Tom Sine: The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time
N. T. Wright: Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church
Mission-Shaped Church: Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church in a Changing Context
Julia Cameron: The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Lesslie Newbigin: Proper Confidence: Faith, Doubt, and Certainty in Christian Discipleship
Kenneth E. Bailey: Jacob & the Prodigal: How Jesus Retold Israel's Story
I'm always on the lookout for music that presses me to discover something more in the world. I found a new album last week that is nothing less than inspired. It's titled "Give Yourself Away," by the Robbie Seay Band. You can listen to the songs in full here and, if you like what you hear, head over the iTunes and get the album for yourself. My favorites on the album are "Rise" and "New Day." Both can be heard on the rsb myspace page.
Joy and I have been married for 20 years as of today! We first started dating in 1983, though we have been friends since 1980. Look at us, we were just kids back then! It was a marathon dating season but we were finally married on May 14, 1988. She is the love of my life and our love has grown more profound through the years. Happy Anniversary! 20 years passed very fast. I'm looking forward to the next 20 too.
It's not often that a piece of poetry sticks with me. Maybe that's because I rarely read poetry. For some strange reason I read quite a lot of Ogden Nash in college but that's been the limit of things. Last year I read Signs of Emergence (titled The Complex Christ in the UK) by Kester Brewin. The poetry in the book helped to set a different pace to things. There was one poem in particular that I've returned to several times. It's titled "The Chapel" by R.S. Thomas. Here it is:
A little aside from the main road, Becalmed in a last-century greyness, there is the chapel, ugly, without the appeal to the tourist to stop his car and visit it. The traffic goes by, and the river goes by, and quick shadows of clouds, too, and the chapel settles a little deeper in the grass.But here once on an evening like this,
in the darkness that was about
his hearers, a preacher caught fire
and burned steadily before them
with a strange light, so that they saw
the splendour of the barren mountains
about them and sang their amens
fiercely, narrow but saved
in a way that men are not now.
Something to think about as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Pentecost Sunday.
Someone just sent me information about a document presented yesterday in Washington, D.C (at least that's what the date says). It is "an open declaration of who Evangelicals are and what they stand for." The signatures at the bottom grabbed my attention because they include Richard Mouw (President of Fuller Seminary), Bill Pannell (my preaching mentor at Fuller), Leighton Ford (longtime associate of Billy Graham) and Mark Roberts (used to live here in the "neighborhood" until the Lord sent him to Texas). I haven't yet read it fully but I hope it will provoke the church in the right direction. I've included a link under the "good causes" in the right hand column but you can get there from here.
We're finally ready to roll out the new online administrative software for Village Presbyterian Church. I'll be sending an email blast tomorrow but if you want to get a jump on things, click the "Request New" box below and then fill out the information. I'm confident that this program will enhance our ability to connect as members of this growing community of faith.
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And if your name has not yet been added to the email blast list, be sure to add your name below.
While the one Rev. Wright continues to prompt much discussion here in the U.S., there is another Rev. Wright who dares to speak provocatively in relation to the focus of our faith in Christ. Once again N. T. Wright finds himself on the pages a major weekly news magazine. You can access the "Newsweek" article online here or grab the pdf here. It makes me wonder, is there room enough in the world for yet another Rev. Wright?
On Sunday I offered new words of welcome during the announcement time. For several years I’ve said the same thing, "Village Presbyterian Church is a gathering of neighbors and friends discovering life together." While I believe this continues to be the case, I want us all to expand the vision beyond the framework of the “neighbors and friends” who are currently known to us. We are neighbors and friends but we must also give attention to the call that God has upon our particular community of faith. This past Sunday I said it like this, "Village Presbyterian Church is a mission outpost, called to proclaim the way of life that is found in Jesus Christ who taught us to love as we are loved by God, to forgive as we have been forgiven and to give as God has given unto us."
Hopefully, this statement causes us to ask a few good questions. What is the mission? As an "outpost," how far on the edge are we willing to live for the sake of the gospel? Who issued this call? How is this "way of life" proclaimed? Where are the "resources" of this mission to be found? When and why is forgiveness required? What has God given and how do we appropriately give ourselves and our gifts for the sake of the mission?
Just a few questions that came from the top of my head. On Sunday, we’re beginning a new series in the book of Acts. Acts is actually Part II of the Luke-Acts series. You'll notice a similar introduction for both books. Let me encourage you to read the first chapter in preparation for Sunday and then check back to this blog for a few comments about the new series that starts this Sunday.
They're dressing like the 80s today at Chaparral. We were able to coordinate a "Flashdance" costume for Mackenzie. Oh, how I loved the 80s. Michael J. Fox was my fashion idol. I wasn't able to keep up with Alex P. Keaton but I loved the style of "Back to the Future." I'm reading to Mackenzie's class later this morning so I'll get to see the 80s all over again.
I've got a new saying that I hope everyone will commit to memory. It goes like this, "Earth Day and then Steve's Birthday." Tomorrow I turn the big 45. I'm old enough not to remember where I was when Kennedy was shot. Over all, I'm grateful for the passing of years and for the fullness of my life. The past few weeks I've been cultivating a small crop on my chin just to see the ratio of gray to color. It looks like gray is winning.
In celebration of Earth Day, I'm riding my bike instead of driving today. Actually, I'm having some work done on the van and so I have to ride but when I'm on my bike I feel so environmentally conscious and eco-superior to everyone else. My carbon footprint is much smaller, only for this one day.
Seriously, I love the idea of Earth Day. Tonight I think we might even watch an episode or two from Planet Earth and maybe we'll even reflect on the words of this beautiful hymn:
This Is My Father's World (Sheppard & Babcock)This is my Father's world
And to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres
This is my Father's world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wroughtThis is my Father's world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light the lily white
Declare their Maker's praise
This is my Father's world
He shines in all that's fair
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass
He speaks to me everywhereThis is my Father's world
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the Ruler yet
This is my Father's world
The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be satisfied
And earth and heaven be one
Happy Earth Day to all!
You've got to watch this.
Following on yesterday's sermon, you might want to check out the full story that was an ABC News feature, "What Would You Do?" I totally mangled the statistics on Sunday morning but you can read the story here for yourself.
And finally, let me encourage all who will be setting aside 20 minutes this week for silence and contemplation. On Sunday during the prayer time we observed one minute of silence for prayer. I know sometimes it's tough to slow down for even sixty seconds but unless we are more intentional about the pace of our days, we are in danger of finding ourselves squeezed in mold of the world (Romans 12:1-2).
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I often use google maps to give people directions to our home. Today I clicked on the "street view" option and there's our home...van in the garage, RAV4 on the drive way. The pictures were taken on the day our neighbor's house was being painted. It's for all the world to see...if only you know our home address. Feels kind of creepy to me.
Words of wisdom from Parker Palmer, "Our deepest calling is to grow into our authentic selfhood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks--we will also find our path of authentic service in the world. True vocation joins self and service, as Frederick Buechner asserts when he defines vocation as 'the place where your deep gladness meets the world's deep need.'" (Let Your Life Speak, 16)
"Like a stray dog at a whistler's convention" is not an image of pastoral ministry that I want to embrace. I long for a deeper integration between my inner life and my commitment to the outward expression of my faith in Christ. "Lord, grant me the courage I need to live a life that is worthy of your call as I seek to do so with humility and gentleness, patience and suffering love, making every attempt to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (paraphrased prayer from Eph 4:1-3)
It looks like we have four vehicles heading to Miracle Ranch in the early morning. It's going to be a great trip as we seek to share the love of God in a tangible way. Good conversation on the long trip down. Beautiful (and not so beautiful) scenery. And the tangible sense that we are part of something beyond ourselves as we learn to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). And I was pleased to find out today that this verse just happens to be the theme for the upcoming General Assembly taking place in San Jose in June. Good choice.
Today we remember the terrible loss this nation sustained as the result of an assassin's bullet. Perhaps Dr. King had a sense of the fate that awaited him and yet he stood strong in the face of it. The final words of his sermon, preached April 3, 1968, have long been an inspiration in my life. Thank you, Dr. King for standing strong. May we find the courage to do so again today.
"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
Our next trip to Miracle Ranch will take place on Saturday, April 12. In light of the many requirements for Homeland Security, I think it is advisable to get a passport for everyone in the family. It's better to get it now so you don't have to rush the paperwork before an important trip. Our family got what we needed (no small financial investment) before our December trip to Costa Rica and now it's going to be easier for us to get back and forth across the border in Mexico. If you don't have a U.S. passport, you will need to bring other documentation with you on the 12th. Here's the official word from the U.S. State Department.
For information about how to obtain a passport, click here.
