Blogging Blues

As you might have noticed I haven’t been blogging at all lately. It’s not that there isn’t anything to talk about, I just have recently found myself not as interested in it, thus haven’t made time for it. Actually there are several variables that have contributed to my lack of substantive blogging.

1. Over the last couple of weeks everyone in our family has been ill with the stomach flu at some point. So tending to family matters has taken priority.

2. It takes a lot of time, energy, and creativity to maintain a good blog…there are other things that are capturing my attention right now, and I can’t give the time needed.

3. I don’t have a lap top where I can access my blog at all hours of the day. My computer is at home where if my family is down stairs and I am upstairs writing on my blog there is guilt over where my priorities ought to be.

4. I just haven’t felt like it.

5. Some good bloggers use the early morning time for writing. Honestly, I am not enough of a morning person nor disciplined enough to write at the crack of dawn everyday. Other more important things occupy my time during the day and evenings.

6. I really have nothing new to say, and there are much better blogs than mine, and I am quite content with just reading other peoples thoughts.

7. There is something egotistical and neurotic about blogging that I am not quite comfortable with. I have this need to be heard, to be read, to be liked, to be considered hip, to be well thought of, to be considered smart, inteligent, funny, ect.. While blogging has been a good outlet of expressing my thoughts, it has also perpetuated my obsession with myself. I find that I check my blog traffic far too often.

8. While I do enjoy it, it is not a passion of mine, and if it does become a passion I would feel guilty cause it seems that are much better ideas, causes, and things to become passionate about.

Perhaps this is just “blogger’s block” or a “blogger’s funk” I am not sure. At this point I am not abandoning blogging, but just evaluating where this site is at and what will become of it. So blogging will be a bit sporadic which means my traffic will go way down, which my ego doesn’t quite agree with. Oh well

All Dogs Go To Heaven

Recently our family went through a bit of a crisis. A family pet crisis. It began about a year ago when my wife discovered that a local animal hospital had a cocker spaniel up for adoption. It was a fairly simple process. We filled out an application, they did a background check to make sure we were suitable pet owners, we paid a small fee to have her immunizations updated, then waited a few days for it all to clear, and presto we had adopted a new addition to our family.

We named her Mitzi. My wife’s grandpa had a cocker that was almost identical to this one, even had the same name. Thus, Mitzi had some natural sentimental and familial value. It reminded my wife not only of her blessed childhood, but of her beloved grandfather, who passed away when she was only 9. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet him.

While I was reluctant at first to embrace Mitzi, we already have a dalmatian, she naturally grew on me. She was one of the most loving and playful dogs I had ever known. She loved to just crawl up into your lap and sit with you. My children loved her because she was mostly an inside dog where they could play with her, whereas our other dog Shelbee lives outside. It also gave my boys some added responsibility. They fed her, gave her water, and took her outside to potty. When we would go camping or travel for extended days she would travel with us. We took her for walks in the neighborhood and to local parks. She adored people She truly had become the family dog.

Our house has driveway that is a bit up hill, and then curves around the back and enters into our garage. About 2 years ago we put up a fence so that we could close it off so our children could play outside without us worrying of them wandering onto the street. So, frequently we would allow Mitzi to play out there as long as the gate was closed so she couldn’t get out. Well, one night last week I let her outside, thinking the gate was still locked, I had locked it earlier that day, but my oldest son unlocked in order to take her out, tragically I didn’t realize it was still unlocked.

My wife woke up the next morning to run some errands and noticed Mitzi was gone. At first I didn’t worry too much because I thought she would find her way back. My wife worked tirelessly that morning making lost signs, calling animal control, and speaking with our vet. The weekend past and no signs of her. On Monday we recieved several hopeful calls about people who had possibly seen her, but our continued search turned up empty.

Then on Tuesday night I got a call from a local neighbor who was out jogging and noticed a dog on the side of the road that fit the description of our Mitzi. She gave me the location and I reluctantly went out to investigate. Sadly, it turned out to be her. I then had to call my wife to break the news to her, and then had to tell my 3 boys. It was devastating, to say the least, especially to my wife and my oldest son. I confess that I to was grieved and saddened by it all. As a child I never became emotionally attached to a pet, but I was strangely awakened to a deep sense of loss in our family. My oldest son asked “can’t we take her to the doctor and he can fix her? Or can’t Jesus make her come back to life just like he came back to life.” It was my son’s first real brush with death.

It was difficult trying to help my sons understand the concept that we would never see Mitzi again…she was never coming back…but I said “maybe or hopefully we might see her again in heaven, if dogs in fact do go to heaven.” I don’t know if animals and pets go to heaven or not, but it gives my son hope and comfort that maybe he would see her once again. It was one of those life moments that we never want to happen, but know that inevitably we will have to walk through it…I just wasn’t prepared for it this soon.

It was almost a year to the date that we adopted her. We buried her in our yard. She will be deeply missed!

Right Belief vs Right Action

A couple of prominent blogs are wrestling with this topic in somewhat different ways and from different angles. You can read them here and here. An interesting question that has surfaced for me is: Can one live out the values of the Kingdom (as embodied and taught by Jesus) without ever embracing the theological claims the Gospels make about Jesus? If so how does and will Jesus view them and respond to them?

For example, take someone like Ghandi who held tightly to a non-violent position, practiced simplicity, valued a contemplative rule of life, worked and championed the poor and oppressed, fought against injustice, was a peacemaker, and intensely read, and to a great degree embodied the Sermon On The Mount, but never claimed or fully embraced the Christian faith. Is a person like this among the sheep or the goats in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25? How does right belief figure into the equation in this example? Does it?

What about somone who vigorously champions truth, correct doctrine, right orthodoxy, and exemplifies and oozes sound theology, but are also known for being arrogant, brash, mean spirited, rude, cocky, intolerant, and unkind? Does right belief trump right action in this situation? Why or why not?

Which of the above two examples would Jesus seem to favor? Is there ever a point when one is more important than the other? Or do both have equal value and importance? If so in what way?

To further complicate the matter, when Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan part of the point seemed to be that right belief or orthodoxy does not always bring about right action. It also seems to indicate that the converse is true; that wrong theological thinking should not assume misguided ethics. The lawyer who initially asked the question in this context had a sound theology, but did not demonstrate Kingdom ethics. On the other hand, the Samaritan, whom represented an unorthodox theology, correctly applied the ethics of the Kingdom, Jesus then proceeded to counsel the lawyer to go and do like the Samaritan.

So where does right belief and right action figure into the matirx of our relationships with people in a pluralistic culture? How should we respond to those who demonstrate and embody the ethics of Jesus, but who espouse another belief (theological) system? Do beliefs really matter when people are mutually seeking peace, justice for the poor and oppressed, who deal with people and nations non-violently, and who honestly desire to serve humanity and be a “Good Samaritan” in the world? Do their actions in the world count even though they hold to a different belief system, but in reality are living like Jesus in the world?

Just some questions I am thinking about.

Above artwork by 12 Stone Art

25 Year Flashback

I grew up in a relatively small town in Arizona. I lived there during my formative years as a kid from 3rd grade-10th grade, what I call the “Eloy Wonder Years.” I call them that because they evoke fond memories of my growing up years.

As I reflect back Eloy was a community in the truest sense of the word. We had unique events and celebrations. Mexican Fiestas and Cinco De Mayo fesitvals to celebrate the great hispanic culture. Homecoming parades where every school (including elementary schools) particapted. Main street closed down and most of the businesses closed for a few hours as the whole town came to watch the parade. The whole community also came out to watch the game and support the high school football team and the local bands, as the halftime show was just as entertaining as the game itself.

Saturday afternoons were spent at the local Dust Bowl movie theatre, where you could watch a first run movie as many times as you wanted, and it was a bonus when there were double features. Believe it or not we also had an annual Grand Prix that eventually ESPN came and covered. There were school dances and street dances. Annual bingo and raffles at the St. Helens Catholic church. Neighborhood baseball and football games. We used to practice kicking field goals through telephone poles.

While there were cliques in school it seemed that everybody had friends outside their own circle, it was definitely a town where most everybody knew your name. I remember certain kinds of music that ignite memories of my Eloy days, fashions and fads that were unique and popular back then, things we used to say: slang and such, memories of first loves, bands trips and parades we marched in, class events, certain grocery stores, and the loud train coming through town. Eloy was a unique town and community back then.

While living in the same area I switched schools after my 7th grade year, but still had contact with many people from my previous schools, in addition to making new friends. However, in 1985 I left Arizona and moved to Oklahoma to finish high school. Since then I have returned to Arizona only three times; once in 1991, 1998, and last October 2007.

Recently, I recieved an e-mail regarding the 20 year high school reunion of the class I would have graduated with in Eloy. I haven’t heard from many of these people in 25 years. Since then I have been corresponding with several of them catching up and remembering the “old school” days. It has been so much fun! Interestingly, I discovered through these e-mails that one of my friends is living in Tulsa, and has been for the last 11 years. I have been here for 4 years and all this time we had no idea we were in the same place. Since then our families have met and we have been able to talk face to face. What a crazy small world we live in!!

Making of Theology - What Is The Church?

The story of the Gospel began in the OT as God sought to act in redemptive ways towards humanity. God chose a peculiar people known as the Isrealites to be the vessels through which the world would experience reconciliation and redemption with God and one another. The OT prohpets indicate that Isreal did not live up to its calling to be the light to the nations. The climax of God’s redemptive project culminates in the person of Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus calls and invites anyone who desires to follow Him to then become participants and characters within God’s redemptive story. This new society and community that is birthed becomes known as the church…the called out ones.

However, in our Western American culture we have perhaps come to understand church very differently than what is understood in the first few centuries of the church. Most of us pehaps can only envision a church as a building or place we go to, or maybe it is a worship service, or specific programs that happen on church property or grounds. Programs such as; Sunday School, Awanas, discipleship groups, prayer meetings, men’s groups, women’s groups, seminars, VBS, summer camps, ect. It is not that these programs are inherently bad, but that we associate and define these things under the rubric of church because of the specific location where they occur, and/or the content that they discuss.

As such we have subsequently created a christian sub-culture that is for club memebers only. If you speak the right language, have your life together and in order, if you are alligned with the correct political group, if you live in the right neighborhood, and you beleive the right things then you are welcome to join this great group. However, if you don’t live up to these criteria then you are shunned or at least will always feel like your an outsider because you don’t measure up. In addition, we have strategically removed people from their sphere of influence, and have placed them in a church member’s only schedule of activities.

It seems that the early church could not be described in the above fashion. The early church seemed to be more of a movement than an institution, more fluid, organic, and dynamic than static, stale, and obstinate, a counter-cultural community rather than a community that maintained the status quo, an eschatalogical community (being a foretaste of God’s Kingdom) rather than a specific denominational flavor, it was a living body (Christ’s body and presence in the world) rather than the same ole dead religion, it was a society of Jesus followers committed to living out the ethics and mission of Jesus in the world rather than being politically driven or motivated by another agenda, it was messy, complicated, and diverse, not cookie cutter, quick fix, or streamlined.

The church is not something we do or go to it is something that we are! We don’t go to church we are the church. The church wasn’t designed to bring people in, but we were designed to be sent out. We don’t invite people to a worship service, we invite them to become partakers and participants of God’s ongoing redemptive story. How crazy to think that the church is merely about going to Sunday School , a worship service, and maybe a small group during the week.

SYATP Counter-Cultural Challenge

Many people disagreed about some of my observations and critique about the current state of the SYATP event. For the most part I thought it was fair and stimulated good conversation. I still find it odd and perplexing that many still insist that Jesus’ diatribe on prayer in Matt 6 is out of context when applied to SYATP.

So I have come up with a challenge for youth pastors (including myself), youth workers and volunteers, parents, and students especially. The challenge is this (in the spirit of Matthew 6) to ask students NOT to attend SYATP this year. But rather get up early and find a closet to go into and pray specifically for your school, your communities, teachers, friends, national leaders, world leaders, nations, world peace, ect. They can go by themselves or they can ask one or two friends to pray with them. No more than three though. They can meet at someone’s house or in a room at school, or a quiet remote place with no one else around. They are to tell nobody what they are doing or where they are at. Then they continue to meet and pray in the same place once a week for a month or more.

So who is up for the challenge?

TU Shootout!

I took my two oldest boys to their first college football game tonite. Believe it or not it was only my second college football game. The first was when I was a junior in High School, I saw OU destroy Mizzou 77-0. That is when OU had Jamelle Holloway and Brian Bozworth.

Well tonite TU football did not disappoint, it was a classic shootout against BYU, and maybe a record night for TU quarterbackf Paul Smith, who threw for 5 touchdowns and almost 500 yards pasing. I haven’t looked at the official stats but I bet between BYU and Tulsa there was over a 1000 yards of offense.

Very exciting game, lots of offense…big time defensive hits…strong crowd, beautiful evening weather, and the game was on TV. My boys (and me) had the greatest best time…they cheered…they yelled…they were interested in all aspects of the game…the people next to us were fun. Their favorite part was the fireworks after each TU score. One time after TU scored we decided to go down and get some snacks, when we returned both BYU and TU had scored touchdowns, we were gone less than 5 minutes.

Great night of Tulsa entertainment. Thanks to Steve for the half price tickets…final score 55-47. TU plays OU next Friday at home..hopefully they will keep it competitve. Ou is averaging close to 60pts a game/ Unfortuantely, I won’t be watching that one from the stands…but on the next best thing…my chair and my televisione.

Coming To A Border Near You

Old School Youth Ministry

My first youth ministry job was in the summer of 1989 in Los Angeles at The Church On Brady, which is now called Mosaic. So I have been in youth ministry in some form for almost 20 years. As I was reflecting back and comparing how youth ministry has changed I was embarrassed and dumbfounded at some of the things I did as a youth pastor in terms of programming. I can’t believe students actually showed up and were honestly exicted when we did them. Here is a random order of things I have done in the past: I call it Old School Youth Ministry

1. Once called our discipleship groups “Get Nailed Teams” (like in nailed to the cross).

2. I used to teach through every Dawson Mcallister manuel with overhead transparencies and fill in the blank note sheets for students. (my favorite as well as the students was his book on the Rapture)

3. I once called our youth building the F.R.A.T. House (Friends Reaching Area Teens) Nothing like a safe place for teens with a reference to the family friendly movie Animal House.

4. I bought the Al Denson Youth Chorus Kit and I used to lead worship through cassette tapes. Here is a sample song set:

Pharoah Pharoah
Lean On Me
I am Somebody
Jesus Is The Answer For the World Today
Humble Thyself in the Sight of The Lord (1st guys, then girls, and then in unison.)
Be The One (make sure you dim the lights… if your real creative give each student a candle…high impact)

5. When they were bored of Al Denson songs I would then lead with real CD’s. I used to do:

The DC Talk Version of: Lean On Me
Carmen’s: JC is in the House
Geoff Moore’s: Friend Like U
Audio Adreneline’s: Big House (we brought the house down)

6. Did the Video Series: Hells Bells - to cleanse my kids from rock music.

7. For shock value I went all Tony Campolo and said on several occassions “your friends are going to hell and none of you give a shit.”

8. Created the the sweet slogan for our youth ministry: “Catch a Vision Change The World”

9. Showed the Jerry Jonston’s video series: “Why Suicide” (it was great he talked to demons)

10. Spent hours on weekly announcement sheets to give the appearance our youth ministry was fun, cool, hip and that there was a lot going on. (picked up 90% of them off the floor every week but damnit it looked cool)

11. To inform parents about youth culture and demonstrate how culturally relevant I was I showed the grammy award video of Pink, Christina Aguleirra, and Lil Kim’s version of the 70’s soul song Lady Marmalade. (some parents walked out so I know my effort was successful)

12. In an effort to stay cool, relevant, and protect kids from boredom I changed our Wednesday Night name 3 times: from Solid Rock to Impact to 360 Turnaround.

13. Showed the Micheal W.Smith video “Secret Ambition” almost every easter in Sunday School (he has a great mullet in this video)

14. Here are some high impact phrases I used frequently in youth talks:

“If your too busy for God your busier than God intends for you to be.”

“If you are asking the question how far is too far then you are already asking the wrong question.”

“Go as far as you would go if you knew Jesus was standing beside you.”

“Girls if it ain’t for sale then don’t advertise it.”

“God can take a mess and turn it into a message.”

“Bow your heads and close your eyes…if you were to die tonite do you know for certain…”

I just have one thing left to say “what the hell was I thinking”. Holla back now!

A Day With Reggie McNeal

Yesterday Reggie McNeal was in Tulsa for a one-day type of conference. Reggie is an author and consultant to churches who desire to transition from an attractional church model to a missional one. Perhaps his most well known book is The Present Future.

Here as some notes and soundbytes that I wrote down. Some of the quotes may not be verbatim, but should be pretty close.

One of his first points was that as leaders and congregations we don’t really see the outside world as God sees it. Were to busy trying to steer the mothership (read as the church) to even know what is going on. He challeneged church staffs to go to Starbucks, Wal Mart, a local mall, and just sit for 90 minutes and describe what they see. He said we are concerned about the 99 when Jesus is concerned about the one. The heart of the father is with the one.

Essentially he said we are the pharisees and that the reason we can’t see the world the way Jesus sees it is that we are trapped by a “come and get evangelism” approach, which was the pharisees approach. We want people to become like us and come to us on our terms before they can become part of the club. It is hard for us to realize that Jesus didn’t like pharisees.

They way forward is at least twofold: 1) We must shift paradigms from an internal focus (church centric) to an external focus (kingdom centric), and 2) shift from being program driven to people development.

Here are some quotes:

“Most of us got into ministry to change the world, but instead we got sucked into the church.”

“We think Jesus only hangs out at church.”

“The church has shrinked wrapped God’s redemptive activity.”

“Pharisees think they can clean fish first before they catch them.”

“People are desperate for God, but we give them the church, they need God.”

“The Spirit of God is always at work outside of the church.”

“The church is not the hope of the world Jesus is.”

“It is not every member a minister, but every member a missionary.”

Here are some questions he suggested we ask people in order to help them in their development.

1. What do you enjoy doing?
2. Where do you see God most at work?
3. What would you like to see God do over the next 6-12 months? How can we help?
4. How would you like to serve other people? How can we help?

I missed the last hour so I am not sure where he concluded. Much of this stuff is not new, especially if you have followed the emrerging church conversation, but to a primarily Southern Baptist crowd he set off some time bombs.