Tagged by Rustin

Tagged by Rustin 

One book that changed your life:

One book that you read more than once:

One book that you would want on a desert island:

One book that made you laugh:

One book that made you cry:

One book you wish you had written:

One book you are currently reading:

One book you have been meaning to read:

Continuing the Conversation

Continuing the Conversation recaps some things we talked about on Sunday and invites continued engagement with the conversation.  Hopefully, it’s one more avenue for Beggar’s people to keep engaging as well as an invitation for folks not with us on Sunday to join in.

We continued our look at Galatians Sunday by noting that although it is tempting to pull out power verses from the epistles and form fun sermons around them, the best way to approach these letters is to identify the issue addressed and try to remain true to this issue. 

The issue of Galatians?  The age old question, “what is the Gospel?”  So many variations of answers to this simple question. 

 Paul’s answer:  Faith in Christ Jesus

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law.” - Galatians 2:16 

I have the privilege of meeting once a month with some thoughtful church planters and friends.  Last night we began discussing Joseph Myers’ book Organic Community.  Thanks for the conversation guys!

Here are some quotes I loved from the chapter we looked at last night:

“In our worship of ‘how-to’ pragmatism, we have in some cases treated the church as an object and programmed the life out of it.  It would do us well to remember that our job is to help people with their lives rather than build infrastructures that help institutions stay alive.”

“When we plan, it is helpful to begin with a horizon in view instead of a specific point.  This is a more organic concept of planning for the future.  It is not very helpful to speak in terms of going from ‘here’ to ‘there,’ because we as living creatures need the freedom to end up somewhere else.”

“We often have little control over precise direction.  We do have some control over the substance of the journey.”

All Hail “Freaks and Geeks”

Kari and I just finished our last disc of this amazing TV show last night.  I have to confess that I had tears in my eyes (not crying – just a little wetness) when I realized I had to say bye to these characters and their completely genuine world created by Judd Apatow. 

Adolescence is characterized by the crazy yet extraordinary process of discovering identity and re-framing self image.  I have to say that I’ve simply never seen this process portrayed as authentically and earnestly. 

Freaks and Geeks is a period piece.  It takes place in high school via 1980 and speaking as someone who was there – they nailed it.  The nostalgia runs throughout the show, but it’s subtle.  Unlike many retro 80’s movies (a.k.a. The Wedding Singer) Freaks and Geeks isn’t in your face with the “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” 80’s nostalgia.  It doesn’t feel like you’re walking through an ”All 80’s” store in the local mall.  It’s period pieces are subtle yet recognizable to those of us who lived it.  I can’t remember how many times I would see a book, a piece of furniture, or a record album in the background of a set and think, “I had that!” 

 

 Unfortunately this amazing program was cancelled before I really knew it existed, and although I’m sad there’s not more of this show to enjoy, it may be a good thing and even somewhat poetic that it didn’t last many seasons.  Think about it, there is so much change that occurs in a high school kid from the time they’re a freshman to the time they graduate.  Who a kid is when they’re a freshman in high school is often way different than who they are by graduation.  Freaks and Geeks is so authentic that to maintain it’s honesty these characters would have to change a ton.  I guarantee you these guys would not remain geeks for four years.  Look at how much their characters change and develop in the short course of this one season!  See, for example, their first make-out party in the episode entitled “Smooching and Mooching.” 

It’s really hard to find TV shows that I prefer to watch over movies, but Apatow and gang gave Kari and me a treat with this one. 

“The number one thing I want to accomplish with this show is honesty. It just has to be an honest show.”- Paul Feig (series creator). 

Continuing the Conversation

Continuing the Conversation recaps some things we talked about on Sunday and invites continued engagement with the conversation.  Hopefully, it’s one more avenue for Beggar’s people to keep engaging as well as an invitation for folks not with us on Sunday to join in.

Last Sunday we recapped some of the major historical developments of missional Judaism hopefully giving context to Galatians.  What it comes down to is a clash between Jewish evangelizing (which requires complete ethnic conversion to the law) and the new Jewish sect, the Jesus Way, evangelizing (which allows maintaining ethnic identity while following Jesus). 

A look at Galatians 1:6-10 reveals Paul as rather angry, perhaps defensive, and definitely adamant that any conditions placed on salvation other than Christ are heresy. 

This led to the question/discussion on why was Paul so unwavering regarding this issue?  Why not be happy that people are hearing about Christ and accept that there are just different “avenues” of expressing the faith?  Why not be a team player with the “old school Jewish leaders?”  Conclusion – the minute we allow rules and regulations to determine our salvation, the focus turns towards outward behavior and not the heart – which is what God cares about. 

I love how Brian B. expressed the fallen condition of humanity as having an almost impossible time accepting a free gift.  We continually feel the need to place conditions on the gospel.  It makes us feel in control.  Good thoughts Brian! 

I don’t want anyone thinking I necessarily love The Fountainhead or completely agree with Ayn Rand’s worldview.  After reading Miroslav Volf, however, I’m thinking a lot about forgiveness.  I find Rand’s description of forgiveness – the kind of forgiveness you offer when your violator can’t forgive them-self and is filled with self disdain – rather beautiful. 

“Nothing has changed for me.  You’re still what you were.  If you can’t forgive yourself, will you let me do it?  Let me say that it doesn’t matter, it’s not the final verdict on you.  Give me the right to let you forget it.  Go on just on my faith until you’ve recovered.  Call it a blood transfusion.  You need it.  Take it.”

Clientele or Member?

Here’s a concept Stark introduced me to in this book that I’ve alluded to several times on Sundays and find so provocative.

The first religions were temple religions.  Temple religions dominated the scene from Sumer through Israel throughout the entire globe.  Aztecs and Mayans in America as well as Egyptians and Jews all were structured as some sort of Temple Religion. 

As you read Stark’s description of Temple religions below consider how eerily familiar it sounds.  Could it be that even though we are supposed to be in the era of the church that the way we tend to treat the church more resembles ancient temples than local communal congregations?

Listen (Italics are my insertions – sorry, I couldn’t help myself):

“Temple religions are staffed by an exclusive priesthood and serve a clientele rather than a membership.  Clients come to a temple to participate in periodic festivals and ceremonies (substitute Easter and Christmas) and sometimes appear there in pursuit of personal spiritual, material, and social returns (connections rather obvious, huh?).  But their temple activity is a relatively incidental aspect of their social relationships and their self-conceptions: people go to temples; they do not belong to them.”

I am taken with the desire to form and shape a church community, but I think it’s so difficult in the midst of a culture who prefers to go to Temples for good spiritual food in the same way we go to restaurants for good physical food.  How to change a go to culture to a belong culture? 

Continuing the Conversation

Continuing the Conversation recaps some things we talked about on Sunday and invites continued engagement with the conversation.  Hopefully, it’s one more avenue for Beggar’s people to keep engaging as well as an invitation for folks not with us on Sunday to join in.

We are beginning a look at Paul’s wonderful epistle to the church in Galatia.  Last night we spent time looking at the larger context of Galatians and the story that frames this letter.  Considering that the prominent issues in Paul’s letter deal with Jews understanding who they are as followers of Christ, we took a historical look at the development of the Jewish identity.

At the heart of the conversation was the question, “what makes a good Jew?”  We noted that throughout generations of Jewish history leading up to the birth of Christ, the “good” Jews were the rather small but influential sect who actually believed and promoted an authentic monotheism.  We referred to them as the “Yahweh-Only Sect”.  In scripture, this group is represented by such figures as Samuel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. 

The interesting dynamic regarding this aspect of Jewish identity is that around the first century, the Jews in Jerusalem who were the descendants of the Yahweh-Only Sect were the same Jews who were least effective at missionizing (Judaism was the first great missionizing religion – a concept that is inherent in true monotheism), zealous about perpetuating the old school Temple religion, and dogmatic about the need to strictly adhere to the Law.  It was, in fact, the Jews spread out throughout the Roman empire – descendants of the “assimilated” Jews in Babylon who were most effective at winning converts and bringing a liveliness to local, congregational worship. 

How interesting that what is considered a “good” anything easily (and sometimes quickly) becomes the wrong side without us even being aware.  We discussed the danger in labeling ourselves or anyone else a “good” Christian. 

We also mentioned that although the Jews missionizing was extremely effective, the reason it didn’t do what Christianity eventually accomplished is because the Jews insisted on conversion to a Jewish ethnicity (obedience to the Jewish law) whereas the Christians allowed people to maintain their own distinctive ethnicity and still follow Christ. 

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” -Galatians 3:28

It was a long history lesson and I realized it was time to finish when I was about three quarters done.  Our folks did a good job of allowing me to hear myself speak for a long time.  We had to end our corporate time together abrubtly without our usual time for communion, singing, and benediction. 

The real bummer, however, is that this sermon didn’t get recorded.   

However, as I mentioned above, I like to talk so if anyone wants to grab some lunch and dive into Jewish history, consider this an open invitation!

My son is totally into superheroes right now.  He came home from school today with a black-eye that he got from a friend while playing “superheroes” on the playground.  How cool is that? 

I want to thoroughly enjoy this season of life with him so the big question was what movie should we rent and watch?  What’s the best superhero movie for a six year old?  He loves Spider-man, but I’m a little leery about the violence in that – maybe in a year or so. 

Anyway, I picked up the original Christopher Reeve’s Superman from 1978 and we watched it tonight.  What fun.  I don’t remember that movie being as good as it was.  He loved it and when I walked past his bedroom I heard sound effects coming from his mouth – peeked in and sure enough – he was playing with his Superman action figure. 

Being a dad is super fun (most of the time). 

I just got back from a couple of days spent at the Franciscan Prayer Center in Independence.  What a different experience than last time I went.  I’ve got to say, these were a couple of borderline miserable days.  I am suffering from an illness which has now lasted for about a month.  I’m congested, feverish, and coughing continuously (Yes – I’ve been to the doctor and already gone through phase one of antibiotics, etc.). 

All of that to say – I’ve realized that it is very hard to have extended time of inward reflection and meditation when you’re sick.  There’s a reason why sick people predominantly do nothing but veg on the couch with the TV on.  It’s because you really can’t engage much with your mind and soul.  The inward disciplines are a practice for the healthy person.  I swear, it’s almost impossible to pray and meditate for any length of time when you’re sick! 

For the past two days I would come out of a time of labored reading craving to turn on a television with a box of Kleenex by my side.  Talk about spiritual discipline!