new book and many thoughts

This story you have to read.  It's style is conversational, much in the way of Ann Lamott or Donald Miller.  However, the horror of this story is at times overwhelming and yet encouraging.  Renee' Altson, the author, tells her story of being raped by her "christian" father, abandoned by her mom (who eventually killed herself) and rejected by so many churches and other "christian" institutions.  I am anxious to talk about this book, which I will be doing tomorrow night at our high school meeting.  This story has taught me much about how to respond to those who have serious hurt in their life...what is it that people really need?  Not my pithy, christian bumper-sticker answers for sure.  Just read it.  It's good stuff, plus it's a quick, short read.  More info on Renee Altson

Back from Atlanta...great weekend

As always, the National Youth Workers Convention served to be a great experience, encouragement and vision embarking time.  I will write more about it later, but for now I am giving you a video that is worth watching.  This was not shown at the convention, but there was certainly much shared at the NYWC
in regards to the situation that exists outside of comfy, cozy United States.  I am really wrestling with what my actions should be towards those that are stricken with extreme poverty, AIDS and other atrocities.
Download world_on_fire.mov

 

off to the National Youth Workers Convention

I'm out of town again.  What in the world?  I have never traveled this much in my life.  Anyway, the OCM staff plus Heather head to Atlanta tomorrow for the National Youth Workers Convention.  It is always a highlight of the year for us.  Great teachers (Rob Bell and others).  Great worship (The David Crowder Band ).  Great resources.  Great time away with the staff (Jenn, Neal, Ryan and Heather) to plan, pray, laugh, dream, and eat out on Orangewood's dime.  Fun times.  I'm sure I'll have some material worth blogging about post-conference.  In the meantime, have a great weekend.  Happy Thanksgiving if no blogs happen before Turkey Day! 

May the Peace of the Lord be with you.

psalm 42

Most of my initial familiarity with this psalm has to do with the overused, I just learned to play the guitar, let's sing "As The Deer" text. My apologies if that is your favorite song. So after reading, or more likely "skimming" through the first few verses because of what I perceived as over-familiarity, I was struck by the following verses.

Psa. 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Psa. 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

Psa. 42:4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.

As I read some background on this text, I learned that the Psalmist (not David in this case) is away from Jerusalem. Away from the city of God. Away from all that is familiar. Away from their "home church" so to speak. Up until this point I was confused as to why the writer would pen the words..."When can I go and meet with God?" I'm thinking anytime you want, you confused freak. But to the Jew of that day they couldn't. Jerusalem was everything. The temple was everything. If you couldn't be in that specific place, you felt separated from God. That is why the Psalmist looks back nostalgically for the days of yesteryear when he used to go with the multitude, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving.

How good I have it. To be able to worship God anywhere, at any time. God no longer dwells in a specific place. I have access to Him, through the Son. The veil has been torn. I can come into his presence. The sad thing for me I guess is that the Psalmist longed desperately to be with God, in God's town, and yet I have continual access...but I don't utiilize this gift as often as I should. I hope that changes. I feel that changing.

God Would Get His Glory and We Would Get Our Joy

So I've been a blogging slacker as of late. I have recently returned from Seattle where I was attending the Reformission Conference. Good stuff. Schedule has been a little thrown off though. I could write much about the city of Seattle and how cool it is--culture, coffee, mountains, city, ocean, etc. However, what is on my mind has to do with the "title" phrase that was spoken numerous times at this gathering. John Piper was the keynote speaker, and he was incredible. So passionate. So intelligent. So in love with Jesus. Actually this phrase wasn't so much spoken, as it was prayed before each meeting...God, would you get your glory and would we get our joy. Do I really get joy when God is glorified? According to Scripture I most definitely do. According to life, I would concur, though this may not seem logical. I was reminded that God is after his glory and his reknown. The greatest thing I can do with my life is to align myself with the Creator in this regard. Everything should bring glory to God. All of creation is singing the praises of God right now. Why don't I? I left this convention with many thoughts, hopefully some that I'll share in future blogs. But for now, I am appreciative of the reminder of what I am to chase after in this life. On a related aside, I have been reading through the Psalms. The glory of God is all over the place. David sings of it. David longs for it. David passionately pursues it. Yet, he experiences great pain and trial. This is life. God may I pursue your glory in the midst of the hurt of life. When there is a dull ache that lingers and a fog that can seem ever-present, will you glorify yourself in the midst of it all.

syd & dad

Just hanging out with my girl on the couch. This whole fatherhood thing is way cool.

syd & mom

Sydnie is really getting attached to her mom. She loves to snuggle up to Heather. Cute factor...off the charts...in my humble opinion.

all I need is me, my Bible and Jesus?

So I’ve been meaning to write this all week. To quote the Matrix, this thought has been like “a splinter in my mind.” I just haven’t been able to let it go, which I guess is a good thing. But before I delve in let me say that the weather has finally cooled, I am out with my trusty Mac on the porch, with my daughter beside me and a little Dave Matthews playing. Aaagh, this is life. Now that I have given you the setting, I can set forth on the “splinter.”

I think it all started Tuesday as I sat in my History of Christianity class at RTS. We have been studying the early church heretics, which has been both fascinating and disturbing. In the midst of this the professor has commented numerous times that one cannot DO THEOLOGY IN ISOLATION. This thought popped into my mind as I conversed with a fellow classmate, a man who is retired and is auditing the course for sheer knowledge sake (probably what education should be, but that’s another discussion). This man is humble, gentle and well thought through. He seems to have a deep love of Jesus and His Church. I respect him greatly. I guess the conversation served to remind me of the need I have to be in conversation with men and women who have much more wisdom than I. Often I have the tendency (i.e. previous blogs) to think I know best. I may have a different perspective at times, but this should not negate the perspectives of others who have traveled the road before me. I’m living in this tension of wanting to think differently about the Church, whilst retaining what is good and pure and right with the Church. For someone who is not one for convention, this is tough for me. I just need to make sure my thoughts are held in check and explored with the wisdom that is prevalent in so many that surround me, both young and old.

It just can’t be me, my Bible and Jesus. I have to be in community. I need to be forming my theology in the presence of others who may think differently. I want to speak into the dialogue of current issues pertaining to the Church and theology, but I also need to be willing to listen. There is no dialogue if I am simply spouting off my thoughts. The heretics did theology in isolation. The heretics trumpeted their cause with reckless abandon, but to the detriment of themselves and the Church. I don’t want to be a heretic, but I also don’t want to blindly accept what has been handed to me. God would you give me wisdom.