I wish I had more time for blogging right now, especially since it’s the Lent season. But right now, I need to give my attention to other things. So, while I will continue to post my usual random thoughts…here are a couple great resources for you to follow as we anticipate the Day of Resurrection.
Did you happen to see Joaquin Phoenix on the Letterman show last week? Better yet, did you catch Ben Stiller mocking Phoenix at the Oscars? Too funny!
I’m a HUGE fan of Joaquin Phoenix and most of his movies. Frankly, I’ve always wished he would stay away from the mainstream of Hollywood and focus his career on working within the independent film industry. But now, I’m left hoping he simply stays in any industry of acting.
If you haven’t heard, Phoenix is stating that he’s done with acting and wants to begin a career as a rap artist. That’s right…rapping.
I say it’s all a hoax. Much like Andy Kaufman used to try and pull back in the 70’s with his bizarre antics and publicity generating stories.
Here’s the video of what happened on the Late Show last week. I guess we’ll wait and see what happens to one of today’s purest actors…
In the past two weeks I’ve had two very healthy conversations. One was over email, the other over coffee. Each was with people I respect and admire for different reasons. I spent a few minutes this past weekend reflecting on those conversations and discovered that they were similar in one way.
That there is a problem within church today, and especially among pastors, where the lines between being critical thinkers and just being critical are often blurred.
Before I go any further, I feel the need to admit that this morning I called someone to apologize for being too critical of another pastor and his ways of promoting “church”. This is a very real conversation for me right now as I’ve discovered some things about myself that I’m trying to change. You could say I’m a recovering cynic…
I guess what I’ve discovered lately is that with all my criticising and complaining about church models and various pastors theology…I’ve accomplished absolutely nothing! It’s time for me and each of us who are called to pastor the body of Christ, to continue to think critically about the church and culture, but cease in our cynical and sarcastic ways towards what others are doing…or not doing.
Does sarcasm and being cynical have any place in following Jesus? I don’t think it does. Yet, it’s so damn hard not to be cynical these days! Too often, church is made out to be some kind of joke and sometimes it’s for good reason. When I think about some of the things I’ve said and done as a pastor, or the things I’ve seen on TV or in church…it’s no wonder we’re sarcastic! But all joking aside…those things I’ve done and seen shouldn’t give me a license to become cynical.
In all of my reflection, I’ve been pondering the words of Paul and he challenges Christ-followers to fix their thoughts on the very opposite of cynicism.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT
This is all part of my journey. I’m convicted about this. Trying to repent of it. Hoping God is still using me despite the ugliness of my critique about His church.
Last Sunday we began a new teaching series at Redwood Hills Church called “Faith and Finance”. I realize that it’s February and I’m supposed to do some catchy talks on love and relationships…but I just didn’t want to do that.
Back in late October and early November my buddy Rob who has a lot of anger towards the church and Christians (for good reasons)asked me this question. He said, “if Christians are supposed to hinge all their faith on the hope that God is all-powerful and that this world is only temporary…why then are they always the ones who are most rattled by politics and issues?” “Where is their hope and trust ?” His question provoked plenty of thought and discussion…but, he had made a valid point!
Today, with the economy going down the drain, I am once again baffled by how many Christians I hear (and read) who seem to have nothing better to do than bash our President and the governments role in trying to save the economy. Many think the $13 a week in tax cuts is something to laugh at. Well, that adds to 52 bucks a month and that’s real food money for some families I know!
The reason I felt strongly about teaching on money isn’t because it’s the hot button issue…but because Christ-followers now more than ever need to remember that to be seekers of God’s Kingdom requires a constant redirection of how we think about and use our money. Beyond that…we have the opportunity to show the world that while our dwindling IRA’s and home values are very real and sometimes painful, it’s all fading away. Everything is temporary!
Let’s remember the words of Paul as he instruct the people of Corinth…
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Two questions rise out of Paul’s words…
What in my life, may be causing me to lose heart? Have I fixed my eyes on political policy, my investments, the tangible things I tend to find security in?
I believe that now more than ever, the church must display a genuine faith in God as the provider, healer, and restorer of all things! Let’s not be people who are known more for our political arguments than our lives being lived for the Lord of lords. I realize this is all easier said than done, but that’s why our faith is a journey. Hopefully, we’re becoming the people God calls us to be, and our worries, fears and arguments will never fit in that calling!
Last week, my family made the long trek across the Cascade mountains and headed north towards Canada. We landed at my wife’s uncle’s ranch near the town of Omak, WA. Uncle Rick and Aunt Bonnie both retired from two very lucrative and stable careers, then immediately left the busyness of western Washington and found 40 acres to build a farmhouse and ranch on. It was absolutely beautiful!
We spent three days in the snowy high-plains feeding horses, riding ATV’s, sledding, playing Scrabble and just hanging out as a family. It was much needed time away for me as my mind has been running a million miles an hour these past couple months.
One of the things I’ve learned these past few years about vacations, or just some time dedicated to doing different things as a family, is that they often remind me of how fun being a family is. I always come home with a renewed and deeper appreciation for being a husband and father…my wife and three boys are more valuable to me than anything my work could ever offer me! They are my first priority in ministry and resting with them seems a sacred thing in my life.
Maybe this is another reason why Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day that Sabbath was made for humanity…
I saw this picture today on one of my favorite phot0-blogs…No Caption Needed. It tells the story of a woman being evicted from her home. If you look at it long enough, I promise you’ll see the sadness of it!
I was reminded by the photo that our world is experiencing more than just a tighter budget…but a real economic crisis for many as they literally lose their homes.
Look at the the dead trees in the background…hair being tossed in her face…all her belongings scattered across the front lawn for everyone to see. It’s both sad and scary! We can’t just assume that she made poor financial decisions. We have to realize that for many in America, the loss of a job or a major medical cost could easily lead to this kind of personal pain!
It make me wonder how well I know my neighbors…and how who might be on the brink of this kind of personal loss.
This is a refreshing and well-written blog post. In fact, it might be the best thing I’ve read in a long time! Please take a few minutes to read this post.
Recently, I’ve been posting some thoughts on the church I’m so blessed to pastor. I’ve commented on everything from facing major personal change to being a bi-vocational minister. It’s been quite a road to this place in my life where last Sunday I was officially installed as the new lead pastor to Redwood Hills church. It was a special day for me!
Now, I have to be honest and say that I was not that excited about being “installed”, which basically means officially welcomed and given the charge to pastor a body of people. I don’t really like having a lot of attention being put on me and I have worked hard these past couple years to help our church understand that we are not defined by any one face or leader. But, it turned out to be more moving and special to me than I anticipated. I won’t soon forget it!
I also have to be honest and say that being a pastor sometimes scares me. Or, a better way to say it would be that my own ego and all of it’s potential sacres me! Especially lately as I’ve watched Ted Haggard tell his story on Larry King and then the news came out this weekend that the famous Crystal Cathedral in Orange County is in massive debt and without a leader. Although Haggard’s story of destruction is different from the Crystal Cathedral, it borders on having the same source. Personalities given far too much power and attention!
When we turned evangelicalism into an association (which Haggard was the president of) we have set ourselves up for massive problems! When a church like Crystal Cathedral, which has an amazing story of how it came about back in the 1950’s begins to spend 6 million on a museum to honor their pastor…again, we have major problems. I hope you see what I’m getting at. Far too often the church (the re-presentation of Christ) becomes a place where a figured-head is marveled at, or worse…worshipped. I see more and more people starting “fan” pages for their pastors on Facebook, and I won’t even begin to talk about how many pastors themselves are spending way too much time in politics and not as shepherds of their church!
The church I pastor is only about 150 people. That’s a pretty small church, and yet I’m often aware of the dangerous road my ego can easliy take now that I’m the pastor. It’s scary to think that any minister…not just the Haggard’s, Bell’s, Driscoll’s, or Schuller’s…but ANY one of us can let our positions of leadership get way out of control!
I wish we didn’t have evangelical associations, televised church services, or churches that offer special status’s for those who give a certain amount of money…but we do and it won’t change any time soon. So, let’s continue to hope that pastors lead in way where Christ is the head of His church and that more people will begin to see themselves as ministers of the church, and not merely observers and consumers of a pastor’s personality.
Everything Must Change,
Missional Leadership,
Out of Poverty,
Cross-Cultural Servanthood,
O2...Breathing New Life into Faith,
The Mission of God,
The End of Poverty,
How {Not} to Speak of God
