My neighbor and I have identical snow blowers, and we confer during a storm about the best time to go out, the best techniques, whether we have enough gas, stuff like that. Yesterday she told me she was going to do another neighbors’ sidewalk in addition to her own because, as she put it, “I’m a good Christian.”

I like my neighbor. I’ve never thought of her as a “Christian.” She never talks about God, she doesn’t go to church; the only remotely “Christian” thing she does is work at the thrift shop of a local church. And so, for her, it was just a turn of phrase, not a declaration of belief.

But this is exactly what I found so irritating. Why are “good” and “Christian” synonymous? Here’s the subtext of her statement:

“I believe that the baby who may or may not have been born 2010 years ago, who may or may not have died on a cross 33 years later, was actually the son of, and the proof of, a supreme being; and because I believe this I’m a good person.”

I would really like to believe all this about the baby, but I don’t. And just to prove that atheists (or agnostics – I’m so unwilling to commit to a system of belief I can’t even call myself an atheist) have access to the same realm of moral values, I rushed right out and cleared the other neighbors’ walk.

It wasn’t really because I’m a good agnostic, though. Snow blowing is fun.

Scott Roeder, the pro-lifer who assassinated Doctor George Tiller on 31st May 2009, has today been convicted of premeditated, first-degree murder.

Roeder will be sentenced on 9th March 2010 – the day after International Women’s Day, which seems fitting, given his role in the US’s homegrown terrorist campaign against family planning and healthcare for women.

George Tiller’s willingness to save women’s lives by aborting late-term pregnancies had made him a target for the pro-lifer terrorists for decades before his death. His clinic was bombed in 1986: in 1993 he had been shot in both arms. But, with literally unimaginable courage and dedication, he had carried on working

Roeder was inspired to commit his murder by American TV-style Christian evangelism: he had knelt down and accepted Christ as his saviour in 1992 after watching the 700 club. According to his own testimony, as early as 1993 he planned to kill Tiller, and had fantasised about many different methods, including mutilating Tiller by chopping off both his hands: he thought of shooting George Tiller at his clinic, using a sniper rifle from a nearby church… but in the end what this Christian pro-lifer did was very simple: he walked into the church where Tiller welcoming the incoming congregation, put a gun to his victim’s head, and shot dead a man who had saved thousands of women’s lives.

What can we say? Except be relieved that the US courts can in fact convict terrorists of their crimes. Except acknowledge, publicly, what happened: Doctor George Tiller was a hero. Scott Roeder, his murderer, is a Christian pro-lifer who drew inspiration for his crime from the misogynistic brand of Christianity that fuels America’s most active homegrown terrorist movement.

Anyone who identifies themselves as a pro-lifer in America is identifying themselves with Scott Roeder and the other terrorists and murderers who attack women, healthcare for women, and women’s human rights, as well as the doctors, nurses, and other clinic staff who live in fear of the ironically-named pro-life movement in America.

The basics: why pro-choice is the only moral option

There is a group we find cropping up a fair amount in the scriptures, especially in the gospels. This group were so caught up with keeping rules, traditions and rituals which preserved the status quo, suited them personally and which were rigid and legalistic that they totally missed the heart of the gospel. There were traditions and rituals they kept which were hundreds, even thousands of years old which often were nowhere in scripture. Those rituals were meant to help them connect with God, but over time these things had become the point. They had become like an unwritten law and these things were not to tampered with or questioned and anything else was heresy.

There was a way of following God which fitted a prescribed format which protected the religious and those who knew God and kept others out unless they radically changed their lives. A system whose only way of recruiting people was fear of what would happen if they didn’t. The leaders of these groups often knew the scriptures and loved God, but had become more concerned with literal interpretations of scripture than the heart of the law.

Sound familiar?

You’re probably wondering now whether I’m talking about a group in Jesus’ own time – The Pharisees – or a group of people who exist today. Both of whom follow the same God, both of whom say they wouldn’t make them mistakes of their predecessors. Jesus speaks about the how the Pharisees decorate tombs of the Prophets (Matthew 23 v29) and talks about how they say they would treat them differently if they knew who they were, where they were from and met them now – with the subtext of Jesus knowing they are already plotting to kill Him, the greatest prophet of all (and that’s an understatement). Jesus is a master of irony, and it shouldn’t be lost on us here. We often read this type of passage and think we’d never do that, we’d never act that way, when in fact maybe we are, but in a different context.

I know of so many so-called Christian churches, leaders, and followers of Jesus who seem to have this view of reality that is so detached from reality. A view that everyone in the world is evil, wicked, malicious and devilish and needs saving, and only we, the ’saved’ ones who have been forgiven and made right (Subtext: So are therefore better people and have the right to patronize, condemn and criticize – subconsciously and in love, you understand) can save them – as if its us that ’save them’ and as if following Jesus is only about ‘being saved’.

I hear stories, metaphors, which are meant to help us. Cheesy unhelpful ones, like about the man who paid the fine for somebody who was guilty but couldn’t afford to pay it. I mean come on, is that really meant to convince someone to follow Jesus?

Is that all Jesus does?

Is that all following Jesus is about?

I realize that I am not perfect in this regard. My behaviour sometimes doesn’t reflect well on Jesus. I sit on a pedastal and judge people. In some ways that is what I am doing here, but it feels more like a bit of righteous anger, something that needs to be said because so often people are afraid to say it.

But I will be first to say I’m not perfect and I screw up. I have a temper which I have learnt to control but occasionally gets the better of me. I’ve made bad decisions I regret. I have unintentionally hurt people I care about and done things I find it hard to forgive myself for. I have criticized people with different theology to mine and made it too personal, rather than respectfully disagreeing with them and pursuing my own ideas.

As I say, I’m not perfect and I’m not always right. Being right isn’t the point anyway. We make life this big competition about who’s more right than the other person, and everyone wants to be right. In the age of the internet people have begun to confuse knowledge with wisdom, when often some of the wisest people don’t have half the knowledge of those who prove to be foolish and reckless. Its not about being right.

Its about knowing when something is wrong and doing something about it.

I believe for too long the church has been coasting along, content to be in its little bubble and in it safe space. Do evangelism, do social justice because God calls us to and because its right, but do it our way, do it in a way we understand and relate to, do it from our place of knowledge, instead of trying to understand the people we are speaking to and where they are coming from, and being honest about the reputation and history of the church – as opposed to the way of Jesus – and how it can often distort people’s view of Jesus. Instead of engaging with reality what we do is create a religious subculture which seperates us from the real world and keeps us safe.

There is the perception that ‘the world’ = bad and church/Christian = good. I mean I have lost count of the times I have heard Christians say ‘the world’ with a negative meaning attached, as if ‘the world’ is evil and seperate from us, and we are good and right and better than them. I never realized how patronizing that is till now.

Jesus doesn’t want a religious distinction between church and world. The church isn’t a building or an organization, its people. We all live in a real world with real issues and situations, and God is there in all of them and the enemy wants to get into all of them and seperate us from the basis of reality, which is that God can be found anywhere, in anything, in anyone if we choose to look for them, whatever label or belief system that person/group/object has or subscribes to. Its His world.

The church meeting and church community are only there to help us connect, to support each other, to be discipled, to pray and worship together and meet God together, to be taught about how to engage with God’s world in the way God always wanted us to, to open our eyes to the reality of God all around us. To help us face the scary and often painful reality of this world and its tough choices and situations with honesty and to build relationship with God in our everyday, to meet Him in our everyday, to realize that He is in our everyday and not distant.

Church meetings and being part of a Jesus community is important for us, it helps us grow and learn and provides a safe place when things are difficult, it provides encouragement we aren’t alone in our journey and allows space to meet with God in a space specially set aside for Him. But its not the point and its not meant to seperate us from reality, which is what happens in too many churches.

I personally worship a God who doesn’t just exist in a Christian group or meeting or where Christians are, but is in everything and everyone everywhere, and wants to engage with us. A God who knows how I feel completely whatever I go through – literally – and has the scars to prove it.

This is the God I am speaking of, the God who sent Jesus to die and rise to restore all things, including our relationship with our creator. A God whose Son entered fully into our human existence so knows fully how we feel, how we are tempted, how difficult it is to resist temptation, what pain and suffering and grief is like, what its like to be rejected, betrayed and abandoned, what its like to be treated unjustly and feel like everything’s against you, what its like the be humiliated and tortured. Yet at the same time is fully God, who can take any garbage we throw at Him and still love us and forgive us.

So please, ditch the cheese. Ditch the religion. Ditch the patronizing, arrogant, stifling attitude which sets Christians apart as better than everyone else, and church as reality and the world as some evil place which we should avoid at all costs.

‘Christians’ are no better than anyone else. In fact, sometimes they are worse. Church shouldn’t be seen as the reality, or something that keeps us from reality, but something which helps us engage with reality as it is, and as it can be.

I want to be a Christian, I’m trying to be a Christian. But above all, I’m trying to be disciple of Jesus. That’s far more interesting to me. A community of true disciples who engage with reality and can see reality as God intends it, and who actively pursue and promote that deeper reality in their own lives. Instead of trying to convince people of something or ’sell’ something to them, let them just hear our story, see our story unfold and see what reality looks like lived a different way. The same world they live in, but a different way of seeing it.

Its God’s world. It has and always will be. God is everywhere we look or listen for Him. Jesus His son has the life experience to relate to our realities and get us through them, and has come through the other side in triumph. He calls us to be His disciples, meaning that although we will enter into suffering, we will come out the other side, with scars that show victory, not defeat, and knowing more deeply a God who is fully engaged with the reality of this world, and who Himself is the ultimate reality. That’s the kind of Jesus – the kind of God – that I want to follow and I think I do try to follow. I think that’s the reality of who Jesus and God really is and what they are about.

That’s who Jesus really is. That’s a Jesus for all of us.

I think that’s the real Jesus. Not a religious, hypocritical, legalistic, patronizing, cheesy one or one like you’ve seen on TV. But a real, hardcore, very human yet very godly Jesus.

The real thing.

Is that the kind of Jesus you know or have been brought up to believe in?

Margaret Atwood is a Christian child parading in agnostic clothing. Alias Grace (1996) is her barbed blessing to middle-brow readers with high-brow aspirations. She writes pellucid screeds as the best banshees did a century or two ago, which isn’t out of style given her topic, and speaks truth saying that Grace lies and yet doesn’t.

Here is a first-person (kudos for this authorial decision) portrait of an infamous, real-life murderess, with added frills that undermine rather than enhance its sweep. Three-quarters of the novel offer one of the best slow psycho yarns I have ever read only to have the need for telling parallels drive the plot askew.

Was is really necessary to have pre-Freudian confessor Dr Jordan on the verge of duplicating in decidedly grotty fashion the same pattern that led to the downfall of his patient? Yes, perhaps to show how decent you and I would have behaved in such a fix, as Grace didn’t, the more’s the pity. But sorry: the setting isn’t the same; Dr Jordan’s apple isn’t Grace’s pear; and his late murderous volitions do not quite fit the placid fellow we were introduced to.

Who else but a woman writer would expatiate at such lengths over linen, never mind that stitching is the jailbird’s main pastime and the patchwork leitmotiv is a laudably clever conceit?

Did we need so many inklings on the prehistory of psychoanalysis?

There is in this wonderful book much to be admired in terms of language variegations, tone rifts from guileless to bitchy, intricacy of plot, character building even, and yet in fine the pudding is overegged, and (probably unbeknownst to the author) drenched with subliminal Christian values, which might account for much of its success.

Reading the book to find out whether Grace is guilty as charged, as teenagers are wont to do, would be to misread it from the start, obviously, but the belated séance giving a nasty twist to the plot is either too much or too little, let alone end-of-book coincidences that provide for a happy ending of sorts to please the crowds.

I must reread The Blind Assassin, of which as usual with most Bookers I remember nothing, and The Robber Bride, of which I remember precious little, to see whether that religious underpinning is there too. They say The Handmaid’s Tale is so far her best, on the science fiction side of her genius that since then has produced Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood.

I just want to say that with all of the events this year has brought to St. Mary’s and to Fredericksburg, I have never been more proud to be a part of this wonderful school and this community.  I think that each of us has been forced to take a good look at our own lives, attitudes, and appreciations for life.

I had always heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”, but had never really understood it until just recently.  As a new parent, I quickly began to see that one parent can’t do it alone…the moment to moment tasks of having a newborn – every diaper change, the late night feedings, etc. quickly take a toll on a sleep-deprived mother if there isn’t a few other people willing to help out.

With each year that has past since the birth of my first child (6 years, 3 months to be exact), “it takes a village” has come to mean different things.  Whether it was trying to arrange drop-offs, pick-ups, day care, pre-school, doctor’s visits, etc., I began to understand that it takes a community to foster a child.  Each person that came in contact with my child was adding to the developmental process of raising my child.  AND, each of those people was taking a bit of my child with them…a little bit of ownership and responsibility in the upbringing of my child.  Each interaction has brought a few more people and relationships into our “village.”

With each interaction, each person has taken on a part of the responsibility for my child.  As any parent knows, when you accept responsibility for your child or for another child, you develop a love and a relationship with that child…whether it’s for one moment or for a lifetime.

My point it this…this “village”, this community, every single person that has ever had any contact with any of our children are in this together.  It’s a team effort.  We rejoice in victories together.  We are sorrowful in defeats together.  We delight in everyday life together.  We mourn together.  We stand by each other.  This “village”, this family here at St. Mary’s, here in Fredericksburg, is one that I am so proud to be a part of.

Love and belief,
Buffy Frantzen
Mother of Hunter-5K, Minot-3K, and Creek-1yr.
Guest Contributor

I think often I have come across as very idealistic on this blog, and in one sense that is a good thing. To have idealistic visions of what God wants, what God intends and His original plan for us is a good thing as it gives me and us all something to put our hope in. It gives us inspiration and a very real belief that there is something better, there is a better way to live and that the world can be better. I like that.

However I think I need to come back down to earth occasionally. Its important that this vision, hope and idealism is grounded in reality.

I hope many of you believe in a very real God who wants us to engage with some very real issues in a real world. A God who wants to get stuck into the nitty gritty of life and help us through it. A God who sent His son to fully engage with the human experiences we go through, the same physical needs and the same temptations, and to go through a level of suffering that almost none of us have experienced.

Jesus knows loneliness, pain, abandonment and physical and spiritual suffering in a way none of us have, which is so much deeper and more painful than anything we experience, yet is grounded in that same reality.

When we suffer its easy to think that God is up in the clouds, distant, some spiritual being on a spiritual plane who we call down to help us. But we forget that he is here with us, now, in us and around us by His Holy Spirit and in His creation.

But above all we forget that Jesus knows how we feel. Really knows.

Why? Because Jesus gave up His divinty and became a man. Just like us.

A man, for example, who had to study to learn the scriptures  - He wasn’t born with them in His head, as many seem to assume for some reason. A man who got hungry and ate food like we do, who grew up physically in exactly the same way, who got tired, thirsty (there’s even evidence of that in the Bible) and who knew grief (losing his earthly father, losing His cousin and losing one of His best friends, even if he did bring him back from the dead).

Lets get rid of another idea too.

Before the cross, He didn’t ‘know’ He was going to rise again after His death, He couldn’t see into the future – He could have done had He desired, just as He could have called angels down to help Him, but that would have meant He hadn’t entered fully into our human experience. He had to trust God that He would raise Him and fully submit to His will trusting Him.

Jesus showed that is possible to be human and to be without sin, without screwing up or making bad decisions and totally reliant on God. Of course, given who His Father was and who He was that was probably more natural for Him, but lets not pretend it was easy.

To go through 33 years on earth and that horrendous death without once making a mistake or screwing up, or breaking any of the commands of God even once, even in a little minor thought, takes something great.

Jesus did this.

For us.

Because it was what God wanted, because He knew it was the right and best way to live and understood it better than anyone. Because He was the greatest human being who ever lived. He suffered more than any of us, even being fully human in the same way we were, and limiting Himself to this, yet still being 100% God at the same time.

When we get angry, upset, when we do things we regret, when we want to scream and shout at God and the world, when all things seem against us, when nothing makes sense, when we feel alone and abandoned, when we want to run away from the world, when pain threatens to overcome us, when we want to hurt people because we feel jealous or angry with them but don’t because its not right, when things seem desperate and beyond any hope  - Jesus knows how you feel.

Because He’s been there. He really has.

He’s been tempted in the same way. He’s felt the same way. He’s here with us now in our struggles, frustrations, our anger, our fear and our pain. He may not have experienced your specific circumstances, but the emotion, the pain, the agony, the grief, the hopelessness, the loneliness, the abandonment, the disrespect, the degradation and humiliation – He’s felt them all.

Believe me, this is not an easy thing to believe when things are difficult, in fact I find it very hard to accept in those times of my life. It takes great faith. It takes trust.

But its true, whether we like it or not.

In the world we live in, in our our struggles and difficulties, with so much pain and suffering around people need a God or Saviour who isn’t distant and away from everything, but is involved in what goes on in the world, and who has experience of the things we go through. Who understands from experience what trust, stress, grief, anger, rejection, abandonment, physical abuse, torture and stress is all about. Someone who has experienced it all and has the scars to prove it.

There’s only one like it.

Jesus Christ.

He has scars, just like we all have scars. He can help us heal ours.

Dear God,

First of all, I would just like to say how wonderful it feels to be writing again! I love talking and praying to you, but I have also enjoyed the special times when I can  put my words on something more tangible that lasts. I have been pretty much refined to bed for two weeks, so my most indulgent form of entertainment, has unfortunately been the television. I have followed the news rather closely and I am somewhat amazed at the amount of attention and fame one will acquire by NOT using their better judgement.

In the case of the “uninvited guests” who decided to crash the White House Party, I have to admit that other than the  guests of distinguished governmental attendee’s and perhaps some journalists who have maintained their quality and moral compass when reporting our worldly news, I can’t imagine why one would risk imprisonment to attend such an event. I know that we all have the urge to want to feel important, and to be the invited guest to American royalty, but I suppose that if I were given 15 minutes to share the table with someone of affluence and character–then I wouldn’t want to crash a party in order to have that interview.

Of all the hollywood celebrity that flood our media these days, it is frightening to see how our young people are emulating the rough and unsavory un-moralistic behaviors of teen idols. The Brittney Spears, and Paris Hilton’s of our world, have proved their true colors the last few years, and I believe that, for the most part, many girls are seeing that the mistakes they made are truly that, not entertaining, but flat out mistakes. Although I may be the minority of some, I have to admit that I would not choose President Obama to spend an evening with interviewing and dining with either. Although I understand that by being an American citizen, we are privledged to live in a Democracy where we are able to live freely and have the ability to vote, whereby choosing who we elect and put into the office of Commander and Chief. I do indeed take that liberty with pride and I am a registered voter. I do not agree with liberal issues that most find, our God given right, so with dignity, I will choose to keep in prayer, that our country will turn from the issues that bring us so far from our Christian roots. The only real hope for us now, is to give every moment to insuring that we are never lazy in our pursuit to instill Christian values into our lives and be the proper example to the next generation.

If we are not vigilant in our values that we express to our children, then they will continue to think that the behaviors of the most popular icons of todays world, are there for their commercial value of entertainment and that it’s okay for them to live their lives doing whatever they feel is necessary to achieve success and self gratification. I was always so very careful about what my children were exposed to when they were young. I know that my children were sometimes mocked for not being allowed to see the same movies and play the same video games as their peers, but I just felt that I had to make the decision based on my own moral value scale. Not, what was being decided by the entertainment industry. While most teens these days are so conscience of the Hollywood characters that are spashed on the cover of every magazine, I must continue to hold firm to my belief that the most important people in our lives, do not dress in Dolce and Gabana, but are the heroes who give of themselves, freely to help others and improve their lives, through the knowledge of Christ Jesus.

If we were given 15 minutes to interview someone of fame, I have to ask myself, who would I choose? I know that I wouldn’t not turn to the tabloids for the juicy comments that follow Jon and Kate. I wouldn’t choose to spend my last dollar on a ball-gown and sneak into a White House party. I wouldn’t enter a night club for a chance to see a rock star who is trying desperately, to swallow their troubles  in a wine glass. I couldn’t choose to have lunch with America’s Next Top Model….Heaven know’s I’d probably starve to death, before the interview! Neither, would I  fake a talent (that obviously I lack)….just to get a peek at Simon Cowl, although the entertainment in the waiting line, might just be worth a great laugh!

No, in all honesty, if I were given 15 minutes, I believe that I would have to choose that time very wisely. I have often thought about this. Perhaps those that top my list, have gone on to  be with You, and they are spending their days in the company of Angels and their Savior. But, as for the living prospects…One in particular person, that I would love to meet, is actually the son of a very famous man of God. Jonathan Falwell could tell of the enormous impact that his own father has had on millions of people throughout years of service to Our King. The memories that I’m sure Jerry shared with his children, would be worth every ticking second of my time. To discover that over the years–He was privy to the very moment when countless individuals spoke the words that would change their lives, and their future forever more. To know that He was there when someone, with tear streaked cheeks, took that long walk down a crowded isle…to meet someone at the altar, and say “I surrender all”, I want to ask Christ to forgive me for being a sinner” I want to accept this man, Jesus, to come into my heart and I want to live for Him for the rest of my life.”

This is the kind of “fame” that comes without the perks that fill little bags full of expensive goodies to those who are chosen to walk the “red carpet” on awards night. This is the kind of emotional fulfillment that can’t be satisfied by money, fame, fortune, or notoriety. This is the truest form of spiritual greatness that deems the most important moments of our life. I can’t imagine being able to see those remarkable moments on a daily basis in my life. That is the most exceptional job that we can serve. The mission field is full of individuals who go without any aminities of luxury or even conveinence for that matter. But, yet, they are some of the happiest and joyful people that one could ever meet. This says it all! We need to consider who we find interesting enough to consume our time and attention these days. I know that it is so easy to find excitement in those who live troubling lives. Tiger Woods is now a household name, for entirely different reasons than his awesome golf swing. Sadly, I know that in the end, when he has lost everything that truly held value in his emotional life, he will have to ask himself why he made such poor choices to find happiness. There is only one way to find it….One Man…who gave ALL that He had to give to ALL others, who choose life over death. This is the one who deserves the attention of all mankind.

God, help me to make the kind of choices that only bring honor to You. I want  to continue to teach my children that we only have one life to live, and only one voice to speak to others with. Our actions do speak louder than words, more often than any of us would like to admit. I know that when I arrive in heaven….there is a list a mile long, of those whom I would be honored to share a table to dine with, and just listen to the stories of how they loved You enough to give their lives in the sacrifice for meeting friends and family in a reunion that will make Glorified Headlines!

I give honor to those who give so freely to You, and know who deserves honor without requiring Fame,

Gina

1. Children are like parrots, choose your words wisely!
2. Parents want to help, just ask!
3. Love is the best gift.
4. Generosity of spirit is abundant.
5. Faith makes a firm foundation.
6. When one of us is suffering, we all feel it.
7. We are like one big family, complete with a couple of black sheep.

Those lessons are also learned from an extended family. When times are tough, we rally around each other. There are friendly faces everywhere you look, from the school day, to weekend services, and beyond. When one of us needs a helping hand, we never have to look far for those who are reaching out to us.

I am proud to say that I am a member of the St. Mary’s Community, because it is more like being a member of a family. That is why I save to send my son here, because I want him to know what that is like throughout his entire life. I know the value of this kind of feeling, after only becoming a member myself a few short years ago, I know what I was missing before. I want him to have what I never really did growing up; a sense of belonging to a family outside of our relatives.

by Lacey Vorauer
St. Mary’s Catholic School Teacher
Guest Contributor

this year has started off with a bang.. the Lord started speaking to me about “transitions”.. with this.. He added 1 corithians 13… “love”… then.. He spoke to us about our new Bible study.. book of james.. then ephesians..

so the lens is “love”…. and we are going to walk it out in james and ephesians … can’t wait to see what’s on the other side of ephesians…  going to be some kind of year..

well.. if you are following my nonsense… you know hit a few bumps right off the top.. lost it a couple of wks ago.. been fighting through the days.. been interesting…

a wk or so when i lost it.. within a few days i had a situation that arose between one of my clients and potential clients.. we had worked out an agreement between the two for the use of some property to stage our job.. this particular project seems to just keep on going.. thus the agreement is or was in a state of flex.. our term for use was expiring and i had asked for another extension.. will say that the owner and the property and i started off well.. but through the long process of the project.. our relationship was being pushed… could not make him happy.. caught in the middle between the two.. very difficult and tiring place to be and yes.. if you know me.. then you can imagine.. push too hard.. to long.. and she (or in this case “i”).. blows…

needless to say.. did not add to the situation.. only stressed it.. so.. when the time came for the extension.. he blew.. was leaving town.. could not come to terms.. so per the agreement.. we vacated the property… when he came back.. wanted to pickup and re-new the agreement (cash was now involved).. started down the path of negotiating with my client.. things were moving ahead.. only problem.. “we vacated the property”.. no way were we going back.. too many expenses in staging the property.. so when they came to me.. “sorry guy’s.. no longer interested”.. ouch..!!!

the names started flying.. the “true” abundance of the heart came out.. cussing..? oh-yea.. “the gates of hell” were opened up wide.. “the host released”…. eventually.. it pushed into my heart and i let it go.. don’t remember all that was said.. but it was not “pleasant”.. can tell you it did not feel good.. can tell you the Lord started to speak… i remember Him asking.. “who is speaking through this guy… who is speaking through you ..? ouch…!!

friday.. i was talking with a friend of mine.. love this man so.. has stood with me through thick and thin.. done deals.. lost a bunch.. still there.. truly a good man… he is working through a project in his life …. “un-wind”..  has a few partnerships in business and decided that he wanted to simply un-complicate his life.. thus..  ”un-wind”.. can tell you from personal experience.. this man is more than fair.. always hedges on the “give” side.. not the take.. so he went out to his partners.. (one in particular).. one that he has done several deals with.. been successful.. been great.. “no-problems”.. and simply said.. i want out..

being the “give” side of man.. per their buy/sell agreement.. made an offer to sell and/or buy his partner out for a more than reasonable number.. truly gift of a number.. to his great surprise.. his partner.. blew up.. and when i mean blew up.. lawyers are now involved.. neither one of us can figure it out.. it’s a buy sell.. don’t want to buy.. ? then sell same price..?  that simple..  but no.. rather hire lawyers and start a lengthy expensive process.. the broods are at it.. “the gates of hell” are open wide…. “the host have been released”…

during this process.. the constant and continual process has been wearing on my friend.. so he gave instructions to his brood to follow.. one being.. a specific determined path.. two.. shelter him from the noise.. but get this..  know when the Word says the “wiles” of the enemy.. “prowling around to see who he may devour”.. the attack has been so fierce.. so precise.. the host has taken out my friends lawyer.. so when i talked to him on friday.. he’s back under it.. so not only have the “gates of hell” been open.. “the host released”.. “they are on the move”…

when we stop  (my friend and i)..  started to talk through the situation.. it became clear.. like me when i was under attack.. he too was starting to feel it.. started to move into his heart.. it was taking and not adding to his life.. time to step back and take measure..

remember the Lords Words to me… who is speaking…? where is it coming from ? who is on the Throne of our lives..?

for us.. it was clear.. the host of hell was speaking through these situation…. the men.. the enemy..  he’s using it all.. “sin”…. greed.. pride.. arrogance.. a proud heart and divisive heart.. the true abundance is being released…. the brood was eating it up.. accusations.. lies.. manipulation.. constant evil sadistic crap.. so precise.. so clear and yet.. both of us in our situations were giving occasion.. being sucked in.. turning the abundance in our hearts.. not good..

the cool part for us.. Jesus is on the throne of our lives.. for me.. needed to do some repenting.. take a few steps back.. recognize the root.. the core not only the attack.. but the sin in my heart.. back to the deck.. seek the Holy Spirit.. ask some of the why’s..? where’s.. His revealing.. need to let go of some more.. not about me.. got to be about Him.. true Light.. no need to jump back.. no need to lose it.. think i would learn this by now.. it’s a process…

james talks about the tongue.. patience.. wisdom.. trials.. tribulations.. “love”.. like i said.. going to be interesting.. we start the study next wk and we are already starting to walk through it..

how about you..? got some abundance on the attack in your life..?  sense that the “gates of hell”  been opened..  the “the host released” ..? “on the move”…?  well all you have to do is take a look outside.. read the paper.. turn on the radio.. watch the news.. the correct answer is “yes”..

problem for most of us.. like my friend and i.. we know that this is a fact of our lives.. but we forget.. we can get caught… we start to hear.. believe and feel a need to defend.. it’s simply not our job.. we have Jesus.. don’t need anything else..” He’s our Rock.. our Strong Defense”

listen.. like my friend and i.. we all need those who will stand around us.. those who love the Lord.. have a Word life.. are not suffering from a Word-Deficit.. men who get it… our Bible study starts in one wk.. we will be posting the teachings on line.. join in with us.. if you are in the neighborhood.. join with us.. if not our Bible study.. find one.. get in.. your survival is dependent on the Word of God flowing in and through your life.. your time in the Word is not only for you.. but it’s for your wife.. your children.. your family and friends.. those standing with you.. around you.. let’s remember.. “gates of hell” have been opened.. “the host released”.. have been released and yes..  “they are on the move”… the question is.. what are you doing about it..? how is it effecting your life…? who is on the throne of your life…?

stay in.. stay near.. hand to the plow…

living at the ranch has been a blessing in so many ways.. we love all the Lord has done in and through our home.. remember when we were nearing completion of the inside of the home.. it was time to design the entertainment center.. started looking at tv’s.. did not realize just how many sizes were available.. have always had good luck with sony tv’s.. so my efforts were concentrated on the available models..

it took so long for us to complete the work..  the models changed a couple of times before we finally purchased our new tv.. bble loves football.. i love golf.. we both love watching old black and white movies.. it’s safe to say that we love spending time together kicking out in front of the monster tv.. truly a blessing….

been living at the ranch now for a couple of years.. believe we are on our 3rd or 4th year.. don’t know exactly when it started to happen.. but our tv started to get a “green” hint.. color was changing.. truth is.. did not notice it.. bble said something and then kristi came by one day and make a comment about the “green-tv”.. suspect if nobody had said anything.. i would still not know that something was up..

bble called sony.. they knew exactly what the problem was.. “no-problem”… we will send a tech out… (got to love sony..) tech came out today and tv is fixed and get this..  no.. “green-tv”.. it’s weird.. totally different color scheme.. don’t even recognize some of the menu screens.. it’s like a new tv.. truly beautiful…

i sat in a deposition today.. (terrible way to spend the day).. long day of questions without meaning.. no clear direction.. a search and destroy process that does not add to life.. only takes from life..  first time i have ever sat through a deposition.. can say was pretty uptight about the entire process.. called my brother this morning and asked him to hit the deck on my behalf.. he had just gone through a similar situation and did well… so proud of him and needed some of his encouragement to get me through the day.. “no problem.. will kick it up for you all day”  (love this man so.. every man should have a brother like my dennis.. truly a good man…)

started out a bit slow.. but the grind was on.. could see it in all of their eyes.. the entire process is designed to trip you up.. make you feel inept.. question your integrity.. your background.. anything.. everything any way they can..

first lawyer.. slow and not very good.. second.. good grinder.. would not let go.. third.. started to get pissed.. could not get what he wanted.. could not really answer him.. “tenuous”.. was starting to boil.. it was heading ”ugly”..  it was then.. i had to make a decision.. had to think it through.. had to ask my own questions… so weird.. but so God..

there was a time i would have probably reached across the table and started swinging.. would not have been a pleasant picture.. could not control.. would lose site as to Who was on the throne of my life.. not good.. but today.. knowing that my brother was out there kicking up some prayers.. bble was praying for me as well.. something changed.. i changed.. there was a shift.. i remember asking our lawyer how i did.. then it hit me.. did not matter.. did not care.. so i asked the right question…

 ”Lord.. how am i doing.. am i going to make it..?”..  ”eye’s on Me.. it’s ok.. not going to leave you.. i am here.. my battle.. let go.. “

the Calm came.. the storm passed.. was i still in rough waters.. yes.. color was skewed in the room.. the entire process is a joke.. instead of simply coming together.. working out a fix.. everybody’s pointing fingers.. nobody is taking responsibility.. it’s sad.. but it’s who we are.. it’s what we have become.. somehow.. some way.. our color has changed.. our vision is skewed..

guess the question for all of us.. if stopped an took measure.. what are we seeing.. what are we hearing.. living life in full color…? you know.. you sit in the room.. watch the silliness of it all realizing that this is their life.. not slamming the brood.. don’t take me wrong but i do believe it paints a picture of many of our lives as men..

want to know what a man is seeing..? ask him..? might take a few but sooner or later.. you will hear.. you will see and then you will know if he is living in full color or if his lenses is skewed.. because whatever he is watching is what you will see.. whatever he is listening to.. you will hear.. i know of more men who spend their entire day listing to the world.. the news.. cnn.. talk radio.. and then wonder why.. they don’t see God moving in and through their lives.. can’t hear God speaking..

like the brood in the room today.. asking silly worthless nonsense questions… without any clear direction and/or knowledge of the process.. all they see is “green-tv”.. they lost the discernment.. can’t see in full color any more.. and get this.. like me with our tv.. can’t not even recognize the process…

i am blessed.. have some men in life like my brother who are there for me.. they put up with me.. good days and bad.. true friends who take the hit for me.. some have bled for me.. men who help me keep my color.. men who risking conflict will take me on.. men who will challenge me and my life.. truly a blessing…

how about you..? living in full color.. ? got “green-tv”.. ? got men around you who could answer the question for you..? we can all spend the rest of our days wiping our spiritual butts with a hoop or we could ask the tough questions of ourselves.. of those standing around us.. we can give God continual occasion.. and/or we can slip into “green-tv”.. either way… the choice is ours.. the choice is yours.. pray the Lord is speaking to you.. pray the Holy Spirit reveals those areas in your life.. pray He opens your eyes to see.. pray you make the decision to follow Him in every aspect of our life..

stay in.. stay close.. hand to the plow…

tbrooks

I read a slightly tongue in cheek obituary to the Emerging Church today. Now not long ago this was the hip and happening modern movement of churches. It was all about a post-modern take on the Christian faith, a slightly more liberal theology with occasionally the best of what has been past all mixed in there. Emerging Church was ‘the place’ to be and the movement to be involved with.

The fact that many seem to be speaking about its decline and the emergence of other ideas/theology coming in to replace it or further these ideas reminded me of something that I think has been a problem for a long time. Labels. Denominations.

In a culture full of labels – indeed which uses labels and images to define itself in a sense – it seems the church is playing its part as well.

Only the church has been doing it for centuries.

For labels read denominations or docterine. Every so often a new person comes along with what seems a radical new idea which is challenging to the established order. Its new, fresh and exciting and gets lots of followers behind it. Some churches or preachers denounce it as heretical and a fad that won’t last. Eventually what happens is that it ultimately overcomes and integrates with what has past, and becomes the centre itself.

No longer is it radical, challenging or different. Its the norm.

And this is where things get difficult. Becuase often churches and theological ideas which start out as radical, revolutionary and pushing the boundaries end up getting stuck.

There are churches which push boudaries and then keep on pushing them. Not many, but a few, and there’s certainly a few leaders who think that way too. The problem is that people push outwards radically, taking risks, then get to a point where they are safe as things are and so they stop pushing out.

For a while they are still seen as radical, but eventually they become stale and trapped in legalism and tradition. The reformation is a prime example. Seen as heretical by many begin with, now much of what they did is seen as past, stale.

Now it seems the Emerging Church is now seen as ‘old school’. It stopped somewhere and never moved forward. Rob Bell was once interviewed about the Emerging Church and he said he wasn’t interested in being associated with any labels or groups, and that was for other people to do. I think he was right.

Perhaps if we got rid of labels and took away boundaries to a degree then we’d not stop looking forward and outward. Its an attitude you have to adopt and keep choosing to adopt. I could probably rest easy in what I achieved in my life and my faith last year and go into a comfort zone, but I don’t want to, I want to push forward and find the next challenge, the next step of faith, the next adventure – and it will be tougher than the last, because I’ve reached a marker point and I can either stay there or move forward.

The real revolutionaries or reformers don’t stop or settle at the marker and look back, they keep on going.

Maybe that’s idealistic and inpractical, but I think if you look at the spiritual innovators of our time – I hate to keep mentioning him, but Rob Bell is a prime example of this – they don’t settle where they are, they are always looking outward and forward and imagining new possibilities, just as Jesus did, and indeed John The Baptist before Him.

I hope that I never get to a point where I stop looking outward and forward and imagining new possibilites, new challenges, new discoveries and new ways of seeing and understanding God. I want to get to know and understand Him better and be more like Him, and there is always more to learn and understand about God. And apart from the essence of His nature and character He has no boundaries or limits.

That’s why I love the name ‘Evolving Church’. Evolution is a process that is constantly going on. It involves constant change and revolution, always looking for new things, always bringing something fresh and new, it involves some things dying and new things being born, adapting to the time, the atmosphere and environment it finds itself in. It never stands still – it cannot stand still, its not possible. The process – set in motion by God at the beginning, arguably – keeps on going. You keep the best and most fruitful parts of your past and adapt them to your present. You keep on taking risks and meeting new challenges and adapting to them, and when you have you look for the next challenge.

I love that idea. As disciples of Jesus we should always be evolving, adapting, looking outward, looking forward. Even in a human context, we are not only physically evolving as a species (we are taller than we used to be, for example) but maybe that evolutionary process is a spiritual one as well. Maybe the human race evolves spiritually too – indeed, if everything is spiritual, then its a natural, normal process and a necessity. Church is a community of disciples of Jesus, a community of human beings, so in that case evolution is a natural process for the church too.

However, we must always remember. Evolution can sometimes be painful, it can be a struggle, it involves overcoming obstacles and barriers, it involves steps of faith, it involves leaving some of the past behind and keeping the best of it and adapting it to the present. Its not easy at times, but the reward is great. Its a process that has to continue, and we need to have our eyes open to see it so we can participate in it with God, in our church and in our own lives. Its essential to the journey that Jesus calls us to.

Let me make this clear. I’m not here to create another label for people to follow. This isn’t a denomination, a club, or some group seperate from everyone else who have all the answers. I don’t want this to be something which divides the church or destroys existing churches, or separates us more from God’s world, but something that tries to show us the reality of God’s world and our role in it, both as individuals and church communities, and helps us engage with these communities. Something which connects us to the reality of God in our everyday – both in and out of church and shows us the bigger picture.

I’m here to try and engage people with the reality of what being a human being is meant to be all about – being a disciple of Jesus, being part of a church community that is outward looking and doesn’t stand still. I’m here to stimulate discussion on what that evolutionary process means for us individually and as a church, and how this approach can aid us as we seek to face the challenges the church is facing in today’s world, and the challenges we face in our own churches.

To help us be evolving churches, and evolving Christians.

Not ones which stand still, stay in our comfort zone and build religious and legalistic barriers to keep people out. But who are constantly looking outwards to the next challenge, to engage with the world as it is at that moment in time, not a moment in time which passed years ago, and to seek to constantly discover Jesus anywhere and everywhere in anything.

We as followers of Jesus, and the church as a whole, need to be constantly evolving. I’m here to ask how, and to stimulate people to discuss and discover the answers.

as i head down the road of “transition”.. first day was great.. second day.. good.. rough and then ok.. the journey before me is a long one.. wonder sometimes just how do you “transition” and then add the lense of 1 Corinthians 13 “love”.. not something that can be processed quickly and/or easily.. that is for a worthless wretched soul (that would be me and most everybody reading this blog)..

in my studies.. i see a reoccurring story.. in the book of john.. the story of the samaritan woman.. remember Jesus talking to her.. He is telling her who He is.. He even goes so far as to say.. “I am He”.. she does not get it.. can’t hear.. can’t see.. she “don’t know”…

the very next chapter we have the lame man at the pool.. remember…? Jesus is asking him does he want to be healed.. he goes into this dissertation.. the Healer is standing before Him.. can’t hear.. can’t see.. he “don’t know”.. and get this.. when Jesus does heal him and sends him on his way.. the priests challenge him because he is carrying his bed on the Sabbath.. now they know who this guy is.. they know that he’s been lame for 30+ years.. and they are slamming him because he is carrying his cot.. when asked how healed him.. remember his answer…”don’t know”..

what about the brothers of joseph…? when they came to egypt to buy food.. He is using the Lords name.. an egyptian giving occasion to the God of the Hebrews.. he even sits them to dine with him in the order of their birth and yet.. they can’t hear.. can’t see.. “don’t know”..

today was in interesting day.. got pissed over a comment.. not sure why.. struggling to hear why.. praying to see.. truly don’t know.. even went to bed.. still burning in me.. as i write this.. it’s now after 2:00 in the morning.. can’t seem to shake it..

got up.. opened the Word.. psalms 38.. david is being chastened by the Lord.. the heading reads.. “david moves God to take compassion on his pitiful state.. confessing his sins are the cause of it”..

funny thing is when you read the chapter.. david never really deals with the specifics of his sin.. he does say “for i will declare my iniquity.. i will be in anguish over my sin”….

it’s clear that he is under the strain of it all.. “there is no soundness in my flesh…. nor any health in my bones .. because of my sin.. my iniquities have gone over my head.. like a heavy burden.. they are too heavy for me”..

i wonder if david could hear.. if he could see and if he did know.. or was he simply sensing the separation that comes when sin takes over in our lives….?

for me.. the pissed off moment of the day is still lingering.. and i can honestly say.. still can’t hear.. can’t see and “don’t know” all that is tied to this situation.. but i can tell you that i know that something is not right in me.. it’s a work in progress.. i get it.. but it’s not enough.. i want more..

it’s clear that as you read the pslams.. david wants more.. “my heart pants.. my strength fails.. as for the light of my eyes.. it also has gone from me…. my sighing is not hidden from you… all my desire is before You.. “

you know.. i truly believe that we are never really going to hear it all.. never going to see it all.. and never going to know it all.. there is a reason the Word tells us that there are not “regrets in heaven”.. and i can tell you it’s not because we did not do the right things.. say the right things.. it’s because when we see Jesus face to face.. nothing else will matter.. would not matter what we accomplished on this wretched planet.. it’s never going to measure up to our Lord… we are continually going to blow it.. going to struggle.. it’s part of life.. david was one of the greatest screw-ups of the old testament.. his sin brings about the destruction and dismantling of the promise land.. God knew this when He picked david.. He as a plan.. as He did and does with me.. with you..

the cool thing about God.. even in this knowledge.. He called david one of His own.. and get this.. me.. you.. the rest of us wretched.. worthless.. screw up sons of fools.. He sent His Son.. His only Begotten Son.. such love i will never understand.. pray i figure this out.. pray the Lord reveals the core of this issue in me.. pray the Holy Spirit continually convicts.. would prefer He work it out during normal business hours.. but this too is part of the process and i am forever grateful for the call and the Lord that wakes a fool like me to start the process of hearing.. seeing and know….

what about you..? is there a stirring in your heart that you are not paying attention to..? having trouble sleeping..? find yourself in an internal struggle..? if so.. crack the Word.. you too will find the Lord speaking.. the Holy Spirit drawing.. loving.. washing you.. pouring Himself into your heart.. the key is.. you have got to take the first step.. you have got to make the move.. you have got to give occasion so that He has opportunity to move..

the new year brings about a lot of hype.. don’t go for it.. don’t care.. do care about the day.. the moment.. the occasion and today… the occasion was not glorifying.. tomorrow..? can hear Him say.. “all-things work together”.. can see my Him.. my Lord.. “He is high and lifted up”.. do know.. “if we turn.. repent He will..”

stay in.. stay close.. hand to the plow…

tbrooks

As we come back from what was, hopefully, a wonderful and joyful Christmas break, I feel compelled to tell a story that happened during mine.

We traveled to Kansas City for Christmas this year. (Insanely by car – not plane.) That’s where my family lives and it had been 2 years since we’d visited so we were due a trip. As soon as I frantically wrapped up work, we took off in the “man van” as Steve calls it. It was about 5:00pm and I just wanted to knock out as much of the 14 hour drive as we could before stopping for the night. I worried all the way to Oklahoma City if I’d done all the work stuff I needed to, if I’d remembered everything I needed to bring, about all the work that awaited me on January 4th and about various other VERY important things.

We stopping in OKC and when we got up the next morning realized we would be battling the weather all the way North. What should have taken us 5 hours took us 7. But somehow watching the snow collecting on the highway didn’t seem as treacherous with animated movie soundtracks playing in the back seat.

Upon arrival, we quickly changed out of our travel sweats (designed specifically for long car trips, fast food and  a multitude of sitting positions) and joined my Mom and other family members at her Church at 3:15 for the 4:00 service. Since we got there so early, we got to actually SIT DOWN! There was only one row of temporary chairs behind us. This church is huge. And modern. And packed! The last time I was in it was my Dad’s funeral service 9 years ago so I wasn’t paying much attention to the architecture then. I’m typically not a big fan of modern churches, but it really is beautiful. And ironically, called The Church of the Nativity. While my sister took the 4 younger cousins over to see the manger scene (which could only be seen with binoculars from my seat), I took the opportunity to really look around. I looked up at the rafters and admired the simple elegance of the design. Even the Christmas decorations were simple—beautiful giant red Christmas trees made only out of Poinsettias. (Of course, I wondered how much those set them back.) And there were several sconces about 12 feet high with candles nestled down inside glass holders. I found myself wondering how in the heck they lit them. Surely they don’t walk around with a ladder to each one. I was also appreciative of the sloped theater seating design. Being in the second to the last row, I could still see the entire service!

OK – so here’s where it gets interesting. I was so enthralled with everything in FRONT of me, I never looked behind me to see who sat there. (Who does that anyway?) Just a few minutes into the Mass, I quickly realized that it was young parents with either twins or two very young children that did NOT get the concept of being still, or quiet. Now, I’ve been there trust me, so the last thing I wanted to do was to turn around and give the “stare”. It wasn’t making me mad….it was making me curious. They were repeatedly dropping toys that I imagined were metal John Deere Tractors or something, so instead of listening to the readings, I found myself imagining what toys they could be dropping. It literally sounded like they were putting an engine together in a garage—right behind my seat. By the sounds of it, they were definitely NOT playing their favorite stuffed animals.

I sat there thinking….”Ok, What is God trying to tell me by seating these people behind me?” It didn’t take me long to see this scene as a metaphor for life. There are so many things in life that can distract us (ME-since I’m really speaking for myself) from God’s message. Things that are louder or closer. Things that more interesting at the moment. We get distracted by work, money, greed, jealousy, chores, traffic, commitments…..and it’s so easy to get drawn to those things and devote more focus to them then they deserve.

As I contemplated this, I vowed not to look back. Despite the kicks to my chair, the screaming, the toy dropping and the parents’ obvious angst-ridden attempts to find the thing that would quiet their children. I found it amusing as I pictured Christ himself smiling at me as if saying “Just testin’ ya.”

For a few moments I contemplated the past year and all the “distractions” I have allowed to take center stage in my focus. It’s a constant struggle for us humans. Even Eve got distracted by a snake and an apple, eh? It’s part of our humanness. We get distracted. And we look back.

All we can do is make a cognitive effort to realign our focus from time to time. Keep looking forward. And keep listening to God’s word.

And by the way….I did pay attention to the homily. He told a wonderful story. You can read it here

http://www.skywriting.net/inspirational/stories/three_trees.html

Blessings!

by Trish McCabe Rawls

As we go into a New Year, and another evolution of evolving church, I thought it was a good time to lay down the essential basis of my theology. Obviously, this site is a space for me to develop and grow my own ideas and theology about church and the Christian faith, but I felt it was the right time to just lay down the essential principles of my own faith and where I’m at theologically.

I am not one for labels, so I’m not going to say I’m one thing or another, I’m merely going to state my essential beliefs, and leave the interpretation down to you.

I believe God created the world, and He made it with the ability to keep on creating, He gave plants, animals and all living things the ability to create more of themselves. I believe at that point heaven and earth were the same place, all was as God intended it to be. If heaven is a place where all is as God wants it to be, then heaven and earth were the same place. When humans rejected God and thought they could do better, they disconnected heaven from earth  - what we often call ’sin’ –  bringing with it pain, suffering and disease. They became separate places, and there was only one way to restore this balance.

That was through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, I believe, is and was the Son of God, a man who lived and ministered 2000 years ago and was executed by crucifixion. He rose from the dead three days later, who then asecended into heaven. I believe that His death and resurrection were not merely for the forgiveness of sins, as many Christians believe, but for the restoration of the whole of creation to how God originally planned it and made it in Genesis 1 and 2.

I believe that God wants heaven and earth to be reconciled, made the same place, as it was in Genesis 1 & 2.

Furthermore I believe that to be a follower of Jesus has nothing to do with following a religion or a set or legalistic rules, but is about being a disciple of Jesus. For example, the word disciple is mentioned over 200 times in the New Testament, the word Christian 3 times and Christianity 0 times – you do the math.

Not only that, but in the scriptures Jesus consistently attacks and criticizes religious people who have made following God about a set of legalistic rules and regulations, and fail to see the God who is in all of creation or recognize their Saviour in their midst. I believe that the same has happened to much of traditional church today.

I believe that church is important. Church meetings are places that disciples of Jesus can connect, be discipled, equipped, mentored, pastored and cared for in times of need. They are safe places for fellowship and support in a community context. But they need to be outward looking, a place which helps people find Christ in the everyday and helps them to bring Christ into the everyday.

I believe the Bible is the word of God, it is authoritative and divinely inspired. However I do believe it is meant to be read and understood in its proper historical context, and only by doing that, and by looking at the story of God over the whole Bible, can we see the true message of the Bible for today and understand the message of Jesus fully.

But to learn fully from it, we need to question it. Examine it. Probe it. Test it and interpret it. There is no one correct reading of scripture, but many. There are several wrong interpretations of scripture – but no single correct one.

However, I also want to state that while both a church community and the Bible are absolutely vital to any person wishing to follow Jesus, and that without them following Jesus is very difficult, that neither are the point.

These are not the only place we can meet God, see God, experience God or grow in our faith.

We should not worship church. As many do.

We should not worship the Bible. As many do.

We should not limit God to merely the Bible and church. As many do.

We worship Jesus. We worship God.

And He is present in all of His creation, in any circumstance, if we look for Him. He is everywhere, and His message is for everyone. In any piece of music, artwork, film, anything in life – whatever label the world puts on it – God can be found in all of it. There should be no distinction between ‘Christian’ and ‘non-Christian’ or ‘physical’ and ‘Spiritual’ as if they are opposites. God can be found everywhere in anything, and everything is spiritual.

Anything that is wise, anything true, anything we find in the world that can connect us to God belongs to God, whether it has a Christian label or the label of some other belief or cultural system. If its true, it belongs to God, no one else -  after all, we are all made by God.

God has inistituted through Jesus a giant creation restoration project, to bring heaven and earth back together, to restore and reconcile all things back to Him, back to how they were intended to be.

He invites us through the cross to participate with Him in this project, and to entwine our own journey to His.

Christianity is not a religion, but a way of life.

It is a  radical, revolutionary, counter-cultural movement to bring the kingdom of Heaven – the realm where all things are as God intends them to be – to earth, and restore them to the same place, as they were in the beginning, and how the Bible says they will be again.

My biggest influences theologically outside of Jesus Himself, I would say, are Rob Bell, Dallas Willard and my own pastor Jason Clark. A lot of my understanding and theology has come through God speaking through these people, awakening things that were already inside of me, but never really thought they had permission to come out – as many would call these ideas heretical.

I started this site as a ‘church-focussed’ site, but the more time passes the more I realize that to tackle the issues of what church is, how we do church today in a post-modern context, what Jesus meant by church and how He modelled it, and similar issues, that we cannot avoid discussing what it means to be a follower of Jesus.The two are intertwined, inexorably linked. To discuss Evolving Church, and the role of church, we need to discuss what it means to follow God today, what that looks like and how we live it out in practice – and then we can examine what the role of a church community is in that.

So in a sense, the site is still ‘church-focussed’. It has evolved since it first began in 2007, and I am sure it will continue to do so.

The purpose of this site is to restore, reclaim, revolutionise and re-invent church – and at the same time, what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.

I hope that you will continue with me on this journey over the coming months and years.

it’s here.. !!!!!

feel any different…? know the difference..?

always thought i would end the year with a some kind of ceremonial “ta-da-thing”.. thus bench marking the occasion and setting the stage for the upcoming year..

suspect that’s why there are parties raging around the world.. need something to end it all.. also need something to kick-start the next.. often wonder what it’s like in the heavens..? what’s going on up there…? or better yet.. down there…? what’s it all about ? mean anything or is it just another occasion to kick it up to the Lord and/or thrown another one down to the host of hell…?

for us.. bble is in bed.. i typically hang out.. try to come to some sense of it all.. was a time..  did do all of the above.. spent many a new years kicking it down with the best.. these years.. mostly a quite night.. my thoughts.. struggles.. swing it out with my own demons..  the year that’s a passed and the years ahead.. too many as far as i am concerned.. still looking for the call.. not much that i see to hang one’s hat on.. our world is going to hell.. it’s the way it’s got to be.. and yes.. there are victories out there to be won.. Jesus is still on the throne.. but he uses wretched vessels.. (that would me be you and me..) we all have a job to do.. but we sure suck at getting it done…

when i look at the year that’s passed.. not much for me to be proud of … did some pretty stupid things.. caused some pain and anguish and yes.. was used on occasion.. and for that i am forever grateful.. can say that He never left me.. was always there …. took care of my girls.. bble is kicking it up at dd and kristi is making me as proud as a dad can be.. love them both so…..   ccc has been blessed with some new projects and one of our men gave his life to the Lord at our Bible study…. but when i step back.. and measure my heart.. the fruit in my life.. not so good.. got some ugly stuff to business with..

when i think of next year.. a couple of things come to mind.. one…. “transition” comes to mind..  from what to where or how and when.. not real sure but do feel the pressure of it all.. know the process has started.. love Him so.. want so much more and so much less of me so much so that i will follow “transition” where ever it leads me… want to be a light instead of a blow torch…

it’s then i hear the second..  ”love”.. immediately 1st corithians 13 comes to mind.. (ouch).. it’s all about the love.. will say i do believe i have the love.. problem is my way of showing it typically cost those standing around me some body parts.. could be an arm and/or a leg.. can always count on a heart or two.. always in “love” but has been my love and not His “Love”.. got to change.. going to take a transfusion or two.. ok.. three maybe four.. alright.. “what ever it takes”.. it’s going to take some transitioning..

got to ask.. what about you.. ? forget all of the speeches.. the conversations.. the hype.. when you break it down.. if your like me.. when you started to think about it.. got a bit scared.. did not really want to know what the Lord was going to stay.. but now.. your being asked.. what comes to mind..?

what “transition” needs to occur in your life…? maybe it’s not a transition.. maybe its a death that needs to occur..? you know.. what is your isaac..? what’s on your throne..? what is He asking of you….?

how about a life that needs to be birthed..? maybe it’s time to get involved..? you know.. stop the talking and get about it… ? make a real commitment and stick with it..? don’t know about you but i am sick.. so sick and tired of hearing it and when it comes down to getting about it…. just ain’t there.. tears me up.. when are we as men going to get it..? get about our Fathers business…?

don’t know what the answer to the questions is for you.. do know what it is for me.. can tell you that when i heard “transition”… knew it could be tough.. but when He spoke the “love” into my ear..  chills ran to the core of my being..

writing it out now as a bench mark.. sharing it so i can be measured.. something to come back to.. throwing out a land line to all standing around me.. going to need help.. want to be measured.. need to be measured.. the host of hell is pressing in like nothing i have ever sensed in my life.. scared to the core.. know.. it’s time..  suspect it’s the same for you.. 

truth is don’t give a rats diddly about the day.. the celebration.. do care about taking occasion to give it to the Lord.. taking measure.. dealing with some stuff that’s wicking into my life.. it’s this time of year.. causes one to stop.. it’s a good thing.. giving occasion..

what ever the “ta-da” brings to you.. pray it causes you to take measure.. give occasion.. if need be.. write it out.. give it up.. know He loves you.. loves us.. and know that i write this so you can see.. hear.. and know that you are not alone.. there is somebody just like you swinging it out.. struggling through the wretchedness of this place.. the wretchedness of his own heart.. desiring to serve.. give it all.. bearing witness of Jesus Christ our Lord.. our God our Savior..

pray that the coming year finds you at His Feet.. in His Word.. rising early.. staying up late.. seeking the Holy Spirit.. expecting and anticipating Him to move in and through your life in a new way this year.. one that can be measured.. one that will change the course of your life..  each day.. every day and lastly that you will find men.. men who will stand with you.. men who will get down on their knees with you.. men who will cry with you.. men who will walk the walk and help you be the man the Lord has caused you to be in Him..

stay in.. stay close.. hand to the plow…

tbrooks

Over time I have realized that Evolving Church is more than just about church, its about the Christian faith.

The idea of church and how we live out our faith are inexorably linked – as they should be. Jesus didn’t intend us to be disciples of His on our own, but in the context of community. Its an idea He modelled Himself during His ministry and how the movement of Christianity grew so quickly.  How we do church is inevitably linked with how we follow Jesus, and our ideas and perceptions on what following Jesus means.

This is a critical time for me in my writing and teaching, and my discipleship  - indeed my life as a whole. The process I have been through the last three years which culminated in being baptized, and now with the New Year and my moving house, has in a sense reached a pivotal or transitional moment. A moment where things will evolve and change and where I need to look at where I am being challenged and need to grow. I have reached a marker post in my life and now need to see where it is taking me next.

That will inevitably mean a shift in the content and style of this site and in a shift, or an evolution, in terms of the vision and mission of the site. I have realized that I need to grow and develop in my writing and teaching. I need to take more time over posts, go deeper and also do more writing outside my blog.

A friend said to me recently that the secret of developing a movement, an idea, a vision, is to create your own space. To create something, somewhere where these ideas have room to grow, to evolve, to develop. Where movements can grow, where things can be refined and developed and other people can join in. Evolving Church is one such idea, for me. My real vision for Evolving Church is to create a space where people can connect, discuss, debate and be equipped to restore, reclaim and redefine the vision of what church can and should be in a post-modern context.

A place where we can face the issues and discuss them openly, being real about the dilemmas the church, the community of followers of Jesus Christ, faces and how we can build a church more in keeping with His vision of church in the culture we live in. Being open and serious about exploring how we can reclaim the things that have been lost, and ditch religion, dogmatism and tradition and focus on the values of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace, justice, sacrifice and community – in the context of how Jesus defined them and lived them out.

I believe that Evolving Church can become more than just a blog. It can become a space where people looking for hope can come and find hope through being a disciple of Jesus. A place where people dissolusioned with church as it is or who want change can come and be equipped, encouraged and inspired. A place where people can come and discuss these issues safely, maybe in a forum. A place where people have opportunity to contribute to the discussion through their own blog posts. I myself want to expand my range of creativity in how I communicate this message – podcast and video are two areas which are vastly underused and where maybe there is room for exploration, and as I develop my gifts and grow in my faith my contribution will change and be influenced as a result – hopefully in a positive way.

Although the growth of this site and this vision is in one sense tied to my own developement and growth, in the end this isn’t about me. Its about Jesus and the church, its about the vision, its about getting the message out there, its about refining and developing this vision and fleshing it out more. Creating bigger space for this idea to grow. Obviously I grow, it is easier for me to see that bigger picture, and set myself new challenges and explore these ideas in fresh, new ways.

I believe that ultimately this will need to go beyond this site. That, however, is the future.

I need to re-evaluate things and develop new ideas, and think about how to take this on further. I would value your prayers and support as I do this, and I hope that you’ll continue to read and comment on this blog as I continue to post my thoughts and reflections here and as I start to explore where to take this idea next.

I am a thousand people with a thousand different voices, and today none of them are playing nice. I always fill this way right before I make a significant change, but this time I’m not really sure about the choices. Life is filled with many possibilities, yet how do we know which ones are actually within our grasps?

I have a loving partner and hopefully future husband, and am quite madly in love with him. The other day he sent me a note that would have had me crying except I was at work and did not have the luxury of doing so. He told me how much he loved me, but did it in a way that was simple and genuine. It’s one thing to love, but a completely different thing to be loved. I’ve been in that place before, the difference between then and now is vast. I grow more and more thankful for him everyday. This choice is one I am clearly happy with.

My routine however is another story altogether … the same boring days spent doing the same things. I feel trapped when it comes to my job and social life (virtually nonexistent due to the job). I do not feel lonely in matters of the heart, but I do feel lonely in the matters of camaraderie and friendship. Being social does not come easy to me. I am like my father in this regard, but unlike him I try even if it means utter embarrassment. I contemplate a bit too much perhaps and lack the will to put my thoughts and dreams into action – the despise and fall of men throughout the ages.

I wish I could make a New Year’s resolution and actually keep it this time. It is my desire to be a better man always, and with that desire I try to read an insatiable amount, most of it on-line. But what good is knowledge if we do not use it? I try to be compassionate, loving, and kind to all. Those are the qualities that my parents and the church taught me. I have so many faults, but I still try – I hope I keep trying.

I would like to take everyone of the members of the so called anointed ones of the  ”C-Street Family” and  slap the shit out of them.  Boys and their unadulterated power, expose the hateful beings and put them in jail where they belong, not in Congress or the Senate.  How to get away with murder, “We are the chosen ones.”  Enough of the horse shit, expose them all and what they do in the local bathrooms.

Uganda, has incorporated “Death to Gays” in their constitution and it was put upon the Ugandan people by members with the affiliation of the “Family”.  Hateful of those that are different and wanting to kill,  is that of Christian values or of the few homophobic unrighteous ones.

Check out Rachel Maddows show, she is exposing and having conversations with those that have enough guts to appear on her show and defend themselves.  Glen Beck is a kiss ass hate monger who would suck Cheney’s limp dick if he had the chance.  Hate the queers and get on your knees and blow Cheney, doesn’t make too much sense.

Off to the Mountains, snow and fun place to hike with the dog.  Rant is over and I need a place to mellow out.