I guess I am obligated to write my thoughts about the ending of Lost. It has been a cultural phenomenon for the past 6 years, and I have been addicted to it for about 5. I remember Robin and I started watching it on my laptop on the way to Oklahoma City, then we got our friends the Kinsers to watch a few episodes and they were hooked as well.
So like any massively popular finale, there were lovers and haters. I know a lot of people who did not like the last "Harry Potter" book, and those who hated the last "Dark Tower" book and pretty much anything that has been popular has had a somewhat controversial ending.
Now, obviously not all endings are created equal. I am typically a pretty loyal person to my entertainers. If they sell me early, I will generally like what they do late. But I do find it strange that people get so upset about endings. If it is too happy, they claim that it wasn't realistic. If it was overly realistic, they say it left a bad taste in their mouth. If it was depressing, they say nothing ends that poorly. As far as ending things, it seems you just can't win. Why is that? Why are people so negative about endings?
I think really good entertainment sucks people in. They think that they are part of the world that the authors, or directors, or creators, or whatever is their own world. It is really a tribute to the quality of the creativity of the artists. Then people start to think that the artist owes it to them to end it the way they like it.
To me, the main problem is that people can't just take things as they are. They can't appreciate things for what they are, they have to take them apart, explain why it wasn't perfect, and remember that one thing that was perfect, but in reality it wasn't. And so the beat goes on. Whatever is the band's newest album is never going to measure up, the guy's newest movie isn't up to part, his last painting wasn't as good as his early work. This is funny because I am perfectly capable of accepting people's art and things, but when it comes to theology I have to question everything... so I'm guilty too.
5.19.2010
31
This friend of mine with a scar on his face and white hair on his head looked me in the eyes and I could see his welling up with tears. Beneath his rough, callous exterior (and I'm referring to personality) there were/are some deep hurts that he is just now coming to terms with. And as he was talking to me today, he told me that it had been 31 years since he took communion/lord's supper/eucharist at a church. And he took it at my church. I honestly don't think it has much to do with me or anything spectacular our church has done, but something spectacular that God has done in this man.
The deep symbolism of communion effects us all, whether we always notice or admit it or not. At our church my friend was reminded that his sustenance comes from the body and blood of Jesus, beaten and spilled on that Roman cross so long ago. And as he was telling me that, I was incredibly humbled by all of it.
There are tons of times when I wonder if I'm the right person for the job, or if I'm in the right job for my person, but times like today I know for a fact that God is the right God for redemption. And whether I'm the only person capable of doing whatever task, I don't know, but I do know that I can't help but want to be involved in those incredible times. I choose to be involved, and I trust that God will help me to do it well.
The deep symbolism of communion effects us all, whether we always notice or admit it or not. At our church my friend was reminded that his sustenance comes from the body and blood of Jesus, beaten and spilled on that Roman cross so long ago. And as he was telling me that, I was incredibly humbled by all of it.
There are tons of times when I wonder if I'm the right person for the job, or if I'm in the right job for my person, but times like today I know for a fact that God is the right God for redemption. And whether I'm the only person capable of doing whatever task, I don't know, but I do know that I can't help but want to be involved in those incredible times. I choose to be involved, and I trust that God will help me to do it well.
5.18.2010
Tired head
I haven't blogged much lately because I have had a lot of tired-head. That means that I have gotten quite a bit of mental fatigue lately for several reasons. I started a new job at work on Monday, which I am really excited about, but in the typical new job fashion I have just had an overload of information dumped on me the past couple days. In addition, church has been going ninety miles an hour lately. We have a lot of little things that I meant to get done while we were doing home church, and though we didn't do it then, we can do it now and have to do it now. After all that, I'm designing a webpage for our church. It isn't that hard, but it isn't that easy either. It is learning a lot of things at once, so because of all that, my blogging has been struggling. I need to remember sometimes that it is ok just to update, and if I really want to write some day then I need to write today. So I need to be disciplined in that.
5.11.2010
Where did we go wrong?
I was reading the twitter (vomit) of the pastor of the church that I grew up in. There were several tweets (washing my hands) about how people should be inviting people to this or that event or service at church. I just couldn't help shuddering at the thought. Then I ranted to my friend Nate for twenty minutes or so. Of course, my less critical friends probably think I am just overly critical, but I think this movement in our churches underlies a very dangerous theology of the church.
When did the church make people come to it? Isn't one of the key verbs in Jesus' commands to his followers "GO!"? Why did we morph that into "invite"? Because it is easy. Because we don't have to expect greatness from our people. Because that is the path away from discipleship and back to pharisees and church as institution rather than church as movement.
If the church is a movement, then that movement should be happening in coffee shops and at homeless shelters. It should be permeating people's lives rather than just their Sundays. It should be something that is impossible to stop because it is impossible to nail down. At the moment, it is incredibly easy to nail down church and to stop it cold because it happens on Sunday mornings and to a lesser degree on Wednesday nights. That is what happens when we turn into "invite."
But if we change into "GO!" then we don't have to worry about Sunday's attendance. If we are being the church everywhere we go, then we will invariably run into people who might also catch it. And slowly and surely, the world might catch it.
So why is this bad theology? Because biblical theology says that Christians are always the church. Everywhere they go and everything they do is church. Anytime we gather and pray, that is church. Anytime we gather and watch football, that is church. Anytime we laugh together or cry together, that is church. "Invite" says that church happens at a specific time and place, but "GO!" says that church happens at all times and all places. It says that the kingdom of God expands better in places that are separate from religion and places that are not threatening to outsiders. We don't have to go to Somalia or Russia, we can go to Colfax or Park Avenue.
When did the church make people come to it? Isn't one of the key verbs in Jesus' commands to his followers "GO!"? Why did we morph that into "invite"? Because it is easy. Because we don't have to expect greatness from our people. Because that is the path away from discipleship and back to pharisees and church as institution rather than church as movement.
If the church is a movement, then that movement should be happening in coffee shops and at homeless shelters. It should be permeating people's lives rather than just their Sundays. It should be something that is impossible to stop because it is impossible to nail down. At the moment, it is incredibly easy to nail down church and to stop it cold because it happens on Sunday mornings and to a lesser degree on Wednesday nights. That is what happens when we turn into "invite."
But if we change into "GO!" then we don't have to worry about Sunday's attendance. If we are being the church everywhere we go, then we will invariably run into people who might also catch it. And slowly and surely, the world might catch it.
So why is this bad theology? Because biblical theology says that Christians are always the church. Everywhere they go and everything they do is church. Anytime we gather and pray, that is church. Anytime we gather and watch football, that is church. Anytime we laugh together or cry together, that is church. "Invite" says that church happens at a specific time and place, but "GO!" says that church happens at all times and all places. It says that the kingdom of God expands better in places that are separate from religion and places that are not threatening to outsiders. We don't have to go to Somalia or Russia, we can go to Colfax or Park Avenue.
5.04.2010
Ownership
One big step on the way to being a functional person is ownership. Not home ownership, or car ownership. I'm talking about owning your choices.
I have to think that some of the sweetest words God ever hears are these: "Man, I really screwed that up." Why? Because only after we say something along those lines can we really begin the path back to good. How can we possibly try to get better if we never admit that we messed up to begin with?
This thought comes from a difficult discussion we had to have at church this weekend. I'm not going to try to give too many details, but essentially we were talking to a man who has struggled with addiction for twenty plus years. He bounces around from place to place, drinking or using drugs and using people. He had spent the past ten months clean and in a rehabilitation program. Then he left, a little more than a week passed, and he was moving in with his girlfriend and had been drunk a couple times.
So he came to church Saturday night, and we had to have a talk. Several of the men from our leadership team and I spoke with him for more than an hour, trying to get him to understand the ramifications of his choice. But he either could not or would not admit that he had made any bad decisions. He wanted to continue on a path to be in ministry, all while still making counter-productive choices to that end. He wanted to be able to have all the things this world offers, but also to have the riches of the kingdom of God. But none of us can have it both ways. Jesus makes it clear over and over and over again. We can either have him and nothing else, or we can have all that we want and not him. Now, most of the time I believe that he gives us much more than just himself, but all we can expect is him. And our friend would not own his choice. He had chosen a girl over his church family, but he wouldn't admit it. He continued to try to blame anyone but himself. And that is why I'm sad, discouraged and not so hopeful for his future. Until he can admit his shortcomings, until he can have the strength to say he messed up, he will not be able to get back on the path God wants for him.
I will say, though, that I couldn't be more proud of the rest of our church. They were loving, but they were firm. They spoke their peace and allowed him to go his own way. Our people loved someone that, statistically, does not show great promise. And they did it with some recklessness.
I have to think that some of the sweetest words God ever hears are these: "Man, I really screwed that up." Why? Because only after we say something along those lines can we really begin the path back to good. How can we possibly try to get better if we never admit that we messed up to begin with?
This thought comes from a difficult discussion we had to have at church this weekend. I'm not going to try to give too many details, but essentially we were talking to a man who has struggled with addiction for twenty plus years. He bounces around from place to place, drinking or using drugs and using people. He had spent the past ten months clean and in a rehabilitation program. Then he left, a little more than a week passed, and he was moving in with his girlfriend and had been drunk a couple times.
So he came to church Saturday night, and we had to have a talk. Several of the men from our leadership team and I spoke with him for more than an hour, trying to get him to understand the ramifications of his choice. But he either could not or would not admit that he had made any bad decisions. He wanted to continue on a path to be in ministry, all while still making counter-productive choices to that end. He wanted to be able to have all the things this world offers, but also to have the riches of the kingdom of God. But none of us can have it both ways. Jesus makes it clear over and over and over again. We can either have him and nothing else, or we can have all that we want and not him. Now, most of the time I believe that he gives us much more than just himself, but all we can expect is him. And our friend would not own his choice. He had chosen a girl over his church family, but he wouldn't admit it. He continued to try to blame anyone but himself. And that is why I'm sad, discouraged and not so hopeful for his future. Until he can admit his shortcomings, until he can have the strength to say he messed up, he will not be able to get back on the path God wants for him.
I will say, though, that I couldn't be more proud of the rest of our church. They were loving, but they were firm. They spoke their peace and allowed him to go his own way. Our people loved someone that, statistically, does not show great promise. And they did it with some recklessness.
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