32 Hours in Haiti

I’m not a fan of Mark Driscoll and I struggled with some of how he went about announcing his trip to Haiti, but his testimony of what he experienced is important to hear:

Jesus Rifles

My good friend, Charlie, who has been known to share his thoughts sporadically (very sporadically!) over at www.wanting-more.ca, sent me this link of Stephen Colbert commenting on an ABC report that introduced the world to what some soldiers are calling, “Jesus Rifles”.

(My American friends can watch the bit at the beginning of January 19^th Colbert Report Episode found here.)

If you don’t have time to watch it, it is basically about U.S. military rifle’s with Bible references encoded into the serial numbers of the scopes. I thought I’d pass this along because I enjoy Colbert’s way of mocking it, but I also some of my own suggestions for some codes to be used on the scopes. I welcome your additional suggestions!

MT5:44

MT5:39

MT5:9

MT26:52

MT7:12

RM12:21

1P3:9

Cell Phones…there is an “off” button

I following is a post copied from my church blog over at www.riversidechurch.ca. It is really directed at the youth of our church and a problem that is common to almost an entire generation of students. Do you agree? Disagree? What are your thoughts?

These days it is rare for me to sit in a meeting for any length of time and not hear a cell phone ring. The cell phone is the ever present intruder into almost every social situation these days. I celebrate much of what cell phones provide us…even texting possibilities, portable e-mail access and web browsing. What I don’t celebrate is the lack of cell phone etiquette that is so overwhelming our culture. Consider this blog post lamenting the irritation that can be caused by cell phone use.

Can I speak frankly for a minute here. I’m not saying this to be attacking in any way…only to point out a reality. The lack of cell phone etiquette is seen most among our youth and texting is the primary culprit. For this reason, I’m going to talk specifically to our youth for the rest of this post. I’m aware that texting people across the room happens during services and when your youth leaders are trying to teach. If a parent or leader asked you to stop talking or to not pass notes during a class you would understand and accept that this kind of behaviour is disruptive at best…rude and disrespectful at worst. (Personally I find it to be the latter.) Texting when someone else is teaching is whispering in a different form. It is note passing in electronic mode. It is just as disruptive and/or disrespectful the “real” thing.

I’m not bashing you or texting. I’m encouraging you to participate in texting at appropriate times. This isn’t just about church either. This is about when you are in a class at school. This is about when you are in a movie. This is about when you’re hanging out with a group of friends. Texting separates you from those you are physically present with and sends them the message that your cell phone and the person on the receiving end of the text is more important than those you are face to face with. Even if this is true…would you look them in the eye and say it to them? Not likely…because you know that it is disrespectful.

I truly don’t think you want to communicate this message of disrespect so I have a suggestion for you. Somewhere on your cellphone, smartphone or iPhone there will be a little button. It likely has a circle with a verticle line in it. It is very possibly red in colour. Next time you go into a class, church service, movie or social setting with friends…look for that little button. Press it and hold it for a couple of seconds. Don’t be alarmed! The screen going blank is supposed to happen. For just a little while you won’t receive any texts or calls. You won’t know who if someone has started dating or if someone has broken up. I have good news for you! When you leave the setting you are in and turn the phone on again…all the news will be just as it would have been if the phone had been on. The world outside your in-box or on facebook will still be standing and functioning quite well!

Don’t think of turning your phone off as disconnecting you from the world. Think of it as allowing you to truly connect with the world that is right in front of your face. If you’re nervous about participating in this radical social awareness experiment, let me make a further suggestion. Start at youth group and BLT. If you engage in it together, it will be far less shocking and painful. You can help each other stay strong and work through the withdrawl symptoms that may come. Hold each others hands and comfort each other as your thumbs start to twitch from inaction. You can get through it together! For the sake of your teachers, friends and those around you that you tune out every time you get absorbed into the keypad and tiny screen…give it a shot.

Thanks! By the way…even with texting…you guys are awesome.

The Humanity of Jesus

While it is clear in our theology…in our reality it seems like we often forget the complete humanity (although sinless) of Jesus. This cartoon from Naked Pastor serves as a simple reminder of this important truth. I know Christmas is over, but this is still worth it!

Formula For Momentum

This is from Dave Ramsey via Seth Godin. You can view the whole document here.

Malcolm Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an “Outlier.” He is, of course, right. My mother says practice makes perfect. She is, of course, right. A billionaire friend once told me to read one of the best stories on successful living, The Tortoise and the Hare. He says, “Every time I read that book, the tortoise wins. Slow and steady wins the race.” He is, of course, right.

Whether it is branding or wealth building, I call it The Momentum Theorem. FOCUSED INTENSITY over TIME multiplied by GOD equals Unstoppable Momentum. Not many people in our A.D.D. culture can stay FOCUSED, but those who can are on their way to winning. Add to the
focus some serious pull-your-shirt-off-and-paint-yourself-blue-at-the-football-game INTENSITY, and now you have a person who is a difference-maker. But very few companies or people can maintain that FOCUSED INTENSITY over TIME. It takes time to be great, it takes time to create
critical mass, it takes time to be an “overnight success.” Lastly, you and I are finite, while GOD is infinite. So, multiply your efforts through Him and watch the areas of your life move toward winning like never before.

Dave Ramsey is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, best-selling author of The Total Money Makeover, and host of The Dave Ramsey Show on the Fox Business Network.

What Is A Boy?

For all of you who have a boy in your life. Enjoy this post over at The Art of Manliness exploring the question, “What is a boy?” . I have two sons and get to enjoy this every day! Here’s an excerpt:

A boy is a composite—he has the appetite of a horse, the digestion of a sword swallower, the energy of a pocket-size atomic bomb, the curiosity of a cat, the lungs of a dictator, the imagination of a Paul Bunyan, the shyness of a violet, the audacity of a steel trap, the enthusiasm of a fire cracker, and when he makes something he has five thumbs on each hand.

When You Think You’ve Seen It All

A lot of wacky and crazy things have been written, published or created in the name of Jesus. I’ve seen a lot of them. In fact…I’ve seen so many of them that sometimes I feel as though I’ve seen them all in some form or another.

Today I was exposed to a new one. What do you think of this?

The Most Excellent Way

As is bound to happen at some points in pastoral ministry I am experiencing a time right now where my motives are being questioned, my actions (or inactions) are being criticized and my heart for ministry is being attacked. I’m not aware of what is the root of the issues. I am really only aware of huddled conversations, sideways glances and rumoured, vague accusations. Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with a fellow elder who has some more incite into what is going on. Every pastor who has faced this kind of thing has had choices of how to respond. Not all of those choices are clear and so I am praying for deep wisdom and divine intervention in our church right now.

This morning I have made one choice regarding how I will engage, and encourage all of our elders to engage, this situation. I am re-memorizing and meditating on 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13. No matter what is going on and what will develop, my choice must be to respond with love. It is Christ’s church, not mine. I am his, not mine. It is his spirit that will change hearts (including mine), not any arguements of mine. If I am seeking to respond as his messenger–on his behalf–I must respond in the way that is faithful to him. Love must reign no matter what comes.

But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Christmas Links

Just in case you were wondering Why Christmas is on December 25th? from the Biblical Archeology Review.

Some historical and biblical thinking about the star and the wisemen.

An inspiring story from one humble member of our great cloud of witnesses.

For men who are looking for 11 Ways to Get Into the Holiday Spirit. Not from a Christian perspective, but still helpful!

Finally…the best prayer that could be prayed at Christmas.

How pro-choice is america? A Question of Personal Responsibility?

Motivated by the addition of an anti-abortion ammendment to the United States of America’s House’s health care reform bill, Jennifer Senior has written a fascinating article discussing the complexities of the abortion debate in her country. This balanced and informative article has much that could be discussed, but one of the things I found most interesting was the fact that “todays generation of twentysomethings…is more pro-life than any [other age group] but our senior citizens.” She roots this pro-life stand among todays younger adults in the fact that they have a) never lived in a world without pro-choice, b) they are the first to have been raised with pictures of sonogram, c) they grew up in the era of the partial-birth abortion debate and d) the primary reproductive technology in their lifetime hasn’t prevented pregnancies, but caused them (IVF).

After pointing out these reasons she then makes a statement about this generation of twentysomethings that transcends the topic of her article. “And they feel much more strongly about personal responsibility than the generations preceding them: Didn’t use birth control? The burden’s on you.”

I’m not a “twentysomething”, but I’m not very far removed. I have seen this in many conversations I’ve had, but I never would have made this kind of blanket statement. This is a profound statement with profound implications. If this statement is true it could make life so much easier in terms of church life and even presenting the gospel. If someone is unwilling to take responsibility for their own actions, encouraging discipleship activity often easily becomes a hybrid of cheerleading, guilt mongering and harassing. Those of us who have watched these tactics at work know they don’t succeed, but wonder what else will work among people who lack a sense of resonsibility for their own state in life. If people have that sense of responsibility it becomes far easier to say, “Look. If you don’t engage in these practices to deepen your relationship with God and others the Bible says these will be the consequences. If you do engage in these Biblical and historic practices, the Bible says these will be the consequences. Which one is it going to be?” Someone who has a sense of personal responsibility won’t necessarily be convinced by this argument to adopt certain practices, however they will walk away with a clear understanding of what they are choosing and not make excuses if they choose badly and suffer the consequences of their choices.

As someone who likes to be straightforward and honest…this is a far easier way to go.

Last week I had a conversation with a twentysomething and we were talking about the essence of Christianity. We walked through the gospel and talked about Christianity ultimately being a choice of who is going to be the ruler of your life. If you choose to be your own ruler the consequence is death (both now and in the future). If you choose Jesus as your ruler the consequence is life (both now and in the future). He talked about his natural tendancy to rebel against authority and those who want to control him. I looked him in the eye and told him, with all love and grace, “You have every opportunity to choose yourself as the ruler, but the consequences are real. You may succeed at everything you dream of, but don’t be shocked when you sit amid your success and find yourself lonely, afraid and empty. If you choose Christ as your ruler, you may or may not experience that success, but the consequences are just as real and whether you find yourself achieving what you right now dream of or are unemployed and homeless you can have a peace and joy that you will never gain on your own.” While some might balk at this kind of bluntness and challenge, he didn’t. He welcomed it. It spurred our conversation on, rather than cutting it off. (Note that this is a portion of a conversation that lasted several hours! And this conversation happened in a context of previously established relationship.)

I wouldn’t have put it this way at the time, but I was appealing to his sense of personal responsibility. You have the choice…option A or option B…the red pill or the blue pill. This is the consequence of each. It’s your call. He knows I’ll love him regardless of his choice. But he also knows the very real consequences of each choice. Whatever choice he makes, he does it with a clear sense of personal responsibility for his actions.

How do you perceive different generations and their willingness to take personal responsibility for their actions? To you agree with Ms. Senior’s assessment of the twentysomething generation? What about our culture as a whole? What about those of us within church culture?