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