Mark posted this article on his blog blog...I had to list it here. This article is amazing.
posted by Jimmy at 7:57 PM | |

 
Okay, this is a long way off, but I want to make sure we get it on everyone's calendars for the upcoming year. We'll be getting posters and marketing tools to everyone~...

Mark Your Calendars: April 2nd 2004--Tell The Truth Day

On this day, we will tell anyone who asks the entire truth about ANYTHING they ask of us. The ENTIRE truth.

This shall take place in homes, churches, workplaces, and schools. This shall be en lieu of the NORMAL routine of telling half-truths or bald-faced lies in order to get others to either do what we want or leave us alone (or to keep us from getting into trouble). We are encouraging you to encourage others, such as your teachers, youth pastors, senior pastors, etc., even your politicians, to deviate from the modus operandi for this short time period.

We are hoping that there will be more participation in 2004 than 2003. We are fully aware of the drastic change in routine that we are asking for. Should this result in any inconvenience (i.e. the losing of one's job), we apologize.

(For those of you who are bloggers and such, please begin preparing your readers for Tell the Truth Day 2004!)
posted by Jimmy at 1:48 PM | |

 
DUMB
Okay...here's possibly one of the dumbest things I have ever done. Last weekend I was sick...had a slight fever on Saturday around 100 degrees, so I took it pretty easy over the weekend. I had a deadline for a web project due Tuesday morning, but the artist wasn't getting me the artwork until Sunday, so taking it easy Saturday was a good plan. Well, Sunday came and I got part of the artwork and didn't get the rest until Monday afternoon. So what did I do? I stayed up Monday night all night, worked all day tuesday and didn't get to go to sleep until 5:30 or 6 pm...about 33 hours without sleep after coming off a weekend where I had been sick already. Needless to say...last night I had a fever of 101+ and a sinus infection that made me feel like someone had punched me hard in the right cheeck (painful teeth and all).

For any of you out there who are over 30 and used to be able to pull those kinds off when you were in your 20s....um, don't try it.


posted by Jimmy at 1:35 PM | |

 
Blessings

Looking at his disciples, he said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets."

"Better yet for those of you who are rich,
for you have already received stuff and will get more later.
Better yet who are well fed now,
for your stomachs are full now and later.
Better yet you who laugh now,
for you continue laughting
Better yet for you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how to get somewhere in this world."

posted by Stephen at 10:49 PM | |

 
A few days ago, I posted about an experience I had on a bus. It solidified for me the idea that faith is what allows us to live our lives for Christ, despite the consequences (not necessarily some power to change consequences as proof of my life with Christ). It's what makes Phillipians 4:13 make a lot more sense (I can live through these circumstances with Christ, as opposed to the interpretation given it by a Univ. of Tulsa football player on an FCA program... "We're going to have a winning record this season, because I can do all things through Christ..." BLAH BLAH BLAH.... That, my friends, is more what I think of when the Bible talks about taking the Lord's name in vain). But it sure doesn't leave a lot of room for "woe is me" grumbling, either. Every set of circumstances we face, every action we take, every decision we come to (every move you make, every vow you break... ahem... sorry) has the potential to either leave us where we are or draw us closer to Christ. And I don't think it all necessarily hinges on whether we make the "right" decision or not. Sometimes, making the wrong decision can be the best learning experience we would have. Maybe that's what people mean when they say, "It's all a part of God's plan." Maybe not.

It also doesn't allow us to shluff anything off. Even if you do believe that things can happen entirely by accident (Jimmy says he doesn't), that accident could teach you something, or somehow pull you closer to Christ.

So this should have quite an impact on how we live our lives, right? Everything I do is of eternal consequence now! What would happen to our lives if we stopped believing in accidents (or at least started believing that even accidents can have consequences the implications of which we will never understand)?

I'll tell you one thing, I'd quit swearing in traffic. I wouldn't get so mad. I'm supposed to be there! I can learn something. God is with me.

Would church™ play the same games if they stopped believing in accidents? Would they go into huge amounts of debt to cover their own butts? Would they have efficiency experts and marketing or PR campaigns?

What does it mean to your ministry if you stopped believing in accidents? What if you truly believed that Christ was in every situation?

Would you thank him for the pink slip? I don't think I would.

Would you finally say something the next time your executive minister gets up and says that we should cut certain ministries because "they're not bringing in a good return on our investment"? Yeah, I'd probably do that.

But it would change some things for the good, I think.
posted by Stephen at 11:37 PM | |

 
Another offering by Jimmy:

Worry

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Here’s an idea. Something I’ve been thinking about. What if you didn’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear? What if life is more than food, and the body more than clothes? I’ve been watching the the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more might he clothe you, if we have enough faith? And what if you didn’t set your heart on what you will eat or drink; not even worrying about it? For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. Nah…never mind. Everyone in the world knows we need to worry about these things. I’m sorry. Dumb idea.”
posted by Stephen at 11:27 PM | |

 
The offering from MeHead inspired me to dig back into the archives of the Ooze and find some alternate parables that Jimmy and others had written. Here is one Jimmy wrote just to get your juices going:

The Rich Ruler

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"I’m glad that you called me good, that you recognized Who I really am." Jesus answered, “You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "Well, that sounds good. So, now, what would you like for me to do for you. I want to make you as comfortable as I possibly can….maybe you could get involved in our inner-city ministry program.”
“Well,” answered the ruler, “I don’t have much time.”
“That’s really okay,” responded Jesus, “it only takes one Saturday a month, just a couple of hours.”
“Great,” said the rich ruler, “I think I can do that.” And the man went away joyful that he had had the conversation.
Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “See, to be a part of my kingdom you get to follow all of your dreams and desires—plus you get eternal life….that’s the way it is with God. Why don’t you guys go on home to your businesses, families, and friends.”

posted by Stephen at 9:36 AM | |

 
the definition of not getting it.
posted by riddle at 1:48 PM | |

 
man...jordon cooper's got a great post on his blog concerning politics and the role of a Christian. It's predominatly a quote from Where Resident Aliens Live--the sequel to Resident Aliens-- by Willimon & Hauerwas, but he adds his own good thoughts and some belonging to others.
posted by Jimmy at 11:43 PM | |

 
I have narrowed the problem with the church to two possible issues.
1) Church™ leaders suffer from a very small medula oblongata
2) the church™ is the devil


posted by Andy at 8:47 PM | |

 
Counting Crows Concert...Tickets for Sale
Hey gang...I've got a good friend trying to get rid of some Counting Crows tickets for the concert in Dallas Saturday night. He's not trying to make money. He bought a lot thinking more people would go (I would LOVE to go...but I've got a wedding of a former student to go to), and he's stuck with like 5 tickets at $50 a pop. I think he would be willing to give a deal on the tickets rather than loose all the money. If you know of someone who is interested...please drop me a line at jimmy@liquidthinking.org or him a line at shepboy@shepboy.com
posted by Jimmy at 7:07 PM | |

 
Rock the Boat...
I think a big issue with Church™ is control and beauracracy. It's time church members quit being spectators and started being the cultural revolutionaries Christ calls us to be. If you are someone who is still going to an established Church, start asking the hard questions. "Where does our tithe go? What percentage goes to helping the poor? What percentage goes to building maintenance? How are the salaries of the church staff balanced?" These are probably the hardest questions for Church&trade because they have to do with money.

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who had been in charge of his church's stewardship campaign. After raising around a million dollars, he found out that only 1/3 of 1% was going to be used for "outreach"...and of that the majority was focused on a program to be held within the church walls (some outreach) . He then found out the church spent more money on 3 classrooms, two of which are never used. And lastly, of the entire church budget, only about $4,000 was to be used for local ministry to assist those in need.

I've had a hard time since I left the organized church knowing what to say to those who are still on the inside. In some ways I haven't wanted to offend and definitely didn't want to discredit the things God is doing in Church™ (yes, I do believe God works on the inside...contrary to some of my friends' opinions), but in others I want to encourage them to be ecclesial jammers in their communities--making it hard for the churches to continue the same abuses. Maybe we need hundreds of Luthers nailing their own complaints on the church doors.

I think I'm leaning more towards rocking the boat these days....who knows, maybe someone will end up walking on water.
posted by Jimmy at 10:27 AM | |

 
Some things to do with your money instead of giving it to your church:

It is my opinion that the tithe was never meant to buy multi-media soundstages, hire efficiency experts, design church internet websites, or most of the multitude of unnecessary crap that many churches spend their money on (Deuteronomy 14 and Malachi 3).

Therefore, here are a few much better uses of your money:

1) Go to a "less fortunate" area of town, drive up to an apartment complex office, randomly select a number, and pay that person's rent for the month
2) Go to a restaurant where you know you'll get crappy service, and tip the total amount of the bill
3) Buy books for a library
4) Buy a ton of the Arby's "Five for $5" roast beef sandwiches, drive around town, and deliver them to everyone with a sign that says "Will work for food" (I know, I've heard all the scam stories and everything... but my guess is a lot of those people really are pretty hungry)
5) Buy school supplies and give them to either kids or a school
6) Pay for a stranger's gas while you pay for your own
7) Go to a bar and order a round of beers for the four guys who just walked in to listen to the band play
8) Buy a sack of groceries... the basics... and after you pay the cashier for them, ask them how they're doing, really listen to them, then ask them where they'd like their groceries
9) Go buy clothes to donate instead of just giving up your hand-me-downs (but do that, too)
10) My personal favorite... subsidize a teacher's pathetic income
posted by Stephen at 11:06 PM | |

 
I struggle with the passage about faith moving mountains.

To be honest, I don't understand it. I mean, I understand it in a more figurative sense (the mountain is more of a symbol of some huge life struggle or something that faith in God helps you through) but Jesus said this after he (what I believe to be) very literally shriveled a fig tree. Jesus wanted figs. It didn't have figs, so Jesus zapped it.

What made me think of this was that I was just recently on a bus that ran out of gas with a lot of people on it. People prayed, and said in their prayers that faith would start the bus.

Now, if I'm to take that passage seriously about moving the mountain, certainly faith can start a bus. And, sure enough, the bust started... after some gas was put into it. And it made it up the hill that it pootered out on... after all the people filed off of it to lighten its load (granted, it was a pretty steep hill).

But while we were sitting on the bus, I had a pretty interesting exchange. Someone said something about how the bus would never start, and another person "rebuked" them. "Do not spread seeds of doubt! Say what you want to happen and it will happen." After a while, I made the comment that maybe we should be thankful that the bus stopped. I received a very uncomfortable look.

"What if we're being spared from a giant accident by being delayed? What if someone right now is learning something vital from this experience? What if this was supposed to happen?"

The said they'd never thought of it like that.

I guess I always thought of faith as being able to take peace in knowing that, no matter what is happening, I can come through it all the closer to Christ. Not necessarily because he helps me avoid things, but because he makes me learn from them. If that's the case, where the freak does tossing mountains into the ocean come in?

Although, the bus DID start. Hmmm...
posted by Stephen at 11:19 PM | |

 
Okay, I'm not a big fan of what the Dixie Chicks did, and I think people do the RIGHT thing when they stop buying albums/movie tickets/books/etc. when entertainers do things that the public thinks is inappropriate, but...

...I'll take sides with almost anyone against Toby Keith.
posted by Stephen at 11:04 PM | |

 
Hey,

If any of you are in the Tulsa area and want to meet up with people from the Ooze, liquidthinking, and others "on the journey" then go to http://indieallies.meetup.com and vote for a place to meet on August 12. I cast my vote for the downtown theater. I hope it doesn't end up at Novel Idea Bookstore. That just seems so... sanitized.
posted by Stephen at 10:59 PM | |

 
Here's something I was given by Jesse Willard a year or so ago...she got it from mehead.com:


Holy Scripture Rewritten So That Some Tulsa
Churches Are Doing the Right Thing
by Karen McCain

Mark 11:17

And he taught, saying unto them, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have added a hundred-thousand dollar carousel and a water fountain of orange juice, so that the children might be entertained also."

Luke 22: 17-19

And he took the cappuccino and gave thanks, and said "Take this and sip it among yourselves, For I say unto you, I will not drink Snickerdoodle until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took the biscotti and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them saying, "This is my body, only covered with chocolate; dip it in remembrance of me every Sunday morning before you walk into the chapel."

Matthew 6:28,29

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they drive Mercedes, dress in Laura Ashley and Armani, and wear expensive jewelry. And yet I say unto you, Mayor Bill LaFortune in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. Or was he? I forget."

Luke 20:20&22

"Is it lawful to pay tribute unto Caesar or not?" And he said unto them "Render unto Caesars what is Caesar's, then put the rest into a special church-funded credit union."

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me, and also by getting the crap scared out of you at a church-sponsored haunted house."

Mathew 6: 9-13

"Our Benefactor, who is in heaven
You'd better be listening or else.
Thy kingdom better have gold or
Thy will might not be done
On earth like it is in heaven.
Give us this day a lot money-
We already have plenty of bread.
Bother us not with your commandments and
Deliver us from our credit cards,
As we sit in cafes and watch the poor starve.
For thine is the responsibility, duty, and honor
To serve us forever and ever. Amen."


posted by Jimmy at 9:59 PM | |

 
It's amazing how loud our world is. From the tv to the whhirr of the refrigerator, we are constantly bombarded by noise. In the city even the quiet is loud...the sound of cars going by, railroad tracks, airplanes overhead. And then there's the noise of our own heads. If God speaks in whispers, its no wonder we can't hear him.
posted by Jimmy at 11:52 AM | |

 
THOUGHT OF THE DAY--for Monday, July 21.
posted by Jimmy at 9:44 PM | |

 
i guess squawkbox is either having troubles or no longer in service. I'll give them a couple of days and then switch to another commenting system. I hope they come back online...it would be a shame for all those great comments to be wasted.
posted by Jimmy at 9:37 PM | |

 
Kobe Bryant, Good Will Hunting, and the Gospel
Tonight I turned over to Nightline hoping to catch a Friday night, week-end catchup on the most important news of the week. I was expecting something on Iraq, the economy, the democratic presidential candidates. What I got was Kobe Bryant.

I watched as Kobe sat by his wife and declared repeatedly, "I am innocent." Honestly, I sat and thought, "How can you even say that? You cheated on your wife! If you broke that most intimate of convenants, how can anyone trust you?" The truth is that I don't know if Kobe is guilty of the felony charges or not...and even better, its not my job to know. My only role--if I have one-- is to offer the good news. It's so wonderful that in the Gospels Jesus says to his disciples this astounding thing: that if they forgive any man his sins, he will be forgiven. I don't know if the Church has grasped that concept. That we have been given the authority and the privilege to forgive sins. Just like when the paralytic was lowered and Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven." What scandal! What heresy! It can't be true!

Isn't it strange that we have no problem of taking the role of God when it comes to judging a person. That seems to be natural step, to be the right thing. But this is the very thing Jesus tells us not to do...to judge. However, taking God's place in forgiving someone, well, that's a different matter. It doesn't seem natural and doesn't feel right. I mean, surely Jesus didn't really mean we could forgive someone their sins. Maybe the things they've done against us, but not their sins in general. But that's what Jesus seems to be saying...that we can. That's the thing he is telling us to do.

Woudn't it be wonderful if Christians were known not as judgemental hypocrites, but as these freaky people who went around forgiving people of their sins? I think of that scene in Good Will Hunting where Robin Williams says to Matt Damon's character, "It's not your fault." Matt responds, "I know." -- "It's not your fault." --"Yeah, I know." -- "No...it's not your fault." -- "Don't f--- with me, Sean." -- "It's not your fault." Each time Robin Williams steps closer until they end in embrace. What a wonderful scene. I wish Christians, Church, and myself were like that. Not disallowing for the possibility of people's fault, or making excuses--those who recognize their sin don't need or (I believe) really want that. But the simple words, "You're forgiven."

I can see it like that scene, "You're forgiven." -- "Yeah, sure."--a step closer & "You're forgiven." -- "Yeah, okay, whatever." --Step "no, listen, you're forgiven." -- until it ends with the embrace, the brokenness, and the reconciliation.

Isn't that the good news we're supposed to be sharing with everyone?
posted by Jimmy at 12:28 AM | |

 
From a friend...

Jeff Jaynes wrote this in the comments for the Hauerwas post. I thought it was meaningful and felt it should be posted for everyone:

Jimmy, Mark, Stephen,
First of all I just came across this site (can't believe it took me this long without Roller telling me about it) and I want to thank you for what you are doing for the church. The church needs to hear your words. Thankfully, I get to hear the words of Willimon and Hauerwas all the time (I work at Duke Chapel and have class with Stanley in the fall) and I wanted to pass on something Hauerwas said to us at a dinner the other night so that more people can hear it: "You want to live a life for Christ? I can tell you how to live a life for Christ in two words: don't lie. Try putting that one into practice." It seems that as a church we also have to stop lying. Whatever the cost may be to our numbers, budgets, building programs and images, we have to be upfront and challenging to a world that doesn't truly understand our behavior. Until Constantine decided to make "confession" a cross of good luck, confessing Christ was dangerous. The Romans thought that Christianity was a demonic sect of orgiastic, cannibalistic rebels who were ruining their economy. Our world today understands Christ almost as well. Until we can get back to the point at which confession means something again, as Hauerwas and Willimon point out so effectively, our "living, breathing, visible community of faith" will be about as meaningful as a hastily painted cross on a Roman shield. Hauerwas' point that night at dinner was that being a Christian isn't easy. It isn't easy to stop lying, whether that lying is done by us as individuals or by the body of people as a Church. That doesn't mean, however, that the lying doesn't need to stop. Thank you for your honest words to our body. I'll be back often.

Jeff

Thanks for the great words, Jeff! Keep talking like that and we'll end up reading your books some day and quoting them!
posted by Jimmy at 12:01 AM | |

 
Tonight I had an epiphany. I was watching a local news report trying to sell the idea of slot machines at Tulsa's horse track (which, I must say, is a cool way to spend a Sunday afternoon...not necessarily gambling, the horses are beautiful). The report was how this track in Ohio had added gambling machines and raised a million dollars just a few months to pull itself out of bankruptcy.

As I thought about the various churches around town who are in the middle of both building projects and our country's recession, I thought, what better way to go than to add gaming machines? It also works on so many different levels other than financial:

1.) It touches what apparently is a felt need for many people in our culture.
2.) It creates great sermon analogy moments...faith, perseverance, reward, fate, predestination, etc
3.) Its allows people to be more anonymous and comfortable than they would at the church bingo...not to mention its a more exciting way to tithe.
4.) Judging from what I see in the parking lots of the Indian Nation Gaming Centers, it would be a great boost for attendance5.
5.) Church signs would most definitely have more pizzaz.

And I'm sure there are many more....

posted by Jimmy at 11:08 PM | |

 
"The confessing church ... calls people to conversion, but it depicts that conversion as a long process of being baptismally engrafted into a new people, an alternative polis, a countercultural social structure called church. It seeks to influence the world by being the church, that is, by being something the world is not and never can be, lacking the gift of faith and vision, which is ours in Christ. The confessing church seeks the visible church, a place, clearly visible to the world, in which people are faithful to their promises, love their enemies, tell the truth, honour the poor, suffer for righteousness, and thereby testify to the amazing community-creating power of God. The confessing church has no interest in withdrawing from the world, but it is not surprised when its witness evokes hostility from the world. The confessing church moves from the activist church's acceptance of the culture with a few qualifications, to a rejection of the culture with a few exceptions. The confessing church can participate in secular movements against war, against hunger, and against other forms of inhumanity, but it sees this as part of its necessary proclamatory action. This church knows that its most credible form of witness (and the most 'effective' thing it can do for the world) is the actual creation of a living, breathing, visible community of faith."

Willimon and Hauerwas
Resident Aliens


posted by Jimmy at 10:06 AM | |

 
THOUGHT OF THE DAY--for Thursday, July 17.
posted by Jimmy at 8:09 PM | |

 
Okay...you know those ads that you hear all the time to which you pay no attention? Well, Stephen has reminded me that Coca-Cola© has declared itself the "Official Sponsor of Summer".

How exactly does one become the Official Sponsor of Summer? Who do they pay for such an official honor? Stephen and I have decided either a) they need to pay God or b) we need to somehow incorporate and become the organization that companies must pay to be the Official Sponsor of Summer. Either of those sounds fine with me.
posted by Jimmy at 8:04 PM | |

 
From the daily offering at Nouwen.net :

Being Given
Jesus is given to the world. He was chosen, blessed, and broken to be given. Jesus' life and death were a life and death for others. The Beloved Son of God, chosen from all eternity, was broken on the cross so that this one life could multiply and become food for people of all places and all times.
As God's beloved children we have to believe that our little lives, when lived as God's chosen and blessed children, are broken to be given to others. We too have to become bread for the world. When we live our brokenness under the blessing, our lives will continue to bear fruit from generation to generation. That is the story of the saints - they died, but they continue to be alive in the hearts of those who live after them - and it can be our story too.


posted by Jimmy at 6:10 PM | |

 
I heard Pastor Tom Mohn of Bread of Life Fellowship say something that I thought was quite helpful this last Sunday.

The situation arose that, during an open mic portion of the "service", two women arose to speak at the same time. Both of them, being too nice to each other, insisted on the other going first. Pastor Mohn waved one woman on, then told the other she'd be next. Then he commented:

"When the body of Christ functions, there is no need for priests, pastors or prophets. All we need is a traffic cop."

posted by Stephen at 5:46 PM | |

 
THOUGHT OF THE DAY--for tomorrow Wed, Jul 16.
posted by Jimmy at 10:36 PM | |

 
Is in necessary for an individual to embrace the law before the can come to a position to embrace Christ?

I'm working for an organization this summer that goes into lower income and government subsidized housing complexes to do programming for the kids. Great organization. They really do their best to try to enrich all aspects of life for kids in the program (physically, educationally, spiritually, etc.).

Part of our curriculum this year is an emphasis on self-discipline. It seems common sense enough, right? Too many kids (especially the ones we call "disadvantaged") are controlled by their passions, and have an insatiable desire for immediate gratification. You can imagine the type of trouble this leads to. So it makes sense that you would want to foster a sense of self-discipline.

My question is: What is the good of teaching self-discipline to kids who have none (no sense of "the law") only to turn around and hope that they abandon themselves to Christ? Is it a necessary step, or is there a way to eliminate the middle man? Or am I totally off base here?

Some people can afford to live their lives without either self-control or abandoning themselves to Christ (by which I mean they can stay out of jail and live a comfortable life... though albeit not a full life). The "disadvantaged" cannot. I fear that a refusal to teach self-discipline first would relegate them to continued social/economic hardship.

At the same time, I know what it was like to grow up thinking I could do it on my own. I know what it's like to know the rules and have the impression that I've got the power to follow them, making myself a "good person." About the only thing this got me was the despairing knowledge that I can't do it, and I'm in desparate need of a savior. I guess I'd just like to save others that pain, but maybe I can't. Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe it's not possible to abandon yourself (your passions or your will) until you've hit rock bottom. Maybe the best thing I can do for those kids is teach them to control themselves, all the while telling them the straight up truth about the eventual pain (and eventual joy) doing so will cause.
posted by Stephen at 3:22 PM | |

 
I just got a packet in the mail from the ArtsPower organization. They're trying to bring arts education back into public elementary schools in Oklahoma.

You see, apparently studies show that children who are brought up appreciating and participating in the arts, regardless of their socio-economic level, do better in school. They learn faster, they score better on tests, and go farther academically.

In a state where teaching kids to hit each other hard while carrying a ball (hey, they're wearing pads!) is over-emphasized to the point of being an obsessive psychosis, I say more power to ArtsPower. I'll do my part to spread the word.

Call 1-866-444-ARTS to get an informational video and a packet on how to help.
posted by Stephen at 3:07 PM | |

 
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
posted by Jimmy at 9:04 AM | |

 
I've had several really great conversations with my pastor, John Frye. He's an incredibly smart guy. (no kissing up... he doesn't know about his blog as far as I know)... anyway.. this week we are a lunch with bunch of pastors (of the oozey emerging persuasion)
and he says. Here's some thought I'm wrestling with. The following is not even close to a quote and is actually quite poorly worded compared to what was really said... but here's the jist of it.
First let me tell you a little bit about John. He's in his mid 50's (i'm guessing) he's been at BVC for 24 or so years. Before that he was a professor at Moody Bible in chicago.

"I wish I could take the bibles away from the people of my church. They tend to use them like they are magic. Some memorize extensive verses to help them with the sin in their lives. they trust the bible more than the living jesus present in/with them. Others missuse the bible to promote their own opinions and views on life. I wish I could take away their bibles. The new covenant is written on the hearts of people. Luther and the reformation was so sola scritpura that we have lost sight of the living christ amoung us. the book of romans is written on the hearts and lives of the people around this table. There is a place for studing scripture. But we need to be aware of the redemptive work of God in and around us. What is God teaching me through the people around me."

He said way more... but i'll end there.


posted by riddle at 9:40 PM | |

 
Gather around, children, if you love a good mystery
Gather around, children, for a little church history
It's 2044, and you're avoiding our turn of the century ways

How do we strike it rich? Kissing up to the powerful
How do we make our pitch? Satellites by the towerful
Why do you young people have to go and get caught up in a radical phase?

My conscience was clear and my wallet was full
I didn't hear none of this sacrifice bull!
Tough times call for a backtrack
Give me that Old Time Easy Listening!

Color me old-fashioned, but I still remember when
The sermons were affirming, 'cuz the Lord liked us better then
It's 2044 and I don't wanna be my brother's keeper no more

Color me chicken-yellow if I like it in the ozone
Color me lemon-jello if I lack a little backbone
We're KINGS KIDS, dangit! and we used to know what a housekeeper was for

Tickle my ear and I'll pay for your show
Sing about stuff that I already know
Whisper sweet nothings, pour a night-cap
And give me that Old Time Easy Listening!

Gather, me grandchildren, 'cuz your faith is a mystery
Gather, me grandchildren, for a little church history
It's 2044 and I miss our turn of the century ways

How did we strike it rich? Kissing up to the powerful
How did we make our pitch? Satellites by the towerful
Why do you young hot-heads have to go and get caught up in a radical phase?

I'm okay! You're okay! We're okay, so...
I think I'm gonna buy my own radio show
Spread the good news and play Barry Manilow
Happy talk! No rock! Non-stop Easy Listening!

Cuddle up, yeah yeah... Twelve hours, twice a day!
Cuddle up, yeah yeah... Simmer down, 'atta way!
Cuddle up, yeah yeah... Order now! Don't delay!
Cuddle up, yeah yeah... Sleep it off, drool away.

--Steve Taylor, Easy Listening
posted by Stephen at 12:52 PM | |

 
- PART 2
Tammy gave some helpful addtions to the List...

--Things you never need to buy again:

garbage bags. use plastic grocery bags instead.

dryer softening sheets. just don't use them. they make allergic people itch and sneeze anyway. that 'fresh' smell is a fake smell. it's not real.

new clothes. go to thrift stores. you get good stuff for almost nothing, and it's usually pre-shrunk. that's why a lot of people give it away in the first place.

dry cleaning. it's not good for your health anyway. wash things on the delicate cycle, and only dry them half way before hanging them. almost everything that says dry clean only can be washed. and if you're going to the thrift store, you can afford to gamble a little on the cleaning process.

new cars. if you buy them with a couple of years of use, you've cut thousands off the bill. as soon as you drive a new car home, you've lost several thousand dollars.


posted by Jimmy at 9:03 AM | |

 
I just heard about a conversation a youth pastor had with his pastor recently. It was one of those conversations. You know, where the Pastor™ let's the youth pastor know what needs to happen...playing the role of authority by divine right. Here's what went down: The youth pastor was told that he hasn't been tithing the last couple of months, and that he has to pay what he owes or he will lose his job.

posted by Jimmy at 9:01 PM | |

 

Here's a list of tips from the Affluenza website on treating the disorder:

1. Before you buy, ask yourself:
Do I need it? Do I want to dust (dry-clean or otherwise maintain) it? Could I borrow it from a friend, neighbor or family member? Is there anything I already own that I could substitute for it? Are the resources that went into it renewable, or non-renewable? How many hours will I have to work to pay for it? (Note: Before you do this, you may find it useful to figure your real hourly wage. Take your annual net income and subtract your work-related costs like clothing, transportation, child care, parking and lunches out.

2. Avoid the mall. Go hiking or play ball with the kids instead.

3. Figure out what public transportation can save you (time, money for gas and parking, peace of mind).

4. Become an advertising critic. Don't be sucked in by efforts to make you feel inadequate so you'll buy more stuff you don't need.

5. Volunteer for a school or community group.

6. Splurge consciously. A few luxuries can be delightful, and they don't have to be expensive.

7. Stay in -- have a potluck, play a game, bake bread, write a letter, cuddle a loved one.

8. Make a budget -- know how much you are earning and spending. Each dollar represents precious time in your life that you worked. Are you spending money in ways that fulfill you?

9. Pretend the Joneses are the thriftiest, least wasteful people on the block. Then try to keep up with them.

And here are some more...

--Get the book, Your Money or Your Life. Read it, and you have made the best possible start on your way to a simpler, more satisfying life. (see Resources.)

--Make this old New England proverb your motto: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” As a wartime slogan, it helped Americans win World War II.

--Try consuming or using half as much of as many things as you can. Start with shampoo, detergent and toothpaste, then get creative and see how many others you can come up with. Half as much is sometimes twice as good (eating, for example), and always twice as thrifty.

--Things you never need to buy again: freezer bags (use the plastic bags inside cereal boxes), things you can get for free or free alternatives, such as matches, paper towels, calendars, note paper, drawing paper for the kids, padded envelopes, bottled water...think of others, and put them on your list of “never-buy-agains.”

--Sell your TV and use the time you free up (49 hours a week for the average American!) for frugal endeavors.

--Move somewhere with a lower cost of living. The highest and lowest-cost areas vary by 95%, but salaries for most jobs rarely fluctuate more than 25%. Example: moving from Los Angeles to Atlanta would result in a 50% drop in the cost of living with about 13% drop in earnings.

--Barter for goods and services. See if there is an organized system for this in your area.

--If you haven’t already got them, consider not having your own children. Not reproducing is the best way to dramatically reduce your consumption, expenses and personal impact on the planet’s resources.

--Complete all nine steps from Your Money or Your Life. Do them all, in order, and you will almost certainly be guaranteed success in adopting a simpler—and more fulfilling--lifestyle.

--Share your resources and results with people you care about, and multiply the good effects on the planet that will come from your new way of living.


posted by Jimmy at 5:50 PM | |

 

Church™: A Disenfranchised Christian's View of Ecclesia Americanus

Stephen pointed out that our archives don't go back past May for visitors of the blog. Just to keep it fresh on everyone's mind, here's the chapter outlines for the book we're working on.

Here are the chapter titles so far...

Chapter 1: McChurch: ecclessial franchises and the death of the christian community

Chapter 2: One Church, extra Cheese, please: Christian consumerism Pt 1

Chapter 3: The Christianity of Events: Christian consumerism Pt. 2

Chapter 4: Paying Balaam: Money and the System

Chapter 5: Pastor®: ministry and the hired gun

Chapter 6: the Kingdom...er Republic of God: Jesus and community Pt. 1

Chapter 7: The New Goal of Discipleship: The myth of "together" people

Chapter 8: Getting Good Head: Christian education & cerebral Christianity

Chapter 9: I Didn't Build It For Me: buildings, buildings, and more buildings
posted by Jimmy at 3:54 PM | |

 


I have a $100 bill in my wallet. I've had it there for a couple of months. It's something I learned from my dad. You know, to always have a certain amount of cash around. But there isn't a week that goes by that I'm not tempted to use part or all of that $100 to buy something I want.

I was teaching a class this last semester and we got onto a discussion about consumerism in America. As the discussion from my end was leaning towards the idea that Americans have too much stuff (especially contrasted with the rest of the world's population), one of the students said, "But we've worked hard for the things we have." I just happened to have started reading Affluenza at the time. Somewhere towards the front of the book there are two pictures contrasting a suburban American family with all of their possessions and a farming family in India with their possessions. Needless to say the difference is overwhelming. I held the pictures up for the students to see...."Who has worked harder in their lifetimes?"

There is a pride that says "I deserve the things I have"...or more accurately, "I deserve more than I have." I remember being a youth pastor and having that concept. Rich Mullins said that we deserve Hell and we should be thankful for anything we get beyond damnation. Paul in his letter to the Colossians said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain. [emphasis mine]" If we could learn to be content with the things we have and, beyond that, to feel blessed in the things we have, then we would learn true happiness. The reality that life is hard, that I'm a sinful man, and that God is the only one who is good is a liberating concept. It helps to keep expectations in their proper perspective.

The first truth of Buddhism is "Life is suffering." The 2nd Truth of Buddhism is "Suffering is caused by unmet craving or desire." America has the highest rates of despression in the world. In our consumer culture--where everyone believes they deserve more and expectations are not based upon reality--we heap suffering upon ourselves. We believe we can be content and happy when we own or consume certain things. We unconciously buy into the ad culture and actually believe that things make us who we are. Contentment illudes us and we are left with the emptiness of our expectations.

So the next time you feel that overwhelming urge to buy something, ask yourself "why?" Is it because you need it? Deserve it? Are you trying to make yourself feel better? It may be better to simply be content.


posted by Jimmy at 2:02 AM | |

 
Hey gang, I've added a couple of new features to the blog...

1.) Each day check out our new Thought of the Day link to the left. It might get under your skin sometimes...but I think you'll enjoy it.

Remember to think about it.

2.) We now have the little comment thingys provided by sqawkbox. So if you'd like to leave a comment on any of our posts, just click the comments link below on the dateline.

posted by Jimmy at 1:19 AM | |

 
LOL! Isn't it funny that blogger scans the contents of the posts and places the ads on the top of the page accordingly? I make a simple post about an elevated AST level and now they are running ads about cancer and fatty liver....how reassuring!

Here's a test for them: Viagra doesn't work as well as it should in jump starting the sex life of certain retired politicians. The real goal of viagra should be to bring pleasure to one's spouse, not simply to solve problems of male impotency...although erectile disfunction would be something hard [sic] to live with.
posted by Jimmy at 11:17 PM | |

 
Just finished watching the PBS show on Martin Luther. What an incredible personality. I have read some of his works--The Bondage of the Will being especially meaningful and insightful. I would encourage anyone who is struggling with the present state of ecclesia americanus (or anywhere else) to pick up one of his works and read it. What I'm discovering as I'm doing the research for the book is that our current struggles are not new...it has very little to do with Post-Modernism vs. Modernism, but has to do with the simple faithfulness of the church. Henri Nouwen said that one of the greatest temptations in ministry is the tempation to be relevant. I think CHURCH™ has given in to that temptation. We think relevance is the key, but the servanthood, humbleness, and the truth held forth by love is the key--and sometimes love seems irrelevant, archaic, troublesome. Hauerwas says that Christians will someday be known as those people who don't euthanize their old or kill their babies. In a world that would accept such things, the words of the church would seem rather irrelevant--but they would be based in the truth that springs from love.

That's why I believe Martin Luther spoke so strongly. He loved Christ and he loved people, therefore he could not stand for a system that demeaned the one and oppressed the other, denying both Christ's Lordship and the salvation of the individual.
posted by Jimmy at 11:10 PM | |

 
Parenthood.

I never thought it could be such a complex issue. For all the talk of parental instincts and what not, there sure are a lot of opinions out there about parenthood. What's funnier is how these different philosophies start to resemble religious or political fundamentalism, both in their legalism and in their rhetoric about those who have different ideas.

My wife and I read the book On Becoming Babywise. Yeah, it's gotten a lot of crap. Some of it is well deserved. Some of it is made-up fear-mongering. Far from being "Babywise" people, we pretty much took some of the stuff that made sense to us (stuff that, arguably, made sense to us before we read the book, and was simply confirmed in our minds) and burned the rest. We took a few good ideas, some practical, some philosophical, from it.

1) No one wants their child to grow up thinking they are the center of the universe. Why let them grow up thinking it only to jerk the rug out from under them?
2) Parenting with the end in mind is common-sensical. Doing anything else is creating work for yourself.

Lately my wife has been looking into the "other side" of the coin, a concept called Attachment parenting. Again, some good ideas, and some stuff to leave in the book.

What has frustrated me so much, though, is how ridiculously callous, condemning, and self-righteous people can be about the disagreements. One person wrote in an online message board that anyone who follows any of the Babywise stuff was actually abusing their kids!

The guy who wrote Babywise is an ass. He also thinks that anyone who doesn't do things his way will raise total brats who will be morally rebellious and self-absorbed, or worse, anti-social.

Just like in politics, I really doubt that either side really understands the other. They're so blinded by these beliefs (which are beyond moral, meaning that they may be grounded in moral beliefs but definitely go passed what morality would dictate) that they completely close off their ability to understand the other side. It really is sad, because it leads to a lot of unnecessary guilt and pressure on otherwise good parents.

Check it out. Type the words "Babywise" or "attachment parenting" into any search engine. You soon figure out that extremism pervades both camps with little reason on either side.
posted by Stephen at 11:32 PM | |

 
American politics is like two ships passing each other in the night. It seems more and more clear to me that neither side truly understands what the other side's basic ideas, philosophies, or motives are. Chances are neither side cares. They are far more interested in promoting their own side by demonizing the other to truly take notice and debate the others ideas as they stand.

I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be surprised at this. Stupidity just ticks me off.
posted by Stephen at 11:18 PM | |

 
Lately I've been thinking about life and death...or more acurately, life in light of death. My mom is fighting against breast cancer that has spread to her bone, and that has probably been the largest factor. I also had a blood test come back two weeks ago that shows an elevated AST liver count. It's only mild and could be nothing, but the hypchondriac in me looks to all the things it could be: hepatitis, liver disaeas, metastic carcinoma, acute kidney failure. Things that aren't too good. So death and life have been on my mind.

I went to camp last week to play guitar for a friend. I just couldn't get this AST test out of my head. I have to wait 2 months for another test, and patience on such a thing drives me crazy. I was wondering and worrying about how serious this thing might be...what ill thing might be going on in my body. While I was setting there stressing, the preacher at the camp looked right over at us (the band was sitting to the side), and said, "Jesus knows what you're going through. He knows the fear you're facing right now...He's felt it too." When he said that it suddenly hit me that I'm 32 and I'll be turning 33 in August. Jesus died when he was around 33 years old...what must it have been like for him to know that his time was coming? Did he worry that he did enough? Did he worry about his loved ones He would leave behind?

I pondered that thought for the next few days. If my time were to come, how would I say goodbye if I had the chance? Would I be at peace? Would I have accomplished God's plans for me? I was having these kinds of thoughts the last night of the camp. I was also recalling things that I felt God has called me to do that I haven't yet accomplished. Did he really call me to those things? If so, I could take comfort that God still has work for me here, and also be encouraged and motivated to get on with it. Right in the middle of thinking about this, the preacher paused in his message, turned towards us again and pointed right at me. "God has called you, " he said, " God has a call on your life....God has a call on your life."

I'm not sure what all of this means. God has spoken to me in some pretty amazing ways to get my attention at times. I know this, if I were to die tomorrow I think I would be at peace, but there are things God has called me to and I need to start making steps of faith in order to make his calling sure. I want to be a part of that Kingdom where the hungry are fed, the homeless sheltered, the broken-hearted comforted. I want to touch lives in ways that matter. That's the life I want to live.


posted by Jimmy at 2:11 PM | |

 
How in the world does a state like California--with its millionare movie stars, tech masters, entrepreneurs, sports stars, and business people--have a financial crises? Can someone explain this to me? And somehow this is the federal government's fault?

I think all of our states need to get their acts together. I know exactly how these things happen. A couple of years ago I helped design a senatorial election campaign website for the wife of one of our already elected officials (I had no affiliation with the campaign...it was a purely mercenary endeavor). When she had to withdraw from the race, they made sure some people on the campaign staff had nice cushy jobs waiting for them working for her husband (the already elected official)...state funded jobs. For example the head of her campaign was paid a nice salary to basically do nothing here in Tulsa but be an errand boy (the official's office was in OKC). There ya go folks...your tax dollars at work! That's why your states need to be bailed out...


posted by Jimmy at 1:33 PM | |

 
The book Culture Jam by Kalle Lasn has had an important impact on my life. I thought it said things that I had felt about the consumer culture for sometime and made me feel as though there were others struggling with this world's system. It was as if God was using this "secular" book to proclaim a part of the Gospel that had been forgotten.

However, the Adbuster's Site seems about as intelligent as a hacked off neo-marxist high school freshman.

I keep going back to the site hoping I will find something--anything--similar to the insights I found in Culture Jam. Alas...it is never there.

These comparisons between George Bush Jr. and Hitler, Stalin, Saddam, etc....as if they were the same. From where do such ideas arise? The last I checked there are no mass graves of American citizens who died at Bush's whims. He has not scapegoated ethnic groups...not to mention set up a system for their eradication. He works within a democratic system of government which has checks and balances in place to make sure he doesn't become a dictator. From what I can tell, the the people and the press have free reign to say whatever they wish about him. So where do the similarities start? I mean, if you don't like the guy as president, that's fine...but have some intelligence about it.

I hope the next time any of you reading are tempted to have such silly thoughts dictatorial thoughts, just remember that come election time there will be more than one person on the ballot...and should that fail he's only got four more years and then he's done. That doesn't sound like much of a dictator to me.

posted by Jimmy at 7:07 PM | |

 
Boy, just when I think I can't hear something any dumber come from a broadcast evangelist, I get shocked again.

I heared some dim-wit on the radio the other day singing the praises of Wal-Mart for pulling men's magazines such as "Maxim" from their shelves, claiming that Wal-Mart was maintaining the high caliber of moral and ethical standards set by founder Sam Walton. What short-term memories we all have. Need we be reminded that Wal-Mart was recently in a lot of hot water for forcing employees to clock out, then return to work so that they wouldn't receive overtime pay?

The radio ding-dong then went on to decry Disney for trying to be "all things to all people" by making both family oriented entertainment and adult oriented entertainment. He went on to add something to the effect of, "This is why Wal-Mart continues to succeed under the blessing of God, while Michael Eisner's Disney continues to wallow in financial trouble."

Yes... Wal-Mart. That bastion of Christian values. Like "give it to me now and give it to me cheap," for one. Or how about "sacrificing quality for convenience." Both of those seem to apply.

And I'll bet that guy had to clean a big bricky turd out of his pants when he read in the paper a few days ago that Wal-Mart was extending benefits to homosexual partners. I would have paid $50 to see the look on his face.
posted by Stephen at 11:57 AM | |