Church Fathers and Post-Modernism

Recently, Tony Jones (http://theoblogy.blogspot.com/)posted a paper he presented at a conference at Wheaton College. The paper is very good, in the role of ancient fathers for post-modern Christian communities. The paper was intended to be part of a publication, however people at Wheaton deceided not to include the paper. This is becoming the norm whenever emergent thinkers encounter a type of evangelicalism. Give it a read.

New Job...

Well, I start a new job on Tuesday, which is great new cause working with the intellectually disabled is definitely not for me. I found the position boring.

Actually, I think what made the position is that one of the guys is deaf. The deaf guy also is slightly violent( a fact that the house manager keeps on minimizes), so when ever he gets up set or is grumpy he often swings at people for no reason. Well thankfully I don't have to do that full-time, I am staying their part-time. I am not sure how long that will last, hopefully some other part-time gig will come up.

The Big Day

The God of peace....

This past March, I had a great conversation with a close friend over a bottle of wine about what it means to be a Christian today. My friend mentioned that the one thing that propels him to remain a Christian is that he know that God is for peace and stands up for the oppressed. I would agree that whenever I read the Old Testament this stream shines through.

At times I wonder how this God of peace works. I live in a world that so many people are in bondage to the systems of the world (many systems that many Christians in the west believe are 'God ordained'). It is hard at times not to slip into cynicism. However, I see a God who acts through his people in this world.

I've been listening a lot to Tom Waits recently and find his song 'Road to Peace' to be the most honest song about peace. I am weary of any violence in the name of God. I've often heard the 'Just War' theory about violence, especially with the recent wars. However, I am a firm believer in Gandhi's theory of Satyagraha, that believes a just end must have a just means. This belief naturally makes the genocide and violence in the Old Testament hard to read and understand in a view of a God of peace.

I have problems with this....

Well, I came across this video by Mark Driscoll(http://theresurgence.com/md_blog_2007-04-28_banned_church_planting_video ). I must admit in my few encounters with Driscoll, he always seems to rub me the wrong way. This is a video from a conference in Florida. Apparently, the conference was not so pleased with the message, Bill Hybels even criticized the video for his 'male only' views of ministry. I have seen too many women with gifts and passion for ministry to believe that God only wants men in leadership. So clearly, I disagree with Driscoll, actually I find Driscoll to be John Piper with and iPod.

I also find his emphasis on the militaristic stream of Christianity to very dangerous. Well let me know what you think

4 year, $25,000 in debt and now what.....

Well, recently I graduated from Providence College with a 4-year BA in Youth Leadership. I must say I am glad to be done and feel my time at Providence was a time of immense growth personally. I can't speak well enough about my time at Providence. I had a both good and bad times that formed the person I am today.

The odd thing is that I don't know how the education I received will be used for a job. I don't know if I will ever be in full-time ministry. I do have a passion for ministry, but not sure if I have the characteristics churches require from a pastor. As well, with Providence being 'a liberal arts college in the evangelical tradition' as one of my profs told us puts me in an odd position. Not really identifying myself with conservative evangelical churches, which I grew up in.

After my second year at Providence, I had a crisis of sorts. After being in student leadership, during the summer I basically decided ministry was not for me and felt that my passions more aligned itself with social work. However, after reading a Brian McLaren book, I felt that ministry was my passion and church work was the only way to fulfil my passions in life.

While I still believe going back to Providence and doing an internship was the best for me, as I looked for jobs, the jobs with more a social work slant appealed to me. Sortof funny, since I almost transferred to a social work program in Winnipeg. Not sure where my life is leading me. I guess I have am torn, because I still enjoy ministry. During my last Sunday school time at church, I had a bitter-sweet experience, almost wishing that I could continue ministering in this kind of capacity and thinking this is exactly what I 'd like to be doing, but the other side knowing that the conservative evangelical community is not my home.

So I have a degree and knowledge, wisdom, and a passion for being a spiritual mentor and guide for adolescent, but do not feel I at home with the traditional church setting. So I am taking this year off from being in ministry directly, waiting on God's guidance.......

The God of Job vs. The Psalms

This past week I read the Book of Job. I must say Job has always been one of my favorite books every since my teen years. Not sure what that says about me that I like a book that I always thought was a bit out of place in regards to the rest of the Old Testament. I like that it doesn't have nice answers to question and that questioning is OK.

This week I began reading Psalms. I am struck by how what transpires in Job and in Psalms are almost in conflict with one another or more precisely that Job's friends are basically using the assumption of the Psalmist to describe God. The Psalmist believes that God deals with a people in a very linear fashion, you do good -- good things happen or vis-versa.

I wonder what role the genre of Psalms plays in how we should be reading it and making statements about God taking explicitly from Psalms. This is especially important since clearly Job's friends were in the wrong in their understanding of God. I've heard many people being perturbed that Job's friends advice was seen as being erroneous.

If God deals explicitly in this do good- receive good fashion in the world, I would have to believe that God has no real influence in this world. Too often I've seen the opposite people who do good, often encounter hardship.

I like the God of Job, who allows for mystery, questions, and angry. If God would be understood in the Psalmist manner I'm not sure what I would do to the question of Theodicy. Thankfully Job gives me comfort in my pain and questioning. Maybe it is best to look to Gutierrez for the solace of Job, "The world of Retribution--and not of temporal retribution only--is not where God dwells; at most God visits it. The Lord is not prisoner of the 'Give to me and I will give to you" mentality. Nothing, no human work however valuable , merits grace, for if it did, grace would cease to be grace. This is the heart of the message of the book of Job."(Gutierrez 1987, 88-89)

The Word of God

Recently, I've been thinking about the phrase 'Word of God.' I am not sure I know what people mean when they talk about the 'Word of God.'

One issue I have is that often 'Word' is capitalized. I've been reading Psalms and the authors never capitalize 'Word' only God or Lord. The way people talk about it is that what the Bible says is so straight forward. The more I read the Bible the more complicated it seems and what I was taught during my childhood hints more at a stream of Christianity than being honest with the text.

I am all about respecting the Bible and putting it in a place of authority in our lives, but not if that means thinking the Bible is simply and all about us, which tends to be my experience in evangelical churches.

This past weekend, I was up in Swan River with Trisha and at the end of the service the guy in charge had a little rant about the Anglican church and how they just needed to listen to the Word of God in regards to the Gay Marriage issue. I thought that was an interesting statement, like the Bible is so clear on that issue. I think that was an odd way to sort of end the service, especially since there was no scripture read.

I think it is hard for me to go to services where there is a presentation not a message. In stead of a message their was a member of the church that went to Uganda with his work. He basically told things that his work was doing to help the people. I don't know if I can agree that church is a place for this kind of presentation. I kinda felt like my time would be better served staying at home reading. Oh well, thankfully I can go back to St. Ben's this weekend.

The wonderful world of Salman Rushdie...

Well the last couple years I have attempted to read a book by Salman Rushdie, but every time I got my hands on a copy life did not present itself with the time. However, recently I got the chance to enjoy Haroun and the Sea of Stories. It was a delight to read, I must admit that I have a hard time getting into fantasy novels, but Rushdie has a way with words that I was engulfed into this fantasy world. I would recommend Rushdie to anyone who enjoys a good storyteller. I can see Rushdie becoming one of my favorite fiction authors as I continue to delve into the world of this wizard of words.

Back into the swing of things....

Well as I look at my blog, I see that a posting is long overdue. Well life is getting back to normal, by the end of next week I will be working again. Life has been crazy with graduating, wedding, and moving. Trisha and I went out furniture shopping today, hopefully within a week our apartment will look normal. I should be blogging more now that life allows me more time to read and put things down on paper. Life is pretty exciting right now with all of life's choices and decision, but I am excited at what the future holds.

Something to chew on...

We walk on earth,
we look after,
like rainbow sitting on top.
But something underneath,
under the ground.
We don't know.
You don't know.
What do you want to do?
If you touch,
you might get cyclone, heavy rain or flood.
Not just here,
you might kill someone in another place.
Might be kill him in another country.
You cannot touch him.

from "Gagadju Man" by Big Bill Neidjie (2001)

A thought on Crossan

My good friend Joey has been raving about John Dominic Crossan this past year, so I decided I'd give him a try. I've been reading Jesus: A revolutionary biography, the book has been ok. I must admit I am a bit disappointed. Mostly that Crossan will make statement that are somewhat provocative, but never reference them. I have found this continually to be irritating, but the book is released in the last couple years, I hope Crossan in his earlier work supports his finding somewhat.

However, I did come across some thought provoking question today, just wanted to share them.

"For Paul, in any case, bodily resurrection is the only way that Jesus' continued presence can be expressed. But I repeat my question: Was that the only way other individuals and groups in earliest Christianity expressed their continuing and unbroken faith in Jesus? The question is not what it is that Paul means, because that is surely clear enough. The question is whether he speaks for all Christians then and thereafter. Is resurrection, so understood, the only way or just one of the ways to express faith in the continuing power and presence of Jesus in the world? My point is not that Paul was wrong but that his emphasis on resurrection was but on way of expressing early Christian faith and should not be taken as normative for all others.

Prayer....

The last little while prayer has been on my mind. I think prayer is very interesting. I think for the most part I see as a way to communicate with God. I just wonder if that is all and does this communication have any effect on the world. I believe it can effect our own life, but does it effect God acting in the world. I think my life says not in a direct relationship kind of way. Sometimes when I pray things happen sometimes they don't. Right now I struggle with this you pray this will happen mentality. I do believe prayer gives me comfort and peace. Every night i pray, actually i find it hard to fall asleep without praying. Often i am restless without praying. I have experienced the effect too often to say it has no effect on this world, but to say it has a direct effect is hard. I think prayer is a mystery. I don't really understand how prayer works, but it does maybe just not in the way we think it does.......

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Walking towards the fog

This past weekend I went on a day retreat with St. Benedict's Table. The day was perfect and very poetic. What made the day so poetic is that it was really foggy in the morning. Funny how sometimes driving through this uncertainty towards a day away from the world can be so meaningful. It was a day of reading, walking and great soup. Jamie briefly read from a book that focuses on the difference between a job and our work. I am sure we have all been asked, so what do you do? In of itself this question isn't a problem. The problem is when we define people according to their workplace. I believe people are too complicated to 'know' a person according to their workplace. The fog was especially powerful in that I am entering a period of the unknown. Not really sure what direction my life is taking me, but it is reassuring to know that in the journey I will encounter wonderful people, willing to journey with me.

Why do we care so much about sex....

So I am just wondering why Christians care so much about sex. Maybe sort of an odd title for a blog from someone whose never had sex. I am overwhelmed that many 'mainline' Christian issues revolve around sex or what happens after sex. I recently view a www.godhatesfags.com video and was truly disturbed. All the gays and lesbians I have meet have been loving, friendly, and caring people. I have a hard time calling myself a christian if that requires me to hate people who are genuine and loving people. I wonder what it is that requires a certain reading of the bible that singles out these verses, but ignores the rest of the purity code in Leviticus.

300

I saw the movie '300' recently. I know the movie has a lot of hype. I'd like to say I was thoroughly entertained by the film. Even though it revolves around war, which usually repulses me, I was intrigued by the nature of these warriors. I found it interesting the depiction of selflessness in the movie. I am always in awe of people who give of themselves for the greater good of others. I wish I would do that more often. It is interesting how this vision of selfless love is so profound. As a Christian, I was repulsed by 'The Passion of the Christ' and how this depiction of brutality was meant to reveal my savior. I actually think '3oo' does a better job at showing the selflessness of the cross. Recently, i have thought more about selfless people i have meet over my life. I keep coming back to my experience on the cruise ship. I was blessed to meet so many people that truly gave of themselves to others. I just want to thank Sandy, Kari, Jodi, Clea, Kathy and so many other who embodies a selfless life for me. My life is better because of meeting all of you

Amen & the Kingdom of God

Recently, I view 'Amen' a movie taking place in Nazi Germany. It revolves around a Christian officer in the SS. Who once realizing what is really going on tries with all his might to make the church aware of the atrocities. Sadly, the only one who listen is a jesuit priest. The interesting part of the movie is what happens when the Kingdom of God collides with the rest of life. As I have beening further reading 'Emerging Churches' the idea of kingdom living is constant. A lot of the time I have no idea what kingdom means for these leaders. I've read a lot on how we live in a world that is at odds with the kingdom of God. Derek Webb has a brillant song on his latest CD that delves into this dillema. I think kingdom living is very important, do we realize when the gospel is put in a straighjacket due to cultural norms. I think that is what happened in Nazi Germany. Maybe my question is do we have a confessing church to turn to or has the church assimilated itself so much to culture that this is no longer possible. I think emerging churches realize this conflict more than other churches in my experience. Just a thought....

The Conversation series....

Well I would say the conversation series was well worth it. I love music and am continually distancing myself from Christian music. It is interesting why we need Christain music in the first place. Obviously it is not to reach others, because how many people know Christian artists outside the church. A reoccurring theme during the conference was that we are of the world, but not in it. Through Andrew Beaujon and Steve Bell it became apparent that the music industry is corrupt, Christian and 'secular.' Beaujon believes that the Christian music industry exists because of money, I would have to agree with him.

First, i will say a sacred/secular divide segregates life into to false categories. An interesting element is how many bands with Christians in them do not want the 'Christian - Band' label. Beaujon encountered this most significantly with Switchfoot. Jamie Howison made numerous interesting points regarding how prior to 1880 that high culture was almost exclusively Christian. Why do we hold up terrible art such as Kincaids lighthouses when we have great artists who identified themselves as Christians such as Van Gough, particularly late in life. What is it about Christian art that runs away from evaluating art as art. As Flannery O'Connor believes we need to see life through Gospel eyes. Steve Bell recognizes the agenda ridden Christian industry, this is sad how a lot of christian messages are agenda ridden.

One of the most frustrating parts of life is the celebrity culture we live in, unfortunately the Christian music industry does the same thing. We have idols in music that we quite frankly worship these artists, which is a dehumanizing act and anti-art. I think Christian book stores cannot be distinguished from chapters, etc. because the same capitalist mentality exists in both, like Beaujon says its all about money.

A frustrating part that was recognized is how there is one Christianity in media. Bell often asks when someone talks about Christianity, which Christianity they are talking about. Christianity is not a monoculture, how can mother Teressa and George Bush belong to the same community of Faith. It is easy to use shallow/hateful Christians as the example of 'all christian' but this is clearly not always the case.

An interesting point was made that we are oral prudes. Why are we up in arms over certain words, but we allow into our lives movies, TV, and video games that are so graphic that the images stay in our mind. We are more comfortable saying Yahweh than fuck. But, to my knowledge Yahweh was never to said it was too powerful/dangerous. It is interesting to see what words a culture deems as curse usually stem from what is untouchable. In mainstream western culture it is body words, but in french culture it deals with religion as swear words. I found that fascinating.

We often talk about discerning pop-culture, but we also need to discern Christian media. Christian music often sound like a teenager heart throbs songs, which is very 'immature' and we wonder why the church does not have deep people, maybe we should look to our music.

Some lasting phrases:

If you want to stop gay marriage keeping driving your SUV's to church

We should stand for the fullness of life for all not salvation of the few.