinking, if I were 25 years into ministry how large would the temptation be to rely on preexisting material as a crutch and do ministry as a resource guru with tons and tons of file cabinets and no longer as a shepherd? My guess is that it would be pretty enticing.
25 years from now will I seek to hear the voice of God afresh, or be content with a handy-dandy handouts whose effectiveness has been approved by church x and church y? Will I care to listen and have a breaking heart for my people, or can I solve all issues of sin with another photocopied handout?
Even already at this point in ministry I find myself giving people handouts or some canned material I prepared in the past. Sure, this CAN BE fine AT TIMES, but it is never a substitute for hearing afresh the voice of God. And sometimes after these meetings, I wonder, was this what they really needed? Did I hear their heart, then God's heart, and then respond? Or maybe I just heard, well, this works for 1.3 million people (or at least the back covers say it), and let me slap this on you too.
Canned cirriculum although it is good at times is also a negative for sinful scheming humanity. This happens when I'm dry on God's voice in a particular passage and have nothing to say, and therefore look to the canned cirriculum gods and collected materials and handouts over the years and let them speak. That way I can do ministry without ever having to do the dirty work of listening to God in my own heart.
If handouts from 1962 are being repeated far beyond their useful years, throw them out. Don't let them become a crutch hindering you from hearing God's voice. Throw them out. Keep the LEAN, throw out everything that hinders the vibrant voice of the Lord in the pastor's life.
Jesus didn't go through canned cirrculum too often, at least I don't think. Jesus said, "follow me." And so today, let us THROW OUT THE LIVELESS WORDS ON COUNTLESS PAGES, and follow instead. Maybe today Jesus will pick up a muster seed and teach from that, maybe tomorrow he'll examine a vine and it's branches, we'll play it by ear each day. Hear afresh God's voice everyday. Each day Jesus heard from his Father and responded to his disciples saying, "ok, I'm ready, follow me."
Monday, July 7, 2008
Keep the Lean
You gotta keep the lean and throw out the rest.
Too many books on the shelves today all bidding for a place in the mind. Gotta keep the 2-5% that's helpful, study those portions and dump the 90% + rest into the garbage can. So many books poking around how to "do church" and "how to grow the church" it's come to a point of insanity.
How about remembering the lean. If we wanna grow, than we need to glorify God. Bringing glory to God is about being powerful image bearers. He will make us grow if we're bent on glorifying Him.
Out love others. Out serve others. Be more sacrificial than others. Forget the majority about what you read about methodology, and look into the mirror and say, "I must decrease, He must increase."
Out love others.
Too many books on the shelves today all bidding for a place in the mind. Gotta keep the 2-5% that's helpful, study those portions and dump the 90% + rest into the garbage can. So many books poking around how to "do church" and "how to grow the church" it's come to a point of insanity.
How about remembering the lean. If we wanna grow, than we need to glorify God. Bringing glory to God is about being powerful image bearers. He will make us grow if we're bent on glorifying Him.
Out love others. Out serve others. Be more sacrificial than others. Forget the majority about what you read about methodology, and look into the mirror and say, "I must decrease, He must increase."
Out love others.
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