The Shack

I read The Shack this week and I was really moved by it. I thought it painted a beautiful picture of how God relates to us. There is a lot of discussion about suffering, loss and forgiveness. I don't think I made it through a whole chapter without crying but then I am a crier. I can't watch other people cry without choking up myself. I've always been that way. I can't watch other people deal with tragedy or loss without sympathizing. I remember seeing the Challenger blow up on TV when I was little and being moved by the loss of the families. So when I read The Shack, I cried more than a catholic statue of Mary. I know there are a lot of people who take issue with some of the theological issues presented but that's to be expected. Whenever someone challenges the way we think about God, it's only natural to defend what we believe. I enjoyed the way it was written and that it challenged the way I think about the character of God and the relationship between Jesus, God the Father and The Holy Spirit. I won't spoil it for you, but the way that God the Father shows Himself to the main character threw me for a loop. I guess because the way I picture God in my mind's eye is the same way as the main character says he does; An old white man with a long white beard.

Overall, I would say that if you want to be challenged in the way that you think and are into moving stories, read The Shack. If you're the kind of person who gets all bent out of shape when someone makes fun of your WWJD bracelet; read something else.

Wow!

Wow!
I'm not sure what else to say. Click the link, grab a kleenex.

Back From Vacation

Well, I am back from vacation, feeling rested and refreshed. We got to see a lot of friends and enjoy some time away. We spent an afternoon walking around downtown Bend going into the shops and walking along the river. We camped for a couple days but with 5 boys ages 6 and under between our two families, it was quite an ordeal. I led worship at our old church, that was fun. I got to get out fishing a couple times and had a good time doing that. I pulled a 16 1/4" rainbow out of the Crooked River Saturday evening which equaled the largest fish I've ever caught in a river. I wanted to take a picture of it but by the time I got it to hand and measured it against my rod, I didn't want it to be out of the water any longer so I held it up quickly for my buddy to be jealous of, and then slipped it back into the water and it said "goodbye" with a splash of it's tail as it swam away. It was long and slim with brilliant white on the bottom and dark blueish green on the back. Speckled and spotted with the trademark rainbow-red stripe. Man, talking about it makes me want to go fishing.

Vacation!

We are packing up and heading off to sunny central Oregon in the morning! Going to take some time off and just relax and by "relax", I mean camp and fish. I'll be doing something at Faith Christian Center in Bend on Sunday, our old church. Either a special song or leading worship. Should be nice to see some old friends and visit some old fishing holes. Sweet, sweet vacation.

The Playoff

There was for the first time in Chains history, a tie in a blog poll. He-Man and Billy Ray Cyrus have tied for whose mullet you miss more. Let's have a playoff!

Defining Community

A friend of mine emailed me today asking me for some thoughts on community. Like what it means within the kingdom, outside of the kingdom, and how we can cultivate community in both. Apparently people really care about my opinion. Ok not really people necessarily, it's pretty much just my 1 friend, but I digress. Then he finished with "What does John 13:35 mean to you?". That got me thinking, which was odd because most of the time when I reply to emails I just ramble incoherently until I figure I have completely confused the person to the point that they have quit reading my reply. Works like a charm. Try it sometime like when your supervisor asks you where your time sheet is or whatever. Anyway, John 13:35 talks about how we will be known as disciples of Jesus by the love that we have toward each other.

So here is my question for you: What does community mean to you in light of John 13:35? With permission, I will forward your comments to my friend. He writes a wildly unpopular blog and might use them.

Biting Back

What is it with us, Christians I mean? Why do we insist on tearing down one another? I have been reading www.stuffchristianslike.net for a couple of months now and the guy is brilliant. Seriously. But the other day he posted about Todd Bentley and the move of God in Lakeland, FL and hateful people came out of the woodwork talking all kinds of garbage about someone they don't even know. Why? Because what is going on there doesn't fit inside their comfortable little western theology? Because what they see on TV is contradictory to what they have heard from their pulpits? Not contradictory to what the Bible actually says, mind you, just what they have heard from a man. Why do we feel like we have the right to bash someone who is just as much a child of God as we are? Todd Bentley is not preaching a different Jesus. He is not claiming to be The Way, The Truth and The Life. He is praying that people would be healed and guess what? They are being healed. If you don't like the guy because he has tattoos, fine. If you don't like him because he rides a Harley, fine. If you don't like him because he prays for people and sometimes they get healed, fine. Just keep your mouth shut unless he violates a direct scriptural mandate. We don't have to like everyone or even every church or method of church but we do NOT have the right to speak of a child of God in a hateful manner just because we disagree with them theologically. I have a Pentecostal background. You will never see me posting on how all non-Pentecostals are "Whack Jobs" who are "Afraid of the Holy Spirit". No! There is too much at stake for us to be constantly attacking each other. You don't like what is going on in Florida? Don't go. You think Todd Bentley is a fake? I bet someone who got out of a wheelchair at the meeting would disagree with you.
I'm not saying Todd Bentley is perfect or the next Oral Roberts or anything; I've never met him, but neither have the people who have been ripping him down and that's the problem. Let's hold our tongues except for building each other up. Come on, a little Building 4:29 anyone? Ok Ephesians 4:29.

Man that was a serious post. Feel free to vote in my mullet poll to balance yourself out a little.

Song titles into Christianese

I was thinking of some old song titles and how they would translate into Christianese.

You Shook me all Night Long:
What the tambourine said to the worship leader's wife after the youth worship shut-in.

Cashmere:
What the worship leader's V-neck argyle sweater is made of.

Jump:
The only acceptable form of dancing in the church.

Panama:
Where the short term missions trip was this year.

Smoke on the Water:
What happened when the fog machine fell into the baptismal.

Love Potion #9:
What's really in those bottles of oil at the altar.

Twist and Shout:
How you get into the 1 suit you own when you visit your grandparents church.

Purple Haze:
What you're pretty sure you saw coming from the fog maching after they fished it out of the baptismal.

Stairway to Heaven:
That stairway to the balcony that always has the "Closed" sign hanging from a rope across the stairs.

Where the Streets Have No Name:
The city where the church is that you are trying to find.

Man in the Mirror:
The guy in the bathroom who takes forever to wash his hands thus blocking everyone else from washing their hands. (I don't really have a problem with this guy cause at least he washes right?)

Danger Zone:
5 foot perimeter around any and all refreshments for the adult Sunday School class. As in, "Stay away from our donuts punk, don't think I don't see you there in the danger zone!"


I'm sure I will continue this list in the future. Thoughs? Suggestions?

Sunday Morning Service

We just finished up Sunday morning services and what an awesome day! We had our new freind Gabe lead a song in all three services. He did a great job. We had a full stage today as we had two electric guitar players along with two acoustic players (Gabe and me). Pastor Troy spoke on James chapter 1 about sin and temptation. You can watch the sermon on-line here on the church website.

There was a really good atmosphere in all the services today. In the lobby as well. Not that there is ever a bad atmosphere, it just seemed more joyful today.

More song titles translated into Christianese

Here are some more song titles translated into Christianese.

1999(Prince)
The year the church switched from overhead projectors to powerpoint projectors.

Cruel Summer (Banannarama)
That year when VBS was 2 weeks long.

Don't Dream It's Over (Crowded House)
Pastor is preaching the long version of his sermon today.

Africa (Toto)
Where the short term missions trip is next year.

Every Rose has it's Thorn (Poison)
There was a wedding or a funeral on Friday and now we have semi-fresh flowers to put out Sunday morning.

Funky Town (Pseudo Echo)
What the children's ministry is named.

Right Here Waiting for You (Richard Marx)
Where your mom will be and what she will be doing in the car while you are at the friday night youth event.

Hit me with Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)
Your pastor is hosting a Q and A session during the business meeting.

Still Haven't found what I'm Looking For (U2)
What you say when you've attended every church in town.

I want you to want me (Cheap Trick)
When the new pastor is trying out.


Ok that's 10 more. Probably more to come.

Mulling over the competition

Ok, ok so some people think He-Man is getting an unfair advantage. So here you go. Again, always make an informed decision.



Kim Clement


Richard Marx



Billy Ray Cyrus

He-Mullet

Reagarding the poll on my page, many of you might not be familiar with He-Man's mullet. Here it is.

I always want you to make informed decisions.

Brokenness

Have you ever seen the show Extreme Home Makeover? It's a tv show where a deserving family gets a totally new house built and furnished for them by an annoying guy with a megaphone while they are treated to a vacation. It's a great show and whenever we watch it at home I have to pull the old "No Daddy just has something in his eye" routine. The thing about that show is that the old house gets completely demolished down to the foundation and sometimes they tear that out too. It's gotta be hard for the family to watch; all the memories they have made in that house and now it's a pile of rubble. The truth is that the house just doesn't work for them anymore or it isn't safe. The same is true in our lives. In our walk with God, we grow and change and areas of our hearts are left unattended and we allow sin to move in and after a while we can't just throw another coat of paint on, we need a major remodel. We need to allow God to take our lives and strip it down to the foundation so He can build something better for us. That is what this life is about. Surrendering to God and letting Him break us so we can be remade.

True Colors

I have been spending a lot of time reading and re-reading Phillipians 4. Especially verses 6 and 7 which say "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." I am in the midst of a major trial in my life. We all face them. It's funny how many times I've heard those verses preached or quoted by a well meaning brother, but now it's different. The words stare at me from the page. I feel as though they are challenging me saying "Do you really believe what this says?" I have been contemplating these words and I have to conclude that if they are there, God really means them.

We are in a series at church on the book of James and Sunday the sermon was about trials. If you think about legal trials, they exist to find out the truth. Evidence is presented and testimony is given to discern what really happened. Tests in the scholastic sense are meant to find out what you know or how much you have retained. In James 1 of the Message Bible, it says:

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."

I love that it says that "your faith life is forced into the open and shows it's true colors." Tests and trials are meant to show what we are really made of. I have learned and grown so much through this time in my life. I have learned what it means to truly surrender and not worry. I haven't mastered it yet, but I'm learning. I've learned what it means to not just read scripture but to apply it in my life. I know that some day I will be able to look back on this time and thank God for it. That in and of itself is a breakthrough for me!

Lightning

Last night we had an incredible lightning storm. I love watching lightning. I love the rumble of thunder when it shakes the house. I love the way it lights up the sky. I've never been afraid of lightning, maybe because I've never been struck by it.

Test

I am pretty sure my wife never reads my blog. Either she never reads it or she just doesn't think anything I say is funny or interesting. I guess that would put her safely within the majority! The reason that I think that is that she never says anything about my posts, good or bad. I have the day off today because it's a floating holiday so I'm sitting in the living room typing this and she is watching me type. So this will be the test: Last night I forgot to close my car window and it poured buckets. When I went out this morning there was 1" of standing water on the floorboard and I think I might have accidentally used a good towel to mop up the water. If I hear about it from her then I'll know she read this! Pretty good idea huh?