Pilgrimage of the Heart - By Jeff Goins - Church, missions, and the kingdom of God

Featured on High Calling Blogs

Thu, 2 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It was an honor to be featured on the High Calling Blogs network this week with a handful of other talented writers. David Rupert shares the following about which pieces were chosen and why:

There’s a folder in my desk stuffed with letters – some 40 years old or more. Despite the passage of time, the handwritten swirls of ink from friends and family continue to inject wit, understanding and love. Within these folded pages are the annals of people who make an impact in my life.

In these days of e-mails, status updates and tweets, we have lost the meaning of the letter. The impersonal world of the instantaneous leaves us longing for something deeper, something with relationship.

Blogs are the closest thing we have to letters today. Within them are unique perceptions, revelations of personalities and inspirational insights that we can read – and then reread, hopefully tucking them away in our hearts.

Around the High Calling Network last month were plenty of “keepers,” blog posts that keep on breathing...

Read the full article: Around the Network: Taming Time and Unleashing God

And here's the full list of authors and their blogs (including yours truly). Great list of bloggers -- check 'em out:

Jenny Rain — The Ministry of the Moment
Jim Lange – We All Have a Role
Gary Davis – Success for Dummies
Lyla Lindquist – We Can’t Handle This Much Jesus
Jay Cookingham — Stepping into Beauty
Zena – Submissive Obedience
Charity Singleton – Still Running
Kim Hyland – Poem for Sophia
Jeff Goins — Pilgrimage of the Heart

David Platt on Living a Radical Christian Life

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I just saw this video about David Platt's new book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, and it got my blood boiling. Here's one quote that really struck me as both incredible and challenging:

We do not have time to waste our lives living out a Christian spin on the American Dream.

And here's another:

The most glorious reason you exist is for the proclamation of the glory of God to the ends of the world. And it's more than having a nice life.

These types of statements are what made me become a Christian in the first place -- because it wasn't a safe, polite religion, but rather a risky, radical endeavor that sought to turn the world upside down.

And I think that I've gotten away from it. In some respects, I've remade God in my own image according to my own comfort, prejudices, and culture.

Now, the term "radical" in many ways has been co-opted by violent extremists who mean the term in a completely different sense than I do. Yes, Jesus' revolution is scary and dangerous, but not because he calls us to strap bombs on our chests and run into shopping malls.

Following Christ is radical, because we are called to love our enemies. It's risky, because we are asked to exchange our delusions of material comforts for spiritual ones. It's dangerous, because we could end up dying for it, as we lay our lives down for others.

I don't know about you, but I think it sure would be nice to reclaim some of that radical faith I had when I began this journey.

Do You Pray for Gypsy Orphans?

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

How often do you wonder or worry about if someone is praying for you? I think most of us take it for granted that someone, somewhere, is thinking about us, wishing us well, and yes, even praying for us.

But that's not the case for millions of children around the world -- orphaned and forgotten.

When my friend Tom Davis came to a recent missions training camp, he shared how Russian orphans are one of the most targeted groups for sex trafficking, because no one will miss them when they are gone.

He told us that we need to begin our fight for justice by praying for the orphans of the world -- those who have no spiritual protection.

While on a mission trip in Romania in 2009, Steph Davis told the following story about meeting a young boy who needed her prayers:

We heard them before we even stepped off the bus. The children in the Gypsy village were gathered and waiting anxiously to see what the Americans would do. We walked in and greeted them with smiles, hand-shakes and high-fives. Then I took my seat on a small bench with several of the children. As I looked across to the kids sitting on the opposite side, I fell in love.

Sitting there, looking at me with a grin that stretched from ear to ear was the cutest 7-year-old in all of Romania. Peter simply smiled at me and I could not help but smile back. Each time I waved at him, he would shrug his shoulders and giggle. It did not take him long to find his way to my side. He was so quick to show love, giving me the best hugs. He stayed close by as we shared the story and love of Jesus and waved as we climbed back into our bus and drove away.

It would be a whole week before we returned to the village, would he even remember me? As the bus rolled in, I searched in vain for Peter. Where was he? There were plenty of hugs to give and receive, so I greeted the other children- keeping one eye on the gate, watching for Peter. Finally, I saw him coming in. As soon as he spotted me, his face exploded into a huge smile, he began to run and jumped into my arms, squeezing my neck so hard I almost feared it would break.

We spent the evening sharing the Easter story, playing games and singing. As soon as we had finished, he found his way to me again. He crawled onto my lap and I wrapped my arms around him while we prayed. As we were leaving, he walked me to the bus, holding my hand the entire way, then once again stood waving as we rumbled away. I can't speak to Peter. All I know about him is his name and age, but I love him as though he were my little brother. I miss him and pray for him daily.

I am amazed how God can fuse two hearts together with no verbal communication. Christ has allowed me to show this little boy a small piece of his love, simply through hugs, high-fives and smiles. The Holy Spirit has burdened my heart for him. I have come to realize I may be the only person praying for him.

Next time someone says, "I'm praying for you", let it be a reminder to you of those who don't have such blessings. And maybe say a prayer for the "Peters" of the world, too.

Celebrating Old Age

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of my new favorite writers is Sara Kelm. She's an up-and-coming author based out of Oregon that you should be watching. (Seriously.)

Since I've been ranting on youth and 20-something culture, I thought this post on birthdays that Sara recently wrote was particularly relevant to some of the discussions we've been having on this blog.

I had a birthday recently, and I love birthdays. Everything about them is wonderful: the gatherings of people, the overabundance of sweets, the ignoring of caloric intake.

Birthdays, to me, are embedded with joy. Maybe this birthday happiness overtakes me because I’m young and naïve. Women wearing a wry smile inform me that my love for days of births will change. For them, the issue isn’t so much the day, but rather the reminder of a new number associated with their lives. It’s another year gone by, another year older.

The first time I stumbled across Proverbs 16:31, which reads “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life,” I was probably ten. I asked my mom, “So then why do people dye their gray hairs?” She deflected easily, but there was a flicker of shame in her eyes.

Our culture throws that shame upon us. It does not value age or wisdom. Turn on MTV at Spring Break, or any other time for that matter. America’s version of this world celebrates youth and foolishness. What sells these days is young, skinny people making mistakes. And somehow, we’ve learned that old age is something to be feared. We’re afraid of outgrowing our relevance to this culture and to others and being unable to function as we did once.

But if we trust that God’s direction is supreme, each birthday should be a celebration and a time for looking ahead. It should be a day of looking back, but also looking ahead to something next with anticipation. Each day we’re still breathing is an opportunity to be relevant and to function in and through this world.

That’s a huge reason I love birthdays: they are embedded with hope for the next day, year, and chapter of life.

As I find myself approaching 30 (okay, it's three years away, but still...), I find myself asking questions like, "Did I do anything worthwhile with my 20's? Did I make a real difference?"

As I look back at what I've accomplished in my youth and early adulthood, I find myself getting excited about old age. Because I realize that with age comes experience. And with experience often comes wisdom.

And I need more of that. I used to be afraid of getting old. Now, I'm beginning to actually look forward to it.

How Do You Build Trust?

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Today on his blog, John Maxwell posed the question that all leaders ask themselves:

How do you gain the trust of others?

Trust is the lifeblood of any successful organization; it is what inspires leaders to keep leading, even through tough times. It is what holds communities together in adverse circumstances. It is what leads to long-term change.

Trust is essential to leadership.

So, why is trust sometimes so elusive? Why do we not always believe in and confide in one other? Why can it be difficult to motivate people to respect you?

More personally, what can I do today to gain others' trust?

John shares a list from a survey that Manchester, Inc., a consulting firm in Philadelphia, came up with when they surveyed more than 200 companies. Here is what they found common to people who build trust -- they:

Maintain integrity.
Openly communicate vision and values.
Show respect for employees as equal partners.
Focus on shared goals rather than personal agendas.
Do the right thing regardless of personal risk.
Listen with an open mind.
Demonstrate compassion.
Maintain confidences.

That's a pretty simple, albeit challenging, list. It's enough to keep me busy for awhile (especially the first one).

You can read the whole Maxwell post here: Build your relationships on the solid ground of TRUST.

When I look at the leaders I respect, trust, and admire, they do one thing that sets them apart from most people: They do what they say they're going to do. That, in and of itself, is counter-cultural enough to command my full attention and respect. And it's the type of leader I want to be -- someone of integrity.

How do you build trust? What's something that you need to work on when it comes to trust?

Do Christians Care About the Sex Trade?

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here's a great post by my friend Tom Davis, plugging an AIM mission trip to specifically address the issue of human trafficking. Tom writes:

Friends, I'll be blunt: I don't think that it's time for apologetics or theology or philosophical musings. I think it's time to act.

I don't want to try to guilt you with statistics or lofty figures that you can't relate to. We've all heard those before. I want to share an opportunity for you to do more than merely advocate.

My friends at Adventures in Missions have put together a trip for young people to spend five months being exposed to the realities of human trafficking, while partnering with existing ministries around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus to trafficking survivors. One of the months they'll actually be spending here in the United States. Find out more here.

If you are 21-35 and a Jesus-follower, I want you to seriously consider going on this trip. It will give you an opportunity to be the Body of Christ and to put his red letters into action. I guarantee that it will turn your world upside down (in a good way).

Read more: Christians Don't Care about the Sex Trade, Do They?

The call-to-action speaks for itself, but I'll restate the point anyway just to be redundant: If we believe something, it will affect our actions.

So, Christians, how are we showing that we care about the sex trade? How could we?

Facebook Places

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting video that I found thanks to my new buddy Jim Gray.

Random geek question: How will Facebook Places change the way online and offline interactions are made? Or will it? Is this just nerdy hype or really the dawn of a new social era?

To my ministry and missionary friends: Will this make an impact on how you reach out to your communities?

And one more question... If technology doesn't affect how we live our lives (particularly when it comes to transforming our cultures), does it have any practical use whatsoever?

Not a typical post, I know, but just some questions to chew on. If you can't access your inner geek, check back in tomorrow. I promise that it'll be more of the usual stuff.

Should Churches Burn the Koran?

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Wow.

That's all I have to say about this group on Facebook: International Burn a Koran Day.

What do you think about a church that encourages people to burn the Koran?

Eat, Pray, Love: Experiencing Faith Through Travel

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Perhaps against my better male judgment, I went to see Eat, Pray, Love last weekend with my wife. I bought this New York Times bestseller for her just before our taking a trip to New York City for Labor Day last year.

We've started an informal tradition of buying each other books before traveling. I bought her Wonderful Tonight, the story of Patti Boyd's love triangle with Eric Clapton and George Harrison, before going on our honeymoon. She bought me a Star Wars book before my mission trip to Costa Rica last spring.

I'm not sure why we do this, except that because maybe we both believe in the transformative power of travel. Travel has always been a part of our life and relationship. In fact, our first year of dating (it was more like courting) occurred while I was traveling with a music ministry.

At the end of that year, Ashley went to Mexico for a month in the summer. During that time away, we both realized how much we cared for one another and decided to take the next step in our relationship. Several months later, I spent 15 days in Mexico (without her), where I distinctly felt the call to marry that wonderful girl.

So, you could say that travel has always been important to us. That's why I thought a travel memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert would be appropriate to read during vacation.

And that's probably why, despite all the negative movie reviews I read, I went to see Eat, Pray, Love with my wife, anyway.

I'm not sure what the reviewers' beef was, but I thought the movie was good. It was a slow-moving storyline with sometimes less than admirable characters, but the story itself was believable and interesting. Gilbert divorces her husband, takes off for a year and rediscovers her passion for life -- in the form of food and spirituality.

As Gilbert trekked through Rome, I thought of my own trip to Italy years ago, recalling how the sun really does hit the buildings beautifully in the afternoon (for those of you who thought that Phil Connors in Groundhog Day was bluffing, he wasn't).

When she ended up in India, I remembered stories that missionary friends have shared about that amazing and curious land. When she retreated to Bali, all I could think of was where our next vacation needs to be planned.

While some complained that the film was bland and boring, I found it to be enthralling -- both with the exotic scenery and realistic unfolding of the main character's internal journey.

All of this happens, not surprisingly to me, as she travels. I've believed for quite some time that there is something transformative that happens to a person while traveling that cannot happen in any other context.

I've written before about the importance of pilgrimage, and I wish more Westerners would embrace the spiritual implications of a trip. I read a Christian reflection on Eat, Pray, Love in the Washington Post in which the author asks this provocative question that we all should ask of ourselves:

Is it possible to live a life of deep, transformational faith without dropping everything and hitting the road?

Read the full article here: Can We Eat, Pray, Love Without Hitting the Road?

I submit that we cannot experience deep faith without, at some point in our lives, going on a journey of transformation. Thoughts?

Human Trafficking: When Issues Have Faces

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

You hear a lot about justice issues like human trafficking these days. Celebrities like Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have popularized them through their advocacy and humanitarianism (which, don't get me wrong, is a really great thing).

But if you're like me -- a sponge for news and different forms of media -- you can get desensitized to all of these various issues and categorize them as just that, issues.

One of our missionaries Trevor Curington recently shared a photo blog of faces he captured while in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He writes:

[W]e went to the market for the first time. A few of us had wanted to go there and we finally got our chance. It's one of the most busiest markets I have been to and you can walk for hours and never see the same area.

On one of the streets I noticed a boy playing a traditional Thai instrument and was begging for money. As I kept walking, I noticed more and more people in the middle of the street begging for money. About every 50 yards was another child or adult.

Some had some physical disabilities and several looked to be blind and possibly had their eyes burned out. It wasn't until a few later I started to realized that there was a high chance that some of these people were victims of trafficking.

I will never know for sure whether they are or not, but trafficking is high in this area.

See some of Trevor's photos below. When you think of human trafficking, I no longer want you to think about an issue. I want you to see these faces:

To see the rest of Trevor's photos, see: Human Trafficking Victims?

How do you keep from objectifying people -- from turning faces into issues?

Are You Afraid to Succeed?

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This week, I'm meeting with the AIM mobilization team, which just grew from four to eight people. I'm a mixture of nervous and excited, all for the same reasons -- this means a new season for me as a leader.

For the past three or so years that I've been overseeing a lot of the organization's marketing and mobilization efforts, I've essential led by example.

That is, I taught other people how to do stuff but first doing it myself and then showing them how to do it.

With the advent of this new team, we're bringing people onboard that have competencies and skills I don't have, which means that I'm leading them more through vision-casting and influence.

To be honest, it's a little scary.

However, in times like these, I wonder if I'm afraid of failure or of succeeding. Success, after all, would mean dramatic change for me in terms of what I do on a day-to-day basis. And, as we all now, change can be hard.

I loved this post by Seth Godin that summarizes our response to these types of fears and anxieties. Here's an excerpt from "Avoiding Momentum":

[M]any of us fear too much momentum. We look at a project launch or a job or another new commitment as something that might get out of control. It's one thing to be a folk singer playing to a hundred people a night in a coffeehouse, but what if the momentum builds and you become a star?

A rock star? With an entourage and appearances and higher than high expectations for your next work. That's a lot of momentum, no?

Deep down, this potential for an overwhelming response alerts the lizard brain and we hold back. We're afraid of being part of something that feels like it might be too big for us.

Hint: it probably isn't.

Commitment Causes Us to Grow

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We need a new standard for young people. Clearly, the impression we're giving the world is not a good one (see yesterday's post for more on this). As a twenty-something myself, I want my generation to leave a lasting legacy in the world. And right now, we're not doing that -- mostly due to our crippling fear of commitment.

I propose an alternative to flaking out: develop a discipline of making seasonal commitments.

It's okay to treat your twenties like a series of internships, but instead of changing your lifestyle every six to twelve months, try adopting a new standard: a minimum two-year commitment to anything you're serious about doing.

A lot of young adults I know skip out on a commitment once it gets hard. They don't acquire the discipline to push through "The Dip" and miss the reward that comes with persevering. At the same time, it's unrealistic and even dangerous to expect a young person who is still finding their way in the world to jump right into a commitment and stick with it for decades without question.

There needs to be a way in which twenty-somethings can acquire some legitimate life skills, while still experiencing the freedom of moving around and trying out different things.

Maybe that means sticking with a job for another year, when you'd rather walk out the door tomorrow. According to Barna Group President David Kinnaman, young leaders often leave their jobs far too soon. When you feel you're at your breaking point, he says, "stay a little longer."

Maybe it means dealing with your restlessness in other ways than just permanently skipping town -- like taking up camping or cycling. A group of men I know go on regular "man hikes" in the mountains to rediscover their rugged masculinity and to give their restlessness an outlet.

On his blog, Tony Jones wrote about how he lives two blocks from where he grew up, why he plans to staying put, and why he's not embarrassed to admit it.

My friend Josh (who moved to Oregon from Georgia about a year ago) recently admitted that it's hard to stay put in a place when youthful restlessness begins to kick in. Nonetheless, he's committed to the relationships he's built there and is sticking it out. He wants to build trust with those who have come into his life, and he knows that only comes with relationship over time.

Given the title of this blog, the mission organization for which I work, and my passion for travel, I obviously believe in the importance of leaving home. There is something transformative that happens in a person's life when he leaves that which is comfortable for the first time.

Conversely, there is great value in sticking things out. If you've done the former but neglected the latter, consider making some longer-term commitments. You need commitment in order to grow. Begin with a season -- commit to something (a church, educational track, job, or relationship) for longer than is comfortable for you.

When it gets tough, don't allow yourself to quit (unless it's unhealthy for you to stay). See how you grow as a result.

Question: How has commitment caused you to grow in the past?

Gen Y's Struggle with Commitment

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Somewhat unintentionally, this week's theme for the blog has been commitment, especially as it relates to Gen Y, the so-called "Millenial Generation". First, I spoke about twenty-something wrestling with restlessness, and then I talked about our cultural obsession with new things.

A lof of what I've shared so far has been based on lessons I've learned over the past four years, which can be boiled down into the following statement: Committing to something is better than not committing to anything.

As Chuck Colson wrote recently for Christianity Today, the current generation of young adults has lost the "art" of commitment. He cites studies that reveal how twenty-somethings struggle to commit to anything: careers, marriages, and even their faith.

This is due, at least in part, to what Mark Oestreicher calls a cultural acceptance of "extended adolescence," for which he doesn't blame young people, but rather culture itself. We have lowered our expectations of young people, and they have, in effect, lived "up" to those expectations.

A non-committal attitude often comes from the trepidation of getting locked into something (like a career), because it feels permanent. Of course, this is unrealistic, as most of us will have several careers in our lifetime, not to mention the obvious choice we have, at any point, to quit. Yet, while this fear may be unfounded, the hesitancy to make a wrong choice can lead to making no commitments at all.

For young Christians, the reasons for not committing are sometimes spiritual, such as they want to be "open" to what God might have for them. If they commit to something, that would automatically inhibit them (they would reason) from being able to respond to God's calling. So instead of taking a full-time job or signing an apartment lease, they work part-time at Starbucks and live in their parents' basement.

This overlooks something that I believe is crucially important: There is profound spiritual value in making commitments.

By moving to a more committal lifestyle, you learn something -- how to be there for a friend, how to meet a deadline, how to follow through on a task, and how to push through a challenge, regardless of your feelings.

There are lessons we need to learn, some of which can only happen through commitment.

If you choose to become a person of commitment, the results will be obvious. People will trust you. They will vouch for you as someone they can count on. And you will benefit from it, as well. You'll find yourself more comfortable with steadiness, as opposed to being afraid of it. You'll become a person of great character and integrity.

I want to be that kind of person -- I have a long way to go, but I'm getting there, one commitment at a time. I want that for my peers, as well. (More on this tomorrow...)

What's your impression of twenty-somethings, with respect to commitment?

Our Culture's Obsession with "New"

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

There seems to be something broken in the human condition (especially in America) that obsesses over new things. Maybe it's some kind of divine fingerprint on each of us -- something innate that is waiting in anticipation of all things being made new.

Whatever the reason, this obsession with new can be dangerous. We humans tend to be capricious characters, and chasing after the shiniest new toy isn't always the right pursuit for our souls.

Frankly, I like old stuff. I prefer a good ol' used, hardbound book to a brand-new, glossy paperback. I like food that takes a long time to prepare, I enjoy wearing clothes from Goodwill. Growing up, I listened to mostly classic rock music -- groups like Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd. Now, I'm drawn to even older blues and jazz from the 40s. I sometimes even turn on the classical station when I'm in the car alone. (Yes, I'm turning into a senior citizen.)

You might say that I have an old soul. Mostly, I consider it a strength. I don't want to have a new soul. I don't want to be obsessed with bigger, faster, and better. I want to give my spirit room to breate and reflect.

I want to go for long walks and watch black-and-white movies. I want to dance with my wife to a big band, not a DJ. When I go to a concert, I want to sit down where I can be comfortable and not have my ears bleed. I want to carry a pocketwatch with a chain and an old money clip wherever I go.

In our culture (and in our lives), we need more of the old and less of the new.

There is just something about taking your time in doing something that makes it more worth it. There is something beautiful about the old ways of doing things. I'm sure of it.

In an age where nearly anything is possible via technology, we need to be careful with our obsession and pursuit of new. We may find ourselves losing the old things that are most important to our humanity.

As the prophet Jeremiah warned: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

Find an old way today, and walk in it.

How to Deal with the Restlessness of Your Twenties

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I've noticed that a lot of people in their twenties are restless. They're disillusioned with the dream of more - of materialism and the reckless pursuit of "happiness" in the form of property. Quite simply, they've learned that "stuff" is just stuff - and ultimately unfulfilling.

They've caught a glimpse of another world. And they want more of it.

Once you've tasted a life that isn't all about you, it can sort of wreck you. It runs so contrary to our "me-first" culture that it can really turn your world upside down.

Those who have experienced something else can't help but feel like a misfit in the inane day-to-day lifestyle of so many in the West. They want an adventure. They want to do something meaningful. They're restless.

But restlessness is not enough.

An unchecked dissatisfaction with the status quo will lead to an itinerant lifestyle, bouncing from one thrill-seeking adventure to the next with little commitment to place or person. I seen this happen a lot. It's not healthy.

This is not what I believe God has for us -- ditching one part-time job for the next, starting intimate relationships and then abandoning them after a few months. At the same time, he doesn't want us just to commit to the first steady opportunity that comes along, without asking some of the deeper questions about our life's purpose.

He wants to use this desire for more to shape us -- to call us out of the world and into his kingdom. But this kingdom, I believe, is a realm of order. It is a place of commitment, of honor and integrity. And while he may bring us from one place to another, that's his call, not ours.

Apple Friend Bar, Two Drill Bits, and How I Get Things Done

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here's my Monday morning rant coming straight to you from my couch (I stopped working at my desk two weeks ago because it got too messy).

I had a great, relaxing weekend, which included spending half of my Saturday cleaning our apartment. I can't believe that we have so much space and our stuff (clothes, books, mail, crafts, etc.) still seems to pile up.

I don't particularly care for cleaning (as much as I do having a clean living space), but it was nice to have the time to tidy our place up a bit. I'm also learning how to find the "spiritual" in seemingly un-spiritual practices.

Sunday, we hung out with our neighbors Mark and Diana, whom we have not seen in probably a month. We're tired of saying, "It's been too long!" I mean, they live a stone's throw away from us (literally, I've thrown rocks at their apartment).

We grilled hot dogs, ate various mayonaisse-based picnic concoctions (e.g. such-and-such "salad"), got ice cream cones, and went for a walk in a nearby park (to ease our gluttonous guilt).

This morning, I'm hitting the ground running. I had a fantastic mozzarella omelet, and I'm preparing for our upcoming marketing meetings with my new team next week. That means, plans and strategies and agendas need to be written by yours truly and pronto.

Of course, not before my morning coffee and a little blog-reading.

Here are a couple of links worth checking out:

"I'm Sorry, Did You Say Two Drill Bits?" - My new coworker Frank Burder wrote a post about his weekend adventure with the Nicaraguan health system that required him to pick up a few "small things" (like drill bits and antiseptic) for the doctors that were operating on his friend Juan. Whoa.

Action Method - My team started using the Action Method as our main task management and productivity tool. It's easier to navigate than Basecamp (minus some key features that others might consider important) and far more intuitive.

I find that the easy interface actually makes me want to use it more. In fact, I spent part of last night using it to plan out this week; I'm excited about getting things done. Maybe I'll even be able to return to my desk (shudder). If you're a creative or manage creatives, this is a great tool to consider.

Apple Help Bar - Thanks to Adam McLane for this one. Only you uber- and pseudo-geeks (like myself) will appreciate this one, especially if you're a Mac fanatic or can relate to the religious zealotry of Steve Jobs' disciples. I've embedded the video (courtesy of the Onion) below. It's pretty funny (and true).

Enjoy your week.

Confession: Sometimes, It's Hard to Hope

Sat, 7 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I thought about hope today for some reason.

It could be because there's been some deaths in our church this year or because a few people that are close to me are struggling with situations that, in many ways, seem hopeless.

Most likely, though, it's because I'm thinking about myself. (Selfish, I know; I hate that about me.) I've hit an emotional/spiritual funk lately, and I'm not sure what that's all about.

Most days, it's hard to stay motivated or on task. It doesn't feel natural to pray or read the Scriptures. It's difficult to share an affirming word with my wife or coworkers. And I am increasingly more frustrated with myself for not being who I thought I would be at 27 years old -- that is, an intelligent, well-accomplished, moral stud.

I catch myself in the middle of this depressing introspection and think: What would I do without hope?

What would I do without the belief that life could get better?
What would I do if I were unable to choose a different life for myself?
What would I do if I couldn't break free of bad habits?
What would I do if I didn't believe that God could turn my failure into something beautiful?

Life feels tough today. When I write that, it sounds completely absurd. I mean, I have food, water, shelter, health, a wife, and a job that allows me to do meaningful work. What's tough about that? I don't know. It could be that I'm tired or that I had a rough week, or that I've just let my mind wander too far. But I feel like I'm missing out on something.

While everything on the outside looks great, inside I don't feel too hot.

And I guess that's the point - fulfillment has little do with the external and everything to do with the internal

I imagine that this is what hell is like -- perpetual hopelessness. Yes, I believe in hell -- I'm not sure what it's like exactly, but it seems to me that the one quality it has to possess is an absence of this beautiful thing called hope.

You see, life isn't beautiful because there are no challenges or trials, no obstacles to overcome. Life is beautiful, simply because the obstacles can be overcome. Even the most terrible situation can improve or be redeemed.

That's why on days like this when it's hard to hope, I have to practice faith. Today, hope is a discipline. I believe it to be true; therefore, I accept that my situation can improve, that my feelings can be more positive, and that the broken, seemingly hopeless things in the world can be healed.

It's a powerful thought and incredibly compelling when you actually believe it. Moreso when you actually live like you have hope.

Think about it: What would you do without hope?

Artists, Share Your Secrets

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Two interesting things happened to me yesterday.

First of all, I had the privilege of meeting author Mary DeMuth. We're both members of the Lausanne Blogging Network - a global conversation about the church and missions - and I suggested we connect on the phone.

After hearing about how she got started as a writer, she said something in particular that really struck me as significant.

She told me that when a friend got published, she refused to share any secrets to getting a book deal. Mary hadn't written anything that had been published at the time, but she decided that if she ever were to be published that she wouldn't withhold any "secrets" from those needing help.

We ended the 30-minute call, and that was it. We agreed to stay in touch and help one another. A nice, mid-day conversation, but it seemed rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things. However, one idea kept resonating with me:

Share your secrets.

Later in the evening, I connected with a friend of a friend on the phone. She is an aspiring writer, and I told her via email that I'd answer any questions she had. On the phone, I found myself divulging everything I knew about writing, blogging, and publishing your content.

At one point, I thought, "What the heck am I doing? I'm sharing with her every secret I've learned in the past four years!" Then I remembered that phrase:

Share your secrets.

I'm no big-time author or anything, but I have had to work to establish some relationships that have been key in getting some of my work published. When you work that hard at anything, you want to be recognized. It's only natural to expect others to do the same to get to the same place.

There's only one problem with that: It's predicated on a false worldview. Art isn't some race to the top, where there is only one position of "best artist" awaiting you. It's a community of creativity and generosity, a network from which we all can benefit. Yet, for some reason, many who have worked so hard to get established as professionals become proud and do as Mary's friend did - refusing to help anyone.

That doesn't make sense to me - not these days. As I told Sara (the aspiring writer): "We're all in this, I hope, for the same reasons - to be poor together and share our gifts with the world."

The global marketplace is changing. There are no secrets anymore. In order to maintain a competitive edge, some creative professionals are sharing everything they know. They're providing the help they never received so that the community as a whole can benefit from what is shared.

This isn't about making money (although, I hope you make some). It's not about being the top dog, either. It's about being generous - creating something beautiful and then giving it away. That's art, something we all ought to be doing.

Giving gifts is the new marketing, as Seth Godin says. So while you shouldn't expect repayment, you will, in due time, receive a gift of your own. And it is the new economy, as Chris Anderson says, so you either join in now or get left behind.

Artists, please, let's stop selfishly hoarding what we know, and share our secrets.

How can you do that today?

Anne Rice, You're Still My Sister

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I'm a bit weary of all this Anne Rice melodrama. This whole thing has gotten a bit blown out of proportion, when you compare it to all the other issues that we ought to be concerned with. For example:

27 million people around the world are in modern-day slavery.

Over 31 million people (of which 2 million are children) are infected with HIV.

884 million people do not have access to clean water, which the U.N. recently declared as a human right.

So, let's take this whole issue of Anne saying she's tired of religious institutions in stride and put it in proper perspective.

That said, I want to address something as it pertains to her critics. Here's my beef:

Some of the same people who are telling Anne that she can't check out on Christianity are then writing her off. (Like, the dude who created this video.)

Um, is it just me, or does that sound like hypocrisy? If you write us off, then we'll write you off.

Now, let's be honest -- the word "Christianity" carries different definitinons for different people. For a long time, it meant a religious institution to me. Since coming to a relationship with Christ, however, I've come to understand Christianity more in terms of a family, albeit, at times, a dysfunctional one.

Words like "church" and "Christendom" carry little meaning for me and a lot of baggage. Conversely, when I read Scripture, I find some very compelling terms like kingdom of God and Body of Christ that you don't hear used very much, although the New Testament is full of them.

We are all members of one body, not an institution. We are citizens in a new kingdom, not a religion. We are God's children, not merely his underlings. So, as I mentioned before, the language can sometimes get in the way of the concepts, so when someone who follows Christ divorces themselves from Christianity, we need to consider an appropriate response.

When I read Scripture, I see one glaring theme throughout the whole narrative: God wants a family. Before there was the nation of Israel or the institution of the church, God's story begins with family, as he calls his first children Adam and Eve to fill the earth.

He does it again with Noah's family, telling them to "multiply". Then again with Abraham and Sarah, declaring that their descendants will be too many to count. Even the apostle John writes about Christ, that through him we have received the "right to become children of God." (1:12).

There is something about this story, this cosmic relationship with the divine, that is familial -- beginning to end.

I don't know if what Anne did in quitting Christianity was right, but I know that from what I've read about her faith (and how she's described it herself), it sounds like she knows Christ. That means, she's my sister, even if she doesn't want to be a part of the family anymore (which I'm not absolutely sure is the case).

Let me ask you this: What if a sibling walked away from your family? What if she told you she was going to change her name and no longer associate herself with the family? What would you say?

I hope you'd do the same as I would, telling her, "I love you, and we're still family, because we're related by blood."

I say the very same thing to Anne Rice.

Anne Rice, Being a Christian, and the Limits of Language

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

For those of you who didn't hear, Anne Rice quit Christianity this week, but didn't quit Christ. She wrote:

I quit being a Christian. I'm out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian.

Around the same time, I posted on Facebook that we need a better vocabulary to define our faith. The word "Christian" no longer communicates "Christ-one" as it once did.

I received over 50 comments, some agreeing, some disagreeing, and all providing interesting feedback. We discussed the limitations of language and how, at the same time, it can be a tremendously helpful tool. What I found particularly interesting was that each person had a slightly different idea of what a Christian was or should be.

On one hand, this is tragic. It suggests that those of us who follow Christ can agree on so very little (ergo the creation of innumerable denominations and sects). On the other hand, it's beautiful - the diversity of multiple parts of a single body, all working uniquely together to (hopefully) show Christ to the world.

When I posted that status update, I was coming from a place of frustration with the qualities often associated with a Christian -- qualities that I didn't think were necessarily true, such as:

Christians don't cuss.
Christians don't drink or smoke.
Christians don't like gay people.
Christians are judgmental.

If you haven't noticed, all of the above statements are negative, as are the reasons for which Anne quit Christianity. If you think those are overstatements, read the book unChristian, which outlines a detailed research project of common perceptions of Christianity. The findings are stunning.

I wonder -- why don't people think of Christians in the following terms:

Christians adopt orphans and take care of widows.
Christians hang out with poor people and prostitutes.
Christians don't judge.
Christians follow Jesus.

Depending on what "flavor" of faith you come from, you may or may not agree with some of the above statements, but I hope that we can all agree upon the last one. Christians should be known for following Jesus.

If that were the case, Christians would do what Jesus did -- live simply, hang out with social outcasts, have compassion on sinners, offend religious leaders, heal diseases, raise the dead, and cancel the works of the Devil.

I don't know what to call the type of person who does that, but I know that we need more of them. Maybe "Christian" (which has come to be a term loaded with political undertones) is no longer adequate, or maybe, as some have suggested, it just needs to be reclaimed by those who truly follow Christ.

Regardless, I think we need not be religiously committed to a term that is grossly misunderstood by many. If we do claim the title "Christian", we ought to be ready to qualify what that does and does not mean. Because many people, Christians included, have grown to hate the idea of being a Christian.

And I don't blame them... or Anne Rice.

As my friend Tom Davis says:

We are not hated because we follow Christ, because we display His radical love, or because we follow His teachings with the actions of our lives. We are hated because we say we follow Christ, but do nothing to show that in our outward behaviors.

What do you think? Do we need to reclaim the word "Christian", or do we need a new word for someone who follows Christ in the 21st Century?

By the way, watch this video and tell me something isn't wrong with Christianity.

On Being Debt Free

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A few months ago, Ashley and I signed up for Financial Peace University with some other friends from church.

For the longest time, we thought the whole Dave Ramsey thing was a cult. (Since he lives here, people in Franklin can get a little whacko about their coupon-clipping and campaignging against consumer debt.)

But, as we started reading and listening to what he head to say, much of it began to make a lot of sense. So, we started to do what he said, focusing all our savings efforts on knocking out debt quickly.

Yesterday, we were able to pay off our car, eliminating two more years of payments and saving about $1000 in interest.

We celebrated with a cookie cake that Ashley made (one of my favorite desserts). For us, it was a milestone. It marked a new stage in life for us. We can now give more, save for a house, continue to make wise money decisions, and enjoy financial peace.

To be perfectly honest, Ashley and I have never struggled much with debt, but going through Dave's lessons taught us a lot about our culture and helped us identify some of the subtle lies we had believed, regarding debt.

We've learned that debt is not normal. It may be common, but it is not normal. Over a hundred years ago (and for most of human history), being in debt was not something that was common. It was a source of shame, not convenience, to purchase something you couldn't afford. These days, you can buy anything at any time through "financing" of "12 easy payments".

We've also learned that having a credit card can change the way you make purchases. I'm not saying all credit is evil (you can certainly buy things with credit responsibly), but we just observed that having credit cards influenced how we spent money. So, we cut 'em all up.

Easy access to luxurious items without having to pay for them all at once has led a number of cultural (and spiritual/social) problems: more materialism and envy, increased consumer debt, the rise of personal bankruptcy filings, decreased savings, and general fiscal irresponsibility.

I see this attitude being especially prevalent in young people. A new friend who's a schoolteacher in inner-city Chicago recently told me that his students wear hundred-dollar sneakers, carry two cell phones, but live in public housing. They may eat off of food stamps, but they're obsessed with the newest piece of technology as soon as it comes out.

I recall a time when I visited a friend in downtown Nashville who lived in a pretty poor area of town. She rented a small townhouse and lived off of public aid. The family didn't have toilet paper or food, but they were watching a brand-new DVD, and the pregnant mother had just bought a pack cigarettes. They had recently had the heat turned off on them, and all the kids could talk about was wanting a new video game.

There is something wrong with a society in which this kind of activity is considered normal.

You can blame the individuals for not being more responsible, but my belief is that it goes deeper than that. This is a cultural epidemic. There is an expectation in our country that you ought to have certain things, and whether you have the money to afford them is a non-issue.

In the U.S. (and some other parts of the world), we are grossly addicted to stuff, and the media doesn't help us kick the habit. We don't see or hear many positive examples of delayed gratification, and so we easily develp a "gotta-have-it-now" attitude (often propagated by an inundation of advertising). This can lead to an entitlement mentality when it comes to a perceived "need" to acquire many possessions quickly.

As you can imagine, all of this leads to over-spending and ultimately paying for it... one way or the other.

Being debt free doesn't just mean being on top of our finances. For me, it means that we've chosen to live somewhat counter-culturally, that we are intentionally waiting to enjoy certain amenities in life that some of our peers are currently enjoying.

It means that we don't believe the lie that working for something is a bad thing. In fact, we believe that it develops character and teaches us values we wouldn't otherwise learn, values we want to pass onto our children. We reject the expectation that we need to live above our means in order to conform to the cultural expectations.

I know that this is a complicated issue, but having recently experienced the peace of not owing anyone anything, I can tell you this: Getting out of debt is worth the sacrifice. Don't believe the lie of our culture that debt is a way of life. I dare you to be counter-cultural and fight to get out of it.

For more on this, check out: Getting Out of Debt is Spiritual Warfare

By the way, I promised Ashley a dog once we paid off our car, so pray for me/us. From what I've heard about apartment fees, trips to the vet, and dog food prices, this may put us right back into debt... (Kidding. Well sorta.)

Teenage Faith: Declining or Evolving?

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting article from the AIM Youthworkers Blog:

The great guys at youthministry360 gave us the first heads up on the latest study from the Barna Group: How Teenagers' Faith Practices are Changing. It's well worth the read if you have the time.

The researchers spotlighted a disturbing trend.

They concluded that teenagers' faith is declining, but the spiritual losses have escaped the notice of youth workers and church leaders.

Church/youth group attendance is great--about 60 percent of all teens are engaged in some type of "group spiritual activity" each week. So on the surface, everything's cool. Look closer, though, and the deeper, more personal aspects of teens' faith are suffering. Small group attendance, prayer, witnessing, and Sunday school attendance are all down.

The report says: "The most striking change was the fact that teenagers today seem much less inclined to have spiritual conversations about their faith in Christ with non-believers..."

Read the rest of the article: Teens' Faith on the Decline

What do you say, parents/youthworkers? Is this true - is the faith of teenagers declining, or could it be just evolving?

The Most Effective Christian Apologetic

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In Eric Bryant's new book on faith and diversity Not Like Me, he writes:

The most effective apologetic is love. This may seem simplistic or even naive in a pluralistic, universalistic, spiritually heightened, anti-Christian, and syncretistic world, but knowing all the "right" answers is not nearly as effective as demonstrating a transformed life of genuine love and concern and care.

We need to follow the apostle Paul's guidance to "preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage," while ensuring that we follow how he wanted his church-planting protege, Timothy, to do this -- "with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).

Is this true?

Is the most effective way we can demonstrate a belief system not through what we say, but what we do?

If so, what are the implications for how Christians should and should not act, as it relates to sharing their faith?

The Hope of Haiti: The Local Church

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

How do you rebuild a country after a major disaster?

Begin with the local church.

As cliche as it has become in some circles, the local church really is the hope of the world (originally a Bill Hybels quote, I believe.)

Of course by "church", I don't mean a building or a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, but rather the local expression of the Body of Christ in a particular area -- a fellowship that cares deeply about following God and reaching its own community.

With the Church to Church program, we are connecting churches from around the world to Haitian churches to empower local leaders to rebuild their own country. It's a great model, and we're seeing tremendous fruit from it.

Watch this great video from Katie Rowland, describing one such relationship between a U.S. church in California and a local church in Haiti.

What do you think -- is the hope of Haiti the local church?

Rules and the Dangers of Legalism (Repost)

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Rules can be tricky. They keep us safe from really going off the "deep end," but they can also constrict our passions and can murder our hearts. I've struggled with them my whole Christian life: to be disciplined without being legalistic, to embrace grace without abusing it, to have some structure in my life without being ruled by it.

Rules. In and of themselves, they aren't necessarily bad; they're just structures set in place towards a specific end.

If the end is the rule itself, well then you might be... screwed. Following a rule just to look good in front of others or to even feel good about yourself is only going to make you frustrated, and it sure won't get you anything eternally. Sorry to deflate your balloon.

Yet, if you're following a rule with love as the ultimate end, well, then you might be able to call that a "spiritual discipline" or something.

Ah, rules... They're so tricky. They saved me from having sex with my girlfriend before marriage, but they also probably caused impurity in other, more discrete ways, while I reveled in self-righteousness.

Let's be honest - rules are sometimes necessary. They get you through some tough, spiritual struggles, but they can also mess you up emotionally. So, where is the line drawn, exactly? Is it all in the motives behind your actions, like a heart issue, as this blogger says, or is it something more?

I like what Paul says in Galatians 4 regarding rules being given us as structures to lead us through immaturity and into freedom that honors God. Eventually, he says, the laws that led you into liberty are no longer useful or necessary (as they might be for a slave), and you can discard them, embracing your identity as a true child and heir. There is no longer any need for a teacher or governor.

Classes are over. You're dismissed. You've just been handed your diploma. Now, it's time to go live your life.

So, rules aren't necessarily bad, I don't think. In some cases (mine, for example), they keep us from doing really stupid things. However, when you hold onto a law after freedom comes, then that's when it becomes legalistic.

My wife and I experienced some of that after we got married. It took awhile for us to realize that the very structures we used to protect ourselves were no longer necessary and that we were, in fact, free. Sometimes, we still catch ourselves wondering, "Is it really okay for me to do that?"

And then I hear that answer that I would like to share with you if you're struggling with moving beyond the rules into the true freedom of enjoying the life your Creator has given you: "You betcha."

What has been your relationship with rules?

Celebrating the Ones We Love

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Today is my wife's birthday.

When I asked her what she wanted, she said jokingly, "I just want to be celebrated." But I took it seriously.

So, we started early this year, and I took her out to her favorite restaurant last night, "let" her beat me at mini-golf, and watched a chick flick with her.

This morning, I made pancakes for her and may have a few more tricks up my sleeve to remind her of what a blessing she is to me. I'm doing my best to make her feel celebrated.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Maybe it's because I've gone to a couple of really touching funerals this year, but the importance of eulogizing someone (which literally means to "say good words" about them) has never been so important.

But why do we wait to do this? Why don't we celebrate each other now?

We need to do a better job of celebrating our loved ones. Let's start now.

When was the last time you were celebrated? How did it make you feel?

Three Reasons to Go to Haiti Now

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's been six months since the earthquake in Haiti. Most of us have moved on and more or less forgotten about the disaster, but some have not.

From what I can gather from reports by my colleagues on the ground, there is still a lot of work to be done.

In other words, if you were thinking that you were off the hook, there is still reason for you to go to Haiti.

You should think about following Adam McLane's example. A member of the YMATH group we sent in February, Adam saw the destruction of the quake a couple weeks after it had occurred.

For all intents and purposes, he's done his "good deed" with this humanitarian crisis and could move on to something else.

And yet, he refuses to do so. In fact, he took the initiative to mobilize a hodge-podge team of youthworkers to go back to Haiti, because he believed so strongly in the work that's still to be done there.

Adam posted on his blog three reasons why he's returning to Haiti (he leaves today). Here they are:

While the cameras and celebrities (and the money they bring) have left Haiti, millions remain homeless. 2/3rd of the cities residents still sleep on the ground. Can you imagine “camping” for 6 months, sleeping on the bare dirt, trying to find food every day? The hard work of rebuilding has not begun. This is still very much a relief effort.
The local church is still the primary instrument of relief. My entire adult life I’ve listened to pastors say, “We just need to move the church back to Acts 2.” Well, it is happening in Haiti! And I want to support them however I can. I don’t want to sound judgmental, but I openly wonder where those church leaders are who claim they want to see Acts 2 in their communities. If they were serious they would be in Haiti.
The situation for the orphans and widows is dire. Last week the New York Times published a beautiful piece about a young girl named Daphne. You should read it. Its a story of hope and despair. As you read it ask yourself what I have been asking myself, “Why aren’t believers telling these stories to churches?” I hope to meet some Daphne’s and tell you their stories.

In my book, Adam's a hero. You should consider praying for him and even imitating him as God leads you. You can follow him via Twitter and his blog.

Expectations on a Mission Trip

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Expectations. We all have them.

As with anything in life, expecting events to happen in a certain way is even a part of going on a mission trip. It doesn't matter that you're going to serve someone else. Inevitably, there are expectations that arise:

You have an idea in your head of what the culture will look like and feel like.

You often have an idea of where you will sleep and what ou will do.

You usually have an idea -- an expectation, even -- of what you, personally will get out of the trip.

The question, however, becomes: What will you do with your expectations? Will you manage them, or let them manage you?

This blog post from our Philly mission team about a recent group's expectations of their short-term trip was interesting to read.

As I was browsing this and other blog posts, I was led to this post by my coworker Lanny Richardson -- "Expectancy Vs. Expectations" -- which reminded me of a sermon my pastor once gave.

While Lanny goes in a slightly different direction, the takeaway from the sermon was this: Expectation suggests that God has to do whatever I expect, whereas expectancy is more the confidence in the fact that God will do something.

It's not bad to have loose expectancies of God doing something amazing on a mission trip; however, it is dangerous to have hard-and-fast expectations of what he will do or what the experience will be like. Life is organic; it doesn't always conform to our expectations (not to mention an omnipotent deity).

On top of that, if you've never been on a mission trip, you really shouldn't know what to expect. The whole point of the experience is to take you out of your context -- to immerse you into an unpredictable environment where all you have to rely upon is faith (not expectations).

While we all have expectations of what a trip will be like, it's important to honestly surrender those to God and exchange your expectation for expectancy. (A good recent example of someone transparently sharing his expectations and fears is Adam McLane's post about going back to Haiti.)

What kinds of expectations do you usually have on a mission trip, and what do you do with them?

For more on why taking young people out of their comfort, check out Jimmy McCarty's excellent post from AIM's youthworker blog: Interruptions: Taking Youth Away from Their Comforts and Luxuries.

God Bless America?

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I know that I sparked some controversy in last week's posts about patriotism and faith (okay, so it was almost two weeks ago now). I know that I don't have all this figured out. I was venting about some of my discomforts with tying religion and political allegiances too closely together and am still working out a lot of this. Thanks for your comments that have helped me think through this a little more.

I don't mean to beat a dead horse (what an awful word picture, by the way), but let's look at it one more time, in light of Scripture. And please, if you disagree with an assumption or think I'm being naive, speak up.

Let's look at the biblical precedents for how people of faith should relate to a system of government:

1) The Hebrews enslaved in Egypt, waiting to leave.
2) The line of powerful (but mostly dysfunctional) kings of Israel and Judah.
3) The Jews in exile, waiting to return.
4) The long line of prophets (many in exile) who often spoke out against those in power.
5) New Testament believers as captives in their own land amongst a culture of pagans, waiting for their king to return and rule. They're told to submit to authorities, but also that they are strangers in this world.

The whole narrative of the Bible is about a peculiar people trying to find their land. For a relatively brief period, the Hebrews experience freedom and power, but for the most part theirs is a story of exile -- they're lost, enslaved, wandering in the wilderness, in captivity, occupied by enemies, oppressed, longing for rescue.

The Jews are especially a people of waiting and wandering, learning to live in a place that is not their home. But the entire Judeo-Christian story is about a people who have not yet settled into their land.

This seems to be a major theme of Scripture and one well worth noting in the United States. While I think we've come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with American Christians embracing their national heritage and expressing pride in that, we do need to be careful that we do not adopt non-biblical ideas as biblical ones.

For instance, can you imagine Jesus delivering the Sermon on the Mount next to a flag with Caesar's emblem? I can't. It would have been counter-intuitive to his teaching of the kingdom of God.

At the same time, you don't see Christ standing up with the Zealots (a political faction who believed that the messiah would come when the Jewish people overthrew their Roman occupants).

History teaches us that marrying power and religion closely together ultimately ends up in abuse.

If we tout freedom as a core value of our nation, those who are proud to don the red-white-and-blue should be just as tolerate of those who do not. Even hearing well-meaning evangelicalis say, "We absolutely should be patriotic" suggests a requisite for being a faithful Christian that makes me uneasy.

When you look at the Bible and consider how your faith should intersect with your politics, consider the implications of saying and believing something like "God Bless America" or singing "America the Beautiful" in church. I don't mean to keep rehashing the same old argument, but it's worth considering in light of Scripture: How are Christians (in any country, really) supposed to identify with their country?

Thoughts?

For more on this topic, you might want to check out the hotly-debated article on RELEVANT: The Idolatry of Patriotism

Life and Death and Stories Worth Living

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I don’t understand stories – why some end and others seem to go on forever. In a way, it seems cruel. I know that it’s not. But it sure feels that way sometimes.

This feels like a season of death, but maybe it’s just a transition between stories.

In the late spring, we buried Lois, the matriarch of our church. She was a sassy but sweet woman who lived a life that was nothing short of inspiring. Her laugh was infectious and her smile cathartic. She had an edge to her that made her both fun and unpredictable. You never knew what kind of response you might provoke in her. It wasn’t uncommon for her to razz you, even from the comfort of her electric wheelchair with a tank of oxygen wheeling behind her. That image, in and of itself, was part of her charm and humor.

Lois was always full of life, spry and jovial even as the cancer weakened her body.

She left us gently and gracefully, but not without the flair that was uniquely hers. My friend Vince eulogized her by telling stories of his mother-in-law’s jokes and pranks and how he eventually learned to dish it back out to her. Laughing through our tears, we each recalled our own stories of this woman’s wit and cleverness.

When we buried her that beautiful spring day off of Highway 100, my pastor told us that while death is a part of life, it is still the last enemy to be defeated. In a way, he was saying that this was all right -- the pain, the tears, the remorse. It was okay to grieve. It was okay to hurt. It wasn't supposed to be like this. We weren't supposed to experience such profound loss. And one day, we won't have to.

That thought comforted me several months ago as it did yesterday, when I attended another church member's funeral. This time, it was Al -- an "elder in every sense of the word" as one person remembered him. He was 90 years old and one of the foundations of our small fellowship. He built our church sign, tiled the bathroom, and schooled most people in knowledge of the Scriptures.

He was an engineer, an inventor, a soldier, a father, a designer, an evangelist, a friend.

As Al's friends and family gathered, the stories started to come -- one after the other of hilarious and beautiful moments starring this tender-hearted, unforgettable man of God. None of them seemed disingenuous. I didn't discount one incredible story. I knew they were all true. Because I knew the man behind them.

I only knew Al (like I knew Lois) for the last four years. I didn't know him like many of the others did. And yet, I loved him in my own way. There were little things that made him extraordinary. Like the way his hair was always neatly combed and his shirt perfectly tucked into his ironed slacks, held up by suspenders. Or the way he would smile at you from across the room. He would beam with a light like that of another world, and it was wonderfully contagious.

People tell me, “I wish you could have known them before…” I don’t. The Al and Lois I knew were remarkable. They may not have been their former selves, but they were outstanding souls, nonetheless, sucking the marrow out of the remaining moments of life. I'm better for knowing them -- for having the honor to intersect with the final chapters of their stories. I'm inspired. To make my time on this planet count. To not take the little things for granted. To live a story that comes even close to the richness of these outstanding lives.

I had better get started.