Diggin' Around My Cranium

Reasons People Don't Attend Church...

2006-08-07T10:51:00.000-04:00

Had an interesting discussion (part I) yesterday with 3 different generations (20 year olds, 40 year olds & 70 year olds)on reasons people don't attend a church...

Some of the reasons given:

1) Irrelevant/boring/waste of time
2) Not a safe place to discuss differing views
3) "dress code"/"anyone like me in here?"
4) Christians saying one thing/doing the opposite
5) Critical/narrow views of Christians

We are continuing the discussion next Sunday... anyone have thoughts/comments/points?

One Win... One Loss... and yes, sadly, One Pulled Hammie!

2006-07-29T15:32:00.000-04:00

Last night, the Class of '82 played a great game over the class of '81-'75... they scord on their opening drive but our defense stiffened and we romped to a 34-7 win! Yours truly caught our first TD, and a great (sorry for the patting of my own back!) deep pass, but I got "tackled" at the 2... oh well... Felt great afterwards and even went to the post-game festivities!!!

This mornings game wasn't so great - Playing the team we defeated last year for the championship ('87-'90) we held together pretty well the first half, to a 20-20 stalemate... then the wheels fell off... I caught a quick out, made a nifty move and lost my defender, ran about 20 years down the sideline, a defender had an angle on me, so I tried to cut back... and my right hamstring said... "WOOOOAAAAHHHHHH...POP!" and I stumbled forward to the 5... we tried to run it in with a girl (which would have counted 12) but they stopped us on 4 consecutive downs! The game was over after that.

We are supposed to play at 4:30 in the consolation game, but I'll sit out... I'll cheer '82 on from the sideline...

"What a drag it is getting old..."

8th Annual Glory Days Flag Football Tourney

2006-07-28T17:03:00.000-04:00

Are the hamstrings ready this year???? Uhhhhh... I dunno - we'll see... it's about 2 hours before game time!
The Class of '82 is back to defend last years title! We have won 2 out of 7... going for #3!!!! Actually, I'll be happy if the hammies hold up... lots of streching... I'm getting ready to get on the treadmill soon...
The annual even is to raise money for cancer research through the Indiana University Thorasic Cancer Fund as well as the local Boys & Girl Clubs.
You have to be 10 years out of High School in order to have a team... so, each year the teams get younger... or maybe... we get older??? I dunno I think we are the third oldest team that competes... we will see what happens this year!
Say a prayer for the hamgstrings!

Those Darn Christians...

2006-07-25T10:22:00.000-04:00

A part of my job with the firm I work for is marketing... I put together & design mail surveys. They help us get feedback from the area, postitive and negative, and give us direction on how to serve our area.

I was opening the returned surveys this morning... inside one was a tract called "Are You Good Enough To Get To Heaven". No survey was included, just the tract returned in our postage paid envelope.

Has "evangelism" stooped this low????

Ughhhhh...

"Tell Me Why... I Don't Like Mondays..."

2006-07-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

Does anyone remember that old Boomtown Rats tune... how appropriate for today!
Oh well...

I am listening to alot of Social Distortion/Mike Ness lately - I've forgotten how
cool they are...

Not much going on, lots of paperwork today - BLAH!

Check out one of my favorite bands these days FLATFOOT 56

TaTa for now kids...

Comments on Youth Groups...

2006-07-18T08:54:00.000-04:00

Scot McKnight has posted about a Youth Leadership Institute seminar he has attended... the comments are definitely worth the read!

The Scoop...

2006-07-17T10:58:00.000-04:00

Tracy, Addison and I recently joined a fairly new church, less than 2 years old. It's interesting to see the different issues a new church must deal with... identity, direction, leadership... (actually, old churches deal with the same things - HA!) issues that are being struggled with and delt with... sometimes it's messy, sometimes it's exciting, but it's definitely an interesting journey and should be even more intersting down the road.

Like Steve Brown likes to say: "We are just beggars telling other beggars where we found bread."

Where Did Four Months Go?

2006-07-14T13:03:00.000-04:00

Yep... 4 months... maybe it's time to dust this thing off and start in again... what do you think? Anyone still out there? Anyone.. anyone...
Let me hear from you!

Nope.. not dead yet....

2006-03-28T09:39:00.000-05:00

Contrary to popular belief... I am not dead... did not join a monastery or a cult...and no, I'm not being considered as the new Indiana U. basketball coach...
I'm just in hibernation... I'll emerge soon -
Thanks for caring!

It's Been Awhile...

2006-02-24T11:04:00.000-05:00

Have you missed me???

Nuttin' much going... life, work, family... good stuff! I got new ink!!! hee hee - I'll have some pics later... I hooked up with an old friend who did it... two nautical stars on top of my shoulder... they look great! So, for all your tattoo needs, go see Dave at Skinquake in Bloomington!

Addison's new band is playing tonight at Community Baptist Fellowship. I think they go on around 10:30... they are called FAILSAFE and they sound really different... think of Pink Floyd, Mars Volta, System of a Down all mashed up, and then, they really don't sound like any of that! HA! They have like, an 8 minute song, a 7 minute song... girl singer/guy singer... what more could you want to hear!? Come see 'em!

Taxes... BLAH!

More later...

Brokeback "Controversy"

2006-02-13T08:42:00.000-05:00

We saw Brokeback Mountain this weekend... we actually went on a Sunday!!!! (gasp!!!) Actually, the only reason we went was that so many church people are putting up such a fuss (yes, we are church people, too)... we even have a church protesting the theater here in town.
Anyway, the movie... aside from "the scene" and a couple of kisses and hugs, the movie was pretty tame... actually, it was pretty boring! I looked at my watch several times, chuckled once and kept waiting for the show to pick up. It really never did...
The scenery of Montana was beautiful, but you could see more in a PBS documentary.
The show was held over a week here because, according to the theater manager, the ticket sales warranted it. I think if there hadn't been such an "issue" over it, the movie would have disappeared in a week... once again, it shows that when we "church people" make such an issue out of things, we actually HELP call attention to it!
I'm all for taking a stand... but make sure it's a good stand!
All in all I think this is "much ado about nothing"... but, that's just the way I see it!

Stuff....

2006-02-08T10:59:00.000-05:00

I can't wait for the Olympics!!!! You know, figure skating and guys riding on sleds... and how can I forget the all exciting curling!?!?! I bet those people can really mop a floor like nobody's business!!!!
Anyway, I am excited to see "The Flying Tomato" Shaun White kick olymic butt in snowboarding!!!! Hockey is always fun to watch too!!!

Was it really appropriate for President Carter to take a political shot at President Bush at Mrs. King's funeral??? Me thinks not! POOOOOOOR TASTE JIMMY!!!!!

I'm trying to get some concerts going in the area again... anyone know any good bands that wanna play???

Emerging Color???

2006-02-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

Sam from Emerging City made this comment in the previous post... I think it's an important one:

"...just surfed onto your site from a link of emerging church info, and seems like you have a lot of ÂemergentÂ infoÂ.got anything on emerging color? I am a Chicano/Mexican, and find it hard to find any others like me that are emerging in this sense, and much of the stuff out there is not for people on the margins of society, like me. Any suggestions?"

Hopefully there are leaders of color involved in Emergent... are they just out of my vibecausesue I live in a "southern Indiana town" that has very few people of color living here?

Anyone know anyone posting on this????

Top Ten

2006-02-02T08:27:00.000-05:00

Just wondering what your Top Ten CDs of all time would be. What CDs are a must for any record collection????

Add you list to the comments....

This Weeks List

2006-02-01T09:11:00.000-05:00

Listening to:
Sullivan "Hey, I'm a Ghost"
Todd Snider "Step Right Up"
Bouncing Souls "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"
Dropkick Murphy's "Singles"
Dar Wiliams "My Beter Self"
Sun Kil Moon "Tiny Cities"
Death Cab For Cutie "The Photo Album"
Metwithoutyou "Catch For Us The Foxes"
and assorted other stuff..

Reading:
(still) "Emerging Churches" Bolger/Gibbs

Your lists???

39 Years Ago Today....

2006-02-01T08:15:00.000-05:00

On this day, thirty nine years ago, Indiana Governor Welch declared the song "Louie, Louie" unsuitable for airplay, banning the song from airwaves in the state. Later, the song was deemed acceptable for radio.
Rumors still swirl today as to why it was banded... from an uttered F-bomb (supposedly the drummer cracked a stick and shouted) to "unintelligible pornographic lyrical content" (ummmm.... if it's unintelligible then....). Anyway, the song became extremely popular and paved the way for other artists to be as nasty as they wanna be.. and sell millions of records as a result!
For a great social commentary on the subject, listen to "The Ballad of The Kingsmen" by Todd Snider... actually, just listen to anything by Todd Snider!!!

Fun + Church This Evening!

2006-01-29T21:49:00.000-05:00

The church we are hanging around lately does not have a Sunday night service (whew!!!!)... but they do have evening "get-to-gethers".
It was a pitch-in, with volleyball and games... after some great convo with a few of the folks, Tracy & I opted for a game of Cranium with about 8 others. This was a great way for us to learn more about the church AND the people! The church is very much into family and community... and by doing things like this, they are doing a fine job of building a family of faith! This goes to show, as many of us know, you learn, worship, build friendships, connect, have "church" in many ways other than just attending a "service"... doing these get-to-gethers go along way in building the church!

BNL Boys Swimming = Conference Champs!

2006-01-29T20:35:00.000-05:00

For the first time since 1993, BNL boys swim team captured the Hoosier Hills Conference Championship by beating out Jeffersonville (conference champs for the last 6 years straight) by 2.5 points!
Congratulations to all the guys!!! and to the girls swim team for their inspiring "costumes"!!!

I guess shaving the goatee really did help... Addison had a PR in the butterfly finishing 8th!

Close Shave

2006-01-27T07:07:00.002-05:00

Cheesehead Jr. and the rest of the BNL swim team competes in conference (8 teams) tomorrow! In an effort to "shave" off some time... the gotee came off this morning... take a look and vote for BEFORE or AFTER!?

(and I"ll let you know how much time it really takes off his time! hee hee)

2006-01-27T07:07:00.001-05:00

Addison DURING

2006-01-27T07:07:00.000-05:00

Addison BEFORE

2006-01-27T07:06:00.000-05:00

Addison AFTER

"Emerging Churches"

2006-01-24T10:24:00.000-05:00

This is from the book by Bolger & Gibbs called "Emerging Churches"... it is a very good look at Emerging Churches and those who are involved and why.

"Why is it that so many churches do not go deeper, allowing the kingdom to change church practices into more substantial forms of community? The simple reason is that it is easier to alter surface forms than it is to tear down church practices to make room for the kingdom. Spencer Burke (Newport Beach, CA) notes that most churches, even if they promote themselves as seeker, purpose-driven, Gen-X, or post-modern, deconstruct maybe only 10 percent of the church while leaving the other 90 percent intact.

" These churches might change their style, but they don't alter who gets paid, who tells the community what to do, or the weekly nature of church (ie, meeting at a particular place at a particular time each week). They do not change who is able to preside at the lord's Supper, and they do not change the marks of success, usually translated into money and numbers of people. To allow the kingdom to deconstruct these issues is to touch the 90 percent, and that is taboo for most churches."

If a church chooses to position the kingdom before the church, then the other 90 percent comes into question, and an entirely different church emerges. The need for such a radical dismantling of the church is understandable given the nature of the kingdom. When Jesus levels everything, then everything is up for grabs. This is a far more painfully demanding process than the minute adjustments of church services.

The focus of emerging churches is on incarnating the gospel, not numerical or economic success. They believe the gospel of the kingdom levels all other expectations of what success means. " (p. 94)

I think this is why you are seeing alot of new, smaller churches starting up in living rooms and rented spaces. It's why Robert Webber says that new churches should be started instead of trying to change an existing church. It's why people are leaving the church and wondering where they can connect.
What do you think???

Imma Tard....

2006-01-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

That's Southern Indiana speak for "I am tired!"....

Anyway, not much going on today... so, here are a few random thoughts....

I know Kolbe went off for 81 points, but are there REALLY any Kolbe fans out there???

Pittsburgh dominated Denver, Seattle dominated Carolina... the only solace for me is that the Colts got beat by the soon to be World Champions!

I really like Imogen Heap... and Panic! at the Disco... just in case you were wondering.

The great scholar, Hans Kung, gave the funeral address at the death of the renowned theologian, Karl Barth. He told of a conversation he once had with Barth. While discussing the Scriptures, they had some disagreement, and Kung said to Barth, "I grant to you good faith." Barth replied, "I don't even grant to myself good faith. On that last great day when I appear in judgment, I'm not going to come there with . . . my great bag of theology [for he wrote more than most of us would read in a lifetime]. I'm not going to come staggering into the judgment and put that down, for that would make all the angels laugh. Neither will I come and plead my good intentions. But my plea will be, God be merciful to me a sinner."

My Crazy Listening Habits...

2006-01-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, I listen to about anything and everything... except pop country and really bad polka (ie-bands NOT from Wisconsin) - anyway... music is very important to me, it always has been - when your dad has you listening to Elvis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins (etc) from day one, music is definitely gonna be in your life....

This is what is on my desk and in my player today:

As Cities Burn "Son I Loved You At Your Darkest"
Moby "Play"
Bullet For My Valentine "The Poison"
Imogen Heap "Megaphone"
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Tracy Chapman "Change"
Imogen Heap "Speak For Yourself"
The Legend of Johnny Cash
Yellowcard "Sound and Lights"
Jenny Lewis "Rabbit Fur Coat"
Panic! At the Disco

Pathetic huh!? I'm such a hipster....

Fasting?

2006-01-19T08:43:00.000-05:00

Yes, I do take requests... from my brother-in-law, Dr. John Kaiser:

"I wanted to throw out an interesting topic- not much discussed in Christian circles.

How, when, why should Christians fast? God commanded various fasts in the Bible for Hebrews, Our early church fathers engaged in fasts, but fasting seems far removed from the life of most Protestant Christians."

What are your thoughts???

Your Thoughts?

2006-01-15T21:24:00.000-05:00

Will be discussing suicide next Sunday - you can get your $0.02 in now...
what do you think?

Some think Suicide is a straight ticket to hell... Some think there are other issues involved... are there other side issues that need to be discussed?

"Getting Caught By Jesus"

2006-01-06T08:24:00.000-05:00

An excerpt from Scot McKnight's book, The Jesus Creed:

"Jesus tells parables that catch his readers in the web of a moral dilemma so they can learn. A good example is the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

An "expert in the Torah" asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus says, "What does the Torah say?" The expert answers, probably because he has heard the Jesus Creed from others: "Love your God... and love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus says "A+!"

Riding a little wave of Jesus' approval, he gets a little chesty like a first-year theology student: "Well then, who is my neighbor?" What the scribe is really asking is not just "who is my neighbor?" but "who is pure and who is not?" He's asking about a classification system. The "who is pure?" question is also a "who is to be loved?" question. Knowing that the question masks a larger concern, Jesus tells a story to catch this expert in the web of a moral dilemma so we can all learn.

On a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho a man is attacked by a gang of robbers, leaving him nearly dead. A priest and a temple assistant (A Levite) come upon him separately, but fearing impurity from contact with a corpse, they skirt to the other side of the road. They are following the Torah, mind you. One of Moses' books spells it out: Dead bodies spread impurity. In another of his books, priests are told not to contract corpse impurity unless from the body of a "close relative." If close enough to a corpse to cast one's shadow over the corpse, the person casting the shadow becomes impure. So, they shuffle to the other side of the road. This is not heartlessness so much as it is obedience. Therein lies the learning.

There is not a Jew who hears Jesus' parable who thinks the priest (or the Levite) is doing anything but what the Torah regulates. The irony of his little plot is that in "obeying" the Torah the Preist and Levite are disobeying what is at the bottom of the Torah: loving others. Ironically, it is a stereotyped character that does what is right: a Samaritan. A Samaritan in this parable stands for social hostility and religious heresy. The priest and Levite get caught while the Samaritan gets the teacher's thumbs up.

If we are to love God and love others, Jesus is asking his audience, what happens when love-of-God-as-obeying-Torah (the Shema of Judaism) comes into conflict with love-of-God-as-following-Jesus (the Shema of Jesus)? That's a tough one, for all of us. But for Jesus the answer is clear: Loving God properly always means that we will tend to those in need.

A plot within a plot. Jesus catches anyone who attends to the Torah (live avoiding impurity) but fails to attend to a person in need."

Denominations

2006-01-03T08:25:00.000-05:00

I've had several discussions about denominations as of late... ranging from importance to disdain... so, my questions for the panel are...

How important are denominations? (explain your point)

What is the alternative?

Thanks for playing!

Best of '05

2005-12-31T09:25:00.000-05:00

Music:

1) U2 "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" - yes, I know it came out at the tail end of '04, but it's my most listened to CD of '05... and probably into '06!

2) RYAN ADAMS "Cold Roses", "Jacksonville City Nights" & "29" - 3 CDs in one year (one being a double), songs written for the Elizabethtown soundtrack... and only a couple dud songs... This guy continues to amaze me... now, if he'd just lose the attitude...

3) SYSTEM OF A DOWN "Mesmerize & Hypnoitize" - these were written as a double CD and should have been released as such... but that's my ONLY complaint with these discs... amazing!

4) DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE "Plans" - indie darlings make a major label AND make a darn great record at the same time!

5) WHITE STRIPES "Get Behind Me Satan" - omg... Jack White is starting to look like Jacko... weird! But this is some fascinating tuneage.

6) MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - I know I know... but they are catchy... "TRUST ME"!

7) EMINEM "Curtain Call - Greatest Hits" - kinda like South Park... you know you shouldn't watch, but can't help it... you know you shouldn't laugh, but can't help it... you know you shouldn't like it... BUT YOU DO!!!!

FAVORITE BOOKS READ THIS YEAR:

1) "The Out Of Bounds Church" - Steve Taylor

2) "Preaching Re-Imagined" - Doug Pagitt

3) "Walk-On - Spirtual Journey of U2" - Stockman

4) "God's Politics" - Jim Wallis

5) "Ender's Game" and the sequel "Speaker For the Dead" - Orson Scott Card (science fiction)

FAVORITE BLOGS:
See Blog Roll ---------------------------->>>>
and add...

Jenny's Blog

Scot McKnight's Blog

BEST MEMORY OF '05:
Kayaking down the White River in Jamaica

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES OF 2005????

Jesus Creed

2005-12-27T08:18:00.000-05:00

I got Scot McKnight's book, "Jesus Creed", for Christmas... I'm only 20 or so pages into it and I'm really really learning alot already. McKnight explains Jesus' Jewishness and explains the terms very well... terms I knew but didn't know solid definitions of them. That alone makes the first 20 pages worthwhile...

Drop by Scot's website Jesus Creed

"That was random..."

2005-12-21T09:08:00.000-05:00

Why is it such a surprise that we spy on people in our country??? Like, is that such a surprise???
We are voyeuristic in our own life... for instance:

Our neighbor just bought a new car... so we have to go out and get a bigger car.

Somebody we know went on a great vacation... so we have to go on a bigger vacation.

Iran has developed 3 nukes... we need to develop 6 nukes.

I think there is a correlation...

NEXT: Johnny Damon could very possibly be the Anti-Christ... well, he did sign a deal with the devil.

NEXT part deux: I couldn't find Ryan Adam's "29" - but I did listen to it on line. hmmmmmmmmmmm.....

THIS JUST IN: I need to see a show... HINT HINT Tyler & Trent

I Do Not Have A Cold (repeat often)

2005-12-20T08:29:00.000-05:00

I was up at 1:30 am last night... sneezing, coughing, blowing my nose... it's good to have a pharmacist in the house... I layed on the couch till 4:30 am... I think it's allergies, but I have my vitamin C just in case... I do not have a cold!

My parents are in N.C. to see my niece Sasha (their favoritest granddaughter)... oh yeah, and to see A.J. and John too - hee hee - John called the family pharmacist last night too... he has shingles.. OUCH!!!!

I DO NOT have a cold!

The girls in my office got me a Christmas gift... box of CD-R's, Starbucks frappacinos (caramel), Cliff Bars, Protein Bars and a gift certificate to "R" Street Bistro - YUM!!!!

I DO NOT have a cold!

Ryan Adams new CD comes out today called "29" - this is his THIRD release this year (including a double disc)!

I DO NOT have a cold!

What About Scripture?

2005-12-13T08:22:00.000-05:00

I've put this post off for a while basically because I really do not know how to approach it... so, I guess I'm just throwing this out to you all. These are thoughts and questions I've been hacking through myself... I wonder if anyone else is?

What about scripture? What is it for? Do we use it to heal or for a weapon? Are we to live by it or is it a guideline?

Why do we use words like "inerrant" and "infallable"? What do they mean?

Help Me With My Christmas List...

2005-12-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

I always have books and CDs on my list... this year I'm having trouble. This is all I have on so far...

"The Jesus Creed" - Scot McKnight
"Emerging Churches" - Gibbs & Bolger

"The Legend" - Johnny Cash box

What else should I add???

Seven Habits...

2005-12-09T09:57:00.000-05:00

This is an excellent post from Scot McKnight.

Read "Seven Habits of Successful Emerging Discussions"

"Just Who Is Emergent, Any Way?"

2005-12-07T14:17:00.000-05:00

Short article that points out three areas of "emergent" churches... this is a very brief explanation and needs further discussion... which can happen on this blog if you like.

Read "Just Who Is Emergent, Any Way?"

Rats... Foiled Again!!!

2005-12-06T13:30:00.000-05:00

Brian McLaren has been uninvited to a conference of Kentucky Southern Baptist's...

How can this guy continue to be so gracious????

Read the story here.

My Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad....

2005-12-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

Week! OK... maybe that is a bit dramatic... anyway, I'm glad it's a new week!

Maybe I can begin to post a little more and read a little more....

Just wanted to say hello to you all!

Is Therapy Really Needed For....

2005-11-29T10:05:00.000-05:00

I was just curious to know if anyone had any statistics available on the percentage of people who do not belong to the Christian faith that need therapy after someone greets then with "Merry Christmas"?

I hate to be a smart ass about this... but is it THAT disturbing to people??? I've been greeted with "Happy Chanukkah" before and I kinda really enjoyed hearing that and I'm not Jewish. I've heard "Happy Kwanzaa" once when dining in Bloomington and I don't think it triggered anything chemically in my brain!

Why is this such an issue???

Postmodern Apologetics?

2005-11-25T09:50:00.000-05:00

Great article from A New Kind Of Conversation... read "Postmodern Apologetics? (Nov.5th Post) here.

Didn't See That One Coming...

2005-11-25T09:32:00.000-05:00

Was talking with a friend the other day... and, as we sometimes do, we began talking about church and ultimately, Jesus... All of a sudden I realized we weren't talking about the same Jesus... so, I asked Him who Jesus was to him.
He looked at me strangely and said... "God's son, you know.."
I asked him what that meant to him... he replied that he was simply God's son.
I probed further... Do you think Jesus was God in the flesh?
He shook his head, "no!"
He said, "How can that be, he prayed to God while he was on the cross?"
I tried not to display my shock... you see, my friend is very involved in his church, very active... and to say I was stunned at his admission would be an understatement.
We chit-chatted about other things... and moved on... I kept thinking to myself..
"Then what is the point???"

I just couldn't get that out of my head... "Then... what is the point!?!?!"

Some People Just Hear What They Wanna Hear...

2005-11-21T20:10:00.000-05:00

Tony Jones has an interesting post on speaking at the National Youth Workers Conference... and evidently, assumed he said things he didn't... read his post and the comments following...

What if God were Hate...?

2005-11-20T22:08:00.000-05:00

"God is Love" ... a statement that I know I take for granted far too often.

What if God were Hate?

A teacher I heard this morning at the church I attended presented these thoughts.

I had never thought of that before - what if God were a tyrant... a mean, malevolent God? What if He wanted to destroy me... what if He wanted to make my life a living hell? What if he held the magnifying glass up to the sun towards me.. to fry me... as we did to the ants when we were kids? What if He had decided to send a "discomforter" instead of the Comforter? What could we do to stop that?

Thankfully... and this is something to be thankful for, God is love. His desire is for our good, because He himself is good. He pursues us, as the poet wrote, as the "hound of heaven"! Sometimes I certainly need it!

What do you think?

What!?!?! Somebody is in trouble....

2005-11-19T18:08:00.000-05:00

I just find out my brother-in-law bloggeth... from the comment section of my own blog... NOT from my sis!!!!! Someone has got to keep me informed of these things...

John, who married my sister Allison, is now blogging here. John Graduated from Northern Ohio Law School and is attending N.C. State. Allison is teaching in Raleigh. They are proud parents of Sasha Rose, my niece (hee hee).

I'm anxious to read more from John!

Think On This....

2005-11-14T13:39:00.000-05:00

Doug Pagitt posted this quote from a missionary named Donovan, who died in 06.

"According to Donavan two almost opposing worldviews are bitterly vying for attention and dominance; the religious view and the secular, scientific view. The former is still involved with the saving and redeeming of a fallen world, while the latter focuses on the creation of a new world. Too often, he laments, the energies of the church are spent in condemning sin and saving people from worldly temptations. What makes this situation so ironic to Donovan is that in fact the secular mindset is doing much of what the church was supposed to do, namely saving life on earth and caring for creation. "It is we who originally believed in the new creation, already begun on this planet earth with the resurrection."

"We have to admit that after all this extensive and scientific scholarship, after nearly two thousand years of Christianity, the Christ that is worshiped in our churches, the Christ that is the basis for our church and all its faith life and activity, is no more than a Mediterranean Christ. That is as far as Christ has grown. European and American theologians see nothing wrong with that, nothing wrong with the fact that we have not even begun to think of, or search for, the meaning of a planetary Christ, a world Christ. We continue to let all our efforts revolve around a Mediterranean Christ. We of the West have monopolized Christ."

"The Spirit is still being poured out on non-Christians, as much to our astonishment as it was to our Jewish forebears in the time of Peter and Cornelius. Revelation is still going on in the midst of traditional religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, in the knowledge behind the scientific revolution, in the universe - in all creation."

What do you think????

Back At Cha...

2005-11-14T08:15:00.000-05:00

Been vewwwwy vewwwwy busy... hee hee - anyway, I think I'm back!

I have a pirate in the house... Cheesehead Jr. has always been infatuated with pirates (he used to call them pi-runts, when he was little) and he has pirate stickers, jolly roger shirts and flags... but, he is also a computer pirate... I am listening to the new (not yet released) System of a Down disc, "Hypnotize" that Addison burnt for me this morning - no before you turn us in to the governmental agency that has nothing better to do than fine 13 year old girls for downloading a Backstreet Boys song, let me state that we will buy the disc when it comes out on November 22nd. I'm too old school not to have the "original" disc and packaging... that's why I only have discs on my IPOD that I own... I gotta have the cover art, lyrics and pictures... oh, and by the way... the disc is pretty cool so far!

Also anxious to hear the new P.O.D. disc to be released in January 06... if you are quick enough and have a good record store around you , you can grab the "Warriors II ep" tomorrow, which will have the single of the new disc and some other stuff. It's a limited edition thing, so not sure I'll find it around here... here is a little something Sonny wrote:

"do I believe in the resurrection of CHRIST
and did HIS death bring forth new life
and did HE raise up and bring back Lazarus from the grave
and is there supposed to be a second coming
am I wrong because I Âm wondering why the fallen Babylon is up and alive today......."
- IF IT WAS NT FOR YOU

I keep trying to listen to the new David Crowder Band disc "A Collision"... I'm not liking it much... Lucas... help me!!!!

Only 41 more shopping days to Christmas... YIKES... which reminds me, I love Christmas and all... but, did Jesus ask us to remember his birth or death??? Hmmmmmm....

8-0

2005-11-08T08:09:00.000-05:00

Well, the Colts won last night, rather convincingly. Anyone who has played or coached the game knows that one game does not a season make. Tony Dungy has been making that known to the media for the past several days... but this win was important to the psyche of Manning & Co.! No argument that this was not last years Patriots... they are banged up and down... but the Colts had to win this game in a big way... and they did!

I gotta go to a seminar today... blah! I stayed up late watching the game too... sleep deprivation & seminar is not a good combination!

Music - Reading List..

2005-11-07T08:42:00.000-05:00

Listening to:

Against Me! "... Former Clarity..."
Demon Hunter "Triptych"
Alejandro Escovedo "Bourbonitis Blues"
Death Cab For Cutie "Plans"
A Wilhelm Scream "Ruiner"

Reading:

"The Call To Conversion"(Revised and Updated) - Jim Wallis

"Ender's Game" - Michael Scott Card - in Cheesehead Jr's words..."arguably the best science fiction novel ever written"... hmmmmmm

Weekend Review:

Went to Besty Buy... bought stuff!!!!
Checked out a new church yesterday...
Watched football
Slept

Free Flow

2005-11-03T19:16:00.000-05:00

What's on your mind?

It's your turn to be the blogger... take the comments section and let the world know... or at least the handfull of people who read this thing!

My Personal Vendetta Against Compartmentalization...

2005-11-02T08:27:00.000-05:00

I've said this to a few of my friends... and I thought I'd share it publicly... I hate going into a CD store and seeing a "Contemporary Christian" section. It drives me nuts... of course, I think most CCM should be kept in the back room (but that's another story)! So, when I find a CD by an excellent artist, who has some spiritual ideas behind them, I like to take them out of the CCM ghetto and put them in the general market CDs... I know, I'm such a rebel... but it's my personal little war on the subject... that and I know I'm driving the Wal-Mart stockers crazy!!!! HEE HEE

What's the hubbub about Halloween???

2005-10-31T08:37:00.000-05:00

I just don't get it... why do we have to have "Halloween alternatives" these days?
Why are we all worried about druids (do kids even know what the heck a druid is!?!?!), and ghosts and... whatever... I grew up on Halloween! I loved it (and still do)... we have boxes of masks and costumes and props... heck, I've even dressed up and answered the door in costume for the trick or treaters!
We used to have a "haunted house" in our church! It was sooooo fun....
but now, it seems we have suddenly been frightened by the devil... why is that?

Are we not to face the devil? Won't he "flee" from the name of Jesus?

Why aren't we re:claiming Halloween for good... for fun?

Speaking of Bono...

2005-10-27T18:31:00.000-05:00

... and we were... I got home today to find my new copy of Rolling Stone in the mail and guess who is on the cover??? BINGO!!! Bono has the Rolling Stone Interview with Jann Wenner... so I retreated to the only place in the house where one can read in solitude... the can! Go pick up a copy... it's a good read!

(Hey, Pilgrim... Bono was the mayor of Palm Springs, too... wasn't he???)

Workin'....

2005-10-27T09:18:00.000-05:00

It's always hard to come back to work after a vacation... my desk is piled!

I'm doing a funeral today... so, I worked on that last night and this morning... this will be the 8th funeral I've done this year. It is evidence that people are becoming more distanced from the church and clergy... and I live in a pretty conservative town... I have an address list of 96 churches in our area.
As we RE:think church... we need to RE:think the funeral as well....

Anybody have any thoughts on the funeral "service"?

Just a Bit of This and That....

2005-10-25T08:55:00.000-05:00

Hey all... hope eveyone is off to a good start of the week! I'm trying to get back into work mode... argh! You know, after vacation, companies should give you a few days to ease back into work! HA!
Remember that cool couple from London that we met in Jamaica? They get like 25 days "holiday" and 10 "special days" ( like Christmas, etc...) I think I need more days off... maybe I should move???? Anyway....

I read a cool book while I was lounging on the beach... "Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2 (new edition)" (Relevant Books) - I have been a long time U2 fan (I won't say HOW long) and it is really cool to hear why Bono wrote certain songs and the meaning behind them. It is very helpful to see someone who is passionate and frustrated... and all the while continues on his journey toward God.

For the first time in my life I am bookless... I have no books to read... anyone got any suggestions????

OH... if you like heavy music, the new Demon Hunter disc comes out today!!!! Jesse Sprinkle is not drumming for them now (he's now with Dead Poetic)... but, I'm getting it any way! hee hee

Have a good one!!! Talk to me!!!!

We Are Back...

2005-10-24T08:08:00.000-05:00

Naaa, Wilma didn't run us out... we had to come home, well... if we wanted to keep our jobs...

Had a great week of R & R, perfect weather in the panhandle, 87 each day, sunny and now back in southern Indiana where is will be a toasty 53...what!?!?! BRRRRRRR.....

BAD THINGS ABOUT DRIVING TO FLORIDA:

1) "Hey we are in Kentucky... Hey we are in Tennessee... Hey we are in Alabama.... yep, we are in Alabama... Yes, we are still in Alabama... OH GOOD GRIEF WE ARE STILL IN ALABAMA!!!!!!"

2) From Dothan, Alabama to Panama City Beach, Fla there are, at least, a billion stop lights... isn't there a law about how many stop lights there can be in a city block!?!?!?!

3) Red clay roads

4) Northern Florida = burnt up looking grass

GOOD THINGS ABOUT DRIVING TO FLORIDA:

1) Uhmmmmm.... Addison's Aztec with 6 CD changer.....

Packing For Our Annual Trip

2005-10-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

We are getting ready for our annual trip to Panama City Beach... I'm such a horrible packer... I just throw a bunch of stuff in a suitcase and call that packing. I either take too much of some things or not enough of other things... oh well... I mean, come on Pat, swimsuits, tanktops, Birks, books and an ipod... what more do I need right!? See.... packing is not that hard!

Leaving today when Cheesehead Jr. gets home... ya'll have a good week... I'll eat a bunch of seafood for ya!

Cheesehead Jr. Duped by those "evangelists"...

2005-10-13T09:24:00.000-05:00

Most of you know my distaste for those "evangelistic tracts", especially the ones that look like dollar bills and have some scriptures on them... this, as I see it, is a horrible way to do evangelism.

Addison was having a bad day yesterday... after getting to school and parking, he was walking in and happened to look down... there was a $20.00 dollar bill folded up! He picked it up and thought the day had just taken a good turn... upon further inspection, it was a $20.00 "gospel tract"... ooooooo was he hot... and this kid is a Believer! Imagine if he wasn't!?!?!

Anyway, it was funny that we had just talked about this horrible way of "witnessing" just a couple of weeks ago. Tyler had found two tracts on the top of a urinal... anyway, I've seen people leave these "money tracts" as an actual tip! ARGHHHHHHHH...

Leadership

2005-10-07T17:18:00.000-05:00

If you have been following the "Restrictions" post below, you will see "anonymous" has been asking some questions... with his/her permission, I am posting some of the questions raised...

"If all people are priests, then why does it say that God called some to be pastors and some to be teachers and some to be other stuff? Is that not true? Or is it that you just don't agree with the way current pastors/teachers/whoever do things. Is it different than back in Bible times?

I'll check out this Doug guy and his site. At the gathering you talked about, isn't there still a leader? Doesn't there need to be a leader to get things going? Not everyone is called to be a leader so someone has to do it, right? I also guess I don't understand why you stay around where you are at. It doesn't seem like you are that happy except for the handful of people you mentioned. Couldn't you just start your own group the way that this Doug guy did or whoever started that group? You seem to genuinely care about Christianity being done right so if it isn't that way where you are at, then why not start your own thing? Like your son said, church isn't just at church. Do you have to be a part of that place? "

This should get us started.... be sure to drop down and catch up on the who discussion if you'd like... but, feel free to comment on "leadership"....

LAR Is Worldwide...

2005-10-07T07:33:00.000-05:00

Little America Records is worldwide... ok, maybe not world wide... but Jenny now has something more than Koala Bears, Kangaroos, Aussie Foorball and Howie... she has a new LAR Shirt and Brandon & Lucas Allen Band CDs!!! Wooo Hoooo....

Hey Jenny, wanna be LAR's spokesmodel!?!?!? (nice pic with the koala!!!!)

New Brandon Pfeiffer Song

2005-10-04T09:36:00.000-05:00

Brandon is working on a new tune... it's got alot going on - squeaky guitar strings (love the feel), electronic noises and buzzing, a big crescendo in the middle and some string sounds at the end.... me likes this new direction Brand-O!

Listen to "Don't Even Bother"

Restrictions???

2005-10-02T18:41:00.000-05:00

As I stated in an earlier post, we are discussing Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" using Gene Veith's book "The Soul of the Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" in our Sunday morning group.

We had several good comments to a paragraph in Veith's book. Veith was explaining Lewis' admiration for Edmund Spenser's sixteenth-century book "The Faerie Queene". Veith writes:

"Looked at in purely external terms, the church may not seem like much - it appears weak, off-putting, austere, something to be scorned and looked down upon. And yet, from within the church, from the perspective of those who have come to know Christ, the church is marvelous, a place where God is present with his gifts of life and salvation, a place not at all of restrictions (as the world thinks) but of freedom and joy." (p 32)

I am wondering, what restrictions do people see when they view the church... and what must we do, as followers of Jesus, to see those removed??

Good Music....

2005-09-28T12:11:00.000-05:00

Anybody listening to anything good lately???? Here is what I've been listening to:

Coheed & Cambria "Good Apollo, I Am Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness"

Project 86 "...And The Rest Will Follow"

Mike Doughty "Haughty Melodic"

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals "Jacksonville City Nights"

David Crowder Band "A Collision"

Share your lists....

Go To Jamaica, Mon!

2005-09-27T08:18:00.000-05:00

As I said earlier, we had a great trip! I highly recommend Jamaica for a relaxing, laid-back get-a-way! The people are wonderful... kinda, helpful, easy-going... just my speed!
While we mostly hung around the grounds of where we were staying, we did kayak down the White River (we thought Trent & Karrie, Tyler & Rachel would be proud of us), which was a wonderful experience! We drove, in a Jeep, about 30 - 40 minutes in land, up a one lane two way road (and we met several cars along the way - YIKES!). We saw the beautiful country, the beautiful people, the school children in their brightly colored school uniforms... it was an amazing trip into the heart of Jamaica. We all agreed that this was the highlight! We stopped at, as our guide said, the "local 7-11", which was a one room wood structure, for a Red Stripe or a Pepsi. There were men outside playing dominos, it was a wonderful sight.
Anyway, Jamaica is wonderful. The music is fantastic, the people are kind and I want to go back!

I'm Baaaaaack....

2005-09-26T08:52:00.000-05:00

What a great trip - I'm back at work this morning, after a few hours sleep (hee hee) - the trip to Jamaica was wonderful... I'll tell you about it later!
Just wanted to say hello to eveyone and thanks for the prayers and for thinking about us... more to come...

Leaving On A Jet Plane...

2005-09-20T19:56:00.000-05:00

Tracy & I are outta here tomorrow morning... Destination: Jamaica!

I got the ipod loaded, with Addison's help, a few swim trunks... and I'm ready! OK - I am a horrible packer... I always take way too much stuff - but, hey, I'm prepared for anything!

So, eveyone have a great week - say a prayer for us a safe plane trip to and back... and NO MORE HURRICANES... not just for us - but for all of the people down that way!

Talk to you soon! God's peace to us all!

Two More Days....

2005-09-19T08:07:00.000-05:00

I have to suffer through two more days of work (and a hectic day today) and then Tracy and I are getting on a plane going to Jamaica... looking forward to several days of laying on a beach & eating alot!!!! Hopefully those pesky tropical storms will stay away from us!

In our discussion hour yesterday morning (I am refusing to call it Sunday School (bah!!!)) Trent started us on a discussion series about "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" using Gene Veith's book "The Soul of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe". We just got a few pages into the book and had interesting discussions on what can keep people away from the beauty of the Christian faith and the need for creating alternative gatherings/ways to show God's wonders.
As always, if anyone has some ideas, points, issues.... please share them!

Listening to:

Bloc Party "Silent Alarm"
Death Cab For Cutie "Plans"
Jack Johnson "In Between Dreams"
Smashing Pumpkins "Greatest"
Inxs "The Best Of..."

Here and There....

2005-09-16T08:09:00.000-05:00

Listening to:

Coldplay "X & Y"
INXS "The Best Of..."
Rolling Stones "Bigger Bang"
Sufjan Stevens "Illinoize"
Low Millions "Ex Girlfriends"
U2 "Best of 80 - 90"

Reading:

"Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" Dee Brown
(can you believe it... I've only got ONE book going...)

Speaking of INXS (and I was)... is anyone as caught up in "Rock Star:INXS" as I am???
Who do you think will be the new lead singer of INXS??? Marty, JD or Mig????

What is your favorite PODCAST?

I'm in vacation mode.... and I'm busy at work.... NOT a good combo - more on that later....

How Do You Grow....

2005-09-13T08:55:00.000-05:00

Steve Taylor asks a great series of questions....

*How do we grow, how are we shaped into the image of God?

*What has "formed" and grown me over my life?

*What have been the key events/circumstances/things that have formed you spiritually?

Read his post here

Preaching Re-Imagined...

2005-09-11T19:28:00.000-05:00

I blogged a few times about Doug Pagitt's book "Preaching Re-Imagined"... well, I finished it today - there are many comments that could be further discussed (and should be within a community) but the main premise of Pagitt's thinking is...

"Throughout the book I suggest "progressional dialogue" (a phrase I made up) as a preferable alternative to "speaching" (another new word meaning "the style of preaching that's hardly distinguishable from a one-way speech")." (p. 11-12)

Chapter 11 "Implication VS. Application" is having a great impact on my thinking...
Pagitt states: "Application has a sense of me to it; implication has a sense of us." (p. 99) - I have heard it said, and I so agree, that there is no such thing as a "lone ranger" Christian... we are in this TOGETHER - and we should be thinking and doing TOGETHER!

You need to just read the book... but let me share a few more quotes that mean alot to me...

"The whole point of preaching is to help people grow in their understanding of God and how we are to live as God's people and to empower the church to live out God's mission." (p. 162)

"People's lives are not changed by the information they get. Lives are changed by new situations, new practices, and new ways of experiencing the world." (p. 163)

"The story of who we are in God did not begin with us nor will it end with us. Applying God's Word to our lives might be helpful for the moment, but it does little to advance the story. It does little to make us into people who can look at the world around us and say, "How are we to live God's story in this place and time?" (p. 167

"Preaching Re-Imagined" along with Steve Taylor's "The Out Of Bounds Church?" have given me some words to articulate what has been going on in my mind for some time...

Out And About....

2005-09-10T10:58:00.000-05:00

Brandon and I went up to the new Rhinos to see Mat Kearney and Matt Wertz... I liked the first Mat... he was pretty cool, the mostly frat boy and drama queen girls were talking and not listening and Mat even changed some of his lyrics to note that no one was listening to him... which was pretty funny cuz I had just made that remark to Brandon... We ended up talking to Mat after his show and Brandon was asking him for some "insider info" on how to get his music noticed... anyway, Matt Wertz came on and I wasn't familiar with him, but the crowd of girls certainly were and they were singing along... I couldn't enjoy him because Brandon remarked how much Matt is like John Mayer... ughhhhh... he was soooooo right... so, we left... and went to Starbucks (one of Brandon's employers) and he treated me to a Caramel Macchiano - wooo hoooooo!

IamBILLPOWER.com

2005-09-06T19:21:00.000-05:00

If you don't already read Bill Power's blog... you should start because he is going to be interviewing all sorts of people... and he started with lil-o-ordinary me!

I cannot gush enough about Bill! The questions he asks were wonderful... and I can't wait till he interviews someone else!!!

Thanks for including me Bill!!!!!

To All The Wal-Mart Haters...

2005-09-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

I've heard both sides of the debate against Wal-Mart... I get the inside scoops from talking to people who work there and I hear the word from the outside as well... this post is not about how bad Wal-Mart is or how good they are... this is to point out that they are stepping up to the plate to help...
We tend to beat the bad into the ground and when someone does something good, we tend to shurg our shoulders... well...

For the Katrina Fund established by former Presidents Bush and Clinton, Wal-Mart committed $15 million in cash assistance. Thus far, Wal-Mart has contributed $17 million in cash donations to relief efforts.

Separately, the Walton Family Foundation is providing $8 million to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. The Walton Family Foundation has provided an additional $7 million to help organizations such as The Salvation Army, America's Second Harvest, and Foundation for the Mid-South.

An estimated 15,000 Wal-Mart associates are still displaced from their workplaces due to Hurricane Katrina (more than 34,000 impacted in some way). The company has made contact with more than 65% of its associates affected by the storm, including some who have been found in the various evacuee shelters. Wal-Mart is committed to providing work for displaced associates who want to work in open stores.

Wal-mart has provided $3 million (estimated) in product and merchandise donations. More than 100 trailer loads of water and merchandise have been donated to emergency services, shelters, and emergency relief organizations.

As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart established donation centers in areas impacted by the hurricane. Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water were given to those affected by the storm.

I am glad to hear that Wal-Mart, as well as the Walton Family, who have been "given much" are giving back in return....

Do We Really Think About God Like This....

2005-09-03T08:25:00.000-05:00

I heard it yesterday... I'm surprised it took six days... at the gym I overheard a conversation about New Orleans... the guy said "They must really be paying for something to have this happen to them...."

Is this how we really view God? That he "makes us pay"?

That we have to be "good" or "bad things happen"?

That for some reason "we" must be better than "them"?

Oh Please....

It's The (Al)Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

2005-09-01T08:05:00.000-05:00

Just behind Christmas and March-Madness... it's almost FOOTBALL SEASON!!!! Now I'm not the biggest college football fan (this is coming from a football maniac who watches Pop Warner, Jr. High, High School.. heck, I even watched the XFL!!!) but my eyes will be focused on one guy this year.... Matt Leinart!
Leinart, last year's Heisman winner who quarterbacks USC, passed up the pro ranks last year to come back for his senior season. It wasn't for his degree... he only needs 2 credits to graduate and is taking a ballroom dancing class with his girlfriend. It was because he wanted to have fun, he loved his teammates and the coaching staff!
Leinart passed up, at least, 10 million dollars last year by returning to college. In a time of chest thumping sports stars who cry "show me the money" and "it's all about me", Leinart is a breath of fresh air. No doubt the possibility of leading a team to an unprecedented 3 National Championships in a row and winning the Heisman twice danced in Leinart's head.. most thought he was crazy for passing up the bucks!

A recent article on Leinart in Esquire shows just how "normal" he is.... Chris Jones writes:

"Matt Leinart has four dollars in his back pocket, which is making it difficult for him to find just the right birthday present for his girlfriend, Brynn.
..."If I had two grand in the bank, dude, I'd be totally set.... I could get by on that till the end of the year..... or maybe I could go to Vegas and win, like, twenty grand. Oh gosh, that would be sweet..."

That's almost laughable... a guy who passed up millions wishing for 20 grand!!!!!

Yeah, I hope Matt Leinart wins and wins big... I hope he wins a national championship (again) and another Heisman... I hope he is number one in the draft and signs for a bazillion dollars... I hope he becomes the best NFL QB ever.. well... behind Peyton and Farve (both class acts)... I hope Leinart can keep his wonderful attitude in the midst of the money!

You hear sports stars say they would play the game for nothing... Matt Leinart is maybe the only one who can HONESTLY say that... because he is doing it!

Churches That Don't Meet On Sunday...

2005-08-26T21:50:00.000-05:00

I need some info... my dad is doing some research on churches that have a service on a day OTHER than Sunday.

What is the service like?

What are the positives?

What are the pitfalls?

Anything you would like to share about the service?

Any info would be very helpful...

I Stumbled Upon...

2005-08-26T19:45:00.000-05:00

I stumbled onto Chad Canipe's blog... again... (or would that be called, RE:stumbling???) I used to read his blog... and then just kinda didn't, but found some old links and I'm back on the wagon...
Chad is a Spiritual Director in Cincinnati for "grassroot communitites of faith" called, Poema -

As you know, when I find a blog worth reading... I like to keep ya informed...

I'm Diggin'...

2005-08-26T11:44:00.000-05:00

1) Matisyahu "Live at Stubb's" - I read about him in Paste #16 and found his debit at a local Sam Goody's (if you can believe that!!!!) - a strict Hasidic Jew, Matisyahu combines reggae (a la Marley) with human "beat box" sounds... this is amazing if you are into dancehall reagge!

2) Sufjan Stevens "Illinoise"

3) Relevant Magazine #16

4) Paste Magazine #17

5) Reading "Preaching Re-Imagined" by Doug Pagitt

Here is where you get to play... what are you diggin'....

Who Are You????

2005-08-24T19:46:00.000-05:00

Classic rock jokes aside, I've been listening to The Who today... and before you sniveling little "emo heads" out there cackle... watch the rock-u-mentary The Kids Are All Right, then you will realize it was probably The Who that invented punk rawk... (and yes, I listen to My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy.... blah blah blah....)... anyway... what I really wanna know is... WHO ARE YOU!?!?!?

Yes, it's time for the annual (read: when ever I feel like it) "tell-me-who-you-are" readers poll. So, in the comments section, tell me:

Name:
Age:
Describe yourself:
Favorites:
Why you read this blog:
Best blog(s) you read:
Anything thing else you deem important for us to know about you:

Pagitt on Preaching...

2005-08-23T19:08:00.000-05:00

Doug Pagitt, pastor of Solomon's Porch in Minneapolis, MN, has a new book, "Preaching Re-Imagined"... here is what he as to say...

"As a pastor I want to be part of a community where the workings of God are imbedded in all, where the roles of teaching and learning aren't mine alone but instead are something intrinsic to who we are as a people. The priesthood of all believers was among the greatest contributions of the Reformation and has essentially been ignored in the area of preaching in many of our churches to the point that it could be called "an unfunded mandate of the reformation". It means we recognize the work of the Spirit of God in the lives of every human being, and God's work can play out in the lives of every human being, and God's work can play out in ways that are more meaningful than simply viewing people as a means of fulfilling the church's agenda. This concept can - and must - include God's people being the church and leading one another in every area of life together." (p. 23)

I mentioned the priesthood of the believer, at last Thursday's new gathering, and felt that I could learn something from every person there! (and actually, I learned quite a bit from different people) So, it was nice to hear Pagitt say this as well... and I know several other people are looking seriously at this in their gatherings and churches.

I'm just curious... if we really believed that we are all "priests"... what would our gatherings look like if we practiced this????

READ THIS INTERVIEW WITH DOUG

Cultural DJ-ing...

2005-08-22T08:12:00.000-05:00

If you have read any of the last few posts, you know that I have read (and am in the process of re-reading) Steve Taylor's "Out Of Bounds Church?" and it is a wonderful book full of what is happening around the world with creative, "emerging" churches.

Taylor uses the metaphor of a DJ and he uses Peter (1 Peter 3) as an example of a cultural DJ... Taylor writes:

"Peter is DJ-ing. He took an everyday cultural mix, one of his culture's contemporary singles, and amplified the beat. He has created a new mix, juxtaposing wives alongside husbands and subverting through behaviors and in mutual spiritual relationships. While Peter's words might sound old-fashioned to us, set in his day, in a culture of competing household codes, Peter was very radical. He spoke to women and gave them transformative power. He is almost a feminist. He mixed an alternative social ethic in contrast to the beat of society. It is a remix of extraordinary power because it uses the cultural beat to say something new. It mixes gospel and culture in a classic example of "making do", a transformative poaching from, and creative subverting of, everyday practices.

Our world is not Peter's world. Our world is even more sophisticated at mixing and our culture is much more fragmented than Peter's culture. There are so many more samples to use. So many movies create humor by referencing other movies. So much music remixes old hits and classic bass beats. Nevertheless, 1 Peter shows an early DJ at work. This has a number of implications for gospel and culture in our world today.

Peter understood that we are born into a culture, one with messages, norms, and expectations that we know simply because we live with them every day. We can't ignore them even if we wanted to. So it makes sense for those who want to bring others into the culture of Christ to recognize and acknowledge the voices of the prevailing culture, its media, its messages, its mores. We cannot live out the gospel of Jesus in the neighborhood if we are unwilling to move in with it."

What does this mean to you and the people around you?

What could be some of the "implications" Taylor refers to?

How I Spent My Thursday Night...

2005-08-18T21:20:00.000-05:00

I spent tonight with several people I didn't know (previously) and a couple I did... My friend, Stacy, set up a new gathering, at one of his friends house... 10 of us got together and ate, talked and prayed for two hours... It is a totally exciting time, when you can spend time with brothers and sisters you have never met and feel "at home" with one another - I am praying that God will continue the gathering and that He will send others to join us or point us to those who need to be invited!

Be sure to read Stacy's blog as I am sure he will talk more about tonight...

Check This Out!!!!

2005-08-16T20:38:00.000-05:00

Out of Bounds Church

What Are We Birthing?

2005-08-16T20:15:00.000-05:00

It is becoming apparent to me (and I know to many of you) that I (we) just don't see things the way others see things. I (we) don't want to continue to do the same things the same way just because... well... that is they way they are done.

That is not a bad thing! Let me repeat... it's not bad to want to do things differently!

In reading Steve Taylor's book "The Out Of Bounds Church", he uses midwifery/birth(ing) as a great metaphor in Postcard 3...

He quotes Anne Wilkerson Hayes (from the Baptist Union of Victoria) as saying:
"Birth is a difficult and messy process and traditionally labor has been a more communal event than the privatized affair women experience in Western society. We need to be more present for those groups who feel the loneliness of birthing something new. We need to create a more encouraging and safer place for people to vent their frustrations, test their ideas, and share their amazement. This has been very time-consuming in some cases but also very life-giving."

Taylor goes on to write:
"The belief in God's constant re-creation drives much of the emerging church. It is less a reaction against old forms and ideas and more a response to God's call for us to join in with the continuous birthing of his kingdom. It is turning toward the edge, toward the borderlands, rather than a simple turning against the center. To take part in the rebirthings of God is the privilege of all who are called to be God's people."

I have always said that my wanting to do something different was not a reaction against something ("old forms and ideas") but a need (a calling if you will) to be on the "borderland"... as Taylor puts it so very well.

Community/Experiences

2005-08-15T19:58:00.000-05:00

The last chapter (Movement Seven) of Rob Bell's book "Velvet Elvis" has a great paragraph... which reads:

"...Everybody's god in the first century had risen from the dead. To claim a resurrection has occurred was nothing new: Julius Caesar himself was reported to have ascended to the right hand of the gods after his death. To try to prove there was an empty tomb wouldn't have gotten very far with the average citizen of the Roman Empire; they had heard it all before. This is why so many passages about the early church deal with possessions and meals and generosity. They understood that people are rarely persuaded by arguments, but more often by experiences. Living, breathing, flesh-and-blood experiences of the resurrection community. They saw it as their responsibility to put Jesus' message on display. To the outside world, it was less about proving and more about inviting people to experience this community of Jesus' followers for themselves."

Whattayathink????

...this and that...

2005-08-15T19:29:00.000-05:00

Just a quick update on stuff going on around here...

Finished Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis"... pretty quick and easy read... was hoping for a little more depth, like in his "sermons"...(Movement Seven is an excellent read!)

In the middle of "The Out Of Bounds Church?" by Steve Taylor... very, very interesting and informative... I'm eating this up and liking the direction it's going... I can definitely get into this way of "church"... (read this Stacy!) also, very cool sidebars...

Sin City comes out on DVD tomorrow... Cheezer Jr. has our copy reserved... skip it if you are squeamish (violence and graphic sexual situations)... but probably the coolest visual comic/movie you'll see!

Oh yeah, the new Hillary Duff disc comes out tomorrow.... ahahahha....

Looking for the new Doug Pagitt book on "preaching"... couldn't find it this weekend... is it out yet??? Hmmmmm....

Watching Rock Star: INXS

What are YOU reading, watching, listening to????

The Bono Conversations....

2005-08-12T16:08:00.000-05:00

My friend, Lisa, e-mailed me this excerpt from the book "Bono in conversation with..." on the Christianity Today website.

This is a really good book too....

As always... leave your thoughts...

New Blogger

2005-08-12T13:19:00.000-05:00

My buddy Stacy is blogging...

Check out Hot Rod Lounge

McLaren - Part 3 of 3

2005-08-12T07:43:00.000-05:00

Part Three

McLaren - Part 2 of 3

2005-08-11T09:06:00.000-05:00

Part Two

McLaren - Part 1 of 3

2005-08-10T21:43:00.000-05:00

Found this on Will's site...

While I do not know Brian McLaren personally, I have read (and re-read) all of his books and I was privileged to hear him speak at Cornerstone. I appreciate him so much, it is really a shame he has to constantly defend himself... yet, he continues to do so with much grace and eloquence...

Read Part One

What I'm Diggin'....

2005-08-07T20:54:00.000-05:00

1) Miami Ink - TLC marathon - 4 episodes... new episode Tuesday night!

2) Hotel Rwanda - I'm educating myself... you should too!

3) "The Out Of Bounds Church?" Steve Taylor

4) "Jesus and the Victory of God" N.T. Wright

5) Blindside

6) Relevant Magazine

....and you are diggin'... what?

"Christian is a great noun..."

2005-08-02T08:07:00.000-05:00

From Ron Bell's "Velvet Elvis":

"It is possible for music to be labeled Christian and be terrible music. It could lack creativity and inspiration. They lyrics could be recycled cliches. That "Christian" band could actually be giving Jesus a bad name because they aren't a great band. It is possible for a movie to be a "Christian" movie and to be a terrible movie. It may actually desecrate the art form in its quality and storytelling and craft. Just because it is a Christian book by a Christian author and it was purchased in a Christian bookstore doesn't mean it is all true or good or beautiful. A Christian political group puts me in an awkward position: What if I disagree with them? Am I less of a Christian? What if I am convinced the "Christian" thing to do is to vote the exact opposite?

Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective."

Your thoughts?

Glory Days VII

2005-07-31T10:20:00.000-05:00

The 7th annual Glory Days Challenge (In Memory of Robert Lee II 1963 - 2001), Teammates For Life flag football tourney was this pass weekend. I'm nursing a swollen ankle, and some very tight hamstrings, but running around catching footballs thrown by my favorite QB friend, Mike Fey... running behind Brad Nikirk... seeing all kinds of friends who are another year older and raising some money for Indiana University Cancer Center/Dr. Lawrence Einhorn (who treated Lance Armstrong and our teammate, Robert Lee II) & Robert E. Lee II Memorial Scholarship makes for a wonderful weekend.

Guess what??? We (Class of 82) are the champions!!!!

Friday night we defeated the combined class of '83-86 by the score of 45-42.

Saturday morning we defeated the newly entered Class of 95 (you have to be 10 years out of h.s. to play) 38 - 26 and then pulled off a "thrilling upset of the three-time defending champion Class of 87-88 squad" (according to this mornings newspaper) by the score of 39-36!

What a great weekend for the community, for former teammates and friends. A great way to remember Robert and raise some money in his name. Glory Days is a big deal around here, as it should be... and as long as I can, I'll keep nursing the hamstrings and icing the ankle on the day after... for the chance to run the "chair pattern" and burn the cornerbacks once again, to laugh with all my former teammates, and to tell stories after the games at Rusty's Bar, you know, the ones that begin with "remember when..." ahhhhh... the glory days!

2005-07-31T10:18:00.000-05:00

The CHAMPIONS of Glory Days VII - Class of 82!!!

2005-07-31T10:16:00.000-05:00

I was feeling VERY "urban/street" before the championship game Saturday evening!

2005-07-31T10:14:00.000-05:00

Brad, one of my best friends growing up, can't believe that I have tattoos! (the best QB in the world, Mike Fey, is behind Brad)

2005-07-31T10:12:00.000-05:00

Class of 82

I Just Had My Butt Kicked...

2005-07-28T09:49:00.000-05:00

Been reading "If Grace Is True" by Gulley/Mulholland... they had this to say about reconciliation, forgiveness, justice:

"We are called to be ambassadors of reconciliation, modeling God's passion for seeing animosity ended and injury forgiven. Justice may equalize rights and pains, but only grace can transform hearts. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was not satisfied with forcing white Americans to give black Americans their rights. He sought more than retribution. In "Strength to Love" he wrote,

"We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering. We shall meet your physical force with soul force. Do to us what you will, and we shall continue to love you. Throw us in jail, and we shall still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and we shall still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our community at the midnight hour and beat us and leave us half dead, and we shall still love you. But be assured that we will wear you down by our capacity to suffer. One day we will win freedom, but not only for ourselves. We shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory."

Gulley/Mulholland go on to state:
"Retribution and revenge are incapable of giving us the reconciliation we deeply desire. Coercion, punishment, and wrath are incapable of creating the kingdom of God."

"Retribution documents every hurt and injury, but "love keeps no record of wrongs"(1 Cor. 13:5.

Well....

Tattoo Me....

2005-07-26T18:36:00.000-05:00

Tattoo Me... this is my tat collection... I'm getting the urge again... anybody got any good ideas????