National WWII Memorial

Finally! 
National WWII Memorial
Finally, the veterans of WWII have a powerful memorial to their incredible sacrifices. Unfortunately millions did not live to see this day. 1,100 die each day.

Homeland Security

 
I saw this t-shirt when we were in Santa Fe, NM. Very profound statement. Why don't we think of our colonies as terrorism? Is the US truly a morally superior nation like so many wish to believe?

Audioscrobbler :: User :: Hawkenstein

The Man! 
Audioscrobbler :: User :: Hawkenstein
Here's what I'm listening to. All of the information is uploaded using the Audioscrobbler plugin for iTunes for Windows. Cool stuff! So what have I learned? I am Phil Keaggy's biggest fan!

Floods kill 270 in Dominican Republic, Haiti

HoustonChronicle.com - Floods kill 270 in Dominican Republic, Haiti
We sponsor a Compassion child named Johan who lives in the Dominican Republic. He is only 5 soon to turn 6 in August. Please keep him and his father and mother and his 7 brothers and sisters in your prayers!

Johan, may God bless you and keep you, may his face turn toward you and be gracious to you, may he smile upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Passion: Hymns Ancient & Modern

Excellent new CD I picked up today in Greeley. Yes I have to drive 3 hours to get to a retailer that carries new CD's like this one! 

THEOOZE - ETREK >>> a learning journey

THEOOZE - ETREK >>> a learning journey
This sounds like a great venture! I hope I can attend someday though I am afraid that my learnings may not help much in my current ministry setting; a rural, modern culture and mindset.

Astronomy News - Cosmos 'A Billion Years Older'

Astronomy News - Cosmos 'A Billion Years Older'
Oh great! Now the young earth creationists have another billion years to explain!;)

PoMoMuSiNgS: ec04: A New Theology for a New World

PoMoMuSiNgS: ec04: A New Theology for a New World:

it seems to me for now that this is a pretty good way of understanding

This is a great quote from Doug Pagitt on Pomomusings. I use to struggle with my lack of certainity when I was in seminary. I felt that a pastor needed to know with certainty everything that he/she discussed, especially in a sermon. But I have given myself the freedom to change my mind even week to week at times. This is a phrase I know I will be using quite often in my preaching and teaching!

Denying the eucharist to pro-choice Catholic politicians

The New York Times > Opinion > Hustings and Pulpits:

But any attempt to make elected leaders toe a doctrinal line when it comes to their public duties raises multiple risks.

Though I don't agree with the Catholic bishops on this one, I don't understand the dichotomy that so many want to place between one's beliefs and one's practices. Shouldn't our politicians doctrinal beliefs influence their public duties?

The question of censoring "renegade" belief in the church is a sticky issue. On the one hand, should we not submit ourselves to the community of which we are a part? I strongly believe in a communal hermeneutic because the imput from others as they read the biblical text helps me better understand the text and keeps me from cocooning with too many like-minded readers. Yet on the other hand, were would the church be without those who challenged the churches teaching and sought to reform it?

Seems to me we need both. The difficulty for us in the discussion surrounding the emerging church is walking this fine line. I for one believe that we should submit our thinking to the scrutiny of the wider church community while at the same time continue to push the envelop for reform, rethinking, and re-imagining. Perhaps this is why blogging about these issues feels so relevant.

Glavine's near no-hitter

Glavine nearly throws a no-hitter against my Colorado Rockies. Ouch! 

When The Kings Come Marching In by Richard J. Mouw

I started reading this book this morning. It has sat on my self for years. I bought it when I was in seminary and Douglas Groothius recommended it in a class discussion concerning Christ and culture and our understanding of heaven. So far it's a great read. Here's a quote that stuck with me today:

God's Word is a unity--although the unity is often more like that of a symphony than of a geometry textbook.

Martin B. Copenhaver - A Story and Song for Every Occasion

Martin B. Copenhaver - A story and Song for Every Occasion:

And the stories that fill our lives are not just ways to pass the time, mere diversions. They have a meaning and power beyond anything we usually recognize. All stories reveal underlying assumptions about the way the world works, what is important in life and what is not.

This is an excellent reflection on Acts 16:16-34 and the power of stories in our lives.

Why the 'Lost Gospels' Lost Out - Christianity Today Magazine

Why the 'Lost Gospels' Lost Out - Christianity Today Magazine
A good article on the bad history related in The Da Vinci Code.

2004 ChristianityToday Book Awards

Church Central home - church growth and church health resources, research and news:

Among the books recognized were Dan Kimball's book, "The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations" (Zondervan). The judges commented that Kimball, "thinks biblically about the nature of authentic church life -- including worship, evangelism, and discipleship -- and helps us to understand the church of the next generation."

Way to go Dan!

Rock of Ages - Music has power

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Contributor: Rock of Ages:

Youth is a quality not unlike health: it's found in greater abundance among the young, but we all need access to it. (And not all young people are lucky enough to be young. Think of those people at your college who wanted to be politicians or corporate lawyers, for example.) I'm not talking about the accouterments of youth: the unlined faces, the washboard stomachs, the hair. The young are welcome to all that � what would we do with it anyway? I'm talking about the energy, the wistful yearning, the inexplicable exhilaration, the sporadic sense of invincibility, the hope that stings like chlorine. When I was younger, rock music articulated these feelings, and now that I'm older it stimulates them, but either way, rock 'n' roll was and remains necessary because: who doesn't need exhilaration and a sense of invincibility, even if it's only now and again?

My two aging churches could definitely use this! But alas, we are saddled with the worship wars here and they want the hymns on the organ. No wonder there is so little life and energy and vitality! The music we choose zaps it out of us! Perhaps this is in part why music in church is such a difficult issue. Music has power. It creates a feeling. What is the feeling we want to create in a worship service? What is the mood of a worship service?
For more fun, what are moods and feelings that the music of modern worship services produce versus postmodern worship services? I am glad to see the emerging church working diligently to delight the senses. It is wonderful to see the emerging church incorporating art, music, poetry, visual loops, computers, technology, etc. into worship. It is great to see the emerging church working to understand how our entire being is involved in worship, that the facilitators of worship (liturgists) create a mood, an environment, an atmosphere for worship.
And yet, I have experienced powerful worship with an organ and some old hymns. Why was it powerful? Because it was authentic. Because it fit. Because it brought God to bear on my reality.
So why doesn't the organ and hymns work in my churches? Because we are going through the motions! We do it because we have to do it, because we are told to do it. No one is even close to loosing themselves in the worship, giving themselves totally in free expression to God. No one would dare to dance like David!
Let's be passionate worshipers of God in spirit and in truth! Start this Sunday! Don't just go through the motions but be aware that God has called you to this place at this time to focus on him. So do it. It just might change you.

The Church of England Newspaper

The Church of England Newspaper:

Church as we know it is past its sell-by date, says Chris Neal, Rector of St Mary's, Thame. And it seems that people all over the Western world think so, too. Neal goes on to quote a figure of 53,000 who leave church every week - leave church, but do not abandon faith...

Five years ago we developed three statements which have informed what we’ve done since then: from programmes to people; from organisation to organism; from grind to gifting...

"I believe we are going through a big cultural and social paradigm shift and that we should be aware of that," Neal suggests. "The cultural shift is about community, it’s about open-ended questions, it’s about discovering the answer for ourselves."

Very good thoughts on ministry!

unlearning Church

unlearning Church:

If we continue to copy the models of the 1980s and 1990s, we're going to miss the next generation. I'm now learning to take my cues from the age group that's under thirty-five.

Good article on the emerging church.

The First Station - Jesus is condemned to die

The First Station. Jesus is condemned to die. 
I thought I'd share more of the Stations of the Cross shrine from San Luis, Colorado.

Christ and Culture

Fun book, bad history. 

I am amazed at how some Christian's interact (or rather don't interact) with culture.

Tonight, I presented a seminar on The Da Vinci Code. We had a pretty good turn out for our little community. Knowing that the audience would be moderns, I was comfortable presenting a very modern, foundational view of the New Testament (you must exegete your audience!) while throwing in plenty of post-evangelical comments and thought for them to chew on. The seminar went really well and I had a lot of fun doing it.

Afterward a person from one of the non-denominational charismatic churches asked me alot of questions. "Why would we 'stoop down' to reading something that isn't God's truth? Why should we engage the culture with these secular books?"

I remember when I was afraid of the culture. I remember when I believed in guilt by association. I am so glad that I have moved beyond that! And I hope this person can and will too!

I am becoming more and more sensitive to just how intolerant and close-minded evangelical and especially fundamentalist Christians are. And most just don't get it!

May the emerging church continue to work toward open and healthy dialogue with people of all beliefs. May we humbly seek to share Jesus Christ faithfully, trusting that the Holy Spirit is already at work in the lives of those around us, even if it is through those secular books like The Da Vinci Code.

W.W.J.D. What would Jesus do?

What would Jesus do? 

A comedian on Leno told a very funny joke tonight:

I was wearing one of those W.W.J.D. bracelets and I was at the movies. One guy's cell phone starts to ring, you know, one of those obnoxious rings that's a song. But he won't answer it because the good part of the movie is coming. Finally he answers it like nothings going on, "Hey, what's up? Nothin'. Just sittin' in the movie theater.

I say, "Hey would you please hang up the phone, please."

The guy turns around and says, "Shut up pal. It's none of your business, punk!"

I'm a man and I'm about to stand up to this guy when I look at my W.W.J.D. bracelet and think what would Jesus do?

So I set him on fire and sent him to hell!

My blog went on a diet!

Out in the sticks
With the recent improvements in the blogger experience, I decided to streamline my blog and lose a lot of the superflous stuff. Hope you like the new look.

Jesus and the mountains

Jesus and the mountains, 

Stations of the Cross

On our way home from New Mexico we stopped in San Luis, Colorado which has a wonderful Stations of the Cross trail on a mountain side. It was a powerful hour or two praying the stations of the cross and marveling at the beauty of God's creation.

It is truly a mystery that the creator of the mountains came and gave his life for us!

If you ever get a chance to go to San Luis, be sure to do the Stations of the Cross!

The New York Times > Science > Space & Cosmos > Venus Returns for Its Shining Hour
A once in a lifetime event. Don't miss it!

Dangerous Religion

Dangerous Religion, Sojourners Magazine/September-October 2003:

The real theological problem in America today is no longer the Religious Right but the nationalist religion of the Bush administration--one that confuses the identity of the nation with the church, and God's purposes with the mission of American empire.
America's foreign policy is more than pre-emptive, it is theologically presumptuous; not only unilateral, but dangerously messianic; not just arrogant, but bordering on the idolatrous and blasphemous. George Bush's personal faith has prompted a profound self-confidence in his 'mission' to fight the 'axis of evil,' his 'call' to be commander-in-chief in the war against terrorism, and his definition of America's 'responsibility' to 'defend the--hopes of all mankind.' This is a dangerous mix of bad foreign policy and bad theology.

Amen.

What's Going On? Starting a Conversation with Rural America: "They hoped their pastors and people would be vigilant about caring for one another--especially that member or family whose regular pattern of worship attendance has suddenly changed."

Good advice from farmers for pastors.

Caleb Ministries Home Page
This looks like a good resource for rural pastors. Brian is speaking at a conference on church growth. His topic is the Emerging Rural Church. Sounds interesting.

American Society for Church Growth - Conference: "Brian McGaffigan, pastor Alberta, Canada
Presentation: 'The Emerging Rural Church'"

Sounds interesting.

TheSubversive Art - LeadershipJournal.net:

Two weeks ago I sponsored a 'Doubt Night.' I said, 'I want to talk about my own doubts about God, Jesus, the Bible, salvation, faith. And if you have some, bring them. Write them down and pass them forward, we'll read them and we'll see what happens.' We had a huge box--you would not believe--and I just started going through them, reading them and discussing them. It was so awesome.

Great idea!

TheSubversive Art - LeadershipJournal.net:

A lot of Christian preaching isn't really seriously about story. I don't want to conquer mystery. I want to celebrate it. And in the modern era we have 'Seven Steps to Prayer,' 'Four Steps to Financial--whatever.'' Those all, I assume, have their place.
But what often happens is God gets shrunk down in the process. In the effort to boil things down, God gets boiled down. And there have to be spaces where mystery is simply celebrated.
The true orthodox faith is deeply mysterious, and every question that's answered leads to a new set of questions. A lot of preaching tries to answer everything. At the end of the sermon, people walk out with no more questions. But if it's truly proclamation of truth rooted in God--
The rabbis believe that the text is like a gem: the more you turn it the more the light refracts. I heard a guy one time say, 'Oh yeah, I got a sermon on that verse. I got it pretty much nailed.' What? Are you out of your mind? You have that nailed? I just endlessly turn it.

Wow great stuff! So how do I apply this to tomorrow's sermon...a text and a sermon that I am not all that excited about?

There is some mystery in this text...let the mystery speak.

TheSubversive Art - LeadershipJournal.net
Great article.

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Columbine: Parents of a Killer:

My instinct is that Dylan Klebold was a self-initiating moral agent who made his choices and should be condemned for them. Neither his school nor his parents determined his behavior. Now his parents have been left with the terrible consequences. I'd say they are facing them bravely and honorably.

Powerful story about Dylan Klebald's parents trying to rebuild and go on with their lives.

My wife and I are currently attending theWee Kirk conference in Glorieta, NM. It is a great idea for a conference. It is geared to small churches (Wee Kirks) and it is sponsored by Presbyterians for Renewal. So far the conference has been okay. Nothing earth shattering for me. My wife has really enjoyed it.

My frustrations with the poor preaching led to a discussion between her and I about pride. I must say that having attended seminary I am now rather critical of sermons.

Is it prideful to be critical of sermons? This question stimulates my thoughts on the entire emerging church question: is it prideful to be critical of the modern church?

In general I don't feel that it is prideful to criticize poor sermons or be critical of the modern church. But I do believe that the spirit in which we do so is important. What is a healthy spirit for criticism?

Perhaps if our criticism is in an effort to make others better, to make the church more effective, rather than to place ourselves above others, to make ourselves better than others.

A fine line but an important line. What are your thoughts?

The New York Times > International > Africa > Hundreds Die in Attack on Nigerian Village:

"An attack by a Christian militia"

Isn't this an oxymoron?

[Listening to: Between You and Me - dc Talk - Jesus Freak (4:59)]

Yesterday was a frustrating and difficult day. It was frustrating because it was The National Day of Prayer and I am sick of hearing American's pray that God would heal our land via 2 Chronicles 7:14. Newsflash - THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO AMERICA! Sorry, I feel like yelling!

Couple that with several diatribes concerning liberal judges, abortion, and homosexuals I felt very frustrated.

It was a difficult day because most if not all of my churches parishoners whole-heartedly and unquestioningly agree with these things. It was difficult because my post-evangelical convictions are not terribly welcome in this small town. In some respects I feel it is even dangerous to post this.

Yet despite any potential misunderstanding, I feel the need to challenge much of what is seen as "Christian" by evangelicals.

My frustration yesterday began at a prayer breakfast I attended. Now let me commend the men's non-denominational Thursday morning prayer group that organized this event without the assistance of any church in town. It was great to see laity who are passionate about something from several different churches and denominations work together on this event.

However, the speaker offended me by describing non-Christians as long-haired, pierced, tattooeed, raggedly dressed people. He did acknowledge that some Christians look like this but that they are not fully conformed to the likeness of Christ yet. WHAT?! Since when was the likeness of Christ equal to middle-class American values?

It is amazing the walls the church puts up. Ironically and probably unknown to the speaker, the restaurant that catered the event is owned by a tattooed, pierced, openly gay woman. I wonder what she heard in that statement! I bet she made huge strides to coming to embrace Jesus Christ yesterday!

I could go on and on about this but I won't. I love the folks in my town and churches. And that love and concern is what fuels my frustration. I so desperately want the Christians in our community to be reached for Christ as Brian McLaren explains so well in his book, More Ready Than You Realize.

Here's a quote from his book on the Lectionary reading from Acts 11:1-18 for this week. I can't wait to preach on Sunday!

But even better than reading a book is engaging in spiritual friendship with [postmoderns], because their stubborn refusal to be content with our modern depiction of God will pus us better than any book could to realize that God is not limited to our modern conceptualizations. In this way, engaging in spiritual friendship will not only help others become Christians, it will help us become better Christians, who love God more than ever. This occurs because our concept of God is expanding, deepening, and growing more glorious through conversation with our seeking friends. In essence, the Christians are "converted" first in authentic spiritual friendships.
There is a wonderful story in the New Testament that prepares us for this kind of profound transformation in ourselves as "converted" people who seek to help our as-yet "unconverted" friends. As you read the story found in Acts 10:1-11:18, be careful not to reconfigure it to fit into your preexisting categories. Try to let it stretch or even deconstruct your current categories.

Several pages later, still discussing this passage, McLaren writes,

When we become spiritual friends as Peter did with Cornelius, we similarly become sensitive to issues of language. We become uncomfortable labeling people. Whether it's "impure or unclean" or more contemporary labels like "unsaved," "non-Christian," "lost," or "pagan," we become increasingly sensitive to the way that such in-grouping and out-grouping can itself be sub-Christian behavior. On the one hand, by using such language we can unintentionally elevate ourselves to a superior category; on the other hand, such language can degrade others--in our minds or to their ears or both. Either way, careless language sabotages spiritual friendship.

For more, I'd encourage you to pick up the book. It gives me great hope as I struggle to emerge as a new kind of Christian, neither liberal nor conservative nor evangelical, rather like someone without a home or country to call their own at this point of the journey.

[Listening to: When I Stand With You - Charlie Peacock - Love Life (5:14)]

The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: The Oil Crunch:

"So what should we be doing? Here's a hint: We can neither drill nor conquer our way out of the problem. Whatever we do, oil prices are going up. What we have to do is adapt."

Human nature is so short-sighted.

[Listening to: Landslide - Dixie Chicks - Home (3:50)]

When Mother's Day is Hard - Christianity Today Magazine

Powerful article for pastor's to consider for Mother's Day written by a woman who attends Solomon's Porch.

The New York Times > Business > Average U.S. Car Is Tipping Scales at 4,000 Pounds:

"Average fuel economy peaked at 22.1 miles to the gallon in the late 1980's, according to the agency, but has eroded since then to 20.7 miles for the 2003 model year."

Why? I imagine that this even takes into consideration the new hybrids. How discouraging.

Go Figure - Christianity Today Magazine:

14 million - AIDS orphans in the world today
25 million - AIDS orphans expected by 2010

Sobering statistic. Does anyone know what the church is doing about this?

[Listening to: Echoes of Eden - Steven Curtis Chapman - All About Love (5:04)]

"Being controlled by the opinions of others is a guaranteed way to miss God's purpose for your life." - Rick Warren

[Listening to: Sweet Nadine - Arc Angels - Arc Angels (4:31)]

Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox:

Scripture is filled with stories of captivating characters whose lives help us better understand God's truth. What must it have been like to be Joseph, alone and abandoned in an Egyptian jail, yet still clinging to faith? What was it about Joshua and Caleb that allowed them to stand against the majority when they returned from spying in the Promised Land? What would it have been like to be Hosea, with an unfaithful wife and a call from God to take her back again and again? Those are the images that will stay with our congregations long after they have forgotten the points of our homiletical outlines.
Don?t be afraid to take time to tell their stories, and allow your listeners to be pulled into their lives.

If preaching has a future in our culture it is the telling of the great stories in scripture.

Great storytellers have always used detail to make their tales come to life. Why shouldn't those of us who proclaim the greatest story ever told take advantage of every tool available? The great African-American preachers are masters of this art; they use words to paint a picture that grabs our attention and makes us see.

Doubting the Doomsayers - Christianity Today Magazine:

I have learned not to believe everything I read on the Internet, and not to believe everything I hear from doomsayers.

Great article from Yancey. Very encouraging news.

[Listening to: Like It, Love It, Need It - dc Talk - Jesus Freak (5:23)]

PC(USA) - Evangelism and Church Development -
From the PCUSA.

[Listening to: Missin' You - Chris Rice - Past The Edges (9:57)]

Regional Congregations Network
Another article about rural churches.

[Listening to: Missin' You - Chris Rice - Past The Edges (9:57)]

The Rural Church: Its Future Challenges by Lance R. Barker
I am starting to list articles that deal with rural churches. Here's one that is interesting.

[Listening to: The Last Of The True Believers - Nanci Griffith - The Last Of The True Believers (2:53)]