Several astute readers have pointed out the seeming discrepancy between my two most recent blogs posted before this one. In one blog I identified the reason for my hesitancy in committing to Xenos- cussing. In the next blog I posted a diatribe written by me while I still attended a church of the institution- and it was filled with cussing (as those same astute readers pointed out)! So why did I cuss at my old church and then come to Xenos and say “I don’t like this church because they cuss”? I am going to try as best as I can to explain. I can’t really explain how but I think I can explain why. So here’s the final blog of this miniseries, the “one blog to rule them all.” I’ve been trying to identify the way I was thinking. Sure, it was bad. I was cynical, bitter and unloving ad infinitum. In trying to pick apart my attitude-in-remission, I can only agree with Keith’s assessment, which he so eloquently posits in a brief comment following the “Harbinger…” blog. He calls it a “Rich Young Ruler Syndrome" and that’s exactly what it is. I probably have a different idea of what exactly Keith means by that phrase but I’ll try to explain what I think he means. The evangelical institutional church is good for (at least) one thing: educating young people. I have had the Bible read to me, by me and for me since I was a toddler. You don’t walk away from twenty-plus years of Sunday school education without retaining at least something. And I was home-schooled in a conservative Christian home where we regular Bible reading was part of my mother’s curriculum as well! With all this knowledge coming in, I retained quite a bit. This is a blog about knowledge, particularly my knowledge. It’s weird- in the institutional church, in the institutional church body, it’s largely a goody-two-shoes type of environment. Can we play cards? Does God have “a beat?” Is drinking beer the same thing as committing murder? Is listening to rock music sinful? Those questions are the hairpin at the heart of the institutional church. A kid raised in that environment spends his entire spiritual upbringing “wrestling” with tough questions like this! But boy do we know our stuff. We had Bible drills when I was in junior high. They supplied the “game” portion of Sunday School. How would you younger guys like that? An old, tired, gray-skinned and liver-spotted lady at the front of the room says something like “Haggai 2:12” and all the class in unison scrambles through their Bibles hoping to be the first to find the “drilled” verse. This was our GAME TIME. So you’re raised in this environment where all this knowledge is coming in…but no one is telling you how to apply it to your life. You are frequently at the business ends of mindless platitudes and trite Christian-ese like “Just have more faith,” or “Try to do God’s will.” It’s an environment where you’re always hearing “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). You’re always hearing about how you can “…soar with wings as eagles” (Isaiah 40:31). Everyone in the church is on that unending quest for the next verse that will look great carved in a block of wood and sitting on the mantle at home. Knowledge, knowledge, knowledge. This stuff is drummed into you from the time you can understand the English language! Everyone around you lives this nicey-nice life where apparently they have overcome every human temptation and recognize sin as something only other people struggle with. So how the fuck does a Christian teen rebel against all that institutionalized bullshit? He writes cuss words in his diary while sitting in the main worship service of the same church that taught him cussing was sinful, and then feels guilty about it. In that atmosphere of nicey-nice, you want to be seen as the NOT NICE one. So you might cuss every now and then so all your nicey-nice friends look at you and go, “Ooh, he’s the worldly one…” The other guys’ moms shake their heads when they walk past you in the narthex, muttering to their husbands about how they overheard you say H-E-double-hockey-sticks last week. So you want to be seen in the institutional church as the “bad boy.” Then you come to a church where everyone is a rebel and your entire rebellion is dismantled. The only option is to self-righteously proclaim “What the Bible actually says,” and how you know this because you were raised in the church. You were raised in the church, which means you’re better! You’re not like these, these, little filthy-filthkins and their cussing. You fucking Pharisee. You fucking god-damned Pharisee. You couldn’t fucking love your way out of an empty fucking room. This is why my blog is called “I Incriminate Myself.”

What the *#$! Is Wrong With Cussing? When I first starting coming to Xenos, my biggest point of conflict with the group was not the smoking.  My problem did not lie with the group’s condoning of alcohol or the absence of singing.  I already was a smoker and took the occasional nightcap.  In my former church, I had sang enough worship choruses and hymns to successfully fill my mind with a loop tape of “Lord I Lift Your Name on High” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” until the day I die, so I wasn't mourning their loss either. My singular biggest problem with the Xenos fellowship was the cussing.  I mentioned this to my wife on several occasions.  I would allow, “They might be right in everything else they do,” but would then conclude, “But they cuss.”  As if in that conclusion all the seeds planted and the fruit harvested was all swept away in one legalistic brush of my fundamental hand. Her response was one of grace tempered with logic.  “Well,” she began, “When someone comes around who has never heard of Christ or does not know how to love, we focus on the way they relate to people- not whether or not they cuss.”  I would buckle to this.  What rational person would not?  However, I still secretly maintained my stoic attitude that “Christians shouldn’t cuss.” Why the fuck did I think this way?  Partly, I thought this way because I and my siblings were not raised around cussing.  Mom and Dad were very strict on this point.  I’m not sure it had much to do with any biblical source material.  They merely felt that nice people don’t cuss, we are nice people, so we don’t cuss. In church I think the attitude was basically the same:  Christians are supposed to be nice people.  Nice people don’t cuss.  DON’T CUSS.  Cussing was given all kinds of scary names to make it sound really terrible.  It was called “foul language,” “obscenities,” “cursing,” and other pseudonyms which really miss the mark for any kind of meaningful description. It really is a tragedy, though.  The church looks at the alienation of people from Christ and, instead of thinking “I’m fucking reaching these people if it kills me,” only thinks “This isn’t nice.”  Instead of looking at the relational abuse so prevalent from person to person, it says “This stinks,” instead of “This is bullshit.” The church sounds like a dork. The apostle Paul was no stranger to harsh language.  He was of the people, by the people and for Christ.  His attitude was such that he concluded, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ…” in Philippians 3:8.  Do you know what the Greek transliteration of “garbage” is in this verse?  It’s the word “skubalon,” which, roughly translated to English, means “shit.” Cuss words, like all words, have the capacity to edify as well as the capacity to tear down.  Cussing is a both-and, not an either-or. The biblical justification for teaching people not to cuss is, unfortunately, a lopsided attempt to remove grace from the equation and exert control and power over a free willed group of people!  The fucked up thing is that it often is successful because a lot of Christians don’t take the time to examine for themselves exactly what the Bible says and why it says it.  They’re satisfied with status quo (that exists in the church, too, people)! All too frequently, the verse thrown at young Christians to get them out of that terrible, awful, no good cussing habit is Ephesians 5:4 which says “Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes- these are not for you.  Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.”  I don’t see any mention of cussing in there.  And even if you eliminate that one thing from your life, in order to be biblical, you must replace it with “thankfulness to God.”  I know people who don’t cuss.  Whoopty fucking doo.  They aren’t thankful, grateful, joyful, or any other kind of “ful” toward God.  Except maybe “resentful.” Even in this classically mistreated verse from Ephesians 5, I think it’s important to look at the Greek to see exactly what kind of idea the writer was trying to get across.  Maybe some Bibles do include cussing in that short list of things not to talk about.  Let’s see: The three Greek transliterated words used in this passage from Ephesians are aisxrothv, mwrologiða and eutrapeliða. Literally translated, they mean filthy obscenity, foolish talking and ribaldry (sexually suggestive or grotesque) respectively.  Now I’m no professor of language but it seems to me that even though cussing can be used to accomplish all these things- cussing can be obscene!  Cussing can be used to talk foolishly!  Cussing can be used to graphically describe sexuality!  It just doesn’t automatically follow that all use of cussing is these things! Some fundamental Christian out there might be preparing to gnash their teeth and sit amongst the ashes while draped in sackcloth.  Don’t bother.  I’m sitting in the ashes already- and I don’t even own a sackcloth!  Before you prepare to dismantle my argument, let me just say that I am not arguing that everyone should cuss!  I’m not arguing that cussing is always appropriate!  In this blog I did not set out to address the rules of modern decorum- merely to show that, biblically speaking, you cannot say a Christian should never, ever, ever cuss. Just think about things a little more critically- you might be surprised.  Is your church giving you rules to have rules?  A lot of churches do this.  The battle cry of the institutional church seems to be “We need more rules!” Well I, for one, am very fucking tired of that bullshit.  Now grab your hymnals and turn to page 359, where we’ll sing “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cuss.”

So Ted Kennedy gets the Presidential Medal of Freedom, while anyone else would be serving a jail sentence for what he did. It's undeniable proof of the point I made in The Illusion of Freedom: all our perceived American freedoms come only because we’re rich and powerful, like Roman aristocracy. That’s all. It doesn't matter if you're Democrat or Republican, what matters is power and wealth. Then you get the Ted-Kennedy-treatment.

Ted's Fling With Murder

Few people remember that Ted killed a cute, young secretary in a dark, dirt road one night in 1969. He knew her well, and "Kennedy requested the keys to his car from his chauffeur" to drive her home alone from a big drinking party with six other girls (his wife wasn't there). He killed her on "Dike Road", then hid for eight hours or more, and finally turned himself into the police, claiming he was "disoriented" from a driving accident. In his own words:

"I remember walking around for a period and then going back to my hotel room. When I fully realized what had happened this morning, I immediately contacted the police." Kennedy Press Release

"Immediately" is untrue. He waited eight hours to call police, until his blood-alcohol level was normal. He certainly could have called the police immediately if he wanted:

"His route back to the cottage would have taken him past four houses from which he could have telephoned and summoned help; however, he did not do so." reporter Jack Anderson investigation.

Manslaughter is Murder

So at the very least he committed manslaughter, which is third-degree murder. The girl was alive and suffering  in Ted's car while Ted walked the booze out of his system for eight hours:

"Had I received a call within five to ten minutes of the accident occurring...there is a strong possibility that she would have been alive on removal from the submerged car." Police Diver Testimony

And what did Ted get, besides the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Since the crime occurred in Massachusetts where his family is well-connected with all the judges and prosecutors, they only charged him with "leaving the scene of an accident" and a verdict full of sympathy!

In announcing the [suspended] sentence, [Judge] Boyle referred to Kennedy's "unblemished record" and said that he "has already been, and will continue to be punished far beyond anything this court can impose". Court Records

Since Ted didn't lose his seat in Congress and continued to chase women for the rest of his career, and now that he received the Presidential Medal, it's rather difficult to understand how he "will continue to be punished," as the friendly judge claimed. But if you know how the World System works, it all makes sense.

National Lampoon was able to find something humorous about it.

The Sri Lankan was the keynote speaker at this year’s Xenos Summer Institute … and what a treat. Ajith has been serving as the head of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka since 1976, a country plagued by civil war for decades and the great tsunami only a few years ago. So I figured here was a guy who could convey what it really means to suffer, much to the shame of my cozy American existence. The man has had his share of suffering and pain, but what I heard, saw, and received from him was joy!  The guy was full of life – what seemed to be a very simple life where the Holy Spirit has worked through him in ways he never would have expected.

 

Ajith taught on the prevalence of Joy in the Bible in the face of pain Wednesday night. Our culture really doesn’t know what joy is:

 

“Today people have lost their joy … especially in Christianity … people don’t want joy, they would rather have their desires fulfilled rather than joy … they give up joy in order to have success in career, or sexual conquest … material prosperity, revenge …The icons of young people seem to be so unhappy and yet our people want to be like them … Why?”

 

That’s a good question. I can easily look at things that way.

 

The truths of what God has done for us and will do form the basis of a love relationship with the Lord and the basis of our joy. But how do we, who live in such a cynical and joyless culture experience the joy of the Lord? Ajith gave three principles to follow:

 

1. LAMENT over your pain (Rom 8:20) – It is important to groan and face the pain we experience in this world. When we do this we open ourselves to God’s comfort (2 Cor 1:3). The fact is, God is greater than the wickedness of this world.
2. We must BELIEVE in God – James 1:2, “Count it all joy…” that God will turn or use this situation for good. Rom 8:38-39 states there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.  Do you believe that? Ajith quoted Martin Loyd-Jones “most of your depression is because you are listening to yourself rather than talking to yourself”. God is a “pity-party-pooper”, when we start counting on the love and promises of God (i.e., “talking to our self” – mind set on the Spirit); the pity-party is over.
3. We need to SURRENDER to God. This was an interesting twist. His point was, that if we cling to anything, even a good thing, it will take our joy away. We must “die daily” (1 Cor 15:31) … be a living sacrifice. My favorite quote from Ajith was “most of my plans did not work, but most of my dreams have been fulfilled – just not my way”. We need to surrender that notion that “I have been wronged”. In fact, if we are following Christ, suffering will come our way – it is a sure sign that God has looked upon you with favor (Acts 5:41).

 

Thursday morning Ajith taught on the cross and the problem of pain. Unlike other religious or atheistic beliefs, the God of the Bible is joins us in our suffering and pain. He intercedes for us, was tempted, was distraught over the way of His people, and suffered the ultimate for us. Christians are to have that impact too, like their Lord. We have a great opportunity in this culture to shine because we are the minority and the postmodern world doesn’t know what to do with itself. What is needed is radical servanthood. Ajith quoted Jim Elliot who said “he is no fool who gives up what he can’t keep to gain what he can’t lose”.

 

Ajith’s final teaching was Friday evening, and I thought it the best. The title was “How Must a Pastor Die”… but it wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. Sure there was much about laying your life down… but the death you die is for and because of the Body of Christ, just as Jesus died for us (Jn 10:11).  Ajith said his deepest pain has come from relationships within the Body, not from the civil war raging about him or even the tsunami that was so devastating. “Working with people is where the deepest pain is.” Maybe he and I are not so different after all. I know that is where my greatest pains and failures have come: my inability to love people. It’s also the greatest source of blessing, the Lord working in my life to share His love through other people and to give me the power to love other people.

 

The bottom line is that Christianity is a covenant faith – relationships are based on commitment.  Our mobile culture makes this very difficult: we don’t have time for deep commitment, churches don’t push for long term commitment, we come to church as consumers, people can’t linger long enough to solve problems…

 

What can we do? Ajith then went through five truths that help us to endure the pain of commitment:

1. We are the Body – 1 Cor 12 and Paul’s example in Acts 15 – there is no such thing as a “lone-ranger” Christian
2. The Word commands us to strive for Unity – Eph 4:3; Heb 12:14; Phil 2:1-4 and Matt 5:23,24
3. God is Greater than the problem – Rom 8:28
4. God’s Love is Greater than the hurt we feel right now – Rom 5:3-5

 

These are revolutionary concepts, unheard of in our world. Take those passages before the Lord and apply them in your relationships and you may die a little only to receive joy that is out of this world!

 

All in all, I found Ajith a delight to listen to, very insightful, and a man who has been humbled by God. All of his teachings are now available (as well as the other speakers at XSI 2009) on the Xenos web site (http://www.xenos.org/teachings/index/index.php?source=XSI). Go have a listen.

I've got other issues besides the "Old Dawg" problem.

Look at what I did last week at CT:

They say  a picture is worth 1,000 words, but just in case here's the 1,000 words (10-minute version of the teaching)... by all means, feel free to comment and let me know if I lost my mind or not...

Rage Virus

The teaching concerns the following passage:

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thess. 5:11

And they had a contageous love:

Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia.  Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.  1 Thessalonians 4:10

Wrapping it all up (deli style)

Think of the church like a sandwich wrap. The mission is like the outside of the sandwich. It is wrapped around its fivefold purpose. This mission holds the church together and provides the reason why we do what we do as a church. The delicious, aromatic substance of the church is what is bound by her mission. The substance of evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship and community is her purpose and is held intact by her mission. (Oh, I had a hankering for a wrap today.)

Sandwich wraps = Church's mission enfolds her purpose

How well a church understands her mission and the reasons for that mission partially determines how effective and faithful a church is. Also to be considered is how well the mission field is defined. Questions must be asked. Who are we reaching? Why? Are we equipped to reach that particular group? What must we change to be effective without altering the substance of the message? These questions and more need to be considered, when there is a call for change or repentance. Also, there is a need to assess whether a church is effectively performing her function through purposeful activity. This activity is the substance of church. This purpose is the work of those who belong to Christ. This is our witness to the world and it must accommodate the needs of its current culture and be willing to change – to repent. Indeed, there is a need for repentance by the church. She is ever the unfaithful bride of Christ. Repentance goes beyond rethinking the church – repentance is heart change and cannot only be accomplished as our wills are submitted to the will of the author and perfecter of our faith. Our eyes must first be fixed on Jesus who “for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We too, as those who have been called to share in His sufferings as well as in His glory, bound together in love, must be willing to endure suffering and shame for the sake of those lost in darkness. We, as Revolutionaries, are called to subvert this current world system of brokenness, rigidity and slavery through the proclamation of good news, for Christ came to do as Isaiah prophesied in chapter 61:1.

 1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,          Because the LORD has anointed me          To bring good news to the afflicted;          He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,          To proclaim liberty to captives          And freedom to prisoners;

 It's time for a change of heart.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIJADzaNj8k[/youtube]   Though the other speakers at Xenos Summer institute were motiving and effective at drawing out joy, Joni stood as a gleaming light set on a hill, a beacon of hope and joy to a world of evangelicals seeking purpose and significance. If you have a heart, it was broken while sitting at the feet of Joni. That heart was not lead into despair - Not on Joni's watch. She, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit, moved the audience to a hopeful future through a journey of glorious dependance on and joy in the Lord -  for He is good. Indeed after hearing Joni's testimony and walk of faith, I am more confident than ever before just how loving, merciful, kind, and freaking good God is. "Rejoice in the Lord for he is good, His mercy does indeed endure forever and ever, " so sings my heart three days removed from her inspiring speech. Deeply desiring to pass on her words to those in my cell who were not able to attend and far too eager to wait for the CD recording or MP3 release and well aware of my inadequacies, I found a video of a speech that Joni delivered at another conference several years ago. It is not the extact one given by Joni in Columbus, but it is very similar in tone and content and worth watching - especially if you missed her at XSI. A simple recording may do, yet part of her message is conveyed through her countenance. Enjoy and experience a renewed joy in salvation.

Love: how can we understand it? Let alone live it? It is the greatest commandment, the summary of the Law, the New Testament ethic, and the measure of a Christian’s maturity. Just when I thought I was getting my minds around love ethics, we started studying worship. But when it comes to worship, what’s love got to do with it? Worship results in Zeal, which leads to Significance, which equals Victorious Love. (With joy as essential to worship.) Revelations 5:9-14 is the perfect picture of worship: “Worthy is the lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (v. 12). The heavenly beings in this passage as gushing about God’s greatness, because they’ve experienced it first-hand. We also personally know God’s glory through love relationship. When we worship God we recognize and respond to God’s zealous love for us. Zeal is essential to understanding love, and it goes beyond the normal “love is a choice” formulation. God didn’t grit His teeth when He decided to love us, as we often do when we obediently and mechanically “serve” others without zeal. Rather, God went out of His way and stopped at nothing to redeem and reach us, so that we might experience His love in a personal, intimate way. As a result, we can joyfully give our hearts to Him in gratitude and awe, seeking an ever-deepening love relationship with Him. When our heart worships God, rather than submitting out of sheer obedience, we experience joy as we delight in knowing God, His salvation, and His lavish provisions. Zeal is the natural outgrowth of joy: as we rejoice in God’s zealous love for us, He gives us the desire and zeal to love others. This is what it means that “We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Zeal is how we gain significance in people’s lives because it results in victorious love output. When I get functional and just go through the motions with people, even if I’ve thought about “what is best for them,” I don’t have zeal. And then I’m not loving victoriously, but half-heartedly or worse. Zeal isn’t about drumming up a bunch of sanguine excitement and warm fuzzies toward people. Rather, it means fighting for people’s good out of a heart-felt, God-given desire to love others. Zealous love is determined passion, and it will seek God’s will through prayer, the Word, godly counsel, and spiritual training so that we can love victoriously. When we have zeal for people we will become significant to them, and to be significant is to love and feel loved. There are so many good verses about zeal, and I particularly like 2 Corinthians as a study of zealous love, which Paul expresses for the Corinthian believers. Perhaps it’s a little easier to get my mind around Paul’s zeal, although it’s invaluable to reflect on God’s zeal for us, especially as demonstrated through Christ’s ministry. Paul refers to his first letter to the Corinthians, which included some much-needed rebuke, in 2 Cor. 2:4: “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.” Zeal includes the willingness to offend others when necessary for their good, but always “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), just as Paul did here. He wasn’t malicious or self-righteous about confronting them. He was emotional about writing words he knew would grieve them, but he hoped they would see it as the mark of his zealous love. Zealous love is expressed in both actions and words. Sometimes we need to affirm our love for people, as Paul does in 2 Cor. 11:11: “Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!” He is zealous for them to know that He loves them. When we put so much emotional and sacrificial effort into loving people, we want them to feel loved. But so often I avoid emotional statements about how significant a relationship is and how much I love someone because I’m afraid to be vulnerable. Our actions demonstrate zeal when we sacrifice substantially for others and thus become significant to them. “For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15). Zeal means living for the people you love, rather than for yourself. Paul lived for the sake of the churches and lost people. He was zealous to bring more people to worship and thank God for His grace. And it took an offering of his whole being. He was willing to suffer anything for their good; no cost was too high. That’s real zeal. The all-consuming nature of zeal is described again in 2 Cor. 5:13-15: “For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” He is overcome by God’s love and consumed by the zeal that results from worship. He gives up control to become a bond-servant, willing to live for others, acting either sane or insane, whatever love requires. We see again the sacrificial nature of zeal in 2 Cor. 12:15: “I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” Zeal will lead us to a level of sacrifice only limited by what is beneficial for the other person. And this offering of self is joyful, as Paul says he is glad to do it. He’s willing to sacrifice for them even if they resent it. People don’t always understand our zeal for them and may not respond as we hoped, but victory lies not in their reaction, but our active love for them. Then he gets even more personal in a beautiful, heart-wrenching verse, 2 Cor. 7:3, 4: “I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.” Zeal produces an overwhelming sense of unity, emotional bonding, and spiritual significance. It is the eternal heart-connection of brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s like the parent-child relationship he uses to illustrate his zeal for the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:7, 11). He gains so much joy and comfort and pride from the Corinthians’ victories because he is significant to them, and as a result of his zeal they are learning to be significant to others. I experienced this idea of someone being in my heart when Jen and Yana left our fellowship and friendships. Zealous love opens the opportunity for profound hurt because once someone is in our hearts to live and die together, an external severing of the bond is so painful. I feel like a part of my heart was ripped out with them leaving, and yet at the same time they are still in my heart. I was significant to them and their leaving doesn’t change that. But we shouldn’t need a tragedy to feel the eternal, intimate bond we have with our friends. There are so many more people who are forever united with me through the bond of Christian love relationships. And there is an opportunity for great joy in such friendships. We rejoice when those we are zealous for gain their own zeal and significance, as in 2 Cor. 7:7: “and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.” Such an outcome produces joy upon joy. And as a disciple’s character grows, so does their worship and thus their zeal. 2 Cor. 7:11, 12 says, “For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God.” Paul’s zeal for the Corinthians led to their repentance and righteous handling of wrong, and this led their hearts to deeper worship of God. Here is what we all hope for our disciples: 2 Cor. 7:16: “I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.” But do we work zealously toward this goal of victorious love output? Can we say, as Paul did in 2 Cor. 11:2, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin”? God is jealous of us because we are rightfully His! He has substantially sacrificed for us; He is unquestionably significant to us. And when we lead someone to worship God, we betroth them to Christ as part of His church. Like parents betrothing their child, we should be jealous and zealous (both from Greek zelo, to burn with passion), to present our spiritual offspring as a pure virgin to Christ. When we zealously love a disciple or someone else, their welfare becomes more important than ours (Philippians 2:3, 4). “For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete” (2 Cor. 13:9). Zeal takes a high emotional toll on us; it is simultaneously wearying and energizing to love victoriously. We may feel weak as a result of sacrifice or sin, but we still rejoice and worship God, motivated by the spiritual power growing in our disciples. This leads us to pray earnestly that God will mature and “complete” them as a result of their worship. There are so many more verses about zeal, but one I especially like is 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” The zeal I’ve just described from 2 Corinthians is a goal to strive for as we worship God and let Him transform our hearts. I fall so far short of zealous sacrificial love, and yet by God’s grace I’m still building significance in people’s lives. God is most interested in our heart attitude of zeal for others. Our sin will always get in the way of perfect execution. But this verse is a beautiful and reassuring promise that if we let God grow zealous love in our hearts, He can work around and through our sinful blunders. And that brings us back to one more reason to worship and rejoice in Him.

Notorious instigator Abbie Hoffman’s “Steal this Book” (1971) ingeniously captured the dissident spirit of the Yippie counter-culture. It was, in contemporary parlance, very relevant. In the new millennium, to not write a book is now the most relevant way to spread ideas, and author Benson Hines’ e-book “Reaching the campus tribes: an opening inquiry” is one forward-thinking example aimed at the Christian ministry subculture. So, stop reading this blog book-review and go download the genuine article (e-book) for free at www.reachingthecampustribes.com.

 

OK, done? Notice the fine photography, interesting layout, and relative brevity of the book (the full 70 megabyte version looks best)? I learned nearly as much from the photo captions as I did from the text. The medium is the message, right?[1] Well, this book has several messages.

 

• Christian ministry to college students needs attention

        ...egregiously neglected in the recent history of the protestant church

        ...understaffed, underfunded, and poorly thought out

        ...critically important to the core mission of the church

 

• Reaching college students is missions (hence “tribes”)

        ...a cross-cultural experience for non-college student ministers

        ...requires missions-like strategies, including contextualization

 

So, the book is an essay, arguing two points. First, it implores churches and ministers to prioritize ministry to college students. Second, it draws an analogy between overseas missions and ministry to colleges and universities. Furthermore, the book’s tagline is “an opening inquiry” so you should not expect it to provide many answers. Rather, it is only the beginning of the dialogue (also very relevant in contemporary ministry lingo). Hines writes: “this short book is more proclamation than primer, more megaphone than microscope…(p 8).” Hines does not spell out a clear strategy for how to successfully launch or invigorate a campus ministry. Finally, the book is born out of a pilgrimage of sorts. Benson traveled for a year visiting 181 campuses and talking to about 300 campus ministries. As such, it is very autobiographical, in the sense that it emphasizes the first person voice, and also the impressions and views of the author.

 

In the spirit of “Reaching the campus tribes” I will likewise unashamedly offer my opinions on this topic during this review. I will also accept Benson Hines’ invitation to the “open inquiry,” and will ask a lot of questions. All this will have to wait for part two of this book review. For now, go download this book if you haven’t already. Read it, and come back prepared to hear both praise and criticism in part two of the review. As always, feel free to comment, and add your voice to the inquiry.

31486261#31486261 - A link to the Today show report on "outdated marriage." Upon reading the article, On marriage: Let’s call the whole thing off, a clever play on the song by George Gershwin, I am at a loss for words. Perhaps, it is not a loss of words, rather a sense of being slapped in the face with a piece of rotting meat. I am astonished. Marriage is no longer viable. It is outdated and unrealistic, not worth the time. This was news to me, a mother of four sons, ages 15 through 9, married now for 18 years, most of which have been amazingly fulfilling and full of love. Sweat dripped from my brow as I calculated the time left for me in antiquated marriage. Two years until I wake up and file the papers. Gulp. Author Sandra Tsing Loh, after 20 years of hard work as mother, companion, professional writer, household manager and "go-fer," has decided to get a divorce. She laments that she just works too hard to attempt to put the romance back into a marriage that lost the heat long ago. Her marriage is not worth her effort. She hasn't got time for the pain. After counseling sessions and confessing an affair, not only has Ms. Loh opted for divorce, but she is now questioning the entire institution of marriage. Marriage is not worth it. This is not a view from an embittered divorcee, but rather the insight of the enlightened. She writes :

Why do we still insist on marriage? Sure, it made sense to agrarian families before 1900, when to farm the land, one needed two spouses, grandparents, and a raft of children. But now that we have white-collar work and washing machines, and our life expectancy has shot from 47 to 77, isn’t the idea of lifelong marriage obsolete?

Well, it seems that in many Western countries the notion of marriage is becoming less popular as statistics from the World Values Survey indicate, while Americans embrace marriage as "highly valued," even though America has the highest divorce rate of any country. Ms. Loh points out that Americans have the highest view of marriage.

“Marriage is an outdated institution” than citizens of any other Western country surveyed (compare the U.S.’s tiny 10 percent with France’s 36 percent). We are also more religious — more Americans (60 percent) say they attend religious services once a month than do the Vatican-centric Italians (54 percent) or, no surprise, the laissez-faire French (12 percent). At the same time, Americans endure the highest divorce rate in the Western world. In short, although we say we love religion and marriage, Cherlin notes, “religious Americans are more likely to divorce than secular Swedes.”

So Americans are a marriage centric nation of individuals who embrace the values of monogamy in marriage as well as the pursuit of personal happiness. Loh observes that since Americans value individualism as well as happily-ever-after-marriage, these competing values result in divorce, which explains our country's high divorce rate as compared to other nations. Honestly, I found this argument intriguing, for she argues that our sense of the individual over community, or even family, contradicts the substance of marriage.  Hence, Americans are doomed to the grinding cycle of marriage, divorce, remarriage, divorce and so forth. It just isn't worth it. Interesting concept, I suppose. Then, Ms. Loh begins to share her observations with her core group of women friends, who all have been married for many years.Soon after Ms. Loh divorced and shared her enlightened perspective, that they too were considering to make the break from the bonds that imprison them. They too just don't have the time to make their marriages work. Marriage and love relationships take work. Effort is required. Far better to be happy as an individual and to arrange some sort of civil agreement with the baby-daddies. So long as the children are not disturbed and they have the security of a household where mom and dad come and go, no harm done. The kids are just fine. Just follow the rules. Rules do not require love. Rules make it easier - to make excuses - or to leave. This is where my brain pops forth from my skull. So, Ms. Loh and Company, since you and your gal pals all have white collar jobs, which equals wealth, you can purchase your freedom. You will have your home - apart from your ex and your kids. Your ex will need his separate place. Your children will have their fake - fairyland home where mom and dad come and go. I count three households, unless you and your ex share a pad. This plan is economic disaster for anyone other than the wealthy, not to mention it is peculiar. So what you are really saying is that the wealthy can have their separate lives and marriage is outdated for them. The poor and undereducated, well, they must remain in outmoded marriage, even though it is supposedly biological torture - as humans only experience the sensation of chemical induced love for the max of four years. Geez, after reading this article, I felt like I had just finished watching the HBO series Rome. Now that was a show full of debauchery - masses of intertwined flesh - the wealthy women had all the choices - plotting for power, using their bodies for gain. For them, marriage was a power play of position and political strategy. Personally, I am having difficulty seeing the difference from what Ms. Loh is proposing and what I witnessed in that series - moral and civil decline, not to mentioned the absence of  love. So now the women's movement is recruiting wives of modern wealth and education to leave their husbands, or heck, never marry. You reason, children only suffer harm when a string of men are introduced to them. Those children must bond with these men and, in turn, suffer repetitive emotional loss. Children thrive in a stable home where civility and rules are followed. Under your paradigm, love is not necessary, because love takes work. A world without genuine loving relationships is what you postulate, Ms. Loh. A world where men and women do not sacrifice and work at love - is a world not worth living in. A world lived for self only - is a world without God. It is a world of death and decay. Maybe that's why I felt as though I was hit in the face with rotten flesh - for that is what man and women are with out love. The apostle Paul put it best in 1Cor 13: 1-3.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Sometimes, we need to take a good look at ourselves and acknowledge that love takes work and it requires sacrifice that is other's focused. I know that after reading this article, I am taking a good look at myself. I use rules all the time to replace the work - the huge painful effort- that love requires. It is not easy - that is for sure, but is it genuine and it is alive. Love focused outwards is anything, but decayed. It is everything that is good. Happy 18th anniversary, Steve. I love you more than when we first said "I do."

so last night before cell group i somehow stumbled upon a youtube video that Keith made back in 2003 about his deceased brother Buck McCallum.  If you don't know who Buck is, his full name is Scot McCallum, but for some strange reason people call him Buck.  This man was pretty amazing he went all the way to Russia as a witness for Christ.  I just really don't understand it.  My dilemma is strange i started to watch it, and i got all teary eyed.  i was so baffled by my emotions.  I mean i know im dating his daughter Kate, but that doesn't make any difference, my feelings at that point in time had nothing to do with her.  She was absent from my mind at the moment i was watching it.  I was overcome with great sorrow but joy as well for this man i have never met.  So i felt compelled to write a comment on that video which is on youtube.  Sadly my comment was way too long. so i figured i would put it here and a link to the video. hopefully i can figure out how to work this blog thing..... anyway here is the comment i wanted to leave.

Hey my name is Mike Hudock and I am a fellow xenoid at North east Ohio Xenos. Wow this video really made me start to tear up. I really don’t understand it, I never really knew this man personally, but I always hear good things about him. How influential he was, how much of a leader he was, but most importantly how many people’s lives were turned around by this man. The lord definitely used this mans’ life to change people all around the globe. I wish I could have met him on this planet to see how this trouble maker lived his days for the Lord, and how he overcame so many obstacles in different countries. Its funny every time I ask someone about Buck McCallum they get a big grin on their face and tell me a story about how he tried to fight the system with love or bring Gods redemptive power to life in different situations.

I do pray for his family that he left behind, his wife Amy, and his daughters Kate and Kelly. I have had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful family. I pray that they will continue to walk with Christ everyday and witness to those who don’t have that light in their hearts. It’s a beautiful thing what Buck did sacrificing everything for the Lord and moving over to Russia to become a missionary. His life was a life centered around relationships, something that many Christians get confused about. I mean that is what God is all about, his people, but more importantly relationships!

 Rev: 21:4  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying
or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

1PE 1:8  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do 

not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible 

and glorious joy.

Its really amazing how the Lord works, this gift of love he has given us.
This gift of love so that we can use it to glorify his name through people like Buck and all the other
brothers and sisters who are now in the presence of the Lord our God.  
This unexplained love for a man I never met reminds me of the love I have for everything
Christ has done for my undeserving teenage life.  As I write this long ass comment I cry for the late
Buck McCallum because I have seen how joyous and rewarding it is to live and die for His name.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uoyCEc106Q[/youtube]

Do you? Well do you at least remember that song by Korn? I just stumbled upon this website called "I am Second" which seems to be a bunch of testimonials of famous people who have come to the Lord. He was there and his is pretty powerful. You watch that and you realize that Jesus can reach anybody! He had all the pursuits the kosmos can throw at you ... and it wasn't enough. Now he has "it" because he knows the Lord and it sounds like his is really turned around and he's become quite a person who loves and a doer of good things (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_%22Head%22_Welch). Check it out: http://www.iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Brian_Welch/

They tell you to follow your dreams and your heart, and then the rest will follow too. In order to make your dreams come true, the first step for high-school graduates is to head off to college, the now-mandatory step for those wishing to attain a successful life. But, as has been written in other places, the ugly truth they don't share is that college is an expensive proposition and is filled with students who just got accepted because that's what you do when you're finished with high-school. Yes, of course, college is very valuable and does serve a great purpose. But, universities are happy to cash checks from incoming freshman who aren't quite sure what that purpose is, at the same time still trying to figure out what their purpose is. A new undergrad has got to choose a major fast. Following the formula "What is the one thing that you would do for the rest of your life for free?" is recommended. This popular calculation always results in a glut of fashion design majors, aspiring sports agents, premed course work or a degree in psychology. The rub they don't give you is that all of these fields are highly competitive. To make it, you'll have to dedicate yourself beyond the large field of your also ambitious peers. Loans and sacrifices will have to be made. Better be sure this will make you happy, because by the time you graduate, you'll be so in debt that you will literally be doing your dream job for free! That is, if you can actually land it. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but from what I hear, you won't be able to. Take James for example:

I went to a top 20 law school...I was very concerned about the debt of the private school but everyone advised me it was the best decision to go to the top 20 law school. I now owe $150,000 in pure student loans and $30,000 in credit card debt from my 3 years of law school, that’s after a $12,000 scholarship, $5000 from summer jobs and probably $10,000 in family assistance. I make $30,000 a year working as a highly skilled lawyer in a specialized field. I enjoy my job and am thankful for a good education, however, the $40K tuition at the private school means I won’t pay off my loans until I’m close to 60, even if I can eventually get the “average” lawyer salary of 70K-90K. By the way, I never had debt until I did the right thing and went to grad school. Also, I always had a roommate during school, still drive the same 15 year old car, have the same 5 year old laptop, and buy most of my clothes at Old Navy…when they have a sale! I would love to have student loans less than $50K. — James

In many ways, James is lucky. Although he's trapped in an enslaving system of debt and can never stop working, he actually finished his schooling and landed a job that he likes. Most aren't so lucky. A lot of would-be music producers are currently working at Enterprise Rent-a-car. College is a vital part of a system that's designed to grind you up and spit you out. As M.G. says, the problem is deeper -

It isn’t so much the debt that is the problem, it is the absolute disconnect between education and employment. My experience as an undergraduate was that there was essentially no effort put into making us employable, helping us find employment, or helping us know what the ramifications of our decisions would be in real dollars and cents. — M.G.

For an increasing number of students, college is a place to prolong the transition from teenager to adult. The excuse "I am/was in college" can now be used to explain away almost any bad decision made - You knocked up some girl? But, "I was in college". Can't remember what happened last night? Man, "I'm in college". You can't hold down a job, pay your rent, and/or be a functioning member of society? It's OK, you're in college. But, what happens when college is over?

Quit whining, Indentured, Over-Educated Servants, or its Debtors’ Prison for you!! — Your Bank Overlords

At the very least, on the part of students entering universities this fall, a large amount of sobriety is needed. The financial institutions lending money don't have your best interests in mind, although interest is on their minds. Their hope is that you continue paying interest (and not principle) on student loans until you cease to exist. Universities have a racket of their own - outrageously priced textbooks, rising tuition costs, and an environment that automatically feeds in a new crop of students after many in last year's freshman class flunk out. That means have a plan going into college and more importantly, a plan to get out. Although most advise against it, it would be better to wait a few years to attend college in order to actually settle on a major and a desired career. At the very least, be sane enough to sit down and calculate the costs of the college experience by making a realistic budget. College requires maturity. Sure, some have the ability to slack their way to a degree, however, most don't. Before you enter, you must have good study habits and a sense of responsibility. This is directly related to the ability to provide for yourself, rather than rely on your parents or others. If I could do college over again, I'd take at least a year to start paying my own bills and being responsible for myself. Finally, don't be afraid to consult people who've survived the experience and have also been successful post-college to get their expertise.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nreTjW_usKs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Dsan%2520diego%2520bible%2520study%26rls%3Dcom%2Emicrosoft%3A%2A%3AIE%2DSearchBox%26oe%3D&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]   In San Diego, the right to gather in homes for fellowship and prayer is being called into question by the county government. Neighbors have filed complaints, citing parking problems and safety issues as the reason. Local officials agree. This group is a nuisance. They are breaking the rules. Pastor David Jones claims that this small gathering of Christians does not qualify as large church assembly. "Full-blown" church services require permits which cost in the thousands of dollars. Pastor Jones believes that they are being unjustly harassed, even persecuted.

"We are talking about as little as five [people], a high meeting of 27, but on average 15," explains Jones. "To find that the county says this is a code violation is really wrong."

So, Pastor Dave has retained an attorney and could be taking this to federal court, if fines are enforced. He (as well as Miss California) are outraged - even shocked - that their first amendment rights are being violated. After all it's America. Our rights are sacred. In fact, countless people have died and continue to die to preserve our Constitutional rights. Arlington National Cemetery bears witness to the belief system that says, "Country First," which is now a grassroots movement started by former POW John McCain."  

We are at a moment of national crisis that will determine our future as a people and as a country. I have spent my life serving our nation and will continue to fight in order to right the path of our great country. America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

Though many Christians would argue that God is first in their lives, fighting to preserve our national freedom is often at the heart of many conservative Christians. My own family has a long, distinguished military service record, a record I am very proud of, and yet, I question whether as Christians we should being so willing to take up the sword, or the lawyer, to defend our rights. Why not stand firm and suffer the at the hands of an oppressive government? This pacifist approach, more often than not, wins the heart of watching world. Was it not the cruel torture and brutal crucifixions of the first Christ followers that moved the Roman world to compassion? Their undeserved suffering, moved hundreds upon thousands to embrace Christ as Lord. The spontaneous expansion of the "church" affirms this as fact. Did not our hearts weep for the Chinese as tanks bore down upon university students in Tiananmen Square? In light of this perspective should not Pastor Jones and his congregation rejoice that they are suffering shame for Christ? Christ said:

“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. Matthew 5:11-12

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way. Luke 6:22-23

Instead of whining and demanding  protection under the first amendment rights, should this congregation not continue to gather in neighborhoods, parks, and even more open venues? Be respectful, be faithful and be filled with joy. You are worthy to suffer for the name. Pastor Dave you should be dancing in the streets! Being harassed and bullied never feels good. It is difficult. We just want to complain. We as humans instinctively defend our rights and privileges. If we are "dised," we demand justice. However, as believers we are the no longer under the power and authority of the ruler of this world, who is Satan. We are part of the kingdom of God. We are the "called out ones."  Romans 12:2 says, "We do not have to be conformed to the ways of this world, but we are continually transformed by the renewing of our minds." We must learn to think in a radical, different way. In this situation, the radical, yet loving stance, would be to continue to meet. If there are parking issues, try to be respectful of neighbors. Try car pooling. Explain why you believe what you believe, but do so out of humility and gentleness, not out of outrage or of haughty indignation.  Above all be joy filled. Be so full of grace that it flows out from every pore of your person. Don't go all legal on this issue. Just continue to meet, to pray, to fellowship, and to worship, in order to bring glory to God, so that all may be edified by the unity and love of the brethren. So, pay to pray? Yes, there is a price to pay, but to pay a fine indicates assent that a law was broken. Has a law been broken? Perhaps. A better question is whose law may have been broken? Regardless, this small group should continue to meet for they are of the Kingdom of God. There may be consequences for such a pacifist response. Indeed, they should be willing to suffer the lawful consequences of continuing to gather. Should they fight back? Peter and John were once confronted by the courts about preaching and teaching Christ crucified and raised:

But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

It is not a matter of fighting back. It is a matter of standing firm as members of the Kingdom of God. For as P&J stated so eloquently in Acts 4, we answer to Christ, not to men. What an honor, though uncomfortable, for this particular church to suffer for the name. Perhaps they should take note of how the early Christians in Acts 4 handled their civil harassment. Peter and John return to their companions and retell of their trial before the high court. Upon hearing P&J's tale, the believers raise their voices together and praise God. Unified in love and purpose, they acknowledge that these leaders were not against them, but rather these world leaders stand against Christ. They ask God to grant them ability to speak the Word with confidence. They do not ask to get off from paying some penalty or for God to smite those terrible leaders. They ask they may speak the gospel with boldness. They aren't all indignant that their rights as Americans were violated. They were not demanding justice. They merely desired to praise God and to preach him crucified and raised. Guess what, immediately proceeding this event, this body of believers grew in both generosity and in numbers. This was a healthy, vibrant church. This is the opportunity set before this San Diego Fellowship. So, am I shocked? Initially I shared Miss California's angst, but an investigation of God's word revealed the deeper truth. Peter said it best in 1Peter 4:12-13:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

So if bringing glory and honor to God is the price to pay, then yes, we not only ought to pay to pray, but we should rejoice while in the midst of doing so.

See "Meet the End of Religion" and "Visiting the Meeting House" at the NeoZine -- this is the longer video of the recent CBS trip to Canada. [flashvideo file=http://neonets.org/repo/media/neomovies/meeting-house_320.flv /]