The Archaeology of Christmas

Looking for something a bit more mind expanding to give your time to than "Frosty the Snowman"?   Amy & Regan Barr, members of the CNX community, will be offering a free, online presentation on the Archaeology of Christmas from 8-9:30pm on Wednesday 12/17.  Amy & Regan are co-founders of the Lukeion Project and spent a decade excavating in the Mediterranean and have both done PHD work in Classical Archaeology.  Don’t miss this chance to get some great background on the Christmas story including the latest findings on Herod the Great's tomb, the Magi, the slaughter of the innocents, the unique status of Egypt, Caesar Augustus and more.  Register HERE. 

Christmas Devotionals

Looking for a way to stay focused on God in the middle of a busy holiday season?

Check out Following The Star. This online guide provides daily devotions (w/scriptures, music, reflections, & prayers) for each day between now and Christmas. This 10 minute experience could provide a lot of grounding in the next few weeks. Make sure you check out the “On your first visit” and “About the experience” sections the first time around.

Looking for something even simpler? Stop by the Waiting, Day by Day Advent Calendar. Click on the current day of the month and you’ll find a short poem, prayer or thought about our wait for Jesus’ arrival.

What Is Poverty?

It's that time of the year again when many will be thinking about the poor. Although this should happen all year long, thank God it at least happens between Nov-Dec.

What does it mean to be poor? To address poverty?

Some of our friends who work downtown with the homeless and needy believe ministry to the poor is more about relationships and respect that goods and services. A couple of them pointed me to the video below. Check it out:

Perspective Check

Need to be reminded how good your life is?

Need to get in touch with the resiliency of the human spirit?

Need to leak a few tears?

Meet Jessica Stone.

Catch a slice of her story HERE.

(You may have to push play if the video doesn't launch right away.)

P.S. Jessica did end up receiving a cochlear implant and is a few weeks away from activation.

A Chance Encounter??

A couple of weeks back I went to see a family in our church who had a new baby last night. The hospital they chose is HUGE and has been added on to about 37 times in the last 100 years. The result is not only tons of square footage for first quality medical care, but a seemingly endless labyrinth which doubles as a test of mental and physical endurance for visitors. On the way in I made a complete loop of the facility before I finally found the maternity ward. After checking in on the recently expanded family, I hopped in the elevator to begin my long trek back to my car.

One other guy rode along with me as we spend downward to the first floor. I noticed the wristbands on his arm and remembering that we were leaving the maternity ward, I queried, "Just have a new baby?" He looked at me and said, "Actually we had twins." Seeing my congratulatory smile forming, he added, "And I usually don't tell strangers this. No need to burden them with it- but one of our babies died after four days. The other is alive and strong." "I'm so sorry" were the only words I was able to generate. "That's ok. I don't know why I told you that," he replied. Then the door opened. "I'm so sorry" I offered again. He smiled sadly and then disappeared down the hall.

A flood of thoughts and emotions swam through me as retraced the halls and sidewalks back to my parking place. I thought about my friend's joy as they showed me their new baby, and imagined how conflicted this other couple must be with one baby cooing and the other silenced. Most of all I wondered why this man had apologized. Should someone with such a loss be forced to bear it in secret?

Then his words, "I don't know why I'm telling you this" came back to me. He didn't know me from Adam. He didn't know that I'm a guy who prays from time to time. Or that I've got lots of friends who do the same. But God knew. Maybe God set things up this afternoon so that we'd end up together for those couple of moments. Perhaps the Spirit of God prompted him to open up and share his darkest truth with a complete stranger. Maybe not, but maybe so.

I decided not to take any chances. As I merged my car back onto the Beltline I started praying for this family who are strangers to me, but not to the God who cries with them. And now I'm asking you to join me. Would you offer some words to God on behalf of the man I met today who wears two newborn bracelets, but will only take one baby home? Would you ask God to give this family comfort, peace and healing as only He can?

Thanks. I knew you would.

An Update From Hugh

Friends,

The astute among you will note that the August newsletter almost ended up being the September newsletter. The letter this month has been hard to write, not because I don't have things to tell you but because I have so much to tell you and I try to keep these letters to a reasonable length. Finally I was forced to give up any literary aspirations and just dump it all before you. In no particular order, here are a few things that are going on:

• Last month I told you that we were looking for a place to hold regular meetings, and we found a place that is practically tailor-made to what we are trying to do. Starting sometime in September we will be meeting weekly at the Tarboro Road Community Center, located at Tarboro Rd and New Bern Avenue. It is a perfect location for us, with room for growth, kitchen facilities and in a neighborhood that we would love to minister to and have the opportunity to serve. Watch the blog for more information as to time and dates.

• With that in mind, we are working on ways to impact the poor and homeless in that neighborhood, as well as maintaining our efforts around Moore Square. Over the next few weeks we will be rolling out opportunities for you to help us actively love our new neighbors.

• Recently I have been speaking in churches, spreading the word about what we are doing and trying to raise awareness and support. Last Sunday I spoke at Visio Dei and HomeStar Fellowship, both located near Downtown Raleigh and in both places had people decide to join our efforts. If your church or small group needs a speaker, I would be delighted to come speak at your event. Shoot me an email (or respond to this one) and we will work out the details.

• For a while now, we have been wrestling with the next step as far as our organizational structure. It is expensive (at least relative to our budget) to set up a whole non-profit entity from scratch. We are investigating that, as well as considering partnering with an existing ministry or church, at least organizationally, to make all that easier and, frankly, cheaper. All of this means that I have been in meetings, phone calls, researching online and at the library and generally getting headaches from all this reading because I often forget my glasses.

• We are partnering with other ministries that have similar goals so we can act as a resource for each other. One ministry I am particularly proud to be part of is Jubilee, a faith based organization that works to bring awareness to the problem of human trafficking. In September I will be speaking for them on the subject of building relationships and 'missionality'. Please watch the blog for announcements as to time and location.

Looking over that, it looks like a full plate, and it is. But add to that the day-to-day work of standing in line, taking people to the grocery store, negotiating with landlords, helping people move, praying with people who have no hope, standing in the rain in the soup kitchen line, visiting those in jail, throwing parties for those who got out of jail and what you end up with is one very tired, very drained, but very happy, Hugh.

I am so happy to be out here, working for His glory, to His purpose. That you allow me to be out here, supporting me and our work with your financial gifts and your prayers means so very much. That there is so much to do only serves to emphasize the necessity of what we are doing and the need for your help to accomplish it. Together, we get to be hope to those who have no hope, to speak for those who have no voice and to love those who thought the world had given up on them. Being out here is never easy, but there is good in this world, and it is worth fighting for. Thanks for helping me fight.

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh Hollowell

http://lovewinsalways.org/

Don't Forget

The Connections Community is relocating our Sunday gatherings starting this Sunday (8/31). We'll be just a mile down the road from our old spot. CLICK HERE FOR A MAP. We'll start at the same time (10:45) and will have better areas for kids and lots more room for adults. For more info on the how's & why's of the move, check the post below.

If you live in the Raleigh area and haven't hung out with us before/in a while, stop by on Sunday. God is up to something in our midst- bringing some great people together to do some important work in our world. Maybe you are supposed to be a part of it.

Another Step Of Fatih...

We like to talk about our lives with God as a journey. The language fits for a number of reasons, but that's probably another blog post. Suffice it to say, as a community we believe we are doing more than making plans, setting goals and making things happen. We believe that the God of the Universe is leading our little tribe, often in unexpected directions without lots of advance notice. (Sounds like the God of the Bible to me.)

What do I mean? Here's a recent example, our leadership came to the decision that we'll be moving at the end of August. Not to our new space- although we're hoping to be there by December. Instead, we'll be moving for a few months to a temporary space just a mile down the road from where we meet now. Why would we move twice? I've been asking that question too. The best and honest answer is: God seems to be leading us in that direction.

While we don't claim to have any special ability to decode the movement of God, this time it seems pretty clear. In case it helps, here's a recap of how we reached this decision:

• Our architects told us that we probably won't be able to occupy our new space until sometime near the end of 2008- roughly 5 months.
  
• We're in jeopardy of losing two of the spaces we use for our kids and teens each Sunday. Losing these spaces would put a serious dent in the great stuff happening for these age groups.
  
• Our adult gatherings have been consistently full over the summer. Even with people gone each week on vacation. With the fall looming, we have no room for growth. The most troubling thing with this is that God keeps sending us new people on a weekly basis. Example: A few weeks back 19 of our 66 adults had been around CNX less than a month.
• Our leaders filtered the above info and concluded that we couldn't stay status quo for the next 5 months. We pro/conned both adding a second service and moving to a new, larger space temporarily until we finish renovations at the Buck Jones bldg. For several reasons, the temporary space seemed like the best option.
• Then we got picky- asking God for the ideal space (w/in 2 miles of our current spot, with great spaces for kids, amenable to a short term lease, etc.). After praying this, I fully expected to find nothing of the sort and to start planning for the less ideal "two services" approach.
• Then we talked with Anne Caspar, the owner of a daycare and events hall that just happen to share the same building about 1 mile from where we currently meet. And you guessed it, she agreed to lease both facilities to us until our building is ready. We get tons of room to grow, first class facilities for kids- and a significant financial savings. Wow!
• God seemed to be leading clearly. After our leaders conferred, we found that we were on the same page: God was leading. We needed to follow.
  
• Announcing this news to our community this weekend confirmed what we had been sensing. We need to get moving!

So, there you have it. Two moves in 5 months. No big deal. As long as God is leading. And everyone is pitching in.

We'll need help getting the word out to everyone who is a part of the CNX community- including the folks we only get to see occasionally. We'll also need help moving things out of our current space and into storage by the end of August. Not to mention setting up and tearing down each week while we're in the new space. Good news- there's room for everyone!

Living Water Update

Last Christmas the CNX community raised some money to help build clean water wells in Liberia. Although it took longer than expected, our giving finally paid off for folks on the other side of the globe. Here's a letter from the guy who led the trip to install the new well we helped donate. There's also a letter from a local, Liberian pastor below.





Hello Friends,

In July I went with a group of 11 young adults to Liberia with the specific intent of ministering to Yangaryah. Yangaryah is a remote village (it took two days of travel to even reach the village), but the both my group and the people of Yangaryah were excited about what God would accomplish during this trip. By God’s grace, much was accomplished. Most importantly, we installed our very first well with a solar-powered pump. The estimated cost of this unusual well was $10k, and I wanted to confirm with you that 100% of the generous donation from your church supported this much needed pump.

Besides being able to provide this village with a constant supply of fresh water, our group had much time to minister to the spiritual needs of the people. Within the past year, the Jesus Video has been translated into Gola, which is the native language of most tribes in the area. Besides the wonder of viewing a movie, the ability to hear and understand the film in their native tongue is truly sensational. News of this “wondrous” event spread quickly, and we were able to show the video to large crowds five times! Many decisions were made for Christ. We also performed four medical clinics and repaired two other nearby pumps that had been damaged. Your donations made a physical and spiritual impact on these lives. Please continue to pray for this village.

This past weekend, we received an email from a Liberian pastor in that area. Pictures are also attached from the July trip. Please let your congregation know that they have made a great impact for Christ in Liberia!!

Roland


Email from Pastor Sam:

Roland,

I visited Yangaryah a week ago, and the people fance the water pump.

They also fance the solar including the pump. The leadership also put in place

security system to keep watch. The people of Yangaryah are so greatful to God, and

the Water of Life family for such a gift. CRCA also say thanks for your good work.

Pastor Sam

7/31/08

God's Name Tag(s)

Recently the Connections' community was discussing what it meant to live and pray this line from the Lord's Prayer:

"Hallowed Be Your Name"

We concluded that we honor God and His Name when we thank Him for who He is and what He has been doing in our lives. To get more hands on with this we grabbed some sticky name tags and used them to write things that would hallow God's name. Here's a summary of the words of thanksgiving or titles for God that came out of our hearts:

God who is loyal, giving and patient
Thank God for what you have done for my family.
I love you.
God of Love
God the Provider
God of patience, love and forgiveness
God of new beginnings
Love, friendship and the sunshine
Entrusted
Ordering/Directing
God of love, friendship and family
God you are so good to me
God you are my all in all
Thank you for life, experiences and people who surround them
Thank you for the life you have given us
Salvation
Majestic Creator of all Beautiful Things
Provider
Thank you for being my father and making me feel loved no matter what
Guide and Affirmer
Faithful One
God of guidance
God who is always faithful
God is good to me because he changed my life
G-d my protector and my provider
Thank you Lord for providing us with a home
Strength
Thank you not just for providing but for satisfying my life
My Healer
Thank you for being my provider and for your mercies
Thank you for providing for my family
I want to thank you for giving me life and a family that loves me
God of Love
Eternal, Perfect, Holy One, Abundantly Patient
God of family
Thank you for loving me and always giving me the chance to come back and make it right with you
Thank you for my daughter
Thank you for family and friends
Thank you for giving me the courage to grow spiritually
Our Father In Heaven
God who is Creator and Lover of all creatures and things He has created
God of provision
God is love
Thank you God for your love Grace & Guidance
Thank you for being my protector
God who listens
God of faithfulness
Independence & Dependence
Thank you for being the God who never leaves
Thank you God for giving me strength to keep going
Comforter
God who never changes
God of Creation
Thank you for loving and providing
God of Safe Passage
God who provides for all of my needs
God of Grace

How about you? If you were to write a name tag for who God has been in your life lately, what would it say?

Joy for sharing

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

What a wonderful gift to the world this guy's (kinda goofy) little dance is! I love seeing the interaction he attracts and the impromptu micro-communities he joins or creates. If I saw him, I would totally get out and dance my own little (really goofy) dance.

Tearing Stuff Up

For a few years now Connections has had a dream to have a physical space that we could share with our neighbors to bless them. A couple of weeks back we signed a lease on a new facility. Now we're starting to clean it up. Last Friday about 14 of us got together to do some demo. We got off to a great start- taking down mirrors and pulling up flooring.





But there's still plenty to be done. We'll be having a work party this weekend as well. We're planning 3 sessions (Fri 7-10pm), (Sat 8-Noon) & (Sat 1-5pm) and will have a variety of projects available (from light cleaning to heavy demo). If you're willing to lend a hand, contact Kevin Campbell (kcampbell58@gmail.com). Also, here's a list of the tools we think may be helpful this weekend. Let Kevin know what you might be able to bring with you:

• window scraper/razor
• digging bars
• utility knives (carpet knives esp.) w/ lots of spare blades
• phillips and flat head screwdrivers
• cro-bars
• wonder bars
• water cooler and cups
• pliers
• different sizes of wrenches
• heavy duty large trash bags
• floor scrapers
• wheelbarrows
• step ladders
• large floor/box fans
  

4th of July Picnic Update

Here's the latest status on the picnic for the homeless that our friend Hugh is planning.  There's still plenty of room for you to help out if you'd like.  Give Hugh a shout!

Dear Friends,

Well, our picnic on the 4^th of July is coming together. I have had a lot of response and a lot of people offering to help - thank you all!

This email is to let you know where we are, what we are still missing and how you can help. Many of you have asked for a list of things that are still needed.

Time & Place

Just so you all know, we will be setting up at about 3:30pm on the Person Street side of Moore Square in Downtown Raleigh. We hope to start serving about 4:30pm, but would like all the food to be there by 4pm so we can rush and buy whatever we lack.

Things we still need to have someone bring:

• GRILL: we have one grill lined up, but we need at least one more. If you have a propane grill we can borrow, let us know. If we have to, we can get someone to come pick it up, but if you could deliver it, that would be just awesome.

• HOT DOGS: We have several hundred committed to, but we could use a few hundred more. I have been told that Lowe's foods has them on special, buy one get one free. If you can bring hot dogs (please bring the all beef ones, not the mystery meat pink ones), let me know how many you are bringing.

• Buns: We MAY have a source for these, but if not, we will be buying buns on Friday. If you can bring buns, let me know how many you are bringing.

• Condiments: Mustard, relish, ketchup. Squirt bottles would be easist.

• Watermelon: Again, some are coming, but we are lacking about 10... if you can bring one (or more) let me know.

• Chips: We need 200 small bags of chips, assorted. They are available by the case fairly cheaply at Costco.

• Some more baked beans. I have beans for 100 committed, with some more that may be on the way. I really need to have some assurance on the beans and hot dog counts... we can run out of almost anything but these.

• Cash: If we don't get enough donations and food, we will be buying stuff out of pocket. The pockets are pretty slim... if you want to drop off some cash to buy food with, or a gift card to a local grocery or whatever, please email me asap about where we can meet. A few have done this already - Thank you!

Things we have plenty of (I think)

• Paper products (plates, napkins, cups,etc.) If you are bringing these, please remember plastic forks and black trash bags.

• Lemonade - again, we have plenty committed.

Cool things to bring:

• Frisbee

• Wiffle Ball

• Guitar

The Salvation Army has confirmed that they will not be feeding that night (they had considered it, but with us setting up they decided not to). Therefore, these folks are counting on us... not counting those of us who are reading this email, we can expect about 175 or so homeless and poor to eat with us... with all of us, I am thinking maybe we will be feeding as many as 200-225.

Please email me with specifically what and how many of whatever you are bringing, so I can be sure of what I have before I go to the grocery Thursday night.

Thanks for everything, and God bless you all.

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh Hollowell

http://lovewinsalways.org

Have 4th of July Plans???

What better way to celebrate the freedom that we enjoy and a day off than to use it to love and serve some folks in need. Hugh Hollowell, leader of "Love Wins", is organizing a picnic for the homeless in Moore Square that day and he's looking for help. Check out the info below and contact Hugh if you'd like to get in on this thing.

Dear Friends,

A lot of you have wanted to know some practical ways you can help in our mission of loving the poor, homeless and destitute of Raleigh, North Carolina. Here is your chance.

At 4pm on the Fourth of July, 2008 we are going to have a cookout in Moore Square (click here for a map) in Downtown, Raleigh. There will be hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon and soft drinks and much more (we hope, anyway). If somebody could bring some guitars and such, that would be pretty cool too. We are going to be on the Person St. side of Moore Square, across the street from the Salvation Army.

Some of you just read that and thought "Awesome!" Others read that and thought "Why would we want to do that?' For the later group, I detailed some reasons why on this blog post on our humble website.

If experiencing the Kingdom of God with some really cool folks this Fourth sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we need lots of food and help to pull this off. Right now, this is a preliminary list of things we need. If you can provide any of this, give me a shout back.

• Tables, probably three of the folding type you see in church basements.

• A big grill. Propane would probably be best. We will probably feed about 100-150, although seriously, I have no idea. On a give Sunday, we will feed this many, so it may even be more, given that ya'll reading this letter are going to come out as well, right? I am hoping for 200.

• Hot dogs. Don't get the scrawny pink hot dogs, ok? Remember that we are literally feeding Jesus here (the last half of Matthew 25, if you doubt me), so let's get the all beef jumbo franks that you would feed your family. In addition, some of the street people are from a culture that does not eat pork, so we do not want to be exclusive. Everyone can eat together in the Kingdom of God.

• Hot Dog Accessories. This would be buns, mustard, ketchup, relish, etc.

• Baked Beans. There will not be any where to plug in your crockpot. We will be without electricity. I would ask at least some of you to bring vegetarian beans as well, for the same reasons mentioned above.

• Small bags of chips. You can get big boxes of these for not much money at Sam's, Costco and the like.

• Watermelon. What is a picnic without watermelon?

• Accessories: Plastic forks and spoons, paper plates, salt and pepper, serving spoons, knife to cut the watermelon, napkins, tin foil (in case folks want to take a plate home), all the plastic grocery bags you can spare (like the ones you get at Wal-Mart or Kroger when you check out), paper cups (12oz ones are best).

• Cooler: I am thinking a big cooler with lemonade. It will be much cheaper than soft drinks, not to mention easier to prepare and more...picnicy.

If you cannot bring anything, bring yourself and your appetite. Of course, money is always appreciated to help defer the costs and to support our ongoing work. This is a great opportunity to show some folks who get little respect the love of God in the way of Jesus.

I really hope we can get a large turnout for this. If you can come, send me a return email with how many folks you think you will bring (husband and 3 kids, say) and which, if any, items on the list you can bring. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

By the way, if you belong to a church or other house of worship, a Sunday school class or other small group or just know other people who may be interested in coming out and having fun and food with us, PLEASE forward this email to them, would you?

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh

http://lovewinsalways.org

Why We Love Hugh @ CNX

Our little church community has the privilege of partnering with Hugh Hollowell in his mission to love the homeless in downtown Raleigh. If (like us) you're concerned that too many churches focus on themselves and forget about the people all around them, then you'll probably vibe with Hugh. Below is his latest update- which includes a few great stories and a link to his website. Take a peek.

Dear Friends,

One question I get asked a lot, especially by those in traditional churches, is about my statistics. How many people I work with get off the street, how many get sober, how many get 'saved'. I have to tell you up front; I have crummy statistics. But I am OK with that because I have some awesome stories.

Like the young couple I was talking to right after they heard her mother was in the hospital with heart trouble and they had no way to get home (200 miles away) to be with her. They are upset and crying and depressed and really pouring it out to me. While we were talking, an 'evangelist' pressed a tract in her hand and told her that if she gave her life to Jesus, he would change her life. As a result of that day, that couple and I have an ever increasing bond that has led to them making serious changes in their life. That evangelist saw a statistic, but that couple and I have a story.

Or the guy who braved the snow to visit my friend Renee in the hospital, bringing a collection of fruit, peanut butter sandwiches and crackers he took up from the other homeless. When I scolded him for coming, he looked me in the eye and told me, “Hugh, all my life I have not been worth much. I have been in and out of jail, in and out of rehab, in and out of relationships. I am 38 years old and you are the first person my whole life to ever tell me they are proud of me. I love you, man. I am here for you.” All those Social Workers saw a statistic, but he and I have a story.

There is the lady who had to leave her husband because liquor was destroying her life and he refused to quit when she did. She moved into a small hovel owned by a slumlord where she could barely pay the rent. When ends did not meet one month, the landlord filed eviction papers. I went to court with her and all the money but $50. The statistics said we did not stand a chance, but when she showed up in court and he did not, we got the eviction overturned and bought a few more days to raise the money. Now she is still in her house and still tells her friends the story of when she and I went to court.

Stories, not statistics. Names, not numbers. Meals, not metrics.

You see, we operate from this crazy premise we see in the teachings of Jesus that love, once given, spreads and grows (sorta like yeast, or a mustard seed...) and takes hold and, in small ways and in incremental bits, works to change us, then each other, and then, the world, working towards truly making it on earth as it is in heaven.

The way it happens is not through statistics but through stories shared over a plate of food, on a walk through the park together, sitting with them in the living room while a loved one dies in the bedroom. It takes being there.

You guys bless me incredibly by allowing me to be out there, touching lives and building relationships with people the world has written off but God has not. That you support me in doing that with your prayers, your time and your money mean more to me than I can ever say. Because of you, some people who have reason to have a low opinion of the church get to feel what the love of Jesus feels like.

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh Hollowell

http://lovewinsalways.org

Here We Go Again...

Yes, it's true. We have a very strong lead on a new space.

Yes, it's the one you've seen before. (Click the "view all images" button.)

Yes, we all need to pray.

Is this the end?

The online British newspaper The Guardian recently published an article called This is the End, which chronicles the making of an incredible set of black and white photographs taken by German photographer Walter Shels and his partner Beate Lakotta. The photos are arranged in pairs, one taken just before the subject died, and one just after; they are accompanied by short interview-based captions that reveal a bit about how each person experienced their impending death.

The photos are beautiful, poignant, and astonishing. Like the photographer, I found all my fears related to death bubbling to the surface as I stared into the faces -- some peaceful, some angry, all serious -- of his subjects. I wondered how the bodies had been prepared for the photo session. I wondered how I would have reacted as a photographer, an interviewer, or the person interviewed. I marveled at the subtle differences in the pairs of photos. I drew out my understanding of death and examined it once again. And most of all, I thought about God's role in this.

When I went to Digg, a prominent social bookmarking site, to give the photo set my vote of approval, I was drawn in to the strong reactions shown in the comments. A few of the commentors reacted with poor jokes, profanity, and irritation. Some commented on the mystery surrounding the photos and our reaction to them. Many were moved, many frightened. But the reaction that interested me the most was the one in which a conservative Christian used the comments section to preach a short, bible-thumping sermon to all the viewers.

Digg members have the ability not only to vote approval/disapproval on internet articles and sites, but they also register their approval/disapproval to other people's comments. The user called "Indyanna" who posted the sermon was by far the most disliked, drawing a spate of negative "diggs" and comments. Even I was frustrated by Indyanna's inability to understand the situation and respond appropriately.

So I began to think: What would be the best way for Jesus people to talk about this on the internet, in the middle of the whirl of fear, discomfort, and anger that frequently surrounds the topic of death and dying? There's by no means an easy answer. But my first thought is that maybe we should have less to say and more to do. Maybe Jesus people are called to listen before we storm in with our sermons. Listen, sympathize, and really strive to understand where people are coming from. And maybe we've done so little of that over the years that I can't formulate a second step yet.

Go and view the photos yourself. What do they bring up for you? I invite you to share your comments here. I will be honored to listen.

Confession (Good Friday)

Easter is pretty nice event- whether you consider yourself a Christian or not. Spring is right around the corner. Family meals are planned. Eggs are dyed. Chocolate bunnies are beheaded. Once-a-year treats are gobbled up. (Peeps, Robin Eggs, mint M & M's or Cadbury Eggs anyone?) Maybe we even throw in some lillies, new clothes and a nice church service in there too.

But there's a darker side to the Easter holiday for those who are interested in Jesus- Good Friday. The joy of the empty tomb only comes courtesy of suffering and death. The idea that "Jesus is Alive" means what is does because Jesus was once dead and gone. Although we may not usually pay much attention to this part of the Easter season, it gives us some great opportunities to reflect, confess and maybe even grieve. Of course, getting into those modes don't happen automatically or easily for all of us.

With that in mind I wanted to share a song with you that's helping me move in that direction. Here are the lyrics. For a fuller effect, listen to a preview of the song (track 8) or download the full monty for 89cents HERE.

Let’s Confess It
Words and music by Brian McLaren, 2007
Let’s confess it: there’s a lot of evil, lust and greed in our world. Oppression and sin build up pressure within until there’s an eruption of corruption. Beneath the skin, we skid and spin in spiritual crisis where vice is the norm, and justice, kindness, humility, and civility are all too rare.

Unaware of our despair, we smile in denial and say “It’s all OK. No need to change, no need to grow, just have another drink or smoke, tell another joke, and don’t think or rethink. Make another buck, with some luck you can buy a bigger house, store more stuff, drive fast, look good, keep up.”

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Meanwhile, addiction, rejection, and a lack of reflection spawn friction, dejection and a loss of direction. Every family, community, and nation are shaken. Creation’s resources are carelessly taken. And pollution scars every ocean, mountain, breeze, and shore, with visible symptoms of our inner war.

We’re all victims. We’re all villains. We’re stuck in the web that we spun ourselves. But God lights a spark of hope in the dark to help us cope with all that’s wrong and needs to be made right. God has come into all our pain, shame, and loss through the cross, and calls us to a path of life, love, purpose, and peace.

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.

If we humble ourselves to believe and receive, a river will flow and a candle will glow in a secret sacred place within us, very deep, where we have been wasting in shadows, halfdead or half-asleep. We’ve been falling in a vicious viral downward spiral that leads to death. Let’s wake up, hear God calling, take a deep, fresh breath.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

“We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and please forgive, that we may finally and fully learn to live in dignity and unity, integrity and harmony, delighting in your will and walking in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.”

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

May each of us realize and confess the mess that we're in and seek that mercy and restoration that Jesus offers us.

Happy Good Friday

That's Enough...

If our culture had a favorite word, it might be the word: MORE.
More food, more money, more square footage, more cup holders, more channels, more memory, more features. Yes, I'll take them all please!

More isn't always a bad thing, but lately I've found myself missing the word "enough". Most of the time I only say "enough" because I can't afford or justify more. Whatever happened to my ability to be content with some, but not all that I could have? And should we even begin an honest discussion on wants vs. needs?

Why am I asking these questions? Because I am (hopefully appropriately) alarmed by Jesus' assertion that money and stuff are constantly competing with God for my soul- and that only one of the two can really win.

So, I'm trying to build the practice of "enough" into my life as a safety valve. Just because I can afford something doesn't mean I have to. One small example in my personal life is my computer bag. When I got a new computer last fall, I quickly started searching for a new bag to go with it. You know- to protect the investment. And to make me look hip- and not too businessy or geeky. (Which I realize is a lot to ask from a computer bag.) I narrowed the options and was about to order my first choice when I stopped to pack for a trip. There inside my suitcase was an old, tired messenger bag. I took this as more than a coincidence. Here was an opportunity to say "enough". I could afford a new bag and justify it. But I didn't have to have it. One neoprene laptop sleeve and 5 months later, my computer is doing fine. My hip factor is unchanged. But my soul feels the tiniest bit freer.

"Enough" is growing on me. A couple of weeks ago we bought a car. After we settled on the model we wanted, we had to decide on the trim level. Although we planned on buying the base version (which has almost every option you could have added to a car 10 years ago), I found myself wondering if we "needed" to move up a trim level or two. More was raising it's ugly head- and I was cooperating. Then my wife stepped in. She said "enough" and we went home with the base model. Since this was her vehicle, I'm glad she made the call. As her husband, I want to provide her with more. Maybe "enough"- and the blessings it brings- is more important sometimes.

So, how about you?
Ever notice the constant pull of "more" in your life?
What- if anything- do you do with that?
Do you intentionally use the practice of "enough"? If so, when/how?
Use the comments feature and share your perspective.

Everyone Is An Atheist...

No, not in the technical sense, but most everyone has some version of God that they don't believe in. In fact, I've heard a couple of different folks suggest this was a helpful way to journey alongside people who say they don't believe in God. Invite them to tell you about the God they don't believe in, because chances are you don't believe in that version of God either.

This past week I was at a worship gathering of people who are trying to follow the ways of Jesus and we sang a song called "I Am An Atheist". Here are the lyrics

Atheist
Words and music by Brian McLaren and Aaron Strumpel

I am an atheist when it comes to the god of violent jihad.
I am an atheist when it comes to the lord who converts by the sword
I am an atheist when it comes to the mission of politicians using religion as ammunition.

I believe in you - the artist of trees and galaxies
I believe in you - the poet of oceans and rivers and streams
I believe in you - the god of compassion who calls us to action
I believe in you

I can’t believe what they believe but I believe in you
I can’t believe what they believe but I believe in you

I believe in you - majestic designer of space and time
I believe in you - composer of beauty and music of life
I believe in you - the holy forgiver and wild reconciler
I believe in you

I am an atheist to the gods of the greedy ignoring the needy.
I am an atheist to the gods who make others torture and suffer
I am an atheist when it comes to the view of the chosen few, who judge and condemn
all who differ them

I believe in you ... mighty in meekness and gentle in power
I believe in you ... the word who has spoken good news to the broken
I believe in you ... transcending mystery, with us in history
I believe in you

You can hear a full version of the song HERE.

How would you write your own verse(s) to this song- either describing the God you do or don't believe in?

Space to Pray Over

Here are some pictures of the new space we are praying over. It's certainly not a "done deal" and we continue to seek God's guidance. Will you join us in bringing the matter before God?

Sparks Fly...

I grew up loving movies. Probably had something to do with the fact that my folks were early adopters of cable tv, movie channels, and the VCR. (We had both VHS and Beta formats with hundreds of movies recorded, organized and cataloged. Yes, one of my parents could be described as a tad obsessive.) Aside from the entertainment factor, I was drawn to films because they allowed me to experience worlds beyond my own. Movies made me feel, think, ask questions and seek dialogue.

At one point, I was in danger of losing this tinder that sparked so much thinking and conversation in my life. Shortly after I started following Jesus, I began limiting my intake of art to the stuff labeled "Christian", believing that this would make God happy and protect me from negative influences. (The latter might have happened to some extent, but I'm not sure about the former.)

Fortunately, I eventually came to my senses and began to think that all truth and beauty really belongs to God and that almost any source can serve as a conduit. (Case in point- the story of Balaam's ass.) So, if we go to the movies together, you'll know I liked the film if I start bombarding you with questions and wonderings before we even make it to the car. I'm not exaggerating, this really happens- just ask my wife, Jen.

The debrief torrent hit her as we stepped into the parking lot after seeing JUNO last week. For me, this film opened the door for reflection and discussion on a slew of real life issues: teenage sexuality & pregnancy, abortion, infertility, consequences, disappointment, materialism, divorce, parenting, commitment, image management, judging others, being yourself, forgiveness, trust, real love, suburbia, etc.

I'd highly recommend it, especially if you have pre-teens/teens or work with them in any fashion. If you want to know more about why I heart Juno, read the full review on my personal blog.

So, how about you? Seen Juno or another good movie lately?

Where do you catch regular glimpses of beauty and truth?

What serves as your tinder- sparking insights and questions that lead to reflection and good conversation?
(Hint- use the comments feature!)