Nothing is Something

Review of Why Men Hate Going to Church

2011-12-09T15:16:00.002-05:00

A Review of:

Why Men Hate Going to Church

By: David Murrow

David Murrow has come out with a revised edition of "Why Men Hate Going to Church". Murrow's general understanding is that most men do not want to go to church because the church has really catered to the female population. At the beginning of the book Mr. Murrow establishes various stats and figures that demonstrate the widening gap between the female and male population in most churches. This widening gap leads to the question, why are more men leaving the church? And in such high numbers? David Murrow not only attempts to answer this question but also seeks to formulate some thoughts on what the church can and should do to 'stop the bleeding' if you will.

In general this book is probably most useful for church staff and church leaders. While he has an easy to read and follow writing style, the point of the book is really for church leaders to heed the warning and make changes within their own congregation. So I would recommend this book to any pastors, elders, church planters, church strategists, or denominational leaders that see a growing threat of man-less-ness (word I just made up) within their congregations.

At first, I must say that the Politically Correctness flags were popping up as I read the first few chapters. As a pastor myself I feel pressured to make sure that everyone within the congregation feels as comfortable as possible, but also that the gospel is preached to everyone's level. The first few chapters served as a good starting point to kind of break me out of the conditioned structure that I had created and ask questions within my own church context. If you can push through the conditioned tendencies of political correctness that pervade our culture and our church, this book will be very useful in forming a mission that grows the church through a strong male presence. The greatest example of this is the last few pages of the book when Rev. Dr. Jennifer Wilson uses the policies and structure within the book to grow the male population in her congregation (read the book to find out what I'm talking about)

This book should be required reading for the leaders of churches that are stagnant, dying, of just starting off. How could your church benefit from an influx of men within the congregation?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review of Jungle Warfare

2011-11-10T13:31:00.003-05:00

Jungle Warfare: A Basic Field Manual for Christians in Sales

by: Christopher A. Cunningham

SUMMARY: Christopher Cunningham finds his granddads jungle warfare field manual in a trunk of old mementos. As he reads through the manuals pages Mr. Cunningham begins to see both the complexities and the simplicity of battle in the jungle, at least according the U.S. Army. However as he reads through the pages he begins to see the similarities that this manual within his own life, his life on the road as a salesman. So this book is really a realization of the journey he made through the manual as well as a new understanding of what it means to be a Godly salesman. Through a 22 day devotional journey you too can understand God's purpose and use for you as you live your life for Him, either as a salesman or simply of a follower of the most high God.

REVIEW: I got this book because it looked like an interesting take on the daily devotional books that seems to over take my bookshelves. I am always looking for a way to keep me excited (and awake) for some sort of devotional time during the day. This book intrigued me because it took on several new thoughts to me, namely: 1) Jungle Warfare Manual. As the grandson of a World War II veteran who also served in the Pacific Conflict, I thought it might in some way give a glimpse of what my grandfather went through (it didn't). 2) Sales. While I am a pastor now, for many years I spent selling stuff at retail chain stores. I saw both the good and the bad of sales and knew that there could be some interesting thoughts about sales.

Overall, it wasn't a bad devotional book, but it also didn't keep my attention. At the end of the day, it really doesn't take the reader very far, and leaves you with a surface-level: 'God wants you to be the best salesman you can be.' Whatever that means. While the ideas were intriguing, the packaging pretty, it left me as most devotional books do, feeling like I never really got to the core longing of my soul, which is to be in the presence of my savior.

Day 10 - John 7

2011-03-18T16:30:00.000-04:00

Jesus wasn't a magician, a side show, a super hero, a genie waiting to grant three wishes, or even a psychic with telekinetic powers. That didn't stop people around Him from expecting these powers from Him. While Jesus certainly possesses the power and could have established Himself as any one of these popular entertainers, He wasn't here to entertain.

He was here to bring living water to thirsty souls.

Chapter 7 of John begins with Jesus' brothers begging Jesus to come to the Feast of the Temple and demonstrates His abilities by performing miracles. Apparently they were tired of the neighbors asking questions about the abilities of their brother. Interestingly it doesn't seem like they believe either, Jesus was, well their brother, not some Prophet/Rabbi/Christ that everyone talked about.

Jesus choose another path though. Instead of going with His brothers and making a "Public" entrance, He went in secret and began moving through the crowd. Eventually planting Himself in the temple and teaching the scholars, teachers and others in the Jewish community.

I know there are times in my life that I stand waiting for the super hero Jesus to come and attack my enemies. Sometimes I stand waiting for the magician Jesus to show me a nice neat trick. And yet other times I bring three wishes to Jesus hoping that He will answer them like the genie did in Aladdin.

What Jesus are you hoping for? Does that line up with who Jesus actually is?

Day 9 - John 6:25-71

2011-03-17T22:28:00.000-04:00

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

"I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." John 6:53

Can you imagine what the people were thinking when Jesus began teaching them about the Bread of Life? Jesus, who had just finished feeding 5000 people using only a couple fish and loaves of bread, and had also just walked almost three miles out on a lake, and who had been doing miraculous things throughout the area just requested that the crowd must eat His flesh in order to 'have life'.

As people who live now 2000 years later, we can understand this in a variety of ways, but imagine living during this time. The questions that came up into peoples minds, and the disgust that most of the people had.

So what happens?

Well, most everyone leaves Jesus, except His disciples.

The twelve.

Jesus questions the twelve as to why they haven't left as well. And Peter responds for the group: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68-69)

Peter's response is funny because it basically says there isn't anywhere else to go. Jesus was the only place to go.

There was no theological explanation of Jesus' words.

Peter didn't explain the symbols of eating the flesh and blood of Christ.

He simply said You (Jesus) are God and there isn't a better place for us to be.

What do we do when times get tough and we question what God is telling us. What happens when all our life God seems to be X and all of the sudden God is actually Y? How do we cope? Where do we turn?

Peter and the disciples saw that over the course of the last months (or years) Jesus had proven Himself over and over and simply because they didn't understand what was going on at this time, didn't mean it was time to dessert Him like the others. When times get tough. When God seems different than when you first experienced Him, don't search elsewhere. Don't get hung up on explaining the theological complexity. Stay and listen to what God is telling you because of the long line of times He amazed you in the past.

Day 8 - John 6:1-24

2011-03-16T11:07:00.002-04:00

Phsyical boundaries limit humanity not God.

What physical boundaries are holding you back from what God has for you?

Have you asked God to remove, work around or otherwise destroy those boundaries?

Day 7 - John 5

2011-03-15T11:59:00.003-04:00

The John 5 passage is one of the most interesting miracles out of any in the Bible, at least to me. At first glance you may be wondering why this one is so different to me than the others. Jesus goes and heals a crippled man, which He did several times throughout the Bible. Not very interesting...

However, take a look at the beginning of the passage. This place is called Bethesda, and was a massive pool (had five colonnades) which when stirred people believed that it would heal them of whatever malady that they had. The only issue is that you needed to be the first one in the pool after it stirred for it to work. The text further states that the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed all sat around it's edge waiting for the pool to be stirred.

So Jesus goes to this pool and hears of a man that had been waiting there for thirty years and had never made it into the pool because he had no one to carry him into it. Thirty years of hearing others exclaim that their disease and sickness was cured and knowing that you lost your shot once again. Jesus in his compassion heals this man and tells him to rise up and walk. Which the man does.

What's interesting to me is that it never says that Jesus healed any other person at this Bethesda pool. The story says that there were a great multitude of people there waiting to be healed, and yet only one man is healed by Jesus, at least in the story.

How many times have we wondered why God heals only certain people, and not others?

How many times have we seen others around us blessed, but we feel completely left out?

Day 6 - John 4

2011-03-14T16:30:00.000-04:00

Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry He often deviated from the established religious norms and spent time with those He wasn't supposed to. John's fourth chapter depicts two of those meetings when Jesus sits and talks with a Samaritan woman as well as when He heals the officials son.

For Jews in general, going through Samaria was taboo, but for a rabbi like Jesus to not only go through Samaria but also sit and talk with a single lady was unheard of. Jesus risked His reputation by sitting and talking to this Samaritan woman, as evidenced by the disciples reaction when they found Him. The cultural norms of human interaction, simply didn't keep Jesus from doing what He knew to be the work and mission of God.

So what work and mission does God have for us? And what cultural human norms keep us from actually accomplishing what God has put us on the earth to do?

Day 4 - John 3

2011-03-12T16:27:00.002-05:00

It doesn't make sense.

Chapter three of John has the early leadership of the Jesus movement being questioned. Jesus is questioned in the middle of night by a Pharisee of the ruling council, mean while John the Baptist is questioned by his own followers. What happens when God moves and completely changes the fabric of humanity? Well there are lots of questions while humanity tries to catch up with the new movement of history.

Nicodemus, coming to Jesus in the middle of the night (possibly to keep other Pharisees from knowing what he is doing) comes and asks Jesus two very important questions. The first is how to enter into the Kingdom of God and the follow up is what does it mean to be born again. Apparently Nicodemus had heard Jesus speaking maybe during the day before and heard concepts and theology that was new to him, not only that but Jesus actually had the miracles to back up His authority to say these things.

John the Baptist on the other hand has some of is own followers come to him with questions. John's disciples were perplexed to the point of fighting amongst themselves because someone else was baptizing just down the river. Not only that but more people were going there than were coming to get baptized by John. These followers of John the Baptist knew their leader had been sent there by God and couldn't understand how someone else could have a more dynamic message.

What's interesting about these two encounters is the response by both leaders (John and Jesus) when asked about their ministries. Both of their responses lead to the same understanding for the questioner. 'Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but those who don't believe will suffer eternal wrath.' Not a very politically correct statement from these two leaders, but it's their response none the less.

What's happened recently in our culture has been a shift to the thought that there are many ways to God. That every religion, cult, and creed will eventually work it's way to the same God, the problem is that it isn't true. Jesus traveled a long way and had a bad stay if that were true. The fact is that everyone has a single decision to make. John and Jesus both knew what that decision was and were dedicated in explaining that message to those around them. Have you thought about that message?

The only way to God is through Jesus...

Day 3 - John 2

2011-03-11T13:32:00.002-05:00

The second chapter of John demonstrates something very profound about Jesus which in turn tells us something about God too. The first half of the chapter describes Jesus' first miracle, the turning of water into wine at the behest of Jesus' mother. The second part focuses on Jesus' arrival in the temple and His eventual destruction of the money changers and swindlers within it's gates.

These two stories are very unique and different. On one hand if shows us a Jesus who likes to have fun and has relationships with those in His community. The wedding was about to come to a screeching halt because the wine had run out. Yet Jesus' mother knew that Jesus could fix the problem and encourages Him to take action and keep this newly wed couple from embarrassment. The second story however demonstrates Jesus' anger as He raged against those that would desecrate the temple built for His Father. It says that Jesus fashioned together a whip from some cords and began flipping tables, throwing money around, herding animals out of the temple, and generally destroying the economic well being of the temple business. So what's up with Jesus?

Is He bipolar?

What's interesting is that Christians (myself included) and even those outside of the church usually prefer one aspect of Jesus over the other. There are some in the church that only seem to see Jesus as the fun guy at a party. The guy who loves everyone and is easily the funnest person to be around at the party. There are others that only see the wrath, justice and holiness of God. They see Jesus as the warrior, ready to attack and root out the sin in people's lives and warning people of their coming judgement in hell.

First let me say that if you believe one of these things you're right that's exactly who Jesus is, however Jesus is both. Not only does he love unconditionally and want everyone included in the celebration, He also cannot stand for sin and actions of unholiness.

It's only when we see Jesus as both the lover and the warrior that we see a clearer picture of Him.

Day 2 - John 1:35-51

2011-03-10T10:32:00.002-05:00

Jesus steps into our brokenness and restores our humanity.

John the Baptist is standing there talking to two of his disciples when all of the sudden Jesus passes by them along the road. How could Andrew resist? This was his chance to literally follow the creator of the universe in the flesh... hopefully John doesn't mind (he doesn't). Andrew turns from his conversation with John and hurries to catch up to Jesus. Jesus hears the pitter patter of feet coming up behind Him and turns to see Andrew coming up along side Him. Andrew wonders if there is any way he can simply see where the creator of the universe is staying for the night and Jesus does him one better and asks him to join Him on an adventure. And thus starts the gathering of the twelve disciples.

I love this passage because Jesus takes the drop outs and puts them in the head of the class. Andrew, Cephas (Peter), Philip and Nathanael, all are called into the new movement that Jesus is starting. What's interesting is the way each of them are called. As stated above, Andrew seems to simply want to get as close as he can to Jesus. Simon is called and immediately Jesus changes his name to Cephas (Peter). Philip is simply 'found' and told to follow Jesus. Finally Nathanael is slightly apprehensive at first wondering if anything good can come from Nazareth, however Jesus puts those worries to rest and looks deep into Nathanael's heart.

We see these men and see four things:
Someone wanting to belong.
Someone needing a new start.
Someone willing to follow.
And someone looking for wonder.

The amazing part of this story is that these men are you and I. We need a place to belong in a world of disconnectedness. A place to start fresh when life has become hostile. A leader who knows us and is worth following. And something mysterious that continues to make us wonder everyday.

We need Jesus.

Day 1 - John 1:1-34

2011-03-09T09:50:00.000-05:00

As I read this passage certain things stick out to me, probably because I have heard this passage so many times. In youth group, myself and several other students actually memorized this passage by doing a reader's theater centering on the first 34 verses. We used this theater for various trips, church functions and other events, and I still remember a solid portion of it to this day.

One of the things that strikes me from this passage is this character John, or rather John the Baptist. This passage begins talking about the 'Word', which later is revealed to be Jesus by the end of the passage. However, in the middle we find this conversation about who isn't God, who isn't the Messiah, and who John really is in the story. Verse 19 shows John there baptizing people, when all of the sudden the Priests and Levites are sent in to figure out who this guy is that is baptizing individuals. They ask him several questions:

"Who are you?" (v.21)

"Are you Elijah?" (v.21)

"Are you a prophet?" (v.21)

"What do you say about yourself?" (v. 22)

and finally,

"Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the People?" (v. 25)

The Priests and Levites are in effect asking where he gets his authority from. If John the Baptist was a prophet, if he was Elijah, if he was the Christ, then they could understand his actions. The fact is though, John wasn't any of those things. John was, well John. John was simply a guy doing what God had called him to do, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord (v. 23).'" God had called an ordinary man to do something extraordinary. His authority wasn't through titles but through the one who sent him.

So the question is, what has God sent me (you) to do? God has given us the authority, the talents, and the knowledge to do great things, not for your glory but for His. While John knew what he was called to do, he also knew not to take the credit for himself, but to turn the attention and the focus to someone far greater and more powerful than he, the priests, the Levites and the Jews ever could have imagined. Who interestingly shows up on the next day? Jesus.

Starting Lent

2011-03-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

As you can see over the last several months I haven't been using my blog with any consistency or for any real purpose. Life has been moving fairly quickly, and I simply haven't had the time to really focus on this very much, however I want to change that. Today starts the forty days leading up to Easter known as Lent.

Traditionally people decide to give things up for Lent, but I want to try and take something up for lent. Specifically my blog. So my plan, little as it may be, is to follow my church's "40 Days of Prayer" booklet, which is a tool to help our congregation pray more through the time of Lent. So every day there 'should' (assuming I do it.. everyone else seems to have issues keeping their Lent promises) be a post on the passage for the day, and a quick thought from me.

Accepting the Rejected

2010-08-22T13:44:00.001-04:00

Accepting the rejected is hard.

It requires sacrifice.

Other people might think of you differently, in a bad way.

Yet, that is

exactly

what Christ

has called

us to do.

What would church look like if we actually accepted the rejects of society? What if church was known as a place where the rejected found refuge? What if it did what it was trained to...

My Revolution

2010-07-19T19:41:00.003-04:00

My revolution starts today.

I have been wanting one of the new smartphones for sometime. Since the introduction of the Apple phone a few years ago, I have been salivating at the chance to renew my Verizon contact and get one of these smart phones, hoping that one day Verizon and Apple do what everyone thinks they should do. So now for more than a year my contract has been up and I have been waiting to see how life shapes out and what new smartphones come out as the technology gets better. The culmination was a visit to Verizon today to finally get the phone that I always wanted.

For weeks I have been prepping my wife to allow me to get the more expensive contract from Verizon, because of course to have a Smartphone, one must also sign up for the 30.00 a month unlimited data package. I had told her how it would revolutionize my ministry with the students, giving me the ability to converse easier, respond faster, and generally be a better Pastor. It would be an extension of myself, the better me. All of this and more would be the new me, the me after today.

And finally I have my new phone, my revolution can start, but not the one you're thinking of. You see I didn't end up walking out of Verizon holding a smartphone. I instead walked out with the free phone, the regular phone, and this is why:

A few months back a couple that are goods friends of my wife and I from delaware, Ohio had read some book and were challenged by the words of the author. They in fact were so challenged they were sent on a journey by God that has now led them to purchase tickets to go to South Africa and see the mission work going on in that country. I have also heard from others the immensity that this book has brought upon their heart, so I too decided to read the book.

I purchased the book several months ago and placed in my book pile of books to read. This is my typical style of reading through books, but I must admit I was a little worried about this book because it seemed to challenge my friends whom I thought were already pretty good Christians. These friends gave time and money to all sorts of causes and lived on as little as possible in order to help as many as possible. How could a book challenge someone already doing so much? As someone who tries to give and do as much as I can to help those in need this scared me a little. Could this book challenge me more? So I have been putting it off for a while, that is until this past week.

Having just finished a couple books that I was reading through for the series in youth group I have been teaching on, I thought about which book I should focus on for myself. My own growth, my own pleasure and this particular book 'called out' to me. Ok not an actual physical call out, but I felt it was time to open the pages, and I haven't put it down since.

I can't get it out of my mind, I feel compelled to write about it (see my Facebook page over the last week), I feel compeled to talk about it, and I feel compeled to do something about it. It is this DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, that totally ruined my plans today.

As I walked from my car into the Verizon store today it hit me like a ton of bricks. Thirty dollars a month so that I can check my email on the phone (there are other really cool things too)? That adds up to $360.00 over the year, and $720.00 over two year! Is 720 dollars for internet integration worth it after I have read this book? How can I change the world in the next two years for $720.00 dollars?

1. Buy 3 goats and 3 sheep to help the poor become self reliant @ http://www.heifer.org/
2. Build a well for the thirsty @ http://www.icdinternational.org/
3. Sponser a child to eat, go to school and learn about Jesus @ http://www.compassion.com/
4. Plant a church in the C.A.R. @ http://www.gbim.org/
5. Purchase 17 orphan survival kits @ http://www.visiontrust.org/

Buy, build, sponser, plant and purchase all words of action. All words that require me to think outside of my own personal wants and desires causing a revolution within myself. How can I knowingly spend 30 a month for email on my phone when I can literally change the world instead? I can change the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental status of so many people in the world simply by refusing to give in to what I am told I want by my consumeristic tendencies. A revolt.

My mind races.

At what point did I think this was my money? I was always taught to give ten percent to God and do what I want with the rest, but honestly, I no longer see this in the scriptures. Robin and I have always tithed the 10%, but is that really what the Bible, and more importantly God requires of us? This money was never mine to begin with, it has always been God's. The Bible says I am a steward, not an owner. This isn't my money to control, but it is mine to invest. How do I invest wisely?

Investment is more than putting money in some account, some stock, some fund and waiting, it is totally denying myself and following Christ, even to places that I don't want to go. Invest requires sacrifice of money, time, and self instead, focusing on the true things of God. It means revolting against what I've been taught: that it is mine to do with what I want.

A revolution of the mind.

REVOLUTION.

Mine starts today.

___________

Whatever you do, don't read, "A Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns.

Quote

2010-01-06T11:18:00.003-05:00

"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty and you bought bottled water. I was a stranger and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes but you needed MORE clothes. I was sick and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison and you said I was getting what I deserved." -Richard Stearns "A Hole in our Gospel

I have been mulling over this quote for some time now. For some christians this quote makes them angry and lash out at those that imply they aren't 'doing' enough, because they don't have to 'work' out their salvation. For other christians, this is a poor interpretation of the passage in Matthew, and should not be given a second thought. Other Christians might fear that non-believers might read this and get the wrong impression of Christians. Then there are the few of us that read this and think about the ways that we have not been Jesus to those in need, and make a resolution to change our ways. I where you stand on this spectrum...

The Ten Righteous

2009-12-09T10:49:00.004-05:00

Sodom and Gomorrah have been used countless times to demonstrate the wickedness of man as well as the consequences of God against sinful people. This story shows a God who is fed up with two cities and is going to destroy them in order to protect the people living around their evil cities.

The cities are toxic and must be destroyed.

Before God goes there though, He sends three angels (some believe these represent the trinity)to go and inspect the city. On their way to the city (apparently they couldn't just 'beam' there, they had to walk...), they stop and eat with Abraham. Abraham figuring out what the intentions of God are, asks them, if they would spare the cities if there were 50 righteous people found within the walls. God grants this request and will not destroy the cities if fifty righteous are found. Next Abraham goes down to 45 righteous, and God relents again. This process continues until Abraham takes Him down to just ten righteous individuals, God agrees and the angels leave Abraham to go and inspect the city. I am sure you know what happens next...

I have always wondered what 'fire and brimstone' is actually like. It says that the cities were completely consumed never to be found again, so this fiery brimstone must be pretty potent stuff.

March 19, 2003 mark the date that the Iraqi War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) started. This war started with the dropping of millions of dollars worth of bombs and munitions in order to 'shock and awe' the Iraq's into submission. Many areas of the country were completely destroyed and/or left in ruins.

Iraq rests in the center of the Muslim world, but also has an interesting Christian heritage. Christians have been living there for the last two thousand years. It has been attested that almost one million christians lived in Iraq before the first Gulf War and about 800,000 lived there before Operation Iraqi Freedom. In case your wondering, that is one of the highest populations of christians within the Muslim world. Currently though this population has dwindled far below 800,000 and continues to dwindle as the persecution against christians continues.

Many questions have swirled around the United States and the world before, during and currently about this conflict in Iraq. Should we be there? Are our troops adequately equipped? What should the strategy be? While these questions are good ones to think about, I want to add another:

Should we drop a bomb on a nation if there are fifty righteous? Forty-five? Thirty? Twenty? What about only ten righteous, should we drop a bomb if there are ten righteous?

2009-12-04T21:10:00.003-05:00

So this past week I was working on a sermon for my homiletics class. I selected the verses from Luke 21:1-4 which says:

As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.

In thinking through this passage I wonder, what does the wirter mean that she gave all that she had to live on. Does that mean she literally isn't going to eat until she finds some money? Does she have food at home? Does she even have a home? As so on...

I look at this passage and wonder what I am supposed to do with it as a Christian and a pastor. Is this a pattern for me that I should give literally everything to God? How does one do that and actually live? Is my faith so small that I think God won't protect me or do I have a healthy sense of reality to know I can't give EVERYTHING?

What does everything mean?

Interesting reads

2009-11-14T20:56:00.001-05:00

Here are fifteen books that I have read that continue to stick with me. Have you read them? What did you think of them?

1. Barbarian Way - Erwin McManus
2. They Like Jesus but not the church - Dan Kimball
3. Jesus for President - Shane Claiborne
4. Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell
5. The Shack - Wm. Paul Young
6. The Bible - God
7. Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger - Ronald J. Sider
8. The Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman
9. The Last Word - N.T. Wright
10. Uprising - Erwin McManus
11. The Only Necessary Thing - Henri Nouwen
12. Every Mans Battle - Steven Arterburn
13. The Knowledge of the Holy - A.W. Tozer
14. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day - Mark Batterson
15. In the Name of Jesus - Henri Nouwen

Random things that I have done

2009-10-30T21:00:00.000-04:00

1. When I was little I used to pronounce the word 'helicopter' as Hooter-cop-turd

2. Somewhere in the world is a picture of me standing with two transgender Argentinians at a bus depot in Buenos Aires...

3. In seventh grade I asked out every girl in the school

4. In seventh grade I was turned down by every girl in the school

5. I puked on Michael W. Smith 6. I want to travel to all fifty states

7. I knew Robin was the one two years before we started dating... she was actually dating my best friend at the time... I wonder why I never see him any more

8. I have spent more than one year of my life outside the United States

9. I believe the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about

10. I made up number 5

11. In the eighth grade I went up to the captain of the high school football team, rubbed his head and said "I have never felt a Monkey's butt before"

12. I have drank a twelve pack of Mountain Dew in a single day

13. Someday I want to get a tatoo on my ring finger symbolizing the marriage that I am in

14. While trimming branches this past year I fell out of a tree but luckily wedged myself between two branches... thank you Mountain Dew belly!

15. I once spent Christmas in Novosibirsk, Russia 16. I was bitten in the bottom of the shoe by a venomous snake...right before I crushed his head.

The foreigner, the widow and the orphan

2009-10-26T20:49:00.002-04:00

The book of Deuteronomy totally knocked me out yesterday. How many times have I read this book and completely missed these several verses. Has the church intentionally left these verses out? Is there some conspiracy to not look at the Bible in its' entirity and explain it to the people? Why am I and many around me so naive to the spefics found within the book?

Churches for centuries have instructed parishioners to give a tenth of what they make. Usually this is called a tithe and as a guide the tithe is ten percent. This guide is taken from various places throughout the Old Testament, one of them being Deuteronomy 14:22-27. These verses together show that a tenth of what you make should be returned to God, the problem is that every church I have heard talk about this, never continues this passage on. In verse 14:28-29 there is something interesting, the verses read as follows (NIV):

28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
(parallel in Deut. 26:12-14)

Do you realize what this says? Not only are people supposed to tithe, but one years worth of that tithe is supposed to be set aside to help, the widows, orphans and foreigners of the land. With a little math that means that before the New Testament at least 33% of all tithes were going to help those who could not help themselves. How many churches do this? If we encourage those in our congregations to tithe ten percent, should churches not first budget by the 33% rule?

Other questions come to mind. Like who is the foreigner? Is the foreigner only those who are in this country legally, or should we help those in the country illegally? If we shouldn't help the illegal immigrants, then why doesn't it say which ones we should help and which we shouldn't? Why is the conservative church so against the illegal immigrant, when the Bible does not differentiate between the two? What about Deut. 10:18 where it says give the alien (foreigner) food and clothing, how do we reconcile this? Or, Deut. 24:19-21 should we not leave the sheaf, the olive, and the grape for the illegal alien?

Deut. 27:19 says that those who withhold from the widow, orphan and foreigner are to be cursed. Hwat does it mean to be cursed? Is the church cursed for not caring? Again, does it mean that if I don't help the illegal alien I am cursed?

... just ponderings from a passage...

Trouble with rich young rulers...

2009-09-16T09:07:00.003-04:00

I have been pondering through a passage for some time now, and as a new seminary class approaches I have decided to really focus on this passage for the next few months as part of the course. I have marked you in this note because I wanted to invite you to give me some of your insight about what this passage means to you, and maybe that will help me figure it out for myself. I have tried to select many different people from different backgrounds in order to get a better cross section of people, if you feel you know someone who may be able to help us feel free to invite them to the discussion. I understand that some of you may not agree with every comment and only ask that you remain cordial as we discuss this topic.

Passage: Luke 18:18-30 (Rich young ruler) You can check it out here: http://www.biblegateway.com/

My main questions:

1. Should this be translated literally? As in did Jesus really want the rich young ruler to give up everything he owned?

2. If Jesus did mean it literally, then what does that mean for us today? Does that mean that everyone should be selling everything and giving it to the poor? Does it mean that only some should sell everything and give it to the poor? If it means that (some or all) Christians should sell everything and give it to the poor, why have I never seen this is in our world today (although I have seen incredibly generous givers, they always have a place to sleep, food to eat, etc.)?

3. If Jesus did not mean it literally then why would he let this man walk away from Him completely let down, as well as confuse the issue for us today? It would seem that Jesus was playing some kind of cruel joke on this man by telling him something that wasn’t really a requirement.

4. Is there something else that I am missing?

I would love to hear back from you on this topic…

2009-06-01T14:43:00.001-04:00

'Communion is the making present of Christ in our community' -Nouwen

What a reminder of what Christ is supposed to be during our communion services. So many times we take the Eucharist without ever really recognizing what its significance is for our specific time and place. Why is it that the these traditions of church become overbearing rituals, instead of life giving rejuvenations of the spirit of the community. I pray that I will continue to view the Eucharist as a time when Jesus is physically present in the community around me.

2009-05-24T14:07:00.002-04:00

A

Chapter 15 of Richard Foster's book titled "Prayer" focuses on the prayer of suffering. Foster looks at where suffering and prayer meet, as well as what it means to be a community that shares the sufferings of its people. The issue of suffering has been something that I have been dealing with personally as well as with various friends in my community who are going through difficult circumstances. One friend at seminary is in the midst of divorce, another friend is struggling through cancer. My wife and I have been dealing with the loss of our baby through miscarriage (as are a couple in our small group which happened two weeks after us). So many things happen all around us to both good and bad people and it always leads us to the same question, 'Why is there suffering in the world?'

Foster asks this question too, but decides that the question is incomplete. Even if we are ever able to answer this question about the existence of suffering, the outcome does not change. There will be suffering but Foster leads us into another question. That question is, "How do I enter into the suffering that is in the world in a way that is redemptive and healing?" How can I(we) as a christian take suffering by the horns and wrestle into something that I and others can build on? How do I allow God to work through the suffering to bring about healing and restoration within the body of believers? And even more importantly, how do I take this restorative power to those on the outside of Christianity and demonstrate the power and victory of God over these things?

2009-05-19T11:44:00.001-04:00

B

For a class project I helped to create a place that the community of Delaware as well as the Terra Nova Community could interact with God through prayer and art. We called it the 40 Hour Journey through Art and Prayer. Starting on the Thursday before the Delaware County Arts Festival we set up a storefront that included an anteroom and an inner room that led people to engage God. For the anteroom, we created a space that anyone could come in from the street and engage their spiritual journey through the art on the walls created by artists within our church community. In the inner room we created a comfortable space the brought our community members into a place that they could engage God for an hour without any distractions.

The response to the event was amazing, both from our own congregation as well as from the community at large. In our own community people were dealing with struggles when they entered the room and truly felt that they met God in their experience within the room. Many came out wanting to take on another hour (but all spots were filled), or wanting to have the room on another week. In the area that anyone could walk many were hesitant to fully engage the spiritual journey, however, they were impressed by the fact a church was willing and able to create such a space. The Delaware Gazette did a little article on the space to make sure that the community realizes what was going on in the little store front.

2009-05-13T17:00:00.002-04:00

B

Today's class was on unceasing prayer. We discussed what it means to pray without ceasing as looked at the historical methods for praying throughout the day. These liturgical and traditional methods are new to me because I have always been a part of a church that does not practice these sort of prayer times. I always thought that specific times to pray like discussed in class were so restrictive to the communication between myself and God, however, in class I saw that these are a good way to focus myself on God throughout the day. When these tools are used in a way that focuses the heart toward God, they are actually quite profoundly beautiful.

For the second part of the class we went to a local Methodist church where a prayer labyrinth was set up for us to walk and pray. Again this is one aspect of prayer that I do not typically engage in. I think I liked it...not really sure yet. While the walking and praying were nice, I continue to wonder if a walk through the woods might be better for me. I found myself worrying about staying on the labyrinth path, thinking that I need to hurry up because others were waiting, etc. A walk through the woods typically has different distractions, but I find it more calming. I think the thing that I brought out of the entire process is that I need to pray more. Pray when I awake. Pray when I get ready in the morning. Pray when I drive (eyes open). Pray when I work. Pray when I walk. Pray when I eat. Pray when I sleep...

2009-05-11T16:09:00.001-04:00

C

JESU, MY STRENGTH, MY HOPE

I want a sober mind
A self-renouncing will
That tramples down and casts behind
the baits of pleasing ill;
a soul inured to pain,
To hardship grief, and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to sustain
The consecrated cross

2009-05-06T16:19:00.002-04:00

A

"Action is not activism. An activist wants to heal, restore, redeem, and re-create, but those acting within the house of God point through their actions to the Healing, restoring, redeeming, and re-creating presence of God. "

-Henri Nouwen "The Only Necessary Thing" pg. 141

This quote struck me as a novel way at looking at the Kingdom of God. So many times Christians believe that we need to be activists in politics and social issues but Nouwen challenges this belief. God is already doing the action. The action has already begun and is happening as we speak, we simply need to act within the actions that God has already been apart of. My goal therefore is not to start a movement, my goal is to join in the movement that has been going on for two thousand years. To be a part of the amazing story that Christ comenced humanity on. Isn't that great!? I don;t have to be an amazing charismatic character, I can be me and simply take part in the movement that is already healing, restoring, redeeming, and re-creating all around me.

2009-04-29T14:55:00.000-04:00

C

This passage that begins Chapter four of Chilcote's book is the passage of the Prodigal son. I have heard countless sermons and illustrations looking at this passage, many of which pull out vivid depictions of the return of the son that sinned. In my own life though I many times do not feel like I fit in the prodigal sons story. Sure I have sinned and continue to sin, but many times I feel more like the older brother that has been working in the Fields and feels somehow slighted when the prodigal returns. Am I just simply working under the Father and never really understanding who the Father is? Do I have the same passions for the prodigal son when he returns? Or do I simply see it as another time that God overlooks the work that I have been doing for Him...

2009-04-28T15:02:00.001-04:00

A

We often confuse unconditional love with unconditional approval. God loves us without conditions but does not approve of every human behavior. God doesn;t approve of betrayal, violence, hatred, suspicion, and all other experssions of evil, becasue they all contradict the love God wants to instill in the human heart. Evil is the absence of God's love. Evil does not belong to God.
God's unconditional love means that God continues to love us even when we say or think evil things. God continues to wait for us as a loving parent waits for the return of a lost child. It is important for us to hold on to the truth that God never gives up loving us even when God is saddened by what we do. That truth will help us to return to God's ever-present love.

-Henri Houwen "The Only Necessary Thing" page 68

Unconditional love is so difficult a concept for us to understand. I feel awkward demonstrating and encouraging unconditional love to those in my congregation because it allows someone to hurt us. Nouwen says that unconditional love does not give unconditional approval, which is true, but it does it still puts anyone that exhibits it in a precarious position. I don;t want to love everyone unconditionally. I want to love those that do right to me. I want to love my neighbor as long as my neighbor doesn;t do anything that hurts me or my loved ones in some way. This is the antithesis of unconditional love though, and that is what makes it so difficult for me and for everyone.

2009-04-22T10:23:00.002-04:00

B

It is difficult for me to sit in silence. Sitting in silence continually brings me back to pain in my life, because that is when I sit in silence. I sat in silence as my mother fought non-hodgkins lymphoma. I sat in silence when my father was diagnosed with hepatitis, and later when we have come to the realization that there is no cure for him. I sat in through the death of family pets. In the last decade I have sat in silence as all four grandparents died as well as an aunt and an uncle. I sat in silence when I heard my friend through grade school and middle school died in a car accident after he fell asleep at the wheel. I have sat in silence on countless occasions as my wife cried her eyes out for her mother and sister's fight with Huntington's disease. I sat in silence when I had come back from a trip only to find my friends mother had died and I had not been there with him. I sat in silence when the church that I grew up in, proposed in, and was married in told me that I was not good enough for the position that I was in and would be replaced. I sat in silence with my long time friend and mentor as his sins with an underage girl caught up to him and now finds himself in a 4 x 8 cell. I sat in silence during his trial and sentencing. Most recently I sat in silence on the couch as we cried over the death of our unborn child. It is difficult for me to sit in silence.

2009-04-21T14:42:00.001-04:00

C

Still for thy loving kindness, Lord,
I in thy temple wait;
I look to find thee in thy Word,
Or at thy table meet.

Here in thine own appointed ways
I wait to learn thy will;
Silent I stand before thy face,
And hear thee say, "Be still!"

These words are from a hymn entitled "Still for thy Loving Kindness, Lord." Silence and stillness are difficult for me to do on a regular basis. It is one of those things that does not come natural for my walk with God. I constantly must be doing something. During reading, homework or whatever I usually have music or the television on and sometimes both because I feel closer to who I am in times of chaos. I will continue to work on my times of silence and solitude as I work through this course. For my book report I selected a book by Thomas Merton called "Thoughts in Solitude" Hopefully this will continue to get me to think the solitude that I should have in my life.

2009-04-15T10:52:00.002-04:00

B

The following are three letters that I wrote during class on April 14. I felt that the exercise done in class was extremely productive and wanted to include them on my blog. The first letter is me to God, the second is God to me, and the third is me to me.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear God,

I encounter you every week, however, many times throughout the week I feel that You are distant from me. Sunday's at Terra Nova I feel close to you and close to the rest of my community of believers, however, through the week I miss your presence. I realize this may totally be my fault because my devotions and prayer are sporadic at best. At the same time, I go to seminary, work at a church, and know that you are everywhere. If I can find you everywhere then why don't I?
This 'everywhere' has been difficult for me to grasp especially this past week. I felt Your presence while my wife and I cried on the couch, but where were you earlier when my baby died? How is it something that seemed so God-inspired, like our pregnancy, ended so needlessly and tragically. Why is it that a being that I never met, and up until two months ago never knew existed, meant so much to me?
It seems that every year for the last seven years, we receive information that destroys my wife and I...an yet also unites us. Why is the Spring time our valley? I hope. I pray. I await Your answer.

Dustyn

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dustyn,

I love you. It was not my plan for this devastation to befall you and humanity. This cost you, and it cost me just as much if not more. My heart breaks for you just like it breaks for all my children on the planet. I am here with you through the pain.
I love your questions so continue to ask them. Never cease looking for the answers. Continue serving, loving, caring, and sharing. Do not let atrocities like losing a child dissuade you from following Me. Use these life situations to help others going through the same problems.
Remember I was with your baby from the very beginning, even when it was created. I held it in My hands while still in the womb, and loved it before, during and after its life ceased. It is with me and wishes to see you. I am sorry its creation has caused you pain, but understand that I am the creator of life. I hold the abilities of life and death therefore felt it the right time to bring your baby home.

God

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dustyn,

What can I say but sometimes life sucks. Sometimes through my life I feel that there is this constant barrage of destruction that heads my way. Every year around this time Robin and I seem to be left on our own in some way. I continue to come back to the promises of God to humanity to get me through those times. Promises like:

- I will never leave you
- I will never forsake you
- I will save you i you ask me to
- I love you and nothing could ever change that
- I have left someone to help you...the Holy Spirit

These are some of the promises that we must come back to in our times of struggle to remember who God is. When you seem lost and alone, go back to what you know to be true. If you are so far that you can't remember what you know, seek help for someone who can lead you to the truth you once knew.

Dustyn

2009-04-09T11:47:00.000-04:00

A

On Sunday March 29th I spoke on Matthew 27:46 at Terra Nova because we have been going through a series called "Famous Last Words." Throughout this series we have been looking at the last words of Christ on the cross, my week entailed the verse where Christ calls out to God and says "Eli, Eli, Lamma Sabachthani? which means My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" As I looked at this verse we discussed the nature of Christ's call to God, and equated it with the call that many of us face throughout our lives.

It was interesting then when I looked at this weeks reading and saw that Robert Foster dealt with this same topic (wish I had known that before I spoke). Robert looks at the the prayer of the forsaken at a variety of aspects, and deals with the deep needs that humanity has when we enter into prayer to the almighty. Throughout this chapter I felt the love of God on myself and the understanding that He has when I am in the midst of conflict.

2009-04-08T12:03:00.000-04:00

B

This was our first class for the Spring Quarter. I think that this will be a good class to discuss what prayer is, as well as the problems that I have with prayer. I sometimes have a difficulty understanding that prayer actually changes things. I pray and many times never really receive a direct answer. While there have been times that I knew that God responded, there are many more times that it seems God is entirely quiet and I wonder if I am praying to myself, or if there is a receptor somewhere receiving them. This class seems like a good place to discuss these apprehensions, and hear the apprehensions of others.

Today in class we started with morning devotions, there was some praying in unison as well as reading and response. These aspects of prayer are somewhat new to me. I have been to churches that practice these sort of liturgies, I have not taken a part in them consistently to know them very well. One thing that was a little awkward was a song praise from Africa that the class did together called umwema. Through my extensive time in South America I am used to doing songs like this, but it was different doing it in a classroom setting in America. I guess prayer should move me out of my comfort zone at times...

2009-04-03T09:24:00.000-04:00

A

In Richard Foster's book entitled, Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home, he states on page 65, "As Winter Approaches each year, I like to watch our large maple in the backyard begin to lose its coverings of summer green and take on a funeral brown. As the leaves drop, one by one all of the irregularities and defects of the tree are exposed. The imperfections are always there, of course, but they have been hidden from my view by an emerald blanket. Now, however, it is denuded and desolate, and I can see its real condition."

How often do I hide my true self from others, and from God? I surround myself in an emerald blanket that doesn't allow anyone or anything to see the imperfections that I bear. I believe that somehow if my imperfections are seen I will be disliked or worse disowned. If I no longer bear my leaves, and the people I love can see my imperfections, what will I bear in their eyes instead? Or in the eyes of God? It is interesting that I know God to be existent everywhere all the time, yet I continue to think I can hide behind my leaves. The Psalmist in 139:7 says, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?"

Prayer:
God help me to be someone who is not affraid to let down his leaves and be authentic with You and with those around me. Assist me in being real to those around me and to myself as I continue through life. I pray Lord that as I am more authentic in my walk that it would encourage others to a higher level of authenticity in their lives as well. Thank you for being near me even when I don't realize it regardless of if my barriers are in place or if I stand before denuded and defective. Amen