#1. My sister and I went to see James Taylor in concert last night in Charlotte. It was interesting to observe the crowd. It's fun for me to be in a group of people who are in the main, older than I. I remember listening again and again to Mud Slide Slim when I was a mere slip of a girl. Clearly many in the audience were in high school or college during the Mud Slide Slim days. JT put on a really fine show and I was struck by his humility and humor. JT's looking and moving sort of like an old man (which I suppose he's becoming). It's pretty cool that JT still draws a big crowd despite his age and the fact that he's avoided the celebrity spotlight. You don't hear about his life, only his music.
#2. This probably should have been #1, but the concert was fresh in my mind... My cousin Bill preached at my church last Sunday (designated Mission Sunday). Bill founded The Open Arms Foundation in Medellin Columbia. For the last 18 years Bill and his wife Wanda have been rescuing street children. Bill gave some startling statistics:
- The USA is the third largest mission field in the world (behind China and India). That's right. Missionaries from around the world are being sent here to evangelize.
- While it was previously believed that 40% of Americans self identify as Christians and attend church regularly, a new study shows the figure to be closer to 15% - 20%.
- The growth of the Mega church has not been primarily from converts, but by the ecrection of members from other churches. So... the pews in regular churches are emptying, while the pews in mega churches are filling.
- The mega church appeals to our consumeristic tendencies. One can attend and witness a slick performance, frequently on a stage. There may be audio visual effects and professional performances. My sister attends a church in Charlotte with satellite campuses and the main pastors sermon is usually broadcast there... Did you know that 85% of Christians believe that the church exists to meet their needs?
Bill made the pretty obvious (to me) point that the church exists to serve Jesus Christ. Think of a battle ship or aircraft carrier in WWII being built and commissioned and sent off to fight, only to turn into a cruise liner... Where would be be had that happened during WWII? In order to be what it was intended to be the church must be missional. It must be continually reaching out to the lost and the marginalized.
That's all for now.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Humble Apologetics
“Authentic Christian apologetics also implies providing, in Christ-like humility and in Christ-like vulnerability, the conditions that make it possible for others to perceive and recognize Jesus as Christ the Lord.” — Kwame Bediako
I was reading the blog of a pastor (I think in Oklahoma or South Dakota or someplace like that) last night. His entry from earlier in the week asked folks to pray for the Steven Curtis Chapman family and it contained a link to a story that told of the tragic death of Chapman's youngest daughter. I followed the link and found the story - as well as some responses by readers. There were many kind notes of condolence and assurances that the Chapman family was indeed in the prayers of many. There were also many angry notes criticising the "piety", hypocrisy, and false "pie in the sky in the sweet by and by" hope of Christians.
It's kind of odd and interesting that there are people who are so angry at Christians that they would use this very sad story about a family's loss to rail against Christians, but there you have it... What I find equally interesting is that the Christians felt the need to respond to the comments, scolding the posters for their insensitivity and illogic (one of them referred to the death of children in Iraq) as though God isn't perfectly capable of defending Himself. Isn't it weird that a simple human interest story would turn into a platform to debate this kind of thing?
The thing about debate is that it's pretty pointless. Whether the subject is politics or social issues or religion (especially religion), debating is just a forum for people to espouse their views. I wonder that a single mind or heart is ever changed through a debate. Mine never would be.
Kwame Bediako hits it on the head when he says that Christian apologetics must be accompanied by Christ-like humility and vulnerability. No one needs to be hit over the head with the claims of Jesus Christ on their life. Is it even possible to deal with those claims without first apprehending the great and very personal love of Jesus?
God certainly seems to favor doing things the hard way. He is clearly aware that His children (though they should be the best and most generous lovers of all) prefer to bop people over the head to loving them... May God forgive us, and help us to me more like His Son: Matt. 12: 18- 21 "Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
I was reading the blog of a pastor (I think in Oklahoma or South Dakota or someplace like that) last night. His entry from earlier in the week asked folks to pray for the Steven Curtis Chapman family and it contained a link to a story that told of the tragic death of Chapman's youngest daughter. I followed the link and found the story - as well as some responses by readers. There were many kind notes of condolence and assurances that the Chapman family was indeed in the prayers of many. There were also many angry notes criticising the "piety", hypocrisy, and false "pie in the sky in the sweet by and by" hope of Christians.
It's kind of odd and interesting that there are people who are so angry at Christians that they would use this very sad story about a family's loss to rail against Christians, but there you have it... What I find equally interesting is that the Christians felt the need to respond to the comments, scolding the posters for their insensitivity and illogic (one of them referred to the death of children in Iraq) as though God isn't perfectly capable of defending Himself. Isn't it weird that a simple human interest story would turn into a platform to debate this kind of thing?
The thing about debate is that it's pretty pointless. Whether the subject is politics or social issues or religion (especially religion), debating is just a forum for people to espouse their views. I wonder that a single mind or heart is ever changed through a debate. Mine never would be.
Kwame Bediako hits it on the head when he says that Christian apologetics must be accompanied by Christ-like humility and vulnerability. No one needs to be hit over the head with the claims of Jesus Christ on their life. Is it even possible to deal with those claims without first apprehending the great and very personal love of Jesus?
God certainly seems to favor doing things the hard way. He is clearly aware that His children (though they should be the best and most generous lovers of all) prefer to bop people over the head to loving them... May God forgive us, and help us to me more like His Son: Matt. 12: 18- 21 "Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Friday, May 23, 2008
A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever
My daughter is a flautist. That is, she plays the flute.
Tonight I attended the high school orchestra concert at her school. In the spring they do a pops concert which is very enjoyable. This evening they played some John Williams and Andrew Lloyd Webber pieces (music from Hook, Cats, and Phantom of the Opera). The music was gorgeous! Isn't it amazing that certain combinations of sound can touch us deeply - into the core of our being.
As the orchestra began playing the music from Hook, I found myself praising God. Though the music was written as a movie score and not necessarily to bring glory to God, it's beautiful. When anyone composes a beautiful piece of music or paints a masterpiece, or writes a great poem or novel he or she is glorifying God.
I say this because God is the Author of beauty. Beauty resonates in our hearts because when we create it or perform it or appreciate it, we reflect His image. Praise be to God for beauty of every kind!
Tonight I attended the high school orchestra concert at her school. In the spring they do a pops concert which is very enjoyable. This evening they played some John Williams and Andrew Lloyd Webber pieces (music from Hook, Cats, and Phantom of the Opera). The music was gorgeous! Isn't it amazing that certain combinations of sound can touch us deeply - into the core of our being.
As the orchestra began playing the music from Hook, I found myself praising God. Though the music was written as a movie score and not necessarily to bring glory to God, it's beautiful. When anyone composes a beautiful piece of music or paints a masterpiece, or writes a great poem or novel he or she is glorifying God.
I say this because God is the Author of beauty. Beauty resonates in our hearts because when we create it or perform it or appreciate it, we reflect His image. Praise be to God for beauty of every kind!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Conspiracy of Love
—“Conspiracy, lovely word of forgotten origins. Conspire, inspire-with, breathe with someone, together. Conspirators: they breathe the same air. Jesus and his disciples, eating the bread and drinking the wine, breathed the same air.” — Rubem Alves
Funny how the word conspiracy has taken on the negative connotation it has, isn't it? The thing about conspirators is that they're in it (whatever it is) together. Committed. The Lord has been speaking much to me lately of community - and my need of it. We do need to breath with someone together. To breath the same air.
Wendell Berry might call this kind of community the "room of love." It seems to me that the room of love can be shared by husband and wife, brothers & sisters, parents, friends, and certainly one's children. Berry says the room of love contains the longing of all things to be together and to be at rest together. Here, he says, giving and taking are the same. TO BE CONTINUED.
Funny how the word conspiracy has taken on the negative connotation it has, isn't it? The thing about conspirators is that they're in it (whatever it is) together. Committed. The Lord has been speaking much to me lately of community - and my need of it. We do need to breath with someone together. To breath the same air.
Wendell Berry might call this kind of community the "room of love." It seems to me that the room of love can be shared by husband and wife, brothers & sisters, parents, friends, and certainly one's children. Berry says the room of love contains the longing of all things to be together and to be at rest together. Here, he says, giving and taking are the same. TO BE CONTINUED.
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