Thanks Jason for this link.
Like many sincerely religious people, Campolo has little regard for America's consumer culture. "Christianity is countercultural," he says. "If one embraces Jesus, one has to raise some serious questions about the American way of life, especially its consumerism. Here's a society that has us buying new cars all the time, and has got us caught up with fashion models, and every year, women and men are getting rid of their clothing because somebody in never-never land has decided that these clothes are out of style. What we are discarding in this consumeristic society, because the dictates of custom have decided are out of date, is appalling. People are spending huge amounts of money on cars that are basically status symbols, and it's contrary to the teachings of Jesus. We are wasting so much money in catering to our pleasure, while we allow the basic needs of others to go unmet.
Campolo's critique of U.S. policies and culture leads him to some stark positions. "To be a Christian in today's world is to be opposed to America," he says. "Why? America believes in capital punishment, and Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the rich.’ Jesus said, ‘Woe unto you who are rich, blessed are the poor.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the powerful.’ Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ "
Campolo also objects strongly to churches becoming too patriotic. "We have reached a stage of idolatry when, in any given church in America, you're going to run into more trouble if you remove the American flag than if you remove the cross," he told church leaders, according to Christianity Today.
A Fire Dragon living in The Year of the Dragon.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
On Divestment
From Voices in the Wilderness...
Others directly and publicly refuse to pay part or all of their federal income tax. We do this because roughly half of that tax is used to fund the US war machine.
Tax resistance is the most direct way US citizens can avoid being complicit in this war. If all of us who have written our Congresspersons or taken to the streets also refuse to financially back the war, the decision-makers in Washington have a much harder time ignoring our resistance.
We ask you to consider war tax resistance this tax year, and in the years to come. The best way to stop the war machine is to refuse to fund it.
This is something we have recently considered... divestment from the American government. Here might be a good place to start if you are interested.
Others directly and publicly refuse to pay part or all of their federal income tax. We do this because roughly half of that tax is used to fund the US war machine.
Tax resistance is the most direct way US citizens can avoid being complicit in this war. If all of us who have written our Congresspersons or taken to the streets also refuse to financially back the war, the decision-makers in Washington have a much harder time ignoring our resistance.
We ask you to consider war tax resistance this tax year, and in the years to come. The best way to stop the war machine is to refuse to fund it.
This is something we have recently considered... divestment from the American government. Here might be a good place to start if you are interested.
A Weekend in the Desert
Holly and I left Thursday to spend a couple days in the desert with some friends. Stayed at a cheap little hotel in the Palm Springs area. It was about 104 degrees by lunchtime, but it was suprisingly mild in the shade.
Talk of life, living in the way of Jesus, art, music, family, etc. Good stuff.
Saturday morning, Holly and I headed just north to Joshua Tree National Monument for some hiking and driving around. Beautiful enchanted place. Not as hot as it was last year when Jasen and Travers and I tried the "Desert Retreat"... in fact, it bearly hit 90 in the monument. I guess 4000 feet makes all the difference.
Anyway, some pictures I thought you might enjoy. Here's a sampling from the gallery...
Talk of life, living in the way of Jesus, art, music, family, etc. Good stuff.
Saturday morning, Holly and I headed just north to Joshua Tree National Monument for some hiking and driving around. Beautiful enchanted place. Not as hot as it was last year when Jasen and Travers and I tried the "Desert Retreat"... in fact, it bearly hit 90 in the monument. I guess 4000 feet makes all the difference.
Anyway, some pictures I thought you might enjoy. Here's a sampling from the gallery...
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Not to leave you hanging...
...but the computer is still a bit on the fritz.
It took me being on the phone with Apple for 5 phone calls (with a total of 100 or so minutes of wait time), a trip to the Apple Retail Store, several phone calls back and forth with the company I bought extra RAM from, and several hours in front of the laptop.
As it turns out, my RAM had gone bad (no big because I have a lifetime guarantee), but it took days to find that out! Now Tiger is back on my iBook and I have new RAM installed, but we leave out of town in about 20 minutes, so the real test of whether this bad boy is back up and running will be on Sunday when I install the rest of the software and restore my identity so to speak.
Thanks to those of you who called to help, who prayed, and who endured my suckish attitude. Cheers! A round of pints on me. Really, my beer should be finished brewin' by the time I am back home, so...
It took me being on the phone with Apple for 5 phone calls (with a total of 100 or so minutes of wait time), a trip to the Apple Retail Store, several phone calls back and forth with the company I bought extra RAM from, and several hours in front of the laptop.
As it turns out, my RAM had gone bad (no big because I have a lifetime guarantee), but it took days to find that out! Now Tiger is back on my iBook and I have new RAM installed, but we leave out of town in about 20 minutes, so the real test of whether this bad boy is back up and running will be on Sunday when I install the rest of the software and restore my identity so to speak.
Thanks to those of you who called to help, who prayed, and who endured my suckish attitude. Cheers! A round of pints on me. Really, my beer should be finished brewin' by the time I am back home, so...
Re-Imagining Business
I have been reeling with the implications of some of these thoughts. By "these thoughts" I am referring to the thoughts posted in the previous post. I also am reading ahead into chapter 4 and am reminded that we must not seek to overthrow the empire, but actually use the systems in place as starting places for revolution, reformation, and the imagining of new possibilities. As I've heard it, no revolution or renewal movement happens in a vaccuum. So here we are in America.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
Re-Imagining Business
I have been reeling with the implications of some of these thoughts. By "these thoughts" I am referring to the thoughts posted in the previous post. I also am reading ahead into chapter 4 and am reminded that we must not seek to overthrow the empire, but actually use the systems in place as starting places for revolution, reformation, and the imagining of new possibilities. As I've heard it, no revolution or renewal movement happens in a vaccuum. So here we are in America.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Colossians Remixed: Chapter Three
Last night was a lively discussion. We have finally reached that, "How am I implicated in this?" stage. Nice. That's what I hoped this book would bring.
We discussed the notion of empire and the parallels between the Roman empire and the empires we see around us, expressed in Pax Americana (mind you this was an actual phrase used by our government months ago) and also expressed in Corporate Capitalism.
Power and Wealth... that was the simplest definition we could think of as far as establish what was empire.
We talked about how not all things in the empire are always bad. However, this hope of following this Jesus was a re-evaluation of how things really work in this world. A sort of pulling back of the curtains to see what is really going on. Remember that on the Roman coin was Pax (goddess of peace) on one side and military arms on the other side, saying that this 'peace' that is happening was brought by violence... and this is not the way of Jesus.
Ben brought up some good points regarding the redemptive side of the "American Dream", namely stories of immigrants who have left oppresive lands to seek a better life in America. America is in some ways a place where anyone can be anything... sort of.
I said that much of that was the myth of capitalism that seems to be true for only a fraction of a fraction of people, but his point still stands. This place might be a bit better (at least) than other places.
Martin brought up a good point that in so many ways, the US has this thought that our standard of living is the standard of living... or ought to be. So people come out here, buying into this myth, leaving behind the family farm (where they were fine to begin with) and searching for riches in the good ole US of A.
This is made possible not by holding guns to peoples heads (usually) and saying buy these products and live this life! No, it is much more subversive Ben pointed out. It is simply the lure that is on that TV set. Those things they think they need... those things we think we need. Products, stuff, a "better way of life" where you can consume all you want and not be happy (just like most wealthy Americans, Heath added). Oh, and have I mentioned that America is the most heavily medicated nation in the world with regards to mood-altering drugs? Has this stuff proven effective for us?
Okay, slow down Ryan. I am getting going like I was last night.
The last half hour was implications for us as individuals, families, community, etc. How then shall we live? Stop shopping at places? Will that really make a difference? Help support organizations that are helping to solve these problems? Is money the answer? Time? Lobbying congress like Bono? Divesting monies from our government that has caused so much bloodshed?
More on that soon. I have already said too much.
We discussed the notion of empire and the parallels between the Roman empire and the empires we see around us, expressed in Pax Americana (mind you this was an actual phrase used by our government months ago) and also expressed in Corporate Capitalism.
Power and Wealth... that was the simplest definition we could think of as far as establish what was empire.
We talked about how not all things in the empire are always bad. However, this hope of following this Jesus was a re-evaluation of how things really work in this world. A sort of pulling back of the curtains to see what is really going on. Remember that on the Roman coin was Pax (goddess of peace) on one side and military arms on the other side, saying that this 'peace' that is happening was brought by violence... and this is not the way of Jesus.
Ben brought up some good points regarding the redemptive side of the "American Dream", namely stories of immigrants who have left oppresive lands to seek a better life in America. America is in some ways a place where anyone can be anything... sort of.
I said that much of that was the myth of capitalism that seems to be true for only a fraction of a fraction of people, but his point still stands. This place might be a bit better (at least) than other places.
Martin brought up a good point that in so many ways, the US has this thought that our standard of living is the standard of living... or ought to be. So people come out here, buying into this myth, leaving behind the family farm (where they were fine to begin with) and searching for riches in the good ole US of A.
This is made possible not by holding guns to peoples heads (usually) and saying buy these products and live this life! No, it is much more subversive Ben pointed out. It is simply the lure that is on that TV set. Those things they think they need... those things we think we need. Products, stuff, a "better way of life" where you can consume all you want and not be happy (just like most wealthy Americans, Heath added). Oh, and have I mentioned that America is the most heavily medicated nation in the world with regards to mood-altering drugs? Has this stuff proven effective for us?
Okay, slow down Ryan. I am getting going like I was last night.
The last half hour was implications for us as individuals, families, community, etc. How then shall we live? Stop shopping at places? Will that really make a difference? Help support organizations that are helping to solve these problems? Is money the answer? Time? Lobbying congress like Bono? Divesting monies from our government that has caused so much bloodshed?
More on that soon. I have already said too much.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
While waiting...
...for my computer to be backed-up and then reformatted, then hopefully, fixed... I decided I'd take a stab at my newest book. Having finished Bono's biography a week or so ago, I felt a void in my life. Time for a new book!
I had ordered Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed several days ago. I got it for free from some book club. Sweet. I have wanted to read this book for some time.
I am only in the first few pages and I am already making connections. You see, earlier today, Jesse and I talked about the ever-rising cost of oil and its effects on us and others. I made some statement (that surely was borrowed) about how America is a society built on oil. Since the Industrial Revolution, oil has been the sustainer of the society. Everything seems to depend on oil in a very direct way, or a somewhat indirect way.
Well, here are some hanting words from Jared Diamond's first few pages:
It has long been suspected that many of these mysterious [societal collapses] were at least partly triggered by ecological problems: people inadvertently destroying the environmental resources on which their societies depended.
Not to be a doomsdayer, but wow, those are startling thoughts. And this connected to some of the stuff we're reading about in Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire make me really think about shaping an alternative imagination of how we ought to live. Hmm.
More to come for sure...
I had ordered Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed several days ago. I got it for free from some book club. Sweet. I have wanted to read this book for some time.
I am only in the first few pages and I am already making connections. You see, earlier today, Jesse and I talked about the ever-rising cost of oil and its effects on us and others. I made some statement (that surely was borrowed) about how America is a society built on oil. Since the Industrial Revolution, oil has been the sustainer of the society. Everything seems to depend on oil in a very direct way, or a somewhat indirect way.
Well, here are some hanting words from Jared Diamond's first few pages:
It has long been suspected that many of these mysterious [societal collapses] were at least partly triggered by ecological problems: people inadvertently destroying the environmental resources on which their societies depended.
Not to be a doomsdayer, but wow, those are startling thoughts. And this connected to some of the stuff we're reading about in Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire make me really think about shaping an alternative imagination of how we ought to live. Hmm.
More to come for sure...
A Prayer for my Computer
Hi folks. I am writing from Holly's computer. My computer crashed yesterday evening, unexpectedly. I have been on the phone with Apple this morning (until the call was dropped a few minutes ago!)... and it's not been good. Apparently I am one of the first people to report something like this in this particular operating system. They think I might have to wipe the hard drive completely. Please God, no!
I know it may sound trivial to some of you, but this is a really big deal for me... really. It's not just music and photos (although it's that too). It's emails, SharpSeven business files (some recently completed, but not yet uploaded), songs I have written, recorded, etc.
Please, if you are the praying kind, pray that somehow this will get resolved without the destroying of my hard drive.
Okay, off to the Apple Store to see if they can be any more helpful than the phone guy was.
I know it may sound trivial to some of you, but this is a really big deal for me... really. It's not just music and photos (although it's that too). It's emails, SharpSeven business files (some recently completed, but not yet uploaded), songs I have written, recorded, etc.
Please, if you are the praying kind, pray that somehow this will get resolved without the destroying of my hard drive.
Okay, off to the Apple Store to see if they can be any more helpful than the phone guy was.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Shalom Revisited
So, at least one person has commented, saying they couldn't make out what the painting was created with or what some of the images were. So I uploaded a larger file for your downloading pleasure. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see previous Shalom post with painting.
This was probably the most difficult painting we have done together. Of course, I guess it's really only the second one we have done together!
Painting the chaos of life, gluing the bills, the receipts, the newspaper clippings, the pop-culture icons... that was all easy... even fun.
The hard part was bringing shalom to the mess.
I was reminded of how hard it can be to do good... to bring shalom to the mess of life. In fact, so hard is it to do good, support good things, live well, live generously, put our resources in good places... so hard is it that we sometimes end up as deer in the headlights... frozen. We can't move because we cannot discern which way is best. We just stay-put instead of trying out any sort of goodness.
Stuck. Wanting to do good, but so afraid of not doing the best. Stuck. Burying the master's talent.
Painting our way out of the chaos was tricky and took several days and different methods. It was difficult to bring shalom to the chaos.
The white felt a bit cliché in some ways, but James says it looks like light is tearing through the chaos. I like that. A gentle, but sudden tear where the Kingdom of God reaches us in the here and now. And we are but a small part of allowing it to find its way into this world I think.
This was probably the most difficult painting we have done together. Of course, I guess it's really only the second one we have done together!
Painting the chaos of life, gluing the bills, the receipts, the newspaper clippings, the pop-culture icons... that was all easy... even fun.
The hard part was bringing shalom to the mess.
I was reminded of how hard it can be to do good... to bring shalom to the mess of life. In fact, so hard is it to do good, support good things, live well, live generously, put our resources in good places... so hard is it that we sometimes end up as deer in the headlights... frozen. We can't move because we cannot discern which way is best. We just stay-put instead of trying out any sort of goodness.
Stuck. Wanting to do good, but so afraid of not doing the best. Stuck. Burying the master's talent.
Painting our way out of the chaos was tricky and took several days and different methods. It was difficult to bring shalom to the chaos.
The white felt a bit cliché in some ways, but James says it looks like light is tearing through the chaos. I like that. A gentle, but sudden tear where the Kingdom of God reaches us in the here and now. And we are but a small part of allowing it to find its way into this world I think.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Moving with Sufjan Stevens
Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State
An amazing find. Thanks to my buddy Troy Bronsink for leading me to this artist. Prophetic stuff. Beautifully haunting. Wow. Favorite track thus far is For the Widows in Paradise...
I have called you children, I have called you son.
What is there to answer if I'm the only one?
Morning comes in Paradise, morning comes in light.
Still I must obey, still I must invite.
If there's anything to say, if there's anything to do,
If there's any other way, I'll do anything for you.
I was dressed embarrassment.
I was dressed in wine.
If you had a part of me, will you take you're time?
Even if I come back, even if I die
Is there some idea to replace my life?
Like a father to impress;
Like a mother's mourning dress,
If you ever make a mess, I'll do anything for you
I have called you preacher; I have called you son.
If you have a father or if you haven't one,
I'll do anything for you.
I did everything for you.
Post-Purchase Depression
So, I have come to realize that I hate buying things. Seriously.
I get bored. I get excited to buy something (ie. a new digital camera, a new backpack, groceries, etc.). I buy it. I use it or consume it. I get depressed.
What's up with that? Is there a condition called post-purchase depression?
I hate buying stuff, and I aim to stop doing it all together. Seriously. Perhaps I'll starve, but at least I can get off this rollercoaster!
I get bored. I get excited to buy something (ie. a new digital camera, a new backpack, groceries, etc.). I buy it. I use it or consume it. I get depressed.
What's up with that? Is there a condition called post-purchase depression?
I hate buying stuff, and I aim to stop doing it all together. Seriously. Perhaps I'll starve, but at least I can get off this rollercoaster!
Friday, August 12, 2005
Seeing Jesus in a Porn Star
Thanks to Will for this incredibly moving story, journaled in 8 parts on this woman's blog. As Will says, it'll take you about 15 minutes to read it, but I highly recommend it. Really.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Shalom Amidst The S***
Our latest piece that Holly and I have created together. It is entitled "Shalom Amidst The S***".
If you want to catch a closer look at it, you might just have to swing by the 814. It will be on display at Apt #7.
If you want to catch a closer look at it, you might just have to swing by the 814. It will be on display at Apt #7.
The Idea of America
I have heard this phrase at least a couple times in the last week or so. "The idea of America," they say. Bono said that he loves the idea of America, Peter Jennings felt the same way (and obtained America citizenship), and I guess I could see where they're going with this.
While I might have my issues–that I have brought up in previous posts–with America in its current state, I think I could go there with both these fellas.
The idea of a nation of people where anyone could come and make a life for themselves, escape oppression, find hope, where the Earth seemed rich with blessing, where the government and people lead the way by example (how very much like ancient China) instead of by force, where the rich care for the poor in such a way that all find their stomachs full... and perhaps we find no longer rich and poor as distinctions.
But I am reminded that this is not the case in so many ways today. For as much energy as I could spend supporting an argument for higher tax burden for those who make more in this nation, feeling that it is their moral responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, I do still believe that inspiration is far better than legislation. In fact, this morning, when I heard on NPR that the state of California is going to raise like 100 million dollars by taxing the rich, I kind of shuddered. I mean, is legislation the best means necessary? Will people not give out of the goodness of their own hearts? I wonder. I really do.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said he wanted to bring about inspiration, not legislation in furthering his cause that all men and women would be recognized as being created equal.
But looking at how things "actually" work in America, it is hard for me to buy into this "idea of America" sometimes because I think most people have a different "idea of America." The myths generated by television shows and movies and whatnot do not generally promote these ideals, but an alternative set of ideals that are very egocentric, hoarding, materialistic, and disconnected.
Sounds a bit like the idea of Christianity to me. There are so many people who have so many different ideas of how it's supposed to work, what is at its heart. Moral legislation or inspiration? I read somewhere recently that when a lighthouse does it's job, it doesn't need to send off fireworks to say, "Hey! Over here! Look, a lighthouse!" because it is a lighthouse and by its very nature, people will see it for what it is.
I wonder if any of this makes sense or resonates with any of you... or perhaps infuriates you? Just questions. Just trying to help in the re-imagining of a better world. Just trying to figure out what that means for me and my family and friends.
While I might have my issues–that I have brought up in previous posts–with America in its current state, I think I could go there with both these fellas.
The idea of a nation of people where anyone could come and make a life for themselves, escape oppression, find hope, where the Earth seemed rich with blessing, where the government and people lead the way by example (how very much like ancient China) instead of by force, where the rich care for the poor in such a way that all find their stomachs full... and perhaps we find no longer rich and poor as distinctions.
But I am reminded that this is not the case in so many ways today. For as much energy as I could spend supporting an argument for higher tax burden for those who make more in this nation, feeling that it is their moral responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, I do still believe that inspiration is far better than legislation. In fact, this morning, when I heard on NPR that the state of California is going to raise like 100 million dollars by taxing the rich, I kind of shuddered. I mean, is legislation the best means necessary? Will people not give out of the goodness of their own hearts? I wonder. I really do.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said he wanted to bring about inspiration, not legislation in furthering his cause that all men and women would be recognized as being created equal.
But looking at how things "actually" work in America, it is hard for me to buy into this "idea of America" sometimes because I think most people have a different "idea of America." The myths generated by television shows and movies and whatnot do not generally promote these ideals, but an alternative set of ideals that are very egocentric, hoarding, materialistic, and disconnected.
Sounds a bit like the idea of Christianity to me. There are so many people who have so many different ideas of how it's supposed to work, what is at its heart. Moral legislation or inspiration? I read somewhere recently that when a lighthouse does it's job, it doesn't need to send off fireworks to say, "Hey! Over here! Look, a lighthouse!" because it is a lighthouse and by its very nature, people will see it for what it is.
I wonder if any of this makes sense or resonates with any of you... or perhaps infuriates you? Just questions. Just trying to help in the re-imagining of a better world. Just trying to figure out what that means for me and my family and friends.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Busy and Bored
So, I just thought I'd post these overarching sensations I have had simultaneously the last several weeks... Busy and Bored.
What is up with that? I have so much to get done this month. It has potential to be one of SharpSeven's busiest months in a while, but I don't want to do anything. And I just sit around twiddling my thumbs. What's up with that?
Perhaps I just see everything as one big project. Perhaps that's why I can't get going. "Think smaller, Ryan" or "One project at a time." But it doesn't work. I mean, it sorta does. But the to-do lists just keeping growing.
And then I feel like a slave to the system... who just works from home. Is this a curse of home-businesses? Or does everyone else feel this way?
The answers to these questions I am sure will open up new understandings of the Universe.
What is up with that? I have so much to get done this month. It has potential to be one of SharpSeven's busiest months in a while, but I don't want to do anything. And I just sit around twiddling my thumbs. What's up with that?
Perhaps I just see everything as one big project. Perhaps that's why I can't get going. "Think smaller, Ryan" or "One project at a time." But it doesn't work. I mean, it sorta does. But the to-do lists just keeping growing.
And then I feel like a slave to the system... who just works from home. Is this a curse of home-businesses? Or does everyone else feel this way?
The answers to these questions I am sure will open up new understandings of the Universe.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Colossians Remixed: Chapter Two
Good night it was. Book club, night two. Tom Giblin's Irish Pub. I had meself two black-and-tans. And I saw that I could have ordered a Shandy! Wow... I would have Sivin, but alas, my Irish within groaned for a Guiness.
This chapter seemed lighter than the last. A few interesting concepts, but just that... concepts. Ideas of grace, truth, and spirituality in a new light.
Grace always being relational provides for a communal shalom. Truth embodied and incarnated instead of disembidied (like how I was taught to see it in Bible college)... truth never existing beyong a faithfulness to God... truth not as disconnected facts that are absolutebut rather the true-ness of God which is inexplicable. And a earthly spirituality... not the Greek dualism that is so pervasive now (which I might add was a heresy several years back wrapped up in gnosticism).
Conversations like these (ones about what these sacred texts really meant) always make me wonder how we've gotten so far off these last 2000 years. How those who claim to be Christian have often (not always) seemed to have been on the wrong side of battles, you know?
Grace, for example, has become a sort of trump card for not doing good works. Who cares how they live... it's all about what key facts they memorize (believe). Sure, I believe that God redeems/heals us through this grace (both directly and through others), but it is then to be dispensed into the world in action... not hoarded for ourselves.
Truth, which has the Jewish notions of God's faithfulness (and our faithfulness in return), has been completely changed into 'facts'. The 'truth' that Jesus or Paul would have been speaking of was this Jewish understanding. Which means that turning Truth into the 'absolute facts' is not what truth is about at all... or if it is, it is but a small part of it.
Truth has proven to be a violent word in our lifetime and in the centuries before. Take Manifest Destiny, the truth that God wanted the Europeans to take the Cross and the Crown and make disciples (colonize people) all across the Americas. Or the truth of honoring Allah by crashing airplanes into buildings. Or the truth about democracy being the highest form of government and that all the world should have it, even if it is difficult to 'prop up' as VP Cheney said.
And spirituality... we have reconstructed it to be something between just me and Jesus instead of being something that holds redemption for our world in the here and now. As Jesus said, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," not "God, wipe out this place so we can go to heaven." It's about bringing heaven to earth, so to speak, as my friend Mike would say.
Well, these are just my thoughts. Perhaps some others will bring in some stuff as well. Next chapter gets into some of the Roman world contextualization... sweet.
This chapter seemed lighter than the last. A few interesting concepts, but just that... concepts. Ideas of grace, truth, and spirituality in a new light.
Grace always being relational provides for a communal shalom. Truth embodied and incarnated instead of disembidied (like how I was taught to see it in Bible college)... truth never existing beyong a faithfulness to God... truth not as disconnected facts that are absolutebut rather the true-ness of God which is inexplicable. And a earthly spirituality... not the Greek dualism that is so pervasive now (which I might add was a heresy several years back wrapped up in gnosticism).
Conversations like these (ones about what these sacred texts really meant) always make me wonder how we've gotten so far off these last 2000 years. How those who claim to be Christian have often (not always) seemed to have been on the wrong side of battles, you know?
Grace, for example, has become a sort of trump card for not doing good works. Who cares how they live... it's all about what key facts they memorize (believe). Sure, I believe that God redeems/heals us through this grace (both directly and through others), but it is then to be dispensed into the world in action... not hoarded for ourselves.
Truth, which has the Jewish notions of God's faithfulness (and our faithfulness in return), has been completely changed into 'facts'. The 'truth' that Jesus or Paul would have been speaking of was this Jewish understanding. Which means that turning Truth into the 'absolute facts' is not what truth is about at all... or if it is, it is but a small part of it.
Truth has proven to be a violent word in our lifetime and in the centuries before. Take Manifest Destiny, the truth that God wanted the Europeans to take the Cross and the Crown and make disciples (colonize people) all across the Americas. Or the truth of honoring Allah by crashing airplanes into buildings. Or the truth about democracy being the highest form of government and that all the world should have it, even if it is difficult to 'prop up' as VP Cheney said.
And spirituality... we have reconstructed it to be something between just me and Jesus instead of being something that holds redemption for our world in the here and now. As Jesus said, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," not "God, wipe out this place so we can go to heaven." It's about bringing heaven to earth, so to speak, as my friend Mike would say.
Well, these are just my thoughts. Perhaps some others will bring in some stuff as well. Next chapter gets into some of the Roman world contextualization... sweet.
Monday, August 08, 2005
So telling...
The latest way someone found their way to this blog... while searching for how to recognize hypocrite person.
So telling...
So telling...
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Action Movies, War, and Empire
So, Holly and I and Trav drove up to the Bay yesterday. Beautiful drive... save the traffic.
Lots of NPR. A couple unrelated news articles that seemed to connect in my head. Let's see if they connect in yours as well.
First, they reviewed the summer film roster and told how each film was doing. "Action films are suprisingly not doing well this summer," I heard the reviewer say. Usually summer is the time for the shoot-em-up, good-vs-evil films. Apparently this summer, people were weary from all the violence. They reviewer wondered if this signaled a demise in the most profitable genre of film. I wondered if people in some ways are just tired of violence in the world? Tired of supporting a war they don't really believe in... and now that the blind nationalism has fallen like scales from most people's eyes, they are tired of the movies that seek to further this type of thinking.
I read somewhere recently (sorry, but I cannot remember where) that superhero movies and epic tales of good-vs-evil always surge during war/conflict times. The thought is that it reinforces the purposefulness of the war, reminds the public of the myths that serve the Empire... like remembering that Caesar was the provider of peace (through bloody wars usually). Hmm.
Second, I heard Prime Minister Tony Blair announce that those who did not seek to further the interests of England would be deported if they act out in anyway that is in conflict with the British way of life. This is all very reminiscent of the Sedition Act, is it not? Wow. Do not dare to speak against the Empire. Huh. Thank God that we do not live in non-totalitarian regimes. Thank God that we can speak our mind. Thank God that we don't have to yield to our governments as infallible. Hmm.
Then that got us thinking about the whole shoot-to-kill policy that England set up several weeks ago. I mean, don't get me wrong: what a tragic thing that happened there in England, but is this really the best way to handle it and respond to it?
I still wonder what might have happened had we as people in the West actually thought about why 9/11 took place... why the bombings continue. My brother-in-law says that now everything is so far progressed that many don't even think about why they are doing it, but at some point, it had real meaning. Real meaning. I think so.
While I would never endorse the atrocities that have taken place in the last several years, I do think that the West (and particularly America) could stand to do some self-evaluation. And most people in the West would say, "But why? We are so generous, and civil, and we place such high value on life, and we love freedom." But I would encourage you to look beneath the surface of those empty words. Our freedom is often built of the back and sustained by oppressive forces. Iraq might be a good example of just how far America will go to "defend it's freedom" and "ensure it's way of life." Or how so many of the commodites that we enjoy in the "Free World" are bought at ridiculous prices, leaving people enslaved in systems of corruption and poverty.
I read some of Bono's words that said that if you are going to fight a war on terror, make sure you remember that poverty is one of the largest forces of terror alive on our planet. And those are not empty words. I hope we will hear that and live, grappling with what the implications for our lives mean.
I do not mean to come across preachy or self-righteous or put-together, but rather as a critic of a system of which I live in and am a part of, but am trying to rehabilitate and redeem and... well, get out of, so to speak. Okay, I am out of breath, and it's time to leave. Ciao.
Lots of NPR. A couple unrelated news articles that seemed to connect in my head. Let's see if they connect in yours as well.
First, they reviewed the summer film roster and told how each film was doing. "Action films are suprisingly not doing well this summer," I heard the reviewer say. Usually summer is the time for the shoot-em-up, good-vs-evil films. Apparently this summer, people were weary from all the violence. They reviewer wondered if this signaled a demise in the most profitable genre of film. I wondered if people in some ways are just tired of violence in the world? Tired of supporting a war they don't really believe in... and now that the blind nationalism has fallen like scales from most people's eyes, they are tired of the movies that seek to further this type of thinking.
I read somewhere recently (sorry, but I cannot remember where) that superhero movies and epic tales of good-vs-evil always surge during war/conflict times. The thought is that it reinforces the purposefulness of the war, reminds the public of the myths that serve the Empire... like remembering that Caesar was the provider of peace (through bloody wars usually). Hmm.
Second, I heard Prime Minister Tony Blair announce that those who did not seek to further the interests of England would be deported if they act out in anyway that is in conflict with the British way of life. This is all very reminiscent of the Sedition Act, is it not? Wow. Do not dare to speak against the Empire. Huh. Thank God that we do not live in non-totalitarian regimes. Thank God that we can speak our mind. Thank God that we don't have to yield to our governments as infallible. Hmm.
Then that got us thinking about the whole shoot-to-kill policy that England set up several weeks ago. I mean, don't get me wrong: what a tragic thing that happened there in England, but is this really the best way to handle it and respond to it?
I still wonder what might have happened had we as people in the West actually thought about why 9/11 took place... why the bombings continue. My brother-in-law says that now everything is so far progressed that many don't even think about why they are doing it, but at some point, it had real meaning. Real meaning. I think so.
While I would never endorse the atrocities that have taken place in the last several years, I do think that the West (and particularly America) could stand to do some self-evaluation. And most people in the West would say, "But why? We are so generous, and civil, and we place such high value on life, and we love freedom." But I would encourage you to look beneath the surface of those empty words. Our freedom is often built of the back and sustained by oppressive forces. Iraq might be a good example of just how far America will go to "defend it's freedom" and "ensure it's way of life." Or how so many of the commodites that we enjoy in the "Free World" are bought at ridiculous prices, leaving people enslaved in systems of corruption and poverty.
I read some of Bono's words that said that if you are going to fight a war on terror, make sure you remember that poverty is one of the largest forces of terror alive on our planet. And those are not empty words. I hope we will hear that and live, grappling with what the implications for our lives mean.
I do not mean to come across preachy or self-righteous or put-together, but rather as a critic of a system of which I live in and am a part of, but am trying to rehabilitate and redeem and... well, get out of, so to speak. Okay, I am out of breath, and it's time to leave. Ciao.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
My New Book
My latest read...
Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
Wow. What a great book. I am constantly amazed at how honest and articulate Bono is in speaking of his faith. Perhaps it is so easy because it goes hand in hand with what he does. DATA, Drop the Debt, Jubilee 2000, The ONE Campaign... this is faith with works.
If you are a U2 fan (or even if you're not yet one!), go out and pick the book up. It might jar/trouble/inspire you, reading this refreshing take on life, faith, family, the world, and music.
Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
Wow. What a great book. I am constantly amazed at how honest and articulate Bono is in speaking of his faith. Perhaps it is so easy because it goes hand in hand with what he does. DATA, Drop the Debt, Jubilee 2000, The ONE Campaign... this is faith with works.
If you are a U2 fan (or even if you're not yet one!), go out and pick the book up. It might jar/trouble/inspire you, reading this refreshing take on life, faith, family, the world, and music.
On Anarchy
My friend Chris, who is part of our Relational Tithe network, is going to this conference this weekend on Anarchism and Christianity.
What a great quote from the Jesus Radicals' (the folks who are putting on the conference) site...
Even when they call us mad, when they call us subversives and communists and all the epithets they put on us, we know we only preach the subversive witness of the Beatitudes, which have turned everything upside down.
–Oscar Romero
This last Sunday morning, we talked a bit about the subversive nature of the Beautitudes. How Jesus was raising the lowest to places of honor... those society had marginalized: the meek, those who did not hunger and thirst for the riches of the world, those who declared peace over war. And then uses these people as models for the Kingdom.
Some of Wendell Berry's thoughts on this from our Colossian book:
Despite its protests to the contrary, modern Christianity has become willy-nilly the religion of the state and the economic status quo. Because it has been so exclusively dedicated to incanting anemic souls into Heaven, it has been made the tool of much earthly villainy. It has, for the most part, stood silently by while a predatory economy has ravaged the world, destroyed its natural beauty and health, divided and plundered its human communities and households. It has flown the flag and chanted the slogans of empire. It has assumed with the economists that "economic forces" automatically work for good and has assumed with the industrialists and militarists that technology determines history. It has assumed with almost everybody that "progress" is good, that it is good to be modern and up with the times. It has admired Caesar and comforted him in his depredations and defaults. But in its de facto alliance with Caesar, Christianity connives directly in the murder of Creation. For in these days, Caesar is no longer a mere destroyer of armies, cities, and nations. He is a contradicter of the fundamental miracle of life. A part of the normal practice of his power is his willingness to destroy the world. He prays, he says, and churches everywhere compliantly pray with him. But he is praying to a God whose works he is prepared at any moment to destroy. What could be more wicked than that, or more mad.
What a great quote from the Jesus Radicals' (the folks who are putting on the conference) site...
Even when they call us mad, when they call us subversives and communists and all the epithets they put on us, we know we only preach the subversive witness of the Beatitudes, which have turned everything upside down.
–Oscar Romero
This last Sunday morning, we talked a bit about the subversive nature of the Beautitudes. How Jesus was raising the lowest to places of honor... those society had marginalized: the meek, those who did not hunger and thirst for the riches of the world, those who declared peace over war. And then uses these people as models for the Kingdom.
Some of Wendell Berry's thoughts on this from our Colossian book:
Despite its protests to the contrary, modern Christianity has become willy-nilly the religion of the state and the economic status quo. Because it has been so exclusively dedicated to incanting anemic souls into Heaven, it has been made the tool of much earthly villainy. It has, for the most part, stood silently by while a predatory economy has ravaged the world, destroyed its natural beauty and health, divided and plundered its human communities and households. It has flown the flag and chanted the slogans of empire. It has assumed with the economists that "economic forces" automatically work for good and has assumed with the industrialists and militarists that technology determines history. It has assumed with almost everybody that "progress" is good, that it is good to be modern and up with the times. It has admired Caesar and comforted him in his depredations and defaults. But in its de facto alliance with Caesar, Christianity connives directly in the murder of Creation. For in these days, Caesar is no longer a mere destroyer of armies, cities, and nations. He is a contradicter of the fundamental miracle of life. A part of the normal practice of his power is his willingness to destroy the world. He prays, he says, and churches everywhere compliantly pray with him. But he is praying to a God whose works he is prepared at any moment to destroy. What could be more wicked than that, or more mad.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Colossians Remixed: Chapter One
Had our first Colossians Remixed book club tonight. Good stuff. Seemed to be a great deal of thought and energy flowin'. Ben also has some great thoughts going from last night.
We discussed the two narratives that the authors saw in postmodern culture: Postmodern Disquiet and Cybernetic Global Consumerism. The authors were being descriptive, not prescriptive about these narratives...and they will eventually offer a different narrative that is more appealing and generous and hopeful than either of these two.
Most folks tonight had a hard time with the Cybernetic Global Consumerism script. How could anyone really buy into the fact that consumerism is somehow at the base of what will bring us optimism? How does our economic practices infect our view of the future? Unresolved we were, but we all seemed to agree that optimism based on technology or consumerism as saviors was bound to fail as greatly as modernism did.
We spoke at length about the end of the chapters statements regarding 9/11, postmodernity, and empire. The authors cited several references about why the terrorists did what they did, but the consensus from the book was that the gross sense of 'keeping all our options open' and therefor 'not being able to really commit to any one thing' made the terrorists sick. My sister said that as she read this stuff it made her feel a bit ashamed because she knew that they were spot on. (If that didn't make any sense at all, please read the book!)
We are meeting again this next Monday night at Tom Giblin's if you're in town. 7pm.
Good stuff. Anyone else want to add some thoughts?
We discussed the two narratives that the authors saw in postmodern culture: Postmodern Disquiet and Cybernetic Global Consumerism. The authors were being descriptive, not prescriptive about these narratives...and they will eventually offer a different narrative that is more appealing and generous and hopeful than either of these two.
Most folks tonight had a hard time with the Cybernetic Global Consumerism script. How could anyone really buy into the fact that consumerism is somehow at the base of what will bring us optimism? How does our economic practices infect our view of the future? Unresolved we were, but we all seemed to agree that optimism based on technology or consumerism as saviors was bound to fail as greatly as modernism did.
We spoke at length about the end of the chapters statements regarding 9/11, postmodernity, and empire. The authors cited several references about why the terrorists did what they did, but the consensus from the book was that the gross sense of 'keeping all our options open' and therefor 'not being able to really commit to any one thing' made the terrorists sick. My sister said that as she read this stuff it made her feel a bit ashamed because she knew that they were spot on. (If that didn't make any sense at all, please read the book!)
We are meeting again this next Monday night at Tom Giblin's if you're in town. 7pm.
Good stuff. Anyone else want to add some thoughts?
On Spirituality...
Spirituality should never just be about you and God. Anything less than creation-wide redemption is blasphemy. Spirituality ought to be about you and God as much as it should be about you and the world.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
The Great American Novel
I was born and raised an orphan
In a land that once was free
In a land that poured it's love out on the moon
And i grew up in the shadows
Of your silos filled with grain
But you never helped to fill my empty spoon
And when I was ten you murdered law
With courtroom politics
And you learnt to make a lie sound just like truth
But I know you better now
And I don't fall for all your tricks
And you've lost the one advantage of my youth
You kill a black man at midnight
Just for talking to your daughter
Then you make his wife your mistress
And you leave her without water
And the sheet you wear upon your face
Is the sheet your children sleep on
And every meal you say a prayer
You don't believe but still you keep on
And your money says 'In God We Trust'
But it's against the law to pray in school
You say we beat the Russians to the moon
And I say you starved your children to do it
You are far across the ocean
In a war that's not your own
And whilst you're winning theirs
You're gonna lose the one at home
Do you really think the only way
To bring about the peace
Is to sacrifice your children
And kill all your enemies
The politicians all make speeches
While the news men all take note
And they exagerate the issues
As they shove it down our throats
Is it really up to them
Whether this country sinks or floats
And I wonder who would lead us
If none of us would vote
Well my phone is tapped and my lips are chapped
From whispering through the fence
You know every move I make
Or is that just coincidence
Well you try to make my way of life
A little less like jail
If I promise to make tapes and slides
And send them through the mail
And your money says 'In God We Trust'
But its against the law to pray in school
You say we beat the Russians to the moon
And I say you starved your children to do it
You say 'all men are equal all men are brothers'
Then why are the rich more equal than others?
Don't ask me for the answer I've only got one
That a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son
Larry Norman, 1972
In a land that once was free
In a land that poured it's love out on the moon
And i grew up in the shadows
Of your silos filled with grain
But you never helped to fill my empty spoon
And when I was ten you murdered law
With courtroom politics
And you learnt to make a lie sound just like truth
But I know you better now
And I don't fall for all your tricks
And you've lost the one advantage of my youth
You kill a black man at midnight
Just for talking to your daughter
Then you make his wife your mistress
And you leave her without water
And the sheet you wear upon your face
Is the sheet your children sleep on
And every meal you say a prayer
You don't believe but still you keep on
And your money says 'In God We Trust'
But it's against the law to pray in school
You say we beat the Russians to the moon
And I say you starved your children to do it
You are far across the ocean
In a war that's not your own
And whilst you're winning theirs
You're gonna lose the one at home
Do you really think the only way
To bring about the peace
Is to sacrifice your children
And kill all your enemies
The politicians all make speeches
While the news men all take note
And they exagerate the issues
As they shove it down our throats
Is it really up to them
Whether this country sinks or floats
And I wonder who would lead us
If none of us would vote
Well my phone is tapped and my lips are chapped
From whispering through the fence
You know every move I make
Or is that just coincidence
Well you try to make my way of life
A little less like jail
If I promise to make tapes and slides
And send them through the mail
And your money says 'In God We Trust'
But its against the law to pray in school
You say we beat the Russians to the moon
And I say you starved your children to do it
You say 'all men are equal all men are brothers'
Then why are the rich more equal than others?
Don't ask me for the answer I've only got one
That a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son
Larry Norman, 1972
Sunday at 9am
What a cool get-together. Several friends from Oceanside and a few from the 814 met this morning in a sort of informal church service.
We went through the first part of the Sermon on the Mount: the Beatitudes. Good stuff. Discussed which ones troubled us or brought us hope. Also considered the idea that this was Jesus' way of affirming the 'least of these' in a society that promoted power, prestige, and self-centeredness. Here was Jesus honoring those who were the lowest in society.
I mean really, did he believe the meek truly would inherit the earth or that the peacemakers (and not the warmongers) are those who are truly living 'in' the Kingdom of God. Wow. Tell that to our politicians who think they can bring peace by the sword.
And how about the statement that Jesus makes about those who hunger and thirst for right living will find themselves quenched. I mean, aren't we told to believe that only in thirsting for being on top or by being promoted or by acquiring more and more will we be truly fulfilled? Isn't that the American Dream: that you actually can be happy with all this stuff?
Good morning it was. Cool. Let's see where this thing goes. I think my neighbor James is even more excited about it then I am! Wow. Cool.
We went through the first part of the Sermon on the Mount: the Beatitudes. Good stuff. Discussed which ones troubled us or brought us hope. Also considered the idea that this was Jesus' way of affirming the 'least of these' in a society that promoted power, prestige, and self-centeredness. Here was Jesus honoring those who were the lowest in society.
I mean really, did he believe the meek truly would inherit the earth or that the peacemakers (and not the warmongers) are those who are truly living 'in' the Kingdom of God. Wow. Tell that to our politicians who think they can bring peace by the sword.
And how about the statement that Jesus makes about those who hunger and thirst for right living will find themselves quenched. I mean, aren't we told to believe that only in thirsting for being on top or by being promoted or by acquiring more and more will we be truly fulfilled? Isn't that the American Dream: that you actually can be happy with all this stuff?
Good morning it was. Cool. Let's see where this thing goes. I think my neighbor James is even more excited about it then I am! Wow. Cool.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Church at the 814
So, an interesting story of searching for calling and meaning in life.
Just a week or two before we headed to Thailand, one of my neighbors asked me if I'd be interested in leading a sort of church service for the apartment complex. You know, something simple on the beach. Just chill, but cool. I asked him if he thought people would be into that. He replied that he thought several people here were looking for some sort of spiritual connection and that he thought that it'd be a good thing. He said most of these people wouldn't check out a 'normal church,' but might get into something like this.
So, we got back from Thailand and he approached me again about doing it. Of course I said that I would. What a cool opportunity.
So, tomorrow morning, some of our friends from the 814 and from Oceanside are meeting at the beach in front of our place to do a simple little service. Wow. How cool.
And it wasn't even my idea.
Just a week or two before we headed to Thailand, one of my neighbors asked me if I'd be interested in leading a sort of church service for the apartment complex. You know, something simple on the beach. Just chill, but cool. I asked him if he thought people would be into that. He replied that he thought several people here were looking for some sort of spiritual connection and that he thought that it'd be a good thing. He said most of these people wouldn't check out a 'normal church,' but might get into something like this.
So, we got back from Thailand and he approached me again about doing it. Of course I said that I would. What a cool opportunity.
So, tomorrow morning, some of our friends from the 814 and from Oceanside are meeting at the beach in front of our place to do a simple little service. Wow. How cool.
And it wasn't even my idea.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Short-term Missions ReImagined
It seems to me that "missions" are not a task to be completed so much as a way of being. This way of being could be described as "missional" and it is the term I prefer... to be missional is to approach the movement of God in the world as something to be partnered with...
For more of Dixon's great thoughts on rethinking short-term missions, go here.
For more of Dixon's great thoughts on rethinking short-term missions, go here.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Fruit and Mirrors
I have been thinking a great deal about fruit the last several weeks. In an attempt to qualify my life and life's work, I figured the only way Jesus seemed to qualify things was by the fruit of the person's life and by the person's simple obedience to the Father... that is, to live in harmony with God in pure surrender.
Fruit cannot be forced. It simply grows from a healthy tree. Where there is unhealth, you will have bad fruit.
I have been evaluating the amount of fruit my life has produced. How many people's lives are better for having known me? How many people would call me a bringer of positivity or of God's goodness? Do people want to bear the quality/kind of fruit that I am bearing? Or do they see my fruit as bitter and bruised? Would others like to be planted in my shade or stay far away from my end of the forest?
Okay, perhaps I am taking this a little too far. But the point is is that I have been thinking about fruit as a measuring of success lately.
I have also been thinking about mirrors. How they reveal how we look, who we are.
People can be mirrors, you know? Marriage has shown me that. Who can show you better who you are than the person you spend 24/7 with?
As with mirrors, people can reveal the best and worst of me. When Holly is at her best, it reminds me of what it's like to be at my best, in my sweet-spot. When Holly is sad, it reminds me of the chambers of grief in my own heart (or the callous of my heart). When Holly irritates me (now this is very seldom!), it is usually because the same things that I dislike about myself, I dislike seeing in others. Does this make sense?
And so I begin looking at how others live their own lives, what kind of fruit they are bearing, and I let them mirror me if possible. What can they remind me about myself? Which directions to go, which directions not to go, etc.
Now of course, different trees produce different fruits and some mirrors are like the ones you find in a funhouse, but a good look around you might show you a little something about yourself... or it's at least showing me a bit about myself.
Fruit cannot be forced. It simply grows from a healthy tree. Where there is unhealth, you will have bad fruit.
I have been evaluating the amount of fruit my life has produced. How many people's lives are better for having known me? How many people would call me a bringer of positivity or of God's goodness? Do people want to bear the quality/kind of fruit that I am bearing? Or do they see my fruit as bitter and bruised? Would others like to be planted in my shade or stay far away from my end of the forest?
Okay, perhaps I am taking this a little too far. But the point is is that I have been thinking about fruit as a measuring of success lately.
I have also been thinking about mirrors. How they reveal how we look, who we are.
People can be mirrors, you know? Marriage has shown me that. Who can show you better who you are than the person you spend 24/7 with?
As with mirrors, people can reveal the best and worst of me. When Holly is at her best, it reminds me of what it's like to be at my best, in my sweet-spot. When Holly is sad, it reminds me of the chambers of grief in my own heart (or the callous of my heart). When Holly irritates me (now this is very seldom!), it is usually because the same things that I dislike about myself, I dislike seeing in others. Does this make sense?
And so I begin looking at how others live their own lives, what kind of fruit they are bearing, and I let them mirror me if possible. What can they remind me about myself? Which directions to go, which directions not to go, etc.
Now of course, different trees produce different fruits and some mirrors are like the ones you find in a funhouse, but a good look around you might show you a little something about yourself... or it's at least showing me a bit about myself.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Warren Carter?
Oh The Irony
For all the cynicism I have toward so-called Christian Education and even just institutions on a whole, it is still nice to have my degree in hand. Nice because it is the closing of a 10-year chapter of life. It is time to begin anew. And perhaps Masters work will be somewhere in the future; perhaps not. Who knows?
Friday, July 22, 2005
Iraqi Death Toll
Thanks Chris for this haunting reminder: "25,000 Iraqi civilians killed in this war."
3,000 US civilians were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since the start of the Iraq war, more than 8 times that amount of innocent civilians have been killed over there. Can you imagine 8 times the rage and indignation of the US after 9/11? And if some country had inflicted an attack 8 times worse than 9/11 upon the US, would people call it a liberation, despite the nice language or intention? Even worse, I've heard that 25,000 is an extremely conservative estimate and that the number is properly more around 100,000.
A conservative body count site.
I still don't understand how this 'liberation' can be seen as Christian in any sort of way. Where does loving your enemy come into play here? Or is that yet another one of Jesus' comments that we write off as merely something Jesus did because, well, he was God or something? This was one of the most central things to Jesus' ministry: loving those who were not 'easy' to love.
3,000 US civilians were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since the start of the Iraq war, more than 8 times that amount of innocent civilians have been killed over there. Can you imagine 8 times the rage and indignation of the US after 9/11? And if some country had inflicted an attack 8 times worse than 9/11 upon the US, would people call it a liberation, despite the nice language or intention? Even worse, I've heard that 25,000 is an extremely conservative estimate and that the number is properly more around 100,000.
A conservative body count site.
I still don't understand how this 'liberation' can be seen as Christian in any sort of way. Where does loving your enemy come into play here? Or is that yet another one of Jesus' comments that we write off as merely something Jesus did because, well, he was God or something? This was one of the most central things to Jesus' ministry: loving those who were not 'easy' to love.
Delocator
Thanks Jason for this superb link.After my quote of Walsh and Keesmat's book on Colossians, this is a great response.Support local coffee shops. Ask for fair-trade, shade-grown coffee while you're at it. Support not only (possibly) better economic practices, but reinvent the common spaces of conversation that typically don't exist at places like Starbucks any more.
I am just trying to admit that I am part of the problem and then try to be a part of the solution. To me, that is what living in the Kingdom of God looks like when it meets the ground.
Saturday, July 16, 2005
The Apostle Paul on Sweatshops in Asia
I am continuing in my reading of Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. In fact, I am almost done. I am really thinking of doing a book club through this book if anyone is interested. It is an incredible book... really.
Here is a quote that really got me. It is a sort of conversation that is being had in the book. The main voice is italicized. I know it's a longer section, but it is an impacting enough quote for me to type it all out...
There is nothing innocent about economic oppression. There is no room for Christians to be "balanced" and "careful" when we are talking about an economic idolatry that will sacrifice children in its service. Slavery is sinister no matter how it gets packaged.
There what are we to do? How do we proclaim Colossians' liberating word [regarding freedom for slaves] to slaves when they are halfway around the world? It's not as if we have any power over their working conditions. It's not as if they are our slaves whom we need to release.
But that's just the point. They are our slaves. Every time we step into a Wal-Mart or Niketown or Gap or Winners and exclaim over the great deal we can get on an article of clothing, or how trendy we now look, we've made sweatshop workers our slaves. Every time we buy coffee that isn't shade grown and fairly traded, we've made those coffee producers and their children into our slaves. Every time we have purchased a product–any product–that says Made in China, or Indonesia, or the Philippines, or Sri Lanka, it is pretty likely that we have made someone our slave.
But we have no choice about buying products made in those places. Some things can be bought only from these companies! Buying some of these products is inevitable.
The language of inevitability is the language of empire. Whenever we hear "We have no choice," our ears should perk up. It is precisely the strategy of the empire to take our imagination captive so that we think we have no choice. When a certain lifestyle seems to be inexcapable, you need to realize that you are imprisoned.
Here is a quote that really got me. It is a sort of conversation that is being had in the book. The main voice is italicized. I know it's a longer section, but it is an impacting enough quote for me to type it all out...
There is nothing innocent about economic oppression. There is no room for Christians to be "balanced" and "careful" when we are talking about an economic idolatry that will sacrifice children in its service. Slavery is sinister no matter how it gets packaged.
There what are we to do? How do we proclaim Colossians' liberating word [regarding freedom for slaves] to slaves when they are halfway around the world? It's not as if we have any power over their working conditions. It's not as if they are our slaves whom we need to release.
But that's just the point. They are our slaves. Every time we step into a Wal-Mart or Niketown or Gap or Winners and exclaim over the great deal we can get on an article of clothing, or how trendy we now look, we've made sweatshop workers our slaves. Every time we buy coffee that isn't shade grown and fairly traded, we've made those coffee producers and their children into our slaves. Every time we have purchased a product–any product–that says Made in China, or Indonesia, or the Philippines, or Sri Lanka, it is pretty likely that we have made someone our slave.
But we have no choice about buying products made in those places. Some things can be bought only from these companies! Buying some of these products is inevitable.
The language of inevitability is the language of empire. Whenever we hear "We have no choice," our ears should perk up. It is precisely the strategy of the empire to take our imagination captive so that we think we have no choice. When a certain lifestyle seems to be inexcapable, you need to realize that you are imprisoned.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Two Things
Sorry I have been absent here. Hopefully you have been following us on the other blog.
Two things that are rockin' me and I thought you should know...
First, Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. One of the best books I have read in a long time. I would say it has had as much impact on and resonation with me as when I first read A New Kind of Christian. Wow. Seriously. Wondering how to read a letter of Paul's (someone I seem to have problems with) in a postmodern world? Wondering what a movement of God in the now might look like? Had assumptions about the Empire not being the Ultimate narrative? The the US is not the savior of the world? Then you might just love this book. A bit on the philosophical-sociological side, it is an incredible, thoughtful read.
Second, Coldplay - X & Y. Wow. So many good tracks. We downloaded it before we left to Asia from iTunes. Haven't really given it a good listen (Some of our housemates hate Coldplay and U2! Ouch!) until now. Beautiful stuff... really.
Okay, we will be back in Oceanside in about 10 days. Much to reflect on then. Cheers friends!
Two things that are rockin' me and I thought you should know...
First, Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. One of the best books I have read in a long time. I would say it has had as much impact on and resonation with me as when I first read A New Kind of Christian. Wow. Seriously. Wondering how to read a letter of Paul's (someone I seem to have problems with) in a postmodern world? Wondering what a movement of God in the now might look like? Had assumptions about the Empire not being the Ultimate narrative? The the US is not the savior of the world? Then you might just love this book. A bit on the philosophical-sociological side, it is an incredible, thoughtful read.Second, Coldplay - X & Y. Wow. So many good tracks. We downloaded it before we left to Asia from iTunes. Haven't really given it a good listen (Some of our housemates hate Coldplay and U2! Ouch!) until now. Beautiful stuff... really.Okay, we will be back in Oceanside in about 10 days. Much to reflect on then. Cheers friends!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Will Nails It
Seriously. Read the whole post.
Some of you feel that I give George Bush a tougher beating than other politicians. You're right. I do, in large part because he made himself an archetype for the American Church and his actions interpret the gospel whether some of us like that or not. His very words, statements like the following, 'When you turn your heart and your life over to Christ, when you accept Christ as the savior, it changes your heart.' (ref.) place him as a symbol for the Church in the eyes of so many who have no concept of Jesus. He made his faith an issue. Many of us now simply call him to live to the standard he himself has set and say, 'I'm sorry'.
I am tired of the rhetoric used to rally nationalism under multiple false pretenses and at the root of all, fear. I am tired of the blind support for this man. I just wish he would admit wrong. This whole 'tough guy' mentality is just too much and is not Christ-like whatsoever. Seriosly George, own up.
Some of you feel that I give George Bush a tougher beating than other politicians. You're right. I do, in large part because he made himself an archetype for the American Church and his actions interpret the gospel whether some of us like that or not. His very words, statements like the following, 'When you turn your heart and your life over to Christ, when you accept Christ as the savior, it changes your heart.' (ref.) place him as a symbol for the Church in the eyes of so many who have no concept of Jesus. He made his faith an issue. Many of us now simply call him to live to the standard he himself has set and say, 'I'm sorry'.
I am tired of the rhetoric used to rally nationalism under multiple false pretenses and at the root of all, fear. I am tired of the blind support for this man. I just wish he would admit wrong. This whole 'tough guy' mentality is just too much and is not Christ-like whatsoever. Seriosly George, own up.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
On Contextualization...
In Malaysia, we spoke a great deal about contextualization... and it's many levels and applications and so on.
What do I mean with contextualization? It is a way of (to use NT Wright's language) appropriating the Gospel into different contexts. Not being so concerned with specific words, but more with concepts. Learning from and listening to a culture to see where God is already at work and then showing how Jesus, this Jewish prophet and Universal savior, fulfills their tradition... and confronts it... setting things in their proper place.
Let me give an example for some context about contextualization. In the old world, missionaries would come in to foreign lands and convert the natives and give them Western religion. They would make them leave all their heritage and culture to embrace Western culture along with Christianity (and diseases and economic practices and all the other stuff that often came with Christianity and colonialism).
This is not contextualization. This is a complete lack of it.
Contextualization might look more like the book Peace Child, where missionaries go into a culture to listen to their stories, learn their language, begin to understand the fabric that is their culture, look for metaphors, then appropriate the story of God to them in their own language... and by language, I don't just mean spoken/written language, I mean in their own cultural language.
So, for a Muslim to follow Issa al-Mesih (Jesus), it might look a lot like worshipping God in their mosque, continuing to pray to God 5 times a day... and perhaps rediscovering God and allowing God to redeem the redeemable of their culture.
We have talked a great deal this past weekend about contextualization. It is a big deal in a non-Western country with several folk tribes still in tact. What is the story of God in an Eastern context?
More on this later...
What do I mean with contextualization? It is a way of (to use NT Wright's language) appropriating the Gospel into different contexts. Not being so concerned with specific words, but more with concepts. Learning from and listening to a culture to see where God is already at work and then showing how Jesus, this Jewish prophet and Universal savior, fulfills their tradition... and confronts it... setting things in their proper place.
Let me give an example for some context about contextualization. In the old world, missionaries would come in to foreign lands and convert the natives and give them Western religion. They would make them leave all their heritage and culture to embrace Western culture along with Christianity (and diseases and economic practices and all the other stuff that often came with Christianity and colonialism).
This is not contextualization. This is a complete lack of it.
Contextualization might look more like the book Peace Child, where missionaries go into a culture to listen to their stories, learn their language, begin to understand the fabric that is their culture, look for metaphors, then appropriate the story of God to them in their own language... and by language, I don't just mean spoken/written language, I mean in their own cultural language.
So, for a Muslim to follow Issa al-Mesih (Jesus), it might look a lot like worshipping God in their mosque, continuing to pray to God 5 times a day... and perhaps rediscovering God and allowing God to redeem the redeemable of their culture.
We have talked a great deal this past weekend about contextualization. It is a big deal in a non-Western country with several folk tribes still in tact. What is the story of God in an Eastern context?
More on this later...
Kia Meng speaks...
My new friend has some oustanding thoughts.
Contrary to popular belief and all the cheap slogans about "Jesus is the answer", what if Christ is the troubling question, the One who provokes, the one who stirs up a controversy, who confronts our complacency and heartlessness in a tragic world?Jesus is no simple answer, a nice finishing tag-line to all man's troubles and problems... He unsettles our way of living and doing things... He did not explain and give easy answers to the problems of humanity... He got involved... He become one with the oppressed and hopeless... His was a most magnificent defeat... The death of an insignificant rebel in the backwater of the Roman Empire... His story is meant to be forgotten. The victim or loser has no voice. Rome and Jerusalem of the priests are those meant to write history... Still his story got out... under the very noses of powerful enemies...
Contrary to popular belief and all the cheap slogans about "Jesus is the answer", what if Christ is the troubling question, the One who provokes, the one who stirs up a controversy, who confronts our complacency and heartlessness in a tragic world?Jesus is no simple answer, a nice finishing tag-line to all man's troubles and problems... He unsettles our way of living and doing things... He did not explain and give easy answers to the problems of humanity... He got involved... He become one with the oppressed and hopeless... His was a most magnificent defeat... The death of an insignificant rebel in the backwater of the Roman Empire... His story is meant to be forgotten. The victim or loser has no voice. Rome and Jerusalem of the priests are those meant to write history... Still his story got out... under the very noses of powerful enemies...
Somewhat contextless photos...
Just in case you haven't been following our Sharps Abroad blog, here are some photo galleries to get you updated...sorta.
Bangkok 1
Bangkok 2
Phuket 1
Phuket 2
Phuket 3
Phi-Phi 1
Phuket 4
Hospital
Feeling Better
Nightlights
Malaysia 1
Malaysia 2
Malaysia 3
Malaysia 4
Language and Religion
Sivin told me that the Malay language does not have verb tenses... and it is very similar to Indonesian. Thai doesn't have verb tenses either... Oh, and Sivin told me that Chinese doesn't either.
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that most all east Asia (or all Asian?) languages do not pre-occupy themselves with tenses. A verb is happening... it has not happened, nor will it happen in the future... it just is happening.
Of course you use qualifiers to explain when it will actually take place. Like instead of saying, "I visited Malaysia" you would say, "I visit Malaysia yesterday." Get it? No verb tenses.
Well, all Latin-based languages (which is pretty much all of the languages in the West, no?) have very developed verb tenses. This last semester alone, I learned at least 6 tenses in Spanish. And that was one semester!
My point: Semitic religions, which some might call religions of the West (even though they aren't really) are preoccupied with history because the God YHWH actually intervenes at specific times in history and is, in fact, taking history somewhere... but in Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese folk religions, etc.) there is no sense of timeline because the life is cyclical, not linear.
Cyclical, not linear. And you can see traces of this worldview here in their languages. Huh. I just thought it was an interesting observation.
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that most all east Asia (or all Asian?) languages do not pre-occupy themselves with tenses. A verb is happening... it has not happened, nor will it happen in the future... it just is happening.
Of course you use qualifiers to explain when it will actually take place. Like instead of saying, "I visited Malaysia" you would say, "I visit Malaysia yesterday." Get it? No verb tenses.
Well, all Latin-based languages (which is pretty much all of the languages in the West, no?) have very developed verb tenses. This last semester alone, I learned at least 6 tenses in Spanish. And that was one semester!
My point: Semitic religions, which some might call religions of the West (even though they aren't really) are preoccupied with history because the God YHWH actually intervenes at specific times in history and is, in fact, taking history somewhere... but in Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese folk religions, etc.) there is no sense of timeline because the life is cyclical, not linear.
Cyclical, not linear. And you can see traces of this worldview here in their languages. Huh. I just thought it was an interesting observation.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Michael's High Opinion of Scripture
I wish Michael blogged more often...
The bible is not a living being. It cannot be trusted, it cannot make mistakes. It is neither fallible nor infallible. I believe treating the bible as if it were the fourth aspect of God, a plurality of four rather than the trinity, is a peculiar idolatry of the present day church. Father (capital F), Son (capital S), Spirit (capital S), Bible (capital B).
Read the whole entry...
The bible is not a living being. It cannot be trusted, it cannot make mistakes. It is neither fallible nor infallible. I believe treating the bible as if it were the fourth aspect of God, a plurality of four rather than the trinity, is a peculiar idolatry of the present day church. Father (capital F), Son (capital S), Spirit (capital S), Bible (capital B).
Read the whole entry...
Nightlights in Phuket Hospital
If you haven't been following, Holly and I spent last night at Phuket Hospital trying to get her better. Didn't sleep much because of all the bright lights in the room. A few to share... perhaps would make good desktops? You decide.
Here is the whole gallery of them.
Here are a couple examples...
Here is the whole gallery of them.
Here are a couple examples...
Monday, June 20, 2005
Relationally- versus Goal-driven Cultures
So, an ongoing conversation this trip has been the differences in relationally-driven cultures (like here in Thailand) and goal-driven cultures (like in the States).
The conversation perhaps began last week when we felt like we weren't doing enough to qualify us being here. It's hard to feel like you have made a difference when you haven't accomplished that many goals.
We began to notice rather quickly that the Thai people were grateful that we were here, not just to do things, but to simply be with them. Do you see what I mean?
Had an interesting conversation with Phil (a neighbor down the street who has been in and out of Thailand with his family for over 15 years doing compassion work and church-planting) this afternoon about how so many short-term mission trips are so goal-oriented that to just sit and be with people for days at a time can feel a bit like a waste of a trip...especially when you've only a few days to work.
But we are seeing that what this culture appreciates more than anything seems to be spending quality time together...hanging out after services, joining each other for meals, etc. I could go on, but I am just beginning to have this conversation in my head, so best not to talk too soon.
But it has got me thinking a great deal about how we qualify things back home: numbers, projects, services as opposed to relationships, relationships, relationships. And of course there is a caution to overly-relational dynamics, that is, that they might turn so inward as to forget the world outside. But if a community is truly relational then it will embrace various types of relationships, both inside and outside of their immediate sphere(s).
The conversation perhaps began last week when we felt like we weren't doing enough to qualify us being here. It's hard to feel like you have made a difference when you haven't accomplished that many goals.
We began to notice rather quickly that the Thai people were grateful that we were here, not just to do things, but to simply be with them. Do you see what I mean?
Had an interesting conversation with Phil (a neighbor down the street who has been in and out of Thailand with his family for over 15 years doing compassion work and church-planting) this afternoon about how so many short-term mission trips are so goal-oriented that to just sit and be with people for days at a time can feel a bit like a waste of a trip...especially when you've only a few days to work.
But we are seeing that what this culture appreciates more than anything seems to be spending quality time together...hanging out after services, joining each other for meals, etc. I could go on, but I am just beginning to have this conversation in my head, so best not to talk too soon.
But it has got me thinking a great deal about how we qualify things back home: numbers, projects, services as opposed to relationships, relationships, relationships. And of course there is a caution to overly-relational dynamics, that is, that they might turn so inward as to forget the world outside. But if a community is truly relational then it will embrace various types of relationships, both inside and outside of their immediate sphere(s).
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
More on Shalom
So, whilst in Thailand I am (and Ben and Holly are as well) reading Walsh and Keesmatt's Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire and it has been a wonderful, helpful, timely read.
I am only on chapter two but am quickly realizing that these two are onto something incredibly profound in understanding this ancient text.
I just read a brief description of shalom and, since people have been asking what my tattoo means, I figured it'd be good to share it...
...One [shouldn't] miss the overtones of the Hebrew notion of shalom. Here is a word that is overflowingly rich in meaning. On one level it refers to well-being, may things go well with you. But this is a well-being that encompasses all of life. Shalom has to do with blessing, richness, abundance, and a far-reaching harmony that permeates and characterizes all of our relationships.
Yes! And that's what I have been trying to explain the tattoo as: Not just 'peace', but 'wholeness' and 'far-reaching harmony with Creator and creation'. Yes!
I am only on chapter two but am quickly realizing that these two are onto something incredibly profound in understanding this ancient text.
I just read a brief description of shalom and, since people have been asking what my tattoo means, I figured it'd be good to share it...
...One [shouldn't] miss the overtones of the Hebrew notion of shalom. Here is a word that is overflowingly rich in meaning. On one level it refers to well-being, may things go well with you. But this is a well-being that encompasses all of life. Shalom has to do with blessing, richness, abundance, and a far-reaching harmony that permeates and characterizes all of our relationships.
Yes! And that's what I have been trying to explain the tattoo as: Not just 'peace', but 'wholeness' and 'far-reaching harmony with Creator and creation'. Yes!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Monday, June 06, 2005
Buddhism for Dummies
In preparing for my talk tonight on Buddhism, I figured I'd throw a little somethin-somethin up for y'all if you're interested. Here is a little presentation I put together called Buddhism for Dummies. It is a super-brief rundown on the history/beliefs of Buddhism that is basically an overview of my World Religions class section on Buddhism. Props to J. Weseloh III for the info...
Apple & Intel
Just in case you didn't follow the World Wide Developer's Conference this morning, a brief synopsis on Steve Jobs' keynote:
We have plans to transition the Apple CPUs from IBM PowerPC chips to Intel chips.
Wow.
We have plans to transition the Apple CPUs from IBM PowerPC chips to Intel chips.
Wow.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Darwin Revisited
I have been thinking a great deal this week about 2 dominant creation narratives I see and what their implications are.
Narrative #1: The Judeo-Christian-Muslim (and probably several others) Narrative
God created the world with hope and life and purpose. He created human beings to create and to care for the whole of the cosmos, beginning with the birds and trees and animals and what-have-you. History will eventually culminate in God's Kingdom breaking forth and eternal peace and justice will be served. History is going somewhere, we are invited to be a part of God's Kingdom now, and to help invite others into the healing of/mending of/caring for/redeeming of this world.
Narrative #2: Darwinian Evolution Narrative
Sludge became intelligent and grew legs. Species fought for existence. Survival of the fittest. Natural selection. Only the strong survive. Get to the top to ensure longevity. Who knows where it goes, but Darwin's thoughts have been transmitted, in this age of holism, to social structures: survival of the fittest, climing the ladder, etc.
So, for most of this week, I have been saying that I might be able to buy into these two stories working together, but their social implications are starkly different: caring for the poor vs. caring for myself, the last will be first vs. the first will be first and will stomp out the last, etc.
I had a breakthrough last night. Mind if I share it?
What if these two narratives are harmonious after all? What if 'the fittest' isn't what we think it is?
Let's go back some tens of thousands of years ago. Dinosaurs ruled the earth, right? They would have seemed the fittest. All big and on their way to the top, but then they crash for some odd reason. No one is totally sure why.
Or let's bring it into the here-and-now. Remember Enron? Perhaps appeared to be the fittest. Or what about SUVs with all their "GET THE HELL OFF THE ROAD OR I'LL RUN YOU OVER" sort of superiority?
Or what about Babylon? Greece? Rome? The USSR? These empires crumbled. Perhaps ours will soon as well.
But weren't all these set up to be 'the fittest'? Perhaps as the Kingdom of God breaks into our present from God's future, the fittest will survive. Perhaps the fittest are those who live in rhythm with God? Perhaps those who seek others before themselves are the ones who actually are 'the fittest'? Perhaps those who choose not to climb that damn corporate ladder, or those who take vows of poverty, or those who serve the least of these will be called greatest in the Kingdom and will be called 'the fittest' by Darwin?
I understand that there is probably a great deal flawwed with my logic, but there it is, rawness and all.
Narrative #1: The Judeo-Christian-Muslim (and probably several others) Narrative
God created the world with hope and life and purpose. He created human beings to create and to care for the whole of the cosmos, beginning with the birds and trees and animals and what-have-you. History will eventually culminate in God's Kingdom breaking forth and eternal peace and justice will be served. History is going somewhere, we are invited to be a part of God's Kingdom now, and to help invite others into the healing of/mending of/caring for/redeeming of this world.
Narrative #2: Darwinian Evolution Narrative
Sludge became intelligent and grew legs. Species fought for existence. Survival of the fittest. Natural selection. Only the strong survive. Get to the top to ensure longevity. Who knows where it goes, but Darwin's thoughts have been transmitted, in this age of holism, to social structures: survival of the fittest, climing the ladder, etc.
So, for most of this week, I have been saying that I might be able to buy into these two stories working together, but their social implications are starkly different: caring for the poor vs. caring for myself, the last will be first vs. the first will be first and will stomp out the last, etc.
I had a breakthrough last night. Mind if I share it?
What if these two narratives are harmonious after all? What if 'the fittest' isn't what we think it is?
Let's go back some tens of thousands of years ago. Dinosaurs ruled the earth, right? They would have seemed the fittest. All big and on their way to the top, but then they crash for some odd reason. No one is totally sure why.
Or let's bring it into the here-and-now. Remember Enron? Perhaps appeared to be the fittest. Or what about SUVs with all their "GET THE HELL OFF THE ROAD OR I'LL RUN YOU OVER" sort of superiority?
Or what about Babylon? Greece? Rome? The USSR? These empires crumbled. Perhaps ours will soon as well.
But weren't all these set up to be 'the fittest'? Perhaps as the Kingdom of God breaks into our present from God's future, the fittest will survive. Perhaps the fittest are those who live in rhythm with God? Perhaps those who seek others before themselves are the ones who actually are 'the fittest'? Perhaps those who choose not to climb that damn corporate ladder, or those who take vows of poverty, or those who serve the least of these will be called greatest in the Kingdom and will be called 'the fittest' by Darwin?
I understand that there is probably a great deal flawwed with my logic, but there it is, rawness and all.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Some Post-Dinner Thoughts 2: Morality vs. Mission
Of course, it should never be one versus the other, but it works for this idea.
Damien was saying how he, as a youth pastor, found it very hard to find camps/retreats that were not just dealing with 'personal morality'. He wanted something for his students to experience that was more integral and holistic and concerned the Kingdom of Heaven.
So this got us talking (and me thinking) about how so much of Christianity is about personal morality and not about the mission or dreams of God brought about in this world. Now, of course, personal morality is important in bringing about God's Kingdom, right? I mean, it cannot exist if we are all selfish bastards who climb to the top in order for few to have excess and most to have nothing, right? So, yes, personal morality is important.
But here's the problem with the way it's presented these days: It's not about joining God in his work in the world (and personal morality being a part of that), but instead it is about doing things because that is how the socio-religious structure/institution has told you to be. You know?
Perhaps involving students, young people, old people, people like me, people like you, in Kingdom 'experiments' then that would help them make the connection to personal morality instead of the other way around. "Become personally pure to reach out to heal the world" doesn't really seem to work because it creates a sense of distance from the 'least of these', doesn't it?
Of course both things must be held in tension. Sometimes I find myself longing or engaged in the work of God, but my temper is ridiculous. What the hell?!?
The gospel must be holistic: personal, but not private... global, not national... physical, mental, spiritual, what-have-you...
I was getting a filling yesterday. I hate those things. But it was the gospel at work in my mouth. Thank God that science has progressed far enough to allow my teeth to last longer. But damn it hurt!
Okay, enough babble. What do you think I do? Sit around and write letters all day? Geez!
Damien was saying how he, as a youth pastor, found it very hard to find camps/retreats that were not just dealing with 'personal morality'. He wanted something for his students to experience that was more integral and holistic and concerned the Kingdom of Heaven.
So this got us talking (and me thinking) about how so much of Christianity is about personal morality and not about the mission or dreams of God brought about in this world. Now, of course, personal morality is important in bringing about God's Kingdom, right? I mean, it cannot exist if we are all selfish bastards who climb to the top in order for few to have excess and most to have nothing, right? So, yes, personal morality is important.
But here's the problem with the way it's presented these days: It's not about joining God in his work in the world (and personal morality being a part of that), but instead it is about doing things because that is how the socio-religious structure/institution has told you to be. You know?
Perhaps involving students, young people, old people, people like me, people like you, in Kingdom 'experiments' then that would help them make the connection to personal morality instead of the other way around. "Become personally pure to reach out to heal the world" doesn't really seem to work because it creates a sense of distance from the 'least of these', doesn't it?
Of course both things must be held in tension. Sometimes I find myself longing or engaged in the work of God, but my temper is ridiculous. What the hell?!?
The gospel must be holistic: personal, but not private... global, not national... physical, mental, spiritual, what-have-you...
I was getting a filling yesterday. I hate those things. But it was the gospel at work in my mouth. Thank God that science has progressed far enough to allow my teeth to last longer. But damn it hurt!
Okay, enough babble. What do you think I do? Sit around and write letters all day? Geez!
Some Post-Dinner Thoughts 1
Had dinner with Damien and Jen O'Farrell Tuesday evening. Two people that we have had the great fortune to get to know more and more. We joke at how close we are geographically, but how hard it is to make time to get together. Such is the way.
Holly shared about her Gandhi book (I know it must seem like that's all we ever talk about, but...). She said that he was an awful father and husband. Damien said that he guessed that showed that he was human. I thought, "You know, even Jesus himself didn't really seem to uphold the 'family first' idea all that well."
Matthew 12.46-50:
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers showed up. They were outside trying to get a message to him. Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are out here, wanting to speak with you."
Jesus didn't respond directly, but said, "Who do you think my mother and brothers are?" He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. "Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's will is my brother and sister and mother."
And isn't there some other passage where Jesus is quoted as saying that he will put a wedge between mother and brother? I mean isn't this a pretty 'unhealthy' look at family (from both Jewish and American perspectives?).
Perhaps Jesus (and most other people who sense a higher calling than just being a good member of society and family) recognized that his family was much broader than that, his loyalty beyond just blood, beyond just nation-state. Sounds a bit like Gandhi, who feeling so strongly about non-violence, wouldn't even allow a needle into his wife for an antedote to what was killing her. She died because of the extreme-ness of his cause.
I am not saying that Jesus and Gandhi are the same. I am simply saying that perhaps some who live in this "Kingdom of God" mindset release the family and society nearest to embrace all of humanity.
Holly shared about her Gandhi book (I know it must seem like that's all we ever talk about, but...). She said that he was an awful father and husband. Damien said that he guessed that showed that he was human. I thought, "You know, even Jesus himself didn't really seem to uphold the 'family first' idea all that well."
Matthew 12.46-50:
While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers showed up. They were outside trying to get a message to him. Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and brothers are out here, wanting to speak with you."
Jesus didn't respond directly, but said, "Who do you think my mother and brothers are?" He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. "Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's will is my brother and sister and mother."
And isn't there some other passage where Jesus is quoted as saying that he will put a wedge between mother and brother? I mean isn't this a pretty 'unhealthy' look at family (from both Jewish and American perspectives?).
Perhaps Jesus (and most other people who sense a higher calling than just being a good member of society and family) recognized that his family was much broader than that, his loyalty beyond just blood, beyond just nation-state. Sounds a bit like Gandhi, who feeling so strongly about non-violence, wouldn't even allow a needle into his wife for an antedote to what was killing her. She died because of the extreme-ness of his cause.
I am not saying that Jesus and Gandhi are the same. I am simply saying that perhaps some who live in this "Kingdom of God" mindset release the family and society nearest to embrace all of humanity.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
More from Tolstoy...
Okay, I got to the third preface, this one actually by Leo Tolstoy, and I again found some resonating words.
In affirming my belief in Christ's teaching, I could not help explaining why I do not believe, and consider mistaken, the Church's doctrine, which is usually called Christianity.
Amont the many points in which this doctrine falls short of the doctrine of Christ I pointed out as teh principal one the absence of any commandment of non-resistance to evil by force. The perversion of Christ's teaching by the theaching of the Church is more clearly apparent in this than in any other point of difference.
Again, wow... how timely! Good lord this describes so much of how I feel. I can affirm Jesus's teachings, but the Church's teachings? Seldom.
In affirming my belief in Christ's teaching, I could not help explaining why I do not believe, and consider mistaken, the Church's doctrine, which is usually called Christianity.
Amont the many points in which this doctrine falls short of the doctrine of Christ I pointed out as teh principal one the absence of any commandment of non-resistance to evil by force. The perversion of Christ's teaching by the theaching of the Church is more clearly apparent in this than in any other point of difference.
Again, wow... how timely! Good lord this describes so much of how I feel. I can affirm Jesus's teachings, but the Church's teachings? Seldom.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Pacific Crest Trail Revisited
Some pics from the hike last weekend.
The boys consulting our maps. Who was more on? We never knew. My 1/10th of a mile turned into 2.5 miles one evening. Suck! But we're both pretty sure that the whole thing was about 30 miles entoto.
Who's with us next time? Say October?
The boys consulting our maps. Who was more on? We never knew. My 1/10th of a mile turned into 2.5 miles one evening. Suck! But we're both pretty sure that the whole thing was about 30 miles entoto.
Who's with us next time? Say October?
The Modern Nation-State
Thanks to Will for pointing me to WAL-MART: The High Price of Low Cost teaser.
After having watched The Corporation last week, I am convinced that international corporations [read: American corporations that go beyond American borders] are the modern nation-state with no accountability to any one governing body other than their investors.
This is the fear I have towards global capitalism: When everything is privatized, the almighty buck with be the single driving factor in every decision made.
Do other driving factors exist today? you ask. Yes. Conscience, preservation of environment and culture, community, and onward.
We need a new operating narrative. The narrative of global consumerism will kill us all. We need a new narrative, and I need to start living it.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Tolstoy, Gandhi, and Jesus
Got Holly the Tolstoy book The Kingdom of God is Within You since she is on a Gandhi kick. This is the book that is said to have inspired Gandhi's non-violent protest of the British forces in S. Africa and India.
I have read the foreword by Martin Green and here is a quote I found timely...
...[Tolstoy] had always been taught that Christ's laws were not practical, and so must be interpreted–in effect, circumvented. What he had been taught as practical was quite opposite in tendency: "I was taught to judge and punish. Then I was taught to make war; that is, to resist evil men with murder, and the military caste, of which I was a member, was called the Christ-loving military, and their activity was sanctified by a Christian blessing."
Wow. I guess things haven't changed that much in these last hundred or so years.
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. –Jesus of Nazareth, proclaimed by Tolstoy, lived out by Mohandas Gandhi.
I have read the foreword by Martin Green and here is a quote I found timely...
...[Tolstoy] had always been taught that Christ's laws were not practical, and so must be interpreted–in effect, circumvented. What he had been taught as practical was quite opposite in tendency: "I was taught to judge and punish. Then I was taught to make war; that is, to resist evil men with murder, and the military caste, of which I was a member, was called the Christ-loving military, and their activity was sanctified by a Christian blessing."
Wow. I guess things haven't changed that much in these last hundred or so years.
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. –Jesus of Nazareth, proclaimed by Tolstoy, lived out by Mohandas Gandhi.
Bono & W
Bono on how he gets along with W...
As a man, I believed him when he said he was moved to also do something about the Aids pandemic. I believed him. Listen, I couldn’t come from a more different place, politically, socially, geographically. I had to make a leap of faith to sit there. He didn’t have to have me there at all. But you don’t have to be harmonious on everything — just one thing — to get along with someone.
As a man, I believed him when he said he was moved to also do something about the Aids pandemic. I believed him. Listen, I couldn’t come from a more different place, politically, socially, geographically. I had to make a leap of faith to sit there. He didn’t have to have me there at all. But you don’t have to be harmonious on everything — just one thing — to get along with someone.
30 miles, 3 days, and an interesting fella
I plan to post some photos later today or at least by tomorrow of our trek.
Wow. What an exhilirating, tiring, beautiful time. 12 miles a day the first two days, and a six-mile finale on the last.
Had some great talks with Will and Rose (and of course, Holly) and some other folks we met along the way.
Probably the most curious conversation was one that we had at Foster Point–a viewing-spot where you can see most of the tallest peaks in SoCal–with this retired schoolteacher. He was originally from Scotland, but had spent decades in California, lobbying for 'rational thought'. He wore a shirt that said, "Keep Church and State Separate."
I just asked him what his shirt was about and let him roll. He had a great deal to say about fundamentalist Christians and how evil they are, wanting to get their 'creation myths' into the classroom, wanting to 'hijack science', etcetera and onward.
I asked him if he'd met any people of faith that were evolutionists, and he didn't even understand my question. He stood so blinded by his own dogma that he couldn't even see a possible resolve, or at least a plurality of opinions being valid.
And that's what gets me. I hate–really hate–that Christians are typically so closed-minded, so neglecting of scientific data, so ir-rational, so brainwashed and dogmatic (with others' dogma). I can infuriate me.
But to see the other side of the... shall we call them the 'fundamentalist scientific community'? or the 'fundamentalist left'? They can be equally dogmatic and ridiculous, holding that rational thought and science can prove everything... as if that would solve the world's ills! Come on.
What about dialogue? What about listening? What about not being so brainwashed that you can't see straight? What about a plurality of opinions, or of approaches, or at least of perspectives? Can't we together work towards a more holistic picture? Isn't this the Kingdom of God? Science and belief, faith and works, heart and head... working together, in tension, but not against each other? Helping to bring balance, but working to not obliterate one another? Perhaps I'm to idealistic. I dunno.
Wow. What an exhilirating, tiring, beautiful time. 12 miles a day the first two days, and a six-mile finale on the last.
Had some great talks with Will and Rose (and of course, Holly) and some other folks we met along the way.
Probably the most curious conversation was one that we had at Foster Point–a viewing-spot where you can see most of the tallest peaks in SoCal–with this retired schoolteacher. He was originally from Scotland, but had spent decades in California, lobbying for 'rational thought'. He wore a shirt that said, "Keep Church and State Separate."
I just asked him what his shirt was about and let him roll. He had a great deal to say about fundamentalist Christians and how evil they are, wanting to get their 'creation myths' into the classroom, wanting to 'hijack science', etcetera and onward.
I asked him if he'd met any people of faith that were evolutionists, and he didn't even understand my question. He stood so blinded by his own dogma that he couldn't even see a possible resolve, or at least a plurality of opinions being valid.
And that's what gets me. I hate–really hate–that Christians are typically so closed-minded, so neglecting of scientific data, so ir-rational, so brainwashed and dogmatic (with others' dogma). I can infuriate me.
But to see the other side of the... shall we call them the 'fundamentalist scientific community'? or the 'fundamentalist left'? They can be equally dogmatic and ridiculous, holding that rational thought and science can prove everything... as if that would solve the world's ills! Come on.
What about dialogue? What about listening? What about not being so brainwashed that you can't see straight? What about a plurality of opinions, or of approaches, or at least of perspectives? Can't we together work towards a more holistic picture? Isn't this the Kingdom of God? Science and belief, faith and works, heart and head... working together, in tension, but not against each other? Helping to bring balance, but working to not obliterate one another? Perhaps I'm to idealistic. I dunno.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Hiking the PCT
Well, it's 6am on Saturday, and we are leaving in about 30 minutes to head to southeast San Diego county to backpack for 3 days with some friends from Holly's work. 3 days on the Pacific Crest Trail, which is a trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. We'll just be doing something shy of 30 miles in this trek.
Okay, time to finish packing. See you soon. Have a good weekend.
Okay, time to finish packing. See you soon. Have a good weekend.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Ryan Lee Sharp, the Cultural Creative
Took this quiz, and I scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational.
What is Your World View? (updated)
created with QuizFarm.com
Cultural Creative | 81% | ||
Idealist | 75% | ||
Postmodernist | 63% | ||
Existentialist | 50% | ||
Fundamentalist | 44% | ||
Romanticist | 44% | ||
Modernist | 25% | ||
Materialist | 19% |
What is Your World View? (updated)
created with QuizFarm.com
On Islam, Part 2
Found this in studying for my Semitic Religions Final today.
In the Resurrection of the Dead, the Sunni believe that Jesus will be the Leader, and the Shia believe that that the 12th Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi who is in Heaven will come back and lead the world.
Fascinating. I have never heard this. Anyone else?
In the Resurrection of the Dead, the Sunni believe that Jesus will be the Leader, and the Shia believe that that the 12th Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi who is in Heaven will come back and lead the world.
Fascinating. I have never heard this. Anyone else?
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band
One of my favorite albums. If you don't get Rich Mullins, that's cool, but he was such an inspirational Jesus-follower.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
I Walk With Two Feet
Shalom (wholeness, 'things set in their proper place', peace) on one ankle and broken on the other.
I walk with both feet. I am both a part of the problem and a part of the solution. I am a failed dreamer, a hopeful cynic, a loving hypocrite. I am the problem with this world: my selfishness, my lack of self-control, my anger. I am also an active participant in God's mission/dream to heal this world... and so I bring goodness to this world as well.
I touched on some of these thoughts before here if you care...
First Tolstoy, now McLaren
From anewkindofchristian.com...
My next book is going to be about the kingdom of God... - Brian McLaren
Yes. Good. Now if we can only get ole Scandrette to get his book going.
My next book is going to be about the kingdom of God... - Brian McLaren
Yes. Good. Now if we can only get ole Scandrette to get his book going.
Friday, May 20, 2005
On Islam
So, yesterday in my World Religions class, we discussed Islam. Sad that we had to relegate the 2nd most populous religion to a one-day lecture, but oh well.Some interesting things...
First, and I had heard this before, but... Allah is simply Arabic for God. The God worshipped by Muslims is the same God YHWH that is worshipped by Christians and Jews.
Second, Islam simply means 'surrender', as in 'surrender to God' and a Muslim is 'one who surrenders to God'.
This gets into the point of Islam. Islam as a movement developped in the 7th century even though it traces itself to Ishmael and refers to itself as the true of the Semitic (of Shem) religions. The point of Islam was a sort of reform of the Semitic traditions. It upholds that God had spoken through the Prophets and through Christ, but as time went on, these revelations had become distorted. The notion of Jesus as God (which remember, was not arrived at until the 4th century) was simply blasphemy. Islam, as Judaism, was strictly monotheist. The notion that God could be summed up in any single image (person or thing) was the highest heresy and deservable of death.
Muhammad, after the angel Gabriel had pressured him into it, transcribed the Koran... directly, word for word, from God. A friend comments that this sort of 'transcription' might have sent ripples over into Christianity, and with heightening during the crusades, caused the Christian tradition to adopt a similar sort of 'transcription'... at least a soft one.
At any rate, Islam was a movement formed to 'reform' the Semitic tradition... to restore it or put things in proper places (sound familiar?). In fact, the Koran references Jesus more than Muhammad and says to read the Bible if more information is needed. Islam's aim was to return, to surrender to God.
The root for Islam actually is a word that means "peace". Interesting, no?
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Emergent Gathering 2005
I know this is still a ways off, but you should check it out. It is an amazing time in the desert, talking about God, life, politics, love for churchwork, disdain for churchwork, new views on churchwork, etc... It has made a huge difference in our lives to be a part of this network of friends on an annual (and often times more) basis.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Some Inspirational MP3s
Been listening to these talks by Walter Bruggemann and NT Wright. Incredible.
This next Monday at our place, in leiu of finishing our book club, I will be presenting the notion of moving from the dominant American script, which is consumerism, to the script of the Kingdom of God, which is contribution and redemption. So I am stealing a great many ideas from these two great thinkers as well as borrowing some from Brian McLaren.
If you are in the Southern California area and have no plans for next Monday night, join us.
This next Monday at our place, in leiu of finishing our book club, I will be presenting the notion of moving from the dominant American script, which is consumerism, to the script of the Kingdom of God, which is contribution and redemption. So I am stealing a great many ideas from these two great thinkers as well as borrowing some from Brian McLaren.
If you are in the Southern California area and have no plans for next Monday night, join us.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Help Bring the End Times!!! Woo hoo!!!
That's right, you can help bring about the wrath of God and the final judgement... All by sending in your $250 to help send Jews to the Holy Land and speed the Rapture!...
Thanks to Rick for this ridiculousness.
Tired of Waiting on the Rapture? From my local paper, in St. Pete, a local pastor is tired of waiting for God to bring about the end times. So, his church is raising money to send Jews to Israel, in hopes of forcing God's slow hand.
Thanks to Rick for this ridiculousness.
Tired of Waiting on the Rapture? From my local paper, in St. Pete, a local pastor is tired of waiting for God to bring about the end times. So, his church is raising money to send Jews to Israel, in hopes of forcing God's slow hand.
The Constitutional Monarchy that is the Church
I have been thinking about something I heard in a conversation Sunday. It went like this...
If I am a part the Kingdom of God, then I am part of a monarchy, not a democracy. What the King says goes.
I have been pondering the implications of this for a little less than 48 hours. Of course, a monarchy is a bit of a foreign word for most of us in the States... or really, most of us that are even in constitutional monarchies... those are what I would call a 'soft monarchy' where the monarch is not really the authority, but rather a figurehead.
I think that Jesus probably used the notion of Kingdom (as opposed to the Platonian Republic or the Roman Empire). You see, even in the Jewish context, the other governments would have made sense in the metaphor, but the ultimate authority came from the King, hence a monarchy.
I think what began as a Monarchy of God (does this sound archaic or what?!?) has turned into the Constitutional Democracy... or a Constitutional Monarchy at least.
You see, in this kind of government, a constitution or a document rules a people. There is no person that can rise above the text that is the constitution.
In a Monarchy, the King is the rule... which, of course, can be very dangerous if the King is not looking out for the good of the people. But in the economy and government (metaphors, mind you) that Jesus was speaking of, there was no text that the King could not rise above.
I think of this in the way so many folks 'worship' the Bible, almost as if God is bound to the stories in those pages and cannot exist elsewhere... nor can s/he have any different aspects of character that are not covered in the Book. So, it's as if the King is bound to a constitution.
Do you ever wonder how our world/culture/whatever shapes what we think and how we think things should be? Like the fact that I am questioning power structures probably is because I am at least somewhat informed by other question-askers and that sort of skepticism is valued in the circles in which I run. But also, living in a Constitutional Democracy (or is it a Monarchy? I forget.), some people might not realize what they are adopting in other social structures, like the church. The metaphor of God as President is very different from God as King. Do you see?
Hmm.......
If I am a part the Kingdom of God, then I am part of a monarchy, not a democracy. What the King says goes.
I have been pondering the implications of this for a little less than 48 hours. Of course, a monarchy is a bit of a foreign word for most of us in the States... or really, most of us that are even in constitutional monarchies... those are what I would call a 'soft monarchy' where the monarch is not really the authority, but rather a figurehead.
I think that Jesus probably used the notion of Kingdom (as opposed to the Platonian Republic or the Roman Empire). You see, even in the Jewish context, the other governments would have made sense in the metaphor, but the ultimate authority came from the King, hence a monarchy.
I think what began as a Monarchy of God (does this sound archaic or what?!?) has turned into the Constitutional Democracy... or a Constitutional Monarchy at least.
You see, in this kind of government, a constitution or a document rules a people. There is no person that can rise above the text that is the constitution.
In a Monarchy, the King is the rule... which, of course, can be very dangerous if the King is not looking out for the good of the people. But in the economy and government (metaphors, mind you) that Jesus was speaking of, there was no text that the King could not rise above.
I think of this in the way so many folks 'worship' the Bible, almost as if God is bound to the stories in those pages and cannot exist elsewhere... nor can s/he have any different aspects of character that are not covered in the Book. So, it's as if the King is bound to a constitution.
Do you ever wonder how our world/culture/whatever shapes what we think and how we think things should be? Like the fact that I am questioning power structures probably is because I am at least somewhat informed by other question-askers and that sort of skepticism is valued in the circles in which I run. But also, living in a Constitutional Democracy (or is it a Monarchy? I forget.), some people might not realize what they are adopting in other social structures, like the church. The metaphor of God as President is very different from God as King. Do you see?
Hmm.......
Monday, May 16, 2005
PS
Don't ever vote for me if I run for office.
Knowing me to be the hypocrite that I am, I bet I would for-go my inspiration/education theory and slip into the authoritarian to get things done.
Okay, that was just a reflection on my last blog entry. Now carry on...
Knowing me to be the hypocrite that I am, I bet I would for-go my inspiration/education theory and slip into the authoritarian to get things done.
Okay, that was just a reflection on my last blog entry. Now carry on...
Authority, Inspiration, and Education
In the 6th centure BC, the nation of China was in chaos and several people sought to create harmony in their world. Of these, there were three main sects or schools of thought: Legalists, Confucianists, and the Taoists. That is a historical oversimplification, becase these three groups developped at slightly different times and in slightly different places and in slightly different ways... but still, there were these three main schools.
A little about each school...
The legalists said that man is basically corrupt and that law is the only way to bring order and harmony. Because man behaves badly, the government should create more laws to restrict this sort of behavior and that would bring about peace.
The second school was on the opposing side. They were the Taoists. They believed that people were by nature good and that if left to their own devices, they would do good. If they were free, they would act properly. It was society that was corrupt because it tried to hard to 'force' things instead of just letting them happen.
A third school was the school of Confucius (Kung Fu Tzu). He said that rules aren't so bad, but they do not 'make people good'. In fact, people were already good, and rules helped keep social order, but education was the key to helping people cultivate themselves and therefore create a better society. You see, everything in Chinese thought was based around the good of the whole society, not just the individual.
I find these three perspectives very insightful as we look at our current global state of affairs. Here we are, 2600 years later and still looking for harmony. And I find even more interesting, the ways that we as individuals, as a society, and as a human race, can go with this.
Some folks believe that the only way to make people better is to legislate morality and create new laws. They also value authoritarian leaders... in churches, in government... perhaps even in relationships. They might applaud our President because he is such a strong man making a strong presence... setting things straight o'er there in the Middle East. They might also value other people making strong decisions for them. What strikes me as odd about this perspective is that is it is constantly reliant upon society to build these universal rules while neglecting the exception to the rule. It also assumes that people change best from outward things, not inward things.
The second school I find a great deal of hope in. In fact, I think this is a perspective that the United States used to exhibit. In matters of foreign policy, inspire, do not legislate (or declare war on). The US was inspirational to a great many countries' freedom. The notion that people are by nature good is one I can buy into. But I am always torn between the notion of the Image of God in each part of creation and the reality of the world. I think that if all were to live by Taoist philosophy, progress would not happen as quickly, but are we glad it has?...
The third school is the one that resonates most with me. Sure some laws are necessary to look out for the common good, but generally people will do well if they are educated to cultivate virtue in their lives. Wasn't it Machievelli who said that the greatest sin is ignorance? I'd believe it. I think of how many people that, if asked if they'd like to be a part of changing the world for good, would answer, "yes," but they have no idea how to. I sure as hell don't most of the time!
Okay, enough rambling for this morning. I just think we need to move beyond authoritarianism to inspiring and educating ourselves and others. Can you see that this shift needs to take place or cost us the world? Or perhaps I am being to authoritarian in asserting such a view...
A little about each school...
The legalists said that man is basically corrupt and that law is the only way to bring order and harmony. Because man behaves badly, the government should create more laws to restrict this sort of behavior and that would bring about peace.
The second school was on the opposing side. They were the Taoists. They believed that people were by nature good and that if left to their own devices, they would do good. If they were free, they would act properly. It was society that was corrupt because it tried to hard to 'force' things instead of just letting them happen.
A third school was the school of Confucius (Kung Fu Tzu). He said that rules aren't so bad, but they do not 'make people good'. In fact, people were already good, and rules helped keep social order, but education was the key to helping people cultivate themselves and therefore create a better society. You see, everything in Chinese thought was based around the good of the whole society, not just the individual.
I find these three perspectives very insightful as we look at our current global state of affairs. Here we are, 2600 years later and still looking for harmony. And I find even more interesting, the ways that we as individuals, as a society, and as a human race, can go with this.
Some folks believe that the only way to make people better is to legislate morality and create new laws. They also value authoritarian leaders... in churches, in government... perhaps even in relationships. They might applaud our President because he is such a strong man making a strong presence... setting things straight o'er there in the Middle East. They might also value other people making strong decisions for them. What strikes me as odd about this perspective is that is it is constantly reliant upon society to build these universal rules while neglecting the exception to the rule. It also assumes that people change best from outward things, not inward things.
The second school I find a great deal of hope in. In fact, I think this is a perspective that the United States used to exhibit. In matters of foreign policy, inspire, do not legislate (or declare war on). The US was inspirational to a great many countries' freedom. The notion that people are by nature good is one I can buy into. But I am always torn between the notion of the Image of God in each part of creation and the reality of the world. I think that if all were to live by Taoist philosophy, progress would not happen as quickly, but are we glad it has?...
The third school is the one that resonates most with me. Sure some laws are necessary to look out for the common good, but generally people will do well if they are educated to cultivate virtue in their lives. Wasn't it Machievelli who said that the greatest sin is ignorance? I'd believe it. I think of how many people that, if asked if they'd like to be a part of changing the world for good, would answer, "yes," but they have no idea how to. I sure as hell don't most of the time!
Okay, enough rambling for this morning. I just think we need to move beyond authoritarianism to inspiring and educating ourselves and others. Can you see that this shift needs to take place or cost us the world? Or perhaps I am being to authoritarian in asserting such a view...
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Sing Me A Song
I listened to some Over The Rhine this evening, reflecting on all the amazing conversations I have been a part of this weekend...
...with Lisa, Holly, talking about things we'd hope people would say about us;
...with Stephen and Koryn, talking about a life of thought-out living and involvement in this world;
...with Ben and Chara, about having kids and how scary that is, and how we place so much on them to change our world;
...with Drew and Nancy about how I think Christianity (as an empire and as we know it now) is quite possible the greatest threat to any culture in the world;
...and with others about so many things...
Anyway, the song "Changes Come" just seemed to sum it all up this evening. God, hearing it tonight made nearly cry.
Changes Come
Changes come
Turn my world around
I have my father's hand
I have my mother's tongue
I look for redemption in everyone
I wanna wear your ring
I have a song to sing
It ain't over babe
In fact it's just begun
Changes come
Turn my world around
Changes come
Bring the whole thing down
I wanna have our baby
Somedays I think that maybe
This ol' world's too fucked up
For any firstborn son
There is all this untouched beauty
The light the dark both running through me
Is there still redemption for anyone
Jesus come
Turn the world around
Lay my burden down
Turn this world around
Bring the whole thing down
Bring it down
...with Lisa, Holly, talking about things we'd hope people would say about us;
...with Stephen and Koryn, talking about a life of thought-out living and involvement in this world;
...with Ben and Chara, about having kids and how scary that is, and how we place so much on them to change our world;
...with Drew and Nancy about how I think Christianity (as an empire and as we know it now) is quite possible the greatest threat to any culture in the world;
...and with others about so many things...
Anyway, the song "Changes Come" just seemed to sum it all up this evening. God, hearing it tonight made nearly cry.
Changes Come
Changes come
Turn my world around
I have my father's hand
I have my mother's tongue
I look for redemption in everyone
I wanna wear your ring
I have a song to sing
It ain't over babe
In fact it's just begun
Changes come
Turn my world around
Changes come
Bring the whole thing down
I wanna have our baby
Somedays I think that maybe
This ol' world's too fucked up
For any firstborn son
There is all this untouched beauty
The light the dark both running through me
Is there still redemption for anyone
Jesus come
Turn the world around
Lay my burden down
Turn this world around
Bring the whole thing down
Bring it down
Indonesia Immediately
If you have any interest in living abroad to help in the tsunami aftermath, specifically to Banda Ache, Indonesia, please contact Joel Vestal from ServLife... read on...
People that are immediately needed in Banda Ache:
PLANNING & MONITORING
- 3 project analysts
- 2 spatial planning experts
- 2 project appraisal/evaluation experts
- 1 supply/logistics expert
INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING & LAND
- 1 road engineer
- 1 water supply engineer
- 1 water resource expert
- 1 housing specialist
- 3 land management specialists
RELIGION, CULTURE AND SOCIAL
- 2 project managers
EDUCATION & HEALTH
- 1 education expert
- 1 health expert
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- 4 capacity-building specialists
- 1 legal and judiciary expert
- 1 security expert
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- 1 project manager
- 1 economist
- 1 agriculture expert
- 1 fishery expert
- 1 environment expert
COMMUNICATION- 1 donor relations expert- 1 report writer
OTHER
- 3 transparency experts
People that are immediately needed in Banda Ache:
PLANNING & MONITORING
- 3 project analysts
- 2 spatial planning experts
- 2 project appraisal/evaluation experts
- 1 supply/logistics expert
INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING & LAND
- 1 road engineer
- 1 water supply engineer
- 1 water resource expert
- 1 housing specialist
- 3 land management specialists
RELIGION, CULTURE AND SOCIAL
- 2 project managers
EDUCATION & HEALTH
- 1 education expert
- 1 health expert
INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- 4 capacity-building specialists
- 1 legal and judiciary expert
- 1 security expert
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- 1 project manager
- 1 economist
- 1 agriculture expert
- 1 fishery expert
- 1 environment expert
COMMUNICATION- 1 donor relations expert- 1 report writer
OTHER
- 3 transparency experts
Friday, May 13, 2005
Blogatus
As in a blog-hiatus... Haven't posted much lately. Been busy with different work projects.
One that I am pretty proud of is my production a band called Everyday Collision. You can hear some of the 'almost-final-mixes' from their forthcoming album by clicking here. Pretty good original tunes. And my wife, Holly, did the art... amazing stuff.
One that I am pretty proud of is my production a band called Everyday Collision. You can hear some of the 'almost-final-mixes' from their forthcoming album by clicking here. Pretty good original tunes. And my wife, Holly, did the art... amazing stuff.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
On Prisons
Thanks to Will for his latest post. I think it might be worth your time if you are interested in hearing some troubling information about US prison stats/systems/etc. Great quote below in reference to how the Gospel and the US interact.
There are many who believe that the message of Christ is designed to make them and their children safe. I am not sure where someone would get that understanding from, but I do tend to wonder about someone whose theology is based on safety, comfort or contentment. I find little in the message of Christ that causes me to believe that I will not have to be involved with 'them', whoever you tend to define 'them' as.
There are many who believe that the message of Christ is designed to make them and their children safe. I am not sure where someone would get that understanding from, but I do tend to wonder about someone whose theology is based on safety, comfort or contentment. I find little in the message of Christ that causes me to believe that I will not have to be involved with 'them', whoever you tend to define 'them' as.
How to (not) Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
This is an old article I know, but I could not find anything in a quick Google search. Sorry. It seems I am just impatient. Here's what it said though:
The United States says it has regained the capability to make nuclear weapons for the first time in 14 years and has resumed production of plutonium parts for bombs.
I looked for this because NPR did a short piece this morning on the hypocrisy of how the US is demanding the ceasing of Nuclear proliferation for other 'dissenting' nations, but as for the US, it's okay to keep right on building them. Why? Because the US is the 'Good Guy', right?
Could you imagine what would happen if the US said that instead of forcing others to give up their creation of nuclear weapons (which is very important, too), the Bush administration for called for a dismantling of all the US atomic bombs? Wow.
For those of you who may not know it, in recent worldwide polling, the US is considered a bigger threat than any other country. I think it's time that is listened to.
The United States says it has regained the capability to make nuclear weapons for the first time in 14 years and has resumed production of plutonium parts for bombs.
I looked for this because NPR did a short piece this morning on the hypocrisy of how the US is demanding the ceasing of Nuclear proliferation for other 'dissenting' nations, but as for the US, it's okay to keep right on building them. Why? Because the US is the 'Good Guy', right?
Could you imagine what would happen if the US said that instead of forcing others to give up their creation of nuclear weapons (which is very important, too), the Bush administration for called for a dismantling of all the US atomic bombs? Wow.
For those of you who may not know it, in recent worldwide polling, the US is considered a bigger threat than any other country. I think it's time that is listened to.
Monday, May 09, 2005
The last night of our book club...
We have been reading A New Kind of Christian for our book club that meets at our house. It is my fourth time reading it, and it still touches me.I had to copy some of the words from it for you:
"Whenever I get to know individual non-Christians--I mean really get to know them--I am completely convinced that I find God already there and at work in their lives...So it's clear to me that God doesn't limit himself to working in Christians' lives."
For many of us, this may land with a 'duh', but for many of us in the evangelical and post-evangelical world, this may need to be heard.
Need-based Theology
I thought I posted about this months ago, but I cannot seem to find it, so perhaps it's just been floating in my mind for at least that long...
We seem to build theologies based on our felt and perceived needs, don't we? Now, I'm not saying that we don't pull things from sacred texts or communally consider things, but often times the starting place is our own need to have certain questions answered, mysteries explained, or needs met.
And perhaps this is not such a bad place. It is, perhaps, where we must begin. But still, if we are not intact with other things than our own felt needs, we will fall into delusion and myth-making. This is why community past and present, near and far, is so important. The entire human family is important. Some people opt for stopping in the Semitic traditions, thinking that others are not worthy of being consulted. Worse yet, some stop with the Roman Empire's creeds as if Constantine's Councils were able to cement a universal understanding of God.
Keep seeking. Keep looking. Keep listening. But do not just form your own opinions in a sort of individualistic, me-and-God-and-no-one-else sort of way. Understand that truth is most often found in communal truth, not individual truth. Or at least know that I understand it that way.
We seem to build theologies based on our felt and perceived needs, don't we? Now, I'm not saying that we don't pull things from sacred texts or communally consider things, but often times the starting place is our own need to have certain questions answered, mysteries explained, or needs met.
And perhaps this is not such a bad place. It is, perhaps, where we must begin. But still, if we are not intact with other things than our own felt needs, we will fall into delusion and myth-making. This is why community past and present, near and far, is so important. The entire human family is important. Some people opt for stopping in the Semitic traditions, thinking that others are not worthy of being consulted. Worse yet, some stop with the Roman Empire's creeds as if Constantine's Councils were able to cement a universal understanding of God.
Keep seeking. Keep looking. Keep listening. But do not just form your own opinions in a sort of individualistic, me-and-God-and-no-one-else sort of way. Understand that truth is most often found in communal truth, not individual truth. Or at least know that I understand it that way.
The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe
Narnia trailer. I was almost moved to tears seeing Aslan. Incredible. I cannot wait.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
And another quote...
Thanks Rick for the cool quote.
French writer Andre Gide said, "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."
French writer Andre Gide said, "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."
Some Wendell Berry
Thanks to Chris for sharing this quote: "...Probably the most urgent question now faced by people who would adhere to the Bible is this: What sort of economy would be responsible to the holiness of life? What, for Christians, would be the economy, the practices and the restraints, of 'right livelihood'? I do not believe that organized Christianity now has any idea. I think its idea of a Christian economy is no more or less than the industrial economy--which is an economy firmly founded upon the seven deadly sins and the breaking of all ten of the Ten Commandments..."
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Thanks Will
My friend Will has this on his email signature. One of my favorite quotes.
"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
"You must be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
The Problem with "Sin"
So, I was thinking this morning in the shower about that word..."sin"...and how it was actually just a metaphor for our condition (and by "our" don't just read "me and my own personal, isolated condition") as part of corrupt or fallen or broken creation.
You see, the notion of sin in the New Testament-speak was to miss the mark. This is not all that different from the Buddhist understanding of Dukkha... suffering, brokenness... basically, the opposite of "shalom" which means wholeness and complete-ness.
So many people get so caught up in "sin" being a part of the "gospel" and forget the metaphor it plays. Most people recognize that there is brokenness in this world; the gospel says that we are in part to blame...and that we can move from the side of "part of the problem" to the side of "part of the solution"...while still remembering that we will always be part of the problem!
Now perhaps that is oversimplified, but I had to get it out there...and I am quite sure that there is not a single original thought in this post...or in most of my posts! but there it is. Ciao.
You see, the notion of sin in the New Testament-speak was to miss the mark. This is not all that different from the Buddhist understanding of Dukkha... suffering, brokenness... basically, the opposite of "shalom" which means wholeness and complete-ness.
So many people get so caught up in "sin" being a part of the "gospel" and forget the metaphor it plays. Most people recognize that there is brokenness in this world; the gospel says that we are in part to blame...and that we can move from the side of "part of the problem" to the side of "part of the solution"...while still remembering that we will always be part of the problem!
Now perhaps that is oversimplified, but I had to get it out there...and I am quite sure that there is not a single original thought in this post...or in most of my posts! but there it is. Ciao.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
On Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism: "Of all the other nine extra-Biblical living religions, Zoroastrianism is the only one from which a definite religious belief has been borrowed and included in the Bible. Consistently throughout the Old Testament down to and including the Isaiah of the Exile, the ultimate source of everything, including evil, is represented as the God Jehovah. But a distinct change took place after the Exile. A comparison of two parallel accounts of a certain experience of King David will show that a post-exilic document (1 Chronicles 21:1) substitutes 'Satan' for 'Jehovah' in the pre-exilic account (2 Samuel 24:1). Thus Satan is not an original feature of the Bible, but was introduced from Zoroastrianism."
Had some interesting conversation about this in my World Religions class today. Most people who know a bit about Christianity seem to disregard the history of the religion, thinking that the way it is now (or the way it was in 4th Century or at the time of the Reformation or at the time of America becoming a nation) is the way it has always been.
Attributing theological notions to places outside of the Judeo-Christian tradition does not cause me to doubt God or not want to follow Jesus. In fact, it allows me the thought that (here it comes... dun, dun, dun...) God was at work in other traditions around the world. Chew on that one.
Had some interesting conversation about this in my World Religions class today. Most people who know a bit about Christianity seem to disregard the history of the religion, thinking that the way it is now (or the way it was in 4th Century or at the time of the Reformation or at the time of America becoming a nation) is the way it has always been.
Attributing theological notions to places outside of the Judeo-Christian tradition does not cause me to doubt God or not want to follow Jesus. In fact, it allows me the thought that (here it comes... dun, dun, dun...) God was at work in other traditions around the world. Chew on that one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)