So I'm in Dunn Bros, my usual camping grounds when I need to read and get some work done, and I see my friend Kate, a sem student from Bethel that I met a month or so ago over here. I begin talking to her, along with a friend of hers who is also a sem student, and soon we're in a full-fledged theological discussion about things that don't really matter at all, talking in circles, impressing each other with each other's knowledge... I couldn't take it anymore and was trying to figure out an exit strategy without being rude... and so, at a pause in the conversation, I introduced myself to her friend, and then said it was good to meet her and see Kate again, and I was out of there. They are still talking pretty hard.
This is the reason seminary scares me. Yes, theology is very important. I want to know it, I want to soak it up, and I believe that one's view of God propels their mission... it is of vital importance. But talking in circles about minor issues that don't really matter when it comes to building relationships and reaching people who don't know Jesus... I guess I kinda know why my dad gets so burned that he doesn't like to be in discussions like those...
I want to be in an environment where I can learn and apply, learn and be on mission... I find it kind of funny that our seminaries don't look a little more like the discipleship process Jesus modeled for us in the Gospels to train His disciples... just a thought, I guess...
No one reads this, but if anyone does, please feel free to comment and tell me I'm wrong or something...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
reading this morning... matthew 6ish-7ish, and some of 13ish...
The counter-cultural message of Jesus strikes me every time I read it... this revolutionary, God-in-man, God-and-Man, Man-and-God Jesus... it's beautiful...
You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye... BUT I tell you... turn the other cheek.
You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. BUT I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...
(The Father) causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Love those who don't love you.
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people to be seen by them
Whenever you give to the poor... may it be in secret.
Your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you.
When you pray, don't pray to be seen by others. Don't babble (don't think many words will impress the Father). Your Father already knows the things you need before you ask Him.
Forgive people because Your Heavenly Father forgives people.
Fast, but don't let anyone know.
Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, where theives break in and steal. Collect treasures in Heaven that can't be destroyed or stolen. Where your treasure is shows where your heart is. You cannot be slaves of both God and money.
Don't worry about life, about what you'll wear, eat, or drink. Learn from the wildflowers. They are beautiful. If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, gone tomorrow, won't He do much more for you?
BUT... seek first the kingdom of God... All these things will be provided for you.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD... Calvin said the job of the church - those following Jesus - is to make the invisible kingdom visible... we get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God in Jesus' parables... a mustard seed, a man sowing in his field, a treasure buried in a field, a merchant in search of fine pearls, a large net thrown into the see, a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old... parables whose meaning was vieled, hidden in stories, not meant to be completely understood, but a story with an open ending, encouraging a search for more...
We get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God breaking in when we look at the ministry of Jesus... power to forgive sin, power to raise the dead to life, power of sickness, power over demons...
We see the Kingdom of God break in in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus... sin conquered, death defeated, man redeemed, communion with God restored, abundant life...
So to seek first the Kingdom of God and let everything else fall into to place is more than to walk up to someone with a tract, give it to them, and walk away... it is to know God has saved us to follow in the example of Jesus, the counter-cultural, revolutionary message and example of Jesus... and He takes care of everything else...
You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye... BUT I tell you... turn the other cheek.
You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. BUT I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...
(The Father) causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Love those who don't love you.
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people to be seen by them
Whenever you give to the poor... may it be in secret.
Your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you.
When you pray, don't pray to be seen by others. Don't babble (don't think many words will impress the Father). Your Father already knows the things you need before you ask Him.
Forgive people because Your Heavenly Father forgives people.
Fast, but don't let anyone know.
Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, where theives break in and steal. Collect treasures in Heaven that can't be destroyed or stolen. Where your treasure is shows where your heart is. You cannot be slaves of both God and money.
Don't worry about life, about what you'll wear, eat, or drink. Learn from the wildflowers. They are beautiful. If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, gone tomorrow, won't He do much more for you?
BUT... seek first the kingdom of God... All these things will be provided for you.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD... Calvin said the job of the church - those following Jesus - is to make the invisible kingdom visible... we get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God in Jesus' parables... a mustard seed, a man sowing in his field, a treasure buried in a field, a merchant in search of fine pearls, a large net thrown into the see, a landowner who brings out of his storeroom what is new and what is old... parables whose meaning was vieled, hidden in stories, not meant to be completely understood, but a story with an open ending, encouraging a search for more...
We get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God breaking in when we look at the ministry of Jesus... power to forgive sin, power to raise the dead to life, power of sickness, power over demons...
We see the Kingdom of God break in in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus... sin conquered, death defeated, man redeemed, communion with God restored, abundant life...
So to seek first the Kingdom of God and let everything else fall into to place is more than to walk up to someone with a tract, give it to them, and walk away... it is to know God has saved us to follow in the example of Jesus, the counter-cultural, revolutionary message and example of Jesus... and He takes care of everything else...
Monday, January 7, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
I confess, I'm eavesdropping in a coffee shop...
So I'm sitting in Dunn Bros, and normally I'd be reading, but I'm a bit distracted right now. I'm in the living room part, sitting in a comfy chair, and there's a very tall guy who was sitting right next to me, but he just worked up the courage to go sit next to this attractive girl sitting on the other side of me. He got up from his chair, and you know the question he used? He asked, "Can I interest you in a good conversation?" I was hooked at that point, so I put my book down and picked up my computer so I could listen to their conversation. Many times, coffee shop conversations are the most interesting of all. Found out this tall (prolly 6'10" fellow) is a senior at the U. They started talking about books, and now they're talking about Lost. But also, as I occasionally glance over, he is fully present, genuinely interested in the conversation, keeping eye-contact. Part of me is wondering if this conversation is this fellow looking for a date, which is a possibility. Another part of me has this gut-feeling eventually, if he can, he'll turn the conversation to spiritual things eventually, but his approach is so nonchalant it won't sound like a sales-pitch at all, but a genuine spiritual conversation (a very good thing!). I know nothing about this fellow, but this is like watching TV for me... another reason I'm a huge fan of coffeeshops.
I needed a break too. The reading I'm doing is good, but heavy reading. And it's not that it's hard, I just want to make sure I digest it and internalize it, vs. just reading over and forgetting everything. I would recommend both these books:
"unChristian" - David Kinnaman...
Wait, he's turning it to spiritual things... super intrigued now! Sorry for the sudden change in subject. I'll keep you updated as I tell you a little about these books. Maybe I'll italicize what's going on so then you, the reader, can keep them seperate.
"unChristian" by David Kinnaman is about the perception 16-29 year-olds have of Christianity, and what we, as Christ-followers can learn from... why it all matters... fascinating
I'm also reading "The Shaping of Things to Come" by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. This book is about the shape of mission in a post-Christendom culture, and it's fascinating. It advocates a change in the "way we do church." It advocates something new, which is actually something ancient, something taught all throughout Scripture. Instead of such a focus on having people come-to-us (the trap the western church has fallen into today), it advocates a go-to-them mentality that should flood the church. The church's primary identity is that she is sent. She must go to be who she is. If she doesn't go, she is not the church.
But by go, that not only means going across the world - that means going across the street, the hallway, building relationships with people, loving them, being genuine... we've lost this. The book says we must must must look to the example of Jesus. While the western church often nowadays, puts emphasis on hanging out in the right places with the right people at the right times, Jesus was notoriious for hanging out at the wrong places with the wrong people at the wrong times (according to the religious establishment at the time).
Heavy stuff, trying to digest it all, and then prepare to teach it to Jacob's Well, praying that God's Spirit will move in the hearts of His people and equip them to begin thinking this way and adopting a missional lifestyle - seeing themselves as missionaries where they are.
So back to this conversation - this fellow was homeschooled, now has a small business filming weddings, I think. But he had a good home-schooled experience... his parents saw the importance of him being involved with the community, so he played sports for public schools and stuff like that.
I think this fellow has one flaw... I think he's talking a little more than he should. I think he should ask a few more questions, let the attractive female talk a little more. He's probably scoring some points though for talking about weddings and lighting and ambiance... what a nice big word to use...
He goes to Bethlehem Baptist! I was wondering if I recognized him! There's a distinct possibility I do now!
On to other things again... he's into medicine, that's what he's going to school for... and he used to work at a nursing home... won some points!... but oooo.... mentioned Lord of the Rings... lost some points... wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt doesn't really give him any advantage either... I'm thinking he's not really in it for the date... time will tell, I guess... he seems really informed... she works with mortgages of some sort, he's asking questions about it... I'm fascinated!
Well, he's playing ignorant when it comes to celebrity news. He probably is ignorant. I'm jealous. I hate celebrity news. Wish I didn't know so much of it. But he got her talking about the Britney thing and she's explaining it to him. Onto movies... Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, fascinating... ope, if he's looking for a date, here's his chance... she just asked if he'd seen Atonement, which is in theatres... she hasn't seen it yet... not sure if this if this fellow's type of movie though... throughout this whole conversation, he's very well-informed, carries himself very well...
Bathroom break, but I didn't miss anything, they're still talking movies... I just ate an orange, but I'm getting pretty hungry... the coffee's kicking in, speeding up the metabolism. I'm excited because Cameron's back in town tonight and I think the guys are going out. It'll be a fun night.
Ooo... he confesses to being a little out of it as far as pop-culture is concerned, but they both agree that's probably a good thing...
There he goes... talking about reading books... just began talking about how he's reading "St. Augustine's Confessions," which he's reading in a Bible Study, which is about St. Augustine's conversion to Christianity. Says St. Augustine's really good at articulating his thoughts about spirituality. He says he's identifies with St. Augustine and then asked if she's ever read a book that connects with her in that way. I should point out that this conversation has been going on for about an hour now. There is no rush, no sales-pitch. There's genuine interest. If faith comes up, it comes up. Now he has said he also goes to Westminster Presbyterian in Minneapolis as well. And now onto history.
I think I may stop now, but I think there's a lot to learn about this conversation. The first is that if this guy went in for the sales-pitch Gospel, it probably wouldn't have done him any good, and this attractive girl would probably be left with another (if she has had some) negative impression of Christianity. But because he has expressed genuine interest in good conversation and shown genuine interest in her, she has heard some about his spiritual journey, she has heard some about Bethlehem Baptist and Westminster Presbyterian, some about St. Augustine, about being a Christian, and I think she will have a more positive attitude towards Christian faith and Jesus. Big points to this guy! Big points!
God, be with this newly blossomed friendship. I pray that it would go further than this coffee shop, and that through this, Your Holy Spirit would draw this attractive girl to Yourself, beckon her.
I'm taking lessons from this fellow, but the bottom line is there's no systematic way to engage in conversation. I think you just have to be fully present and open to the opportunities the Holy Spirit presents.
I can't leave just yet... the conversation is getting really deep really fast, but in a non-sales-pitch sort of way.... this guy is gifted at articulating tough stuff... search for truth, trusting yourself, thinking rationally, faith, trust... hard stuff to articulate, but he is taking his time...
He's asked her if his experience resonated with her's... she said a little, very comfortable, not uncomfortable, then it just kinda stopped, he wasn't forcing anything... props to him, just trusting the Holy Spirit's work in this attractive female's life... now they're talking about bars and restaraunts... props to him for that too... he didn't say this, but it sounds to me like he's hanging out at the places Jesus would have, had He been here today...
K... after an hour and a half of this, I'm gone... God, bless whatever results from this... thank you for this fellow's genuine interest and the beautiful way he was a reflection of Jesus and Jesus' interest in people... Jesus didn't have a sales-pitch, time was not an issue, He really cared, He really listened, and slowly, He revealed Himself... Thank You Jesus for this fellow
I needed a break too. The reading I'm doing is good, but heavy reading. And it's not that it's hard, I just want to make sure I digest it and internalize it, vs. just reading over and forgetting everything. I would recommend both these books:
"unChristian" - David Kinnaman...
Wait, he's turning it to spiritual things... super intrigued now! Sorry for the sudden change in subject. I'll keep you updated as I tell you a little about these books. Maybe I'll italicize what's going on so then you, the reader, can keep them seperate.
"unChristian" by David Kinnaman is about the perception 16-29 year-olds have of Christianity, and what we, as Christ-followers can learn from... why it all matters... fascinating
I'm also reading "The Shaping of Things to Come" by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch. This book is about the shape of mission in a post-Christendom culture, and it's fascinating. It advocates a change in the "way we do church." It advocates something new, which is actually something ancient, something taught all throughout Scripture. Instead of such a focus on having people come-to-us (the trap the western church has fallen into today), it advocates a go-to-them mentality that should flood the church. The church's primary identity is that she is sent. She must go to be who she is. If she doesn't go, she is not the church.
But by go, that not only means going across the world - that means going across the street, the hallway, building relationships with people, loving them, being genuine... we've lost this. The book says we must must must look to the example of Jesus. While the western church often nowadays, puts emphasis on hanging out in the right places with the right people at the right times, Jesus was notoriious for hanging out at the wrong places with the wrong people at the wrong times (according to the religious establishment at the time).
Heavy stuff, trying to digest it all, and then prepare to teach it to Jacob's Well, praying that God's Spirit will move in the hearts of His people and equip them to begin thinking this way and adopting a missional lifestyle - seeing themselves as missionaries where they are.
So back to this conversation - this fellow was homeschooled, now has a small business filming weddings, I think. But he had a good home-schooled experience... his parents saw the importance of him being involved with the community, so he played sports for public schools and stuff like that.
I think this fellow has one flaw... I think he's talking a little more than he should. I think he should ask a few more questions, let the attractive female talk a little more. He's probably scoring some points though for talking about weddings and lighting and ambiance... what a nice big word to use...
He goes to Bethlehem Baptist! I was wondering if I recognized him! There's a distinct possibility I do now!
On to other things again... he's into medicine, that's what he's going to school for... and he used to work at a nursing home... won some points!... but oooo.... mentioned Lord of the Rings... lost some points... wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt doesn't really give him any advantage either... I'm thinking he's not really in it for the date... time will tell, I guess... he seems really informed... she works with mortgages of some sort, he's asking questions about it... I'm fascinated!
Well, he's playing ignorant when it comes to celebrity news. He probably is ignorant. I'm jealous. I hate celebrity news. Wish I didn't know so much of it. But he got her talking about the Britney thing and she's explaining it to him. Onto movies... Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, fascinating... ope, if he's looking for a date, here's his chance... she just asked if he'd seen Atonement, which is in theatres... she hasn't seen it yet... not sure if this if this fellow's type of movie though... throughout this whole conversation, he's very well-informed, carries himself very well...
Bathroom break, but I didn't miss anything, they're still talking movies... I just ate an orange, but I'm getting pretty hungry... the coffee's kicking in, speeding up the metabolism. I'm excited because Cameron's back in town tonight and I think the guys are going out. It'll be a fun night.
Ooo... he confesses to being a little out of it as far as pop-culture is concerned, but they both agree that's probably a good thing...
There he goes... talking about reading books... just began talking about how he's reading "St. Augustine's Confessions," which he's reading in a Bible Study, which is about St. Augustine's conversion to Christianity. Says St. Augustine's really good at articulating his thoughts about spirituality. He says he's identifies with St. Augustine and then asked if she's ever read a book that connects with her in that way. I should point out that this conversation has been going on for about an hour now. There is no rush, no sales-pitch. There's genuine interest. If faith comes up, it comes up. Now he has said he also goes to Westminster Presbyterian in Minneapolis as well. And now onto history.
I think I may stop now, but I think there's a lot to learn about this conversation. The first is that if this guy went in for the sales-pitch Gospel, it probably wouldn't have done him any good, and this attractive girl would probably be left with another (if she has had some) negative impression of Christianity. But because he has expressed genuine interest in good conversation and shown genuine interest in her, she has heard some about his spiritual journey, she has heard some about Bethlehem Baptist and Westminster Presbyterian, some about St. Augustine, about being a Christian, and I think she will have a more positive attitude towards Christian faith and Jesus. Big points to this guy! Big points!
God, be with this newly blossomed friendship. I pray that it would go further than this coffee shop, and that through this, Your Holy Spirit would draw this attractive girl to Yourself, beckon her.
I'm taking lessons from this fellow, but the bottom line is there's no systematic way to engage in conversation. I think you just have to be fully present and open to the opportunities the Holy Spirit presents.
I can't leave just yet... the conversation is getting really deep really fast, but in a non-sales-pitch sort of way.... this guy is gifted at articulating tough stuff... search for truth, trusting yourself, thinking rationally, faith, trust... hard stuff to articulate, but he is taking his time...
He's asked her if his experience resonated with her's... she said a little, very comfortable, not uncomfortable, then it just kinda stopped, he wasn't forcing anything... props to him, just trusting the Holy Spirit's work in this attractive female's life... now they're talking about bars and restaraunts... props to him for that too... he didn't say this, but it sounds to me like he's hanging out at the places Jesus would have, had He been here today...
K... after an hour and a half of this, I'm gone... God, bless whatever results from this... thank you for this fellow's genuine interest and the beautiful way he was a reflection of Jesus and Jesus' interest in people... Jesus didn't have a sales-pitch, time was not an issue, He really cared, He really listened, and slowly, He revealed Himself... Thank You Jesus for this fellow
Gearing up for an exciting series...
So, I've been gearing up to teach through a series on what it means to live a missional lifestyle, what it means to be the church, to see yourself as sent, to adopt a go-to-them vs. come-to-us mentality. It has been a real challenge as I work to sort out all the my thoughts, all this jumble, and even though it makes sense to me, working at a way to communicate it so it makes sense to those in Jacob's Well. It's a little nerve-wracking, I gotta admit. But I'm so excited to really tackle this subject, because I am convinced that if Christ-followers got this, it would rock our campus and be the beginning of a change in the perspectives of people who are not believers about what it means to follow Jesus.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
"We Are Broken" - Paramore
Yesterday was recovery day for many many people after perhaps a wild New Years Even night. I went out with some housemates and friends to a place called The Imperial Room. The was no cover, prices weren't all that bad, and the DJ was pretty awesome, so we danced (I tried) and had a good time.
The next morning (if noon is morning) we went to Perkins to drink coffee and eat some breakfast. It hit the spot, but it was at the breakfast table that some good and somewhat serious conversation took place. I was struck by this bond we all shared - this feeling of community, of family - as we laughed about the night before. And I couldn't help but think I'm sure this had to be similar to what Jesus experienced with his friends and the crowd he hung out with. But let's keep the story moving...
During the conversation, we started talking about Paramore, an awesome band I'm very much into over the past few weeks. My friend said her favorite song was "We are Broken." I was very much familiar with the song, but in case you're not, here is the chorus and bridge:
We are broken
What must we do to restore
Our innocence
And oh, the promise we adored
Give us life again
We just want to be whole
Tower over me
Tower over me
I'll take the truth at any cost
My friend is not the first person I know who has said this is their favorite song. Which begs the question, what is it about this song? I cannot help but think that deep within us all is the sense that things are not all right in the world, that we are broken, bent, in need of a Savior who will hold us in His arms... I think it is important, imparative, that Christ-followers engage the peices of culture that surround us, and when we see truth, cling to it, and use it to point to Jesus.
We are broken, Jesus came to redeem and restore.
The next morning (if noon is morning) we went to Perkins to drink coffee and eat some breakfast. It hit the spot, but it was at the breakfast table that some good and somewhat serious conversation took place. I was struck by this bond we all shared - this feeling of community, of family - as we laughed about the night before. And I couldn't help but think I'm sure this had to be similar to what Jesus experienced with his friends and the crowd he hung out with. But let's keep the story moving...
During the conversation, we started talking about Paramore, an awesome band I'm very much into over the past few weeks. My friend said her favorite song was "We are Broken." I was very much familiar with the song, but in case you're not, here is the chorus and bridge:
We are broken
What must we do to restore
Our innocence
And oh, the promise we adored
Give us life again
We just want to be whole
Tower over me
Tower over me
I'll take the truth at any cost
My friend is not the first person I know who has said this is their favorite song. Which begs the question, what is it about this song? I cannot help but think that deep within us all is the sense that things are not all right in the world, that we are broken, bent, in need of a Savior who will hold us in His arms... I think it is important, imparative, that Christ-followers engage the peices of culture that surround us, and when we see truth, cling to it, and use it to point to Jesus.
We are broken, Jesus came to redeem and restore.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Some things are just bad ideas... I found this bad idea hysterical
Some things are a bad idea...
Tracing a loaded.357 Magnum for a tattoo is one of them...
CHAPARRAL, N.M. — Getting a tattoo can be a painful proposition, but usually it's just the needle you have to worry about.
Tracing a loaded.357 Magnum for a tattoo is one of them...
CHAPARRAL, N.M. — Getting a tattoo can be a painful proposition, but usually it's just the needle you have to worry about.
Two men trying to trace a loaded .357-caliber Magnum as a pattern for a tattoo accidentally shot themselves, the Otero County Sheriff's Department said Monday.
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