Important “for” rather than “in”

A few years ago I learned of World Neighbors. Each fall they offer people from developing and under-developed countries to sell goods here in the United States providing them “market” options they would otherwise not enjoy. Yes, and they do this in Oklahoma City. One of my college professors serves on their Board.

Today I received an e-mail update with the story of Zabre Jabindo. Atop the email was this quote,

“I’ve learned that I could become an “important” person for my village.”

- SABDANO Yampoua Jacqueline

Jabindo’s story illustrates the quote. He became literate which in turn benefited his agricultural knowledge and skill, contributed to the well being of his family and his village, and inspired others to become literate.

We tend to think of our importance in terms of personal advancement so we would alter the comment above hoping we would be important “in” our village. There is something about communties where we are “for” each other. This is not only a great illustration of one of the ways missions of justice may look, it is also a poignant expression of what those who find themselves in a faith community should pursue. Their contribution “for” the community rather than recognition “in” the community.

Come to think of it it is not bad life advice.

Jumpin’ in Puddles Smiling - Sigur Ros

Flipping the subject and the object …

Growing up in the church I often heard the phrase, “apply the bible to your life.” We even could purchase the “Life Application Bible.” The operative move is to study the Scriptures and apply them to life. What if we had our subject and object in the wrong place?

You see, applying the bible to my life makes my story, narrative, primary. In doing so we find it difficult when we face one of the hard “sayings of Jesus,” at least hard in our cultural context. For example, in our local primaries it seems important to tout adherence to the second amendment, the right to bear arms. I will not quibble over the “right” but think the implications of the “right’ something worth considering.

My “right” to bear arms, in context, means my first move may not be a peaceable move. Read more

Can’t Find the Words … Would Someone Consider Reclaiming a Lost Vocabulary

A friend called last week. It reminded me of a conversation with another pastor a few years ago. Despite appearances he expressed feelings of an uncertain future. No. He was not under pressure to do something different. No ominous undercurrents looking to help him down the road. By all accounts most would be satisfied with life and ministry as he lives it.

Most would employ the language of burnout. We are trained to pin the tail on our personal spiritual depth. Maybe we are not praying enough. Our evangelism energies may be waning. Our commitment to study and prepare for the weekly sermon may be neglected. Each analytical tool we have been given points to something we do not have right.

Sometimes the vocabulary we have been given betrays the normal rhythms of spiritual development. Expectations to remain on a constant, both personally and vocationally, belie that sometimes absence means presence. In our tradition there is little room for “dark nights” and times in the “dessert.” These nearly always are assigned the consequence of personal sin.

I recall Peter Rollins’ first book in which he described the “aftermath of God.” On occasion our experience of the presence of God is in his absence. Our understanding of absence most often means departure when it may mean silence. We are not sure how to understand silence. It would be nice if we could reclaim a vocabulary that gave space for these times without leaving us feeling like we must feel saddled by false guilt.

Punch Brothers - Do You Like Nicklecreek?

Greear on “Accepting Christ”

JD Greear and I met about eight years ago. As I type this, that is hard to believe. My picture of JD was like looking at myself - though he is much more handsome. He sat preparing for a meeting of the BWA General Council. He was reading Doug Groothuis’ Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism. I say it was like looking at myself for I am always toting a book to a meeting. You never know when one will turn south and you might find something better to do while sitting in the midst of what Scott Curry used to refer to as a “case of the nons.”

JD recently wrote a series on evangelism. This one caught my eye, as it should every reader. He notes,

The Gospel is not primarily about accepting Christ. Calling people to “accept Christ” is simply a way, and not really even a good way, of expressing what it means to throw ourselves on the mercy of God as promised to us in Christ’s substitutionary death.

Bridge to Nowhere

I first heard about the Choluteca River bridge listening to Brian McLaren talk about evangelism at the National Pastor’s Convention in San Diego a number of years ago. It was the first NPC. Listen to the story. You can get permission to use the photo at offthemap.com or here. (HT:BM)

Framing Our Own Story - Hazel “Unscripted”

Shopping for just the right frame can be exacting. Patty possesses the knack for putting a photo, painting or print in just the right frame. Recently she framed a print we purchased from a small gallery in Creede, CO to hang in my office. Had I picked the frame, well, enough implied.

Choosing the right way to frame our own stories goes through the same rigors of searching for the right frame for that favorite photograph. Failure to take care in choosing our frame carefully may result in a mis-told story; like a photo in need of a new home.

Yesterday Brad, Rusty and me spent some time with Hazel. She is 85. Her life story experienced an unexpected detour when, at 85, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Maybe you can imagine the thought process - “I have lived a good life. Enjoyed my family. Shared in memorable experiences. I think I am ready for what lies ahead.” She endured a radical surgery and thought of forgoing chemotherapy. He oncologist informed her of the aggressive nature of the form of cancer in her body. Hazel decided to give the chemo a try.

Read more

Northern Room

Steve McCoy offers a great post each Monday generally offering “new music.” I found Northern Room on the Our Stage website. Give it a listen.

Patriotism, Freedom, Justice for All … and the Church

Balancing patriotism and faith in an election year is tough. Locating patriotism in the context of a local church can be like playing Twister with the pastor as the only player and the local church calling the colors and the appendage formation. Most often the nexus of controversy lies in the controlling sensibilities. Sometimes we pastor’s feel the weight of honoring our Country and at the same time feeling people would prefer to honor the Country in places and times they should be compelled to honor God. Broach the subject and, “Duck!”

Reading over at God’s Politics blog, I found a piece by Eugene Cho. We are Facebook friends. What that means is we know someone who knows someone and we got connected. We may never meet, but his recent piece gave me an appreciation already developed after viewing the video offered below.

People have a hard time with dissent. Baptists, and Southern Baptists, who share in a dissenting heritage now like to monitor just what is “dissentable.” (Neologism alert!) Cho comes to the rescue for some of us. Read more

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