Harambe

NBA and I knew him not

2006-02-15T05:24:00.000-08:00

It had to happen eventually . . . I am a Brit and a self-confessed numskull about US sports. I grew up with soccer, rugby and cricket, and after almost 10 years in the US I still don’t totally “get” baseball, football and other staples of America. So it comes as no surprise to me that when I was asked to “help a guy move some drums” I had no idea who it was. Sure he seemed tall, and I even thought “this guy should play basketball”, but it was only when I asked him “So what do you do?” that he announced he had just retired from the NBA. Slightly awkward silence followed and I mumbled something incoherent about being a stupid Brit, and not understanding US sports. We finished moving the drum kit chatting happily, and I wandered back to my office and called my friend … asking him to warn me next time a pro-basketball player was coming in.

It was after that I recognized how parable-like my experience was for me. I was “doing life” without a correct understanding of NBA, and of who this guy was. As a consequence of this wrong NBA theology, a pro “Was in this place, and I knew him not.”

It got me wondering how often I do the same with Jesus. I recognize him in many areas of life, but I yearn to see him as he is, present in every part of all I do. Perhaps it is my incomplete understanding of the incredible power and presence he brings that causes me to say sometimes “He was in this place, and I knew him not.”

Mystic Revolutionaries

2006-02-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

Was reading "Wounded Healers" by Henri Nouwen last night - an awesome book. Nouwen makes some great points that have me thinking:

1) We now live in an age of WMDs - This is the first time in history that man has had to see the future as only optional. We have the ability to destroy ALL human life on the planet.

2) People deal with that in two ways. They no longer see themselves as part of a meaningful story (since it could all end tomorrow) so they look to become either mystics (looking inward to find meaning and comfort) or they become revolutionaries (fighting outward for causes they believe in.)

3) Jesus points to a third way . . . That of the mystic revolutionary. Travelling inward, outward and upward, we immerse ourselves in the greatest story of all and in doing so get in rhythm with the flow of the Kingdom of God!

Blogless?

2006-02-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

So what's up? No blogging for so long? To be honest, this has been an awesome transition time for me, moving roles from that of publishing books into becoming minister of education at a town church here. It's an incredibly exciting time, but as with all changes life is busy and full of new stuff to experience, so I chose to lay off the old blogging for a little bit . . . The flavor will probably change a little now, as I'll be discussing some new stuff in my new role, and would LOVE to get feedback from you on the ins and outs of this journey.

More to follow soon, as I track my progress in following God's plan!!

Bono, Coexist & The One Campaign

2005-12-29T12:48:00.000-08:00

New one campaign podcast here . . . These have been good resources to listen to for me to understand even a bit better what is going on . . .

Also, a really interesting Relevant Magazine Podcast - These guys are responding to some of the feedback from their Bono Idolization comment recently . . .

A Prayer Without A Home

2005-12-29T12:45:00.000-08:00

"As I listened to the homeless relate their prayers, I was struck by the prayers' down-to-earth quality—indeed, their resemblance to the Lord's Prayer. "Give us this day our daily bread": They all had stories about running out of food, praying, and then finding a burrito or uneaten pizza. "Deliver us from evil": Living on mean streets, these believers pray that daily. "Forgive us our trespasses": Deep down in each lay buried secrets of shame and regret."

from an outstanding article in CT today - Click here for the full article - much for me to think on, for sure . . .

NO BLOG!!

2005-12-29T12:43:00.000-08:00

Hey all - I've had quite a break from blogging with all the fun of the season and ramping up for the new year!!! I should be kicking back into a good blog flow in the January!! Until then have a safe and healthy rest of the year, and see you on the other side in 2006!!

The Party

2005-12-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

Wrote this MANY, MANY years ago . . . Time flies!

Merry Christmas to all!!:

The Party

There are always parties when Christmas arrives
We enjoy all the festive good cheer
But so much of the time there is something quite wrong
Take a Christmas Eve - maybe last year

A typical party, about thirty friends
Who were eating and dancing and drinking
But when I went outside for a breath of fresh air
A man sat there, quietly thinking

He sat on the steps and looked up at the stars
Then he turned and looked over his shoulder
And his eyes radiated a bright kind of warmth
That made me feel wiser and older

"I travelled a hard road to get here, " He said
"I was beaten and then I was mocked
But I came here at last and went up to the door
But nobody heard when I knocked"

Well, this is a time when good will should abound
It's a time when wrongs should be righted
So I said "Why not come inside now?", He replied
"I couldn't til I was invited".

When he told me they hadn't invited him here
I asked him why he'd been waiting
And why he had tried to get in, and he said
"It's my birthday that they're celebrating"

"My birthday. My Christmas. My present." he said
"A gift in the form of a birth,
Oh if only they knew what they're longing to hear
That the Lord has come down to the earth."

"They sing and the dance, but they never look up
To see angels look down from above them.
I've waited so long, but I'm still going on . .
I'll keep waiting" said Jesus "I love them."

So enjoy the festivities offered to you
And the parties as Christmas draws near,
But remember the One whos' birthday it is
Ask Him into your Christmas this year.

Narnia & Kong

2005-12-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

Saw Narnia last night . . . I have to say for me it wasn't all that I hoped or wanted, but it was not a bad flick. I remember reading the books as a young 'un, and loved the characters, the fantasy world and the fun. Then, when I was in my early twenties I reread the books this time with a spiritual overlay and enjoyed them again. Lewis wrote them as a great adventure yarn, but also specifically as an allegory of the Christ story, and this is an element that is very strong in both book and movie. However, I've also been thinking a little about the nature of these films that get used as discussion bases for Christians who drag unwitting folks to see and discuss/debate. Sure, these are good discussion tales, but so are "Matrix", "Signs", "Field of Dreams", "Batman", "The Simpsons", "Lost", etc. So are sunsets, sunrises, oceans and stars. Much visual art has always been directed toward questions regarding the nature of reality, life, etc, and today is no exception.

I haven't seen Kong yet, but I understand it is once again about the nature of man's desire to oppress, capture and control that which is beautiful. What am I saying? Just that I wonder if time wouldn't be better spent watching these movies to discuss worldviews, life strategies, and explore spirituality as well as through "Narnia" and "Passion of teh Christ"? I for one am really looking forward to the Da Vinci code movie, as the book got a lot of folks discussing these important issues, and anytime we are turning our antennae Godward it can only be a good thing, right?

Just a few thoughts on a Thursday morning . . .

One

2005-12-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hey!

I've just signed the ONE Declaration committing myself to help fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty.

If you haven't signed it already and believe this to be a worthwhile campaign to sign your name to (and I absolutely do), please do - I really believe this can make a difference in this time of desparate need . . . They don't want your money - they want your voice.

ONE is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans - one by one. So far, over two million have signed the declaration in support of a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world.

If you get a chance, the podcast at the site outlines a lot of what this is about if you're not sure.

Thanks for considering this!

http://www.one.org/

Relentless Acts of Social Justice

2005-12-05T06:13:00.000-08:00

The following is an article I wrote for "HODOS" - A look at the remonking of the church . . . Pay a visit and let us know your thoughts!

Any examination of The Way has to involve relentless acts of social justice. Jesus was so clear on this in what he taught and said, and we see God's heart reflected throughout scripture (2300 verses on the poor and money). He calls those with two coats to give to those who have none; those who gather in the fields to leave some for those who have none; and those who are blessed to be a blessing. The bible is replete with examples, and some would say that God says more about money and helping the poor than about anything else. The call is to be a river of blessing for God - yet another way the Kingdom breaks in for the One who is closer than our skin.

But what does that mean for Hodos - The Way? What do National Aids Day (yesterday), Rwanda, Sudan, Darfur, New Orleans mean for us who would look to stumble down the way, ever closer in essence to that which God created us to be? What do the homeless on the street mean to our walk? How about the invisible child soldiers of Uganda? Where do these fit into The Way?It is my contention that Jesus makes clear that our walk MUST include caring for the least, the last and the lost in society - This IS the way. Anything less than that is in danger of becoming shallow and self-indulgent.

"Today in the next 24 hours 5500 Africans will die of AIDS. Today in childbirth, 1400 African mothers will pass on HIV to their newborns. If this isn't an emergency, what is? In the Scriptures we are not advised to love our neighbors, we are commanded. The church needs to lead the way here, not drag its' heels. the government needs guidance. We discuss, we debate, we put our hands in our pockets. We are generous, even.

But, I tell you, God is not looking for alms; God is looking for action. He is not just looking for our loose change - He's looking for a tighter contract between us and our neighbor."

This quote from Bono's address to the church is a sharp cry for action, and one that we must echo. The other day I was pondering the role of technology in our society. We have taken this tool and tried to turn it to our use, but what if that was never the goal? What if it was really given that we might have a window out of which we can see the world, and the world is starving? As Christian's in the west we have a responsibility to these dying and despairing, and I wonder if it is only in so doing that we find HODOS, the Way.

The Desert Fathers fled the world to be alone with God, as did the Essenes in Jesus day. And yet Scripture calls us to be Monks in the World - The gospel compells us outward, and into the mess and the joy of humanity. Alex Mcmanus once said "The gospel doesn't call us to be Christian, it calls us to be fully human", and it is in caring for the needs of the dying that we can begin to become that.

Remonking is happening - The church is looking to ancient, modern and postmodern practices to find the Way. Meditation, prayer, contemplation, spiritual disciplines . . . All of them drive us to the feet of Jesus. But it is there that the lover of our souls lifts us up and points back at the hurting and the broken. He invites us to be part of a revolution where we find Him in the homeless, see Him in the sick, and care for Him in the despairing.

Jesus is the Way, and His call to relentless acts of social justice is clear. May God lead us out, that we might love others with the love He has for us.

Radical Acts of Cultural Vandalism

2005-12-05T06:08:00.000-08:00

Well, life has been extremely busy so not much blogging has gone on recently!! Hopefully things are slipping back to a more normal pace - Below are some of my notes from a talk I gave yesterday at a local university group. The gist of the message was that Jesus committed radical acts of cultural vandalism by tearing down walls everywhere he went, letting people know that the door to God is open . . . and that as his followers our call is to do the same.

1) JESUS DEMONSTRATED THE KINGDOM WITH CULTURAL VANDALISMIn order to understand how revolutionary Jesus was we have to understand the world stage he came on to

Elitism – Politically (Roman citizen or out)
Spiritually – Believed kingdom was going to come –Pharisees – Out if
Gentile (wrong beliefs)
Tax Collector
Shepherd (wrong jobs)
Leprosy, Deafness (Wrong Physicality)
Other incurable disease
Broken any of the rules (Wrong Behavior)

Message was – The door is closed, but you can enter if you are CLEAN.
View of Pharisees – We who are clean need to protect our cleanness. The door is closed – but conform to us and you might get in. So there are walls going up socially and spiritually – A WALL IS ANYTHING THAT MAKES PEOPLE BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING BETWEEN GOD AND THEM.

Jesus comes into a world filled with these walls and begins to tear them down.

2 types of vandalism – Cosmetic and Destructive - This was destructive!!

Zaccheus – Eats with him; prostitute washes his feet at dinner, Disciples – usually elite – these guys were the ordinary.Sick people – Made well. Sermon on the mount – addresses them all – No wonder he got crowds!! Jesus spent his time on the fringes – Why?

2) SIN ISN’T CONTAGIOUS, LOVE IS
Woman with issue of blood is GREAT example - Jesus shows us that SIN IS NOT CONTAGIOUS, Gods holiness and righteousness are contagious. This is the basis of a theology that drives us out to where the hurting are (as opposed to the essenes - driven to disengage culture, or the pharisees - driven to legalism)

More to follow . . .

Harry Potter is Evil?

2005-12-05T06:06:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter is evil, right? I mean, didn't we come to that conclusion years ago when the first movie came out? Sure, we may not have actually seen it or read the book, but did we really need to in order to pronounce judgement on it?!! After all, it's about a school that teaches MAGIC, for goodness sake!

So, am I really writing about the controversial HP? Can it really be? Yep, I just got back from a screening of "Goblet of Fire" and felt compelled to jot down a few thoughts . . . But I'm an outsider looking in - a muggle of you will - and I'm certainly not an expert. So I'm going to steer clear of some of the finer points of "Potteranics" (the art of either lauding or destroying all things Potter) and just make a few general observations as an interested passer by down the lane that is Hogwartsville.

(Before my little review, just one point . . . Cell phone guy, pleeeease don't take photos of the screen in a movie theatre with your camera phone!!! And if you MUST please limit it to one or two - not 25!! Everyone behind you can see the little light going on and off and it's kinda distracting after we paid to see this story!! If you want photos, the internet is full of 'em and I'm betting they are better resolution!! Ok, cell phone guy - end of rant . . . On to the review:)

1) First of all, this is NOT a little kids movie - If the book is anything like the movie it's intense, clever, funny and imaginative (I'm guessing some will stop reading at this point, since it appears clear what my "side" is on the Potter issue) but definitely too intense for little ones! There is a GOOD reason this is PG-13, but what a ride! I've not been a big fan of anything Potter up to now, but this one was . . . well, different.

2) The world it immerses you in is brilliant, imaginative, epic in scope . . . There were several moments of awe, and the illusion is almost perfect - For the TWO AND A HALF HOURS it runs, you are definitely "in".

3) The story is classic GOOD vs EVIL. It is NOT a glorification of all things witchy, but rather a hero myth in which the unwilling Potter is met with trials and plots of the enemy to draw him down paths on which nothing good can happen. Our protagonist can only succeed in as much as he depends on friendship and a higher power. PLEEEEASE note - the story EXPLICITLY stated that the source of this higher power is "Love. Nothing can beat the love of a person willing to sacrifice themselves for another." (My paraphrase until the DVD comes out)

In summary, the worldview is this: We live in a natural world where forces can break in - They can be both good and evil, and can manifest in natural and supernatural forms. One is clearly occult and evil, whilst the other is defined as "Love", which overrules all the evil. That Harry is kept safe in his darkest hour by this and not by a spell is clear, and powerful. Sounds like a good worldview to me . . .I am not a master of Potteranics. I do not understand the various nuances and strategies employed in the ongoing debate. All I can say is that:

YES, there is magic in this (as there is in Lord of the Rings and the Narnia Chronicles)
The forces of good and evil are very clear (as they are in LOTR and NC)
The protagonist is dependant upon a higher power for victory (as they are in LOTR and NC)
Redemption comes through sacrifice.

Sound familiar? Is Harry Potter evil? I really just don't see it. Certainly, any path into the occult is bad, but are these stories really bringing folks into the occult? Again, I just don't see it. But as a casual onlooker, I'd have to say that the story was gripping, full of truths, the worldview accurate, and the message powerful. And what is the message? Well, that's for you to figure out after seeing/reading. Trust me though . . . It's good!!And author JK Rowling? She was interviewed in "Faith" magazine and asked about her faith . . . She gave a reason for not talking about it too much. And what is that reason? -Well, it certainly makes me interested in seeing where she is taking this series . . .

HP - I'm giving him 9 licorice snaps out of 10! Good one, Harry!

Hell, Rising Downward, Sinking Upward

2005-12-05T05:56:00.000-08:00

"When we focus on creating missions in church we can sometimes neglect to equip people to BE Missional"

So I'm new to the whole blog thing, but there are a bunch of people I really respect that are doing this so I thought I'd jump in and try . . . Right now I'm reading a lot of Brian Mclaren, Erwin McManus and looking openly at the stuff we play with in life . . . Regardless of where the journey takes us if our eyes are on God and we're after intimacy with him we can hardly help but move forward . . .

Quote of the day

Our mission? To help others discover and remember that there is a cosmic connection waiting to be made. To help others resonate with the most primal reality of the universe. To make the world a better place for others. Those of you who’ve prayed with me have probably heard me say this: “May everywhere our feet touch the ground become an intersection between heaven and earth. And may everyone who walks with us feel the primal essence of the universe.” Those of you who know me understand that that is one of the ways I speak about Jesus, who makes all things new. –Alex McManus

I particularly like the part about the primal essence of the universe . . . Jesus was a revolutionary, not a religious leader, and there is something far more primal about that.