I keep thinking this book will finally set on my shelf for a while, but occasions that call for it keep coming up.  So foundational.  So articulate.  So indespensible.  I’m excited for our house church conversations revolving around Mr. Wright’s book this fall.

The 4 Fundamental Worldview Questions…

…according to Dallas Willard.  Feel free to give them a try…

1. What is Reality?
2. Who is Really Well-Off?
3. Who is Truly Good?
4. How Does One Become Truly Good?

Defending Donnie Darko

 Not that this gem needs defending.  Donnie Darko is one of my all-time favorite movies and may be, perhaps, the one movie I’ve watched most often (at least as an adult).  Indeed, one of the first activities Beggars Table did as a church was watch this movie together as a “film discussion” night.  By the way, Donnie Darko is playing this Friday on the roof of the downtown library…an absolute must.  

The reason I am “defending” DD is because after my brother-in-law watched it with me while visiting this summer, he smugly suggested that the movie simply seemed like the product of some kid’s whim and nothing more than another exercise in style over substance (a bifurcation I don’t believe in, by the way).  Please understand, I have the highest regard for my brother-in-law and respect his opinion greatly (except in sports – where he personifies my mortal enemy – an avid Yankee and Tar Heel fan).  His reaction to this revered movie, however, merits a response, and I can think of no better time than as I prepare and look forward to seeing it for perhaps the eleventh time on the roof of the downtown library Friday night.

One of the joys of Donnie Darko is that it’s open to interpretation and can be viewed through a wide array of lenses (this is perhaps why it lends itself so easily to repeated viewings).  I have finally identified one of the lenses through which I often watch this move and one of the reason I love it so.  I see Donnie Darko (the character) as embodying the essence of the prophet, i.e. the “Truth Teller”.  

In the alternative universe in which Donnie finds himself he is engulfed with a calling.  Of course this calling is to “save the world”, but the way in which he goes about doing this is most curious.  He is, more or less, laden with the responsibility to tell and expose truth.  Donnie’s truth telling permeates almost every scene, whether he’s confronting the ignorant school system, exposing a child-porn ring, or even when pontificating about the Smurfs.  I believe the movie is particularly poignant in conveying the burden and sadness that often accompanies the role of prophet.  Speaking truth to the culture inherently places the truth-teller outside of the culture and in a position of great scrutiny.  Who is this person who dares to speak the truth?  The overwhelming consensus is he must be crazy.  Thus Donnie Darko finds himself on medication and regularly seeing a psychologist who regularly uses hypnotherapy, etc.  The beauty of it – Donnie himself isn’t even sure that he’s not crazy.  Yet he faithfully continues to do what he can’t help but do – expose lies and falseness in the surrounding culture – at the expense of his own sanity, reputation, and social standing.  

Just one interpretation of this brilliant movie.  I’ll be at the library Friday night – hope to see you there (my brother-in-law is invited because in our country, everyone deserves a second chance).

What’s Real?

I recently revisited some of my favorite childhood books – Madeleine L’Engle’s “Wrinkle in Time” series.  Reading the books now –  as a somewhat thoughtful adult – I am struck by how much the theme of reality pervades all of her work.  The looming question is, “what’s real and what’s not real?”  Of course, that’s a pretty relevant question in our pop culture today, as well, considering the popularity of recent movies (The Matrix Trilogy, A Beautiful Mind), TV shows (Lost), and books (Twilight).    

Sunday at Beggars Table we discussed – among other things – what makes our reality (i.e. the lens through which we view ourselves and our world).  The truth is that all of our realities are profoundly shaped be certain cultural systems and psychological situations.  In other words, our immediate environment strongly influences how we perceive reality.  

Big Question: Can our immediate environment be trusted to bestow an accurate picture of reality?  

I would write more and offer my answer to the question, but I’m afraid I would begin sounding “preachy”, and I honestly never wanted my blog to be that.  (There’s a fine line between “preachy” and “provocative” isn’t there?)  So, in the spirit of the blog – what do you think? (I’ll get “preachy” in my responses if anyone wants to try…)

Have You Ever Felt Like an Investment?

One thing I mentioned Sunday as we continue to  press and deconstruct the idea of “Relational Ministry” is that our language truly reflects our meaning and intentions…even when we’re not aware of it.  One of the words I’ve always used and heard used in teaching, training, and discussing ministry is a form of the word “investment”.  

“I’m going to invest in him.”  

“We’re investing in kids this summer”.  

“I really want to invest in you.”

The word “investment” is a financial term that comes from the world of finances and banking (it’s always a warning sign when we flippantly use financial metaphors to discuss human relationships).  Investment specifically refer to getting a return on something we put in.  We invest when we expect something in return.    

What do we mean when we say we’re going to “invest” in a person?  Usually we mean that we’re willing to pour a certain amount of time and energy into a person with the expectation that we will see a certain result from our efforts.  We often justify this because the return we’re going for is something good (i.e. accepting Jesus, etc).  Maybe the return is good – but is this truly relationship?  Is this a healthy practice?  Is this what God does with us? 

As I mentioned Sunday, I don’t know if I’ve ever had a relationship with a church or para-church organization when I didn’t feel like an investment of sorts/”invested in”.  I am invited into relationship but only with the understanding that the relationship will provide a certain return.  Although having people “invest” in you often feels affirming and strokes the ego (“you think enough of my potential that you’re willing to pour into me?”), it inevitably leaves us feeling rather used and abandoned.  

Is investment what happened through the incarnation?

I offer the following quote to provoke the imagination and discussion:

“The incarnation is not about influence but about accompaniment”  (Andrew Root)

Continuing the Conversation

We need metaphors as we talk about and try to imagine our future and the consummation of our story.  It’s like looking into a midst and describing what we see…none of us knows fully.  Sunday we spent a little time with four metaphors Scripture gives us:

Seedtime/Harvest: The promise (especially when talking of Jesus as “first-fruit”) that there is more to come…

Citizenship: Living in colony and spreading the influence of our country rather than waiting to go back…

Birth Pangs: Bringing about/waiting for new creation may be painful and slow…

Marriage: God’s creation and God’s new creation one day wedding…made for each other as male and female…

 

How do these metaphors provoke your imagination?

Continuing the Conversation

Thanks for the great conversation Sunday regarding 1 Corinthians 12, our corporate formation, the discipline of celebrating differences, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Reflecting on our time together, I simply want to post one of the amazingly provocative (and un-current) quotes from Bonhoeffer we looked at Sunday as well as his list of disciplines that community offers if we engage it consciously and intentionally.  I welcome and invite any thoughts these may stimulate…

“If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if, on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.”

• The Discipline of Holding Ones Tongue (developing the habit of saying very little that comes to ones mind)
• The Discipline of Meekness (becoming aware of ones own shortcomings)
• The Discipline of Listening (harder and less practiced than we might think)
• The Discipline of Helpfulness (becoming able to bend our schedules for the unplanned)
• The Discipline of Bearing (bearing each others personalities – the whole personality)
• The Discipline of Proclaiming (speaking truth to each other – even when it’s hard)

We could easily have a sermon series on these disciplines, and maybe someday we will…

Continuing the Conversation

I love discussions about the conscience.  I find them to be amazingly provocative, and I believe the conscience is perhaps the most revealing issue pertaining to human nature, God, and morality.  I am thankful for Paul revealing the very difficult yet truthful reality that all communities are comprised of different consciences.  As I’ve shared the last two weeks, I am continually challenged by the idea that the primary task of the church is not to bring everyone’s conscience into conformity, but, rather, to practice humility by learning how to be aware of and serve each others conscience as we promote a healthy conscience individually and communally.  Convicting indeed.

May our community be marked by a seamlesssness between our knowing and our doing.  Amen.

Top Five Movies of ‘08

Now that the Awards are over I can reveal the true five best pictures of the year.  Actually, I promote these films as simply my favorites – not necessarily “the best” (a much more difficult and unreasonable stance to defend).  

 

Number Five:

WALL-E

It’s hardly fair to refer to this wonderful film as merely a “kid’s movie”.  Indeed, Pixar’s annual summer offering was not only up to their usual standards, it was perhaps the best animated movie I’ve ever seen.  Wall-e was beautiful, heart-warming, and provocative – a sermon in and of itself.  Pixar’s redemptive messages continue to be more and more poignant – responsible and seamless faith indeed.  

 

Number Four:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

What I find to be the most curious case about Benjamin Button is how vastly underrated this movie has become in the popular imagination.  Yes, it’s long – but since when has that been a bad thing?  This movie is remarkable to watch for more reasons than just the extraordinary make-up and special effects.  It’s truly a quite beautiful film.  Although I hesitate to admit it, watching this movie was a rather emotional experience for me.  I think it’s because, at its core, Benjamin Button is about the passage of time, and when this theme is explored thoughtfully and through the lens of loneliness, loss, and isolation it often proves to be very powerful.  Comparisons to Forrest Gump are appropriate, but I found this more  affecting simply because – unlike Hank’s Gump – Benjamin Button was fully aware of just how lonely he was.  Speaking of underrated – Brad Pitt is an excellent actor who’s credibility seems to suffer from his tabloid popularity.  This was not an easy role to play and Pitt was fully deserving of an Oscar.  

 

Number Three:

Let The Right One In

 

Oh Yeah.  I don’t expect everyone to understand this, but I love vampire stories (good ones…).  Suffice it to say, I’ve been waiting for this movie my whole life.  I was so jazzed after seeing it I couldn’t go to sleep.  A great movie to provoke conversation – there’s more going on here than meets the eye.  It’s not quite fitting to simply call this a “horror” film – it’s so much more.  Unlike the sloppy helping of cheap thrills usually offered by this genre, Let the Right One In is driven by characters providing, among other things, a challenging metaphor for adolescent coming of age.  See it.  In a dark room.  

 

Number Two:

Frost/Nixon

 

The best of the nominated films this year yet the least sexy one to see.  Regrettably unnoticed, this movie is about so much more than just an interview with former President Richard Nixon.  It’s about conscience and the consequences of a broken one.  Ron Howard successfully makes a movie revolving around an interview exciting.  Again, the key factor is the amazing characters driving the action and Frank Langella portrays the most human and believable Nixon I’ve ever seen in film.  The most under-appreciated talent involved, however, is Michael Sheen’s brilliant portrayal of David Frost – a man equally desperate to find his own redemption.     

 

Number One:

In Bruges

 

This is a movie of many dimensions.  A deft crime thriller that creates characters capable of breaking your heart.  I am a huge fan of witty dialogue, dark comedy, and crime thriller mixes, and I haven’t seen many that do it better.  In Bruges truly took me to a place I’d never been (who has seen this movie and not wanted to travel to Bruges?), told a fresh story I had never heard, and introduced me to novel and quirky characters I’d never met.  Quite an accomplishment.  

 

 

 

 

Continuing the Conversation

This Sunday we tried to view Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7 through the lens of a first century “feminist”.  The overall goal was to authentically place ourselves within the social context of the Corinthian church in an effort to explore if there is a way to read Paul’s instructions regarding marriage and sexuality in a manner that doesn’t come across as derogatory regarding the institution as it may sound to contemporary ears.  

A closer examination of the first century church truly reveals a community that seriously and effectively redeemed the status of women and the idea of what marriage can and ought to be.  The underlying theme I walked away with is that virtuous living works and is, thereby, life affirming, contagious, healthy, and sustaining.