I'm still here...

Before I forget, please read Dan's Blog on MLK Day. He shares some sections from King's, Letter From A Birmingham Jail. King's letter is very moving and straight to the point. King uses the term "White Moderate" in describing the type of man who is the greatest obstacle to racism. King also labels the church as the "archdefender of the status quo," a term that should not describe the church (but unfortunately it does). Just Read it and follow his links to the complete letter!

Now moving on:
I haven't forgotten about blogging. I have purposefully taken a break and have posted less frequently so I can enjoy more time with my wife and daughter. It's been great! As you might imagine I now have more free time because I am done with school. When I am not hanging with Heather and Maya I can be found reading for pleasure. I just finished my third book for the month (and I still have a week left in January. At this pace of 3-4 books a month I could read 36-48 books this year, we will see if I keep that up). With this in mind I am going to take a small hiatus from my series and mention three great reads. If you have a chance make sure you read Jim & Casper go to Church, The Shack and Quiet Strength (Tony Dungy's autobiography). I shall share from Dungy's book first because I just finished it.

• Quiet Strength - I appreciated deeply Dungy's willingness to share his story. But more importantly I clung to the many words of wisdom that were sprinkled throughout the book. There was always a point to why he did what he did. He defined himself as a man of faith, integrity, and humor in an atmosphere and career that is constantly seeking the world's approval, setting winning above all else. Everything was a process for Dungy, a process of pressing on and remaining firm in his faith. The following paragraph was the second to last paragraph in the last chapter in his book. It reads:

"And so we press on. We press on with our memories, our hearts buoyed by a God who loves us and wants us to know Him deeply. We press on with our sense that life's not always fair. And we press on with the knowledge - and assurance - that even though we can't see all of God's plan. He is there, at work and in charge, loving us. We press on with the conviction that even though we don't deserve the gifts and blessings we've been given, He gives them anyway. We press on into an abundant life on earth, followed by an eternity with God."

• The Shack - All I can say is READ IT! It is a novel, a book of fiction. But within the fiction you will find facts about a triune God who loves you and desires to commune with you just as they (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) do. On the back of the book it states that the book wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" In dealing with this question it brings to light certain aspects of the deity of God that we may not have thought about before (and some might say they are heretical, but I shall leave you to decide). Let me just say this, we cannot place God box. Those who claim to have a grasp of God's Deity, don't. He is God and we are not. The starting point in attempting to grasp and understand God must start with his triune character and this book does just that.
• Jim and Casper go to Church - I bought this book 8-12 months ago and it just sat on my shelf waiting for me to get done with school. It was the first book I cracked open the beginning of this year. It is a book about a former pastor and his atheist friend. They travel to twelve churches around our country, offering their opinions on the parking lots, the lights, the music and of course the message. They attempt to throw their agenda (and they each have their own) out the window but fall short in doing so. But let us not disregard everything they say because of this. Read there opinion and experience and think about it because there is validity to it. If we all could critically think through this book and apply our discoveries to our separate situations I think our churches would be much better off.
  

Lesson #4: To consume or be consumed

Who or what do you consume? If you are anything like me then you consumed a cup or two of coffee this morning. Maybe you recently consumed a movie in the theater or in the comforts of your own home. How about a nice dinner out, where there is no need to cook or clean and you can simply enjoy the food and company. I could go on and on regarding the things that we consume on a regular basis, the things which, we often pay for out of a want or desire not a need. So, can church fit into the consuming category? Unfortunately, I am afraid it can.

There is a tendency (notice I said tendency and did not use an all inclusive term here, although others might, I do not) within Christian evangelicalism to approach church as a competition where we seek to offer newer and better programs and events so that we may attract more visitors. As a result, those who are attracted to the church view it as a "vendor of religious goods and services" where programs and messages are communicated and consumed just like a cup of coffee, a dinner out and a movie. Consumerism is the ultimate manifestation of the "self" or "individual" pursuing only those products that are beneficial to the self. "Consumerism is individualism on steroids. It is the logical end-product of living for self. Consumerism paves the way of worship of self, and self worship leaves us alone with the object of our devotion." When taken to it's ultimate form consumerism leads to complete isolation, away from community and fellowship.

I don't know about you but, I don't want to voyage through life and this world all alone. The pure thought of it makes me sick. I long to be in community with those around me, just as God designed me. Our longing and pursuit of community comes from the communal and relational God who created us. When we say that God is a communal and relational God, we are simply stating that He is not an isolated God but that He is in a reciprocal relationship within the Godhead as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

With this in mind, let us long and join in community with those around us instead of isolating ourselves on an island. Let us be consumed by God and the divine love, which flows from above (Romans 5:5). If we allow ourselves to be consumed (instead of consuming) we will be open to God's transformational work in our lives as we study His word in community with those around us. In his book, Transforming Church, Kevin Ford highlights the differences between consumerism and community. Here is what he has to say:

• Community requires being missional; consumerism demands internal satiation.
• Community shares responsibilities greater then self; consumerism demands entitlements.
• Community expresses itself in service; consumerism feeds and endless hunger.
• Community leads to a shared freedom; consumerism leads to singular addiction.
• Community actively creates; consumerism passively devours.
  

It is my prayer that we who are Christ followers join together in community as we seek to be consumed by God's love. Let us lay aside our individual desires for the betterment of those around us living a life consumed by God's divine love.

Introduction
Lesson #1: Above all else
Lesson #2: The church as the body and family
Lesson #3: People or programs
Lesson #4: To consume or to be consumed
Lesson #5: For mine or yours
Lesson #6: Peter Pan & leadership
Lesson #7: Rainbow vs. pot of gold

Lesson #3: People or Programs

Here we are continuing a series on the lessons learned (although not necessarily new lessons) throughout the past two and a half years in Seminary. If you need to catch up you can go here, here, and here for the previous three posts.

I have done much pondering and thinking on my education and how it has and has not prepared me for ministry. It seems as if people are on either side of the argument in regards to a seminary education as preparation for full time ministry. The most common argument against a seminary education is that people in seminary become more book smart then anything else. In other words, seminary students become learners of books and programs rather then people. I have even heard numerous professors in Seminary claim that Seminary turns out more scholars/teachers that turn to education instead of training pastors. Interesting thought huh? I don't know if it is entirely true, but there is sure some validity to the claim.

Throughout Seminary I have asked myself, is this about people or programs. If it was about people, I sat back and took it all in. If it was about programs, I continually related it back to people and the "real world". Here are some thoughts on programs and people:

• Focusing on programs offers us an easy excuse for not trying and not "getting dirty" as we get involved in the lives of others. In other words, we can blame our lack of success and effort on the program because it did not work out the way it should have.
• Focusing on programs encourages and fosters a consumeristic mentality of individuals seeking the best program (product) in town.
• Focusing on people allows us to create and initiate programs that are unique to our church body instead of copying programs from another church.
• Focusing on people mandates that we continually turn to God for guidance as we shepherd and guide our flock (no seminary training or other education prepares us for this, only God).

There is a definite contrast between the two. As I look at programs and people I see and compare God's way (people) versus man's way (programs). End of argument because God's way is always right.

Introduction
Lesson #1: Above all else
Lesson #2: The church as the body and family
Lesson #3: People or programs
Lesson #4: To consume or to be consumed
Lesson #5: For mine or yours
Lesson #6: Peter Pan & leadership
Lesson #7: Rainbow vs. pot of gold

Christmas Day

The Harris family had a wonderful Christmas. My mom was able to spend the holidays with us, so it was extra special to have family in town. The day was relaxing and refreshing, filled with each other's company. We spent the day with Maya experiencing her new gifts. We played and listened to her new piano, we played numerous rounds of "Memory" and "Candy Land". We even enjoyed playing with her new Princess Set. However, I was stuck being Cinderella as Maya played the role of Prince Charming. I think this was because she liked hearing me talk like Cinderella; every time I talked like her she giggled. Here are a some pictures from Christmas morning:
I can't blame Maya, I did it too. I always went towards the biggest present first to see if my name was on it. Here is Maya, checking the biggest bag to see if her name was on it (and yes, she knows how to spell her name and can tell if it says Maya). We didn't let Maya open the bag until everything else was opened.

Here is Maya and Heather playing with a Disney Princess set Maya received as a present from my sister's family. It was the first present where she stopped and opened it so that she could play with it right away.

Here is Maya playing her new piano (the present in the bag). Notice the music open on the top of the piano. She was playing and singing to Heather, my mom, and myself. I believe she was playing, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".

Lesson #2: The Church as the family and body of Christ

I remember vividly sitting around the campfire at Westminster Woods Camp Grounds nestled in the Sonoma County Coastal Redwoods during family camp singing “We are the Family of God.” During the chorus there is an opportunity to vocally declare your allegiance to the words of the song. “We are the family of God, YES! We are the family of God, and he has brought us together to be one in Him that we might bring light to the world.” The chorus was always my favorite because everyone would jump up and declare, YES! This memory has stayed with me for many years because it’s true. There is no doubt about it, if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior you are a member of the family of God; now let’s get up and declare it like the good old days! The Teacher’s Commentary explains that in the third chapter of Ephesians there are three images which assist us when we think about the church. Two of these images are brought into focus in the midsection of Ephesians. The three images that are communicated to us with the intention to give us a vision of who we are as Christ’s church are those of: a body; a family; and a holy temple. The three images share a common emphasis. Each of them reminds that we are one with our brothers and sisters, even as we are one with Christ. But each of the images also has its own distinctive emphasis:

• The biblical picture of the church as a body reminds us that we are called to a life of good works. Even as our own bodies act to carry out the intentions of our minds, so the body of Christ acts on earth to carry out the intentions of Jesus, our living Head.
  
• The biblical picture of the church as a family reminds us that we are called to a life of love. As the human family is the context for growth and intimacy, so the family of God is a context in which God’s love is expressed to welcome each other and to help each other grow.
• The biblical picture of the church as a temple reminds us that we are called to a life of holiness. As a temple reminds us of the worship of God, our calling as a holy temple is to bring God praise and honor and glory.

Our God in heaven has crafted a unique and distinct organism; the body of Christ! He is the composer and originator of the body of Christ. The body of Christ is diverse and it is full of many individuals with many gifts and abilities. Anyone who is in Christ is a part of the body of Christ. No one body part is superior over the others. It is Christ who is the unifier of the diversity of the body of Christ. The body of Christ is diverse and is full of many individuals with many gifts and abilities. Anyone who is in Christ is a part of the body of Christ. No one body part is superior over the others. It is Christ who unifies the diversity of the diversity of the body of Christ. More then thirty different spiritual gifts are mentioned in the five New Testament listings (1Cor. 12:4-10; 1 Cor. 12:28-30; Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11). The Bible is quite clear that every Christian is gifted for service. All of the gifts that God has given us are closely tied to the Christian virtue of love (1 Cor. 13) because it is love which binds us together and it is love which spurs to reach out in Christ’s name.
The members of the body of Christ make-up the church; a community of men and women who have responded to God’s offer of eternal salvation. If the church looses sight of this fact, an eventual deterioration and demise will occur. “The world needs the church to be the church so that the world can know that God loves the world and that redemption is therefore possible. The church is a sign of hope in the world that redemption is therefore possible. The church is a sign of hope in the world, but if it does not remain distinct from the world it loses its ability to point to the transcendent God.” The church must maintain it true identity as defined by Christ or else Christianity will become just another religion overcome by relativism and pluralism. A religion which seeks to conform to culture instead of seeking to transform culture through Christ’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit. It is imperative for the church to maintain it’s standard and to be active participants in the promises of God, in Christ. “God makes a covenant with his people and separates them from the world as his own possession, and vouches himself for this covenant.”

Introduction
Lesson #1: Above all else
Lesson #2: The church as the body and family
Lesson #3: People or programs
Lesson #4: To consume or to be consumed
Lesson #5: For mine or yours
Lesson #6: Peter Pan & leadership
Lesson #7: Rainbow vs. pot of gold