Another Year Gone By or In Remembrance of My Cowlick

In honor of all children blessed by cowlicks that, even if combed through with motor oil, just wouldn't lay down.

Me...29 years ago.

On the Eve of Christmas

It is almost time, O God.
Immanuel, God is with us.
It is nearing the time of renewed wonderment and awe.
It is nearing the time of praise and adoration for the Christ-child who was born.
The work of your hands lay before us.
We pray for the wisdom and the vision to see the glory that has come our way.
His name is Emmanuel.
God is with us.

God in a Guest House???

Just a few days before Thanksgiving, my family had some good friends stay with us. We had not seen them in several years and both our families had grown in number. They had a beautiful family of five and according to my mathmatical skills, I quickly determined that we would have 9 total individuals in our home. This was exciting for us. Since living in Memphis, Tiffiny and I have not had many house guests, especially large families. Truthfully, one could become a bit anxious about the whole thing. There were dietary issues to consider, rooming situation to consider, the cleaning of our house, and the sharing of bathrooms.

On the second morning I was the first person awake and was curious to whether or not I would be able to fall into my normal routine of cereal, coffee, and Sportscenter. I know...overwhelmingly spiritual isnt it?

However, my initial sight was of three little children that I didn’t know very well staring at me from a slightly open door way. The oldest whispered, “Is Carson up yet?” Well, just a few minutes later I found myself pouring cereal into bowls, entertaining children, piecing together sippy cups, making coffee, drawing pictures, taking breakfast orders, and washing hands. From that moment until the day of their sad departure it seems that the bathrooms were always in use, special meals were being prepared, and entertainment was being planned.

Contrast that to another, purely hypothetical situation. Let’s say I had a guest house in my back yard. In that guest house was a fully equipped kitchen with 3 bathrooms, a fully stocked pantry and refrigerator, and 4 bedrooms each with king sized beds. If this was the case, first of all, my family would be living in the guest house!!! But, hypothetically speaking, any guest or family that would visit would not require a great deal of attention. There would be little interaction. Not much conversation. And, realistically, we wouldn’t get to know our guests as well.

You see, it is one thing to enter into a community of people and live in a guest house or king’s palace. It’s another thing altogether to live among your hosts and share in the details of common, shared space. And this is the way in which Jesus chose to reveal himself.

God wants be on familiar terms with us. He could have chosen another way. But God decided to not stop short of revealing his true nature to humankind. The incarnation was not a strategy of persuasion so that people would be convinced of the goodness of God. Persuasion would not have required full humanity. Neither was it a strategy of influence. When one person influences another, the relationship can only go so far. The one being influenced could never be completely sure that what he/she was experiencing is completely accurate. The eternal Word became fully human so that it would no longer be necessary to question whether or not God understands the human predicament.

God became fully human so that we could become fully human in Him.
God came and made his dwelling among his creation and this is how He desires to be known. In Jesus we see God.

The Inconceivable Incarnation!

God wants be on familiar terms with us. He could have chosen another way. But God decided to not stop short of revealing his true nature to humankind. The incarnation was not a strategy of persuasion so that people would be convinced of the goodness of God. Persuasion would not have required full humanity. Neither was it a strategy of influence. When one person influences another, the relationship can only go so far. The one being influenced could never be completely sure that what he/she was experiencing is completely accurate. The eternal Word became fully human so that it would no longer be necessary to question whether or not God understands the human predicament. God became fully human so that we could become fully human in Him.

God came and made his dwelling among his creation and this is how He desires to be known. In Jesus we see God. The Gospel of John states, "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the embrace of the Father, he has made him known." Here the point is that even though God is invisible, He has now revealed himself in an utterly unique way — by the incarnation of himself in his Son Jesus.

We should all find freedom in knowing that we are not responsible for taking subjective guesses about a of shadow side of God. God willingly chose to come to us and not stay in a guest house but chose to live among us so that we can know him personally in grace and in truth.
God is abundantly gracious in his goodness.

John Piper reminds us that, “this is the essence of God's reality because nothing reveals the fullness of his deity more than the freedom of his grace. He is full, happy, and sufficient in himself so that he does not need us to meet his need but is surging with infinite energy and fullness to meet our need. That's his grace. And that's the capstone of his glory. "We saw his glory . . . full of grace and truth."

Furthermore, God has not come to us in human flesh as a strategy to win us over. If it was a mere strategy then we would be overwhelmed with uncertainty. We could never be assured that God didn’t simply lay out a plan and then fall back with less than sincere hopes for humankind. In addition, the incarnation did not take place in order to simply influence us or persuade us.

Each Sunday thousands of pastors stand behind pulpits and try to responsibly persuade individuals to accept the teachings of Christ. In the political arena, we are already witnessing presidential debates in which candidates attempt to persuade you to adopt their agenda and eventually nominate them into a national race.

But God did something altogether different and is still at work through Jesus Christ who works on our behalf. God becoming man was the way chosen by God to bind himself to the believer for eternity. God’s purpose of the incarnation was not to influence you into some type of moral code or standard of living or even to make you into a better person. The incarnation was about God yearning to be close to humanity. This is who God is!

The How and Who of Christology: or How to Keep Your Distance from the One Thing that Matters

Bonhoeffer reminds us all that our study of Christ (Christology) begins with the question of Who? Sounds simple enough... but not really. Most followers of Christ, myself included, quickly assume that we have figured out the Who question and now it is time for only the How? We know who Christ is...at least we think we do and then we set off with endless attempts to cover up our humanity. I am victim of this type of faith most every day. I am guilty. I tell people how to have a relationship with Christ. I influence them on how they should live under the direction of God. I explain how Christianity is more supreme, even cool, and doctrinally sound than other religions and faiths. I pray about how I can do more, believe more, pray more, and understand God more. But where in the New Testament does it tell us to be addicted to the question of How?
Shouldn't our faith be more authentic than to spend so much time wondering how we can live our faith? As if our faith is something outside ourselves that we can gain ground or lose ground depending on how much faith we have for the day!
Who? Who are you Christ? Who is this Jesus of Nazareth? Who is the incarnate one who yearns to be connected with humanity? Who is this one who came not as a stategy or influence to win us over...but the one who came to bind himself to the human condition and therefore humanity itself?
You see how the question of How? wrecks things. We now are completely free of knowing the divine being who we refer to as God. We can skip the Who? and return to our strategic ways of trying to impress God long before we even seriously considered him. Bonhoeffer writes, "How?...is the serpent's question while Who?...proves its asker is ready to listen."
It's the season of Advent...or soon to be. We should do ourselves a service and begin asking the right question. How?..will come later but now it is time for us to ask Who? Let's ignore the impersonal question in favor of a personal question. Let's not imprison Jesus behind theoretical questions and dialogue. It is impossible to do such a thing anyway. We must pray that God gives us the courage to ask the question of Who? For to ask it may lead us to answers that are dangerous, risky, and mysterious.
Maybe my job, among other believers, is to take a rest on the tiresome attempt of trying to influence others to follow Christ 'according to my interpretation.' Rather, allow God to give me what it takes to live an incarnational life. Not a life of influence but a life of incarnational relationships.
Jesus is alive and active in the world. Even to write it make me wonder how much I believe it. But my faith can only grow if I realize that I must keep asking the who question much more than the how question. My Christology tells me that the how should take place naturally if the incarnational life exists in me.

Take another look above at Mary in Henry O'Tanner's Annunciation. Her face conveys the right question.

Christ the King Prayer

To Christ our Sovereign King
who exists as the world's salvation,
all praise and glory we bring to you,
and thanks and adoration.
May your authority
seen through the acts of a suffering servant,
be noticed by every land and nation;
For in your kingdom we discover your goodness, our weakness,
and the love for a King who faithfully responds to our needs.
To you and only you we pledge our hearts and minds
until that final day before your throne
as we sing in endless joy.
For Christ the Victor is indeed
Christ our Lord and redeemer.

"I am the President of the Internet"

...proclaimed one businessman back in 1995 while trying to explain the internet to a bunch of French investors. Dave Garrison, who probably is the first person to ever declare himself (and be informally recognized) the President of the Internet. Mr. Garrison didn't know much about the internet back in 1995. I too remember when I was in college and rumors had spread across campus that everytime we opened up an image, we would be financially charged for such a drastic action. Remember the words, "How do I go back?" I'm sure you do if you are at 30+ individual like me.
Basically, Mr. Garrison could not explain the concept of the internet to these older French investors because there was, and is, no CEO who owns the internet. As talks continued, Dave Garrison became frustrated trying to explain something in which he didn't even completely understand. Garrison was simply commissioned by Netcom to encourage investors to jump on board with this new 'thing' that would soon take over the world. It was in their best financial interest. Talks continued, the French investors demanded an official CEO, so Dave Garrison suddenly declared himself the President of the Internet. After that, talks resumed. Everyone was calm.
You're probably wondering why a placed a starfish at the top of this post. What does a ridiculous claim of presidency in 1995 have to do with a five-legged creature who slowly crawls along the bottom of the sea eating who knows what? Furthermore, what do these two things have to do with an encycopedia, a piece of software, a phone company, classified ads, and naked people in the Nevada desert. I correctly chose not to use the last one as my blog picture.
Well, to find out you must read a book called, The Starfish and the Spider. The premise is that if you cut off the head of a spider, the spider dies. Correct. But you cut off an arm of a starfish, it grows into another starfish. Tricky.
And now another strange connection. Millions of teenagers (and young adults) across the globe are more powerful, tricky, and starfish-like than major corporations and CEO's. I didn't say they are smarter...just tricky and more sophisticated at times. The 950 million people on the internet right now are more powerful than MGM. A couple of college students years ago proved this when they created Napster, the online music swapping site that MGM destroyed. Yes, the major record labels with high-priced lawyers brought down a couple of computer geeks but MGM made a major mistake. Bringing down Napster resulted in Kazaa (less centralized), and this gave birth to Kazza Lite (even less centralized), and eventually E-mule (completely decentralized). The primary organizations who wanted to destroy all file swapping networks created a monster and to this day no one knows who created E-mule. There is no CEO of Emule, there are no headquarters, there is no one decision maker. Everyone makes their own decision based on the situation and moves together. In this case, outwitting the best and finest.
So what does this have to do with spiritual things. Well, first of all let me say that I believe Christ-followers must examine the world through a different sort of lens. We are supposed to see everything different now. And I believe what happened in 1995 and eventually with E-mule affects the way we process our faith. Just like we were unable to think about God in any other way but a modern way based on Reason. Times have changed and we now live in a post-modern world and, as a result, we are challenged to think of God in entirely new ways. Culture dictates a lot.
Young adults basically rule our world. They dictate and demand change, they drive the economy, and they are changing the church (for good and bad) right before our eyes. So if the average young person doesn't respect (unless he/she has to) a person in charge, or they don't think a person in control is necessary; it tells me that the natural response is for younger America to see more of themselves for salvation and less of God for salvation. And what I mean by salvation is not necessarily about eternal destiny but the type of salvation that creates a person into who he/she is to become. People will find their salvation and hope somewhere and I see a generation who is suspect of anything outside of themselves. The only hope that I see is thousands who have been surprised at the disappointment of the whole thing. Products, networking, and consumerism may build up the false self but in the end do nothing to save. We can only hope that this young, undefinable generation sees this disappointment and eventually discovers that it is possible to turn to a God who actually promises to come and dwell in the self with a power completely other than what they could have expected.

Weird Dreams and such...

I wish my dreams were not so strange. Most people have normal dreams. Dreams that they can interpret. Dreams that at least have them playing superheroes that give them confidence that maybe they are supposed to do something great in their lives. You know the people I'm talking about. He/she claims that they went to bed unsure of what they were to become and then Freddy Mercury appears with words of wisdom about starting a rock band. Or another may close their eyes only to find themselves fishing once again with their great uncle named Creekmore telling him/her to...I don't know...cast a welcoming hand toward a troubled friend.

I just have stupid dreams.

The other night I dreamed that several members of the youth group here at church were invited to defend the Christian faith on Jon Stewart's, The Daily Show. It just so happened to be conveniently filmed on the patio of Boscoe's on Madison. It was a 30 minute show and I took three youth so that they could have their half hour of fame. But as soon as the LIVE show began, the entire group answered one question and then ran away. The show was ruined and Jon Stewart was angry at me. What am I to do with that???? Does anyone have any idea?

Last night I dreamed that I decided to ride out a hurricane at my parents new home. I thought it would be fun. But the flood waters came up and washed away the lattice work (that doesn't exist fortunately) and an inch of water came into only one room of the house. Now had could that happen? The house is level. I'm so confused. Oh, and the water scum was brown, smelly, and my parents just decided to keep it that way. It made me want to call my parents at 6am this morning and ask them if they had chosen brown for their primarey wall color.

Were these just related to the Smores that I ate on Sunday night during a campfire? Hey, I'm missing my pillow. Sorry, bad joke. But I really was talked into eating that strange recipe of burnt marshmallows, chocolate bar, and graham crackers. Just the sugar rush alone made me invision Smurfs jumping out of the nearby picnic table.

My former pastor once told me that dreams are NOT about God or other people, but about ME. I once told him about my dream of trying to become a lifeguard but this big man in a wheelchair who didn't have any limbs was trying to give us intructions. I guess this was about me in some way but I would rather blame it on some bad tacos. His possible explanation was that I feared I didn't feel I had a leg to stand on. Probably something to that. I would hope that God wasn't speaking to me through a dream with an invalid man yelling at me to swim. There must be other ways for me to get a message. You know, an image of Moses telling me that there are actually 15 commandments. Then I would wake up and be sure I was supposed to be an archeologist.

Trip to Heber Springs

Our family went to Heber Springs this weekend. We had a great time. We ate, fished, watched football, ate fish, slept, ate, played, and ate. I didn't want to leave. So Carson and I created a barricade so that the other half of the family couldn't get in to take us back to Memphis. We stuck my son Will behind the structure to provide an intimidating presence that is necessary during times like these. It didn't work. I write this from Memphis.

Facebook, the do-nothing networking site

Ok, I've finally done it. I have joined Facebook, the social networking site that allows individuals to become connected once again. Last week I received another invitation to become a member and now I am connected with 70 friends from MS, GA, AL, and TN, and even Australia. Facebook is clean, fun, and quite informative. But don't join if you are an extremely private person. Don't join if you are one who wants to forget the past rather than relive it.

But I am a minister and part of my job is to poo-poo on all things cool. Just kidding, but not really. As I was reflecting on this I must say that I began to think of the theology of Facebook. I was fairly disappointed with myself for automatically pondering the possible drawbacks, temptations, and sins of the social networking world. I was becoming the clergy that I often can't stand to listen to or read. So I told myself that I was not going to do such a thing. Facebook is good, moral (if you want it to be), and about community. And to a certain degree it is.

BUT..(there's is always a BUT when a minister speaks) how much of Facebook is really just about finding out the scoop on people we never will talk to again. And is that community? It may just be another easy way to relate to people but to not actually get involved. It feels good though. The reason that this occured to me was because I joined a wonderful organization called Watering Malawi. The organization is about raising money so that people in a particular village in Africa can easily get water to their crops and homes from a nearby lake. It is awesome and doing a lot of good. I joined their cause through Facebook. And now I feel good and fuzzy about it. And then a friend of mine noticed that I did this and he joined WM and it is listed as me recruiting him to WM. This made me feel even better...but I really did nothing. But is still feels rather nice.

I think this is a trend within American Christianity. I am part of the problem. We have made God safe and community safe. But everything I read in Scripture deals with risk, faith, and authentic relationships. We fulfull our expectations but do we really ever get involved. We communicate with others from a distance but rarelly strive to get to know others on a deep level.

And by the way, I don't plan on deleting my Facebook account.

Should be required viewing...

Nothing challenges my faith more than the reality of war. My desire is to be a pacifist but I admit I am far from it. Jesus was a pacifist. Therefore, I know that his followers should follow his teachings of peace. But I confess that I can't resolve my personal conflict between his teachings of peace and "The Necessary War."

I believe it is my own fear that drives my inability to refer to myself as being anti-war. I fear that the minute I declare a pacifist view that I will be completely unable to live up to it.

Before anyone makes a judgement of my words or decides to label me a...whatever, you must see Ken Burns documentary, The War. Just when I think I have theological answers I am reminded of the world of the 1940's.

I think my troubles began again when this sweet elderly lady from Mobile, Alabama said that the invention of the atomic bomb was the greatest idea ever. And then she laughed in a sweet little voice as if to tell all other generations that its necessity was a reality that others will never be able to understand.

She is right. Unless you were there...you can't understand. And to go on with insincere pacifist talk is to dilute her experience as trivial. I use the word "insincere' because I know that I haven't quite adopted a theology of a peacable kingdom. I only sound like it from the pulpit. I would love to resolve this personal, theological conflict but I just don't have enough answers to criticize anyone who thought that America's involvement in the Second World War was necessary and good. I've tried to sit back and pray for peace and remain unmoved in my hope that the truth of the resurrection of Christ will make all things better. Is this all a Christ-follower is to do? It is impossible for me to watch a documentary like this and not be horrified and patriotic at the same time. It is impossible for me to not imagine a promised peacable kingdom but also root for our American marines at the same time.

Let me be clear. I believe in a better world to come when horrors like WWII won't happen. My hope is only found in the truth that the resurrection demonstrated that death won't win in God's Kingdom. Flannery O'Conner said something like this, "By the time our spiritual house is in order...we'll be dead. We will make our way though life but it will often be in darkness. And faith will never clear anything up. It is trust...never certainty."

I hope that God can move me to a point where I have answers for terrible realities like war. And more importantly, what the Christian response should be about such things. I'm just not there yet. I will pray for peace, I will hope for peace, and I will LOVE peace. I will hate violence, hate all war, and oppose it when our sword is not wielded well. And for now I will both despise what happened from 1941-1945 and also praise the ones who had to endure it.

Whoever you might be....

...Thomas Merton draws a few conclusions on the nature of an individual. So whether you are a Christian, an agnostic, a fundamentalist, a progressive, a peace-maker, a terrorist, a preacher, an activist, a Catholic, a Protestant, a Capitalist, a Communist, a CEO, a banker, a teacher, or a shoe salesman....

"There is a paradox that lies in the very heart of human existence.

The paradox is this: human nature, by itself, can do little or nothing to settle his most important problems.

If we follow nothing but our natures, our own philosophies, our own ethics, the result can only be disastrous.

For in the concrete order of things God gave people a nature that was ordered to a supernatural life.

He created humankind with a soul that was made not to bring itself to perfection, but to be perfected by Him in a way that infinitely exists beyond the reach of our own powers.

We were never destined to lead purely natural lives, and therefore we were never destined in God’s plan for a purely natural happiness."

Pack the Pantry for Tennessee Baptist Children's Home

Don't forget...this Sunday provides everyone the opportunity to make donations to the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home. On Sunday September 23rd, bring a sack filled with canned goods and packaged goods.

The Gospel According to Bono

"The Left mocks the Right. The Right knows it's right. Two ugly traits. How far should we go to try to understand each other's point of view? Maybe the distance grace covered on the cross is a clue."

Sorta sappy I know....

But isn't it true that Christianity is not about being right. That certainty is a myth. As J. Jacob Jenkins says, "Christianity is the continual understanding that we haven't all the answers. We haven't arrived. We are to always be aware of our imperfections since the moment of our salvation. Every step after that moment is paved by the same humility."

Beauty in Black Snake Moan

"Okay, sit back, get ready, here goes: Not since The Apostle has a more spiritual mainstream movie been released than Black Snake Moan. It depicts the need for forgiveness and change so realistically that it will certainly offend many church-goers; and yet, at the same time, it may cause many who have issues with Christianity to respect the real-life, honest-to-goodness struggles of those living out their faith on the screen before them."-Hollywood Jesus (http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/)

Somewhere in the midst of bad language, several graphic scenes, a controversial plot, and iron chains is a wonderful movie about redemption and dare I say.....resurrection. Yes, I did say "iron chains" as the movie depicts a black man who chains up a white woman in order to take care of her needs. The director, who is from Memphis, actually said that when the actress (Chistina Ricci) came out on to the set with the chain around her waist that everyone was silent. No one knew what to say. There they were. Filming a movie in the deep south with a pretty young woman getting ready to be chained up to a heavy furnace. They all thought, "What are we doing?" If you feel grimy right now it is OK, the director has achieved what he wanted to achieve.

But back to the story of resurrection. Lazarus, played by Samuel Jackson, takes this abused young woman (Rae) under his care and attempts to purge her "evil" ways by means of isolation and tough love. But Lazarus has his own demons. His wife has cheated on him and his own salvation is sure to be found through anger, booze, and music. But the beauty of Black Snake Moan is that a sort of resurrection is found by both Lazarus and Rae. Rae has plenty of weaknesses and Lazarus, who first appears strong as a lion, admits his own fears and weakness. Somewhere along the way they find a type of strength that is only found by admitting who they are and only then can they have a slim hope for the future.

And there you have it. The gospel. In this case we have two people (victims) who discover that the only hope they have in overcoming 'the self' and the junk that comes with it is to admit that they are no good at life. This movie was primarily about bondage and being set free. When the chains finally fell from Rae's waist, the viewer could sense of fear upon her because now she would have the unwanted freedom to return to her destructive addiction.

Don't we all have a choice of whether or not stay in bondage to ourselves or accept a type of divine ownership that results in a true kind of freedom?

For younger viewers, I'm sure that Black Snake Moan's message would not be heard through the medium of the disturbing images. But I do believe that there is a story of redemption through weakness that is evident in this movie. Interestingly enough, I thought that a redemptive moment would come by means of Rae's conversation with the preacher. However, it is to be noted that she did not accept what the preacher proclaimed. Rather, salvation for Rae was something that had to be lived and experienced. Salvation was something that would not come easy. And resurrection would come only when she realized she was trash. Resurrection for Lazarus came by means of confession, love, and a purging of the past through music.

I loved this movie. But it was the next day when I realized it. Hope by means of realizing that there is something greater than ourselves. The gaining of strength by confessing that we but weak. Like-minded human beings gathering together in a community confession that we all need each other. Sounds familiar.

"While many will not realize the significant symbolism of Black Snake Moan, others might consider the story syrupy if they didn’t know better. Instead, we are served one delicious cup of java that not only has the taste of delight but the aroma of a wonderful heavenly experience. While there will be some who don’t like coffee—some who might even be offended at the intake of caffeine—this highly-charged, captivating story will certainly delight those who want examples of living out their faith, and the power of God in his ability to change lives. Not in a overtly religious way, but in a realistic presentation that left at least this one reviewer captivated enough that he could hardly get the movie off his mind over the weekend." - Mike Furches, HJ

Or, as Mike McKinley writes, (unrelated to review of BSM)

"When Jesus was on earth, He painted a radical vision for his followers. He called it the "kingdom of God." His kingdom is a heavenly reality that lands smack in the middle of everyday life. Maybe it was the clash of opposites or the paradox that exists in parallel with many lesser kingdoms, but either way, his followers were not quick to pick up on this revolution. They longed for another world - a world without oppressors, beggers, or messes. For three years, Jesus walked among the people overcome with longing and spread the good news of his kingdom. And He said that His kingdom was already happening all around them."

Pascagoula Progress!

A house has finally emerged from the rubble of 2 years back. My folks finally have a new driveway.

No theology here...just hilarious.

"Thanks Dad for getting us this new pool...can I swim after you?!

Love as an End! Thoughts from a flaming moderate!

A while back I wrote a piece on the problems of fundamentalism. This is part II, I guess. To recap...fundamentalism is mostly a dead end which can only serve to fossilize the gospel. And you notice that I didn't use the word' ultra-conservatism' as my example. I believe that ultra-liberalism can be dangerous as it too, seeks to prove how everyone else does not have a brain. I know...this simplifies it entirely too much and delutes everyone's ligitimate emotions about the issue.

But it is worth considering that a more, middle-of-the-road (and risky) approach could be discovered in laying down our agendas. Think about it. If I have an agenda before arriving at an interpretation of something or someone, then I have partcipited in a form of fundamentalist thought. For example, if I show compassion toward someone because I only want to lead them to Christ (or reveal Christ in me) then I am insincere in my action and thought. I'm not sure Jesus honors that at all. I admit that I am guilty in this area more than I would like to imagine.

J. Jacob Jenkins writes that it took him half his life to realize the value of love. In the first half of his life he believed that the only purpose for a Christian was to turn a skeptic into a follower and to win souls for Christ. But over time he learned to love as an end, not merely as a means.

We shouldn't reach out to someone because we can bring them to church. We should reach out to them.

We shouldn't befriend someone so that we can share Christ with them. Befriend them.

We shouldn't make friends with neighbors so that we can invite them to a church event. We should get to know our neighbors.

I am certain that Christianity is something that we are suppose to breathe in each day. Being a Christ-follower should be something that comes as natural as a breath of air instead of us reasoning through a certain situation in order to find out if it fits into our own moral and ethical guidelines. Our own morality, left on its own, has a tendency to let us down. It is undependable.

But what is dependable, unwavering, and never-changing is the new covenant based on Christ. Jesus never said that we, as followers, were to be so agenda-conscious (and so certain about it) that His teachings become unclear. We are only asked to 'return the favor' and be dependable, trustworthy, and unwavering in our commitment to him as he is to us.

Jumped the Shark?

Jump the Shark. It's a phrase used to mark a defining moment when you know that your favorite television show has reached its peak. Most of us have had these moments where we know that we have seen the best there is to see. For Happy Days it happened when the Fonz, as cool as he was, jumped a huge shark in tight blue shorts and a leather jacket. I remember this Happy Days moment as a kid but have to admit that I didn't see it (at the time) as a defining moment to mark the show's decline. It was just a stupid sitcom that had run its course.


But this often overused phrase can still describe moments when we know that something has reached its peak performance. Some say that the X-files was never the same once the movie came out on the big screen. Sports teams can 'jump the shark' with the poor performance of an aging quarterback. I'm sure that someone somewhere remembers a time when Elvis jumped the shark. You know it had to happen. Some young fan remembers the day that Elvis appeared in a bad movie or showed up fat on stage. Seinfield and Friends really never jumped the shark because the actors knew that, if they didn't quit, they too would have a date with this hungry shark at Universal Studios.


I guess my thought is this...and I know it is a stretch. But I wonder when and where the American church jumped the shark. At some defining moment last century, the American church began a decline in popularity, baptisms, and relevancy. Maybe this is how the church at large is supposed to function. Maybe it is never really supposed to be popular. Maybe the cultural church that existed decades ago was a bad thing. There is a Biblical case to be made that the gospel message only spreads like a wildfire under persecution and unpopularity.
So I'm not exactly sure if one can state an actual moment in which all would agree. There may be hundreds of reasons that the church is distastful to the many unchurched people in our communities. One can conclude that the church has jumped the shark.


Along those same lines, I am bothered at a recent attempt by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to return to the good ole' days. You know...the days when women had their set, God-given duties at home while the men worked 'hard' at their daily grind. SBTS has created a homemaker degree for women. I'm not kidding. Not our proudest moment. http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=9351. If the Baptist church has not officially 'jumped the shark' then we can definately see those sharp teeth emerging from the deep. I'm glad that FBC Memphis has an alternative interpretation of women in the world. To be honest, I can understand the fundamentalist reasoning by Paige Patterson, the President of SBTS. For Dr. Patterson, whose wife as of a few years ago actually wore a headcovering to demonstrate her submission, he has seen the research on failed marriages and home stress and has now offered what he thinks is a remedy. But easy church remedies always scare me. They usually end up being racist, homophobic, or taking up residence in a theological wasteland.


But doesn't this come across as a seminary grasping at straws. I mean, let's be honest, the world is partly in the shape that it is in because the church has not been proactive enough in the areas of justice, giving, compassion, witness, and knowledge. And now SBTS believes that part of the American problem is due to working women. They should have never left home. It's just too easy to think that an MRS. degree, as someone jokingly coined it, is going to save the family unit.

Dr. Patterson, this world will never return to the 1950's (as much as you loved it) and we don't want to return. More importantly, did you ever ask Christian women if this is the lifestyle that they wish to have imposed upon them. There is something sinful lurking underneath with this and it is in someway related to allowing men to once again have their way. Dr. Patterson has the audacity to say that women can still grow intellectually but at the same time learn how to be a good homemaker. What is so intellectual about sewing on a button or washing the dishes?


I hate when churches and seminaries attempt to find an easy solution outside of the message of Jesus Christ, who really said nothing about women and vacuum cleaners. The more difficult path is to live your life for the welfare of others, to seek justice, to be less materialistic, to offer rigorous, theologically-sound seminary courses, and to help remove the rain cloud that is over the head of so many people that feel inadequate due to gender/lifestyle.

If the church has 'jumped the shark' then it is time to rethink matters and ask ourselves what we want to be known for at the end of the day. Furthermore, we must never attempt the easy road of returning to the way it used to be.

d365.org

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Episcopal Church in America have developed a unique online devotional. The name of the site is d365 www.d365.org and I've been impressed with its simple approach for busy believers. Spread the word about this attempt to bring many different thoughts and prayers into one comprehensive site.

Proof that I am from the MS Gulf Coast!

My parents in Pascagoula have a fiddler crab problem. No joke. My mother informed me today of this problem as if she was just talking about dust bunnies under her sofa. I asked my mom how progress was going with her lazy contractor and her primary complaint was that there is no weather stripping at her front door. I'm thinking...it's letting the cold air out and the warm air in. Hence the name 'weather stripping.' No...it's the fiddler crabs getting in the house. While most people deal with the occasional house fly or cockroach...my folks squash crabs.

Netflix is Saving the World!

OK...maybe it's an overstatement to indicate that Netflix can save the world. As a new customer, I'm just pumped to have available movies around my house at all times. My wife and I can barely find time to watch a movie together and driving to the movie store, although just around the corner, just seems like another busy thing to do. I can now watch a 2-hour movie over a span of 19 days by watching short scenes while eating lunch, lying in my bed, eating a bowl of cereal, tying my shoes, picking up the living room, folding clothes, playing with my children, drinking water, flossing, writing thank you cards, blogging, or listening to my wife. It's great.

But someone out there, with way too much time on their hands, has figured out that Netflix is the environmentally safe way to get a movie to your house. Read below:

The total emissions from sending one billion DVDs to its customers is 320 tons. Keeping in mind that those DVDs are also returned to the same facility we need to double that result to 640 tons of CO2 emissions. To put this result into perspective, let's see what the alternative looks like. Let's say that the average drive to your local video rental store is 5 km (3 miles) and that the average vehicle gets around 20 mpg so that every trip to the video rental store uses 0.588 liters of fuel, releasing 1.77 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere. If everyone gets only one DVD per trip, those one billion DVDs would amount to 1,770,000 tons of CO2 emissions. If you factor in the return trip, that amount increases to 3,540,000 tons of CO2!
The lesson in all of this is that mail order is more efficient than driving your personal vehicle (unless it's a bike). A study performed for the record label EMI by the Digital Europe Project compared the relative ecological impact of purchasing a CD at a store (which requires driving there), ordering it on-line (from Amazon for example), or downloading the music (iTunes) and came to a similar conclusion as this Netflix case.

Thank you Netflix for saving our climate. Polar bears will not be stranded because of you. I can watch Weekend at Bernie's 77 times and do no harm to the atmosphere. I no longer have to fear being consumed by a glacier-produced tidal wave while watching The Notebook.

And may I add...never do the Blockbuster online thing. I thought I would be different and start there. Big mistake. I apologize to everyone.

Missing the Divine Dance!

Say No to Fundamentalism! I'm going to attempt something here that I've rarely been able to accomplish. I'm going to speak about fundamentalism without using the words conservative or liberal. I believe that fundamentalism can be an error in both camps so my goal will be to keep things civil. Sounds whimpy I know...but I believe it can be done.

J. Jacob Jenkins in his book, Buried Alive, writes about the first time he danced with a girl. He's not sure that anyone would describe it as dancing but his first attempt at it came with sweaty hands and shortness of breath. But everyone knows when the girl that you have a crush on wants you to dance...you dance. But Jenkins figured out a method. It was a formula to help him get through his very first dance with someone he really didn't know. Due to his fear of screwing up and making a fool of himself, he decided to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground. This way nobody's toes would get squashed and the superficial crush could continue.

I took some liberties with Jenkins' account but you see where I am going with this. John Michael Montgomery once said, "Don't worry about what you don't know. Life's a dance. You learn as you go."

There is no real danger and no true risk of injury if we all just keep our feet on the ground. Just sway our hips back and forth, play church, and be nice. We all are guilty of making Jesus out who we want to be. But one thing is undeniably true: Christianity is intended to be life-giving and free. It offers a unique opportunity for purpose of existence and it provides special lenses in which to see and appreciate beauty. By playing it safe and not lifting our feet off of the fundamentalist foundation, we completely miss the joy of the dance. Fundamentalism demands ALL of our time and fossilizes the true nature of the gospel. Do you sense that I have an opinion on this?

I marvel at the way that people, myself included, have decided to come up with personalized (or institutionalized) formulas for living as a Christ follower. Usually, as Jenkins writes, this formula is nothing more than walking through life with a stiff neck and held breath. "Above all, love each other deeply" and "Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us" should make us ponder about our motives for living.

May we never forget: Christ is the end of the Law!

More on this to come.

Prayers of the People

Yes, the following words are from the prayer that I accidentally prayed 30 minutes too soon one hot Sunday morning in August. I just wanted to make sure we were adequately prepared for the time of giving. ha.

Loving God, indeed we take many things for granted. Whether it is the air that we breathe or our confidence in tomorrow, we find ourselves leaning too much on our own understanding. Therefore, we ask that your indwelling Spirit teach us how to gain a confidence that depends only on Jesus Christ. As we worship you in this gathered community, may we be directed on how we can love you with added strength and purpose. And may the offerings we give be a reflection of what WE believe YOU would like to see changed in our world. May our gifts bring justice to the ones who need it and meaning to the ones who stand firm against it.
Almighty God, continue to change us so that our hearts and minds are set on things above.

Does Jesus Care?

The following thoughts were written by William Willimon, a Methodist bishop in Birmingham, AL.

An earnest young man comes up to Jesus asking the Lord to help him settle an inheritance dispute between him and his brother. Jesus, who has been on a negative, judgmental jag for the past few chapters in Luke, is given an opportunity to show how caring and compassionate he really is. Time to get off the prophetic high horse and get mushy, fuzzy and pastoral.
The man addresses Jesus as “Teacher,” which presumes that the man wants instruction, but in the next breath he demands that Jesus “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” The man knows, or thinks he knows, just what ought to be done in this situation and just what Jesus will do for him.
As happens so often, however, Jesus refuses to answer the question, refuses to respond in the expected way and reframes the question, reworks the expectation. “Friend” (the word Jesus tends to use when he is preparing to thrust the dagger through someone’s heart), “who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?”—which is ironic because the man isn’t asking for judgment; he is asking for action on his behalf.
It is also ironic because even though Jesus says he is not a judge over this man’s problems, he is judging this man’s preoccupations: “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” This judgment seems unfair because nothing suggests that this man is being greedy. He is asking for simple justice in the matter of an inheritance dispute.
I find it interesting that Jesus dismisses this concern over justice, refusing to arbitrate or to attempt to make peace in a feuding family, and instead tells a story about a successful, prudent rich man whom Jesus calls a “fool.” It’s hard to see how the story has anything to do with the question of inheritance since the rich man presumably didn’t inherit his wealth but got it the old fashioned way—he worked for it and earned it. Yet Jesus calls him a fool.
One reason why we study scripture, one reason why we come to church on Sunday, is so that we can receive answers to our questions, action on our petitions. We come seeking help with our daily problems, solutions to our dilemmas.
And isn’t Jesus loving and compassionate? And doesn’t he care?
Well, not always, at least that’s what this Sunday’s exchange suggests. Jesus must be about more important matters even than meeting my needs. He is also judge of my need. The questions that consume me may not consume Jesus. The matters in my life that I consider to be my biggest, most pressing problems may not interest Jesus in the least. It’s always a shock to have a conversation with Jesus and to find that he is more than the answer to my questions and the solution to my problems.What a challenge to worship a friend and savior who is also the true and living God!

I've never really pondered the idea of Jesus not caring about every detail in my life. In fact, I'm not sure that the church ever teaches anything otherwise. The questions now is, if Jesus is not concerned about every little problem, why does the concept give me comfort? As I reflect on Willimon's words, I sit here and try to imagine Jesus somewhat distant, not at all concerned about a problem that I have manufactured on my own or one that has been brought upon me. It's odd to think of such a thing but I have to admit that the possibility of Jesus moving on to more important items makes me joyous. When our daily living, with all of its busyness and stress, takes grip on our lives; we often feel like we have been betrayed. We may not notice it but how many times have we all looked up as if we didn't deserve such a thing to happen? Or how many times do we become disappointed in life because things aren't quite going as the pastor promised years ago; way back when when the adventure of Christianity made us feel like could withstand anything.

I guess I'm saying that I like the idea of Jesus dismissing some things in my life as being unworthy of his ministry. If Jesus jumped on board with every issue, dispute, argument, or pain then I would be the one in control and nothing could be farther from the truth.

God is more powerful, more perfect, more involved, and more mysterious to me if I get off the ego trip of believing that He must be concerned with what I am concerned about. His ways are not my ways. "The questions that consume me may not consume Jesus," and who am I to demand that they do.

For me, God's continuous presence goes without dispute. But must we always demand that He always be in step with us? I believe the better option would be to take the risk that Jesus has always placed before his followers; to follow him and forget about ourselves...even our worries.

High Country Adventure!

We are back from the Ocoee! I can't think of a better way to get to know a bunch of teenagers then to travel down the Ocoee River in a guided raft. You can see by the looks on their faces that everyone had a great time. I'll give High Country Outfitters http://www.highcountryoutfitters.com/ a 5 star review. I've been using them for several years now and this particular outfitter seems to have the most experienced guides. Thanks to all who attended this trip. It is safe to say that we ended the summer on a positive note.

Tolerance!

I am pro-tolerance! I would hate for America to return to an age of intolerance. Bigotry is awful! As is prejudice, hate, and narrowmindedness (if I could so use that word). Look at all the different people up above. They all smile. But they are all different. In general, there is nothing wrong with it. There must be tolerance if a society is to survive.
But my question is how does tolerance and the expression of faith work together. Jacob Jenkins (or J. Jacob Jenkins...you know that after writing a book one has to include a rarely used initial in order to bleed credibility) has a book that deals with seven lifeless sins. One of them is tolerance. He shares a dream that he later confesses was no real dream but the thought of it becoming true was surely a nightmare. (Stay with me now...)
In short, the hypothetical dream involved his death. But he was allowed to witness his own funeral and this was not the scary part. The scary part came when everyone who spoke about him referred to him being NICE. This was his nightmare. He woke in a sweat, not because he felt he was looking into the immediate future or that his wife was smiling or something. Rather, he could see that the path his life was on would only result in his close friends and his family referring to him as NICE! Only NICE! Not dangerous, risky, brave, or unpredictable. Just NICE! It reminded of me Dallas Willard's quote that "Jesus was more than just nice...he was brilliant."
It seems that Christians, especially here in America, have placed niceness upon such a pedestal that it has become the ultimate goal in life. What ever happened to the scandalous offense of the gospel? Does the gospel mess up people's life anymore? Maybe Stanley Hauerwas is right when he claims that "cynicism is a virtue." Haurewas even found it within himself to give a half compliment to the fundamentalist Southern Baptist preachers. He proclaimed once that although their meanness does not often resemble the love of Christ, at least the @*%# stand up for something.
My point is, and I follow Jenkins' line of thought, that we are all too afraid of offending another person. Congenial Christianity says, "Don't offend anyone...just tolerate." Toleration is surely Christian but is it possible that the type of toleration that has swept through out country now taking the sting out of the gospel. Has relativity consumed the country in such a way that it doesn't tolerate room for truth. (And now you free to ask..."But what issss truth?) John Stott said, "truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth." I remember when I merely mentioned this to a group of teenagers. They looked at me like I had horns coming out of my head when I brought up falling in love with Christ so much that they consider their beliefs to be special. Our interpretation of God is too safe. Our interpretation of Jesus' life is one of niceness. We must respect others faith, lifestyle, and creed but we need not throw away the scandalous nature of our own.

Two First Churches Together

Early in the morning on October 6th, 2006, the pastor of FUMC of Memphis was awakened by a haunting telephone call. The voice on the other end informed her that First United Methodist Church of Memphis was on fire. Since then Martha Wagley has demonstrated inspiring leadership to her saddened congregation as they meet in a chapel at St. Judes Research Hospital.

Yesterday First Baptist Church of Memphis was pleased to have the congregation of FUMC join us for worship, lunch, and a River City Band concert. The proceeds of the concert went to the building fund so that the once lovely, historic worship space could be built once again.

Ray Hatton, our minister to music, planned the event and it was a great success. This was actually the second time the two congregations had joined together. The first time was in the 1800's and it was First Methodist who opened up their doors to a bunch of disorganized Baptists.

But the highlight of the morning was when Carol McCall-Richardson, associate pastor of FBC and Martha Wagley, pastor of FUMC stood together at the pulpit to discuss their friendship with one another as two ordained women. What a testament to what great things can happen in church life when individuals open their heart and their minds to what is good and right.

Most of all, I was surprised about how moved I became when Martha Wagley described the feeling of getting that phone call on October 6th. There I sat with the other ministers in our cozy sanctuary knowing that these good people at FUMC would have to return to their temporary home at St. Jude. I sat there and tried to feel what they felt as many drove downtown to watch their church burn to the ground. What sadness I felt at that moment and this does not compare to the heartbreak that they felt that morning before sunrise.

I don't think that I ever truly attached a sense of empathy to the situation last October. I watched it on the news. I was burdened but did not know them. I watched and hated to see that beautiful building burn. But I had never pondered it all sitting in our sanctuary at FBC. How terrible it would have been to see it go up in flames.

FUMC, we pray for you daily. We pray for progress that will exceed all expectations. We pray for the architects, builders, planners, and committees that will meet and perform their duties. We pray for future growth and new Christians to be a part of the congregation one day. We pray for Martha Wagley as she presses forward with God has commissioned her to do.

Listening Sessions Continue

In Baptist life, everyone has a voice. Well, at least in theory. This historical process is often neglected in modern day Baptist circles but it must be retained if the Baptist tradition is to continue. This Baptist blogger believes that giving church members a chance to share their opinions on theology, polity, and church matters is of great importance.
Not long ago our pastor here at FBC Memphis resigned to pursue other interests. As a result, we've had to go through the process of selecting a good group of men and women to choose for us a new pastor. We pray, they pray, and we all hope that the man or woman chosen is the right one to take on the rather difficult position of head pastor of a historical Baptist church in Memphis. He/she will be asked to respect the past but move the church into an already postmodern era of thinking. He/she will be asked to be a pulpiter but also demonstrate charisma. He/she will be asked to well represent the community but asked not to forget about his flock.
I look forward to the day that a pastor is chosen but for now, our listening sessions continue. I'm proud to say that we exemplify the most democratic way of handling the situation in any Baptist church in which I've been a part. We gather, we voice our concerns and prayerful hopes, someone facilitates, and someone takes notes. The notes are given to the selected group of women and men chosen to represent our church as we go about the time-consuming process of calling a pastor.
If you haven't visited FBC Memphis, this is actually a good time to do it. There is a spirit of togetherness that I've rarely witnessed in church life. And tell them that I sent ya'. If you do, your membership is free!

Another Almighty Movie

The Rise of the Silver Surfer Review

☻☻☺☺☺

I know little about The Fantastic Four. I know they wear blue tights. Their main line of work involves fighting evil as American heroes. I now know that The Fantastic Four put Marvel comics on the map.

I also know that this movie was terrible. I hated it. I never get the opportunity to go to the movies anymore and so it is very important that I choose a good one when I go. I chose wrong. The directors of this movie tried to make feel emotional about a silver man who came to destroy our world. I sort of wish that the earth would have been consumed by this dark cloud that was attracted by the silver surfer's board. If this would have happened then there would be no more Fantastic Four and no more bad acting.

Before and After

I noticed that by older brother http://subarumanandsidekickwilly.blogspot.com/posted a picture that was taken almost at the same angle as one recently taken by another person. The one at the very top shows him on top of the debris pile. He may not be aware of it but when I stood there the previous week I noticed that the pile was an entire house. It was flattened by Katrina and it appears that as it floated toward our house it actually took out the east corner of it. It may make little sense but I remember standing there and noticing that the pipe work floor tile were all connected. The rear of our old house is the background. But what you can't see is that there is no front. This dynamic conveniently served as a gigantic, debris catching glove that collected the subdivision south of the house.

The second photo is the new house. My parents live in a trailer on the same property. This house is bigger and better but I also wonder what our first Christmas will feel like. Will every morning be a reminder for my parents of what happened? Will anyone down there ever completely forget? Well, right now they have a constant reminder as they still wake up in a 30 foot trailer and take a shower in a shed. So if you have to remember I guess it is better to remember the past in a 2400 sq. ft. home.

Nice looking deck isn't it?

Rabbi Micah Greenstein at FBC Memphis

Rabbi Greenstein is known for his warmth, way with children, and thought-provoking sermons. Since moving to Memphis in 1991, Micah D. Greenstein has served as Assistant Rabbi, Associate Rabbi, and now Rabbbi of Temple Israel. With the retierment of Rabbi Harry K. Danziger on September 1, 2000, Rabbi Greenstein became the 8th Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel.

Rabbi Greenstein will be speaking at First Baptist Church of Memphis on Sunday morning June 10th. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the ecumenical spirit between Temple Israel and First Baptist Church. The message title will be, "The Most Exalted Definition of True Religion." Please don't miss this time together.

Sunday June 10th at 11am at First Baptist Church of Memphis. 200 East Parkway North, Memphis TN.

Progress down South

It's easy to forget about the victims of Katrina. My parents are still living in a 30 foot trailer but anticipate moving into the house above by early July. Hurricanes were fun growing up. It is hard to explain it but when you don't have to pay the house note or the car payment, hurricanes are the next best thing to anticipating a trip to Disney World. We get out of school, we get national TV exposure (which rarely happens in Pascagoula unless Trent Lott slips up and says something wrong), and we get to flee the city for a nice hotel room somewhere north of Hattiesburg. Elena and Frederick were weanies. They just blew down about 18 of our trees. I remember the mosquitos, the heat, the clean up, the dead squirrels, the grilling out, the oak tree top in our attic, and skateboarding at night through in valleys of piled up debris in the streets.
But I still say I wouldn't trade the memories for anything. There is something hautingly fun about taping up our windows 2 hours before the world caves in.
But I am reminded now of what Katrina did. As I sit here with my youngest child in my lap, it is strange to find myself so content in Memphis, TN. Sometimes I feel as if I should be going through hell myself down there. Many people who moved after Katrina feel guilty for doing so and are moving back. I would have left also, I admit. Now my memories are filled with the darkened streets of that first entry into Pascagoula a week after the storm. I recall my mom crying on my shoulder, sitting by myself on the destroyed property as my mom stood in a 6 hour FEMA line, pulling out other people's lives from my house (this included hot water heaters, guns, dishwashers, plates, pictures, clothes, decks, sinks, mattresses, furniture, and jewelry), standing on an entire house in my front lawn but oddly enouph only being about 5 feet off the ground, the rescue helicopters that made it sound like a war zone, rumors of dead friends, rumors of hundreds dead in a nearby neighborhood, the awful signs that we wrote to scare off looters, and a father who just happened to be an insurance agent at the worst possible moment.
But now I can gaze at the house above and realize that, although this country has enormous problems, it is a pretty good deal. My parents will live well now for the rest of their lives. I also look at my parents as heros. My brother and I used to talk about how they couldn't survive anything like hurricane Ivan that came a year before and caused a big scare. They fooled us all. They stuck it out. They survived and will in some weird way cherish it all. The Apostle Paul said that we can take joy in our sufferings. I believe what he said. But honestly I think that joy only comes as the years pass by.

Amos Lee and a Cool Breeze

For those of you who haven't discovered Amos Lee, then you're missing out. www.amoslee.com His latest CD, Supply and Demand, is underrated. Or maybe he's just not getting the attention he deserves. I never hear of anyone giving him a bad review.
So I find myself sitting outside on my deck anticipating a nice meal tonight at Texas de Brazil. We are celebrating my wife's birthday. I'm listening to Amos Lee on my headphones. Surprisingly, what was once a hot muggy day has turned out to be a pleasant, breezy afternoon. You can probably tell that there is nothing much on my mind. Maybe that is the way it should be for a summer Sunday afternoon.

As I conclude this worthless blog, Amos is singing his song Wind.

"Saturday night, my head is spinnin'. I wonder who's heart I've been sinning for. Cold rain blows on my window. Soft sand gone from my pillow. One more step that I've been taking, Yes and one more, I don't need no more breaking up. All the red lights, how they are Burning down the highway. I remember when the wind Had blown my way. But the wind blew down my line. Yeah, the wind, blew down my line. Man on the street, each day I'm passing. A small bite to eat is all he's been asking for. Oh, but cold steps is all he's been yeilding. Oh, and now I know that empty feeling. Yeah, the wind blew down my line Yeah, the wind blew down my line. Yeah, the wind blew down my line.

Cool.

Come on out to Neighborfest!

Freeeeee hamburgers! Need I say more. Actually, it is more important than that. You get to see me dunked in a dunking booth. And if that is not enough, it gets us all together for a great time with a great community in order to spread the word about FBC Memphis. Hope to see you there!

Balance is everything!

...and it begins with the acknowledgment of imbalance. Yes, that's correct. Sometimes a person can gain energy and motivation by simply being honest that something just isn't right. Simple acknowledgement that things are "off" can cause a person to pray, seek counsel, and even start reading a new book.

I admit it. I haven't read much of anything in four weeks. And when I catch myself not reading, it means that I am not resting. If I am not resting, then I am not having meaningful conversations with my family and friends. If I am not working on those relationships then life becomes dull and "have to" oriented.

Several months ago I was running, working out, reading, praying, eating right, and maintaining meaningful times with family. And then suddenly it just got away from me. The floatation devices that make life truly special suddenly became water logged and they all became part of the problem. I didn't sleep last night and that didn't help my attitude.

But at least I am realizing it before I begin to feel the soggy mire of monotony. Tomorrow I will resume reading The Sun Also Rises. I will coach my son's t-ball team with joy because I am investing in his life. I will watch something on TV that is stupid and will make my wife and I laugh. I will run tomorrow evening if I kills me and then upload it in order to make my Nike Ipod woman happy. (She has been wondering where I am lately)

Gaining balance can be seen as mushy, soft, and even lazy to some. I can understand that. We as Americans are supposed to be busy and always accomplishing something. But I don't find that in the New Testament. Taking care of mind, body, and spirit rings a bell. And Jesus said it. I doubt he ran in the evenings but I man who has no where to lay his head at night probably doesn't need to invest in endurance running. It's time to ask yourself, "When is the last time you lost yourself in something?" "Are you eating the right kind of things?" Not because of the old, tired temple of God reason, but because it will make you live longer and give you the energy to do the kind of stuff listed above. "When and what was the last book you read?" Comic books do not count. "Have you prayed while doing the mundane things of life?" Folding clothes and cooking can be spiritual also!!! After all, you are helping your family be a clean, healthy place for community. "Have you tried a new hobby or interest?" Pick up a book on photography or border collies. Who knows, you may have an interest to take a picture of a dog but you won't know how because you haven't been reading......OK, that was dumb. But you get the picture. ha. I didn't mean to do that. And all these puns from a guy who woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

In the meantime...don't delay!

Years and years ago, way back in the early ‘70s, I had a vision of the end time. It was probably no coincidence that the world itself was looking pretty terminal at that point. John and Bobby Kennedy had both been buried by then, along with Martin Luther King Jr. Boys I knew were so afraid of being drafted for Vietnam that their hands shook when they dialed the combinations on their mailboxes at the campus post office. Meanwhile, the rest of us were making all the noise we could, taking over administration buildings and marching in the streets. A girl our age had been shot dead by National Guardsmen during a protest at Kent State. We had all seen the picture.
One night in the middle of all this there was a terrific thunderstorm. I lay on the bed in my dorm room watching the sky light up with blast after blast of raw electricity. Even though it was way past midnight, the sky was luminous, with all the nightlights of Atlanta hitting the low clouds and thudding back down again. The color was greenish brown -- not a right color for the sky to be, which made me feel a little queasy inside.
I could not sleep. I had not slept well in weeks. I did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I did not even know if I wanted to grow up in such a violent, crazy world. Then I heard myself say, "Come, Lord Jesus" -- just like that -- and then I said it again: "Come, Lord Jesus." I remember thinking I should be afraid to say something like that, but I wasn’t. I was relieved to go ahead and ask for the end. Please come back and finish this thing up. We are no good at it. We have never been any good at it. Come, Lord Jesus, and don’t delay.
Then I looked out the window and saw (imagined?) a bright spot in the sky that grew bigger and bigger, with clouds boiling all around the center of it like big curling waves. Then the head of a beautiful white horse pushed through them, then the front legs, then the chest, until finally this gleaming creature was galloping right toward me with a rider on its back who was too bright for me to see. There was a lot going on in the background too, like the wake behind a giant speedboat, but I never got a good look at that because I could not take my eyes off the horse and rider.
It lasted only for a second or two. Then I stopped imagining (seeing?) and the thunderstorm moved on. I fell asleep, survived college, grew up, got a job -- but that vision of the end remains vivid for me. It is embarrassingly literal, I know. In my part of the country, it might be called a vision of the rapture, and there are plenty of people who would be happy to tell me exactly where it comes in the final lineup of events.
I remember something one of my professors told me once, about how the second coming of Christ was an idea cooked up by some church father with only two fingers. The truth, he said, is that Christ comes again, and again, and again -- that God has placed no limit on coming to the world, but is always on the way to us here and now. The only thing we are required to do is to notice -- to watch, to keep our eyes peeled.
Go ahead and make the decision, write the letter, get the help you need, find someone to love, give yourself away. Why waste your time making preparations for an end time you cannot predict? Live prepared. Live a caught-up life, not a put-off life, so that wherever you are -- standing in a field or grinding at the mill, or just going about the everyday business of your life -- you are ready for God, for whatever happens next, not afraid but wide awake, watching for the Lord who never tires of coming to the world.
Who knows? Ours may be the generation that finally sees him ride in on the clouds, or we may meet him the same way generations before us have -- one by one by one, as we close our eyes for the last time. Either way our lives are in God’s hands. Either way, God leaves the living of them to us. To God be all honor and glory, now and forever.
-Barbara Brown Taylor

Tell Me What You Think...

Some of you may be new to the world of blogging. I am. Makes me feel like I'm 15 again. But hopefully this will add a personal touch to what is going on at FBC along with many other thoughts, perspectives, and updates. Let me know what you think. Comment on something to let me know your out there. Give me your suggestions. Tell me your opinion. I would love to hear from you.

Cute Children with Cups

Wow! What a successful fundraiser we had for The International Justice Mission. On Sunday May 6th, our FBC children wouldn't let anyone out the door without making a donation. It was quite hilarious. I was actually quite surprised at how interested, excited, and intense the children were about raising money and handing out worthless items in a bag. My own 5 year old son was so excited that he received a $20 bill but when we were eating lunch he became disappointed because he thought he was raising it for himself. We explained that wasn't quite the way it worked. Ha. But we will begin counting money soon. Let me say thanks to all who donated to this wonderful organization.

Islands in the Stream

While on the way back from Princeton, I finished Hemingway's late book Islands in the Stream. I'm having a difficult time forgetting this one. I may not refer to it as my favorite novel but I'm close to doing so. If I was to judge a book entirely on the manner in which it moves me, then I would rank it as the best. Islands in the Stream is a tale about Thomas Hudson's nautical life off the coast of Cuba. Images of loss, heartache, loneliness, and adventure come to mind as I reflect on this classic piece of literature. His attention to detail is unlike today's pop culture writers. Hemingway is able to make the reader understand what hunting for a turtle boat in the mangroves is like without using many adjectives. He simply puts you there. He is also allows the reader to gather what Hudson's emotions are like by what he experiences. Therefore, one can understand his motivations for doing something as strange as hunting down German submarines in a sailboat. Ultimately, I find myself envious of Thomas Hudson's character but at the same time thankful that I am nothing like him. Hudson has constructed a life which revolves around sailing, romantic love, painting, and alcohol. Sounds like a splendid life upon first glance. But in the end, the reader is left with wishing him something more.

More on Princeton...and NY

Princeton Theological Seminary is the leader in theological research and reflection concerning youth and family ministry (www.pts.edu). Youth leaders across the country can finally be encouraged. One day the local youth minister will not be considered just the "energetic yahoo" who exists to keep the youth entertained. Rather, research is indicating that the youth and family minister should be considered the resident theologian in the church. It is possible that the one who works with those in their first 1/3 of life will actually be considered the minister who best understands and interprets the culture. This is the challenge for all churches who mistakenly and unknowingly operate on a 1950's model of ministry. For instance, teenagers and young adults are driving what America is about. Whether it be fashion, technology, movements, or voting...young people are where you go to figure out where the world is heading. The struggle will be found in how well churches allow the youthful energy to find a place in the structure of the church. For decades the church has seen the congregation operate fairly well as long as the youth and children stay in their separate departments and designated area. This was described as the two-eared Mickey Mouse model where the larger church is symbolized by a circle with youth and children ministries symbolized by attached yet smaller circles. What would the church look like if these two ministries were active within the larger circle of the congregation? I would love to see this model at work.
A "just under the surface' reason that I attend the PTS seminars is to remind myself of what a great church FBC Memphis is. There are many troubled churches and many depressed ministers in this country. Many of them love to attend conferences so they can get away, become inspired, and complain to others. Well I got away...I became inspired....but I did very little complaining. FBC Memphis certainly has an uphill climb. It will be a while before we are prepared to write a book on church growth and discipleship. But I pray that we are well on our way. The survival of our church will never be based on glitz, glamour, or even programming. And for this we should not be ashamed. Just trying to attract people to the church is an old, tired, model that people do not trust. Rather, midtown will respond to a church that has a purpose, community, and offers opportunities for connection. But even more so, the church will move ahead because it is filled with imperfect believers who will not settle for anything less than a lived-out understanding that God dwells within them. Remember, if we simply believe that God is NICE, then we will only believe that the goal is to be nice to one another. This will not allow true and significant relationships based on faith. And if Jesus was simply therapeutic, meaning that our faith is only about the individual, then we will never see the needs around us. A life constructed by any person is never a life worth living. And if our image of God is deistic (God divided) then we will never really understand that God has made his dwelling place within his followers. He is not over there, or somewhere else, Jesus abides within me. Sounds radical but it is merely biblical.

Oh, and I did have an opportunity to visit New York. I always travel on the train into New York so that I can be reminded of why I love green grass, fishing ponds, and a slower pace. Great place to visit though.