WHAT YOU TALKIN' 'BOUT, WILLIS?

The secret of Monkey Island is...

Monkeys!!!  Here are pics from my recent trip to Nicaragua:

Hot Christian Sex

Sorry, but I had to use that title.. Good article below about how Christians should be "having more — and hotter — sex."

One preacher's message: Have hotter sex
Minister Joe Beam says good Christian marriages walk on the wild side

Who says COC is behind the times..?

My so-called church life..

So, anyone who knows me hopefully knows I am a Christian and I am pretty involved with my church.  We've gone through a mess of problems lately and I wanted to post for my future self and any others about anything I've learned.

1. Keep your mouth shut while others are talking.  Sometimes you must bite your tongue, clench your fists, pound your knee or whatever, to keep from interrupting someone or saying something you may regret.  Don't do it.
   
   "Be the change you want to see in the world." -Ghandi, the most Christ-like Hindu to ever live.
   
   Let your actions speak for you.
   
   
2. Speak out when necessary.  At times you may need to speak out.  Sitting back and hoping for the best may lead to the worst outcomes imaginable.
   
   "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burke
   
   
3. Focus on issues and what you can do to help.  You can't help people change their minds or hearts by pointing fingers or giving in to bickering and in-fighting.  Set an example, see if people will follow, then if no one does perhaps ask them to reconsider their stance.  If all else fails, accept wrongs humbly and try to move forward (1 Cor 6:7). Be the better man, be more like Jesus.
   
   
4. Give up!  Things on earth are purposefully imperfect.  Why would anyone want to go to heaven if things here were just as good?  Realize this is temporary, do your best to enjoy what incredible gifts we've got, but don't ever think they are as good as our reward.
   

Just As I Was . . . and Am at PreacherMike - I don't know who he is, but this guy gets it.  Confess mistakes and move on.  It feels so good to free up your conscience and drop off baggage.  What loads we try to carry!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

Time to get back to work, wherever and with whomever that may be. Work, helping people, serving others--it's what we're here for, it's why we exist.

Jerry Falwell - thoughts?

So, I had no particular response to news of Falwell's death, but after reading this: Sushi Tuesday - Home - Grave Dancer, I am suddenly thinking.

I just got the Breaking News from MSNBC that The Reverend Jerry Falwell has died, and I couldn’t be happier.

While I agree with Tim's analysis of the man and the myth of rapture, I don't think I'll ever celebrate someone's death, at least not because of a disagreement ini beliefs.

Thoughts?

Christian musings

Found this website particularly interesting--
Ex Church of Christ Support Group, where I found links to some interesting stories. This guy's sermon at an SBC youth conference was cool. Definitely worth listening to these short clips. I guess I found that first link while looking at this lengthy COC entry on wikipedia. They got it all pretty much right and it was sad to see all the negatives listed up there. These sites are interesting too: Present and former members speak out in favor of reform in Churches of Christ.
Freedom's Ring: Moving from Legalism to God's Grace and Unity

Movie/Bible Studies

Not sure if i will be able to get away with this at church, but ChristianBibleStudies.com has these awesome movie discussion guides that actually don't look lame at all. Thoughts?

Religious Quiz - That's Weird...

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 96% Fundamentalist 75% Emergent/Postmodern 61% Neo orthodox 61% Classical Liberal 50% Charismatic/Pentecostal 46% Reformed Evangelical 36% Modern Liberal 21% Roman Catholic 11% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

Wesleyan? Is Church of Christ even an option here? How about just Christian? No. OK. I guess I'm Wesleyan then.

Coming home!

5 days/4 nights later and we're headed home. I think we got a lot of work done, but I am so amazed at how much left there is to do here. Block after block, house after house, person after person. I never seen anything like this except for maybe some slums in India. This recovery will take years and years. People down here need our help. Try to find a way to visit New Orleans or any devestated area. Talk to some people who rode out the storm here, or who lost everything they own to the water. It will help if more people just see this firsthand. It will change your life.

New Orleans for New Years!

Made it back down here again for New Orleans clean up work. I've been forbidden to go to Bourbon Street for New Year's, but hey, I did bring a video camera.

Should be coming back on Monday. Will post picture from Christmas sometime when I get a chance.

Last set of New Orleans pics

These are the last of my pics from New Orleans. I found an awesome sight with pics from a Katrina survivor here.

This was the home of a guy who bought us lunch on Sunday. The house was bulldozed that morning. We cleared a couple tons of brush to the roadside.

Beware!

I took this because I've never seen anyone actually use the loop on the cargo pants. This girl did not have a loop, so she put her hammer in her boot..

This is our church van after encountering a suicidal deer in Alabama:

Last day of cleaning up

Today we are going out to do about 3 houses with 10 or 12 workers. We'll be chainsawing some downed trees for a man whose house was bulldozed yesterday. Some are going to Slidell to finish demucking a house.

This trip has really opened my eyes (again) to the value of service for a Christian. Its a commodity we don't run across, or see, in our daily lives. We need it though. We need to see areas of service around us and fill those areas. I'm extremely grateful to the Tamany Oaks Church of Christ for setting up their building as a warehouse for over 1500 volunteers from all over the country to come down and serve in New Orleans and surrounding areas. I hope to come back soon, I hope to be of more use at home.

Thank you God for this opportunity!

Cleanup in New Orleans

More pictures of homes near the levee break.

The water got up to here:

These girls are sitting on a sandbag that was dropped from a helicopter to fill the levee.

Water still seeping through the levee break into nearby neighborhood.

Used truck for sale.

Jacob's new VW.

Pictures of New Orleans

Here is where we went, TamanyOaks Church of Christ

They have been getting tons of stuff from all over the country.

Here is the street we went to in Kenner, a low-income suburb of New Orleans.

This is the first house we worked on and the lady who had lived there for 32 years.

This is what we did to her house.

On this street and the one behind it we clear all interior walls of moldy sheetrock in 8 houses, in one day, just like extreme home makeover.

This is where all that stuff goes.. for now..

Some of what we saw on the way home. Boats where they should not be. One guy had a picture of a minivan in a tree..

This is the levee that broke and flooded to the top of two-story homes.

This is our happy group!

New Orleans

So I'm in Mandeville Loiusianna and spent the day in New Orleans ripping moldy dry wall, carpet and nails out of peoples homes. Our crew from the UTC CSC and Central CoC were perhaps the hardest working folks in the city, at least of volunteers. The Tamany Oak Church is doing amazing things here an are an amazing example of what an organized response to the disaster should look like (check it out FEMA, Amer. Red Cross).

It feels great to be here. I felt so ashamed as an American during the disaster. I hope our work here makes some small dent in the enormity of recovering a normal lifestyle here, but they are a long way off from it.

When I get my camera charged I'll post some pics!

Keep us in your prayers..

Service Donations

I'm totally into this:

Family Portrait
by John Fischer - October 14, 2005

I have a friend who heads up an inner city ministry to homeless teenagers. Some are runaways, some have been kicked out of their homes, and others prefer homelessness to the abuse they experience at home. In a letter to some supporters, he talked of stumbling onto a box of old photographs while doing some cleaning in his garage. As the box emptied, forgotten memories instantly found their place on the walls and shelves in our home, he wrote. The photographs had always been with us, just not seen, and the memories they prompted had always been with us, just not recalled.

Then he went on to tell of a unique gift from a professional photographer who was a supporter of their ministry. This man got the brilliant idea to volunteer a day of his time, bring his portrait studio equipment downtown and transform the ministrys coffee shop into a studio. There he offered free portraits for the street kids, many of whom took advantage of it. Knowing a little bit about this business and what that photographer could have received at market value for each of these portraits adds up to a very significant gift.

Some of us may not have money to give, but time and expertise wisely spent can be worth even more. For instance, I know of a church that periodically offers free car tune-ups and oil changes in their parking lot for single moms on Saturday mornings. It was the brainchild of an auto mechanic in the church who wanted to share his expertise with someone in the community he knew needed it.

We need to be thinking not just of giving money to needy causes, but also of how we can serve with our time and our talents. Besides, services like this go way beyond their monetary value. Think of the value and self-worth that a good professional portrait must have bestowed upon these homeless kids. And then think of some of their estranged families who will receive a portrait full of memories in the mail memories that might put that kid up on the shelf or wall again and maybe even serve to reunite a family.

In his conclusion, my friend wrote: As this years holiday season approaches and you get out your own cameras, converting your living rooms into portrait studios, cherish each person, remember them, and love them like you have never loved them before. And please, when you get the pictures back, take a moment and pray for homeless kids everywhere, and for their families, who might be finding pictures stowed away in garages, that some day their lives might reconcile.

God's secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

Giveaway II update

So here's the deal. We announce at church for people to donate items they have lying around at home that they do not use, clothing, dinnerware, housewares, appliances, toys, linens, you name it. They bring it in, we organize it into rooms in our church building, invite the public and had it all out.

This was our second year to do this and we had a lot more to give away this year than I ever imagined, more than last year. We had around 200 people show up, some displaced to Chattanooga by Hurricane Katrina. The leftover stuff was all taken to Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults.

I believe the dollar amount of all the donated stuff was probably pretty high, even though items were used. Its a great way to get your church involved, because everyone has stuff, and a lot of people can donate this way who couldn't give cash.

I feel really good about my congregation, but I feel great when we do something like this. Its not a big deal, but it's something. I hope we can think of more ways to "really" help people in the future.

Community Giveaway II

This week my church has been gathering tons of stuff to give away in our downtown community. Tonight we drove beds, furniture, clothes, toys and housewares to folks in the Hispanic community. Tomorrow we'll be helping tons of other people, then we'll take an enormous amount to the Community Kitchen, which will then go to Mississippi and Louisiana.

I feel good about life.

Standing on the B-I-B-L-E

Found this interesting product:

Wow, I am a blogging machine tonight!

Girl Power!

Just wanted to call attention to some ladies spending their summer doing something good and keeping a blog to share that good with us back home..
UTCLST
Click the link at the top for the latest news..

Social D and "Cool Christianity"

Last week Jeff and I saw Social Disortion in Nashville. Guys told Jeff that the club, Rocketown, was a Christian club, but we were pretty sure the D wouldn't be playing there. Come to find out, it is a Christian club, somewhat like Club Fathom in the 'Nooga, but with an amazing performance hall, all courtesy of Michael W. Smith. (Though I'm not completely familiar with Christian Contemp, he kind of seems like the Donny Osmond of the genre.)

So anyway, there we were, with Christian kids on the inside waiting for the show with their spiked hair, slutty goth chic clothes from Hot Topic, and tough attitudes, and the exact same looking though non-Christian kids on the outside smoking, getting drunk and waiting for the show. Mike Ness came out on stage and immediately ragged the club for not selling liqour, but other than that went on to play a fairly clean show, probably especially so for them. BTW, they rocked out and played a great show, but didn't come close to when I saw them in '95, which was the greatest rock show I've ever seen.

So, for 30 year-old guys who don't drink or smoke, but can still hold our own at the front of the crowd (avoiding spikes, boots, and sweaty punks in the pit,) we had a great time. Was awesome to get home from a show without stinking of beer sludge, other's BO, and all types of smoke.

I kept thinking about how similar all the kids were there, and maybe I'm assuming too many of them were Christians, but I feel like it was about 50/50. It finally brought to a head some thoughts I've been having about "cool christianity," though I've haven't resolved anything yet. I've been getting Relevant magazine thanks to a very thoughtful and generous UTC student, which I love reading, but I think I've resolved that I disagree with the basic premise of the mag, the blending of God, life, and progressive culture.

It is a very cool magazine, but since when did being cool have anything to do with Christ? (Not that he wasn't cool..) Isn't the definition of cool trendy, fashionable, or whatever is hot? It's just bizarre to me how so many young people fit Christ into their wardrobe of fashion, music, and pop culture. I am not judging people, and I'm glad Christ is being preached at any cost, in any way. It's just the coolness factor I'm worried about. What if it wears off?

What about the danger of trying to be cool? Moses striking the rock, Ananias and Saphira, the criminal on the cross (not the forgiven one, but the one who continued to mock Jesus..)

I guess my thoughts/worries are best summed up by an episode of King of the Hill where Bobby falls in with some skater punks. The kids turn out to be Christians who are all radical for Jesus, which Hank has trouble with. Not that they aren't doing something good, but Hank shows Bobby a box from the garage of all the past hobbies, sports, pets, etc., that he had tried and gotten bored with. Hank speaks for me when he says, "I just don't want our Lord to end up in this box."

How's that for melding God with culture? Thanks Mike Judge.

HAZARE PROJECT

This was an awesome day. Since I can't remember names, I will refer to everyone by whatever I remember about them.

These five girls did an awesome job reworking a long flower bed.

The tall guy swung the maddock ALL DAY LONG, and the other guy was right there behind him with the shovel. Grant planned the drainage system and despite Meg's neighbors nay-saying, I think it will work pretty well. Venu, Megs' brother was a big help too.

The hairy guy is me. I am very sore.. The older you get, the more sporadic hard work kills you. I intend to avoid it from here on out.

Megs wore those goggles all day long.

Our church sign is bigger than yours...

After a few weeks of Kerry and I making fun of Red Bank Cumberland Presbyterian's giant new LED wannabe bank sign, I was saddened when the church of my denomination, or nondenomination, or whatever, Red Bank church of Christ, now has almost the exact same sign. But in either case, what are they thinking? How much are those things? What's the justification?

I would like to see their visitor cards in the pews with a How did you hear about us: friend, relative, enormous blinking sign? How many drivers or pedestrians really come to Christ because some quip like, "No God - No Peace? Know God - Know Peace." What does that even mean?

I guess what I really don't like the most is the disconnect between our mission and how we put out our message. It's getting more and more impersonal. Not that I don't mind knowing the time or temp before I get to the bank, but really, has nobody seen the starving kids in Africa? "Feed my sheep."

Not even if it were the life-altering highway sign from LA Story, would I support my congregation wasting money in this way.

"I'm Coming Out"

My friend and coworker Meghraj Hazare "came out" last night to his father. I suppose his whole family will know before the end of the week. They'll all know that he is a christian.

I am so incredibly proud and full of respect for Megs and this decision to reveal his faith to his family. Keep him (and them) in your prayers.

Community Giveaway!

After weeks of announcements, days of sorting clothes, toys, and bedding, and advertising through a variety of local community agencies; our church's Community Giveaway was a huge success. For me, this is what it's all about--just look at the kid's faces.

There is a lot more left, mostly clothes, that will be given away on May 1st from 400 Vine Street at 9:00am. Spread the word!

Predestination vs. Tivo

Had a neat lunchtime discussion today with co-workers about predestination and other biblical concepts. Was fun, but in the end I urged evryone to do this again with Bibles in front of us. The guys seemed amenable to this, so we'll see what happens.

Oh yeah, God's view of time is like having Tivo, whereas man's view is like watching a long VHS tape with no remote control (linear vs. nonlinear).

How about giving up Lent for Lent this Year?

Lent, from what little I know about it, seems to be a great idea. "Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance." Well, isn't that special. I guess the rest of the year is spent aimless rebellion. And what is Mardi Gras? A couple weeks of church-sanctioned sin and debauchery?

Not that either of these things can't be participated in, in some ways, but I just can't imagine embracing these things as being part of my religion. You don't find either in the Bible--nor Easter, Christmas, or several other holidays. I say, and I believe God's word reinforces the idea, that we should follow Christ daily(Luke 9:23), we should celebrate his death and resurrection everyday, but especially on the first day of the week (Luke 22 and Acts 20:7), and we should always be thankful for God's amazing gift of His own son.

So, my advice is, this year for Lent give up Lent. Unless you do it for the personal challenge, or the fun of giving up something. But if you really want to crash a religious observance you could just as well try your hand at Rammadan, or if you're more adventurous check out Thaipusam--they are each about as scriptural as the "Christian" rituals listed above.

Crazy Ideas

As an open-minded, somewhat well-rounded, fully fundamentalist Christian, I like to think I have some crazy ideas.

Here is one:

Christians should be more like gay people. The gay community has an agenda. No, they don't want everyone to be gay, but they do want everyone to know they're gay and to accept them on their own terms. They are pushing hard for what they want. Gay people take pride in their lifestyle choice and they push gays that are "in the closet" to "come out."

Christians need to come out. Christianity is a lifestyle choice that can and should bring a certain amount of suffering or ridicule. There are far too many people who wear the name "Christian" who never speak a word about Jesus to their friends, family, or co-workers, because they don't want to be seen as a Jesus freak. For the same reason people who would never miss a service are not willing to walk across the street and invite their neighbors to church.

Christians have an agenda, a mission really, we are commanded by God to go tell the whole world about Christ and His teaching. We need to quit slinking around with our tails tucked because belief in the God's Word isn't popular. We need to demand that people respect us for our beliefs. If we are hiding our faith we need to be "outed" and maybe as Christians we need to be outing each other to keep the movement going forward.

Of course homosexuality is sinful, as any sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:9).

Some other crazy ideas I'd like to get around to are:

Buddhists are some of the best Christians.

Christianity is all about works (no they don't save us), just take a look at Jesus.

Satan maybe using cell towers to broadcast doubt and negativity. Ever wonder why you get those out-of-the-blue thoughts in your head where you question God?

Sandals with socks are cool. Less odor, with comfort and breathability.

Good Discussion

Hopefully this will link to some good discussion about God's view of people as groups or individuals, and is He happy with religious division today..