I made a new friend through the blogosphere, Kenny. I would recommend highly his post on Pope's article about Nietzsche that was posted on Mark Driscoll's blog. He captures much of what I was getting at with my post about prooftexting, at least in how Christians improperly use source materials.
Kenny is a self-declared bibliophile, a lover of books. I must admit that books are a passion of mine as well. I think he does a better job of reading them, I seem to do a great job of collecting them but a horrible job of reading them. I would be ashamed to say what portion of my growing library (500+ volumes when I counted it last year) I have actually read. You might have noticed the Library Thing link, that is merely a selection of some of the more interesting titles in my collection.
Well I finally took Kenny's advice and visited Benjamin books in the Rideau Centre. I was walking home from a gig playing for a urban mission I really love and dropped in on this wonderful little store. They had The Lonergan Reader for $9, I might have to return for that one. I couldn't resist Paul Ricoeur's "The Rule of Metaphor". I love Ricoeur as a theologian so I am sure I will appreciate his philosophy, after all he really is a philosopher. Thanks for the tip Kenny. Keep your hands off that Lonergan Reader!
The other odd little book I picked up recently is "The History and Social Influence of the Potatoe". It was at our church yard sale and I laughed so hard I had to buy it. So cool.
Monday, June 12, 2006
[THO] The fighting continues for the WTC!
Over at the World Theology Cup it is getting nasty!
Schillebeeckx lost to a theologian with two Zeds in his name???
Frei narrated his own victory against ecofeminist McFague!
Jenson showed the East what’s what!
But Küng and Gutierrez fought fiercly, with Liberation spelling victory for Gutierrez! What a match that was, the crowd was on the edge of their seat at every vote. There will be more dynamite matches like that one in the future we can be assured!
More matches underway as Daly fights for her life. Round 2 is underway, you predict who will emerge victorious on this field of battle!
[UPDATE] Breaking news, satellite imagery has revealed a lone supporter of Mary Daly deep in the woods near Syndney, Australia! A team of reporters has been dispatched but have only found huge hordes of deadly koalas in that area. Suprisingly each of these cute but deadly bears was sporting a copy of Pure Lust, the special outback leatherbound edition. What could this all mean?
Schillebeeckx lost to a theologian with two Zeds in his name???
Frei narrated his own victory against ecofeminist McFague!
Jenson showed the East what’s what!
But Küng and Gutierrez fought fiercly, with Liberation spelling victory for Gutierrez! What a match that was, the crowd was on the edge of their seat at every vote. There will be more dynamite matches like that one in the future we can be assured!
More matches underway as Daly fights for her life. Round 2 is underway, you predict who will emerge victorious on this field of battle!
[UPDATE] Breaking news, satellite imagery has revealed a lone supporter of Mary Daly deep in the woods near Syndney, Australia! A team of reporters has been dispatched but have only found huge hordes of deadly koalas in that area. Suprisingly each of these cute but deadly bears was sporting a copy of Pure Lust, the special outback leatherbound edition. What could this all mean?
Saturday, June 10, 2006
[LIF] Church Garage Sale
We had a church garage sale today to raise money for the foodbank near where we are meeting as a church. We rose just shy of $330 selling off our old stuff, which is amazing! What was amazing was seeing our community working together to do something good and really having a great time with it. Lots of people were really blessed that we were doing this to raise money for charity – one lady brought us some stuff from her home to sell as well. That was so cool. I was also blessed by the fact that despite the truly miserable weather we had Friday, it was overcast but for the most part dry all morning today. What an awesome answer to prayer. We took lots of pictures so I’ll have to post a few when I get them from Gabriel.
Friday, June 09, 2006
[THO] World Cup of Modern Systematic Theologians
I am really enjoying the matches over at Patrik's blog. It just cracks me up that he would think of doing this. Moltmann all the way baby! I'll have to run a commentary at some point. I must admit I know about 1/4 of the theologians listed, yikes. I've been wiki'ing the ones I've never heard of which is really fun. Always looking for a Tübingen connection!
[UPDATE]
First round was amazing!
Gunton suprisingly upset Kasper!
Yoder presented a fine showing against heavyweight Tillich, but not strong enough!
Rahner, the crowd favourite trounced the lesser Niebuhr!
Daly really couldn't hold he own against Nygren (I must admit to moving on the the exciting Rahner-Niebuhr contest myself).
Ebeling proved that the master can overtake the teacher!
and as expected Pannenburg was kicking it oldschool over Lubac who was an early game favourite.
Anything can happen as the Freedom Log favourite as entered the playing field. I predict Moltmann and Sölle will dominate for team (Pseudo)-Dionysios!
[UPDATE]
Moltmann! Moltmann! Moltmann! Moltmann!
I'd call him the dominator, but that would just be wrong considering his theology. But Moltmann did not dissappoint his fans as he soundly smote Cone. (Sorry Cone but you didn't stand a chance against this heavy weight).
Unfortunatly Molty's running mate Dorothy Sölle did not manage to win, but she put in a good fight. (Obviously eloquence did not count enough in this match up!)
von Balthasar defeated Congar, I would have voted for Congar but Balthasar is just too much of a hip Battlestar Galactica worthy name! Damn my fickle voting patterns.
In other news Tracy boffed Boff.
The Ratz boy proved once again the papal annoyance at feminist theologians as he spanked the ever powerful Rosemary Radford Ruether with ever un-Pope-like behaviour.
And voters clearly showed that the would prefer to be in the Jüngel rather than in Hickville. Can't say as I blame them.
This is getting tense folks, almost every participant has been on the field once. Head on over to see the excitement for yourself. The big question on everyones mind is how Kung will fare on the liberation front, I predict this one will not be pretty!
[UPDATE]
First round was amazing!
Gunton suprisingly upset Kasper!
Yoder presented a fine showing against heavyweight Tillich, but not strong enough!
Rahner, the crowd favourite trounced the lesser Niebuhr!
Daly really couldn't hold he own against Nygren (I must admit to moving on the the exciting Rahner-Niebuhr contest myself).
Ebeling proved that the master can overtake the teacher!
and as expected Pannenburg was kicking it oldschool over Lubac who was an early game favourite.
Anything can happen as the Freedom Log favourite as entered the playing field. I predict Moltmann and Sölle will dominate for team (Pseudo)-Dionysios!
[UPDATE]
Moltmann! Moltmann! Moltmann! Moltmann!
I'd call him the dominator, but that would just be wrong considering his theology. But Moltmann did not dissappoint his fans as he soundly smote Cone. (Sorry Cone but you didn't stand a chance against this heavy weight).
Unfortunatly Molty's running mate Dorothy Sölle did not manage to win, but she put in a good fight. (Obviously eloquence did not count enough in this match up!)
von Balthasar defeated Congar, I would have voted for Congar but Balthasar is just too much of a hip Battlestar Galactica worthy name! Damn my fickle voting patterns.
In other news Tracy boffed Boff.
The Ratz boy proved once again the papal annoyance at feminist theologians as he spanked the ever powerful Rosemary Radford Ruether with ever un-Pope-like behaviour.
And voters clearly showed that the would prefer to be in the Jüngel rather than in Hickville. Can't say as I blame them.
This is getting tense folks, almost every participant has been on the field once. Head on over to see the excitement for yourself. The big question on everyones mind is how Kung will fare on the liberation front, I predict this one will not be pretty!
Monday, June 05, 2006
[LIF] Con Man Strikes Again!
You might remember that last year we were taken by a con man. I just got the sad news that another Ontario Vineyard has had the misfortune of this guys visit. Luckily we have a picture now, unluckily he stole a check from them and forged himself a grand. This guy was very good, took a PAOC church before us and could talk the "church lingo" wherever he went.
If you see him don't hesitate to inform the police. We have a case open on him and now there is one down Toronto ways. His MO was that he came into the country and was robbed at the airport, lost his ID. He is super friendly and talks a up a storm. He made several fake phone calls from our place, and even had someone call for him. So he is likely not working alone. I don't think he is dangerous, except to your pocket book. The odd things all really added up after he had disappeared.
The ironic part is that he never really took anything from us that we wouldn't have given if he'd asked. Sure we wouldn't have been too happy about him running up a hotel bill like he did, but it was only money. When I got news of this I was sad again, not so much that he ripped off my brother (which does make me sad) but that he is still caught up in a web of sin. How sad is someone who has to prey on the people who only want to give? If you do nab him, please let me know.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
[THO] Proof-texting Bites
What is wrong with proof-texting? I must admit that it is one of my pet peeves. Proof-texting is basically the practice of using small isolated snippets of scripture to back up an idea. Christians do it all the time, tacking endless bible references to their every statement as if to give their statements the weight of scripture. Heck, I used to do it myself.
There are a few things wrong with this practice. First if you look up those passages and read them in context they can often say something completely different than what the user intends. I recently decided to look up the verses proposed on a series of propositions at one of the blogs I read. I thought maybe a few of them might be stretches. What shocked me was that none of them actually bore out the points he was making – well unless you stretched them to say something they were not saying in proper context. If you are going to do this read the context, please.
The second problem is that they make your statement weightier than it deserves to be. I don’t think people intend to be arrogant when they do this, but it sure is an arrogant thing to say your words are as weighty as scripture. Really we know that most people are not going to check your context, especially if you include multiples of references. For some reason there is an assumption of unmediated access to the mind of Christ taken on by the average Christian and this leads to all kinds of heresies. Now I am not for taking the scriptures out of the hands of people, but for mercy sake lets teach people to be responsible with the scriptures. To study it diligently, which doesn’t mean just knowing verses. In fact to use the scriptures, as they were intended – read the whole thing in context. Maybe laity could be given scriptures without bible references in them – that would help.
The third problem is what I call the JW problem. Ever debate with a JW? They know all the key verses and are trained to bounce you to the next one before you can read the proper context and see why their claim is preposterous. What sucks is that Christians do this all the time too. It fails to honour the reader and let them encounter God through the scriptures for themselves. It reduces the bible to a supporting document for a series of propositions that we want folks to assent to. I would rather lead people to Jesus thank you very much.
Finally it shows a lack of respect for scripture itself. Well that probably already came out. But if we really respect scripture we won’t twist it to suit our ends, rather we will embrace it and let scripture change us. Wouldn’t that be awesome? No wonder we are encouraged to devote ourselves to the public reading of scripture. No wonder the rich synagogue tradition always included publicly reading the scriptures. It is meant to be read to the people of God so that through it we can encounter the Word behind the word, the Living Word Jesus Christ. I’m all about that.
So please, don’t proof-text.
There are a few things wrong with this practice. First if you look up those passages and read them in context they can often say something completely different than what the user intends. I recently decided to look up the verses proposed on a series of propositions at one of the blogs I read. I thought maybe a few of them might be stretches. What shocked me was that none of them actually bore out the points he was making – well unless you stretched them to say something they were not saying in proper context. If you are going to do this read the context, please.
The second problem is that they make your statement weightier than it deserves to be. I don’t think people intend to be arrogant when they do this, but it sure is an arrogant thing to say your words are as weighty as scripture. Really we know that most people are not going to check your context, especially if you include multiples of references. For some reason there is an assumption of unmediated access to the mind of Christ taken on by the average Christian and this leads to all kinds of heresies. Now I am not for taking the scriptures out of the hands of people, but for mercy sake lets teach people to be responsible with the scriptures. To study it diligently, which doesn’t mean just knowing verses. In fact to use the scriptures, as they were intended – read the whole thing in context. Maybe laity could be given scriptures without bible references in them – that would help.
The third problem is what I call the JW problem. Ever debate with a JW? They know all the key verses and are trained to bounce you to the next one before you can read the proper context and see why their claim is preposterous. What sucks is that Christians do this all the time too. It fails to honour the reader and let them encounter God through the scriptures for themselves. It reduces the bible to a supporting document for a series of propositions that we want folks to assent to. I would rather lead people to Jesus thank you very much.
Finally it shows a lack of respect for scripture itself. Well that probably already came out. But if we really respect scripture we won’t twist it to suit our ends, rather we will embrace it and let scripture change us. Wouldn’t that be awesome? No wonder we are encouraged to devote ourselves to the public reading of scripture. No wonder the rich synagogue tradition always included publicly reading the scriptures. It is meant to be read to the people of God so that through it we can encounter the Word behind the word, the Living Word Jesus Christ. I’m all about that.
So please, don’t proof-text.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
[LIF] neo-vegetarian reculturationist
Bryan, over at the Christian Gamers Guild, referred to me as a:
"neo-vegetarian pseudo-sideways reculturationist"
It was in jest and believe me I took it that way. But I wondered at how accurate a reflection this might be on me.
Despite never having any vegetarian leanings on account of God screwing up and giving me omnivorous teeth (what was God thinking?). I do hold some similar values with my more nature-oriented vegetarian friends. I just find it hard to resist the modern conveniences associated with cheating against my values. So ‘neo’ should really be replaced with ‘hypocritical neo’, if I am to be honest. I should go elsewhere when they are out of organic carrots, but sadly I don’t.
Pseudo-sideways, well considering when I was young and very stupid I decided to try out the urban myth of smoking banana peels. We baked them up, scraped them into a couple pipes and lit up for an experience that left us (I had a partner in stupidity in those days, fellow named Melvern) with the worst possible headache that mercifully only lasted about an hour. But the initial effect of inhaling burnt banana rinds is to feel sideways. So yes I know what it is like to feel sideways. However, pseudo or imitation sideways is another story. Suffice to say I no longer smoke much of anything let alone banana peels so sideways does need some qualifier if it has any hope of fitting.
Am I pseudo sideways? I like to think I’m not pseudo anything, but my investigation of my neo-vegetarianism already proved that I am not as non-pseudo as I would like to believe. But I don’t really try to pretend to be sideways either. Maybe upside down? I think that works better for me, pseudo inverted. I am not really inverted, but sometimes my perspectives can appear inverted; quite possibly they are inverted from the norm, but in reality I am convinced my ideas are right side up, hence the pseudo qualifier.
Reculturationist. Huh?
Well let’s break this bad boy down. Re means I do something again. Culture is in this, but the declination seems to indicate this term is more of a verb, meaning that I like to either reapply culture or resituate something into cultures. Both are quite accurate – which is why the first two are troubling, how could Bryan be so accurate here and miss the first two? I’ll leave that for Bryan to ponder.
"neo-vegetarian pseudo-sideways reculturationist"
It was in jest and believe me I took it that way. But I wondered at how accurate a reflection this might be on me.
Despite never having any vegetarian leanings on account of God screwing up and giving me omnivorous teeth (what was God thinking?). I do hold some similar values with my more nature-oriented vegetarian friends. I just find it hard to resist the modern conveniences associated with cheating against my values. So ‘neo’ should really be replaced with ‘hypocritical neo’, if I am to be honest. I should go elsewhere when they are out of organic carrots, but sadly I don’t.
Pseudo-sideways, well considering when I was young and very stupid I decided to try out the urban myth of smoking banana peels. We baked them up, scraped them into a couple pipes and lit up for an experience that left us (I had a partner in stupidity in those days, fellow named Melvern) with the worst possible headache that mercifully only lasted about an hour. But the initial effect of inhaling burnt banana rinds is to feel sideways. So yes I know what it is like to feel sideways. However, pseudo or imitation sideways is another story. Suffice to say I no longer smoke much of anything let alone banana peels so sideways does need some qualifier if it has any hope of fitting.
Am I pseudo sideways? I like to think I’m not pseudo anything, but my investigation of my neo-vegetarianism already proved that I am not as non-pseudo as I would like to believe. But I don’t really try to pretend to be sideways either. Maybe upside down? I think that works better for me, pseudo inverted. I am not really inverted, but sometimes my perspectives can appear inverted; quite possibly they are inverted from the norm, but in reality I am convinced my ideas are right side up, hence the pseudo qualifier.
Reculturationist. Huh?
Well let’s break this bad boy down. Re means I do something again. Culture is in this, but the declination seems to indicate this term is more of a verb, meaning that I like to either reapply culture or resituate something into cultures. Both are quite accurate – which is why the first two are troubling, how could Bryan be so accurate here and miss the first two? I’ll leave that for Bryan to ponder.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
[THO] Architects of Hope
Just finished reading Jürgen Moltmann’s “Progress and Abyss: Remembrance of the Future of the Modern World” from The Future of Hope (Volf & Katerberg, editors). What a profound piece. It is a kick in the pants for all Christians, especially those who live in the privilege of the Western world. His political criticism is of our apathy rather than our mode. He sees our “view [of] democracy as a condition we possess, not as a process we are involved in” as the root of the problem. (p.20) I couldn’t agree more. Which is scary because I’ve often tried to distance myself from things political. Moltmann points out that “there is no such thing as nonpolitical Christianity” which is what I have begrudgingly discovered. (p.22). And he calls the Church to be the architects of hope (not the Kingdom of God – rightfully rejecting this ‘we are building the Kingdom of God’ nonsense so prevalent in mainline Christianity) for a world that has had its high enlightenment dreams dashed to the ground. If you get the chance this article is a definite worthwhile read.
[DDM] CanGames
This time next week I’ll be running games at CanGames. I am really excited. Last year was my first year and I had all my games fill up. This year I am running five sessions, including two DCI sanctioned tournaments (one even has 32 spaces reserved!). It is going to be fun. Two of my sessions are themed warbands, Epic and 200pt. That is always a lot of fun. You never know what people will bring to an event like that, it is bound to be hilarious – last time I ran themed bands I brought my dreaded freaky beard band where all the minis sported freaky facial hair! But the one I am most keen on running is my famous campaign scenario: Warlords of the Fallen Gong.
Each player competes in a series of one-on-one battles using warbands of escalating point value (100, 200, Epic). Faction rules are in effect and your warlord has to be in all of your builds (the same piece). Each victory gains your warlord new magic items that can be employed in the following warband builds (they are handicapped for points at the start of the skirmish). The better you do the more goodies you collect. In the traditional game we would end with an all out, mega-map, every warlord for him/herself battle – but that takes oodles of time. So in the interest of sane gaming we are just going to have a series of contests and lots of prizes to hand out. It should really be fun.
Speaking of prizes, Galen_Games has donated a bazillion (slight exaggeration) common and uncommon minis (Deathknell and Giants of Legend primarily) which I have turned into a pile of rareless boosters. Also my friend Richard from Red Shirt Games is painting up some custom statues as prizes, he says he is planning on winning two of them so I know he will do a good job (he’s a wicked miniature painter BTW).
Red Shirt Games is also running their famous Monster Mash scenario using D&D Miniatures. I’m going to play in that one and hope to get me a prize, maybe a statue for my own use in RPGing. That would be very cool. I’m also registered to play in their own game – General Glen’s Rules for Toy Soldiers on Friday night.
I’ll post how things went. Still lots to do to get ready, but I am really exicted!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
[DDM] Heavy Artillery is up!
My latest DDM scenario hit the web today. I am quite pleased with this one as it involves a fair bit of strategy. You have to create a band that can do three things:
1) Destroy the enemy's Arcane Ballista
2) Activate your own Arcane Ballista (otherwise you wasted 48 points)
3) Defend your Arcane Ballista until it is off the map
All that in 100 points (minus 48 for the Ballista). Happy hunting!
You can find the scenario here.
Tag you are it!
I have decided to use tags to help you navigate my messages, I'll add them in here and put a link to this post next to the warning page.
[DDM] Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures
[FUN] At least I find it fun
[FV] Freedom Vineyard
[LIF] Reflections on my own belly button
[REV] Reviews
[RPG] Role Playing Gaming
[SER] Gospelly Messages
[THO] Theological reflections
*Updated July 5, 2007.
[DDM] Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures
[FUN] At least I find it fun
[FV] Freedom Vineyard
[LIF] Reflections on my own belly button
[REV] Reviews
[RPG] Role Playing Gaming
[SER] Gospelly Messages
[THO] Theological reflections
*Updated July 5, 2007.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
What is Freedom?
“Living out of our new selves, we are always already where the command would want us to be.” (Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge, 2005, p.67)
Nothing exposes the lie of autonomous spontaneous freedom than the realization that not one of us is truly autonomous or spontaneous. Indeed each of us is the product of our environments. We make choices based on a plethora of varied influences; everything from media to what we think our parents would do. We often try to kid ourselves about our motivations, but really we are built to respond in this way.
Humanity is a communal creature, in that we thrive on social interaction - interaction that is also sometimes our downfall. Every interaction we have with others influences the decisions that we face throughout each waking moment. Often we end up trying to appease those around us, or at least do what we think would appease our community. We want to be liked. We want to be respected. We want to be significant.
So we play the societal games. Here in the West, consumerism is one such game; we amass the latest things so that we can be ‘normal’ like everyone else. This not only takes a toll on our environment, it also further impoverishes the already poor as they claw at this illusion of ‘normalcy’.
If this vision of freedom is flawed, then what is freedom?
The grain of truth in the lie of autonomous spontaneous freedom is that we do find freedom at the core of our being, living out of our uniqueness. But that kind of freedom is not found by trying to strip away all the outside influences. Rather it is found in realizing something about ourselves as created beings.
Jesus Himself says that the “truth will set you free”. (John 8:32) That passage makes a lot of sense in its context. Jesus is conversing with some believing Jews and tells them that if they keep his commands then they will be set free by the truth. Doesn’t that sound contrary to the popular notion of freedom? It should, because it is. Jesus is advocating a freedom not from God’s influence – but a freedom found by living in God’s influence. Volf uses the Pauline language of old and new selves to argue this same point. (p.66)
The truth that sets us free is the realization that living within the influence of God is exactly what we were made to be/do. When we realize that this is what we were truly made for then it all makes sense. When we live out of this framework then we no longer have man’s fruitless dream of human potential, but rather God’s amazing dream of human potential. These dreams are quite different.
Man’s dream is that we will become masters of our reality. We will conquer frontier after frontier and show what a dominant species really can be. We’ve been living that dream for longer than our planet can bear and now we are reaping the consequences of our arrogance.
God’s dream sees us loving, giving, restoring, cultivating and even redeeming. God calls us to partner with Him in the amazing project of humanity, bringing the realization of love to this world. Giving to the poor who are so neglected in man’s grandiose dreams. Restoring life where the machinations of progress have destroyed life. Cultivating a new kind of humanity, one that lives the great commandment to love. Redeeming the fallenness of humanity through the life of Christ expressed through our lives. This is a dream of freedom.
Thoughts?
Nothing exposes the lie of autonomous spontaneous freedom than the realization that not one of us is truly autonomous or spontaneous. Indeed each of us is the product of our environments. We make choices based on a plethora of varied influences; everything from media to what we think our parents would do. We often try to kid ourselves about our motivations, but really we are built to respond in this way.
Humanity is a communal creature, in that we thrive on social interaction - interaction that is also sometimes our downfall. Every interaction we have with others influences the decisions that we face throughout each waking moment. Often we end up trying to appease those around us, or at least do what we think would appease our community. We want to be liked. We want to be respected. We want to be significant.
So we play the societal games. Here in the West, consumerism is one such game; we amass the latest things so that we can be ‘normal’ like everyone else. This not only takes a toll on our environment, it also further impoverishes the already poor as they claw at this illusion of ‘normalcy’.
If this vision of freedom is flawed, then what is freedom?
The grain of truth in the lie of autonomous spontaneous freedom is that we do find freedom at the core of our being, living out of our uniqueness. But that kind of freedom is not found by trying to strip away all the outside influences. Rather it is found in realizing something about ourselves as created beings.
Jesus Himself says that the “truth will set you free”. (John 8:32) That passage makes a lot of sense in its context. Jesus is conversing with some believing Jews and tells them that if they keep his commands then they will be set free by the truth. Doesn’t that sound contrary to the popular notion of freedom? It should, because it is. Jesus is advocating a freedom not from God’s influence – but a freedom found by living in God’s influence. Volf uses the Pauline language of old and new selves to argue this same point. (p.66)
The truth that sets us free is the realization that living within the influence of God is exactly what we were made to be/do. When we realize that this is what we were truly made for then it all makes sense. When we live out of this framework then we no longer have man’s fruitless dream of human potential, but rather God’s amazing dream of human potential. These dreams are quite different.
Man’s dream is that we will become masters of our reality. We will conquer frontier after frontier and show what a dominant species really can be. We’ve been living that dream for longer than our planet can bear and now we are reaping the consequences of our arrogance.
God’s dream sees us loving, giving, restoring, cultivating and even redeeming. God calls us to partner with Him in the amazing project of humanity, bringing the realization of love to this world. Giving to the poor who are so neglected in man’s grandiose dreams. Restoring life where the machinations of progress have destroyed life. Cultivating a new kind of humanity, one that lives the great commandment to love. Redeeming the fallenness of humanity through the life of Christ expressed through our lives. This is a dream of freedom.
Thoughts?
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Popular Notion of Freedom
“Behind this identification of freedom with autonomous spontaneity lies the notion of a self-defined and free-floating person. Strip down all the influences of time and place, abstract from culture and nurture, and then you’ll come to your authentic core. This core is who you truly are, the thinking goes – unique, unshaped, unconstrained.” (Volf, Free of Charge, 2005, p. 65).
This is the myth of freedom that Miroslav Volf so powerfully exposes. The lie of the autonomous spontaneous self is not the vision of freedom God has for humanity. Yet this lie is at the heart of the American Dream, a dream that saturates all of North American culture. The dream that supplants God’s place at the centre of ‘our own’ universe. It says we are good enough, smart enough and gosh darn it people like us enough to do anything we put our minds to. We are guaranteed success, whatever that means, on our own individual merits and abilities. This is a powerful myth and regularly destroys the lives of those unsuccess stories we chose to ignore. We love the success stories and we applaud the human spirit. But we close our doors to the struggle of the masses around us. This isn’t hope. There is no hope in such a corrupt vision of freedom. There is only death, competition, corruption and violence – sounds exactly like what we’ve reaped.
Thoughts?
This is the myth of freedom that Miroslav Volf so powerfully exposes. The lie of the autonomous spontaneous self is not the vision of freedom God has for humanity. Yet this lie is at the heart of the American Dream, a dream that saturates all of North American culture. The dream that supplants God’s place at the centre of ‘our own’ universe. It says we are good enough, smart enough and gosh darn it people like us enough to do anything we put our minds to. We are guaranteed success, whatever that means, on our own individual merits and abilities. This is a powerful myth and regularly destroys the lives of those unsuccess stories we chose to ignore. We love the success stories and we applaud the human spirit. But we close our doors to the struggle of the masses around us. This isn’t hope. There is no hope in such a corrupt vision of freedom. There is only death, competition, corruption and violence – sounds exactly like what we’ve reaped.
Thoughts?
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Resonating in Ottawa
Joseph, Glen & Alan
me, Mike & Kenny
Tuesday a group of about 8 Ottawa Resonators all hung out at the Abbey (pub on Preston St.) for a few beer and the resolving of many pressing theological issues. However, we did fail to determine who killed papa smurph. Please help us by adding your speculations to the comments. (Note: the gals all left before the photo op began).
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Weekly Messages
Our faith community, Freedom Vineyard, has a strong web component. I wanted to mention the weekly message that I post there. It seems that it should be part of my blogging experience, so instead of duplicating the message here I’ll just tell you where to look. I post almost every week on that Sunday’s gospel reading. Usually the message comes out Monday, but occasionally life is too big and it doesn’t hit the site until Tuesday. So if you are wanting something with a bit more substance and are tired of waiting for my next theological post – enjoy the message.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Great Concert
Looking around the room at all the different faces I was pretty excited. Most of them had some connection to our little community, a few had never been out to any of our events but were friends who had connected with us along the way. Some were just friends who show up at games nights and the like. Others were friends we hadn’t seen in years! Looking around I saw the community music knits together.
Oh and Andrew Smith was awesome! He’s playing in Kingston this coming Saturday, check out his site for details. If you can, go and see what he is up to. The man can play guitar!
Oh and Andrew Smith was awesome! He’s playing in Kingston this coming Saturday, check out his site for details. If you can, go and see what he is up to. The man can play guitar!
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Home Work
If I keep it up, I’m bound to be fit by the end of the summer! (Ironic use of the passive voice is intentional)
We have a tonne of work to do. Gardens to build, topsoil to lay down, ground to grade, and the list goes on. This year we are doing major work on the outside of our home. We had an awesome flagstone patio and stairs installed last year. The gardens will give that a bit of privacy, but we already eat meals out there. I love watching people walking up the street. Just me and my girls enjoying the house God has blessed us with.
I spent all morning raking our lawn. I have a great thatching rake, which is easier in some ways, but harder in others. The hill in my backyard did not get a last mowing so it was rather long – like combing incredibly tangled hair! Boy are my legs tired – still.
We have a great concert coming up tomorrow. Andrew Smith! There are still tickets if you want to come (and are nearby). Just email me. I’ll post a report tomorrow after the concert. Maybe even a picture of the gardens when they are done later this month.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
My Awesome Daughter
Sometimes kids do amazing things. My oldest daughter just blew us away with a spontaneous act of generosity. One of her classmates, she is in Senior Kindergarten, had lost his pencil box. That is pretty important for a six year old. She was asked to share hers with him at school which it sounded like she enjoyed doing. When she got home she asked if she could use her money to buy him a new one. I came into the kitchen as her mom was helping her count out the change. This little plastic box would cost almost all of the $5 she counted out. We went to the store after swimming lessons, she was insistent, and bought one with a blue top – she knew this was his favourite colour. I bought a pack of coloured pencils and we put them and a sharpener into the box. The next morning her mom helped her rubber stamp a nice label with his name on it, and off she went to school.
We sent along a note, one for the teacher and one for the parents of this boy. But in her excitement my daughter forgot to give the notes to her teacher. But boy was the little boy happy. Sharon was going into the school to read to the kids that afternoon and when she got there the teacher thanked her, but my wife was quick to point out this was my daughter’s initiative. My little girl told us that she just wanted to show the boy that she was a really good friend. I am so proud she has such a generous heart.
We sent along a note, one for the teacher and one for the parents of this boy. But in her excitement my daughter forgot to give the notes to her teacher. But boy was the little boy happy. Sharon was going into the school to read to the kids that afternoon and when she got there the teacher thanked her, but my wife was quick to point out this was my daughter’s initiative. My little girl told us that she just wanted to show the boy that she was a really good friend. I am so proud she has such a generous heart.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Exam is done!
I am heading to the school in a few minutes. So good to be finished. My wife might do a quick edit of my last piece, but it is only a single page on what I got out of the course. Questions like that are there to give you free points. I'll blog more properly about the American Revolution piece because it seems to have generated a lot of interest. But I also looked at the impact of the Enlightenment on Christianity as well as the legacy of the Contemporary Church history period on my own tradition - the Vineyard. That is a bit of a challenge because our movement is rather young. But I basically traced the values of the Vineyard through the period talking about the traditions that they either reacted to or were influenced by. The Vineyard is interesting as it both embraces and resists aspects of the reasonable Enlightenment church and the Pietist affective Church. In any case it is really good to be done.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
America the Bad Idea
I’m in the home stretch for my final exam. It is due Monday, but I really run out of time today! Did a piece on the relationship between Christianity and the American Revolution. I am now convinced that America is a screwed up idea from the beginning. Unfortunately the actions of Bush now make perfect sense, which is anything but comforting. I would really recommend the work of Mark Noll, very insightful. I read a fair chunk of Christians and the American Revolution. I’m sure I’ll have much to blog about once my exam is submitted.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
My second DDM scenario is up!
Had to check before I hit the sack. Yup, it is up! Looks great too. I wrote the basilisk lair scenario quite awhile ago, in fact I had to update it from tiles and to the newer sets. It was the original scenario I pitched to WotC. I have a bunch more scenarios brewing, but just no time to write them up. The next one I'll submit is a two person challenge - we'll see if they like it. I think that Wizard's wants more solo type adventures. Those take longer because you need to balance them out. I have one I'm still tweaking each time I playtest, especially since some of the new pieces came out. Would love to hear from any of you DDMers who try this one.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
One Exam down
Johannine Literature exam done! I think I did pretty well on it too. Now the big Contemporary Church History take-home exam. I’ve been working on it, but it is hard to work on a large project with just snippets of time. My wife is insisting that next semester I take a full course load, which should be interesting. At least my oldest daughter will be in school full days. There is a lot of stuff going on in the next two weeks, as well as my exam that is due on the 24th. Holy Week celebrations, we are having our regular Wednesday kinship as well as a special Easter vigil on Saturday night. We have family coming into town, always fun but more days lost. I have some writing to finish up and I really need to send some stamps off to a friend in Holland. I’ll get through it, always do. But boy am I going to be tired at the end of this stretch.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Jesus and Money
Sometimes my mind drifts in funny ways when I'm trying to get to sleep. Last night I had just got home from preparing for my Johannine Literature exam and somehow I synapsed onto Jesus and money. I think the spark was Judas, but in anycase I started wondering exactly how did Jesus view money? And as I thought through all the pericopes that seemed relevant I was quite challenged.
Starting with Judas, the thief Jesus chose to keep the community purse??? Now how many of us are willing to let a known thief take care of our finances? I don't suspect many of us. But Jesus did! Alarming as that seems it gets worse. Asked about taxes - Jesus pulls coins out of his, uhhh fish - yeah that's right a fish??? Of course there is the famous render unto Caesar speach and the instructions to a certain rich man to give all he has away and come follow Jesus. I don't seem to be getting warm and fuzzy feelings from Jesus about money.
But then again, maybe Jesus has it right! (Yeah I know, novel idea.) Maybe our attitudes about money should be loose and full of grace. Maybe we shouldn't get upset when people rip us off? Maybe we shouldn't hold onto money like it is our saviour. This kind of thinking betrays conventional wisdom - and strikes me as unbalanced. But maybe what is unbalanced is my heart about money.
I am pretty loose with the coin. We were taken for about a grand by a con man last year and it didn't even register as a real loss - except the loss of what felt like a friend. I love to give, even sacrificially. And though I've had lots of fine scrapes, I've yet to go hungry or even to be that needy. I guess I take that for granted.
My wife, on the otherhand, bless her, she is the money watcher. She is the one that gets stressed about finances. I'm sure I'm hard on her that way. She is the one that goes item by item through every credit card bill. She's the one that notices that they overcharged us fifty cents on an obscure item and triumphantly gets the refund (spending more than that in gas on the way). Yup, we are opposites in this regard.
Conventional wisdom would look for a balance between the two of us. But does that sound like what Jesus was like with money? Even I wouldn't trust my money to a crook - although we tend to think of our previous financial advisor that way. Maybe we should have just not worried about that one - after all the stocks are still performing well??? Maybe that is the key here - not to worry. Consider the lily, consider the grass of the field, consider the crazy life of Jesus. A good friend of mine tells me that money is a test - if that is true then Jesus' life shows us how to pass it, and it doesn't look anything like what I expected.
Starting with Judas, the thief Jesus chose to keep the community purse??? Now how many of us are willing to let a known thief take care of our finances? I don't suspect many of us. But Jesus did! Alarming as that seems it gets worse. Asked about taxes - Jesus pulls coins out of his, uhhh fish - yeah that's right a fish??? Of course there is the famous render unto Caesar speach and the instructions to a certain rich man to give all he has away and come follow Jesus. I don't seem to be getting warm and fuzzy feelings from Jesus about money.
But then again, maybe Jesus has it right! (Yeah I know, novel idea.) Maybe our attitudes about money should be loose and full of grace. Maybe we shouldn't get upset when people rip us off? Maybe we shouldn't hold onto money like it is our saviour. This kind of thinking betrays conventional wisdom - and strikes me as unbalanced. But maybe what is unbalanced is my heart about money.
I am pretty loose with the coin. We were taken for about a grand by a con man last year and it didn't even register as a real loss - except the loss of what felt like a friend. I love to give, even sacrificially. And though I've had lots of fine scrapes, I've yet to go hungry or even to be that needy. I guess I take that for granted.
My wife, on the otherhand, bless her, she is the money watcher. She is the one that gets stressed about finances. I'm sure I'm hard on her that way. She is the one that goes item by item through every credit card bill. She's the one that notices that they overcharged us fifty cents on an obscure item and triumphantly gets the refund (spending more than that in gas on the way). Yup, we are opposites in this regard.
Conventional wisdom would look for a balance between the two of us. But does that sound like what Jesus was like with money? Even I wouldn't trust my money to a crook - although we tend to think of our previous financial advisor that way. Maybe we should have just not worried about that one - after all the stocks are still performing well??? Maybe that is the key here - not to worry. Consider the lily, consider the grass of the field, consider the crazy life of Jesus. A good friend of mine tells me that money is a test - if that is true then Jesus' life shows us how to pass it, and it doesn't look anything like what I expected.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Back and Forth, from Side to Side
Yup. For anyone who has ever had someone take them aside to "help" them out with their ministry - this is for you!
Listen to the whole thing!
Listen to the whole thing!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
It is up!
My article is up on the Christian Week site as well! This is super exciting.
BTW I did pretty good on my two papers this semester. I think I deserved the A on my Johannine paper, that was a lot of work. But I am pretty sure I didn't deserve the A- on my history paper, Maybe a B+. I left out a lot of context that I should have put in there. I am pretty sure I over researched it (it is only a 3rd year course) and didn't feel I had enough time to write it. But I learned the very valuable lesson: with numerous texts the research strategy I had sucks! I really need to take good notes as I am reading and not just buy the book so I can highlight it. Bought a few books and made numerous margin notes, but at the end of the day I probably read my sources at least twice each! That is too much for the amount of sources I had. I do appreciate the mark though, I would have been very sad to get the mark I felt I deserved.
BTW I did pretty good on my two papers this semester. I think I deserved the A on my Johannine paper, that was a lot of work. But I am pretty sure I didn't deserve the A- on my history paper, Maybe a B+. I left out a lot of context that I should have put in there. I am pretty sure I over researched it (it is only a 3rd year course) and didn't feel I had enough time to write it. But I learned the very valuable lesson: with numerous texts the research strategy I had sucks! I really need to take good notes as I am reading and not just buy the book so I can highlight it. Bought a few books and made numerous margin notes, but at the end of the day I probably read my sources at least twice each! That is too much for the amount of sources I had. I do appreciate the mark though, I would have been very sad to get the mark I felt I deserved.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
An Evening with Steve Bell
Ok many of you know already that I am not a big fan of "Christian" music. So even though I had heard a lot about Steve Bell from good friends I haven't gone out of my way to hear him and I wouldn't really think of going to a concert of his. My friend Doug came into town this week and dropped two tickets for Steve's Dinner with Bruce tour (I had no idea what that meant). It just happened to be a night that worked out for us! So not wanting to miss an opportunity to take my wife somewheres nice (without the kids, much as I love em) we got a sitter and headed out to the concert.
Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised. Steve is an excellent musician and his band was really, really good. So as a musician I was happy right there. But it got better. The Bruce turned out to be Bruce Cockburn! He did a lot of excellent covers that night – man that was awesome. And even better Steve was a great storyteller, and he wasn’t doing some weird expected Christianese preaching crap – he was just talking about his life and relating to us in song. Part of what I don’t like about Christian concerts are folks that are so utilitarian in their presentation that it is painful and there is no way I would want to submit a non-Christian to that – but you know I’d take a non-Christian to see Steve any day now!
Don’t get me wrong, we love having artists who are Christian come and share their gifts with us. We’ve run quite a few livingroom concerts (in fact we have Andrew Smith (Smith, Funk & Strauss fame) coming April 30th, only $10/person if you want to come!) and they are awesome. Steve was very much like the livingroom experiences we’ve had. Down to earth and real.
Thanks Steve, we had a great night with you. BTW Sharon picked up Diana Pops album, Diana really touched her.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Two Very Late Nights Later
Boy am I tired. Elyssa came into my room this AM and announced she wasn't going to stop talking until I went down and played Pokemon with her. I showed her how to play gameboy games in the SNES (kicking it old school, those games are much easier for young kids to manage). I obliged but let me tell you I was dragging my butt!
Last night at 3AM I finished my first draft of the paper due on Tuesday. My wonderful wife is proofing it as I type. I am pretty sure I've exhausted my text though - at least exhausted it from a narrative analysis perspective. It was the Johannine Anointing at Bethany text which is really quite rich when you dig into it. It challenged me on what was important in worship as well as how we judge the actions of others in worship. Some of what is powerful about the text is what is suspiciously absent (like anyone else defending Mary).
We farmed off Chelsea to the neighbour (she has a 3 year old at home as well) and Elyssa is in school for the afternoon. It is time to re-assemble our house after a brutal marathon of paper writing.
Last night at 3AM I finished my first draft of the paper due on Tuesday. My wonderful wife is proofing it as I type. I am pretty sure I've exhausted my text though - at least exhausted it from a narrative analysis perspective. It was the Johannine Anointing at Bethany text which is really quite rich when you dig into it. It challenged me on what was important in worship as well as how we judge the actions of others in worship. Some of what is powerful about the text is what is suspiciously absent (like anyone else defending Mary).
We farmed off Chelsea to the neighbour (she has a 3 year old at home as well) and Elyssa is in school for the afternoon. It is time to re-assemble our house after a brutal marathon of paper writing.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Submerging into the paper
I just grabbed my resources, organized my workspace and decided to clear up my email so I can work undistracted for a while on my final paper of the semester. I am about to dig into the account of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus for burial. I've worked through the text doing a hackish translation (capitalizing on other peoples work of course - my Greek is still pretty weak). Read the text that frames the approach of this narrative analysis (point of view through narrative elements). Meditated on the passage, I think I am pretty familiar with the bit of text I am working with. Now I just need to outline the paper and write.
This is how I work. I tend to do a lot of prep and procrastination. But once I start typing the usually the juices flow and all is good. So why is it so stressful to start?
I think life is full of things that are like papers. Lots of projects that affect your own view of yourself. Yes, it is about self-image. I grew up being told I didn't do many things right - and even though it has been many years since I realized how deeply that scarred me I still am not fully healed. Each paper or major project carries with it the possibility of someone telling me I can't do it right. Even though I am a straight A student and have had some success with writing, it is always a risk. There is always that possibility of failing that stands like a troll guarding the bridge to completion. That is why I don't like taking on projects at home like hanging curtain rods and painting walls. Sure I do them, but usually with much agony and pain. And when my wife suggests someone else help then my fears are realized and my pain is real - that is usually when I end up doing the jobs I hate the most.
Well it is time to defeat that troll again. See you all on the other side of the bridge!
This is how I work. I tend to do a lot of prep and procrastination. But once I start typing the usually the juices flow and all is good. So why is it so stressful to start?
I think life is full of things that are like papers. Lots of projects that affect your own view of yourself. Yes, it is about self-image. I grew up being told I didn't do many things right - and even though it has been many years since I realized how deeply that scarred me I still am not fully healed. Each paper or major project carries with it the possibility of someone telling me I can't do it right. Even though I am a straight A student and have had some success with writing, it is always a risk. There is always that possibility of failing that stands like a troll guarding the bridge to completion. That is why I don't like taking on projects at home like hanging curtain rods and painting walls. Sure I do them, but usually with much agony and pain. And when my wife suggests someone else help then my fears are realized and my pain is real - that is usually when I end up doing the jobs I hate the most.
Well it is time to defeat that troll again. See you all on the other side of the bridge!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Deep Poker Thoughts
A friend of mine pointed me to this blog entry, and then we proceeded to have a bit of a discussion with some other friends about Christians playing poker. It is interesting as they suggested maybe hockey and bridge as alternatives for relationship building. Not sure if they have seen Christians play hockey - but give a Christian a stick and they act like the devil. But nonetheless it is a great question: should Christians play poker?
First off I am not a proponent of gambling. I think there is a world of difference between obsessively playing a game that is designed to make the house rich spending money that should be spent on the essentials in life. So you aren't going to get me advocating gambling even as a pasttime. But is poker exclusively gambling?
We have friendly non-cash games at our house. They are loads of fun. You play for bragging rights. But not everyone gets that - some people want money involved to make the game worthwhile??? Even little bits of money??? I am a gamer at heart so I love strategy and I love winning - so I have a bit of trouble understanding that mentality. My dad is like that - he can't play a serious game of poker unless it is for money. So I don't end up playing with gamblers.
But there is a lot of buzz about games like Texas Hold-em and Omaha. And rightly so these are games that mix skill and luck in perfect proportions. Games that you can really connect with emotionally and play with your whole heart. Plus they are all the rage on TV right now (thank you Hockey Strike!) and this has a certain allure - what other game can a fat man win and be treated like an olympic hero? Not many. So that means it has fad status.
Let's see - easy to learn, lots of opportunities to play, unlikely heros, great mix of skill and luck. What is not to love? Well there is that attachment to gambling.
Here is the rub. Most gambling games favour the house. But in poker the house only takes a rake - and if you are playing at home a rake is, I'm pretty sure, illegal. So that puts poker in a slightly different class of games, in my mind anyway. So buying into a tournament for $20 is about the same as paying $35 to buy into a D&D minis tournament (pay for sealed boosters) where I might win other boosters that you know the cost of my entry paid for. What is the difference?
One other thought is, we all know that some folks are going to get addicted to poker. There are even disturbing ads on TV right now about this. My thought is, as a Christian, do I want to abandon folks to that? Or would I rather be there as someone who isn't completely alien to the game but through Christ is able to help others overcome addictions and personal problems that lead to addictions? Yeah, I want to be there. I want to know that there are Christians in that world ready to share the light of Christ where it is needed. I think that is important. Protesting on the sidelines is the last thing I want to see Christians do, addicted to poker is also the last thing I want to see them do (if you are addicted then let's chat, I might be able to help). Here's an idea - look for opportunities to pray for those you play with, I do and it is pretty cool.
My final word on poker is, "shuffle up and deal!"
First off I am not a proponent of gambling. I think there is a world of difference between obsessively playing a game that is designed to make the house rich spending money that should be spent on the essentials in life. So you aren't going to get me advocating gambling even as a pasttime. But is poker exclusively gambling?
We have friendly non-cash games at our house. They are loads of fun. You play for bragging rights. But not everyone gets that - some people want money involved to make the game worthwhile??? Even little bits of money??? I am a gamer at heart so I love strategy and I love winning - so I have a bit of trouble understanding that mentality. My dad is like that - he can't play a serious game of poker unless it is for money. So I don't end up playing with gamblers.
But there is a lot of buzz about games like Texas Hold-em and Omaha. And rightly so these are games that mix skill and luck in perfect proportions. Games that you can really connect with emotionally and play with your whole heart. Plus they are all the rage on TV right now (thank you Hockey Strike!) and this has a certain allure - what other game can a fat man win and be treated like an olympic hero? Not many. So that means it has fad status.
Let's see - easy to learn, lots of opportunities to play, unlikely heros, great mix of skill and luck. What is not to love? Well there is that attachment to gambling.
Here is the rub. Most gambling games favour the house. But in poker the house only takes a rake - and if you are playing at home a rake is, I'm pretty sure, illegal. So that puts poker in a slightly different class of games, in my mind anyway. So buying into a tournament for $20 is about the same as paying $35 to buy into a D&D minis tournament (pay for sealed boosters) where I might win other boosters that you know the cost of my entry paid for. What is the difference?
One other thought is, we all know that some folks are going to get addicted to poker. There are even disturbing ads on TV right now about this. My thought is, as a Christian, do I want to abandon folks to that? Or would I rather be there as someone who isn't completely alien to the game but through Christ is able to help others overcome addictions and personal problems that lead to addictions? Yeah, I want to be there. I want to know that there are Christians in that world ready to share the light of Christ where it is needed. I think that is important. Protesting on the sidelines is the last thing I want to see Christians do, addicted to poker is also the last thing I want to see them do (if you are addicted then let's chat, I might be able to help). Here's an idea - look for opportunities to pray for those you play with, I do and it is pretty cool.
My final word on poker is, "shuffle up and deal!"
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Exciting Phone Call
Friday I got a call from Christian Week wanting to run the article I wrote for the Resonate Journal in their next edition! That is so cool. I am pretty darn stoked.
I am behind on a lot of things these days, I have to play catch-up this week and get through this last paper (not including the take-home for Modern Church History). Should be an interesting week. We have a games night this coming Kinship so I don't really have to prepare anything for that one. That is a nice break. I haven't even finished the first chapter for my Lenten reading project - just no time. But today I should get back up to date on my lectional readings so I can prepare my Monday message for the Freedom Group. One of these days I'm actually going to get organized in a way that works for me.
I am behind on a lot of things these days, I have to play catch-up this week and get through this last paper (not including the take-home for Modern Church History). Should be an interesting week. We have a games night this coming Kinship so I don't really have to prepare anything for that one. That is a nice break. I haven't even finished the first chapter for my Lenten reading project - just no time. But today I should get back up to date on my lectional readings so I can prepare my Monday message for the Freedom Group. One of these days I'm actually going to get organized in a way that works for me.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Wizard's Finally published a scenario!
I have my first official DDM scenario up on the Wizards of the Coast website! So cool. I started going after this about a year ago, so it is very nice to reach my goal. I even have a contract to write more scenarios for them.
On the CanGames front, we are starting to get some of the ducks lined up for the games. Prizes and trophies, that is going to be very very cool. I left two slots without DDM because I had heard another group wanted to run DDM as well (three groups running DDM when we started only last year there! That is awesome.) I'm sure we'll have some pickup games in there if they are a no show though.
My paper on Zinzendorf was handed in yesterday. What a monster to research. It seems like the people God chooses are often pretty wacky. Part of that is being unable to completely think in the context in which Zinzendorf arrives on the scene. That is an issue with anyone studying history. I'm just glad that one is done, I hope I do well on the paper.
On the CanGames front, we are starting to get some of the ducks lined up for the games. Prizes and trophies, that is going to be very very cool. I left two slots without DDM because I had heard another group wanted to run DDM as well (three groups running DDM when we started only last year there! That is awesome.) I'm sure we'll have some pickup games in there if they are a no show though.
My paper on Zinzendorf was handed in yesterday. What a monster to research. It seems like the people God chooses are often pretty wacky. Part of that is being unable to completely think in the context in which Zinzendorf arrives on the scene. That is an issue with anyone studying history. I'm just glad that one is done, I hope I do well on the paper.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Jesus-Tomorrow
Last year in September I started a series about Jesus and History. I promised three parts and delivered two. This is that missing third part, just like Jesus I trust it will be worth the wait.
In our first instalment, Jesus-Yesterday I spoke of how the incarnation of Jesus set a trajectory of forgiveness for us today. Often we think about Jesus work as being completed, and in a very real sense Jesus’ mission was fulfilled in the cross and resurrection. But this inbreaking into history was the beginning of something new, not the end.
In our second instalment, Jesus-Today, I talked about recognizing the imminent work of Jesus. Jesus is at work all around us, drawing folks to the Father and revealing the Kingdom of God. This is something we don’t tend to meditate on enough; in fact we tend to overemphasize Jesus’ relationship to the end of history.
Now my intention was not to make you wait this long for the third instalment, but as I am writing this I cannot help but be struck by how appropriate that is. All of our hope is tied into Jesus – and yes our hope is that at the end of all things we will be with Jesus.
In light of the pain that is often our experience of the immediate world around us, it is easy to see why we would choose to focus on this hope. But the big problem with a focus on an eschatological hope is that we can’t really prove it. Just read the gospel of John and look for what is the actual catalyst for change in lives, over and over it is the presence of Jesus that evokes greater and more specific confessions of faith. By focusing on the hope that is to come we are just deferring hope, something the Bible rightly tells us makes our hearts sick.
Rather, our eternal hope must spring from the realized immediate hope of our encounter of Jesus Christ. So waiting for this message you likely gave up, thinking it was a great idea but Frank is a new blogger and bound to let a few things fall to the wayside. So too in waiting for the return of Christ many have given up.
This is exactly the reason I started this little series. My heart is to see a people who are confident in whom they know (present) so that they will trust Jesus with all that is to come (future). Didn’t Paul say something along those lines (2 Timothy 1:12).
So be encouraged, Christ has come. Jesus made the way for us to live in the forgiveness of God. Christ is here. Jesus promised to be with us even unto the end of days, He will never leave nor forsake us. And Christ will come again. Our hope is bolstered by our hearts assurance that the one who faithfully working in us today is the same one who will come at the culmination of all things. Praise be to Jesus, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
In our first instalment, Jesus-Yesterday I spoke of how the incarnation of Jesus set a trajectory of forgiveness for us today. Often we think about Jesus work as being completed, and in a very real sense Jesus’ mission was fulfilled in the cross and resurrection. But this inbreaking into history was the beginning of something new, not the end.
In our second instalment, Jesus-Today, I talked about recognizing the imminent work of Jesus. Jesus is at work all around us, drawing folks to the Father and revealing the Kingdom of God. This is something we don’t tend to meditate on enough; in fact we tend to overemphasize Jesus’ relationship to the end of history.
Now my intention was not to make you wait this long for the third instalment, but as I am writing this I cannot help but be struck by how appropriate that is. All of our hope is tied into Jesus – and yes our hope is that at the end of all things we will be with Jesus.
In light of the pain that is often our experience of the immediate world around us, it is easy to see why we would choose to focus on this hope. But the big problem with a focus on an eschatological hope is that we can’t really prove it. Just read the gospel of John and look for what is the actual catalyst for change in lives, over and over it is the presence of Jesus that evokes greater and more specific confessions of faith. By focusing on the hope that is to come we are just deferring hope, something the Bible rightly tells us makes our hearts sick.
Rather, our eternal hope must spring from the realized immediate hope of our encounter of Jesus Christ. So waiting for this message you likely gave up, thinking it was a great idea but Frank is a new blogger and bound to let a few things fall to the wayside. So too in waiting for the return of Christ many have given up.
This is exactly the reason I started this little series. My heart is to see a people who are confident in whom they know (present) so that they will trust Jesus with all that is to come (future). Didn’t Paul say something along those lines (2 Timothy 1:12).
So be encouraged, Christ has come. Jesus made the way for us to live in the forgiveness of God. Christ is here. Jesus promised to be with us even unto the end of days, He will never leave nor forsake us. And Christ will come again. Our hope is bolstered by our hearts assurance that the one who faithfully working in us today is the same one who will come at the culmination of all things. Praise be to Jesus, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Paper Crunch
Still working on my Zinzendorf paper for next week. I have exactly one week to finish it - the outline is good and I've got my intro banged out. But each time I dig in I just want to grab some more context. History work is like that for me - I never feel adequately prepared for the job. I'm sure it will be ok though, I like the subject. I am hoping to use one story of the young Zinzendorf to frame all of the rest of the paper. It is an incident when he is 8 years old and the ideas of the "athiests" are trying to overtake his mind. It has a lot of potential. I've read so much that I can't remember which source had the first version of that story, doh! I'll find it though.
Kinship was really great tonight. We had some folks drop in, it is always nice to have someone new in the mix. I've also found out that there are some more people planning to come hang out with us - that is exciting. It has been slower to build momentum in this new location.
Better get back to work.
Kinship was really great tonight. We had some folks drop in, it is always nice to have someone new in the mix. I've also found out that there are some more people planning to come hang out with us - that is exciting. It has been slower to build momentum in this new location.
Better get back to work.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
DDM in Montreal
50 people showed up to throw down on the battle maps! What an awesome turnout - WTG JM aka Blackguard! There are details on Blackguard's forum. I managed to go 4-2 in the swiss rounds! Not bad as everyone scoffed at my choice of Snig in my band.
The two rares I pulled were Snig and Dragon Totem Hero (one I was not familiar with). I also pulled a Brass Samurai which is a must in this format (even though I only set up whirlwind once - these folks were good). I had no really good hitters so I needed Snig's speed to get terrain points if my cougar couldn't get there in time. That cougar is worth it's weight in gold!
I tried to max out my band with two shield wall soldiers to block. A Hobgoblin archer courtesy of Snig. A quaggoth slave which is definitely worth the points! And finally a frost dwarf (one of my favourite minis in the set, too bad it is CE a faction I almost never play), which is a decent hitter with 40 hp. I always like to have more activations and it paid off.
I did the best on the Dragon shrine map, each time I ended up on the fire resist side, and the one time I faced a meph pyro I scooted the cougar off to get acid resistance and tile points for my band. That worked really well. I did the worst on the broken demongate map (which ironically is the one I chose - took me so long to build my band that I picked my map in too much of a hurry). I really kicked butt on the teleport map - so sweet. I routed a Warbound impaler to clench the game.
I faced several Hill Giant bands and the Hill Giants didn't perform as well as I would have expected. The Combat medic was worth it's weight in gold though. I so deliberated over putting her in my party, in retrospect I probably should have. Once combat gets heavy though it is hard to fire off a sacred healing and not help out the enemy as well. Snig was great for charging and his ride by attack meant I almost always got to hit an enemy each turn. Where did his ranged attack go? My hobgoblin archer (free with snig) managed to consistantly knock 5 or 10 points of the enemy (I rolled at least 3 crits with him).
All in all it was a long but extremely fun day.
The two rares I pulled were Snig and Dragon Totem Hero (one I was not familiar with). I also pulled a Brass Samurai which is a must in this format (even though I only set up whirlwind once - these folks were good). I had no really good hitters so I needed Snig's speed to get terrain points if my cougar couldn't get there in time. That cougar is worth it's weight in gold!
I tried to max out my band with two shield wall soldiers to block. A Hobgoblin archer courtesy of Snig. A quaggoth slave which is definitely worth the points! And finally a frost dwarf (one of my favourite minis in the set, too bad it is CE a faction I almost never play), which is a decent hitter with 40 hp. I always like to have more activations and it paid off.
I did the best on the Dragon shrine map, each time I ended up on the fire resist side, and the one time I faced a meph pyro I scooted the cougar off to get acid resistance and tile points for my band. That worked really well. I did the worst on the broken demongate map (which ironically is the one I chose - took me so long to build my band that I picked my map in too much of a hurry). I really kicked butt on the teleport map - so sweet. I routed a Warbound impaler to clench the game.
I faced several Hill Giant bands and the Hill Giants didn't perform as well as I would have expected. The Combat medic was worth it's weight in gold though. I so deliberated over putting her in my party, in retrospect I probably should have. Once combat gets heavy though it is hard to fire off a sacred healing and not help out the enemy as well. Snig was great for charging and his ride by attack meant I almost always got to hit an enemy each turn. Where did his ranged attack go? My hobgoblin archer (free with snig) managed to consistantly knock 5 or 10 points of the enemy (I rolled at least 3 crits with him).
All in all it was a long but extremely fun day.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Sweet, Sweet Mini Love
War Drums is here!!!!
Picked up my case at 11AM, bought a single Starter too, so I would have a chance to review the maps. Overall this is a great set, I think Underdark set the bar a bit too high, but not every set will shine in the same way. Here is the breakdown for the number cruchers:
WarTroll Boxes (4)
Arcane Ballista (meh), Axe Soldier (nice), Combat Medic (better than the preview which looked like one of Santa's helpers), Sacred Watcher (Very nice), Sand Giant, 2X Shieldwall soldier (nice), warforged body guard, warforged captain, 2X warforged scout (this thing is tiny), 2X warpriest of Moradin, halfling slinger (nice), hunting cougar (meh), lion of talisid (I don't really like the paint job on this one), wood elf ranger (ncie), aspect of Hextor (impressive), goblin blackblade (nice and skirmish potential), hobgoblin archer, large duergar (nice), skeletal Legionnaire (best skeleton yet!), terror wight (oh yeah baby, love that one), blood host berserker (very nice), derro (who is that guy's barber?), frost dwarf (very nice), horde zombie (nice), howling orc (orcs, yawn - this one is a bit creepy), king obould many-arrows (has no ranged attack despite the name???), orc mauler, quaggoth slave, torglodyte thug (nice).
Hextor Boxes (4)
Arcanix Guard, Combat Medic, Elemental Wall (ok), Sacred Watcher, Brass Samurai (nice), halfling slinger, hunting cougar, lion of talisid, Mephling pyromancer (one was kissing the ground), Steelheart Archer (very nice), wood elf ranger (ncie), flameskull (too bad I only got one, this little guy rocks!), 2X goblin blackblade, goblin underboss (ohhhh so sweet!), hobgoblin archer, large duergar, 2X skeletal Legionnaire (still the best skeleton yet!), terror wight, war troll (wow!), chimera (one of the best skulpts in the set), derro, hill giant barbarian (very nice), hill giant chieftain (he's going to rip his own belly open with that belt???), horde zombie, howling orc, orc mauler, orc wardrummer (why is this a rare?), quaggoth slave, tiefling blademaster (nice), torglodyte thug.
Warpriest Boxes (4)
2X Arcanix Guard, 2X Axe Soldier (oh I like this one), Elemental Wall, Shieldwall Soldier, Warforged Bodyguard, Brass Samurai, halfling slinger, hunting cougar, Mephling pyromancer, Steelheart Archer (very nice), wemic barbarian (very nice), wood elf ranger, goblin underboss, hobgoblin archer, inspired lieutenant (nice), karnathi zombie (this is a sweet zombie!), Khumat (great sculpt but I don't need 2), terror wight, blood ghost berserker, derro, fiendish girallon (always thought this was a silly monster), frost dwarf (so cool!), horde zombie, howling orc, ogre war hulk (better than I expected), orc mauler, quaggoth slave, tiefling blademaster, torglodyte thug, warduke (that is one big person! nice mini).
Starter (1)
Khumat, Sacred Watcher, Fiendish Girallon, Tiefling blademaster, Arcanix guard, halfling slinger, woodelf ranger, skeleton legionnaire, derro, howling ord (still creepy), orc mauler, torglodyte thug.
Tomorrow we head to Montreal for the Release tournament. Should be an awesome day of gaming. There are eight of us travelling from Ottawa for the event! Last I heard there were 47 registered. Should be a massive day of battle!
Picked up my case at 11AM, bought a single Starter too, so I would have a chance to review the maps. Overall this is a great set, I think Underdark set the bar a bit too high, but not every set will shine in the same way. Here is the breakdown for the number cruchers:
WarTroll Boxes (4)
Arcane Ballista (meh), Axe Soldier (nice), Combat Medic (better than the preview which looked like one of Santa's helpers), Sacred Watcher (Very nice), Sand Giant, 2X Shieldwall soldier (nice), warforged body guard, warforged captain, 2X warforged scout (this thing is tiny), 2X warpriest of Moradin, halfling slinger (nice), hunting cougar (meh), lion of talisid (I don't really like the paint job on this one), wood elf ranger (ncie), aspect of Hextor (impressive), goblin blackblade (nice and skirmish potential), hobgoblin archer, large duergar (nice), skeletal Legionnaire (best skeleton yet!), terror wight (oh yeah baby, love that one), blood host berserker (very nice), derro (who is that guy's barber?), frost dwarf (very nice), horde zombie (nice), howling orc (orcs, yawn - this one is a bit creepy), king obould many-arrows (has no ranged attack despite the name???), orc mauler, quaggoth slave, torglodyte thug (nice).
Hextor Boxes (4)
Arcanix Guard, Combat Medic, Elemental Wall (ok), Sacred Watcher, Brass Samurai (nice), halfling slinger, hunting cougar, lion of talisid, Mephling pyromancer (one was kissing the ground), Steelheart Archer (very nice), wood elf ranger (ncie), flameskull (too bad I only got one, this little guy rocks!), 2X goblin blackblade, goblin underboss (ohhhh so sweet!), hobgoblin archer, large duergar, 2X skeletal Legionnaire (still the best skeleton yet!), terror wight, war troll (wow!), chimera (one of the best skulpts in the set), derro, hill giant barbarian (very nice), hill giant chieftain (he's going to rip his own belly open with that belt???), horde zombie, howling orc, orc mauler, orc wardrummer (why is this a rare?), quaggoth slave, tiefling blademaster (nice), torglodyte thug.
Warpriest Boxes (4)
2X Arcanix Guard, 2X Axe Soldier (oh I like this one), Elemental Wall, Shieldwall Soldier, Warforged Bodyguard, Brass Samurai, halfling slinger, hunting cougar, Mephling pyromancer, Steelheart Archer (very nice), wemic barbarian (very nice), wood elf ranger, goblin underboss, hobgoblin archer, inspired lieutenant (nice), karnathi zombie (this is a sweet zombie!), Khumat (great sculpt but I don't need 2), terror wight, blood ghost berserker, derro, fiendish girallon (always thought this was a silly monster), frost dwarf (so cool!), horde zombie, howling orc, ogre war hulk (better than I expected), orc mauler, quaggoth slave, tiefling blademaster, torglodyte thug, warduke (that is one big person! nice mini).
Starter (1)
Khumat, Sacred Watcher, Fiendish Girallon, Tiefling blademaster, Arcanix guard, halfling slinger, woodelf ranger, skeleton legionnaire, derro, howling ord (still creepy), orc mauler, torglodyte thug.
Tomorrow we head to Montreal for the Release tournament. Should be an awesome day of gaming. There are eight of us travelling from Ottawa for the event! Last I heard there were 47 registered. Should be a massive day of battle!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
This Lenten Season
I am actually excited about Lent this year. It has only been a few years since I've started to really pay attention to the Church calendar. This is the first year I am going to seriously give up something that I really enjoy – for forty days! I thought a lot about this. It has to be something that I will miss, and something that is really a pleasure I take in life. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that online poker, something I really enjoy, is the thing I should sacrifice this season.
I have been playing with a great group of free rollers (meaning we play games we don’t pay to get into) at Poker Pots Poker League. We have a great chat room at PalTalk and a really active online forum as well. I love the community even more than the poker – so I asked them to help me in this spiritual exercise. You know, if they see me on the tables to give me the old ‘what for’!
It will be good for me, my personality is that I like to throw myself into things for seasons and then I tend to lose some of my excitement about them. I have found over the years that once I’m past that initial ‘craze’ I can really enjoy something and not overdose on it. Online poker is one of those things that I have overdosed a bit – but the novelty is still strong so this is a real sacrifice for me. But all around, a good thing.
I am also participating in an online interactive exercise using Miroslav Volf’s ‘Free of Charge’. This is an effort started in the Emergent UK community; I am looking forward to reading and sharing with other Emergent authors and bloggers around the globe. Volf is someone I have been looking for an excuse to read for a long time, I have scanned ‘After Our Likeness’ and want to sit down and really dig into that one. Anyone Moltmann recommends is going to perk my ears up.
I have encouraged my community at Freedom Vineyard also to give up something for this Lenten season. My hope is that we will be reminded, even if just a little, of the sacrifice Christ has made to give us the freedom we so enjoy. Today we begin at the place of repentance – as we rest into this next 40 days my prayer is that Salvation will shine in our midst!
Monday, February 27, 2006
True Bounds of Community
What are the true bounds of your community? From time to time people ask about Freedom Vineyard, inevitably they ask that hard question, “so how big is your church?” I don’t dislike this question because I think our church is small (which it is in case you are wondering), but rather because I don’t know how to measure that in a true sense. For me my church is my community. As a pastor I think of it as the people that are under my care and that is a whole lot more people than I have ever seen in our church gatherings.
Here are my options to answering that question: I could just count the folks that currently regularly attend our liturgical service (Wednesday Kinship), I could count them and the people who I regularly meet with and have some spiritual influence in their lives (even if it is just as an encourager), I could extend it to the folks who give into our ministry and read our online forums (including a message from the Roman cycle of gospel readings) each week, I could extend it to the folks in our affinity groups (gatherings of Christians and pre-Christians who gather around a shared non-spiritual interest), I could extend it to the people at my school who allow me to speak into their lives spiritually and more often just as a friend along the journey, or finally I could extend to the world that I consider to be my parish. I know that most people are more concerned with the front end of those options, but I can’t help thinking about the far reaches of my life.
Often I have pondered Freedom Vineyard’s influence on people, we’ve seen a lot come and go. Often these people have been profoundly impacted by their time with us. I sat in my car the other day with one of our folks who was almost in tears telling me how much Freedom Vineyard has meant to him. I know we’ve stretched a few too far outside their comfort zones – but really if we hadn’t done that then we would not have been as effective as we have been with the people that I really feel called to minister to. The people who are part of our natural community, the not-so-churchy folks God has graced my life with.
So maybe I’ll give you that question: what are the true bounds of your community? Who has God called you to reach? What journey mates have you met along the way? If you are like me you will have trouble answering that – and I am convinced that is a good thing.
Here are my options to answering that question: I could just count the folks that currently regularly attend our liturgical service (Wednesday Kinship), I could count them and the people who I regularly meet with and have some spiritual influence in their lives (even if it is just as an encourager), I could extend it to the folks who give into our ministry and read our online forums (including a message from the Roman cycle of gospel readings) each week, I could extend it to the folks in our affinity groups (gatherings of Christians and pre-Christians who gather around a shared non-spiritual interest), I could extend it to the people at my school who allow me to speak into their lives spiritually and more often just as a friend along the journey, or finally I could extend to the world that I consider to be my parish. I know that most people are more concerned with the front end of those options, but I can’t help thinking about the far reaches of my life.
Often I have pondered Freedom Vineyard’s influence on people, we’ve seen a lot come and go. Often these people have been profoundly impacted by their time with us. I sat in my car the other day with one of our folks who was almost in tears telling me how much Freedom Vineyard has meant to him. I know we’ve stretched a few too far outside their comfort zones – but really if we hadn’t done that then we would not have been as effective as we have been with the people that I really feel called to minister to. The people who are part of our natural community, the not-so-churchy folks God has graced my life with.
So maybe I’ll give you that question: what are the true bounds of your community? Who has God called you to reach? What journey mates have you met along the way? If you are like me you will have trouble answering that – and I am convinced that is a good thing.
Friday, February 24, 2006
What an awesome day!
This is the day of good news! I got the notice from Wizards that they like my scenario, so I should have a writing contract with them next week. And one of my professors gave me major kudos in an email. I am so stoked. Haven't blogged in a while, it has been fairly quiet on the home front - my reading week. Trying to catch up on all the stuff I put off while I was supposed to be focusing on class work. Hope to get back in the swing of things next week, especially as the new DDM set comes out!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Post-Charismatic
If you have or are involved with Pentecostal or Charismatic ministries, or even if you are just wondering what is the deal with these movements, then you have to check out this amazing new resource. Post-Charismatic is an amazing exploration by a good friend from Resonate, Robby Mac. Sharon had to drag me away from this one, I have yet to see a better reference on the Latter Rain movement. Anyone serious about the pitfalls of walking in a responsible way without quenching the Holy Spirit has to become aware of the things Robby digs through here. Robby is respectful and appreciative and at the same time deeply concerned. I am going to email this link to many of my good friends. I just want to say thanks to Robby for this important work. What are you waiting for, go check it out.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Used Bookstore
Went to the used bookstore today, wanted to pick up a book on the Enlightenment that I had seen in the history section. So of course I browse the spirituality section. There were a few books I thought of but luckily I only bought two of them. “With Burning Hearts” by Henri Nouwen – a meditation on the Eucharistic Life, how could I now buy that? And I also bought the book “In Memory of Her” by Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza. I have run across Fiorenza’s work in my studies at St. Paul, I always find the feminist theologians to be challenging; in fact I know I’ve read an article or two of hers in the past. What is cool about this one is that it has a scripture index; it will be so cool to get a feminist perspective on some of the verses I am working with in our community. Well, unfortunately I have to relegate these books to the bookshelf for now – much study of the good Count of Zinzendorf still ahead.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Zinzendorf
I am digging into the history of this wild man for Jesus. It is pretty cool. I am struck by how some put his forward as a pioneer for ecumenism - bet my Moravian idolizing friends wouldn't have seen that coming. But it makes sense, there were a number of groups at Hernhutt and Zin helped them get along. What is pretty cool to me is that he did this by calling them to prayer as the common bond (yeah I know it isn't that simple, there was an article of faith, etc. but I am still at the romantic stage of this research). It was prayer that went 24/7 for over 100years straight. How cool is that. Not only did this prayer bring unity but it also fueled and launched Zin's desire to touch the nations.
Just watched a National Film Board film on the Moravians in Labrador, I was truly impressed that they would preserve the Inuit language and actually taught school in Inuit! That is until the Canadian government schools came in and began teaching primarily in English.
I know I have lot of Free Methodist and Wesleyan friends out there - I love the Moravian influence on young John Wesley. His first trip to the 13 Colonies was a dismal failure because he just plain sucked as a minister. But after taking ahold of the Moravian zeal he was radically changed and I would say changed the world in his day. Ironically whenever Zin went out on missions he just had no ability as a missionary, kinda like young John. God indeed has an awesome sense of humour.
Just watched a National Film Board film on the Moravians in Labrador, I was truly impressed that they would preserve the Inuit language and actually taught school in Inuit! That is until the Canadian government schools came in and began teaching primarily in English.
I know I have lot of Free Methodist and Wesleyan friends out there - I love the Moravian influence on young John Wesley. His first trip to the 13 Colonies was a dismal failure because he just plain sucked as a minister. But after taking ahold of the Moravian zeal he was radically changed and I would say changed the world in his day. Ironically whenever Zin went out on missions he just had no ability as a missionary, kinda like young John. God indeed has an awesome sense of humour.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Jihadiots!
OK, now this really, really bugs me. I can appreciate that it is upsetting for someone to talk trash about your religion, I am a Christian and face that kind of crap all the time, but where is the voice of reason within Islam? So what if the Danes published satirical cartoons representing the growing popular sentiment about Islamic fundamentalists. Do you think you are somehow unique in this? Look, we believe our Jesus to be God (at least a smidge better than a prophet) and you don't see us burning down embassies when people misrepresent Jesus. Can you not see that the Danes are just naming the fear that is growing in our society?
At this point I don’t even care if I agree or disagree with those cartoons. Hearing of little boys being trampled in your idiotic riots has scarred my ability to try and see something good there. What would your prophet Mohammad think if he were to step on the scene? Would he lament at how you have done exactly what the cartoons depicted?
Apparently there is a discussion today between the Danish ambassador and a Canadian Islamic representative. That Islamic representative sounded like his knickers were in quite a twist yesterday when I heard him on the radio. He calls for Denmark to institute an anti-hate law similar to the one we have in Canada, hello? Publishing satirical cartoons typically is a reactive form of writing and depicts growing sentiments in society – it is not meant to shape popular opinion. If these same cartoons were published here first do you seriously think you would have a case?
Here is my suggestions: Why not instead recognize that for many people that image of Islam as bomb toting fanatics bent on indiscriminate death and destruction is all they have ever seen of Islam, do something about that! Show us a different face of Islam. Call your people to repent of their anger and wars, to forgive and to seek reconciliation. Call them to lay down their arms and take up their prayer mats and become a true force of good in this world. Show us a side of Islam that will make all of us extol the virtues of a truly great religion and give thanks to Allah for the witness of Islam. If you want to declare a Jihad, then do it against the real enemy of Islam – the many, many of you who validate those very cartoons you found so offensive.
At this point I don’t even care if I agree or disagree with those cartoons. Hearing of little boys being trampled in your idiotic riots has scarred my ability to try and see something good there. What would your prophet Mohammad think if he were to step on the scene? Would he lament at how you have done exactly what the cartoons depicted?
Apparently there is a discussion today between the Danish ambassador and a Canadian Islamic representative. That Islamic representative sounded like his knickers were in quite a twist yesterday when I heard him on the radio. He calls for Denmark to institute an anti-hate law similar to the one we have in Canada, hello? Publishing satirical cartoons typically is a reactive form of writing and depicts growing sentiments in society – it is not meant to shape popular opinion. If these same cartoons were published here first do you seriously think you would have a case?
Here is my suggestions: Why not instead recognize that for many people that image of Islam as bomb toting fanatics bent on indiscriminate death and destruction is all they have ever seen of Islam, do something about that! Show us a different face of Islam. Call your people to repent of their anger and wars, to forgive and to seek reconciliation. Call them to lay down their arms and take up their prayer mats and become a true force of good in this world. Show us a side of Islam that will make all of us extol the virtues of a truly great religion and give thanks to Allah for the witness of Islam. If you want to declare a Jihad, then do it against the real enemy of Islam – the many, many of you who validate those very cartoons you found so offensive.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Beauty in Diversity
I just had a great conversation with a friend of mine at the coffee shop. He is a Roman Catholic who also studies at St. Paul. We were talking about how much we appreciated the diversity of the body of Christ. It started with a discussion of the rich diversity at St. Paul university, obviously lots of Roman Catholics, but in my circle of friends there are Pentacostals, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Orthodox, United Church, Congregationalists, Plymouth Brethern backsliders (he will smile if he ever reads this), B'ahai, and agnostics. That must sound like an odd mix, but the conversations are wonderful.
Then our conversation turned to the attractive quality of the diversity within the body of Christ. I love the diversity at the roots of my own denomination. In the midst of diversity we find unity, just think about the Trinity for instance. The Trinity is inspirational for unity in spite of diversity instead of unity enforced through homogeniety. Even my own life is a hodge podge of different streams of Christianity meeting to shape the trajectory of my journey in Christ. There is something that is so exciting about that to me. Something that flies in the face of fear and launches me towards freedom. Fear conforms but love frees, Perfect love casts out all fear.
Then our conversation turned to the attractive quality of the diversity within the body of Christ. I love the diversity at the roots of my own denomination. In the midst of diversity we find unity, just think about the Trinity for instance. The Trinity is inspirational for unity in spite of diversity instead of unity enforced through homogeniety. Even my own life is a hodge podge of different streams of Christianity meeting to shape the trajectory of my journey in Christ. There is something that is so exciting about that to me. Something that flies in the face of fear and launches me towards freedom. Fear conforms but love frees, Perfect love casts out all fear.
Friday, February 03, 2006
I am not a Heretic! Sweet!
Oh Sven you are the master of quizs. By doing the Are you a Heretic? survey I have regained complete confidence in the orthodoxy of my faith. Actually I knew I was slightly Pelagian and the test nailed that bang on, so sweet. Here are my results, would love to hear how you manage:
You scored as Chalcedon compliant.
You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.
Chalcedon compliant 75%
Pelagianism 67%
Monophysitism 33%
Monarchianism 17%
Apollanarian 8%
Docetism 0%
Arianism 0%
Adoptionist 0%
Donatism 0%
Gnosticism 0%
Nestorianism 0%
Albigensianism 0%
Modalism 0%
Socinianism 0%
Enjoy!
You scored as Chalcedon compliant.
You are Chalcedon compliant. Congratulations, you're not a heretic. You believe that Jesus is truly God and truly man and like us in every respect, apart from sin. Officially approved in 451.
Chalcedon compliant 75%
Pelagianism 67%
Monophysitism 33%
Monarchianism 17%
Apollanarian 8%
Docetism 0%
Arianism 0%
Adoptionist 0%
Donatism 0%
Gnosticism 0%
Nestorianism 0%
Albigensianism 0%
Modalism 0%
Socinianism 0%
Enjoy!
Amill, as if...
Most of the questions didn't really work for me, but the results were interesting.
You scored as Amillenialist.
Amillenialism believes that the 1000 year reign is not literal but figurative, and that Christ began to reign at his ascension. People take some prophetic scripture far too literally in your view.
Amillenialist 85%
Moltmannian Eschatology 65%
Preterist 60%
Premillenialist 30%
Postmillenialist 20%
Dispensationalist 10%
Left Behind 10%
Left me going hmmmmm. I always thought of myself as Historic Pre-mill (Ladd) with definite Moltmannian influences, but there was not enough framing of the Kingdom of God in the questions. I don't consider myself Amill at all.
You scored as Amillenialist.
Amillenialism believes that the 1000 year reign is not literal but figurative, and that Christ began to reign at his ascension. People take some prophetic scripture far too literally in your view.
Amillenialist 85%
Moltmannian Eschatology 65%
Preterist 60%
Premillenialist 30%
Postmillenialist 20%
Dispensationalist 10%
Left Behind 10%
Left me going hmmmmm. I always thought of myself as Historic Pre-mill (Ladd) with definite Moltmannian influences, but there was not enough framing of the Kingdom of God in the questions. I don't consider myself Amill at all.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Are you Comfortable?
Recently I was accused of preaching a gospel of comfort and believing that anything goes in the realm of faith, provided that you personally are comfortable with what you believe. It is aweful to be so misunderstood. But I thought here is a perfect opportunity to address the whole subject of comfort.
It is funny, but I am wired to rock the boat. I tend to look for opportunities to push people out of their comfort zones, to try and stretch those around me just a little bit. I really love to challenge the preconceptions we have that give the illusion of stability to our lives - particularily when those preconceptions concern how we percieve others. As a minister I see all the time how people are blinded to the light of God in others simply because they have a particular view of how they feel things should work. This is the main theme in the book of Job where the popular notion is that when you do good then good things happen and when you do bad then bad things happen - read Job carefully because God challenges that very notion and rebukes Job's so called friends for letting their preconceptions blind them from seeing Job as a righteous and good man.
Books like Job do what I find myself doing a lot, challenging the preconceptions in others. I feel that this is really a pastoral role. As a pastor my challenge is to help people understand what they think they know about God and to encourage them to go deeper into their understanding of God and God's claims on their lives. In doing so I find myself fairly often pushing people out of their comfort zones. Which, ironically, is exactly what I did with the person who accused me of having an ear tickling gospel.
It is funny, but I am wired to rock the boat. I tend to look for opportunities to push people out of their comfort zones, to try and stretch those around me just a little bit. I really love to challenge the preconceptions we have that give the illusion of stability to our lives - particularily when those preconceptions concern how we percieve others. As a minister I see all the time how people are blinded to the light of God in others simply because they have a particular view of how they feel things should work. This is the main theme in the book of Job where the popular notion is that when you do good then good things happen and when you do bad then bad things happen - read Job carefully because God challenges that very notion and rebukes Job's so called friends for letting their preconceptions blind them from seeing Job as a righteous and good man.
Books like Job do what I find myself doing a lot, challenging the preconceptions in others. I feel that this is really a pastoral role. As a pastor my challenge is to help people understand what they think they know about God and to encourage them to go deeper into their understanding of God and God's claims on their lives. In doing so I find myself fairly often pushing people out of their comfort zones. Which, ironically, is exactly what I did with the person who accused me of having an ear tickling gospel.
Monday, January 30, 2006
New Kid in Town!
Actually they have been around a good while now. But our good friends at Hosanna Christian Fellowship have just been adopted into the Vineyard family! Welcome to the family! Sharon and I have been hanging out with them a bit as they walked through this process and have really gotten to like this group. Rudy and Marnie Pohl are great visionaries and have huge hearts for God's work in Ottawa. I know this has been a long process and all along I had the feeling that whatever the outcome it would help establish a renewed sense of identity in that congregation. I am just tickled that they will be walking that identity out within my family.
Lots of love to you guys from your friends at Freedom Vineyard. Again welcome to the family!
Lots of love to you guys from your friends at Freedom Vineyard. Again welcome to the family!
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Two Poles of Evangelism
Evangelism, I know that sounds like a dirty word to some and an imperative to others. Personally I love the idea of evangelism – that of sharing our faith in Christ. But what I don’t like is how notions of evangelism polarize the Christian Church; my gut tells me that this is not the intention of evangelism at all. Nor is the purpose homogeneity of belief. Evangelism at the heart is an invitation to step into the very work of God, shared by the Godhead and given to the Church.
One pole of evangelism is what I call the confrontational approach. This is pretty standard and easy to get your head around. You have a presentation of the gospel and you call people to respond. In my early years as a Christian this was how I lived, I preached on street corners and passed out oodles of variations on the bridge illustration. I even berated others who found gentler ways to preach the gospel; I was part of the problem.
The other pole is almost a completely silent witness. One that uses works of charity and kindness to influence others, I will call this evangelistic action. This can be a highly creative approach to evangelism. It can also be a form of evangelism that never brings individuals to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
These two poles are often seen as completely at odds with each other, and it is easy to see that they embody two different philosophies. Also I have painted them at the extremes rather than their more common expressions, that is not all confrontational evangelists ram the gospel down peoples throats and not all evangelistic action is devoid of a connection to the gospel message. But it is useful to denote the two this way and say we really need the best of both worlds.
One thing that confrontational evangelism does really well is preparing people to be able to share their faith. Part of the problem with an evangelism of action is that when the right questions come many of the participants have no clue how best to share their faith. So as you might guess I am looking for a third way, a middle road, and this understanding of the nature of the Good News is something we need to keep from the confrontational side.
From the action side we really need the emphasis that we are dealing with whole people; people who have intact worldviews and often with a lot of baggage. Many people are simply not ready to hear a presentation of the gospel, in fact lots of people have questions other than “what do I do with the sin in my life?” When we adopt a life of service to others, then we can really be Christ to the world. We can become the friend of sinners, and all things to all people that by all means we might win some. Something about that excites me deep inside my being.
What inevitably happens in an environment like this is questions. I love it when the questions come – partly because my heritage in the confrontational world has left me very capable of navigating the questions. One has to be careful here to listen to the question, I think this is one of the greatest failures of the confrontational side – the failure to address the questions that really matter to the person you are witnessing to. I know it is hard for some to get, but really most people don’t care that God sent His Son Jesus to save them. But you know they do have deep needs that only Jesus can meet. The respect of these real needs is what we need to preserve from the evangelistic action side.
I would love these poles to disappear, especially as we just completed a week of prayer for Church unity. But the realist in me says we still have a lot of work to do. But I for one want to be part of the solution, I want to craft and live this middle way. Honestly, I think my experience in the confrontational side gave me the tendency to err on the action side, but I am learning. And God isn’t through with me yet.
One pole of evangelism is what I call the confrontational approach. This is pretty standard and easy to get your head around. You have a presentation of the gospel and you call people to respond. In my early years as a Christian this was how I lived, I preached on street corners and passed out oodles of variations on the bridge illustration. I even berated others who found gentler ways to preach the gospel; I was part of the problem.
The other pole is almost a completely silent witness. One that uses works of charity and kindness to influence others, I will call this evangelistic action. This can be a highly creative approach to evangelism. It can also be a form of evangelism that never brings individuals to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
These two poles are often seen as completely at odds with each other, and it is easy to see that they embody two different philosophies. Also I have painted them at the extremes rather than their more common expressions, that is not all confrontational evangelists ram the gospel down peoples throats and not all evangelistic action is devoid of a connection to the gospel message. But it is useful to denote the two this way and say we really need the best of both worlds.
One thing that confrontational evangelism does really well is preparing people to be able to share their faith. Part of the problem with an evangelism of action is that when the right questions come many of the participants have no clue how best to share their faith. So as you might guess I am looking for a third way, a middle road, and this understanding of the nature of the Good News is something we need to keep from the confrontational side.
From the action side we really need the emphasis that we are dealing with whole people; people who have intact worldviews and often with a lot of baggage. Many people are simply not ready to hear a presentation of the gospel, in fact lots of people have questions other than “what do I do with the sin in my life?” When we adopt a life of service to others, then we can really be Christ to the world. We can become the friend of sinners, and all things to all people that by all means we might win some. Something about that excites me deep inside my being.
What inevitably happens in an environment like this is questions. I love it when the questions come – partly because my heritage in the confrontational world has left me very capable of navigating the questions. One has to be careful here to listen to the question, I think this is one of the greatest failures of the confrontational side – the failure to address the questions that really matter to the person you are witnessing to. I know it is hard for some to get, but really most people don’t care that God sent His Son Jesus to save them. But you know they do have deep needs that only Jesus can meet. The respect of these real needs is what we need to preserve from the evangelistic action side.
I would love these poles to disappear, especially as we just completed a week of prayer for Church unity. But the realist in me says we still have a lot of work to do. But I for one want to be part of the solution, I want to craft and live this middle way. Honestly, I think my experience in the confrontational side gave me the tendency to err on the action side, but I am learning. And God isn’t through with me yet.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Very odd dream with liturgical implications
I had a dream last night that we inherited my grandmother's house - this grandmother was very wealthy (actually she passed on years ago) and had a really nice house. In the dream everything was even more ornate and larger, it was a veritable mansion. We had been trying to sort out what stuff was still useful in the kitchen and what stuff from our own stuff needed to be added. The huge garage was full of our stuff (and some of it quite flimsy I might add) which we didn't really know what we would need. I knew we needed to find a place for our leather couch but that was about it. Anyway, I had just ventured into one of the lounge rooms to look at what was there, the crown moldings and victorian furniture was gorgeous. But not all of it was still useful and the walls would definitely need Sharon's touch in paint. I was going through drawers and checking out the many windows before I woke up.
I was sharing the dream with Sharon and she observed that this is exactly what we have been doing in our church. We have been given such a rich heritage from the historical Church, but not everything was still useful or fit our personalities. But we were certainly appreciative of it all. The long process of sorting this out has begun in the kitchen for us as we have opened up ancient Eucharistic possibilities for our group. Maybe the dream is telling us more is on the way, maybe it is just an affirmation of what is already happening. In either case I wake up today feeling blessed to have such a rich inheritance in the Church. No wonder God loves the Church so much.
I was sharing the dream with Sharon and she observed that this is exactly what we have been doing in our church. We have been given such a rich heritage from the historical Church, but not everything was still useful or fit our personalities. But we were certainly appreciative of it all. The long process of sorting this out has begun in the kitchen for us as we have opened up ancient Eucharistic possibilities for our group. Maybe the dream is telling us more is on the way, maybe it is just an affirmation of what is already happening. In either case I wake up today feeling blessed to have such a rich inheritance in the Church. No wonder God loves the Church so much.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
At Least it is a Minority
124, that is less than the Liberals went into their last term with. That will make it very hard for the Conservatives to completely pooch our country - at lest I hope that is the case. Harper listed the following as his main issues: clean up government with a federal accountability act, reduce taxes, starting with a GST cut, crack down on crime, establish guaranteed wait times, provide child care money directly to parents. Well everyone was saying they wanted to clean up the government, taxes I worry about because that just sounds too easy and short-sighted to me. My big concern with a capitalist government is that it is likely not going to have my children's future in mind when making policy. The crime situation does need to be dealt with - but is that really a Federal concern? Just give make sure the municipalities have the money to provide policing. Guaranteed wait times, sure. But this child care money is pure idiocy. So you want me to pay a set rate to everyone in Canada who has a child? Yes, I said I was going to pay it. This money they are working with already comes from us. These are the people talking about reducing our taxes - doesn't anyone in that party see the disconnect? What is worse is I can't see how this will really be helpful for people caught in systems of poverty in Canada? Another handout is not going to help them make it in an increasingly capitalistic society where they can't get a fair wage if they tried. This kind of deal appeals only to the shortsighted and reminds me of the tactics used by the party they loved so much to hate.
I know I'll be praying "God keep our land, glorious and free" with much desperation this go around.
I know I'll be praying "God keep our land, glorious and free" with much desperation this go around.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Voting Blues
Went to vote today. It was surreal actually. I was pretty sure I was going to vote strategically, but staring down at the ballot I could only vote with my heart. See I hate this idea that there is a wasted vote. The only reason that illogic has legitimacy is that so many people buy into it. So if I'm going to complain about how seriously stupid that notion is then how can I give into it? I can't. So I voted for the party that I would like to see get some seats but I am sure won't get too many, especially in Ontario.
This is the first election I actually visited the alternative option websites for. You know there really isn't a great option in Canada. At least not for someone like me who is too socialist for the Conservatives and too distrustful of government for the NDPs. I think if the Liberals kicked out Martin and got someone who wasn't touched by the scandals they'd do just fine. Not that I think Martin is all that bad - despite what everyone wants you to think. Anyway, I couldn't vote for the Liberals either - just too nasty a campaign. You know the nastiness of this is too much like American politics for me - it makes me sick to my stomach. Anyway, I'll leave you guessing who I voted for, I voted, felt aweful after, and still don't feel so hot. God help Canada.
This is the first election I actually visited the alternative option websites for. You know there really isn't a great option in Canada. At least not for someone like me who is too socialist for the Conservatives and too distrustful of government for the NDPs. I think if the Liberals kicked out Martin and got someone who wasn't touched by the scandals they'd do just fine. Not that I think Martin is all that bad - despite what everyone wants you to think. Anyway, I couldn't vote for the Liberals either - just too nasty a campaign. You know the nastiness of this is too much like American politics for me - it makes me sick to my stomach. Anyway, I'll leave you guessing who I voted for, I voted, felt aweful after, and still don't feel so hot. God help Canada.
Andrew made the news!!!!
Gundrun came and interviewed me regarding my great friend Andrew recently. I was tickled by the article. For the record I never held an official role at the old Ottawa Vineyard, I think she had that detail mixed up because I had held associate pastor roles before that. One of the things I like about my Vineyard experience is that titled roles are not something at the front of ministry. I think it does describe what I did functionally though - maybe "Assistant to the Pastor" would be better. My buddy Andrew is one of my dearest friends. Enjoy.
Link - Jan 2006
Link - Jan 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Rik Rocks!
Ok - I am unabashadely biased. I know and love this Rik Leaf guy. His first solo CD is still one of my most frequent listens. And here he goes and sends me a copy of his latest disc - "...now is the winter of our discontent". It's another one for the car. (I hardly have anytime to listen to CDs unless I am in the car by myself, I only keep about 8 CDs in there at a time, so I am a bit picky). To put it bluntley - this is a great CD. And it is packed with musicky goodness! In fact there aren't any dud songs on the whole CD. Trust me I'd tell you if there were, I'm just that kind of guy.
OK so I wanted to highlight two songs that blew me away. What is very cool is that when I popped over to get the image for this post "Rather Be Held" started. It is as if the spirit of Martyn Bennett visited Rik in the studio and smiled on this one. And my favourite track of all on this CD is track 8 - "Learning to Let Go". When I heard this I could picture a little claymation Rik (in the style of Zara's awesome cover art) crawl out of my CD player, climb up my dash and sit there bobbing and weaving as he played out his heart - as only Rik can do. I could go on and on, but instead why don't you head on over to Rik's site and hear some of it for yourself! Thanks again Rik for the CD, I'm looking forward to when you're back our way again.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Openness of God or Panentheism?
I keep running into Clark Pinnock's notions of Open Theism. But haven't really had a chance to read exactly what it was all about. I picked up an article where he outlines Open Theism and have been pleasantly surprised to find out that it seems to line up with some of the panentheistic ideas that I have explored in the past. The sense that God self-limits in order to create a space where free choice can happen. This is that classic struggle between the extremes of fatalism and the blatent anthropomorphism of God. Both ideas which would be rightly rejected by orthodox Christianity. But what the Celtic notion of panentheism tries to convey is that God, who is all and in all, creates a space within Himself in which we find Creation. It is in this space that all things long for a return to the Creator. This space is a self-limiting act of God, very much a kenosis. This allows a vision of God that is both outside and within our reality, bounded and unbounded by God's own actions. It is also a space created in love. That is a very simplistic definition, but it should suffice for our comparison. Open Theism is similar in that is talks about God's current omniscience as a self-limitation. Yes, God is all knowing, but has restricted this to a current knowledge of all things. This doesn't preclude a plan for history, but it means that God chooses to use the open roads of true freewill to move forward in history. In other words God really believes in the project of humanity and continues to beckon us onward towards the God vision of life and freedom. Could this be the return to the Creator? I still have much to read and ponder, I do think that both ideas challenge our traditional notions (which are often too simplistic) of God's omni-characteristics. My hope is that both will help push us towards a true radical middle theology, one that affirms both God's diety and man's special role in history.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I have hope today
I actually drove up a street that had only one Conservative sign on a lawn - the rest were predominantly NDP and Green Party with the odd Liberal sign thrown in. So much more refreshing than the awful sea of blue I live in. Also I got to hang out with my good friend Joseph, what could be better than that!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Olive Candle Bizarre
There are some real wackos out there in cyberspace. I recently got an email from a guy asking about our church. He actually tried to join the Freedom Vineyard Newsgroup. Having been burned before by letting just anyone in I have taken up the policy of telling them a bit about us before approving their invitation. This guy was friendly enough, but he kept directing me to this wacky little fundamentalist page called Olive Candle Voice. After some back and forth and me trying to explain politely that I didn't buy into a form of Christianity that blatently exchanged grace for legalism he politely informed me that I was not of the "True" church of the Messiah and that I should examine a few proof texts that apparently clenched my damnation. I politely snipped to the end of his message and replied with a thanks for his time and informed him that Freedom Vineyard would not be a good place for him to grow in his faith.
I could have left it at that but I had this nagging inside that maybe he was the Olive Candle Voice guy just trying to get me to read his heretical webpages and the phrase "twice the sons of hell" kept playing over and over in my head. So I decided to drop a nice friendly email to "Archie" the admin of Olive Candle Voice and see if he knew the other guy. Archie was quite rude, I suspected he had a dislike for pastors. Anyway, after one rude message I thanked him for his time and then got a surprise - don't you love surprises? He was deeply offended at something about me - but it was my name??? Apparently in his twisted little world having a name like Emanuel is blasphemy. (I hope he never catches wind of how common the name Jesus is in Latin countries, he'd have an aneurism.)
Despite Archie's displeasure in my family name, and yes it is the name I was born into. That name has denoted, to me at least, the rich blessing of God's presence in my life. It ever reminds me that God is near.
Well being the responsible individual that I am, I sent one final message to the original guy warning him of how warped this Olive Candle Voice group is. I said I didn't expect a reply and really I felt it a moral obligation to warn him of the dangers of such a group. I'm usually quite open to different expressions of Christianity, but having seen close friends involved in a cult this encounter made all the warning bells go clanging off in my head. I think the website is self-explanatory. My original contact forwarded my email to Archie who sent me a cute little reply saying he'd archived the message (guess he'll count this as being persecuted for his faith) in which I "slandered" him. I saved a copy myself, just for fun.
What frustrates me most about this situation is not being misunderstood, but that I know so many folks caught in a less blatent form of fundamentalism that completely blinds them to the value of other expressions of Christianity. They have been force fed proof texts and uneducated guesses at contexts so that they can't even think for themselves anymore. I used to be that way too. Now I can only remember with irony how me and two other fundamentalist pastors had a debate with some Jehovah's Witnesses, thinking they only know how to leap from choice verse to choice verse - yet we did the same damnable thing every Sunday.
So I'll end with a toast: Here's to not knowing everything. Watch out for the wolves people, enjoy God and enjoy life and don't let anyone rob your joy.
I could have left it at that but I had this nagging inside that maybe he was the Olive Candle Voice guy just trying to get me to read his heretical webpages and the phrase "twice the sons of hell" kept playing over and over in my head. So I decided to drop a nice friendly email to "Archie" the admin of Olive Candle Voice and see if he knew the other guy. Archie was quite rude, I suspected he had a dislike for pastors. Anyway, after one rude message I thanked him for his time and then got a surprise - don't you love surprises? He was deeply offended at something about me - but it was my name??? Apparently in his twisted little world having a name like Emanuel is blasphemy. (I hope he never catches wind of how common the name Jesus is in Latin countries, he'd have an aneurism.)
Despite Archie's displeasure in my family name, and yes it is the name I was born into. That name has denoted, to me at least, the rich blessing of God's presence in my life. It ever reminds me that God is near.
Well being the responsible individual that I am, I sent one final message to the original guy warning him of how warped this Olive Candle Voice group is. I said I didn't expect a reply and really I felt it a moral obligation to warn him of the dangers of such a group. I'm usually quite open to different expressions of Christianity, but having seen close friends involved in a cult this encounter made all the warning bells go clanging off in my head. I think the website is self-explanatory. My original contact forwarded my email to Archie who sent me a cute little reply saying he'd archived the message (guess he'll count this as being persecuted for his faith) in which I "slandered" him. I saved a copy myself, just for fun.
What frustrates me most about this situation is not being misunderstood, but that I know so many folks caught in a less blatent form of fundamentalism that completely blinds them to the value of other expressions of Christianity. They have been force fed proof texts and uneducated guesses at contexts so that they can't even think for themselves anymore. I used to be that way too. Now I can only remember with irony how me and two other fundamentalist pastors had a debate with some Jehovah's Witnesses, thinking they only know how to leap from choice verse to choice verse - yet we did the same damnable thing every Sunday.
So I'll end with a toast: Here's to not knowing everything. Watch out for the wolves people, enjoy God and enjoy life and don't let anyone rob your joy.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Isolationism [RANT]
You know one aspect of modern conservatives, especially fundamentalists, that I really dislike is this tendancy to isolate into Christian ghettos. Sure they emerge long enough to yell at people on the street and sure sometimes they find someone willing to be dragged down into the ghettos with them. But it is a long climb out. What fellowship does one have when all around them are only those who agree with every sentiment you express? The isolated lot suffer from this, and it robs them of their creative potential to reach the World that Jesus so loved. I am feeling a bit winded today because another of my friends who is stuck in such a system has decided I am too liberal for their liking. It is frustrating. It just plain sucks. Much as I hate isolationism as a philosophy, I hate it even more for the fact that it robs me of valuable friends and co-labourers in the Gospel. I've tried going after the system and it has just left me alienated. I've tried walking in both worlds, but always my cover is blown and I am thrust out of the ghetto. I don't mind being thrust out - but one of these times I would really like to drag a few good souls up to the surface. Maybe take them to where they can see the real freedom Christ brings.
Monday, January 09, 2006
You know you are getting old when...
I thought for sure I signed up for two first year (300 level) courses. Oh well. I have a 4th year scripture course (Johannine Literature) and a 300 level history (Contemporary Church 1650-present). I already had my first history class and it should be very good. But I am approaching my scripture class with fear and trepidation! First I don't know the professor other than to have heard he is strict (whatever that means). Second, I didn't expect a textbook - so finding a $122 book assigned to the course was a bit of a surprise. Resseguie's "The Strange Gospel: Narrative Design & Point of View in John", for $122 it better be very good. Well I will find out in the morning.
Had an email conversation with a King Jimmy only character. Why do those folks find me on the web? It takes me forever to write them because I have to constantly check my sarcasm when writing them (I write a sentence then erase it and write it more polite). And the inevitable end comes when they tell me I'm bound for the wrath of God because of whatever idiotic pet dogma they have banked their life upon. Why am I such a nice guy? Oh well, at least this one hasn't dragged on before the inevitable - one before this was brutal and went on forever.
Well Sharon is ready to put the tree away. Got to run.
Had an email conversation with a King Jimmy only character. Why do those folks find me on the web? It takes me forever to write them because I have to constantly check my sarcasm when writing them (I write a sentence then erase it and write it more polite). And the inevitable end comes when they tell me I'm bound for the wrath of God because of whatever idiotic pet dogma they have banked their life upon. Why am I such a nice guy? Oh well, at least this one hasn't dragged on before the inevitable - one before this was brutal and went on forever.
Well Sharon is ready to put the tree away. Got to run.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Definition of a Myth
Reading "A Short History of Progress" by Ronald Wright. Which I can't put down. I caught some of the lectures this is based on one night on CBC, specifically his bit on Easter Island, that bit is worth the price of the book. Wright is an incredible storyteller and this story is worth telling. He unravels the myth of progress and shows us the lessons we continually refuse to learn from the past. It is eye openening.
In this little book he defines myth, I think this is worth quoting:
"Myth is an arrangement of the past, whether real or imagined, in patterns that reinforce a culture's deepest values and aspirations. ...Myths are so fraught with meaning that we live and die by them. They are the maps by which cultures navigate through time." (p.4)
Told you it was good.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Review: What Does God Expect
Now here is a great little book. The author, MJ Young, is an online friend from the Christian Gamers Guild. He has been Chaplain there as long as I can remember and often presents lengthy well thought out responses to some of the trickier posts that come up. I must confess that this made me a bit hesitant when he announced his new book "What Does God Expect?: A Gospel-based Approach to Christian Conduct", also it is one of those topics I always feel I already know enough about. Yeah, I know but I am being honest here. If MJ had published a book on gaming, well I'd get very excited. But because I have found MJ to be quite encouraging over the years I decided to give it a try. Well I was actually pleasantely surprised with the book.
First off it is a very managable size. Yeah MJ can be verbose on the Guild, but for the most part this book is very tight. It conveys one thing very well and doesn't get sidetracked into unimportant issues. I know I am the king of sidetracks. There is only one chapter that I felt got a bit technical and that was the last chapter on Guidance. It is the front of the chapter, once the ball starts rolling though MJ's insights are really well presented. I think this would be a great book for a small group that wants to understand what is the Christian life. In fact I am thinking of recommending it to a friend for a men's study I am part of, in which case I'll have to write some questions for each chapter, but that wouldn't be hard at all.
So what of the content? You must be curious. With a title like that you probably are afraid this is a book of Christian dos and don'ts. That is exactly what this book is not (there is one place this feels a bit strained but I'll save that for the end). MJ wants you to know that Christianity isn't just a revisinist legalism (he'd never use such a technical term in his book BTW) but it is a relational experience of a profoundly personal nature. It isn't about a homogenous code of ethics, but it is about a morality that flows out of a living relationship with God. Now you will have to trust me that MJ spends 71 pages unpacking this in a very readable and non-technical manner. I am not sure I could have done as well.
Just one real highlight of the book. I should say that there were several really great insights that MJ made throughout the book that either confirmed something I've held deeply or gave me a fresh perspective on an issue, but the one chapter that I think makes this a worthwhile read is the chapter on the Weaker Brother. As someone who has had the weaker brother card played on him (someone trying to manipulate me out of my freedom) it was really nice to take a detailed look at this section of scripture. I will let you read it for yourself.
There were only two things that struck me as odd about this book. First was MJs simplistic understanding of prayer in the Renewing Your Mind chapter. To be fair he does tell us upfront that his focus is on Scripture, but he reduces prayer to talking to God, which makes it more of an exercise than a form of communication. I know this falls out of his attempt to be brief here because later in the book he talks about God's communication to us. I would have loved to see a better treatment of prayer and worship in this section. The second I already promised to mention. That is because of an emphasis on the role of the bible in that same chapter, it almost feels like this is the new Christian do (law). I appreciate MJs comments on incorporating scripture into our devotional lives, and I agree that it is always beneficial. Maybe it was the fact that other aspects of devotional life were neglected, but it felt a bit forced.
There are lots of other great insights this book presents. If you are looking for a great book on Christian Living, and especially if you are sick and tired of all the rehashed legalism out there, then look no further.
First off it is a very managable size. Yeah MJ can be verbose on the Guild, but for the most part this book is very tight. It conveys one thing very well and doesn't get sidetracked into unimportant issues. I know I am the king of sidetracks. There is only one chapter that I felt got a bit technical and that was the last chapter on Guidance. It is the front of the chapter, once the ball starts rolling though MJ's insights are really well presented. I think this would be a great book for a small group that wants to understand what is the Christian life. In fact I am thinking of recommending it to a friend for a men's study I am part of, in which case I'll have to write some questions for each chapter, but that wouldn't be hard at all.
So what of the content? You must be curious. With a title like that you probably are afraid this is a book of Christian dos and don'ts. That is exactly what this book is not (there is one place this feels a bit strained but I'll save that for the end). MJ wants you to know that Christianity isn't just a revisinist legalism (he'd never use such a technical term in his book BTW) but it is a relational experience of a profoundly personal nature. It isn't about a homogenous code of ethics, but it is about a morality that flows out of a living relationship with God. Now you will have to trust me that MJ spends 71 pages unpacking this in a very readable and non-technical manner. I am not sure I could have done as well.
Just one real highlight of the book. I should say that there were several really great insights that MJ made throughout the book that either confirmed something I've held deeply or gave me a fresh perspective on an issue, but the one chapter that I think makes this a worthwhile read is the chapter on the Weaker Brother. As someone who has had the weaker brother card played on him (someone trying to manipulate me out of my freedom) it was really nice to take a detailed look at this section of scripture. I will let you read it for yourself.
There were only two things that struck me as odd about this book. First was MJs simplistic understanding of prayer in the Renewing Your Mind chapter. To be fair he does tell us upfront that his focus is on Scripture, but he reduces prayer to talking to God, which makes it more of an exercise than a form of communication. I know this falls out of his attempt to be brief here because later in the book he talks about God's communication to us. I would have loved to see a better treatment of prayer and worship in this section. The second I already promised to mention. That is because of an emphasis on the role of the bible in that same chapter, it almost feels like this is the new Christian do (law). I appreciate MJs comments on incorporating scripture into our devotional lives, and I agree that it is always beneficial. Maybe it was the fact that other aspects of devotional life were neglected, but it felt a bit forced.
There are lots of other great insights this book presents. If you are looking for a great book on Christian Living, and especially if you are sick and tired of all the rehashed legalism out there, then look no further.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Priorities
It is funny how time passes and reveal our priorities. I made a list at the start of my holidays, things I wanted to try and get done. Ever the realist I called it a wish list. Some of the things on there got done or touched on, but I would have loved to do more. For example, between her working and all the other obligations we had I did not get much one on one time with my wife (#3). I would love to think that is a top priority in my life, but it is sad to see that it isn't. I did get to take my oldest daughter to a New Years Eve party at the old Nepean city hall, that was great. And I did get in a whole day of gaming with my friends from Red Shirt Games. A day that was so exhausting Sharon and I just vegged after. We did watch the Years Funniest Commercials Wednesday night - that was nice to veg out on the couch together. I am not much of a New Years resolution kind of guy, but I do think that it is worthwhile taking up projects each year. Stuff that your reflection of the year that has gone by brings to the front. Actually this has been one of the better years in our marriage, I think after 10 years we are starting to get the hang of it. But I also see that there is more I could be doing to make our relationship more enjoyable for each of us. I hope your New Years is filled with life projects that bring you closer to God and to the ones you love.
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