A Great Blog

Back On Line

2008-12-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

So, I have access to my website again. My computer and external hard drive were destroyed in our recent move so I had to recreate from scratch. My website files, along with five years of sermons, and papers, and research are gone. I was, to say the least, disheartened.

And it made me think. Yes, about the importance of offsite backup, but also about who I am. I discovered something about myself. No matter what I say (or preach) to the contrary, I really do define myself by what I accomplish, what I produce. But that isn't who I am. I am a child of God, unconditionally loved by God, and a friend of Christ. That is who I am. Anything of worth that I happen to produce comes out of that understanding of myself, not the other way around.

...and, I have article insurance so a new MacBook is on its way!

God Help Me, I Can't Help But Love This!

2008-11-21T06:51:00.000-08:00

From over at Todd Rhoades' Monday Morning Insight:

Church Bathroom Art

Great Thoughts on Evangelicalism and Ecclesiology...

2008-11-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

Great thoughts from Ed Stetzer on an issue that has been on the edge of my mind, but never really coalesced.

The strength of Evangelicalism-- it's mission. A possible weakness--it's mission, when it comes at the expense of a sense of ecclesiology.

You can read his post here.

You're Not Going to Believe This

2008-11-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

OK, so this is a Guidepost story (remember that magazine?--Norman Vincent Peale's journal of miracles and angels and stuff). For my sermon on Sunday, I wanted to use Rick Warren's (at least that's where I first heard it) sermon illustration utilizing a $100 bill that I crumple up and step on to illustrate that Jesus knows our true worth, still wants us, no matter what we have been through. Simple, but effective.

BUT, I don't have a $100 bill. AND the checking account is low so I can't get a $100 bill. I'd have to skip it. As I was walking into the church Sunday morning, a woman walked up to me with a wallet that she had found in our parking lot. You've already figured it out--it had a $100 bill in it. The object lesson turned out to be very meaningful for folks.

I don't know how I feel about God being involved down to the level of the minutiae of our daily lives. But, boy, I would be a fool to say God is not!

Towards a Definition of My Beliefs

2008-11-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

Lately, it seems I am being asked more often about what I believe or what our church believes. Or maybe I am just noticing the question more. It is a difficult question for me, not because I do not hold strong theological beliefs, beliefs that I really enjoy discussing. It just seems the question is more often than not dogmatic in nature and I have no interest in debates of dogma. I know, I know dogma is important. It's just not my thing. I strive to live my theology. I relish discussing and even debating my ideas about God, but never in an "I'm right and you are wrong" sort of way. It probably is a result of my coming of age as a Southern Baptist during the great purge of the 1980's and 1990's.

That being said, I am realizing the importance of being able to speak to what one believes. It is what drives one and keeps one focused. The core of my theological beliefs is simply that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the potential to transform lives and those thus transformed have the opportunity and the responsibility of participating in the Kingdom of God. My "elevator explanation" of that is that we are to love God, love one another, and serve the world.

For me this is the foundation. Everything else is detail. Everything else is subject to change. When I am 82, I will sit on my porch and figure out everything else and write a book. Until then, I work with what others are thinking that to assist in fleshing out my doctrine. Here are a couple of links to organizations whose work is helpful to me:

What Matters (I mentioned these last week. They come from my denomination, the United Church of Christ.)
The Phoenix Affirmations (I love these affirmations. They are unapolegetically Christ-centered yet theologically and socially progressive.)
The Center for Progressive Christianity (Skews a little more academic and cerebral than The Phoenix Affirmations, but very helpful)

Update: In looking at their websites, I learned that Crosswalk America (which produced the Phoenix Affirmations) and The Center for Progressive Christianity have merged. I love their stuff. It just needs to drop a foot from the head to the heart.

The Three Me's

2008-11-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday as I was working on Sunday's sermon on the story of Jacob wrestling with God and how it relates to the power of change in our lives, a realization came into sharp focus for me. There are three of me.

There is Jason Fairbanks, the industrious, creative pastor and preacher and father. I like that Jason. And I like the responses, quite often of admiration, that Jason receives from people. But there is a second Jason. The Jason that is prideful and fearful and lustful and undisciplined. That Jason I don't like so much. I keep that Jason hidden because I'm pretty sure folks wouldn't like him quite as much. I'd like to change that Jason, and sometimes I try. But it's really, really hard.

Now, what I have described about myself is true of everyone to some extent or another, it's widely accepted psychological theory. But I've noticed that we good church folks have raised this to an art form. We have become masters at portraying what people want to see and hiding what we are struggling with. The problem with that is we never getting around to being changed. We keep the second self hidden instead of exposing it to the healing, transformative power of Christ and the support of community.

But that is just two me's, and I promised a third. After Jacob struggled with the angel of God, the angel asked Jacob his name. Jacob responded with a confession, his name which means usurper or grasper. The angel gave Jacob a new name, Israel. The third me is the me that God sees. The me that has been made new in Christ, the me fully accepted and infinitely loved by God.

I am practiced at being the Jason that everyone likes. And the second Jason is always there causing me guilt and shame. I want to spend some more time getting to know the third Jason, the one that God is so in love with. I think I'm going to like him.

57 Principles of Leadership

2008-11-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

My dad, an old Baptist preacher, sent me this list compiled by another old Baptist preacher--no one famous, just a conference minister in New Orleans. But man, he is right on the money with these.

The Paper Undeground

2008-10-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

I've been exploring some ways to better organize myself and increase productivity. I'm starting to realize that, at least for me, the computer isn't the best way to do that. It is good for the big things, appointments and stuff that I need to keep others updated on. But for the nitty-gritty organization of projects I need to break up and execute, digital does not seem to be best. Maybe if my dear wife would let me buy an iphone, it would work. But for now, it doesn't seem to be working for me.

In my research (yes, it WAS POSSIBLY time I could have spent doing actual work) I have found there is a whole internet subculture on productivity. There is a subculture of this subculture that strongly advocates for paper-based systems. Everything from Covey planners to 3x5 cards held together with a binder clip. Interesting stuff.

A couple of the most well-respected sites are: www.43folders.com and www.diyplanner.com.

What Matters

2008-10-29T07:26:00.000-07:00

When I tell people that I am part of the united Church of Christ I either get a quizzical look (from the many who do not know who we are) or, more often now, a startled look or raised eyebrow (from those who associate the UCC with Jeremiah Wright and his portrayal during 2008). When I get the question "Well, what does the UCC believe?" I usually either give a quick, maeanigless answer--"Oh, we're like the Methodists." Or I give a theological treatise, explaining all of what I see as the wonderful nuances of our theology and watch my listener's eyes glaze over. You see, when you are as inclusive as we are in the UCC, its hard to give a simple answer about who we are.

That's why I was happy to run across "What Matters to Us" on the UCC website. It's not a statement of beliefs, per say, but six historic emphases of our denomination and the streams that flow into it. Take a look at these. I invite you to read them, ponder them, discuss them, and then use them as you are talking about who we are with those who ask you. Let me know what you think!

“What Matters”

We are people of God’s Extravagant Welcome
Jesus didn’t turn people away, even those often rejected by others. We don’t intend to either. We are like a “company of strangers,” made family by the grace of God. God welcomes, claims, and loves all people. God also feeds our hunger, forgives our sins, and frees us from aimless wandering.

This is no idle chatter. The UCC has been bold in extending an invitation to all. For example, our historic denominations were first to ordain an African American pastor (1785), a woman (1853), and a gay or lesbian person (1972).

We Belong to Christ
Jesus Christ is central to who we are. We know God especially in Jesus, who lived, loved, died, rose from the dead, and is present today. Because we belong to Christ, we welcome, love, pray, and serve.

The God we know in Jesus is also known by many names. We share a tradition among Christians speaking of one God as “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” We also speak of God in ways that enrich our faith—God as mother, rock, liberator, savior, friend.

We affirm historic creeds and statements of faith, not as tests for belief, but as inspired words of faithful women and men who came before us. We discover God through the Bible, through prayer, and through engaging the world.

No single statement fully expresses who God is; but where there is justice, peace, and compassion, we see the living God at work in history. To such a God, we belong.

We Are One at Baptism and the Table
God’s grace is celebrated in baptism and Holy Communion. We call these rituals sacraments.

Through the water of baptism, God embraces you—no matter who you are—and brings you into Christ’s church. Baptism reminds us of our special covenant with God. In it, you share in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. In turn, the church promises to love, support, and care for you throughout your whole life.

At Holy Communion, we hare a simple meal of bread and juice. Here, we encounter Christ’s presence. Together, around God’s welcome table, we recall God’s loving acts in Jesus, experience oneness in God, hope for a time when all will be fed, and anticipate the fullness of God’s love and justice throughout creation.

We Are a People of Covenant, a United and Uniting Church
God invites us into a special relationship called “covenant.” The bible speaks of God’s holy covenants with people, communities of faith, nations, and all of creation.

As God covenants with us, we covenant with one another. Local churches also covenant—prayerfully acting on their own, but also relating with associations, conferences, the General Synod, and national settings of the UCC. We covenant with many other Christian denominations, and pray that all may be one (John 17:21). This prayer extends beyond the unity of all churches to the reconciliation of the whole world.

We Thank God by Working for a Just and Loving World
Jesus taught about the realm of God. This realm is one of love and justice, hope and peace. We see it in the past, particularly in the life of Christ. But we also glimpse it in the present, and look for the fulfillment of it in the future. God’s promise extends even beyond death to eternal life.

God continues to break through the barriers of sin and death in the bold witness of God’s people. In gratitude to God, we seek to root out injustice, to stand in solidarity with those who are poor and oppressed; to give with inspiring generosity; to care for the earth; and even to sometimes go against the grain of conventional norms.

We Listen for the Still-speaking God
Founded in 1957, the UCC is grounded in the ancient church of the New Testament and in historic streams of Christianity in this country, dating back to the Pilgrims and German immigrants in colonial Pennsylvania. We affirm the words of our Pilgrim forbearer, John Robinson, that God has “more light and truth to break forth…” (1621)

In our generation, we seek and serve God in innovative ways. God continues to form us through new people among us, offering a multicultural mosaic that reflects all of creation. We celebrate our common ground, while honoring our differences: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, diversity; in all things, charity.”

Through prayer, sacraments, and worship; through the arts and sciences; through compassionate and political acts; and particularly in the voices of those who suffer, God is at work in our hearts and minds, in faith communities, and in the wider world

When God Speaks

2008-10-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

In my ministerial ethics class we were asked to respond to the idea of a minister or pastor claiming to "know the mind of God." It was a great discussion. We were all agreed that we could never completely know the mind of God. A few questioned whether or not we could know anything about the mind of God.

To use blatantly anthropomorphic language, I believe that God speaks to us and reveals his heart and mind to us. The discussion made me pause to remind myself why God reveals God's self to us. It is so easy to get in the habit of running to the pulpit or the computer to preach or blog about "God's latest revelation" to me. But maybe God's word is for me. Maybe God wants me to use the insight that I graciously received before I spout off about it, or (gasp!) instead of me spouting off about it.

Andy Stanley's Thoughts on Leadership

2008-10-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

Andy Stanley wrapped up the day with "Five Random Thoughts on Leadership." They were all wall-worthy. Actually, they are thoughts he has on his wall. He is still struggling with each of them:

1. "To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing."
- Craig Groeschel (Pastor of lifechurch.tv)

2. "The Next Generation product almost never comes from the previous generation."
-Focus, Al Reis

3. Ask yourself: "What do I believe is impossible to do in my field...but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business?"
-Future Edge/The Paradigm Book, Joel Barker

4. Ask yourself: "If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what would he do? Why shouldn't we walk out the door, come back in, and do it ourselves?"
-Only the Paranoid Survive, Andy Grove (Intel)

5. "When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near"
-Michael Hammer

And a bonus: "Success breeds complacency, complacency breeds failure." - Andy Gove

An Amazing Day

2008-10-09T18:03:00.000-07:00

Where else could you hear Andy Stanley, Jim Collins, Craig Groeschel, and Seth Godin (who gave us all a copy of his brand new book)?

Here are the stats:

12,400 people
5,000 churches represented
70 denominations represented

So far I haven't met anyone else from the United Church of Christ and I've been asking folks. If anyone is out there, email or tweet me.

It has been an incredible, bordering on overwhelming experience. These folks are the real thing. Even though our theology and social views are different, with some more than likely radically different. However, that is a peripheral issue. What matters is God's love as it shown through Jesus.

So far...

2008-10-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

The labs have been a powerful experience.

The speakers I heard today get it. They have touched on so many aspects of leadership.

Dr. Tim Elmore (www.growingleaders.com) spoke about the evolution of leadership styles, advocating for leader as poet/gardner, an exciting proposition for collaborative leadership. Sally Morgenthaler, coming from a place of deep experience, spoke about care of the leader's soul, using one of my favorite authors, Thomas Moore. Reggie McNeal is as good a speaker as he is writer. He spoke about the seven life habits of effective leaders, who he describes as one who blesses others. I love that definition. Jud Wilhite, a mega-church pastor, and Mike Foster, creator of XXXchurch.com, spoke about radical grace and radical integrity, based on their book, Deadly Viper.

Looking forward to Catalyst tomorrow

Catalyst Starts!

2008-10-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it starts today! Catalyst is a bigger deal than I even imagined. I originally signed up because of the content, some of the most well-respected leaders in church, culture and business. But, from what I have heard and read since then, the experience itself is awesome. I can't wait to worship with 12,000 people!

Today I am going to labs, which are a smaller learning environment. I am going hear Reggie McNeal (love his books), and others specifically around the topic of leadership. Then tomorrow Catalyst Conference proper begins. I'm sure I'll have a lot to report this evening.

The Beauty of Sacred Music

2008-10-03T09:55:00.000-07:00

I received

Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church's

music brochure

for the 2008-2009 season today. It was a great reminder for me. I haven't been over there for a while, but I am going to make it a point to make it over there for an Evensong this season. Bethesda is a wonderful blessing to our community.

The truth is that they type and especially the quality of music that Bethesda provides its congregation and community has all but disappeared. It isn't a good or bad thing. It just is.

But at Bethesda, because of their resources and talents, it will remain protected for years to come. I have never been to a program there that I came away without having worshipped. If you are in the area, I would encourage you to try something different and experience a different type of worship filled with pipe organ and beautifully trained and competently directed voices in a beautiful space.

And Now For an Obvious Metaphor...

2008-09-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Harvey and I planted some saplings that the Eden Place neighborhood association was kind enough to donate to us. We were thinking it might be a hard job. It wasn't. The trees were tiny. Really tiny. They aren't much to look at. In fact you have to be standing on top of the things to even see them. As we were planting them, a neighbor walked by and told us they were going to take forever to grow. They are Live Oak saplings, about 5 feet tall.

The thing is, if those trees are cared for, they will grow into beautiful, strong trees. If they are cared for, watered and fed, they are going to thrive. It will take a long time. Many of us will not be around to see them in all of their glory. But we planted them in expectation of what they will become.

In our age of microwaves and real estate flipping, it is difficult to remember, difficult to comprehend, that many, probably most, endeavors of value take time and consistency. Becoming a disciple of Jesus, which I believe is life's most worthy endeavor, takes a long time. Sometimes I get frustrated that I am not becoming who God says I can be fast enough. Sometimes I want to (and occasionally I do) quit. But with spiritual growth, as in other great journeys, the process is just as important as the destination. And often we cannot even see the growth until we look behind us and see how far we have come.

If you're ready to plant, to start the process of becoming a Spirit-led, Spirit-filled disciple of Jesus Christ, I've posted a few thoughts about that on my

blog

. And I would love to talk to you about it

Here Am I; Send Me

2008-09-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

My scripture reading this morning included two passages, interestingly juxtaposed: Luke 21 and the story of the widow's gift, and Isaiah 6, the story of Isaiah's "Here am I, send me" moment. I was struck anew by the widow's gift and Jesus' response. It is easy to give out of our abundance. It is easy for me to do something if I have the time. It is easy for me to give if I have a couple of extra bucks in my pocket and I'm not jonesing for a candy bar. It is easy for me to respond to God's call if I feel that I have enough ability.

But she gave out of her poverty. She reached in, pulled out all that she had to give, and gave it. And she gave the better gift. Better for whom I wonder? Did it actually benefit her life or did it just make her "more religious"? I guess one doesn't know until one tries it, steps out and finds there actually is something there.

Why do the greatest adventures, the most meaningful experiences, always require faith?

So, How Does This Work?

2008-09-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

In our Bible study at church we have been exploring the book of Romans. We have spent the past couple of weeks in chapter 8 and the question arose "What, exactly is this life in the spirit?" A great question. And I can give all manner of spiritual sounding answers for it. But how do we achieve it? And does it make any difference. The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard, a true masterpiece which will become to be considered a spiritual classic, I am sure. He speaks of five dimensions or phases in the process:

1. Confidence and reliance upon Jesus
Before we can start the process we have to be confident that following Jesus will get us there.

“...and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.”
John 3:15 (the Message)

This confidence leads to:

2. A desire to be Jesus’ apprentice
Willard: “Only a sustained historical process involving many confusions and false motivations could lead to our current situation, in which faith in Jesus is thought to have no natural connection with discipleship to him. Our apprenticeship to him means that we live within his word, that is, put his teachings into practice (John 8:31). And this progressively integrates our entire existence into the glorious world of eternal living. We become ‘free indeed’ (John 8:36).”

3. Obedience
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments...They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” John 14:15,21
We have to put into practice what God reveals to us.

Willard: “Love of Jesus sustains us through the course of discipline and training that makes obedience possible. Without that love, we will not stay to learn.

Obedience , with the life of discipline it requires, both leads to and, then, issues from the:

4. Pervasive inner transformation of the heart and soul
WE BEGIN TO CHANGE.

Galatians 5:22: By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

These “fruits of the spirit” are examples of what starts to naturally happen to us. We don’t try to be patient. We don’t force ourselves to be peaceful. That is just what we are.

This, in turn, leads to an area we rarely, bordering on never, talk about:

5. Power to work the works of the kingdom

Jesus said to his disciples in John 14:12: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these...”

Do we believe this?

Willard: “Perhaps we feel baffled and incompetent before this statement. But let us keep in mind that the world we live in desperately needs such works to be done. They would not be just for show or to impress ourselves or others. But frankly, even a moderate size ‘work’ is more than most people’s life could sustain. One good public answer to our prayer might be enough to lock some of us into weeks of spiritual superiority. Great power requires great character if it is to be a blessing and not a curse, and that character is something we only grow toward.

Yet it is God’s intent that in his kingdom we should have as much power as we can bear for good. Indeed, his ultimate objective int he development of human character is to empower us to do what we want. And when we are fully developed in the likeness of Jesus, fully have ‘the mind of Christ,’ that is what will happen--to his great joy and relief, no doubt.”

80%

2008-08-27T13:34:00.000-07:00

I recently came across a pretty enlightening statistic. According to the Barna Research Group, 80% of all those in church today (all churches across the board) began their relationship with God before they turned 18. That is a pretty significant number. It points to why it is so vital for us to have engaging ministries for our children and youth.

Two things popped into my mind and heart as I reflected on this statistic. First, I was overcome with gratitude that I am able to serve in a church that understands the importance of ministry to children and youth and supports it wholeheartedly with their dollars and their time. Second, it ignited a renewed sense of urgency to continue our efforts to reach out to children and youth in our community, many of whom desperately need to hear the Good News that God loves them.

How To Be Sure God Is There

2008-08-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”
Matthew 18:19-20 (The Message)

In my devotional reading I read Matthew 18:15-35. The pieces of the passage were familiar to me, but maybe I haven't read them together before. Or maybe God opened my eyes and my heart. The section is all about relationships. It begins with how to handle a situation in which we perceive someone has hurt us. It ends with forgiveness (70x7 times, Peter!) and the well-known story of the two debtors.

Tucked between those two ideas is v. 19-20. It's like Jesus is saying, "Here is why this is so important: God responds when you are together, when you are in agreement." That is so incredibly powerful. And if I were completely honest, I have a hard time believing it. But what I am going to do is practice what I preach and try it. It's huge. In my Greek class yesterday, we were talking about how the Christian faith and practice was very much thought of as communal. We are in this together. Many, many, many (I can't say most because I don't know for sure) of the "you"s in the New Testament are actually "yous"- they are plural. Maybe the key to actualizing, hmmm...spiritual effectiveness, power...for lack of better terms right now...is to join together before God in prayer.

Deep Calls to Deep

2008-08-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

"put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4

"The purpose of a ship isn't to stay docked in the harbor. Our human souls weren't made for shallow water. We must dive into deeper waters with the help of the Holy Spirit. In these deep places the wonderful treasures of the spiritual life are found." Joshua Choonmin Kang, Deep-Rooted in Christ

Staying in the shallows is safe. It is comfortable. I know what is in the shallow water. I have been splashing around there my entire life. But Jesus always beckons the disciple to go deeper. That is where the "good catch" is. There, in the deep, is the stuff of transformation in love. Can we, will we, trust the one that beckons us to "put out into the deep water," confident that he has our best interest at heart? I, for one, am beginning to be able to imagine taking the risk.

The Balance

2008-07-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

True ministry begins not with giving but with receiving. We need to be filled up before we have anything to give to others. John told us that "God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him" (Colossians 1:19 NIV). (p. 25)

Jesus enjoyed his solitude, but he was also at home in a crowd. He was balanced. The time that he spent alone prepared him for the times he spent with people. In the same way, his time in the crowds prepared him for the refreshment of solitude. (p.26)

- Joshua Choonmin Kang
Deep-Rooted in Christ: The Way of Transformation
IVP, 2007

I started reading this book because I have definitely been lacking on the "filling up" side of things lately. It came highly recommended from the folks over at Renovare. It is so easy to get caught up in the "doing." It's exciting. You can see the results. But you dry up so fast.

It's so hard for me still to get to the place to be able to say that, for me, a pastor, the filling up is just as important, more important than the doing. And it's exponentially harder for people not "in the biz" to get that. I need to live it and model it.

So I am setting aside the church growth and effectiveness books for a bit and focus on sitting with Jesus. Then I'll go back into the crowds--that's my job and I really do love it. But who I am is a child of God and friend of Jesus, and that I must nurture.

God Evaders?

2008-07-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

I have been reading and re-reading Dallas Willard's Book The Divine Conspiracy. It is truly a masterpiece of spiritual formation and growth. Well, actually a masterpiece about life since he, more than any other Christian writer I have encountered, describes what holistic life in Christ is all about. Sometime I'll write more about my experience with the book.

He quotes an author, Clyde Reid, whom I hadn't heard of. He was the Secretary of Evangelism for the Board of Homeland Ministries of the United Church of Christ (we love the titles in our tribe) when he wrote the book The God Evaders in 1966. So here is Dallas Willard, a Southern Baptist and philosophy professor at The University of Southern California, quoting a UCC denominational minister. This has got to be good stuff.

Willard quotes Reid's "Law of Religious Evasion," which states that, "as a kind of principle or law of human nature: We structure our churches and maintain them so as to shield us from God and protect us from genuine religious experience." [Willard, 201 quoting Reid, 41]. Willard goes on to share this from Reid's "telling observations of church life:

The adult members of churches today rarely raise serious religious questions for fear of revealing their doubts or being thought of as strange. There is an implicit conspiracy of silence on religious matters in the churches. This conspiracy covers up the fact that the churches do not change lives or influence conduct to any appreciable degree [Willard, 202, quoting Reid, 19].

I have a copy of God Evaders on the way to me. And I am wondering why no one was listening to Reid--especially folks from his/our own denomination--when he wrote this back in 1966. It's good stuff, and it gives me hope. We can turn this thing around!

I'd love to hear responses to these ideas. Do you agree? Disagree? Do Reid's words describe your experience? How can we change it?

Post here, email me, or discuss in the forum (if it's your first visit, you'll need to register). For a lengthy, insightful discussion of the book, head to this blog.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Faith

2008-06-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

As I was working on my sermon for this Sunday, I ran across a word that intrigued me. Ephesians 2:8 reads, "For by grace are you saved, through faith ..." Faith is a word we hear all of the time; it is central to who we are and what we do. And I talk to a lot of people who wonder if they have "enough" of it. So I decided to do a little research on it. It turns out the Greek (the original language in which most of the New Testament is written) word for faith means something a shade different that what we mean by faith. It isn't a mind game, screwing up our face and mind and heart and trying to the best of our ability to believe something. It has more to do with trust, allowing oneself to rest in something. What a wonderful picture that is of who we are as people of faith--not people who are trying hard to believe "10 impossible things before breakfast," as someone described Christianity, but people who are simply experiencing, resting in, and trusting the goodness of God.

The Interior Tabernacle

2008-06-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

In my scripture reading lately, I have been sloshing through the instructions given to the people of Israel for the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus. It seemed like every verse of that part added a few ounces to my eyelids. It is not exciting reading. As I kept going, a little bit of anger started to build. "What is this bull#%^$?" I started thinking. Where did it come from? I have a hard time believing that God cared about all this pomp and pageantry. It's just religion run amok. Church always runs the risk of falling into this nonsense, it is in all sides. We make crazy rules about decorum, political correctness, dogmatic correctness, etc., obscuring the simple call on our lives to come to Jesus.

When I cooled down a bit, a spark entered my imagination. What if the tabernacle was re-imagined as an interior structure, ala the interior castle of St. Teresa of Avila. I come to God so often on my own terms, when I want, lackadaisically. How much good does this do me? Not that God cares, I am sure. But would it help me more to really start to tend that relationship--to put practices in place which provide some structure to my relationship with the Divine? An interior tabernacle, not built for the sake of legalism, but built to nurture and strengthen my relationship with God.