Conversations

The conversations we have with the people and communities around us are meant to show us different things about God. We, as God’s creation were made for relationship. In other words, we need to “bounce things off of other people” so that we may understand the wise direction to choose. I believe that is why the Gospel writers gave us so many stories and examples of conversations with Jesus.
There are several stories about “the rich” or “rich young rulers,” Matthew 19:23 ff, for example. John accounts Jesus’ visit with Nicodemus in John 3:3 ff…and what about all the conversations between “the 12” and their Messiah? I wonder how many times the disciples asked about the Kingdom of God just so they could get their heads around it. In these examples, I believe the heart was also an issue, painful as it may be, Jesus waits for us in those conversations because they are the true issues of the heart.
Sometimes conversations are meant for seasons in our lives, like a conversation with ourselves about cancer treatments or the timing of a child with our spouse. We talk to health care workers about transitioning elderly parents into assisted living and we talk to our children and grandchildren about their post- high school plans.
Other times, we must consider that a “conversation” is about our environment and process of life. We may ask, “Do I like the way my job, life, culture is heading? and if not, how can I make the changes necessary for my own passion and those around me?” In other words, consider the conversation you are currently having. Is Christ the center of them? Are they life-giving or life-depleting?
In any case, God cares about the “conversations” you are having and He hopes you will ask Him to be a part of them…it truly is the greatest way to see more of who He is… and who we can become.

Worship as a Lifestyle

I believe that worship is not just another word for music on Sunday morning. It is not just an hour of our time on the weekend, either at a church or at a football game. I believe worship is a process, habit, lifestyle. Worship is how we choose to live in sacrifice to God (or to a god).
Some people are very structured in their time and lifestyle. Some people enjoy a more "hands off flow" to getting things done. Either way, when we surrender to a lifestyle of Worship to the Triune God, we don't always have a choice in the structure or flow. God knows us better then we know ourselves. He knows how to reach us through other people and He knows how to bring us to our knees so we can see Him more clearly.
Everyday we all have a choice in our lifestyle. Ask yourself, "what am I worshipping today?" And "what would I like to worship instead?"
Before my father passed away, he commented on a quote framed in my church office, it read, "if you want something you have never had, you must do something you have never done." That something just might be the Worship of the right God. Peace.

Unanswerable Questions

The other day I had a conversation with an incredible Pastor. He brought me coffee from Starbucks. He then began asking questions that I couldn't answer. Questions like, "why are you in seminary?" and "if you were to grow emotionally, what would that look like?"
First of all, excuse me,?... but, are you Jesus? Because in my experience only Jesus sits me down with a Mocha and asks me questions like this.
In retrospect, I decided that this pastor was so comfortable with who he was in Christ that he was offering me that opportunity - right then. Praise God for another chance to talk to him. I am looking forward to another Starbucks and a more prepared answers. At this point, I have nothing to loose and more of myself to gain..... (sweet!)

1984 – Googling God’s Will

He knew I would. He knows how I can be reached, affected and known.
When I was lost in Europe's largest train station in Rome, God knew how to help me catch my train. When I needed the money for a recent bill, God knew how to lead me to it. And now, He is showing me the way, but this time...I don't know the need. Everywhere I look, I hear "1984". I goggled "1984" and found the novel by George Orwell and I saw the political issues that label that year. These ideas are all too obvious. God seems to be working more quietly this time. It is a thing of mystical beauty.
Is it that I am in a world within a world, a house within a house, as Death Cab for Cutie sings...and all along the windows were open?
Maybe....I am up for the wait and see.

Making Room

Our responsibility as we represent Christ is to allow His Love to penetrate our lives. We are also to love others and in that action or thinking, it is to "make room" for others in our lives. To walk, listen and care for the things that happen in their lives, as if it effects and penetrates ours.
"Making room" for others puts us in a more vulnerable place. It may compromise our time or personal efforts or goals. Keeping to a goal is not a bad thing, Jesus did it. Stopping to heal a few people, "make room for them," did not detour Him from His ultimate goal (proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom) but added to it.
Jesus made room for people and as He did, He acknowledged their value.
"Make room," it adds to your goal and the value of others.

Reading Material with Hummus

Today, I needed to get started on the reading for my next class. This should be my one week off but the professor has sent a request to read three chapters before class begins. I have no problem with this because I am really excited about the topic; Participation in the Ministry of Jesus Christ. Now I know what you're thinking, hum... shouldn't seminary always be about participation with Christ. Yes, you would be right. And to some degree it all comes back to the One and His Truth.
So, I set out to enjoy a day of reading with a little coffee and hummus. The two objects of reading included 1) The Church in the Holy Spirit by, Junger Moltmann and 2) Worship Leader Magazine. Two unlikely companions but real. While reading Moltmann, I was peaceful, ignited, full of insight and weak all at the same time. While perusing Worship Leader, I was over confident, passive and disconnected. This magazine in the number one resource for my profession, or so it might seem.
The beauty about reading these two resources is, I have the option of accepting and rejecting any of it I want. I can be a vessel that retains or releases all that I read. I can use it for or against my work in the church. And I can use it to nourish my own theology and life.
They both have their place. They both make up my thinking. And hummus and coffee always make up a part of my diet.

Evangelism for Artists

I am preparing a project that will conclude my class on Evangelism and Contemporary Culture. Because my life revolves around the making, arranging, rehearsing and preforming of music, I decided to construct a program from this foundation. In the book, The Celtic Way of Evangelism, George Hunter compares the right-brained way of thinking with the Celtic relational way of evangelism. Taking time to relate and build respect is key to so many situations. I find it interesting that a fellow class mate listed specific characteristics of a right-brained thinker as angles in which to approach artists with the Gospel. They include; emotions, intuition, and imagination. Keeping things real, not polished and slick is another offering to this way of evangelism.

I am OK with casual and comfortable, but never unpolished or shoddy. I believe real artists and musicians are their own worst critic and are constantly in an evaluation mode. They are looking for the next angle or technique to their own outlet and expect a particular level of intellectual conversation. This is not to say that sometimes we just want to relax. I agree with the said characteristics of a right-brained thinker listed above, but not the unpolished approach.

What would really be life-giving is if there was an artistically safe environment to connect with other artists and musicians. A place where we could talk, brain storm or relax and not perform... in any way.

I believe evangelism is about relationship and action, giving of self and creation, listening and challenging.... now, how do I put that into action among right-brained thinkers?