On the Road …

Blogging will take a backseat to a few days in Colorado. Mountains for the keyboard - yes. But, should I find a little wi-fi, I may look in to see what is going on the RNC and compare it to the DNC. Then again …

I ran across this piece from Anthony Smith - take a look. Anthony is always provocative and compelling.

There will be some reading going on for the final paper on Rollins for the Fitch/Holsclaw course.

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Thoughts on Sectarian Theology

Now let’s see, paper covers rock, scissors cut paper and rock smashes scissors. We recently watched the Big Brother’s version of “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” I know, I know. Reality TV is not really real. Watching the interpersonal relationships is quite intriguing - especially when you throw in a half million dollar game. What we are willing to let go of to win. After all it is about winning.

Late Monday evening I received an alert to new Lifeway Research regarding opinions about the Bible among Southern Baptist pastors and church members. The article portrays a sharp disconnection between the views held between these two groups,

Research from two new studies indicates a disconnect between Southern Baptist pastors’ view of Scripture and those of the people in their pews.

We Southern Baptists trumpet our view of the Bible as the one item that wins all “Rock, Paper, Scissors” debates. It is the trump card in Spades. It is the “little bird card” in the game of Rook. Engage in a discussion and the conversation turns on our agreement on words to describe the Bible - inerrant, infallible, truth without any mixture of error, and on we could go.

Eventually we gather and divide around the “right” view of the Scriptures. We Southern Baptists are right about everything, just ask us. If you don’t ask, we will tell you anyway. And, if there is any hint one might claim to be Southern Baptist but does not play by the prevailing language game then someone will truly question your Baptist Identity. It would be one thing if this were acute to Southern Baptists. But it is not. Read more

Cover Crops - Aiding Others

World Neighbors continues to offer help to farmers affected by a variety of debilitating circumstances. On occasion World Neighbors helps with education for those looking for ways to foster subsistence farming. Others help in developing countries learn means of sustainable living in given climate conditions. In their recent e-newsletter World Neighbors chronicles the introduction of “cover crops” in the Andes. Reading this article set me to thinking. We discover that under pressure and threat people become very creative and interested in new things. For instance had the threat of a lack of water not been present the farmer’s story may never have been written. But what if conservation were a matter of earth care independent of a crisis. Why would we not want to develop means to conserve for the good of the earth even in a condition of plenty?

Further musings led me to think this is the way it works in many areas of life. Oil shortages, talk of peak oil, and high fuel costs push research into other energy source. We hear more and more the use of solar and the introduction of wind farms. Why would these not continue to be developed and used in a day of plenty? Maybe it is because we take the earth for granted. Our consumptive tendencies keep us running to the fridge. When the cost of milk and other groceries rise, we learn we do not need to be such gluttons. Why would we not consider our health in a day of plenty? On and on we could go.

May be we humans need fear and threat to think about more than ourselves. Just wondering.

The Blue Parakeet - McKnight on the Scripture

My friend David Phillips alerted me to the opportunity to receive Scot McKnight’s new book for blog review. I have many in the hopper to review. For example, I just received Ian Mobsby’s new The Becoming of G-d. After listening to a podcast interview with Mobsby, I am looking forward to getting more into this one after reading the first ten or so pages. In the meantime, while I wait for my blog copy of McKnight’s The Blue Parakeet and you wait for my review of Mobsby’s new release, click over and take in David’s review of The Blue Parakeet.

Not What You Expect from Someone Without a Home

I could not help but think of a conversation with a young African-American man more than twenty years ago. Standing on a busy downtown Dallas street we chatted about the circumstances that led the gentleman to living on the street. He spoke of a good job, family and a home. Something happened. He may have experienced bad luck, poor decisions, mental illness or some other trigger that landed him standing in front of a downtown mission site hoping for something to eat and a change of clothes.

The conversation came to mind as I watched Glenn listening intently to Jerry. Articulate. Intelligent. Animated. For forty-five minutes they talked about politics, US and international. Religion entered the conversation when Jerry noted he liked religion - “It is what brings people like you down here to help people like me.” We don’t know what happened that landed Jerry on the street. He claimed to speak a dozen languages and read several others. We had no reason to dis-believe him. He referred to a recent headline story in the largest Jewish online news site in the world. He knew what he was talking about.

Jerry defies the caricature, the stereotype. In fact, our experience with those living on the streets reveals very few who do not work but whose salary comes up way short of providing a regular place to live. Others never intended to stay on the street but never found the way out. They have relationships, have certain sensibilities, want something better and try to get along.

I left the office late this evening thinking about Jerry. About how easy it is for us to simply think, “Oh they are homeless, something must be wrong with them.” Maybe not. We cannot summarily dismiss people. To do so dismisses what it means to be made in the image of God, to be part of the larger human race. We cannot lest we run the risk of dismissing ourselves. May you meet a Jerry and may that encounter take apart your mis-perceptions and stir in you some motivation to consider people as they are and ourselves less highly than usual.

Start with the End

This is a bit of a different version of Wilcox’s song from what I have on CD. But, I was thinking about what it means if we work from eschatology backwards. If we understand resurrection and its implications and then work back into the present it seems we might find ourselves in a better place to present the mission of God both to the church in our conversations and in to the world in our actions.

Self Thought - Thoughts from The Edge

In this week’s edition of Thoughts from The Edge, Todd offers thoughts on Romans 12:1-8 connecting Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, Ben Lee’s “We Are All In This Together”, and Facebook’s “Friend Wheel.”

Gift Giving

“Put yourself under the influence of Jesus, so that he may think his thoughts in your mind, do his work through your hands, for you will be all-powerful with him to strengthen you.”

from A Gift for God by Mother Teresa (quoted from A Guide to Prayer for Minsters and Other Servants)

McLaren and Land - Good Conversation Partners

My friend David alerted me to the “debate” between my friend Brian McLaren and Richard Land, a former professor of mine. Regardless of where someone comes down on the religio-politico landscape, these two demonstrate how to have a charitable conversation. Refreshing.

Driscoll on “Harsh Language”

I found this video while working through Matthew 15 and Jesus’ confounding words to a Canaanite woman. Making an appeal for her daughter. Oddly Jesus does not offer the same kind of biting retort to the Centurion in Matthew 8. I tend to think Jesus’ words sarcastically represent the sentiment of the religious leaders and how they fail to help those in need by sticking so tightly to their perception God’s grace and mercy is only available to them. Mark offers some sobering thoughts on how we domesticate the Scriptures, taming any “offense” out of them.

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