Christmas Day

Behold I bring you good news of great joy: for to you is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

Christmas Eve

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness,

on them light has shined.

Let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 9:2

Caleb's Christmas Carol

My 10 year-old sang this song to me yesterday. The tune is familiar but the words are all him.

"Let It Flow"

(to the tune of "Let It Snow")

Oh, although the bathroom over there is frightful,

The urinal is quite delightful.

Especially if you have to go,

Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow

You'll have to excuse me, I have the sudden urge to use the restroom.

"Joy to the World" (Songs I'm Listening to pt.6)

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

"Flowers On the Wall" (Songs I'm Listening to pt.5)

I've keep hearin' you're concerned about my happiness
But all that thought you're givin' me is conscience I guess
If I were walkin' in your shoes I wouldn't worry none
While you and your friends're worryin' bout me I'm havin' lots of fun

Countin' flowers on the wall that don't bother me at all
Playin' solitare till dawn with a deck of fifty one
Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo
Now don't tell me I've nothing to do

Last night I dressed in tails pretended I was on the town
As long as I can dream it's hard to slow this swinger down
So please don't give a thought to me I'm really doin' fine
You can always find me here and havin' quite a time

It's good to see you I must go I know I look a fright
Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this light
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete

Don't tell me I've nothing to do

"Welcome Table" (Songs I'm Listening to pt.4)

I'm going to sit at the welcome table
Yes, I'm going to sit at the welcome table
One of these days, hallelujah
I'm going to sit at the welcome table
Sit at the welcome table one of these days, one of these days

I'm going to feast on milk and honey

Yes, I'm going to feast on milk and honey

One of these days, hallelujah

I'm going to feast on milk and honey

Feast on milk and honey one of these days, one of these days

I'm going to tell God how you treat me

Yes, I'm going to tell God how you treat me

One of these days, hallelujah

I'm going to tell God how you treat me

Tell God how you treat me one of these days, one of these days

All God's children gonna sit together

Yes, all God's children gonna sit together

One of these days, hallelujah

All God's children gonna sit together

All of God's children gonna sit together one of these days, one of these days

"Run On" (Songs I'm Listening to pt.3)

First up, great God, let me tell you the news 


My head got wet with the midnight dew 


I've been down on bended knee,

Talkin' to the man from Galilee 


Then my God spoke and he sounded so sweet 


I thought I heard the shuffle of the angel's feet

Then he put one hand upon my head


Great God almighty let me tell you what he said:



Go tell that long tongue liar 


Go tell that midnight rider 


Tell the gambler, the rambler, the back biter

Tell them God Almighty gonna cut 'em down

You may run on for the long time 


Run along for the long time

Run along for the long time

Let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down

You may run on for the long time

Run along for the long time

Run along for a long time

Let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down 



Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand 


Work in the dark against your fellow man 


But as sure as God made rich and poor


You gonna reap just what you sow 



Some people go to church just to signify

Tryin' to get a date with the neighbor's wife

But listen to me brother, sure as you're born,

You better leave that woman alone

Cause one of these days, you mark my word,

You think that brother is goin' to work

You're gonna come up and knock on the door

That's all brother, you'll knock no more

You may run on for the long time

Run along for the long time

Run along for the long time

Let me tell you God Almighty gonna cut you down

"But For You Who Fear My Name" (Songs I'm Listening to pt.2)

But for you who fear my name,

the sun of righteousness will rise

with healing in his wings.

And you shall go forth again,

skip about like calves

coming from their stalls at last.

You shall be my very own

on the day that I

cause you to be my special home.

I shall spare you as a man,

as compassion on his son

who does the best he can.

The Market of Generosity

Don't look to the Market to guide your generosity. If your generosity is based on the ebbs and flows of the Market your "gift" will be captive to the world of acquisition and will never understand the beauty of what it means to truly give.

A spirit of generosity is not dependent upon one's bank balance but rather upon one's capacity to give of them-self to another. The Market doesn't like generosity, because true generosity expects nothing in return; no kick-back and no "return on the investment". In the eyes of the Market, generosity offers no benefit.

But the vision of Market is blinded because the Market can't see the power of "gift". More than bringing joy to the recipient, a "gift" shifts our focus from "independent" to "interconnected". It is in our interconnections that we find our humanity.

In a world driven by the Market don't let your low bank balance or busy schedule cause your muscles of generosity to atrophy. Instead, be generous with your time, generous with your possessions, generous with your money, and generous with your love.

"Society" (Songs I'm Listening to pt.1)

It's a mystery to me

We have a greed with which we have agreed

And you think you have to want more than you need

Until you have it all you won't be free

Society, you're a crazy breed

Hope you're not lonely without me...

When you want more than you have

You think you need...

And when you think more than you want

Your thoughts begin to bleed

I think I need to find a bigger place

Because when you have more than you think

You need more space

Society, you're a crazy breed

Hope you're not lonely without me...

Society, crazy indeed

Hope you're not lonely without me...

There's those thinking, more-or-less, less is more

But if less is more, how you keeping score?

Means for every point you make, your level drops

Kinda like you're starting from the top

You can't do that...

Society, you're a crazy breed

Hope you're not lonely without me...

Society, crazy indeed

Hope you're not lonely without me...

Society, have mercy on me

Hope you're not angry if I disagree...

Society, crazy indeed

Hope you're not lonely without me...

Prostitute Birthday Party

I heard Tony Campolo share this story a few years ago and recently found a video of him sharing the same story.

Advent Reflections pt. 1

Advent is the anticipation of deliverance, peace, and restoration. The anticipation of Shalom. Each day that passes is one day closer. Advent is not merely history remembered, it is history unfolding.

Black Friday

As our world ushers in the Christmas season with long lines, killer deals, and maxed out credit cards, may you anticipate the coming of our King through loving your enemy, seeking justice for the oppressed, and considering others greater than yourself.

Purpose of More

In this world, our value and sense of purpose comes in the acquisition of more. More money, more toys, a "better" job, more friends on Facebook. Yet the pursuit of more leads us on a merry-go-round of insanity; more is never enough and as a result we never feel fulfilled in our purpose. When we pursue questions of purpose and meaning we need stop looking to the promises of more and begin to empty ourselves to the point of such nakedness that we are confronted by who we really are. No societal labels, no self-made definitions, no false pretenses of who we think we are and what we think we should be doing. In this terrifying place of vulnerability our infatuation with more (cloaked in language of purpose) looses its hold on us and we become free. No longer a slave to some pre-conceived destiny that must be decoded but rather free to find in each new day the joy of life.

More Than Remembering

Too often I "remember" what Jesus did for me on the cross yet fail to understand that too is my call, my journey, my destination.

Guinea Skates

the things we do to our family pets....

Talking Dog

What's not to like about the dog?

"From the Office of Rick Warren"

In a recent post I wrote about my curiosity when I discovered that Rick Warren was following my twitter feeds. My cynicism caused me to think that this was part of a marketing plan to get more followers to follow him. So in fairness to Pastor Warren I hand wrote a letter, simply asking why he was following my tweets. I received this email from his Chief of Staff David Chrzan:

Dear Dave,

Thanks so much for your note to Pastor Rick and for your question. Pastor Rick attempts to follow as many pastors, church leaders and church planters via Twitter as he can. Through listening to the tweets of other Christian leaders Pastor Rick is able to discern a little of the pulse of the church at large. He hears what is on the hearts of pastors and church planters; and as a result he is able to pray for the church and its’ leaders more specifically.

Rick teaches that every leader must be a life time learner and so this is one more way he seeks to learn from others in the Body of Christ. I’m not able to tell you specifically how Pastor Rick came to follow you on Twitter. He follows pastors and church planters on Twitter as they become known to him. There are many pastors and planters that Rick follows because they were recommended to him for their teaching, and inspiration.

Thanks again for writing to Pastor Rick. Our prayer team will be praying for you and Renovate Covenant Church of Muskegon, Michigan as you seek to fulfill God’s purposes by planting new churches.

God Bless,

David Chrzan

Chief of Staff

Well...still not sure why he is following my tweets or how he can comb through the 14,000+ people he follows, but the response is genuine and for that I'm thankful.

Now, I wonder what Rick Warren's favorite Garbage Pail Kid is?

Just Wondering...

What was your favorite Garbage Pail Kid?

Punk Rock Never Dies

The strings have been changed on the SG and the Groove Tubes in the Marshall are glowing....that can only mean one thing:

Some friends and I started a band.

Our sound won't be anything new for those that know me; influences like: Bad Religion, Green Day, NOFX, and Social Distortion. We'll be playing some covers ("Somebody Put Something In My Drink" by the Ramones should be a crowd pleaser) as well as writing some of our own stuff.

Right now we're practicing in our drummer's basement (some things just don't change) and hope to get enough tunes soon to play our first show. Not sure what the scene is like here in Western, MI, but hopefully there are enough dive bars to let us rip.

Also, our band name is still up in the air, so I'd love to get your input.

Punk Rock Never Dies!

Purpose Driven Tweets

I just got a notification that Pastor Rick Warren is following my tweets. Why would this celebrity-pastor (with 135,233 followers) follow my tweets (along with 14,115 others)?

Since I don’t know and have never met the Purpose Driven Pastor I have to admit that my response is a bit cynical: It's part of a marketing ploy that many “celebrities” engage in. A marketing team manages their account and “follows” other people in the hopes that they will in turn follow their tweets. Then, when you click “follow” they either un-follow your Twitter feed all together or simply never pay any attention to your posts.

Why would this bother me? Because it is disingenuous. Following someone on Twitter should be based on a genuine desire to hear what is going on with others. Whether it is your friend from college or Kim Kardashian, the point is not how well you know them, but rather your desire to engage in their life and hear what they have to say; superficial or otherwise.

I have no delusions of grandeur regarding my tweets/postings, nor am I trying to gain any kind of “following”. Simply put, I just don’t want to be “used” in an effort to pad another’s Twitter stats.

To be gracious, I do not know Pastor Warren's motives for following my Twitter feeds. So out of fairness to him I wrote a letter asking him why he is interested in following my tweets. I'll keep you posted on his response... via Twitter of course :)

Relational Youth Ministry Blog

Just a heads up…

In addition to writing on this blog I will also be writing monthly for the blog: “Relational Youth Ministry” (here's my first post: "Unplug..."). A good friend of mine, Tim Ciccone, is the blog’s facilitator and asked me to be one of the contributing voices to the conversation that deals with all things related to youth ministry. While I am no longer a youth pastor (I served as youth pastor at my home church for four years) I will be sharing my perspective on youth ministry as a church planter. For those of you who have a heartbeat for youth I hope the Relational Youth Ministry blog becomes a helpful resource for you.

Peace.

(Tim has also released, In Transit, a book designed for youth workers that are navigating a move from one ministry context to another. A great resource that is worth checking out)

Longing for Home

We all have a place that brings us a sense of calm; a place where we are at peace. Home is the space where we are content in this world and with our contributions we give to make it better. When we are “home” we are able to gain perspective on the movement of life and our own personal development. Home is safe and free. Time seems to stand still when we are home, giving us breathing room to reflect on life and dream new possibilities.

Home sometimes is a physical place; the town you grew up in, your grandparent’s cottage, or your garage full of tools. Home can also be found in the relationships of others; hanging out with long-time friends over drinks, playing with your kids at the park, or going for walk with the one you love. A sense of home can also come over us when we listen to a piece of music, taste a certain kind of food, or gaze at the sunset on a summer evening.

Yet most of life is spent on the go, constantly moving (in thought and action) causing us to feel like someone who is continually traveling for work and rarely ever home. We grow tired of the “air travel, the road travel, and the hotels”…we simply long for home.

Because we struggle to find “home” we loose track of where we are, who we are, and what we want our life to be about. Life outside of “home” is disjointed, unsettling, and lonely. And so our pursuit of “home” continues.

Where do you find yourself today? At home or in tireless pursuit?

Where are those places that bring you home?

What are those moments that give you a sense of home?

Contradiction of the Mind

my mind is sharp, my mind is dull

my mind is keenly aware and hopelessly oblivious

my mind races on to the next thing but can’t keep the pace

my mind remembers in vivid detail and forgets in opaque ambiguity

my mind dreams of possibilities but falls asleep on the job

my mind tunes in and my mind tunes out

my mind is a problem solver and a problem child

my mind has a limitless imagination yet is confined by the constructs of reality

my mind can see the possibilities, but is blinded by what’s in front of me

my mind is a laser beam of focus and a scattered array of confusion

my mind

Letting Go of "Supposed To"

There is nothing that kills imagination and creativity quicker than the phrase, “Supposed to”.

“Supposed to” limits one’s possibility to that which has already been done. “Supposed to” may make one relevant but it never gives way to the unique creative genius.

“Supposed to” is attractive…it shows us the way, but this is precisely the problem. If the way is easy and can be shown so simply then there is a good chance no new thing will be discovered.

“Supposed to” is for those who want to fall in line, do as they’re told, and live a nice happy life. “Suppose to” doesn’t ask that much of you, just the status quo really. It doesn’t require you to think or to dream; and it certainly doesn’t rock the boat.

And while you are doing what you are “Supposed to” there are others doing what hasn’t been done, doing what they were told shouldn’t be done, or even more: what couldn’t be done. It is those who leave the confines of “Supposed to” that find their soul in the middle of a chorus…singing life out loud.

Living life outside of the “Supposed to” doesn’t mean that life is up for grabs; there are indeed some things we should be about. We should be generous, kind, and supportive of others. We should be encourages of children and our word should stand by exactly what it says.

Life free from the “Supposed to” doesn’t mean that we live life outside of the box, but rather that we dance along its edges. It means that when we go to work, school, or manage the household we will take care of more than our responsibilities…and not because they are a “have to”, but rather because they are an opportunity. An opportunity to do more than the minimum of the “supposed to” but to offer the fullness of our unique self to others.

May you live a life fare away from the demands of the supposed to and learn to live from the unique self God has placed within you.

Life Together

I want to share this excerpt from “The Future of the Covenant In the Postmodern World” written by Jay Phelan, President and Dean of North Park Theological Seminary.

Phelan writes:

In the Covenant I think we have a chance to offer to the world a grown-up faith, a faith that can handle ambiguity, a faith that can handle hard questions, a faith that can accept people even when they are wrong, a faith that permits disagreements and encourages discussion, a faith that is able to say “I’m sorry” and “I love you,” a faith that looks out for the suffering and marginalized and shares with them the love of Jesus, a faith that is mature because the word and will of God are internalized. We have a chance, I say. We could also fall back into the safety of the old nanny or engage in adolescent “acting out,” and refuse to leave either childhood or adolescence.

There are all kind of people in families. There’s the conservative Uncle Bob, who lives in the suburbs and votes Republican. There’s liberal cousin Lisa, who lives in a city co-op and works with the homeless. One brother is an Army officer, another a devoted pacifist. One brother-in-law is a law officer in favor of capital punishment. His wife pickets at the prison whenever a life is to be taken. These opinions are real, profoundly different, and in some senses not compatible.

But you stay together because you are a family and have a common ancestry and common commitment. You stay together because you are grown-up people and not adolescents. Jesus, as you know, called his disciples from all sorts of backgrounds and persuasions. He expected them to stay together, whatever their differences; because, however serious those differences, they had him in common. And they had his mission in common: a mission of God’s generosity, grace and longing.

God does want lost people found, and lonely people, and broken people, and confused people, and angry people, and frustrated people. God wants all people found and restored to the family. The Covenant Church has a chance to help people find such people, if we can avoid insularity, squabbling, and childishness, of which we are all capable.

Video Killed the Radio Star

Since our beginning Renovate has incorporated video in our worship gatherings. We have used video to project song lyrics, share short films that raise questions, and cast images that inspire. Video in our gatherings is as normal part of our liturgy.

I’m sure it came as a surprise to many that we took an intentional break from our video over 4 weeks ago. No lyrics projected, no images, and no short videos…we haven’t even set up the screens. Don’t get me wrong, there are many wonderful uses for video and projection within the context of worship however there are also times when technology has a way of creating distance between others and ourselves. At its best video has the capacity to paint vivid pictures for the mind body and soul however it also has the capacity to overload us to the point where we become desensitized to the world around us.

During our video break we’ve printed out lyrics to songs on sheets of paper to share and sing along with (there is something wonderful about holding a song sheet with another person and singing together). Also in conjunction with our video break Dave Nagel (our Worship Cultivator) has given his musicians a four-week “Sabbath” from playing on Sundays. The hope of this Sabbath for our musicians is to give them both rest from the need to “produce” and the opportunity to reflect on why we offer our gifts in this way.

These intentional breaks from our regular liturgical practice has created other opportunities within our worship like having selected people read Scripture from their seats for all to hear.

This video break has served to remind us that we are not measured by our level of production (as individuals and as a church), but rather through our identification as one of God’s children.

Field Trip Week

This past week I went on two different school field trips with my boys. With my 2^nd grader, Luke, we went with his class to a camp where they learned all about habitats and the ecosystem do doing “hands on” research in the pond and wildlife studies in the forest. As one of the adult chaperones I helped the kids fill out their nature worksheets and also taught them a few other things that weren’t a part of the curriculum like: “How to burn stuff with a magnifying glass” (who knew ants popped like popcorn?). One of the highlights: playing “spider web tag” with the entire 2^nd grade class during our picnic lunch (man, those kids are fast!).

The day after Luke’s trip I went with Caleb and his 4^th grade class to Camp Pendalouan (a YMCA camp here in Western, MI). We learned about the first settlers to Michigan, the fur trade, and played another tag-like game to illustrate the workings of the food chain (elementary kids sure love their tag games!). My highlight of this day: watching my son interact with his class…he’s sweet, kind, and funny.

I have to admit that when the week 1^st began and I saw that I had two full days of school field trips in which I would not be getting any work done (yes, pastors do work during the week J I was a bit overwhelmed. Yet as I thought of the +’s and –‘s of going on the trips I was easily swayed in going when I reminded myself of one simple fact: Each one of my boys had invited me.

As my kids get older I will be invited less and less into the events of their life and so I want them to know that Mom and Dad love their invitations. Accepting their invitations communicates to them that what they do and think about matters…it shows them that their world is beautiful, interesting, and something I want to participate in.

Sure, not all of us have the flexibility of being self-employed, but going on every field trip isn’t the point (there will be plenty of field trips that even this pastor won’t be able to attend). The point is that as parents we regularly accept the invitations into our kid’s lives; doing what they would like to do, seeing what they would like us to see, and laughing at what they find funny.

Of all the things that were taught this past week what I learned most from my elementary school field trip experience was: Being invited by a child is enough of a reason to go along.

Back

My family and I recently got back from our vacation in Florida. Our time as a family was filled with fun, adventure, relaxation, and connection. I can’t tell you what a gift it was to put my phone away and “let go” of phone calls, emails, txts, and work. This Sabbath for our family allowed us to reflect and remember the love we share with one another and the love that God has for us.

Part of taking a Sabbath means that we need to prepare for rest (remember the Israelites who gathered extra food on the 6^th day while in the wilderness?) and that we are intentional in our rest. Too many of us in taking vacations or time away from the office, fail to set up good boundaries for our absence (such as getting extra work done ahead of time/making sure people know who to contact in our absence) and end up checking email or make a “quick call” to the office to handle that “urgent” issue. As this happens we may physically be out of the office, but our mind never stops working. When we fail to “let go” we are easily taken away from the moment in front of us (being with the family, kids, etc) and are mentally transported to some other moment that may seem important but has little to no connection to what is happening around us right now. As a result we become more and more defined by the production of our hands instead of one of God’s unique creations and end up missing some of the beautiful things God does before us everyday.

My family and I can’t stay in Florida forever (sorry kiddos) and need to get back to reality; a reality that includes phone calls, emails, and work. Yet as we’ve returned Misty and I have been intentional about finding ways in which we cannot only turn off our phones and emails, but also our brains from the work we find so important. In doing so we hope to create a rhythm of participating in Sabbath yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily all so we might stay connected to what matters most.

What are some things you do in order to “let go” of work and rest in what is important in life?

What practices have you found helpful when resting to keep your mind from wondering to work, etc?

What intentional boundaries do you create when taking time away to keep yourself from feeling the need to “work”?

Communication Sabbath

For the next two weeks I’m taking a Sabbath from communication. No, I’m not going mute; I’m still going to talk with Misty, talk with my friends, talk to myself, and in times of parental breakdown, yell at the kids. But I am taking a break from other forms of communication.

For the next two weeks I’m taking a break from the phone; no calls, no txts (I’ll have to figure out how to spell all over again, "lol"). I’m also going take a communication Sabbath from Facebook, Twitter, and blogging. There will be no status updates, tweets, or meanderings about life…I’m taking a break. Oh yeah, no emails either.

My hope is that taking a break from communicating I can re-connect with the ones that are most important in my life: my kids, Misty, and our Creator. I will be reading, writing, talking. But mostly…

I will be listening.

I’ll be back in 2 weeks. Peace.

Peace In the City

In his book, the Beloved Community, Charles Marsh quotes Presbyterian minister Mark Gornik. Gornik and his friends were committed to fostering community development incarnationally and moved into Baltimore row housing in 1986. Gornik’s words are important for all who struggle with privilege in the midst of inequality:

“I cannot escape my background as a white male born into a world of options and privileges. But I can and should struggle with my obligation as a Christian to view the city in all of its forms and conditions through the eyes of the stranger, the excluded, and the poor. Christian reflection on the inner city must emerge out of relationships: the bonds of commitment to Christ and his peace for the poor. In Christ’s fellowship with the poor, in his identification with the depths of suffering through the cross, the cries from the depths of the inner city are also his, and the pleas that all things might be made right becomes a yearning in the Spirit of God for God’s reign of peace.

These words beg all of us to consider our privilege. Whether it comes by way of economics, education, or in by being a part of the ethnic majority we are called to leverage our privilege for the sake of others.

Waiting (Mobility pt. 4)

We have a difficult time waiting. Whether it is waiting in line at the grocery store as the person ahead of us stumbles through the “self-check-out” in a clumsy manner or awaiting test results from the doctor; waiting is a difficult process.

Waiting is the antithesis to mobility. It renders us passive, stationary, and still when we would rather “get on with it”. We long for our moments of waiting to be short and quick so that life can be lived. Waiting is irritating and a waste of time.

Waiting is viewed as the space between where we were and where we want to be; waiting leaves us feeling powerless and helpless.

Henri Nouwen writes on those who wait in Scripture: “…there is none of this passivity in Scripture. Those who are waiting are waiting actively. They know that what they are waiting for is growing from the ground on which they are standing. Right here is a secret for us about waiting. If we wait in the conviction that a seed has been planted and that something has already begun, it changes the way we wait. Active waiting implies being fully present to the moment with the conviction that something is happening where we are and that we want to be present to it. A waiting person is someone who is present to the moment, believing that this moment is the moment.” – Finding My Way Home

May you see that your moment of waiting (no matter how long) is the moment and may you find the peace and hope of God fully present in the midst of your waiting.

Prayer: for the Good of Others

“O God, we thank thee for the abundance of our blessings, but we pray that our plenty may not involve want for others. Do thou satisfy the desire of every child of thine. Grant that the strength which we shall draw from this food may be put forth again for the common good, and that our life may return to humanity a full equivalent in useful work for the nourishment which we receive from the common store."

Walter Rauschenbusch

Mobility and the Biblical Narrative (Mobility pt. 3)

The Biblical narrative gives us another way to view mobility. In the Old Testament the Israelites are led out of slavery and into the promise land. At a quick glance it may seem as if God is concerned with the upward mobility of his people, but upon further study more is taking place. Although God is leading them to a place of hope and promise, God also leads his people through a place of struggle and pain; the wilderness. In fact as the journey out of Egypt unfolds, the Israelites request they be sent back to Egypt (Exodus 14:11-12; 16:3; 17:3).

For the Israelites this is not the type of mobility they had hoped for, yet God is concerned not just with “where they are going”, but “who they are becoming”. The Exodus story is not simply about God’s people moving from the slums to the suburbs but rather moving from a scattered and fearful people to a new community that finds its identity in God.

The life of Jesus is also one that causes us to re-think our affinity for mobility. In the Gospels Jesus has a conversation with the mother of Zebedee’s sons (Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45). She makes a request that her two boys sit next to him at his thrown; this is the request of upward mobility. Jesus replies by asking if they can drink from his cup…the cup not of his “success” but rather of his suffering. The account then goes on:

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:26-28

Jesus communicates in his words (see his conversation with the rich young ruler) as well as with his life (especially the journey to the cross) that type of mobility one is to aspire to as his follower is one of downward mobility. While our culture may aspire to moving at a greater speed and acquiring more in the name of success and efficiency, Jesus beckons us to cast aside our nets and follow him not on a path of mobile comfort but rather down the path that leads to Calvary for the sake of the Kingdom.

What other examples from the Scriptures/life of Jesus do you see regarding “downward mobility”?
What is lost in a life of “downward mobility”? What is gained?

"The Silver Chair"

“Are you not thirsty?” said the Lion.
“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.
“Then drink,” said the Lion.
“May I – could I – would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.

The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

“Will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I come?” said Jill.
“I make no promise,” said the Lion.

Jill was thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
“Do you eat girls?” she said.
“I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,” said the Lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.

“I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill.
“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.
“Oh dear!” said Jill, coming a step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”

“There is no other stream,” said the Lion.

- C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair

Prayer: for the Church

“O God, we pray for thy church, which is set today amid the perplexities of a changing order, and face to face with a great new task. We remember with love the nurture she gave to our spiritual life in its infancy, the tasks she set for our growing strength, the influence of the devoted hearts she gathers, the steadfast power for good she has exerted. When we compare her with all other human institutions, we rejoice, for there is none like her. But when we judge her by the mind of her Master, we bow in pity and contrition.

Oh, baptize her afresh in the live-giving spirit of Jesus! Grant her a new birth, though it be with the travail of repentance and humiliation. Bestow upon her a more imperious responsiveness to duty, a swifter compassion with suffering, and an utter loyalty to the will of God. Put upon her lips the ancient gospel of her Lord. Help her to proclaim boldly the coming of the kingdom of God and the doom of all that resist it. Fill her with the prophets’ scorn of tyranny, and with a Christ-like tenderness for the heavy-laden and down-trodden. Give her faith to espouse the cause of the people, and in their hands that grope after freedom and light to recognize the bleeding hands of the Christ. Bid her cease from seeking her own life, lest she lose it. Make her valiant to give up her life to humanity, that like her crucified Lord she may mount by the path of the cross to a higher glory."

Walter Rauschenbusch

Unwanted Side Effects of Mobility (Mobility pt.2)

While living a life that values increasing mobility may seem as harmless as pursuing the “American Dream”, our highly mobilized culture comes with some unwanted side effects. One of the effects of mobility is the creation of distance. Essentially this means that as we become increasingly mobile and transient we lose out on connection with one another as well as with creation.

Think about the individual or family that rushes through a drive-thru to scarf down a combo meal on the way to the next sports/club event. Little attention is given to the food; where it came from, where it was harvested, who prepared it, as well as the working conditions of those who prepared it. Compare this to a family that operates at a slower pace, choosing to spend meals around a common table, perhaps even preparing food harvested locally. Is it possible that in our quest for a highly mobile lifestyle we lose out on deep human connections?

Further, the speed created though mobility desensitizes us to the world around us. While watching the TV or on the internet if a commercial, news clip, or pop-up occurs that informs me of a devastating event I have the ability to “click away” to the latest sports scores. Mobility affords me the luxury of constructing a world that keeps me comfortable, safe, and happy while being desensitized to the pain of others.

What is gained in a highly mobile lifestyle? What connections are lost?
How are we desensitized to the world around us by the pace at which we move?

The Thin Line Between Creative and Crazy (pt. 3)

"Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to sleep, but the song won't let you. So you have to get up and make it into something, and then you're allowed to sleep. It's always in the middle of the bloody night, or when you're half awake or tired, when your critical faculties are switched off. So letting go is what the whole game is."

- John Lennon

The Mobility God (Mobility pt. 1)

Our Western culture prides itself in its capacity for movement and mobility. From the telling of our history, which includes the “discovery” of the West, to the speed at which we communicate with one another via social networking sites on the internet, our movement oriented culture thrives on conquest, achievement, and efficiency (just think about the names of the cars we produce in America: “Expedition”, “Explorer”, “Mustang”, “Voyager”).

The notion of “Upward Mobility” is hard-wired into us as individuals. Upward mobility suggests value in a movement towards something more; it fuels those who have “little” to achieve “more”, encouraging them on with progress, speed, and efficiency. An example of our desire for a life of upward mobility can be reflected when a young couple finds there first place to live.

Often a “starter home” (even this term suggests the need for progress towards something “better”) is smaller, modest. Possibly one’s first home, because of funds, is not purchased but rented; maybe even in an area of town that is viewed as less desirable because of crime, schools, etc. As the couple grows older, presumably makes more income, their ability to afford more by way of a house (as well as standard of living) increases. This causes them to leave their first home/apt and purchase something bigger and better (possibly leaving the area all together for a more “stable” community). The goal for the family is one of upward mobility (the hope that one day they will have the “house of their dreams”) and is made possible by an individual’s (or in this case, a couple’s) wealth, privilege, and power.

The philosophy of upward mobility also values speed and efficiency and can be seen in the way we communicate and process information. Telephones no longer exist to merely make connections from one household to another, instead each person has their own personal mobile phone that processes information (emails, web-surfing, news feeds, Facebook updates, etc) at lightning fast speed; yes, they still make phone calls as well. Further, the cost of the devices that make our fast exchange of information possible (iPhones, LCD TV’s, computers, etc) as well as the cost to manage/power our devices (mobile phone plans, internet plans, cable bills, etc) require a great deal of financial prosperity.

In short: our fascination with the mobile lifestyle is one that reflects a great deal of wealth, prosperity, and privilege.

Mobility as a value in our culture is not inherently bad, but I am wondering if there are any unwanted side effects of a mobile lifestyle.

Where else do you see our culture’s desire for “upward mobility”?
If a life of “upward mobility” is afforded by wealth, prosperity, and privilege what does this mean for the poor among us (are they able to live a life of “meaning”)?

Prayer: By the Works of Our Hands

“O God, we thank thee for the sweet refreshment of sleep and for the glory and vigor of the new day. As we set our faces once more toward our daily work, we pray thee for the strength sufficient for our tasks. May Christ’s spirit of duty and service ennoble all we do.

Uphold us by the consciousness that our work is useful work and a blessing to all. If there has been anything in our work harmful to others and dishonorable to ourselves, reveal it to our inner eye with such clearness that we shall hate it and put it away, though it be at a loss to ourselves.

When we work with others, help us to regard them, not as servants to our will, but as brothers [and sisters] equal to us in human dignity, and equally worthy of their full reward. May there be nothing in this day’s work of which we shall be ashamed when the sun has set, nor in the eventide of our life when our task is done and we go to our long home to meet thy face."

Walter Rauschenbusch

A Constructed Heart

As I was cleaning out my 1st grader’s backpack yesterday I came across this craft she had made.

I began to envision her creating this cut-out paper heart. Moving the scissors in a precise manner to give the heart its shape, intentionally placing two heart stickers on each side, and circling each word of a phrase she had memorized in her own heart and now wanted to share with others: “love god love people”.

There is a sweet simplicity to this piece, yet it came by way of a careful and deliberate construction.

May you find joy in living out this simple phrase. May you intentionally embrace all the depths of its practice in the midst of a complex world; always growing in a deeper love and obedience for the Creator and a more sacrificial love for your enemy. And may the heart that is constructed in you beat with such fervor that the hearts of others come alive with the simple hope that has found its home within you.

The Thin Line Between Creative and Crazy (pt. 2)

"It is only true that a lot of artists are mentally ill - it's a life which, to put it mildly, makes one an outsider. I'm all right when I completely immerse myself in my work, but I'll always remain half crazy." - Vincent van Gogh

The “Progress” God

We are a culture of progress. A combination of advances in technology, science, and social enlightenment have made “today” better than “yesterday”. Whether it has been technologies invented to bring us light in our homes, medicines discovered that cure disease, or bigotries defeated for the benefit of cross-cultural relationship we as a society/humanity have progressed.

And ironically, just as we recognize where we’ve come from we also recognize where we need to go (we are still a long way off from racial equality in this country). So we move on, working toward a better tomorrow.

In all of these ways, our desire for and participation towards, progress are good and true. However is it possible that the notion of “progress” also carries with it a dark side? One that might not lead us towards a more hopeful future for all but instead move us deeper towards injustice and imbalance?

Progress becomes problematic (and even harmful) when it comes by a purely humanistic understanding of the world. In this sense, those moving towards betterment seek to achieve it through the autonomy of humanity. Their “Triune-Progress-god” is one of science, technology, and economy. In this model progress happens as people push scientific limits to discover how “the world works”, develop technologies that serve for the luxury of our existence, and set up economies for prosperity. It constructs a society, a “tower”, that is strong, tall, and shiny…seemingly flawless.

When we serve human betterment through the gods of science, technology, and economy, we become people who construct our own Tower of Babel. A towering society prides itself on its “magnificence”, a spectacle of what can be accomplished when people work together to move forward. Yet when our betterment comes apart from Divine participation and rests solely on our own self aggrandizement we make severe flaws in the tower’s “construction”. This is the story of our Western modern culture as well as the story of how empire always operates.

In this version of “progress” betterment only comes to those who are benefactors of the Tower (the living situation at the “top floor” is certainly better than that of those in the shadows of the tower). Our human systems on their own are unable to bring about complete, whole, true harmony for all.

And when the “Progress” god fails and the Tower falls? It brings devastation (ex: the market collapse of ’09). In the midst of the Tower’s rubble and ashes, the collapse also brings with it possibility; a possibility that our progress might once again resume, yet this time not solely on the might of human autonomy but rather through the tandem movement of both humanity and the God of progress.

In this sense we become co-laborers not for a Tower that will one day topple, but co-laborers for a Kingdom that will bring lasting peace, justice, and equity for all.

Where do you see example of human progress that although bring good to some also bring oppression to others?

Easter

“…they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’” – Luke 24:3-6

Good Friday

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we esttemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted." - Isaiah 53:4

Maundy Thursday

Holy God, source of all love, on the night of his betrayal Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment, to love one another as he loved them. Write this commandment in our hearts; give us the will to serve others as he was the servant of all, who gave his life and died for us. Amen. - The Lutheran Book of Worship

Consuming Darkness

We have a unique relationship with darkness. As children we love to play and tell stories in the darkness. Yet if all light is extinguished our fascination turns to fear. When we get older darkness can even become a nuisance (ever stub your toe on the edge of your bed in the middle of the night?). As an adult we may even experience a darkness that as children we never knew: a darkness of the soul.

Some refer to it as despair, hopelessness, and depression, yet the feelings it brings with it are the same. In the dark seasons of life a deep sadness and sense of meaningless seam to keep us incarcerated in a life that feels too small; void of any breath; void of any light. In darkness we loose our orientation to life and we become numb to the world around us; operating like a shell of our former self.

A darkness of the soul is deep, engulfing, and all consuming. In darkness, there are no easy answers. Sadly many who go through seasons of darkness are given platitudes to “help” them in “their” situation. “Maybe you’re not praying enough”, “This must be a result of some unconfessed sin in your life”, and (my personal favorite) “Just let go and let God…”

Articulating these sentiments can leave one feeling more alone, as if it is up to them (and their “prayer time”) to just “snap out of it” (see the advice Job received from his “friends”). Religious clichés like these leave little room for help and end up perpetuating a deeper sense of guilt leading one further down the spiral of hopelessness.

The darkness of the soul may seem void of any kind of spirituality. However, this is often the place where God is most present. In the place where the lights of life are shut out we are often taken to the end of “self”; the place where, because of total exhaustion, we surrender. It is in that moment a new light dawns and we begin to see more clearly than we ever have before.

There is no formula or time frame given through which the cloud will be lifted…darkness is a part of the journey.

If you are experiencing a season of darkness; you do not have to journey alone. Share your feelings with someone you trust, who loves you and can walk with you (a friend, family member, a counselor). As you feel swallowed in hopelessness, may you find solidarity with the Giver of Light who is never consumed by darkness and has made his dwelling among you.

When you find yourself experiencing a season of “light” be generous with the light that has been entrusted to you. Use it as a beacon of hope to those who are stuck and wondering, ushering them to the place of peace and hope.

“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’” – Lamentations 2:4

Palm Sunday

Jesus, when you rode into Jerusalm the people waved paslms with shouts of acclamation. Grant that when the shouting dies we my still walk beside you, even to the cross.

- A New Zealand Prayer Book (He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa)

The Pain of "Forget"

Throughout life there are experiences that we wish we could forget. Pains and past hurts that serve as an on-going reminder that we are “not okay”. Ironically there are also things within our life that we hope we never forget. The sound of the ocean tide sweeping the shore, the warmth of the sun on our face, the moment we had our first last kiss, and the time when our child invited us to come and play.

These moments of goodness are essential to our memory. They serve as a compass, always pointing us in the direction of possibility and hope.

Yet sometimes during the pains of life, we become so overwhelmed with a destructive reality that our capacity to “remember” life’s joys drastically diminishes. The opening narrative of Exodus tells of a good God who had continued in life-giving relationship with his people throughout the generations. God had expressed his goodness to Joseph and his descendants in such a way that all of God’s people knew their identity and their hope.

The story takes a dramatic turn with the death of Joseph’s generation and the birth of a king (who had no memory of the good past). These two events cause the collective memory of God’s goodness and promise fade away. Exodus 1:8 hits like a thud: “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.” This was the turning point; the moment when God’s people began to forget.

When the difficulties of life come our way and begin to make for us a new reality, it becomes all too easy to forget the good of the past. Not only do we loose our hopeful memory of the past but we also let go of the possibility that good will re-emerge in the future.

Maybe in the midst of a difficult relationship, the loss of work or in declining health, your capacity to “remember” the goodness of life, and the One who created it, has escaped your memory. Yet this is not where the story ends. Pharaoh (and the lords of this earth may have forgotten) but the God of creation never forgets.

May you, whether wondering in pain or basking in joy, be reminded of a good God who has not forgotten.

The Divine Hours

God, you have prepared in peace the path I must follow today. Help me to walk straight on that path. If I speak, remove lies from my lips. If I am hungry, take away from me all complaint. If I have plenty, destroy pride in me. May I go through the day calling on you, you, O Lord, who knows no other Lord.

- Phyllis Tickle, The Divine Hours

The Thin Line Between Creative and Crazy (pt. 1)

"Many people hear voices when no one is there. Some of them are called 'mad' and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called 'writers' and they do pretty much the same thing." - Meg Chittenden