Coaches and Pastors … Everyone’s an Expert … (Updated)

I enjoy basketball. Playing takes a greater toll than it once used to. Saturday our team played and suffered a monstrous defeat. I confess to wondering when the day would come that I should only play pick-up games and leave the leagues to the flat bellies. After this past week the day is nearer than I once believed. I once coached a high school girls team for one year (No that is not me in the photo). We played a well-oiled machine in the playoffs and it did not matter what I did or knew, the game was never in question. There is little doubt folks watched from the stands thinking,"If I were coach …"

Over the past twelve years I have stood in school board meetings a couple of times to speak in behalf of an embattled coach. The issue for me was not how well the job was done. The real issue rested with the notion someone whose expertise is in another field, a field in which that person makes their living,  somehow knows how to coach better than the very experienced person the school hired. Sure, a person could be a one game wonder. If the issue were simply knowing plays, managing a clock and motivating players maybe others could do it better. Forget that a coach needs to be something of a psychologist and sociologist. Yes, young people can be head cases as they work to mature through a protracted adolescence and you can count on some who hail from a home life exerting more pressure than a Calculus test.

My favorite line to use in these moments, if I do say so myself, was to suggest the parallel between a coach and a pastor where, "everyone is an expert in my field." Huddles near the concession stand often contained grumblings about the coach. He did not run the right plays, call the right defense or have the right players in the game. We sometimes overheard these in hallways or insinuated in personal conversations.

I recall practicing with the boys’ team at one of our local schools. Hearing  parents talk of their skills as if the next Michael Jordan donned local colors and certainly possessed potential for Division 1 possibilities left me bemused. I have played with some very talented fellows. Daryl "Choo" Kennedy abused me a time or two at Northwest Classen. He was quite the player at the University of Oklahoma. Curtis Hinex who played for OBU leaped over me to dunk the ball in a pick-up game. These fellows could play.  The keen eye of a parent often fails to pick up the subtleties that go into making a player great. Give them a place to speak and they will certainly illustrate their scouting acumen in a hurry.

When it comes to pastoring, since we only work one day a week, everyone is smarter than the pastor. I wonder just how to calculate the educational cost versus the working schedule. Let’s see B.A., M.Div. and D.Min. in order to work one day. Since everyone has the time, skill and inclination to work to understand the contextual settings of Scripture interpretation should be fairly uniform. But it is not. The plurality of Christian interpretation, not to mention denominational expression, should correct any notion that a "simple reading" of the text "reveals." Who gets to say? Add to that the necessity to be skilled at psychology, sociology, anthropology, not to mention something of an adept politician.

Moving a group to understand the world differently seems like installing a new offense. Some may remember the "wishbone" coming to the University of Oklahoma. Growing up a Sooner fan in that era left us always looking to see on whom we could "hang half a hundred" as they tried to catch the likes of Billy Sims. For quite sometime it worked with immense success. Once people caught on and skill and ability brought parity to the college game it became necessary to re-think the offense. I remember thinking, "Little hope for us now. We do not know how to throw the ball." Some time later we enjoy the conquests of Heupel, Hybl and White. Boy did our view of the world change in Soonerland.

For some reason we in the "Church" want to hold on to the "wishbone" as if we would not know how to win a game any other way. We stand and speak prophetically of the "end of the world as we know it" (a la Brueggemann interpreting the Prophets) and you can hear the moans. Uncertain. Sacrificing standards. Accommodation. Few continue to listen to the "prophetic imagination" declaring a "brave
new world" where the King and His Kingdom show up more than nominally.

Often the shift draws criticism for lacking in ethical demands. The real sense for me is we should be demanding more than historical forms of holiness (you know the usual suspects - dancing, drinking, gambling, dirty movies, smoking). We too often fail to consider and understand a more complete and robust call to holiness. Here I am think of the Apostle Paul’s summation of the law as, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Gal. 5:14) If this is not a high ethical demand I cannot think of another. Paul then outlines the work of the Spirit (fruit) which certainly demonstrates the character of our ethic and in drawing it together Paul writes, "against such things there is no law." And yet, our failure to live in these ways indicates living according to our "old law," that is the law of the "self." One generation considers this shift a "lowering" while a another generation sees it as a "raising."

Taking note of the ears of the culture in which we find ourselves embedded (read, located) may well tell us where we who follow Jesus should place our "emphasis." This is not a way to deny the need to avoid sin; to run from evil. On the contrary, spending all our time fixated on only what I referred to as the "historical demands of holiness" may well lead us away from opportunities for people to hear "Good News" today. We may well plunge ourselves deeper into the Christian ghetto never to connect with a person in need of the love of Jesus again.

The solution for many is a new coach. He will bring a new offense. Invigorate the fans. But, if all things remain the same we simply get the same. George Barna and others have long pointed out just how we keep getting the same. When we talk about "missional" we are not talking about re-arranging the deck chairs. Our intent is to say we move from "mission" as one more project we take on, to a way of viewing the world in a whole new way. We see the world as the setting for the "story of God." Our participation as Jesus followers is not about choosing what projects for which we will sign up. Instead our involvement is life in the coming Kingdom of God; a Kingdom already and not yet. Our vocation and families find home in the Kingdom rather than the Kingdom finding home in our vocation and family.

We need to see the world God is making new and will complete at the coming of Jesus. We need to understand rescue, renewal and restoration comes under the activity of the Triune God who revealed Himself "finally" in His Son. To go on seeing the world as we once viewed it is to resign ourselves to a bygone day. It is to look for the renaissance of the "wishbone" in a "west coast offense" world.

UPDATE - I found this article by Ed Stetzer of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Some of my readers may be helped by the description in this piece. Why is cultural relevance a big deal? And an excerpt posted here points out the value of finding the connecting points between our current cultural location and the very real culture in which the Word became flesh. Preaching that Understands the World

Another way of understanding Darfur …

Some find it difficult to grasp the situation in Darfur. Here is a way that may help communicate the gravity people face in this region of the Sudan.

Darfur is Dying

(HT: Marko)

The “Terrorizer” … Basketball made fun …

Saturday we enjoyed watching Dani play basketball. Her nickname is, "The Terrorizer." She did a great job. Those who put this show on took steps to ensure the young people felt like they played in the Ford Center; complete with fog machines, spot lights and big screen introductions. What great fun to watch.
We also enjoyed watching the game with Sammi. Her grandpa bought her a Sprite. She finished her drink and headed back for more. I could not help but think the person at the concession could not possibly deny her a refill. Sure enough, Sammi headed back to watch the rest of the game with her cup refilled with water.

One of the great privileges of being a pastor is watching young ones grow up. In a few months we will witness a group of kindergartners we have watched grow up to graduate from high school.

Friday Photo …

Connecting Justice and Jesus Following …

On January 14, 2007, The Oklahoman ran an op-ed piece by Rev. Glenn Cranfield. The Rev. Cranfield served as the director of the City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City for nine years.  He noted the renaissance taking place in  downtown Oklahoma City. Glenn also noted how his understanding of this sociological reality changed once he spent time with those considered, "homeless."

I thought his referenced Scripture to be indicative of the way forward when thinking about how we connect justice with following Jesus.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9

Glenn noted the cooperative effort required to address the needs of those who are so easily dismissed as lazy and without the intestinal fortitude to "pick themselves up by the boot straps." Many churches today provide some sort of benevolence ministry. Too many do it out of guilt rather than an understanding of the "least of these" Jesus well noted represent him in the world.

Imagine my dismay when thinking about Dan Thomasson’s op-ed piece in today’s edition of The Oklahoman (January 24, 2007). He calls for a raise in Congress to minimize the prostituting of lawmakers by lobbyists of large interest groups. Here is a short blurb,

"So is it any wonder that the lawmakers are vulnerable to those who would wine and dine them [legislators] and provide them with entertainment packages they couldn’t afford otherwise? The wonder is that more of them don’t succumb to the temptations."

The accompanying political cartoon by Steven Breen said as much as the written article.

The heart of the issue is what kind of people are we? What kind of people could we become? If self-interest rises to the level of excess we will always have the poor among us. I am left wondering if that may not be at least something of what Jesus addresses with the disciples. Rather than a statement of self-inflated importance, maybe Jesus was suggesting the poor will always be with us because we will only think of ourselves. Remember the question which lay on at least one of the disciples mind was the value of a bottle of perfume and how it might be sold to help the poor.

Jesus’ reply seems to be a bit disinterested in the plight of people. It may well be he knew the heart of the one who asked as well as the hearts of we who would read the story. Our inclination is more like the Pharisees calling our resources "Corban" and then ignoring the weightier matters of the ways of God. If Thomasson is correct, we do not have the kind of people leading us who will keep their eyes on those for whom they have been elected to serve and only end up finding ways to serve themselves. This speaks to a number of areas of life.

Justice calls for action on/in behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. When we elect representatives we are asking them to speak for us. When we elect Trustees to guard our trust at various entities (SBC) we ask them to speak for us. The problem inevitably comes when a disconnect is experienced. Legislators and Trustees alike who find perks the joy of serving rather than guarding the trust and voice of those who need representation will inevitably become prostitutes to the highest bidder or rewarder.

Oh that we could recapture the call out of which Rev. Canfield found his call to serve the homeless …

The “Season of unfortunate remarks” continues …

Last week (Wednesday, January 17,2007) The Oklahoman carried this op-ed piece by Dan Thomasson. The opening paragraph, as well it should, caught my attention immediately,

This is the season of unfortunate remarks, and the remarks are likely to get worse as the bickering over Iraq policy accelerates. How could it be otherwise with seemingly half the Senate running for president and the Bush administration hunkered down to fight off those who would derail the latest solution for bringing Baghdad under control?

And if that piqued your curiosity but you have yet to click over and read then maybe the concluding paragraph will get your mouse working,

So from both ends of the government, the word "blight" becomes more intense. Boxer’s tongue won’t be the only one that will get in the way of better judgment, and Stimson won’t be the only senior official to show a complete lack of understanding about America’s principles. We will survive, the songwriter says. Probably. But it certainly gets scary at times.

Since politics run in most of not all institutional structures it should be no surprise when the "Season of unfortunate remarks" surfaces in any given organizational matrix. Recently Wade Burleson noted an e-mail exchange with the Chairman of Trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In interesting remark lifted from the Van McClain responses has been, "momentary lax of parameters." Seems as though the crossed up private and public votes for seminary faculty offers some now to note they did not vote for Sherri Klouda despite the public unanimity. From this newfound position of moral authority it appears we can justify treating Sherri, well, like she is a woman. A "no" vote in private turn unanimous vote in public (not uncommon as I understand it) now stands as the beachhead from which to launch an attack on former presidents as "lax."

I think Paul may have portrayed the events well. At any rate, you can be sure the "Season of unfortunate remarks" will only continue and as Thomasson notes, we may well survive but it certainly may be scary.

Subverting the Empire … Living Counter-Intuitive Values …

According to an AP article on the front page of The Oklahoman young people grow more materialistic. Seems since 1966 incoming college freshmen consider financial prosperity very important. Pew Research Center indicated 80 percent of 18-to 25-year-olds ranked getting rich as their top priority.

When wealth becomes the marker of success how could we possibly expect young people today to rank anything higher than getting rich as a top, or the top, priority? The late Leslie Newbigin asks, in Foolishness to the Greeks,

"What would be involved in a missionary encounter between the gospel and this whole way of perceiving, thinking, and living that we call "modern Western culture"? (p.1)

Certainly we must understand what drives the lust for the material. Little doubt we must look to the social environment in which these 18- to 25-years olds find themselves enmeshed. Oprah Winfrey noted in response to a question about building a school in South Africa opposed to the USA,

"If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers."

When you compare that to the needs of other young people around the world, the cost for an iPod or sneakers looks like a year’s wages for the family. Recently you may have seen the Global Rich List mentioned here. How often do we talk about a view of the world that takes into account "others?" I know it is on those occasions where we do not want to let go for an iPod and sneakers or we want our children to finish the food left on their plates. But is that really talking about "others" in a way that connects us with the world community? Does it reflect an understanding of responsibility to think in ways that, as Bob Roberts terms it, reflect a local understanding about global realities - "think globally, act locally" or "glocal."

Our common language does not normally include "empire." On occasion we will talk about Walmart or Microsoft as empires. We may consider Buffet and Pickens empires in their own right. Here in Oklahoma City we watch Chesapeake continue to buy and build and may think "empire." Yet, our daily experience does not include references to "empire." However, to approximate what may be needed in our day to help our young people live "counter-intuitive" lives we may need to grasp "empire" as a metaphor to describe the all-consuming "Western cultural complex." If we could view the social structure as something of an empire, and often an oppressive, evil one at that, we may well consider the need to subvert the empire just as the Justice Department considers monopolies and just how to protect the consumer from such oppressive rackets.

Subverting the empire may be helped with bringing the realities of a broader experience for the world’s more than six billion people. Recently we were asked about our regular references to the trouble in Darfur. We are quick to note the terrible injustices surrounding us everyday. But, these are often too close for us to see them as the horrible events they are. We need to associate injustice with the harshest of images so we may be more sensitized to its presence all around us.

Injustices do not only happen to ethnic minorities. Wade Burleson, Marty Duren and Ben Coles combine to point out the injustices taking place in the "empire" that is the "triumphal SBC." I recently spoke with a gentleman who encountered one of our more popular NAMB employees. He came away thinking how "triumphalistic" Southern Baptists sound - as if the only way God will find fulfillment for his redemptive project in the world will come through Southern Baptists. This NAMB representative only echoes Malcolm Yarnell in the recent edition of Southwestern News when he notes anyone who would read the bible would be a Baptist.

Our failure to talk with our young people in a way they understand the "empire" under which they live only results in our young people becoming patriots to that "empire." Walter Brueggemann helps conjure Scriptural images helpful in talking about subversion. His regular reference to "exiles" signals a way forward in subverting the empire. Rather than learn the manners and customs of the "empire" we should hear the prophetic call to remember the manners and customs of the people of God. We are not talking about reading, The New Manners and Customs of the Bible. We refer to the ways in which God intends his people to exhibit the manner of His Kingdom and the customs intended to open up the world to the goodness of God.

Only when we intentionally subvert the empire may we expect to change the statistics that reveal our young people are simply following in our footsteps.

UPDATE - ETREK Comes to OKC Metro!

One week ago I posted on the upcoming ETREK Road Trip here in the OKC Metro. Some updates. The Renovare event at Crossings Community Church is now posted on the Crossings Website. The price for the Road Trip has been REDUCED! Was $249, NOW, $199. E-mail me at todd@etrek.com for registration.

Friday Photo …

Formed at the speed of godliness …

Keith Matthews leads our current ETREK course at Biblical Seminary. He led  us through a prayer exercise using the following quote from Dr. James Houston’s response to the question about speeding up the process of spiritual formation (found in an edition of the Denver Seminary Magazine).

Well, I think the vocabulary is wrong, because it’s all part of living in a technological society. And so processes, procedures, programs are all, in a sense, technical devices or technical mindsay for fixing things. So we want to fix things quickly. But the very nature of integrity is that we have a speed that is appropriate to what we are doing. The speed of gaining information is very fast, but
the speed of godliness is very slow. Or the speed of making a friend is very slow in comparison to other forms. So we lose integrity when we use the wrong mindset of the wrong speed at which we’re operating. My problem is  that I can think faster than I  can speak, I speak faster than I can act, I’ve got ore acts than I’ve got character for … so maintaining integrity is acting appropriately.

Each participant wrote a prayer in response to this quote. The  pictures and metaphors were outstanding. What would your  prayer be?

Next Page »