Wednesday, February 21, 2007

40 days of nothing (new).

I have decided to take Lent seriously this year, not because I believe in the cerimonial act of half-heartedly "giving up" something that we can otherwise live without. I remember as a non-Christian kid, not knowing what Lent was all about, claiming that I would be giving up homework for the 40 days and furthermore I would be giving it up for the entire school year. I was so humble and self-sacrificing, infact, that I offered to give up chores, bathing and strawberry-banana bubblicious (my least favorite flavor) as well. In later years, still not embracing the true meaning and devotion of the lenten season, I vowed to give up watching women's basketball... both College and the WNBA. You could tell I was serious.

This year I have decided to raise my own personal awareness to the hold consumerism has on my life. Sarting today (Ash Wednesday) I will purchase only necessities for sustenance, health, community and business. I am not trying to preach the gospel of poverty or minimalism, I am not trying to condem others for their spending. I have no illusion that forgoing this DVD or that new article of clothing is going to bring down our consumer culture and I don't even know if I want it to be brought down.

Consumption is social, it happens in a much larger structure than just one individual or community. But it is also personal, once we've met the lowest and most basic of human needs (thank you Maslow), shopping is emotional. For me, the art of purchasing is an emotional experience. At work for instance, if I'm having a bad day I will be drawn in to buying a Mt. Dew Code Red from the vending machine that becons me from just outside my office door. I don't need the Mt. Dew, but I make the purchase anyway. In my mind, the slow and ominous process of a dollar bill being devoured by the machine and the brief pause before the it produces a robust thud gives me pleasure. Usually the cost of consumerism ammounts to a dollar in a vending machine here and there but there are times when I feel phsically depressed if I don't have an ebay purchase on its way to my house. The spending frenzy was very appearent on Monday night, I was on the computer while two of my friends (Jered & Sara) were talking about how cool Nightmare: The Video Board Game was on VHS and how they wished we had it now. Of course I did what any other rational, frugal human being would have done in that situation: I found it on ebay in DVD format and made the "buy it now" purchase... and in an instant, I felt better about life.

I am not sure of the actual "rules" for this purchasing fast but hopefully it will become more appearant as the days go on. Starting from this moment I am going to face the marketing machine head on and uncover a hidden addiction in my life. Starting now I am not going to give into my impulse-buying habits...right after I buy that Mt. Dew.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Icicles of death

This was what greeted us today when we debated the prospects of "weathering" the ramp before service, of course we had to take matters in our own hands and knock them all down... hillarity ensued.

Friday, February 16, 2007

How to scare people with your doctrine! (Part. 1)

Here is the first part of a recent article from wayofthemasterradio.com which I find interesting and I respond to below. Some of these questions are good and some are out right ludacris (my responses are in Orange:

Questions that will save you a lot of Sundays [pdf]
Looking for a good church? Church-shopping can be a long and painful process. To shorten your search, call the pastor of the church before you visit and ask the
following questions. This might save you a lot of Sundays.


1. What is man’s biggest problem, sin or self esteem? Seeker sensitive and felt-needs churches focus on man’s hurts and problems. The Bible says that man’s biggest problem is sin.

I agree here for the most part, although I would argue that man's biggest problem is a separation from God in general and not just "sin"

2. What must a man do to inherit eternal life? Repent and trust is the Biblical answer. If the word “repent” is never used, say, “Thank you.”

Actually Luke 10:25-28 says simply:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" “What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live"

Then Jesus goes on to explain about how everyone is our neighbor etc. etc.

John 6:53-54 explains that we need communion to inherit eternal life.

John 8:51 says that those who obey the words of Christ will "never see death."

John 12:25-26 talks about self-denial and servanthood will have eternal life

And those are just the scriptures where Jesus mentions "eternal life" directly. I find it interesting that the author of this list chose to emphasize REPENTANCE above all...

3. How do you deliver the salvation message? Ask the pastor to describe specifically what he says. Does he encourage people to simply say a prayer? Does he tell people to ask Jesus into their hearts? The salvation message should include: God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness, God’s response (hell), God’s kindness (Jesus on a cross), man’s response (repentance and faith).

I could go on for hours on the "salvation message"... "Ask the pastor to describe specifically what he says" does that mean that we need to have a scripted "salvation message" for the heathens and the unchurched? Is there a magic word? Do you think that the right words will woo them over to the Jesus side? And how do you think that conversation will go with said pastor?

I love the 5 "universal" steps to salvation... Jesus was right in the middle of planning his nationwide book tour when that darn crucifixon ruined that idea...

I would say that this question, itself, in our modern context, tends to indicate/emphasize ‘the age to come’, or focus only on the eternal. It seems, at times, like some of us would be content to just lock ourselves up in our churches and wait for Jesus instead of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth. Jesus didn't tell us to "go and make disciples of all nations" so that we could all sit around idle until the "rapture".

4. How hard is it to become a Christian?The “formula” is
simple, doing it is not. It is not easy to believe.

This is one subject that I'm torn on... If by "formula" they mean the steps outlined in #3 then you know what I think about that situation. Otherwise, I think this is the first one they have on the right track. I agree its simple to make a decision to follow Christ but the act of following Christ is a long, tough journey.

5. How often do you talk about sin, righteousness and
judgment?
Balance is key. This should not be the only emphasis, but
it should be a regular emphasis.

Right, balance is key... If Jesus were here today in our time, I wonder if we would be more likely to see Him standing with a megaphone on the corner , telling people about the fire and pain that awaits them, emphasizing sin, righteousness & judgement or would we see Him passing the jacket He was wearing to the homeless, crippled man on the corner, with no thought of thanks, and offering to buy the man a meal as He cultivated a relationship with him. I believe that Christ loved people first and addressed sin, righteousness & judgement on a personal level with them.

Which is more of an honest response from a person of free will?… 1. To “convert” to Christianity out of fear of Hell. Thus reducing the loving relationship we were CREATED for, to a shallow, eternal quid pro quo agreement. 2. To SHOW them the love of Christ, to let them know that they are a special and unique creation of God, and that God LOVES them so much that He came in human form to suffer through the same temptations and struggles as the rest of us so that all who believe in Him, and follow His word (and repentance is necessary for that to happen) will spend eternity in the presence of God.

Stay tuned to part 2 of our series...