Tuesday, March 31, 2009
30% off half price
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In addition to the 30% off coupon, I also had a gift card to Half Price Books - so I was hoping to get some sweet deals tonight. It turns out my gift card had about $0.54 on it; and 30% off of $6.00 is about $1.50 - regardless, I got a Henri Nouwen book for under $4.00. Not a bad night in my opinion -
The book I got is "The Life of the Beloved." I'm super excited to read it because it centers on a simple thought that I read in another collection of Nouwen's (I can't remember when or what). But essentially, he states that Jesus' entire ministry was based upon the moment, just after his baptism, when God says, "This is my son whom I love and I am proud of." It was that divine affirmation, the knowledge and sense that at all times the Father was pleased and proud of him, that empowered Jesus' ministry. He returned to that moment, recalled the significance, and lived from that certainty every day.
I know that one of my greatest struggles is self-doubt, uncertainty, and self-esteem. I think at some level every human being struggles with feeling good about who we are what we are doing in our life. And so this idea and connection has been significant to me in the past few months. I'm looking forward to digging into it in the next few weeks.
The book I got is "The Life of the Beloved." I'm super excited to read it because it centers on a simple thought that I read in another collection of Nouwen's (I can't remember when or what). But essentially, he states that Jesus' entire ministry was based upon the moment, just after his baptism, when God says, "This is my son whom I love and I am proud of." It was that divine affirmation, the knowledge and sense that at all times the Father was pleased and proud of him, that empowered Jesus' ministry. He returned to that moment, recalled the significance, and lived from that certainty every day.
I know that one of my greatest struggles is self-doubt, uncertainty, and self-esteem. I think at some level every human being struggles with feeling good about who we are what we are doing in our life. And so this idea and connection has been significant to me in the past few months. I'm looking forward to digging into it in the next few weeks.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thinking about McLaren...
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A few friends and I have the privilege of meeting with Brian McLaren
this afternoon, so I'm glancing back through some of his books. I came
across this statement from the intoduction to "The Last Word and the
Word After That":
A few friends and I have the privilege of meeting with Brian McLaren
this afternoon, so I'm glancing back through some of his books. I came
across this statement from the intoduction to "The Last Word and the
Word After That":
"...clarity is good, but sometimes intrigue may be even more precious;
clarity tends to put an end to further thinking, whereas intrigue
makes one think more intensely, broadly, deeply. Jesus' teaching on
the kingdom of Go is a case in point; his parables don't score too
well on clarity, but they excel in intrigue."
I know I suffer from a desire for easy answers that make everything
simple and clear. Today I'm going to try to live into the complexity
and intrigue of my faith.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Fountainhead
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After many recommendations by good friends, I've started reading Ayn Rand - and I've loving her!! A quote from "The Fountainhead" that I think will stick with me all week:
"A house can have integrity, just like a person...and just as seldom...Your house is made by its own needs. The others are made by the need to impress. The determining motive of your hosue is in the house. The determining motive of the others is in the audience."
The book clearly uses architecture as a means through which to make social commentary, and I'm finding endless parallels, especially to religious society. How much of what we do in "church" is about the audience? I've often asked myself why we do what we do in church (and in my case, in Christian schools). I step back and think, "We could do whatever we want. It doesn't have to look like this for any good reason."
I wonder what I would change about myself if I stopped created a facade just for others to look at and be impressed by. What if I acted only out of necessity and purpose, and not for approval?
Ironic questions to write on a blog.....perhaps the most self-indulgent medium in our culture. Maybe I'll twitter about it tomorrow..............
"A house can have integrity, just like a person...and just as seldom...Your house is made by its own needs. The others are made by the need to impress. The determining motive of your hosue is in the house. The determining motive of the others is in the audience."
The book clearly uses architecture as a means through which to make social commentary, and I'm finding endless parallels, especially to religious society. How much of what we do in "church" is about the audience? I've often asked myself why we do what we do in church (and in my case, in Christian schools). I step back and think, "We could do whatever we want. It doesn't have to look like this for any good reason."
I wonder what I would change about myself if I stopped created a facade just for others to look at and be impressed by. What if I acted only out of necessity and purpose, and not for approval?
Ironic questions to write on a blog.....perhaps the most self-indulgent medium in our culture. Maybe I'll twitter about it tomorrow..............
Journey to the Cross
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On this past Tuesday Joel and I worked with students at GCCS to put together a modified "Stations of the Cross" experience. It ended up being incredibly serene, powerful, simple, surprisingly integrated with student art and input, and overall a meaningful experience for the high school. I've put a few pictures below in a Picasa slideshow with titles that explain the stations.
The most impacting thing for me was getting a glimpse into the spiritual lives of the students. Seeing how serious they took the experience (some spent over an hour walking through) reminded me that each person has a genuine spiritual life that goes through ups and downs every day, even when it doesn't seem that way to outside observers. As I walked through the stations, reading the words students had written, I felt the burden of their guilt and sin, and I felt their sincere desire to connect with God. They were very honest in their reflections and prayers, and I could feel it in the atmosphere around the stations throughout the day.
I felt so grateful for the privilege to experience this with the students and to share in some small part of their spiritual lives. As I stepped back and looked at the full blackboard at the final station with many honest prayers and commitments written to God, and imagined to full weight of a world of prayers and souls offered to God every day, I was in awe of the love of the divine that is interwoven throughout a hurting world, but is blessed in quite moments of intersection with beauty, truth and inner reflection.
On this past Tuesday Joel and I worked with students at GCCS to put together a modified "Stations of the Cross" experience. It ended up being incredibly serene, powerful, simple, surprisingly integrated with student art and input, and overall a meaningful experience for the high school. I've put a few pictures below in a Picasa slideshow with titles that explain the stations.
The most impacting thing for me was getting a glimpse into the spiritual lives of the students. Seeing how serious they took the experience (some spent over an hour walking through) reminded me that each person has a genuine spiritual life that goes through ups and downs every day, even when it doesn't seem that way to outside observers. As I walked through the stations, reading the words students had written, I felt the burden of their guilt and sin, and I felt their sincere desire to connect with God. They were very honest in their reflections and prayers, and I could feel it in the atmosphere around the stations throughout the day.
I felt so grateful for the privilege to experience this with the students and to share in some small part of their spiritual lives. As I stepped back and looked at the full blackboard at the final station with many honest prayers and commitments written to God, and imagined to full weight of a world of prayers and souls offered to God every day, I was in awe of the love of the divine that is interwoven throughout a hurting world, but is blessed in quite moments of intersection with beauty, truth and inner reflection.
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Trajectory of Christian History
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I'm trying to read more authors and posts that I tend to disagree with, attempting to have an open mind and be willing to expand my opinion. So today I'm looking at Al Mohler's blog, and I read this post entitled "The Eclipse of Christian Memory."
This is a very off-the-cuff reflection, and one that won't be supported by any documentation. But it seems to me that as I think about the history of Christianity and it's spread throughout the world, there is a downward trajectory. The religion began in the Middle East, Northern Africa, spread to Europe, and then North East America and across the country. When we look at these parts of the world, after thousands of years of Christian influence, they are generally less religious than they were in the past.
So what does this say about Christianity as a religion? Does it fail in its own purposes? Are it's core values different than what conservatives today would have us believe? Why does Christianity only seem to be thriving in parts of the world where it hasn't been experience yet, and the areas that have a long history of the faith - and presumably a long time to develop a coherent, meaningful, "successful" faith - these are the areas that are returning to secularization?
I realize that this is a huge generalization, but I guess it just seems to me that on the surface, the parts of the world that have had the benefit of Christian influence the longest, should be the parts that are the most religious, the most faithful, or, to put it simply, the most "Christian." But according to most polls, experts, and citizens, these are the parts of the world that are leaving Christianity behind.
Possible conclusions? 1) Christianity as a religion has not been successful in the long-term across the world. - OR - 2) The recent trends and developments in these parts of the world are actually the core values of Christianity lived to the fullest point at this moment in history. - OR - 3) Something else? Something unseen, unpublicized, uncharted?
This is a very off-the-cuff reflection, and one that won't be supported by any documentation. But it seems to me that as I think about the history of Christianity and it's spread throughout the world, there is a downward trajectory. The religion began in the Middle East, Northern Africa, spread to Europe, and then North East America and across the country. When we look at these parts of the world, after thousands of years of Christian influence, they are generally less religious than they were in the past.
So what does this say about Christianity as a religion? Does it fail in its own purposes? Are it's core values different than what conservatives today would have us believe? Why does Christianity only seem to be thriving in parts of the world where it hasn't been experience yet, and the areas that have a long history of the faith - and presumably a long time to develop a coherent, meaningful, "successful" faith - these are the areas that are returning to secularization?
I realize that this is a huge generalization, but I guess it just seems to me that on the surface, the parts of the world that have had the benefit of Christian influence the longest, should be the parts that are the most religious, the most faithful, or, to put it simply, the most "Christian." But according to most polls, experts, and citizens, these are the parts of the world that are leaving Christianity behind.
Possible conclusions? 1) Christianity as a religion has not been successful in the long-term across the world. - OR - 2) The recent trends and developments in these parts of the world are actually the core values of Christianity lived to the fullest point at this moment in history. - OR - 3) Something else? Something unseen, unpublicized, uncharted?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Fray's Beginning's and Music
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Great article discussing The Fray, their religious background, the significance of their music, and their perspective on "Christian" music. Key quotes:
"I feel [God] would have been disappointed with us if we limited ourselves [to Christian music exclusively]," Slade told Christianity Today. He then described a revelation of sorts he had when working at Starbucks before the band's popularity exploded. "If I handed someone a double grande mocha latte and told them, 'Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,' they might throw it back on me. If we grow up in the church, it's easy to think it's our Christian duty to preach to every single person because God is the most important thing. And He is, but I'm a musician first. This is my job. We're not pastors. We're not preachers. We're not even missionaries."
"My problem with Christian music," Slade told Westword, "is a lot of it is too happy. It's too smiley. It's like you know from the get-go that it's not completely honest, because they never say they're sad. ... If you pound people over the head, they get suspicious, they don't trust you, and it's not art—it's propaganda. And we're not about Jesus propaganda."
"It's not art - it's propaganda. And we're not about Jesus propaganda." -
Wow....while I think that statement helps to draw the distinction between "worship music" and "music." Worship is designed for a corporate singing experience. And it has a distinct purpose. And a lot of it is really good, in it's own way.
But should it be played on the radio as music? Perhaps not all of it....I think many Christians are misunderstanding the purpose of music as art when they think worship is the same as other kinds of music. And it may perpetuate the misunderstanding that the Christian life is primarily one to be enjoyed, instead of the "suffering servant" example of Christ.
Friday, March 20, 2009
"Avoid the appearance of evil"
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This post discusses 1 Thess. 5:22, an oft quoted phrase especially in Christian schools. The staff is required to sign a code of conduct stating we will not partake in any use of alcohol or tobacco, and not even gossip! Teachers love to remind students they should not even talk about things like sex, drinking or smoking, just because it might look like you are doing it. I think this is even the rational behind choosing to expel (or "remove") pregnant students from Christian schools.
Great lines from the post: "We have tricked ourselves into thinking that if we fit into a rather comfortable little understanding of "normal" Christian practices then we are good to go. Someone came up with this list, I'm guessing some time in the 20th century. Don't drink, don't chew, don't go with girls that do. And it stuck. Why?
Because it is incredibly easy. For most, anyway. For those who struggle with the particular sins we have decided are paramount (even if they are really good at avoiding the other sins like greed, jealousy, gluttony, wrath, etc.), we simply exclude them from our practices and deny even the sincerity of their faith"
Right on - The author's point is not that we shouldn't care about about the the standard Christian taboos, but rather recognize that there are a lot of, perhaps more serious, issues we should be aware of - exploiting children; mindless consumption; gluttony.
I agree with what she is saying, but I've also wondered about how what really is "evil" or, the opposite, what "good" should look like. If we take the example Jesus, it's associating very closely with "sinners," the "unclean," the outcasts and the "evil."
I agree that the ideal of being "beyond reproach" is a good one, but I would argue that we have to remember two things: 1) Like the above post, this is much more comprehensive than we like to think, and goes beyond just the sins that are easy for us to avoid. And 2) such an ideal does not mean we dissassociate from or expel those who may be "in sin" - rather, it should be just the opposite - finding the good, the divine, in everyone.
Great lines from the post: "We have tricked ourselves into thinking that if we fit into a rather comfortable little understanding of "normal" Christian practices then we are good to go. Someone came up with this list, I'm guessing some time in the 20th century. Don't drink, don't chew, don't go with girls that do. And it stuck. Why?
Because it is incredibly easy. For most, anyway. For those who struggle with the particular sins we have decided are paramount (even if they are really good at avoiding the other sins like greed, jealousy, gluttony, wrath, etc.), we simply exclude them from our practices and deny even the sincerity of their faith"
Right on - The author's point is not that we shouldn't care about about the the standard Christian taboos, but rather recognize that there are a lot of, perhaps more serious, issues we should be aware of - exploiting children; mindless consumption; gluttony.
I agree with what she is saying, but I've also wondered about how what really is "evil" or, the opposite, what "good" should look like. If we take the example Jesus, it's associating very closely with "sinners," the "unclean," the outcasts and the "evil."
I agree that the ideal of being "beyond reproach" is a good one, but I would argue that we have to remember two things: 1) Like the above post, this is much more comprehensive than we like to think, and goes beyond just the sins that are easy for us to avoid. And 2) such an ideal does not mean we dissassociate from or expel those who may be "in sin" - rather, it should be just the opposite - finding the good, the divine, in everyone.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Remembering Being A Pioneer
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A friend linked to this great excerpt from the book, "The Unlikely Disciple," written by a non-Christian about his semester at Liberty University. This particular chapter is about the author's experience going on a Spring Break witnessing trip to Daytona Beach. The article was so familiar to me, because in college I was a part of a wonderful group of friends who did trips like these several times a year. We called ourselves "Pioneers for Christ" and we went on "invasions" to cities and churches across the southeastern United States. These trips were wonderful, and I really did grow a lot through the experiences we shared together, and the friends from those trips are still some of the dearest to my heart. Nevertheless, this article reminded me of some interesting facts:
The statement from this exerpt that struck me the most was this: "Cold-turkey evangelism provides the shortest, most non-committal conversion offer of any Western religion -- which, I suspect, is part of the appeal." Wow - insightful and condemning because it is so true. And I'm thankful that the author has summed up what has always been a strong feeling for me, but I haven't been able to put into words. Simply forcing someone to make a "decision for Christ" and seeing that as the final goal may appear to be the most important choice, but if there is no real transformation, then what is the point? Conversion has to be more comprehensive, life-long, and more profound than this. Perhaps America is not rejecting Christianity because it is "too difficult" or "requires a change of morals" (as is often thought by Christians), but just the opposite: A conversion of this type requires no change at all - and so why do it? What is the point? The "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude is no surprising when the offer is considered from a non-believer's perspective.
Another quote: "I found several sobering statistics about the percentage of apparent converts who stay involved with the church in the long term, including one from Peter Wagner, a seminary professor in California who estimated that only 3 to 16 percent of the converts at Christian crusades stay involved." Christians love statistics and percentages, but they can often be misunderstood and misused. I've heard too many times in the past years that 80% of Christian youth are no longer in the church after high school. Statistics are simply facts - the real question though is why the statistics are what they are, or what is causing them (read this book for brilliant examples). When I consider this style of evangelism and the religion which quickly surrounds it, I'm not surprised. It's shallow, simplistic, and lacks the real transformation that humans seek. Youth aren't leaving God when they leave the church; they are leaving in search of God.
When I read this article, I felt sad, sorrowful, and a tad embarrassed. I'm proud of my time in Pioneers for Christ, traveling around the country telling people about Jesus. I do believe, like the author of the article points out, that real good came out of the trip. He states, "Battleground evangelism, it turns out, can be just as useful for the evangelists as for the non-believers." And I would agree, offering my own life as an example. But he also closes the article with an honest conversation:
A friend linked to this great excerpt from the book, "The Unlikely Disciple," written by a non-Christian about his semester at Liberty University. This particular chapter is about the author's experience going on a Spring Break witnessing trip to Daytona Beach. The article was so familiar to me, because in college I was a part of a wonderful group of friends who did trips like these several times a year. We called ourselves "Pioneers for Christ" and we went on "invasions" to cities and churches across the southeastern United States. These trips were wonderful, and I really did grow a lot through the experiences we shared together, and the friends from those trips are still some of the dearest to my heart. Nevertheless, this article reminded me of some interesting facts:
The statement from this exerpt that struck me the most was this: "Cold-turkey evangelism provides the shortest, most non-committal conversion offer of any Western religion -- which, I suspect, is part of the appeal." Wow - insightful and condemning because it is so true. And I'm thankful that the author has summed up what has always been a strong feeling for me, but I haven't been able to put into words. Simply forcing someone to make a "decision for Christ" and seeing that as the final goal may appear to be the most important choice, but if there is no real transformation, then what is the point? Conversion has to be more comprehensive, life-long, and more profound than this. Perhaps America is not rejecting Christianity because it is "too difficult" or "requires a change of morals" (as is often thought by Christians), but just the opposite: A conversion of this type requires no change at all - and so why do it? What is the point? The "take-it-or-leave-it" attitude is no surprising when the offer is considered from a non-believer's perspective.
Another quote: "I found several sobering statistics about the percentage of apparent converts who stay involved with the church in the long term, including one from Peter Wagner, a seminary professor in California who estimated that only 3 to 16 percent of the converts at Christian crusades stay involved." Christians love statistics and percentages, but they can often be misunderstood and misused. I've heard too many times in the past years that 80% of Christian youth are no longer in the church after high school. Statistics are simply facts - the real question though is why the statistics are what they are, or what is causing them (read this book for brilliant examples). When I consider this style of evangelism and the religion which quickly surrounds it, I'm not surprised. It's shallow, simplistic, and lacks the real transformation that humans seek. Youth aren't leaving God when they leave the church; they are leaving in search of God.
When I read this article, I felt sad, sorrowful, and a tad embarrassed. I'm proud of my time in Pioneers for Christ, traveling around the country telling people about Jesus. I do believe, like the author of the article points out, that real good came out of the trip. He states, "Battleground evangelism, it turns out, can be just as useful for the evangelists as for the non-believers." And I would agree, offering my own life as an example. But he also closes the article with an honest conversation:
As we cross the Daytona city limits, Brandon turns to me in the backseat.
"Was this a productive trip?" he whispers.
I shrug.
"Unless I go on another missions trip," he says, "I probably won't evangelize like this again."
"Do you think we made a difference?" I whisper back.
"I mean, anything can happen when the Lord is involved. But personally, I don't think us being here was very productive."
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
How do I "tweet?"
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...let me count the ways:
...let me count the ways:
- From the Twitter homepage (rarely)
- From my webbrowser plugin, TwitterFox
- From my iPod Touch App TwitterFon
- By email to TwitterMail, which then updates my Twitter status
- From my cellphone, text message to email, to TwitterMaill, which then updates my Twitter status
- From third-party iPod touch apps, sent to an email, to TwitterMail, which updates my Twitter status
- All of which goes straight to updating my Facebook status, as well as tracked on this blog page.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Who Really Holds the Power?
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This recent article points out that even the President and a government that owns 80% of the company cannot control or make demands that will keep AIG honest. The concluding paragraphs:
Somehow, the American public has to break free from these giant corporations that control our lives. They tell us we need insurance, and then lose our money, and then tell use we have to bail them out. Something isn't right here......
"But like Obama, Bernanke and the rest of the political elite, who lined up Monday to share their outrage, are rather powerless to act. If AIG fails, almost all experts agree, the damage to the entire financial system would be horrific. So the leadership has little to do but posture. "Unconscionable," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Outrageous," said her Republican counterpart, John Boehner. Sen. Chris Dodd, the chair of the banking committee that failed to regulate AIG, called on the executives to "voluntarily" forgo their bonuses. The best the government looks able to do is insist on some tough new pay restrictions going forward before giving AIG its next installment of $30 billion.
...
But even as he described the problem, Obama offered little hope of exacting justice for past violations of the social compact. Instead, he asked the country to look forward, to an era of new regulations that will prevent a repeat of these failures. And he repeated again the outrage that most Americans now feel, with a little levity to lighten the mood. "I'm choked up with anger," he said, to cover for his coughs. It was a fleeting laugh for a nation steaming with fury"
What is wrong with our country that these corporations can ignore the President, the Congress, the Federal financial systems, and the majority of the American population? Simply because they spun a web too difficult for anyone else to unravel, they now can throw a party safe from any retribution?Somehow, the American public has to break free from these giant corporations that control our lives. They tell us we need insurance, and then lose our money, and then tell use we have to bail them out. Something isn't right here......
The Morning Prayer
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This is the concluding morning prayer almost every morning for the Divine Hours, and it's become so comforting to me:
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. †
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. †
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Facebook Updates
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I'm not sure why everyone whines and complains about the changes in facebook - I thought this culture was supposed to be able to adapt easily? It seems with every new change there is a new facebook group to oppose that change (sounds kind of like "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?")
This TIME article has an interesting quote from Meredith Chin, a manager for Facebook: "It's going to be more about the message you want to send to others than what you're doing at that very moment....a timeline - or a stream."
I think Facebook updates are already this way - or a sort of mixture b/w statuses and updates, with a hint of song lyrics, inside jokes and URL's. Regardless, Facebook continues to amaze me - tens of millions of people sharing information and their life together, with it quickly integrating video, pictures, blogs, notes, and more and more and more and more information.
Another thought from Phyliss Tickle: It's not wonder at the end of the day we come home exhausted. We are overloaded with so much information pounding into our head, we can't fit it all together.
This TIME article has an interesting quote from Meredith Chin, a manager for Facebook: "It's going to be more about the message you want to send to others than what you're doing at that very moment....a timeline - or a stream."
I think Facebook updates are already this way - or a sort of mixture b/w statuses and updates, with a hint of song lyrics, inside jokes and URL's. Regardless, Facebook continues to amaze me - tens of millions of people sharing information and their life together, with it quickly integrating video, pictures, blogs, notes, and more and more and more and more information.
Another thought from Phyliss Tickle: It's not wonder at the end of the day we come home exhausted. We are overloaded with so much information pounding into our head, we can't fit it all together.
Recession Anyone?
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Thanks, Lewis Black, for showing us how the tough times bring out the strength of the American character - "God bless America"
Things are changing...
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...Phyliss Tickle reflection (part 2)...and then some
Phyliss Tickle spends a good amount of her book listing what she calls "peri-Emergence" events, or in other words, events and changes in science, society and religion that are pre-cursors to the great emergence (see prior post here). This past week, I found more and more of these type of events and conversations that led me to continue to think that things in the realm of religion and Christianity really are changing. Here are just a few I tried to remember to put down:
The release of the Kindle 2 got a lot of buzz in the tech world, but this great article passed on to me by @ovpaul shows that the Kindle is more than just a new way to read. It actually changes the way we read, and even the way we understand literature and information. Some quotes:
"...I see in the turning of literal pages—pages bound in literal books—a compelling larger value, and perceive in the move away from the book a move away from a certain kind of cultural understanding...The book is part of a system...and to touch a book is to touch that system, however lightly...For me the significance of this is not whether people end up reading more or less, or even a matter of what they read. At issue is the deep-structure of the activity....we will not simply have replaced one delivery system with another. We will also have modified our imagination of history, our understanding of the causal and associative relationships of ideas and their creators....But we misjudge [the Kindle] if we construe it as just another useful new tool."
On a micro level, specific to just one device and one realm of society, this article accurately points out that as our world changes, we change in deeper and broader ways. It's very difficult to describe and even harder to predict these changes. But as one who was raised in a traditional evangelical and liturgical church, and now working amongst teens from across a wide spectrum of Christianity, I get hints and feel the shift happening as well.
Another example: Studies of religion in America show steady declines, especially in mainline denominations, but more significantly, amongst those who claim to be Christian at all (dropped 11%). For some, this isn't much of a surprise. IMO, the numbers will continue to decrease. Not because the US is necessarily drastically less "Christian" per se, but rather the tools for measuring beliefs will be inadequate. Such studies aren't taking into account changes across college campuses, increased desire amongst Christians to work overseas, more and more local and organic meetings and conversations, not in buildings with church signs and weekly services, but discussions across the blogo/twitter/facebook-sphere. If the world of religion is really changing, then what we were previously looking for no longer exists, and of course it will appear to be in decline.
More examples:
"The world is changed....I feel it in the water....I feel it in the earth....I smell it in the air...much that once was is lost...for none now live that remember it"
...Phyliss Tickle reflection (part 2)...and then some
Phyliss Tickle spends a good amount of her book listing what she calls "peri-Emergence" events, or in other words, events and changes in science, society and religion that are pre-cursors to the great emergence (see prior post here). This past week, I found more and more of these type of events and conversations that led me to continue to think that things in the realm of religion and Christianity really are changing. Here are just a few I tried to remember to put down:
The release of the Kindle 2 got a lot of buzz in the tech world, but this great article passed on to me by @ovpaul shows that the Kindle is more than just a new way to read. It actually changes the way we read, and even the way we understand literature and information. Some quotes:"...I see in the turning of literal pages—pages bound in literal books—a compelling larger value, and perceive in the move away from the book a move away from a certain kind of cultural understanding...The book is part of a system...and to touch a book is to touch that system, however lightly...For me the significance of this is not whether people end up reading more or less, or even a matter of what they read. At issue is the deep-structure of the activity....we will not simply have replaced one delivery system with another. We will also have modified our imagination of history, our understanding of the causal and associative relationships of ideas and their creators....But we misjudge [the Kindle] if we construe it as just another useful new tool."
On a micro level, specific to just one device and one realm of society, this article accurately points out that as our world changes, we change in deeper and broader ways. It's very difficult to describe and even harder to predict these changes. But as one who was raised in a traditional evangelical and liturgical church, and now working amongst teens from across a wide spectrum of Christianity, I get hints and feel the shift happening as well.
Another example: Studies of religion in America show steady declines, especially in mainline denominations, but more significantly, amongst those who claim to be Christian at all (dropped 11%). For some, this isn't much of a surprise. IMO, the numbers will continue to decrease. Not because the US is necessarily drastically less "Christian" per se, but rather the tools for measuring beliefs will be inadequate. Such studies aren't taking into account changes across college campuses, increased desire amongst Christians to work overseas, more and more local and organic meetings and conversations, not in buildings with church signs and weekly services, but discussions across the blogo/twitter/facebook-sphere. If the world of religion is really changing, then what we were previously looking for no longer exists, and of course it will appear to be in decline.
More examples:
- An old friend from college, Eric, campaigning on Facebook for his idea to create high quality family portraits for those who don't have that opportunity.
- The discussion centered around Shane Hipps' claim that virtual community isn't real community. (IMO, it's more a matter of changing what community means - it is a different kind of community)
- At a church-growth conference, Perry Noble made some statements against Emerging/ent, and the blogosphere immediately lit up with responses, discussion, and interaction. While Noble might scoff at the responses, the point is that he can no longer make statements that are secluded to his church sanctuary, but rather they are disseminated, dissected, and re-applied by thousands - the leadership heirarchy has been leveled (so much more could be said about this).
"The world is changed....I feel it in the water....I feel it in the earth....I smell it in the air...much that once was is lost...for none now live that remember it"
Monday, March 9, 2009
Stats and Hope: Teenage Girls in Central Ohio
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Thanks to Kara for twittering this video that presents various statistics regarding teenage girls in central Ohio, specifically Franklin county - my home. The information regarding self-image, sex, self-harm, and then (at the of the video) the gap between performance amongst teenage boys is compelling. There are many difficult challenges for young women to overcome.
I especially like the end of the video where the women state, "One girl can change the world." I believe this is true as well. The invitation is made: "Invest in the lives of young women." I believe this is an important call. I try to live it out every day as a teacher. I interact with freshmen through senior students every day, and I often reflect upon how one or two words, a comment on a paper, or a five minute conversation could impact and direct their life.
I can remember passing comments made by teachers. I can remember their disappointed looks, their lack of confidence in my ability to change the world. Honestly, I have a hard time remember those who believed in me. Perhaps it is because it's easier to remember the bad than the good. But if that is the case, all the more reason for me to try to instill dreams, hope, and confidence in young women in central Ohio.
I am so thankful for the privilege of being a teacher. I've stayed in touch with a few students that have graduated and are now two or three years out of high school. Some have young children. Some are traveling across the world. Some are still in Grove City, Ohio. Some won't finish college. Some are planning to get master's degrees.
But I'm certain that all of them have the ability to, and in fact are, changing the world.
Thanks to Kara for twittering this video that presents various statistics regarding teenage girls in central Ohio, specifically Franklin county - my home. The information regarding self-image, sex, self-harm, and then (at the of the video) the gap between performance amongst teenage boys is compelling. There are many difficult challenges for young women to overcome.
I especially like the end of the video where the women state, "One girl can change the world." I believe this is true as well. The invitation is made: "Invest in the lives of young women." I believe this is an important call. I try to live it out every day as a teacher. I interact with freshmen through senior students every day, and I often reflect upon how one or two words, a comment on a paper, or a five minute conversation could impact and direct their life.
I can remember passing comments made by teachers. I can remember their disappointed looks, their lack of confidence in my ability to change the world. Honestly, I have a hard time remember those who believed in me. Perhaps it is because it's easier to remember the bad than the good. But if that is the case, all the more reason for me to try to instill dreams, hope, and confidence in young women in central Ohio.
I am so thankful for the privilege of being a teacher. I've stayed in touch with a few students that have graduated and are now two or three years out of high school. Some have young children. Some are traveling across the world. Some are still in Grove City, Ohio. Some won't finish college. Some are planning to get master's degrees.
But I'm certain that all of them have the ability to, and in fact are, changing the world.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
A morning with Phyliss Tickle (part 1)
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Yesterday Adam and I drove down to Cincinnati to hear Phyliss Tickle for a few hours. She covered a lot of the basics from her book, The Great Emergence, and I'm not going to outline it all here. But there were a few things that peaked my mind and raised a few questions.
The first was that she went through a fairly extensive list of events, inventions, academic breakthroughs and well-known personalities who impacted society from about the mid-1800's through the late 1900's. She pointed out (IMO very conclusively) that each of these had a significant impact on society, and especially in regards to religion, upon the standard assumption that Scripture is the final authority. All of this is what she called the "peri-Emergence," basically saying that it was the precursor to the time of questioning, refiguring and re-exploring that Christians are experiencing right now. What was so incredible about this, to both Adam and I as we were listening, was that we realized that everything in our life was interconnected.
Previously, I think I had the idea that my faith was some sort of pristine, untouched, objective reality that was "out there." It was true, it was real, and I just had to find it and experience it and believe in it. And my job was to purify my faith from secular sins, to slowly over time perfect and polish it like a gem I had found in the ground. And what I would finally some day be left with would be a perfect stone that was my faith. But in reality, it's more like my faith is being formed by, informed, shaped, molded, and is changing along with society. My beliefs about God - while I may think they are pure, true and objective - are very much informed by the rest of the world and my experiences. Perhaps my faith is more like a pearl that is formed by the oyster, slowly over the years rolled around and around, created within a context and not meant to be taken out of it.
The one question I have about this though is a question I also thought about during the many conversations about and with Peter Rollins we had a few weeks ago. Peter did a great job pointing out how our faith can be manipulated to be ironic and can cease to provide any real source of transformation (ideas and truths I am still wrestling with). But I have to wonder that, in all of this, isn't there something else on the other end of the line? I agree that my input matters a lot in this whole faith game, and that I shape what it looks like and what I believe. But I also think that if I believe that God is real (in a real, objective sense) and that this all goes beyond just my ideas and my own head, then there is a real being that is also interacting with me, and shaping this whole game as well.
So perhaps religion and my faith is impacted by society and all the many advances and changes in technology, science and academics. But it can't be just about me. At some point, my beliefs are rooted in the reality of an existent God, and there is an interpersonal relationship - a give and take - that exists between us. And I believe that shapes me as well, in a very real way.
Yesterday Adam and I drove down to Cincinnati to hear Phyliss Tickle for a few hours. She covered a lot of the basics from her book, The Great Emergence, and I'm not going to outline it all here. But there were a few things that peaked my mind and raised a few questions.
The first was that she went through a fairly extensive list of events, inventions, academic breakthroughs and well-known personalities who impacted society from about the mid-1800's through the late 1900's. She pointed out (IMO very conclusively) that each of these had a significant impact on society, and especially in regards to religion, upon the standard assumption that Scripture is the final authority. All of this is what she called the "peri-Emergence," basically saying that it was the precursor to the time of questioning, refiguring and re-exploring that Christians are experiencing right now. What was so incredible about this, to both Adam and I as we were listening, was that we realized that everything in our life was interconnected.
Previously, I think I had the idea that my faith was some sort of pristine, untouched, objective reality that was "out there." It was true, it was real, and I just had to find it and experience it and believe in it. And my job was to purify my faith from secular sins, to slowly over time perfect and polish it like a gem I had found in the ground. And what I would finally some day be left with would be a perfect stone that was my faith. But in reality, it's more like my faith is being formed by, informed, shaped, molded, and is changing along with society. My beliefs about God - while I may think they are pure, true and objective - are very much informed by the rest of the world and my experiences. Perhaps my faith is more like a pearl that is formed by the oyster, slowly over the years rolled around and around, created within a context and not meant to be taken out of it.
The one question I have about this though is a question I also thought about during the many conversations about and with Peter Rollins we had a few weeks ago. Peter did a great job pointing out how our faith can be manipulated to be ironic and can cease to provide any real source of transformation (ideas and truths I am still wrestling with). But I have to wonder that, in all of this, isn't there something else on the other end of the line? I agree that my input matters a lot in this whole faith game, and that I shape what it looks like and what I believe. But I also think that if I believe that God is real (in a real, objective sense) and that this all goes beyond just my ideas and my own head, then there is a real being that is also interacting with me, and shaping this whole game as well.
So perhaps religion and my faith is impacted by society and all the many advances and changes in technology, science and academics. But it can't be just about me. At some point, my beliefs are rooted in the reality of an existent God, and there is an interpersonal relationship - a give and take - that exists between us. And I believe that shapes me as well, in a very real way.
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