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Late Night Revelation (Replay)

August 2, 2006 in Ministry, The Word, Theology with Comments Off

I posted this back in March under the title The Practical Theology of the Waffle House. Since that time I have revisited it, cleaned it up, and added a few things here and there. I chose to publish this version in the August newsletter for my church.

We are soon headed into Fall which means only one thing here in Texas.

Football.

I sketched this story out on the back of the placemat after a football game last season. My dad is a coach so we went to the Waffle House near his school after the game and I’ve never been the same.

As the season begins, I know that there will be a few late nights and similar opportunities. Just as I was not content with the way this article read back in March I am not content with with reacting the way I did back in October. I am ready to share my plate, my life, and my Jesus with people who are nothing like me. Maybe you are too.

Thanks for letting me get away with replaying this so soon. Here’s to a new season.

It was probably only the second time that I had ever stepped foot
inside one of these restaurants. The air was smokey. To say that the
cliental was shady would be an understatement. I made my way over to
the booth in the corner careful not to touch anything. As I looked
over the menu, I was less than thrilled with the choices. I wasn’t
hungry for any of the items listed but I was with my parents so I felt
that I should at least eat something here instead of walking to the
fast food establishment next door. I ended up ordering a simple
hamburger. After I ordered, I began to glance around the building
looking at the other people there.

I saw an older man sitting at the counter. His face was beaten and
weathered by the elements. He looked homeless. I didn’t see him eat
but I watched him as he drank his coffee. After a cup or two he
lowered his head and walked out into the cold night. As he left, two
young women walked in. The had just come from a high school sporting
event. Their sweat shirts sported the the mother of all swear words in
bright, bold white letters. As they cozied into the booth behind me
all eyes were on them. Whispers became audible insults. The girls just
laughed and went on about their night. Some high schoolers came in
looking for something to eat. They sat down at the counter where the
old man had sat. These people were so different from me.

The more and more I watched them the more convinced I became of the
new belief stirring in my heart. This belief is a simple and radical
idea. It doesn’t sit comfortably with me because it demands a
response. A response to the world and to the people sitting around me
that night.

Jesus would have eaten at the Waffle House.

He would have. There is no doubt in my mind. Jesus was the kind of
Savior that would have cozied up to the counter and had some
hash-browns covered and smothered with some guy who was at the end of
his rope. Jesus would have eaten with him, covered the bill, and
changed the man’s life. Maybe it would be with the touch of his hand
or maybe it would have been with just a look or Jesus might have even
spoken a word of encouragement or discipline to the man but the
message would have been clear.

“I am your Savior. I traveled across the universe to be with you. I
know who you are. I know your name. I know where you’ve been. I know
where your going. I want you to abandon your plans and join up with
me. I’ve done all the hard work. All you have to do is say yes.”

Yeah, Jesus would have eaten at the Waffle House.

Matthew 9:10-13 says this:

That night Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner
guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious
sinners. The Pharisees were indignant. “Why does your teacher eat with
such scum?” they asked his disciples.

When he heard this, Jesus replied, “Healthy people don’t need a
doctor—sick people do.”  Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning
of this Scripture: ‘I want you to be merciful; I don’t want your
sacrifices.’ For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they
are already good enough.”

As followers of this Savior what does that say about where we should
eat and who we should eat with? Think about that the when you eat at
the House or the next time your sitting in the booth at Chicken
Express or whenever you grab a slice of Sbarro in the food court.
Somebody there could benefit from you sharing not only your plate but
your faith as well.

A Change of Perspective

May 9, 2006 in Faith in Action, Ministry, Theology with Comments Off

Dill: I think I’ll be a clown when I get grown. Yes sir, a clown. There ain’t one thing in this world I can do about folks except laugh, so I’m gonna join the circus and laugh my head off.
Jem: You got it backwards, Dill. Clowns are sad; it’s folks that laugh at them.
Dill: Well I’m gonna be a new kinda clown. I’m gonna stand in the middle of the ring and laugh at folks.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird has had a profound influence on me since the first time that I read it. I remember wanting to be as good of a man as Atticus Finch was: A man who stood up for those who are forced to sit down. However, I often find myself more like Dill, throwing my hands up in the air and making a cynical comment about life.

As I have prepared to move I have been thinking about the pain and frustrations, joys and triumphs, great people and the not-so great, patterns of conflicts, organizational habits and overal ministry ethos that I have experienced in my first full time ministry. What am I going to take with me to Texas?

No doubt I will take the memories of the students who have shared their lives with me but what else will make that 10hr journey?

I Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

In the long marathon that is ministry the wisdom, resolve, discernment, and courage of someone like Atticus Finch will keep you in the race. Dill’s cynasism in a recipe for burnout.

Latte, Bees, Life, and the Gospel

April 27, 2006 in Firm on the Rock, Ministry, Religion, Theology with Comments Off

Akeelah and the Bee is the inspirational story, co-presented by Lionsgate Films, 2929 Entertainment and Starbucks Entertainment, of a precocious eleven-year-old girl with a gift for spelling. Despite objections from her mother, Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah’s aptitude wins her a spot in the national spelling bee, and her determination instills all those who help her with a sense of neighborhood pride as they witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Did you catch that? This new movie is co-produced by, of all companies, Starbucks. While this might come as a quirky fact to many of you, it doesn’t surprise me in the least.

As I sit here at my desk typing this, the radio in my office is tuned to the satilite station XM 75: Hear Music. The mood in my office is always rich and smooth, just like a certain hot beverage. The soothing voice of the on-air personality wispers, “The sound of Starbucks” as the latest David Grey tune gently begins and I feel like I’m right there at the coffee shop- sans the sounds of coffee grinders and foaming milk, of course. Then, when I hear a new artist or a great new song, I can just pick it up at the register the next time I’m ordering a tall White Chocolate Mocha.

The bottom line for Starbucks is that it is first and foremost selling coffee but they are more interested in selling a lifestyle of laid back, hipster cool. And guess what? It works. It works because it seems to be a natural occurance. Starbucks isn’t trying hard to force you into buying their coffee and then thrusting the lifestyle on you. It happens almost organically.

You walk in to buy a cup of joe. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The cashier asks for your name and scribbles it on to your cup. While you wait for your Carmel Machiatto you peruse the CDs, mugs, coasters, and brewing machines. You walk out with your drink, a tumbler with “Starry Night”, and that ultra-cool Sam Cooke compilation. You climb into your SUV and flip the channel to 75. Tracy Chapman sings to you as you travel to work where you can buy a cold frapachino from the vending machine near your cubicle. That night you head out to go see the latest flick with your favorite actor, Larry “Cowboy Curtis” Fishburn. On the way home you pop that Sam Cooke compilation in the dash and smile. What a day.

Starbucks not only sells Coffee but Music, Movies, and Mood. Starbucks is branded as a lifestyle more than a beverage. And that got me thinking…

Part 2: Salvation and Lifestyle Are Not Mutually Exclusive

It’s No Secret At All

April 3, 2006 in Books, Theology with Comments Off

“I think that Jesus would have been political.”

Eight small words uttered by a college freshman struggeling to articulate his new reality. What my friend was trying to say was that he is now begining to understand, after growing up in a Christian home and attending a Christian school for all his life, that Jesus Christ would have cause a huge problem for politics, cultural and national identity, social structures, and the status quo. As he spoke, all I could do was smile because I knew that I was witnessing this young man owning his faith. Up until this point in his life he had lived the faith of others- parents, ministers, teachers. Like Jacob, he is wrestling. I began this wrestling match around the same time and have continued through this day. I hope I never stop. I pray thet neither does he.

If Jesus Christ really did come to this world as a messenger of hope and forgiveness and true life found through Him then his words and actions should redefine the way we live our lives.

Christ gave us a new paradigm. Why do we insist on still using the world’s busted one?

Over the weekend I began reading the much anticipated new book by Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything. McLaren addresses this wrestling match head on. Much of what he writes is simply a rehashing of points I’ve read before in Wright and Yoder but with McLaren the information is accessible to all. No advance degree is needed for reading this former English professor’s thoughts on first century Judaism and the impact of our Savior.

Here are a few exerpts to whet your appetite:

What if many have carried on a religion that faithfully celebrates Jesus in ritual and art, teaches about Jesus is sermons and books, sings about Jesus in songs and hymns, and theorizes about Jesus is seminaries and classrooms… but somewhere along the way missed rich and radical traesures hidden in the essential message of Jesus?

What if his secret message had practical implications for such issues as how you live your daily life, how you earn and spend money, how you treat people of other races and religions, and how the nations of the world conduct their foreign policy? What is his message directly or indirectly addressed issues like advertising, environmentalism, terrorism, econmics, sexuality, marriage, parenting, the quest for happiness and peace, and racial reconciliation?

If the Christian religion “misunderestimates” the message of Jesus and his message- if it doesn’t know or believe the truth about Jesus and his message- the whole world will suffer from Christian ignorance, confusion, or delusion. But if it discovers, understands, believes, and lives Jesus’ message- if it becomes increasingly faithful to the reality of what Jesus taught in word and example- then everyone could benefit: Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, agnostics, atheists, everyone.

I don’t want to spoil the ending, but I’ll let you in on this: the further I go on this search, the more inspired, moved, challenged, shocked, and motivated I become about the secret message of Jesus.

I’ve become convinced that if the good news of Jesus were carried in a newspaper today, it wouldn’t be hidden in the religion section (although it would no doubt cause a ruckus there). It would be a major story in every section…

… this much is clear: the carpenter’s son from Galilee challenges every existing political movement (Essene, Pharisee, Zealot, Herodian) to a radical rethinking and dares everyone to imagine and consider his revolutionary alternative.

There you go. Just a few snippets so that you can see where McLaren is going. He isn’t speaking of some gnostic secret message of Jesus that will lead to transcendence. No, he is simply asking us to re-evaluate the message of Jesus Christ- take off the layers of theological gunk that 2000 years of war, power struggles, and history have added to this radical message stripping it of the power that it once had- and see it with new eyes and a renewed heart. Let this powerful message effect you whole life and impact those around you.

Whoa…

March 17, 2006 in Theology with Comments Off

Excuse me… Um. We ordered the large Jesus statue for our building.

The Beatles can step aside thanks to the 62-foot, $250,000 Jesus statue erected by the Solid Rock Church of Monroe, Ohio. The sculpture towers over the church and nearby interstate 75, serving as a “beacon of hope and salvation.”

“We’re living in a day when a lot of people feel hopeless, but we believe that when people see him, they will understand he is the hope for the world,” said Darlene Bishop, wife of pastor Lawrence Bishop and originator of the idea.

There is also some debate as to the biggest Jesus ever status as Eureka Springs, Ark. claims to have a 67-foot Jesus.

For $250,000 I wonder how much “hope and salvation” could have been offered to people in the form of food and shelter? Our evangelism tactics are messed up.

Link

School Choice and the 1st Century

March 15, 2006 in Faith in Action, Popular Culture, Theology with 1 Comment

Very interesting article over at Out of Ur, the blog for Leadership Journal. I am a product of Christian education. I went to a private k-12 school as a kid, I graduated from a private 4 year college, and, for now, I work for a private k-12 school. It a real “circle of life” I guess. There are pros and cons of this kind of environment and I know that where I choose to send my kids has a lot to say about my theology and perspective on the world around me. I don’t have any children yet but the reality of where to send them when they reach school age is always on my mind.

The article Really Old School: What 1st Century Judaism Says About the Public/Private/Home School Dilemma looks at the four Jewish beleif systems that were vying for dominance in the first century: the Essenes, the Sadducees, the Zealots, and the Pharisees. The author compares these faith communities with modern day school choices: Homeschool, Public, and Private education.

Very good thoughts but sadly little follow through. It is worth the read though.

Link

Not Just Deaf and Dumb

March 13, 2006 in Books, Theology with Comments Off

On Saturday evening I stopped by Border’s for some coffee and a chance to stretch my legs. It is always a little dangerous for me to walk around a bookstore because I never seem to leave empty handed. This time was no exception.

I picked up Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by N.T. Wright. I was surprised to see the book on the shelves because according to Amazon.com this latest Wright book isn’t supposed to be released until tomorrow (March 14). Well, fortunately for me I now have a copy in hand.

THe book is intended to be a kind of a Mere Christianity for today: a summary of the faith, hope, and love that Christians claim to live in. One of the things that I love about Wright is that on one hand he can write on subjects that are so lofty and complex that they require an advanced degree in comprehension and on the other hand he writes for the Every Man. This book is for the latter.

Bishop Wright divides the book into 3 sections. Part One is entitled Echoes of a Voice. “It is as though,” he writes, “we can hear, not perhaps a voice itself, but the echo of a voice: a voice speaking with calm, healing authority, speaking about justice, about things being put to rights, about peace and hope and prosperity for all.” Of course, this voice is the voice of God speaking to his children about true justice, living spirituality, God-honoring relationships, and this world in which we live. Every human being hears this voice or at least the echo of the voice and we all must respond. That brings us to Section Two. In this section. Staring at the Sun (Lovin’ the U2 reference BTW), Wright tackles the basic building blocks of Christianity: God, Israel, Jesus and God’s Kingdom, Resurrection, and Life by the Spirit. It is only after we understand the story in which we are invited to join that we can begin to live this Christian life to the fullest. Section Three, Refelcting the Image, introduces the reader to worship and prayer, community and fellowship.

I cannot wait to finish this book. If you liked Mere Christianity or if you are a fan of N.T. Wright, pick up a copy of Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. It might be a good way to help you introduce the concept of Christianity to those around you. Peace.

ONE Update

March 13, 2006 in Faith in Action, Theology with Comments Off

Got this email today and I wanted to pass it on to you:

Last Thursday, the Senate Budget Committee cut back funds to the President’s plan to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty-but we still have a chance to make a difference!

Right now, two U.S. Senators are reaching across political divides and asking the Senate to add $566 million to fund critical AIDS, TB and malaria programs running around the world. Senators Rick Santorum, a Republican from Pennsylvania, and Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, have proposed an amendment to ensure America continues funding the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Call 1-800-786-2663 TODAY and help make AIDS, TB and malaria history.

The Global Fund saves lives. Please call the two Senators from your state TODAY and ask them to support the Santorum-Durbin Amendment for global AIDS funding.

Call 1-800-786-2663 to be connected directly to your Senators and ask them to support the Santorum-Durbin Amendment.

Remember, AIDS kills 8,500 people every day, TB kills 5,000 and malaria kills over 3,000 in Africa alone– every day. Together, we can help fight back against these killer diseases.

Thank you,

The ONE Team

All it takes is a phone call. Please help. Maybe one day we can talk about malaria and TB like we talk about polio. “Remember when…” Let’s make that a reality.

The Practical Theology of the Waffle House

March 1, 2006 in Ministry, Theology with Comments Off

It was probably only the second time that I had ever stepped foot inside one of these resturants. The air was smokey. The clientel shady. I made my way over to the booth in the corner careful not to touch anything. As I looked over the menu, I was less than thrilled with the choices. I wasn’t hungry for any of the items listed but I was with my parents so I felt that I should at least eat something here instead of walking to the fast food establishment next door. I ended up ordering a simple hamburger. After I ordered, I began to glance around the building looking at the other people there.

I saw an older man sitting at the counter. His face was beaten and weathered by the elements. He looked homeless. I didn’t see him eat but I watched him as he drank his coffee. After a cup or two he lowered his head and walked out into the cold night. As he left, two young women walked in. The had just come from a high school sporting event. Their sweat shirts sported the f-bomb in bold white letters. As they cozied into the booth behind me all eyes were on them. Whispers became audible insults. The girls just laughed and went on about their night. Some high schoolers came in looking for something to eat. They sat down at the counter where the old man had sat. These people were so different from me.

The more and more I watched them the more convinced I became of the new belief stirring in my heart. This belief is a simple and radical idea. It doesn’t sit comfortably with me because it demands a response. A response to the world and to the people sitting around me that night. I am convinced.

Jesus would have eaten at the Waffle House.

He would have. There is no doubt in my mind. Jesus was the kind of Savior that would have cozied up to the counter and had some hashbrowns covered and smothered with some guy who was at the end of his rope. Jesus would have eaten with him, covered the bill, and changed the man’s life. Maybe it would be with the touch of his hand or maybe it would have been with just a look or Jesus might have even spoken a word of encouragement or discipline to the man but the message would be clear.

Yeah, Jesus would have eaten at the Waffle House. What does that say about where we eat and who we eat with?

Life Is Sweet

February 28, 2006 in Ministry, News, Theology with 1 Comment

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