The Story of Christmas

Grab a glo stick & enjoy the Gift.

Christmas Carols

YESHU JAYANTI KIRTAN - DEVOTIONAL CHANTS TO JESUS

Sunday, December 11th, 7:00-9:00pm at the Pacific Cultural Center in Santa Cruz

This kirtan is a non-denominational event offering devotional chants in praise of Jesus or Yeshu and His Universal Qualities. Hosted by a local group who've been gathering regularly and wish to introduce this sweet form of bhakti to the community. Based on traditional music from Northern India and the musical genius of Chris Hale, Aradhna (www.aradhnamusic.com) . This is an invitation to renew and refresh our spirits with simple melodies and chants filled with devotion to Jesus. Please join us to celebrate the birth of of Light and Love this season!

If you're interested in joining us check out this link.

We are waiting

We are waiting for peace to break out
we are waiting for flowers to bloom
we are waiting for the moon to come
from behind the clouds of war
We are waiting for the light
We are waiting
and as we wait we sing songs of celebration
We are waiting
and as we wait we hold out our hands in love and friendship…
…and as we wait we dance: we dance with the cold east wind
and the creaking singing branches of giant firs
we dance with the devils
of dust and the angels of clouds
We are waiting
and as we wait we are learning the language
of burning roses and sunflowers slowly turning
toward the sun…
(Carlos Reyes)

Christ Has No Body

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

        Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

The Bay Area

I like to post articles I think share the uniqueness of the Bay Area. Here's another good one:

San Franciscans who prefer to have their food in the nude are facing opposition. Last Thursday, the ironically named Supervisor Scott Wiener proposed an ordinance on public nudity etiquette that would require nudists dining in restaurants to forgo their naturalist ways and don clothing.

Public nudity is legal in San Francisco as long as the nude individual is not in a state of arousal. But last Thursday's meeting of the Board of Supervisors' Public Safety Committee resulted in a ruling that, if approved by the full Board, will ban practicing nudists from public eateries, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Wiener's proposal also requires those in the buff to place down a towel or barrier of some sort before they sit down on public seating.

"San Francisco is a liberal and tolerant city, and we pride ourselves on that fact," Supervisor Wiener said in a statement. "Yet, while we have a variety of views about public nudity, we can all agree that when you sit down naked, you should cover the seat, and that you should cover up when you go into a food establishment."

The hearing did not draw the throngs of nude enthusiasts that the committee expected. Only two individuals showed up to testify and they were for Wiener's proposal. The ban is not thought to be an attempt to outlaw nudity in San Francisco altogether but rather is a simple issue of public health.

Why?

As a follower of Jesus I'm regularly challenged by why I do things. Why did I move to Santa Cruz? Why share the love of Christ? Why serve? Why love? Why do I do the things I do for Jesus?

I ask this question of myself because this is where I find a great deal of tension in my own life. I feel as if my desire to do these things often results in less than expected results; this leads to my disappointment & I then wonder if what I've done was"worth it." Too, I often wonder if what I'm doing is only for myself so that I feel o.k with the insecurity of  whether or not I matter.

Yet today, as I was sitting out on the ocean waiting for good waves, I was struck by the revelation that I generally do what I do not because of my devotion to God, but for the results themselves. Results aren't bad; they are the outcome of our actions. Yet am I living my life in order to get results or am I living my life because I'm loved & in love with God? One never ceases to amaze; the other never satisfies.

Today I dropped into a really big wave (9ft+) & barely made the  landing. People were hollering, as they often do on a great wave, & I felt the rush of my results; yet by the end of my surf session I was tired, & those who had witnessed my earlier exploits were gone, & I was surrounded by a new group of people who were snagging all the waves making me feel kinda' lame. The fulfillment of my results didn't last even 2hrs; why not just enjoy the water?

I'm not convinced results are the goal in almost any venture. 

This is no simple task, but I want to do what I do because I'm loved; Too, I want to do because I deeply believe in what it is I'm doing regardless of what "happens." I assume real art results from this perspective. I want to be who I am because it's worship. I want to alleviate myself of what was never mine: The Outcome.

Easier said than done.

Keep Santa Cruz Weird

...fact is stranger than fiction. 

Woman jailed after throwing a duck in Santa Cruz

Sentinel staff report

Posted: 09/24/2011 08:07:44 PM PDT

SANTA CRUZ - Authorities were called to the 700 block of 41st Avenue Saturday afternoon for reports of an intoxicated woman abusing a duck.
According to a Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office, deputies received a call that a woman was drunk and was refusing to leave a business just after 4 p.m. The caller also said the woman was throwing a duck to the ground and apparently also trying to strangle it with some sort of leash.
When officers arrived at the scene, deputies found an intoxicated woman throwing the duck around. It was not immediately known whether the duck was wild or domesticated, or if it was the woman's pet.
The woman, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to County Jail on charges of public intoxication while deputies tried to catch the duck.
Deputies said Saturday that the animal appeared to be uninjured, but they planned to take it to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter for evaluation.

Just For You

A funny video a friend sent me the other day.

Who is Your Standard?

I'm thankful to God for many reasons & certainly one reason is Jesus. I'm thankful for the gospel, & to be honest, I'm becoming even more thankful as the gospel continues to reveal itself to me through the years. There is no end to the transformative power of what God has done for us; Jesus is the apex of life.

Jesus is not only the one who gives life, but He's also the example. When I think, "Who is the Standard," of being human? Who is the standard of how to treat others? Who is the standard on how to forgive? Who is the standard on how to live? Who is God's standard on what it means to be human; once again we look to Jesus.

Now many might think this an impossible task; "I can't be Jesus." Rightly so, but no one is asking any of us to BE Jesus because He's one of a kind; however, God presented Jesus as the standard not because it's impossible so we might always be presented with failure, but because it is doable, with His help of course. Now without a doubt we will all fall short of His standard, but it's not about arriving as much as it's about abiding. Abiding in Christ, daily, hourly, through the laughter & tears; this leads us to Christ-likeness, which when you read Paul is one of the main objects of the Spirit in our lives.

Is it easy, no; yet as I look around the landscape of those who know Christ & those who don't, I find it's easier to choose Jesus as the standard of what it means to be a man than the option presented by those who use themselves as the standard.

^1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  ^5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.

Pole Dancing for Jesus

My wife shared a story about a Santa Cruz Bible study she was a part of discussing Christian women & pole dancing. Evidently most of the women in the group had heard of Christian women enjoying this form of "exercise" & didn't seem to think it weird or wrong (since "I" get to define what's wrong & right--right?). Below is the film & after is a post written about the subject followed by a comment on her blog, followed by my confusion.

The Pornification of Marriage

Posted on August 24, 2011 by elizabeth

So, what’s the deal with Christian women and stripper poles?
Apparently, Christian women learning to pole dance is no big deal because, you know, it’s “good exercise.”
I mean, seriously. Has pornography so infiltrated every corner of society that now even Christian women think pole dancing is a cute, fun way to “spice-up” their exercise routine?

The other day I saw a young girl proudly sporting a glittery Playboy bunny T-shirt as if it were somehow a symbol of her female empowerment. And my heart just broke. You know pornography is winning when little girls start wearing pornographic merchandise.

And that’s our fault. When adult women refuse to decry the objectification of women and instead normalize it by calling pole-dancing “good exercise,” we send the message to our daughters that pornographic behavior is OK. No wonder our little girls are confused!

As the womanizing character from the movie “Crazy, Stupid Love” said: “Men won the battle of the sexes as soon as women started doing pole dancing as exercise.”

So, where did this come from? How did pornographic ideas about sex manage to infiltrate Christianity? I have an theory about this:
It comes from pastors who preach that sex is primarily recreational.
Here’s what I mean: I’ve heard pastors preach that since the “marriage bed is undefiled” any sexual act is permissible and sanctified within marriage. In other words, as long as it happens within the context of marriage, ANYTHING goes.

By preaching that “anything goes,” a pastor unwittingly promotes pornographic ideas about sex; ie. that it should be available 24/7, that a wife should strive to present herself as a fantasy-mate, that sex is utterly detached from its life-giving, soul-creating power.

Is that what that what “the marriage bed is undefiled” really means? Because I’m not sure that verse is license for installing a stripper pole in your bedroom.
Could the marriage bed being undefiled mean that since it is undefiled, Christians ought not defile it by dragging in a bunch of pornified ideas about sex?
I think Christians should always be on guard when the “spice-up-your-marriage-advice” takes its cue from our porn-ified culture.

My guess is that many Christians have bought into the idea that the purpose of sex is primarily recreational. When sex is primarily recreational, it’s really quite easy to start justifying any lustful urge–as if the fact that it happens within marriage somehow sanctifies it.

Here’s the thing, if my husband wanted me to do a stripper-pole routine for him (which he never would), I’d say no. Why? Because the stripper pole is a symbol of female objectification and I fail to see how that changes just because we haul it into a Christian bedroom.

Sure, I want to remain beautiful and attractive for my husband but I refuse to believe that that somehow means I have to degrade myself by adhering to a standard set by strippers and prostitutes. Just because Jesus dined with prostitutes and tax-collectors doesn’t mean He started acting like them!
When pastors preach that ANYTHING goes in the marriage bed, I feel like this is an interpretation shaped by pornography and not by kingdom values. It’s a sad irony that we Christians bristle at the suggestion of letting God into our sex lives, but we gladly fling open the door to pornographic ideas about sex.

I guess I thought the general consensus among Christians was that purity within marriage was an obvious requirement. Has this changed?

from Chuck:

I work as a psychotherapist, primarily in the Christian community (but don’t call me a “christian counselor” – there’s no such thing, IMHO), and primarily with issues of sexual integrity (like porn addiction).

I completely agree with you about the pornification of marriage. In fact, I’ll even take things a bit further by saying publicly here something I’ve often said privately elsewhere…
Porn for a man is (imagined) sex with a woman who will not or cannot say “no”. There is no emotional risk involved, and no expectations on him for any kind of relationship. In short, it’s sexual violence. Porn for a woman is (again, imagined) sex with a man who will not or cannot fail her relationally. He will always be “romantic” and “make” her feel special (like anybody can actually force somebody to feel anything??) It’s not love, because there is no risk.

So what do we do in most of our “Christian” marriage conferences and seminars? (BTW, I HATE using the word Christian as an adjective – that’s why it’s in quotes – but that’s a whole other deal…) I those conferences, men are told to be more romantic, get out the candles and the soft music, send cards, make her feel special. Women are told to be more sexually available and assertive, “give him your body,” and for heaven’s sake, NEVER say “no.” In short (using my definitions above): be more like porn for each other.

How in GOD’s holy name (and I mean this prayerfully!) does that honor His image and likeness, in which we are made? How does it invite us to think about sexual union being one of the highest forms of worship that humans are capable of? “Two becoming one in the presence of God” is, IMHO, the closest we can come to experiencing, celebrating, and yes, worshipping Trinity. Our loving, relational GOD.

 My thoughts: I wish people would realize the church is here to help us all not get too weird. When the church (historical & contemporary) says, in a mature Biblical way, "that's within bounds," it's within bounds, & thankfully there are a lot of things within bounds. We aren't a cult so there are differences as to what's in bounds, but when, for the most part, the church (historical & contemporary) gives the thumbs up, we're cool; when the church says, "that's confusing, could be hurtful, & is something that generally hasn't worked out" we should listen. That said, we do live in the land of me, myself, & I, so even the idea of we over me isn't a playground reinforced idea, & so grows the fruit. Sex, in marriage or not, is at first elating & then a source of constant communication; I'm not seeing this as very helpful. 

This Ain't Ohio...

Flash mob in Santa Cruz shows some skin for a cause

By CHELSEA HAWKINS

Posted: 08/19/2011 04:33:05 PM PDT

SANTA CRUZ Sentinel - Women are baring all in the name of a good cause.
In support of breast cancer survivors and continued cancer research, women will shed their shirts at the city hall courtyard in downtown Santa Cruz. Led by Mariana Sophia Santiago, community members will participate in a flash mob from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday.

The event coincides with National Go Topless Day, a show of support for gender equality and an attempt to redefine cultural perceptions of female nudity.

Santa Cruz is one of the few cities that allows women to be publicly topless and Santiago, who organized the flash mob, is embracing such liberation. Participants will wear pasties and flaunt body art, exhibiting their nude torsos as a show of solidarity to the men and women affected by breast cancer every year. Community members of all walks of life are encouraged to come and show their support.

"I want to tap into ... the goddess in every woman," Santiago said. "Breasts are the origins of food, our first food, so there is no shame in showing oneself. There should be no shame, because there is this whole connection between womanhood, motherhood, food, [and] nourishment."

(My thoughts): Breast Cancer, Topless Day (showing your boobs will help equality with men & redefine the image of women? Men will show up, but I don't assume for the ideal of equality), Santa Cruz allows women to be topless in public (yep), goddess.

What does a church, devoted to sharing the love of Christ in Santa Cruz, look like?

This Ain't Ohio...

La Familia

A Day in the Life...

From the Orval Monastery.


Daily Rhythm:
"Show me your diary and I shall tell you who you are. The way in which a man uses his time reveals his life-style and his priorities. To what does a man give his time? For whom has he time ? In a monk's diary pride of place is given to seeking the Lord. The day is organized around those moments of gratuity, around those non-profit making hours which are the hours of prayer. It is there that one touches the price of monastic life: it foresees moments in which the monk does nothing other than take the time to live for God, the time to come together as a community of brothers and to sing together of God's love for man, the time to remain silent in the presence of the One Who gives life."

This is the challenge for all of us to follow Christ: Living out His values in day to day life; seeing Him in the day to day routines, habits, chores, & joys of life. I wish we were all able to see Him, as He is, in our daily rhythms.

How can we, as a church in Santa Cruz or other areas, live out the life of Christ, daily? Let's attempt to not make it more difficult than it really is. 

All Over the Country

I just got off a webpage about a Christian conference happening near Santa Cruz & must admit I'm kinda over church culture (it's been a slow process). Really, it's kinda gross. As I scrolled through the bios of each speaker & musician it was really weird. "So & so wrote this book & speaks (or plays) all over the country." I guess my question would be: Is that some sort of arrival point? Is it the goal of Christian leaders to write a book or song & then play "all over the country?" & this magically gives them some sort of clout to be a "main presenter?" It just seems weird.

I think this is coupled with a recent visit to a blog where the author was blasting a conference for not being Heidi Baker, because "if everyone did what she did this conference (on social justice) wouldn't even matter."  It made me sad because this girl isn't Heidi & she won't really get to be herself until she realizes that's best.

Celebrity.

I guess I'm over the "so & so; & who's who," within the faith & my opinion is that as long as we continue to teach Christians to listen to "so & so who wrote this & that & spoke here & there," we belittle the little ones who make up the brunt of the face of Christ in the streets; because they never will be celebrities & that's just fine.

I realize certain people do have fabulous things to share & therefore do travel to & fro in order to share their wisdom; however, "so & so, has spoken or played all over the country," has become a mantra for our church culture to make us believe they're something special (or maybe we're helping them believe they're special?). 

What if the speaker's bio said: "So & so, been faithful in the little things for 25yrs." 

I'm not sure how that would sound on a conference bio: My name is Sean; I just got back from my neighbors house where he showed me his birthday homebrew with 4oz of weed in it.

How do we within the church help everyone to see they are as important as Heidi? How do we within the church help our teachers present us with a bio that reflects day-to-day faith? How do we in the church learn how to appreciate simple acts of faith like going next door?

The Perils of a Godly Man

I recently opened a message from a woman I assumed I went to Highschool with. What followed was a rather interesting dialogue as I discovered I was being given a "proposal." I think we get proposals often, sometimes from simple things, & other times we get a proposal that will shipwreck who we are. I wish I always made the right choice when presented with a enticing proposal, but "very often" will have to sustain me to the finish lines as we practice the ways of Jesus in Santa Cruz. 

Below is the actual dialogue between my suitor & I via Facebook:
--You look good in your profile picture, are you still single? Smile!!!!
--What's up Nancy. Thanks for the compliment. I've been married for 11 years & have 3 incredible kids. I hope you're doing well. Blessings.
--Yes, i am doing good and you?
--We're doing great. We live in Santa Cruz & are a part of a really cool faith community here following Jesus. What have you been up to?
--Nothing much just wish we could get to know each other and see how it goes, how are your kids doing as well?
--How do we know each other Nancy?
--well, maybe we can exchange email
--Hey Nancy I don't know if you caught on or not, but I'm a happily married man. Too, I have three kids. What would it have been like for your dad to accept some invitation from another woman? What would that have done to your life? Is that what you'd like to do to my family?

Maybe she's still thinking about my questions...

Sign of the times...

I haven't been in the blogging mood lately. Here's some filler content...Santa Cruz style. 

Medical Marijuana Gardener

Yep...we live in Santa Cruz. Here's a local job posting for a Medical Marijuana farmer position; not that I'm gonna stop being the pastor of our church in Santa Cruz or anything like that...

You must already have current Medical Marijuana Approval, or be willing to apply for it. If so, I will pay for medical evaluation, and securing your State of California issued Medical Marijuana Identification Card.
You must be familiar with organic gardening principles and their application, or be willing to learn them.
You must be neat, clean and thorough in all areas of work.
You must be dependable, trustable, and honestly believe in the benefits of using marijuana both personally and as a safe & sane alternative to many of the products/practices now destroying our planet's integrity.
You must be self-motivated...NO SLACKERS NEED APPLY, all egos left at front gate...well, mostly!

The work can vary from as little as 9 or 10 hours to over 40 hours a week.
The work includes planting-through-harvesting; helping take care of growing plants, checking each plant for/removing yellowing leaves, thoughtful pruning, keeping the growing areas (green house, and indoors) neat and clean, staking, bracing and other wise supporting the plants as they grow and especially the flower clusters as they develop. Your finesse and patient gentleness are a must.

Further opportunity exists to learn how to properly dry, cure, and manicure so as to maintain highest levels of fragrance, flavor and medical efficacy.
Also, advanced breeding techniques can be learned all of which are cross-transferrable for successfully growing a wide range of food crops, many types of ornamentals as well.
As long as responsibilities are carried out your schedule is flexible.

Numerous other perks can come along with this job depending on your personality, dedication and length of employment. These include some meals, live music shows (reggae, Further, blues and rock, etc.) access, travel and Hawaii vacations, just to mention a few.

Once learned the skill sets that go with this job will empower you with abilities, and contacts, that will remain with you, can help you, throughout your life. This is not a "McJob", but it will be working for the benefit of others as well as yourself as a way of finding and maintaining your own independence free from toiling for a system that cares little, really, about you. Beyond its economic aspect, this plant deals directly with our spiritual and karmic advancement, if you also believe this then this could be the job for you.
Blessings to all who even read this.

Oh, pay starts at $20.00/hour. You must be responsible for keeping your own IRS forms/payments.

Now you tell me...

“Pastoral work is slow and tedious. Be patient. It’s not easy or exhilarating. It’s plodding. In some ways its easy. Just stay there and be faithful. Pray. Know the names of the people in your community. Trust them and see them as blossoming saints, even if they don’t act like it.” Eugene Peterson

God, help me learn this lesson for our church in Santa Cruz.

Better Church

"Men are looking for better methods; God is looking for better men." E.M. Bounds

Church Success

"When the church is driven more by the idea of success rather than obedience, it really hasn't traveled far off the road called failure."

A homeless person in Santa Cruz California

Practice makes...Real

What is the devotional life? What does it mean to be "saved?" What's the resurrection got to do with: Work, bills, the environment, sex, beer, coffee, career, hate, or any of the other aspects of "life?" Sadly, we've become professionals at seeing certain things as spiritual & other things as, well, just normal life. This isn't how it's supposed to be & as a community in Santa Cruz we want to live out our faith now.

Here's a great quote:

"Why is it that we look upon our salvation as a moment that began our religious life instead of the daily life we receive from God?" Dallas Willard

When we think about what it means to be a church we should be certain about these things: We're alive in Christ NOW. We're a part of the resurrection NOW. The church & our church in Santa Cruz is the body of Christ NOW. We are a part of the New Creation NOW. Work is worship TODAY. 

All of this become even clearer when we take Communion as a church. Communion isn't a reassurance that one day we'll enjoy God without any issues; Communion is God's evident reassurance that we are to enjoy Him NOW. The Bread & the Wine aren't mystical things taken from the world transformed into something other-worldly; the Bread & the Wine are normal things of the world taken into ourselves that we might realize life is spiritual. His whole self was crucified & risen to redeem my whole self all the time...all of me...all the time. 

What's it mean to live the resurrected life in Santa Cruz (or anywhere else) NOW?

The Last Supper

 

In Grad school I read a book where two followers of Jesus enjoyed communion with some homeless brothers & sisters; they used Pepsi & Donuts. There is a tremendous breadth to Jesus, the Kingdom, & Communion. As I reflect on "who" is able to take communion, I must admit my circles are growing wider. Why? Because "sinners" cannot corrupt the body & blood of Christ; it is they who will become corrupted by: Truth, Love, Grace, Kingdom, & the Reality found in God through Jesus.

Stumble Not

 ⁹ Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. ¹⁰ It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

Great thoughts from a local pastor.

My sister-in-law recently graduated from one of the top medical schools in the country. It has achieved that status not by being the biggest, but because of the quality of students it turns out and the number treatment-breakthroughs that are discovered there.

Similarly, our churches (or Bible studies, or worship teams, or whatever other ministry-effort we're leading) should not be evaluated by their size, but on what is happening in the lives of those who are there.

Here are a few other parallels that have crossed my mind:

1. Most med-schools also have hospitals attached. What a great picture of church! Everyone is welcome... nobody is shamed or turned away. However, entrance into the hospital does not guarantee entrance into the attached med-school. At our church, what we're looking for in people who would aspire to ministry leadership are servant-heartedness (my spell-check doesn't know that word), teachability (a desire to learn things that I don't already know), accountability (a desire to be linked up with others in a growth-process), and repentance (an eagerness to have my thinking changed by God).
2. We have more "students" than "doctors" and the learners are the ones doing the hands-on work. While patients at med-school hospitals might prefer to have full-fledged doctors doing the surgeries, often students are involved in the process. At church, it's the same. Our pastoral team and Delta leaders' jobs are not to do the ministry directly, but to mobilize and connect people who are learning how to pray and counsel with those who need it (all of us). Interestingly, studies have shown that (despite patients' nervousness) the care at med-school hospitals is better than at non-teaching hospitals.
3. For patients, healing is the goal. Everybody hopes that a trip the hospital is brief! Some treatments can take time, but every patient should aspire to wholeness. The point of coming to the hospital is to be healed so that we can get on with our lives. Sometimes church can seem like an endless cycle of going into the hospital! Instead, let's all set our sights on fruitful ministry (getting off the sick-bed and into the white gown and stethescope).
4. For students, each day is lived with graduation day in mind. The point of this school is not just to build a bigger and bigger school and hospital... but to SEND out these students into the wide world where they are needed. I am asking God to give me big dreams for those who call our church home... and the wisdom to equip them for what God is asking them to do. And I want to get better at planning a church-program that will love, mend, train, and send people in a period of a few years.

It's helpful to spend time thinking about what we're trying to do with this thing called "church." Without proactive thought, we'll end up just doing stuff out of tradition or routine. Neither will get us to our objective ("Go therefore and make disciples...").

Who's Your Momma?

"He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother."St. Cyprian

I've recently realized the most prominent issue within mankind. One would assume it is: Greed, perversion, hate, sexual sin, or something else, but it isn't. It's rebellion. I'm the captain of my own ship.

I too wrestle with this, yet as I sink within the waters of my own choices, countless have been the times when the church has wrestled me from my own determination to find freedom through my distorted lens of reality.

Thank you mother church for offending my sinful nature. You are the water-wings that keep me afloat as I have been so determined to drown when I wrench the wheel of my ship from the Holy Spirit. Thank you Father, Spirit, & Son...& Mother.

"He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother."St. Cyprian

Santa Cruz: A New Kingdom

I'm a part of a group of pastors in Santa Cruz who read a book a month & then gather to discuss, amongst other things, the book we've read. This month we're reading: "Surprised By Hope" by N.T. Wright. It's been a great read so far, & I must admit I'm a bit ignorant as to the meaning of the Resurrection now & for the life after.

N.T. Wright is tackling many questions including: "What do people believe in when they talk about life after death?" Moreover, what do we Christians believe when it comes to life after death? As N.T. Wright demonstrates we believe much more in "Heaven," then in the Resurrection of all believers. As my daughter said the other night at dinner, "People who believe in God go to Heaven. Those who don't go to Hell." Needless to say, I'm glad to be reading the book. Although her statement has some merit it's more a product of popular thought then thorough Biblical thinking.

One of the things I most appreciate about N.T. Wright's writings is his insistence upon the bridging of Jesus' arrival & our, the church, response in light of this in the world. He says, "It (The Resurrection) is not an absurd event within the old world but the symbol & starting point of the new world. The claim advanced in Christianity is of that magnitude: Jesus of Nazareth ushers in not simply a new religious possibility, not simply a new ethic or a new way of salvation, but a new creation."

Jesus is the beginning of a new creation. He is the catalyst of the Kingdom of God. This is incredible in so many ways, but the thing I find most amazing is that we, the church, are that new creation. We are the the greatest living example of the Resurrection. We are the Kingdom of God here & now. This was a huge issue in the first century. The church was one of the most obvious signs that something real had actually happened: A new community was now in existence where beforehand there was not. A group of people who desired to have their lives shaped by the Lord of the Cosmos; a people who desired to live out the values of the Kingdom. That's a big deal.

But what does the church mean in the world today? Jesus is the start of a new creation. We are the deposit in this world of that new creation. However, currently, to what end? Are we the lightning rod for the Kingdom God envisions to demonstrate here? Is the church, like a window into a house, a way for people to see: "Aha, that's what the Kingdom looks like." Clearly the answer is, in most cases, no. At least in Santa Cruz, when people think church they don't associate it with: The clear example of what God's Kingdom looks like here & now.

Somehow we (I) don't get the Resurrection; because if we did this world would look a lot more like the one Jesus came to inaugurate.

Big Ass Grasshoppers

I love spending time with people who aren't Christian. I find it incredibly refreshing to spend time with those whose interest in Jesus compels them to seek after the one who has perplexed & given life to the cosmos, which includes people like me.

One thing I like about spending time with those who are seeking God is how they describe the Biblical narrative in their own language. We Christians have our vernacular &, correct as it is, isn't as colorful as those who don't yet know "protocol."

As I've been coaching track at a local high school I've had the honor of helping some of the athletes see more clearly who God is. One athlete even agreed to start meeting with me each Friday at 6:15am. So, this morning we had our first "Bible Study." We started in proverbs, then moved to Mark, & finished, per his request, with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

My favorite quote from our time was when after reading Mark Chapter 1, as Mark describes John the Baptist wearing Camel hair & eating Locusts. As we passed through this description I asked, "Do you know what a locust is?" He replied, "It's like a big ass grasshopper. Right?" After he said this my soul grew warm as I enjoyed the company God had placed me in. As we sat in his car, the rain moving down the windshield painting our Bibles with refracted lights, I answered, "Yep, it's a big ass grasshopper."

I'm Too Busy

"I'm too busy." Really? Too busy? Too busy to: Pray, read, share, love, sit, rest, worship, etc. Too busy? Too busy.

I often wonder what we're too busy doing. Why is it that spiritual exercises: Service, prayer, reading, meditation, hospitality, or singing aren't refreshing to us; yet physical activity is something we can find time for (when we aren't MAKING time for movies).

Time released a new study on time, at least time spent in physical activity.

Time: Santa Cruz 4th most active city in the country

SANTA CRUZ - Time magazine has taken what they call geographical sloth distribution data from the Centers for Disease Control and compiled a list of the 15 most active cities in the country, placing Santa Cruz fourth on that list.

In reality, someone who says, "I don't have enough time to do that," isn't telling the truth (lying? maybe not sooo intentionally); because everyone has the same amount of time. What should be said is, "I don't find that activity valuable enough to devote what time I do have." That's a bit more honest. Right?

Please stop saying you don't have time; in reality that's all you have. It's a measure of value as to where you place yourself for a given period of time. I don't value that, but I do value this.

We do have time & we spend it on what we value most. It's never been about time, but I often find we blame it. Time isn't the issue; value is.

I wonder what SC would look like if it were rated: Ranked 4th in the nation for churches living out Kingdom values.

But, who has time for that? Too many new releases, trails to run, bodies to look at in the gym, & waves to surf.

& yes I do run ultra-marathons so I get the rub.

What or Whom?

Another great chapter from "The Christ of the Indian Road," is titled: What or Whom? Are we to believe in the "what" of our faith or is it centered upon a "whom?" Stanley Jones puts it sharply that we believe in a whom & not a series of whats.

Here are five great quotes from the book:

"Christianity with a what-emphasis is bound to be divisive, but this tendency is lessened with a whom-emphasis. Note the things that have created denominations in the west: baptism, human freedom, rites, ceremonies, dress--the points of division have been nearly all "whats."

"Only life can lift life. A doctor lay dying--a Christian doctor sat beside him & urged him to surrender & have faith in Christ. The dying doctor listened in amazement. Light dawned. He joyously said, 'All my life I have been bothered by what to believe, & now I see it is whom to trust.' Life lifted life."

"But the statement made above about Jesus coming out of an uninspired Book must be corrected a bit, for Jesus did not come out of the Book; it came out of Him. It did not create Him; He created it."

" We must call men not to loyalty to a belief but loyalty to a Person. We may be loyal to a belief & be dead spiritually, but we cannot be loyal to this Person & be other than alive spiritually. He creates belief. We do not get Jesus from our beliefs, we get our beliefs from Jesus."

"There is no real danger lest Jesus be lost among the many in all this, that it may end up in his being put in the Pantheon of Hinduism. Greece & Rome tried that & the Pantheons amid which he was placed are gone--Jesus lives on. He is dynamic, disruptive, explosive like the soft tiny rootlets that rend the monuments of man's pride. Like the rootlets he quietly goes down into the crannies of men's thinking, & lo, old forms & customs are broken up. Absorb him? you may as well talk about the moist earth in springtime absorbing the seed. The seed absorbs it, for it is life. Jesus is life. He will take care of himself."

Thanks E. Stanley Jones.

Jesus through Experience

I just got back from a pastor's book club. 6-7 of us get together & discuss a book we've read the previous month. It's a wonderful time of argument, tension, & serious discussion, mixed with sarcasm, laughter, & friendship. It is a truly wonderful time. This month we read: "The Christ of the Indian Road;" by E. Stanley Jones. Mr. Jones is truly a theological find. He was described as the Billy Graham of India & his wealth of knowledge is radiant. Faced with unbelievable theological issues from a very spiritual culture, Stanley Jones is forced to search his soul & faith to find the very thing that makes Christianity worth living; thankfully, he doesn't shrink from the challenge.

Chapter: Jesus Through Experience.

Religion is the life of God in the soul issuing in the kingdom of God on earth. But first of all it is the life of God in the soul. Religion means realization. If not, then religion soon means ritual, & that means death. The early disciples had little ritual but a might realization.

Chapter: The Great Hindrance

(To Ghandi, his friend.) What would you suggest that we do to make (Christianity naturalized in India?)

"I would suggest, first, that all of you Christians must begin to live more like Jesus."

"Second," he said, "I would suggest that you must practice your religion without adulterating or toning it down."

"Third, I would suggest that you must put your emphasis upon love, for love is the center & soul of Christianity."

"Fourth, I would suggest that you study the non-Christian religions & culture more sympathetically in order to find the good that is in them, so that you might have a more sympathetic approach to the people."

Ghandi has some other amazing things to say about Jesus in this book.

E. Stanley Jones is a serious theological find.

Jean Vanier: On Sex

This is my wife's post, so since we're one in flesh--often--I figured this would be good on my blog too! Enjoy.

The Newleywed Bed
I seem to be passionate lately about sharing the naked truth about matters of sexuality. There are a lot of things I learned growing up, but I am a late bloomer when it comes to this conversation topic. As a newlywed I would have greatly appreciated some honest talks from women who knew the truth about normal and healthy sexuality rather than basing my knowledge and expectations on TV and other popular media. There may have been women around who were willing to share, but the truth is when it came to questions about sexuality, I just never asked!


So far, I've found little truth about healthy sexuality on TV. As a newlywed mentioned to her virgin friend, "I haven't seen a sex scene yet that is realistic!" She's right. Hopefully, though, she at least has someone to steer her to some honest resources and candid conversations about realistic expectations and healthy sexuality. Hopefully she finds out that she is somewhere in the realm of normal in her newlywed experience.


Some friends and I are currently reading Man and Woman God Made Them by Jean Vanier. I am more than willing to talk openly about sexuality, but not so graceful about bringing up the subject on my own. This book has been the perfect way for us to start good conversations and shed some light on many popular myths. The following quote started a wonderful conversation since most virgins are shocked by Vanier's comments about the time of adjustment and how long it may be before a woman experiences an orgasm.


"Sexual education is not so much a practical manual of what one must do and how, as a basis for harmonious sexual relationship, but rather a matter of helping people to be at ease with their own sexuality. It implies growth in the capacity to see the other as someone with needs. It also includes helping people to face the challenges and difficulties involved in relationships. This is, in fact, apprenticeship for true love. In most couples it takes a long, long time for one, or both, of the persons to have fulfilling and joyful sexual relationships. Often it is the woman who has the longest period of adjustment. There can be pain involved, or failure to have an orgasm. This can last for years. This is a real learning process that requires much sensitivity towards the other (and most often it is the man who has to learn to be sensitive to the woman's body). It is important for young people to know that sexual relationships don't 'work', are not completely fulfilling, right from the start."


I haven't seen that scene in a movie yet.


I find Jean Vanier's delivery of truth in this book to be refreshing. Why don't we talk about this stuff more often? Okay, okay, as I mentioned earlier, I am not the most graceful at bringing up intimate issues. It's not like I'm going to say, "Hey friend! How's your week going? By the way, it may be a year or more before you experience an orgasm. Just thought you should know."


But I am, however, going to find a way to expose as much truth as possible in my daily life. For me this means intentionally choosing a book on sexuality to read with some friends. It means posting faithfully about healthy sexuality when I find resources worth sharing.


It also means getting used to pointing out false truths that I watch on movies with my kids (regarding sexuality, or any other myths I see presented in movies we watch together). I might even pause the movie and say, "This is just a movie. This movie is pretend. In real life it's more like this..." I am certainly not going sit there and by my presence place my seal of approval on some dream world notions about life and sexuality that will be cruelly crushed when they come face to face with reality. Nope. Not me. I am going to speak truth and hopefully equip my kids, my friends, (and heck, you, the general public who may read my blog) with some tools to deal with reality.


So today there are some myths to dispel. Sex is not all about me, nor is it all about sensual pleasure (though pleasure is a definite bonus). In a healthy relationship there is a lot of give and take, a lot of communication and sensitivity to the other person's needs. Learning about making love is a process that is both beautiful and awkward in the best sense of the word.


Let me tell you that more complete sexual pleasure usually comes a long way into a committed relationship as two people become more and more in tune with one another, more and more intimately acquainted. Shy and clumsy, strange and funny, practice and failure are all part of real life picture perfect. Not only does intimacy become more pleasurable over time, but the journey made with one committed partner is truly better than any movie could ever depict.


I fear that there are many women in particular who are sadly disappointed in their sexual experiences as they seek love and affection from a man who is not committed for the long haul. Also, I fear that many newlyweds are left with feelings of failure and insecurity when they realize that their intimate life is not picture perfect like they imagined. They have simply been presented with an unrealistic and highly romanticized 'picture perfect'.


Much of this could be avoided, or at the least understood, if we are faithful to speak openly and candidly about sexuality with our kids and other who are looking to us for guidance. Trust me, I am not the best at this, but I am more than willing to embarrass myself in the process. I think it's worth it to be real for the sake of relational and sexual health that should be the blessing of every marriage and every marriage bed!


Please join the conversation in the comments section. I value your opinion and would love to hear your perspective. Feel free to be "anonymous" if that enables you to share more freely, or email me if you want to discuss more in private.

No Power Lovin'

As I was reading through the latest Cutting Edge (The Vineyard Churches Publication) I read the article on Power Evangelism. When asked what he meant by "power evangelism" the writer said, PE "is using the "power gifts:" healing, prophecy, deliverance, & ministry of the manifest presences of God-to reach people." Oddly, love didn't make the list of "power gifts." Love isn't power? God IS love, but it's not a power gift? Paul explicitly says love is the greatest gift, yet it's not a "power gift?" Weird. Wrong. Unbiblical. Sad. Reflective. Unfortunate.

I am thankful for the multitudes of those who are great lovers of God who never prayed in tongues or prophecied. E. Stanely Jones; Mother Theresa; Jean Vanier; Henry Nouwan; Charles Studd; Francis of Assisi. These incredible people remind me, as I flounder in the shadow of Apostolic shadows, that "love is the greatest gift." I am thankful too of my "empowered" brothers & sisters; I'm blessed to witness the miraculous in & around me.

Yet if love isn't the greatest of the "power gifts" than we've missed the point. In fact we've missed Jesus.

Epiphany 4: Jesus Loves Lepers

Here's a video we used during worship to celebrate the 4th week of Epiphany.

What would Jesus Brew?

As we approach the 3rd Sunday in Epiphany we look at the first of Jesus' miracles: Turning water into wine. It's odd to me that Jesus would do such a thing; or, should I say, it's odd only because our understanding of who Jesus is, the Kingdom of God, alcohol, & parties are distorted.

Alcohol is a theological hornets nest in almost any room filled with Christians. Some use it to prove they're: Mature, unreligious, or part of the intelligentsia. Others decry it as an ultimate evil: Prohibition! It seems to be a very polarizing subject.

Yet Jesus neither made wine to show he wasn't a Pharisee (which He was) or that He was cool (which He still is); & Jesus, knowing western Christianities view on alcohol didn't reject His mothers request to make it. He made a product people used & still use to sin.

Sadly, I think this is just one area we see Jesus distorted through our theological lenses. I see many people whose faith is constipated with erroneous theology, anger, frustration, disappointment, & sadness. But this isn't because of Jesus. He is pure, undefiled, & a perfect representation of the Father. We are the ones who approach Him with conditions, theologies, expectation, doctrines, & other distorted tails we blindly attempt to pin on the donkey. However, thankfully our theological donkey tales never stick to Him. He is the reality we should aspire to in theology, which leads to Life as He intended, using the things of the world He created in ways that honor Him. 

I'm thankful Jesus was a wine maker. It's challenging because it opens up the Kingdom of God to me. It demonstrates a faith of parties, fun, fellowship, & laughter. We've got much to learn from Jesus.

Addiction

Last night was our time of community worship & we did things a bit differently. There are several reasons why, three actually, that are leading me to imagine new spiritual activities as we gather.

First: On ITunes you can download podcasts of just about anybody; & all of this for free (mostly). Thankfully Eugene Peterson has several podcasts from various talks he has given throughout the country. The talks I have been listening to revolve around his latest 5 books, or as his wife calls them: Peterson’s Pentateuch. As a pastor, scholar, & practitioner of the faith for over 50yrs, Eugene has so much wisdom to share with us.

One of the themes he continually, & appropriately, works through is his dissatisfaction with the Evangelical church. I’m thankful for his perspective on this because he’s seen so much & this is the field I find myself in. He continually brings up illustrative points as to how we’ve created something so distant from Biblical & historical Christianity. I must admit as I listen to Eugene I am equally amused & convicted by his wisdom. He shares how in so many ways we have created a generation of Christian culture addicts; they sit, listen, tithe, & go their way. He, without reservation, details how we have not done so well at helping people to access the Holy One as a way of life.

All that to say this: He was invited to Seattle Pacific to do a sermon series. What was most intriguing to me was that each one of his "sermons" wasn’t a sermon; it was a story. He passionately, profoundly, succinctly, & effectively told stories to a listening audience. As I was running & listening to this I found myself smiling often because I was engrossed in the story he was telling. It was God’s story; it was my story. It wasn't a 3 point sermon; he told a story. As I look at world history one thing is beyond a doubt: Stories, & good story tellers, are a cross-cultural hit. Stories have been & always will be one of THE most effective ways to share information. Thanks Eugene.

Second: Reading through Charles Kraft’s book on communication has been illuminating. He continually demonstrates how our communication models aren’t really comparable to God’s via. Jesus’ communication on earth. Since this book is written to those who actually care about Christian communication one natural audience for this book is pastors, so naturally the topic of “sermon” is brought up many times. Dr. Kraft does an outstanding job putting “preaching” within its proper context; he never says monologues are bad; yet he, like many other scholars, reminds us: It is one of THE least effective ways of communication. This, for most of us isn’t a new idea; however, & this is a big however: I guarantee that the next time I sit in a room of pastors & we discuss how church is going 8 out of 10 pastors will share with the group what they’re monologue topic is. Preaching: Fresh, exciting, humorous, convicting, accessible, apologetics, power-point, passionate, etc; is one the least effective means of communicating. All of this has its roots, not is the NT as Dr. Kraft make obvious, but in the Reformation. Jesus’ monologues, but what percentage of his communication is monologue? Paul, Peter, John? Actually, John did a lot of monologues: John Calvin. But he ruled his own city, so he could monologue if he wanted to.

Last: I have continually been asking myself, “Who are the 95% who don’t follow Jesus & find church to be irrelevant to their spiritual needs?” Thankfully, God placed an awesome group of people around me to help me see who they are & how they worship their gods. As I recently attended one of their worship times I was struck by several things: The music was simple, repeatable, & had a moving tempo. The scene was sensual (not sexual, but there was a bit of that too!); people were dancing, others were blowing incense in your face, people were sitting & meditating. There was a ton of worship happening & there was no teaching, monologue, or preaching. As I reflected on “church” I imagined the opposite happening: There’s a ton of monologue, but not so much worship. Too, as I sat in the room with these passionate worshippers I asked myself, “The goal is to introduce these people to the living God & the gathering of the saints is one of the main ways this happens. How would any of these people respond if I asked them to leave this way of worship in exchange for a neat Bible & a comfy chair where they could listen to me extrapolate Biblical truths in the name of solid apologetics.” I at once was struck by the difference between their active worship with our static worship. But, in our faith (generally) when the greatest amount of space is given to monologue by the experts, what are the people to do, but sit, listen, & be amazed at the oratory skills of the speaker?

So last night, which was the first Sunday of Epiphany, I didn’t preach. We sang songs to God, I shared a story about the pain of a dark creation giving way to joy, as the stars lit the way for the Magi to worship the light born in a manger. Too, I told the story of the light being born in my life. We then practiced Lectio Divina on the text where Jesus says, “those who practice my words build upon the rock.” We: Read, Meditated, Prayed, & Contemplated the Word; Together.

Where this is all headed is a mystery to me...

Preach it Brotha!

As a pastor's group we are reading: Communication Theory for Christian Witness, by Charles Kraft. It's been heady, but really good. Here's what he has to say about preaching:

"It is simply a damaging myth that supports our tradition of preaching. It is based on the one hand on the historical fallacy that this is the way the early church did it and on the other by inadequate translation that gives the impression that monologue preaching is God's intended way of getting his message out. There is no magic in this (or any other) method. Jesus himself much preferred personal, interactional communication that encourages immediate feedback and, if necessary, adjustment of the message to assure greater relevance." Pgs. 28-29

&

"In what follows I will argue that Christians should use a multiplicity of forms of communication (as Jesus did), chosen according to their appropriateness in each given situation. A monologue approach is thoroughly appropriate if one wants to present a body of cognitive information in a short period of time...But a monologue approach is very poorly suited to either changing people's opinions or leading them to make significant changes in their lives." Pg. 31

He says quite a bit more & really demonstrates that what we believe "preaching" is really isn't what the NT means when it uses the words; or rather what the Bible translators thought of the words they translated. Too, given "preaching" is the preferred method of communication by the vast majority of churches, Dr. Kraft goes on to show how monologue (that's what our preaching is) is one of the least effective means of transformation for anyone. Yet, as Evangelicals monologue/preaching IS the main method of communication. This is challenging to me; especially as I find myself coming into closer proximity with a group of people who worship their gods in almost every way other than the way we do.

Eye Opening: Epiphany.

Some people take the beginning of Epiphany more seriously than others.

Epiphany: Thomas Merton

We're doing our best to go through the Liturgical Calendar. The book I'm using had this quote from Thomas Merton, an author I have yet to read.

“We who have seen the light of Christ are obliged, by the greatness of the grace that has been given us, to make known the presence of the Savior to the ends of the earth…not only by preaching the glad tidings of His coming; but above all by revealing Him in our lives…Every day of our mortal lives must be His manifestation, His divine Epiphany, in the world which He has created & redeemed.” Thomas Merton