DoxA

More Thoughts on Jesus and Scissors

Continuing the conversation from Monday's post Barbie Doll Jesus, I ran across this great excerpt from Mark Batterson's newest book Wild Goose Chase... I couldn't agree more!

In the beginning, God made man in His Image.

Man has been making God in his image ever since.

Call it naturalism. Call it anthropomorphism. Call it idolatry. Call it what you will. The end result of this spiritual inversion is a god that is about our size and looks an awful lot like us. And most of our spiritual shortcomings stem from this fundamental mistake: thinking about God in human terms. We make God in our image and what we’re left with is a God who can never surprise us, never astonish us, never overwhelm us, never transcend us.

Thomas Jefferson loved the teachings of Jesus. In fact, the author of the Declaration of Independence once called them the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man. But Jefferson was also a child of the Enlightenment. He didn’t have a cognitive category for miracles so Jefferson literally took a pair of scissors and cut them out of his King James Bible. It took him two or three nights. And by the time he was done, he had cut out the virgin birth; cut out the angels; and cut out the resurrection. Jefferson extracted every miracle and the end result was a book titled the Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth or what is commonly referred to as the Jefferson Bible.

Hard to imagine isn’t it? And something rises up within those of us that believe the Bible is divinely inspired by God. Part of us scoffs or scolds Jefferson. You can’t pick-and-choose. You can’t cut-and-paste. You can’t do that to the Bible. But here’s the honest truth: while most of us can’t imagine taking a pair of scissors to the Bible and physically cutting verses out, we do exactly what Jefferson did. We ignore verses we cannot comprehend. We avoid verses we do not like. And we rationalize verses that are too radical. And we may not cut them out with a pair of scissors, but the end result is the same. We are trapped by our own logic. Our lives are limited to those things we can comprehend with our cerebral cortex. And we end up in the cage of our own assumptions. And the more assumptions we make, the smaller our cage becomes.

Excerpt from Wild Goose Chase

HT: Evotion.com

TRI China

This year the world will be watching triathlon not from an Ironman coverage, come this November but from an Olympic venue in just a few days. The women's competition can be seen Sunday night on NBC while the men will have to wait a couple of days to get their turn. To understand the nuances of this race here's my preview and predictions...

Olympic distance racing... This is very different than what you think about triathlon. Most people think Ironman; a grueling event spanning enormous distances. In the Olympic distance the rules are different and the travel much shorter... here's the lowdown. In an Olympic race the swim is 1500 meters (shy of the 3800 or 2.4 miles of Ironman) the bike is 40 kilometers (not 180K or 112 miles) and the run is a scant 10K (or 6.2 miles - far short of a marathon). Also, to be noted: All other racing in triathlon you can not draft or ride in pack on the bike; ala, Tour de France! In Oly distance racing you can!

So with all of this, you're probably thinking, "Wow, Olympic distance racing is a lot easier. Dan must really be a stud!" Well, not so fast bucko!

In Ironman you really are racing against yourself and it's limits. Clearly the Olympic distance race is suited for racing against your competition. In Olympic racing there is much more strategy and team dynamics. It forces you to be good at all three disciplines. If you don't exit the water with the lead group... you can kiss your chance of winning goodbye. However, in the Ironman you can be a mediocre swimmer and catch everyone on the bike if you've got the legs. Yet in an Olympic race you can sit in the pack as an average cyclist and tear the legs off everyone else with a blistering run because you got to take it easy (that's never me by the way)!

I would love to see the American hopefuls win. But I think the Aussies will dominate. The Olympic distance is their specialty. But keep your eye on Jarrod Shoemaker and Sarah Haskins as my picks for top US man and woman to snap the tape. My prediction for overall will be Emma Snowsill of Australia on the ladies side while dominant Javier Gomez of Spain to take the gold for the men. Who knows, four years ago there were big upsets in Athens and who's to say it can't be done by the Americans in China?

Go Team USA!

Gotta Dance and Singin in the Stuff

Have you had the "musical" discussion? You know... I love musicals / I hate musicals?

Musicals have been a big part of my life. I've performed, written, produced and directed musicals. Heck, I've been a veritable Barbra Streisand! Okay, so my nose is big but that's as far as it goes to resembling Babbs! Most of the time when I get into the "musical" discussion the arguments are all the same from the opposing side. See if you haven't either heard this or said this...

"It's not real! Where in real life do people just break out in song and dance?"

Well, thanks to Jake of Jake Rhymes with Cake I would like to share this wonderful tidbit that people can just break out in song... think of what this world would be like if it really happened?

Enjoy... and let me know what your favorite musical is or whether you're still on the other side.

This post is part of the Watercooler Wednesday discussion going on over at Ethos. Check it out HERE.

Linkin Blogs

When people ask me, "Where do you get those ideas on church and culture?" I have to say much is what is observed, discussed and read. When it comes to the reading part. I read books put out by Barna, Driscoll, Keller, Kimball and Claiborne. But in my new 2.0 world I prefer blogs... like this one.

The Fermi Project is a broad collective of innovators, artists, social entrepreneurs, church and societal leaders experimenting with ways to advance the common good in culture.

The focus of this project is strategically placed on Christians and leaders throughout the Church. Multiple mediums are leveraged to push forward the essence of this project, including events, research, essays, films, books and culture shaping projects.

What is the meaning... well from their website they describe it this way...

"In contrast to things that are big, Fermi represents the beginning of a chain reaction. It starts small, but through intentional linking over time creates an exponential effect, a major shift within the church's way of viewing its mission and opportunity within the culture."

These "chain reactions" are powerful and effective. Such as the Girl Effect, Invisible Children and more close to home Beautiful Day. There are many more listed and an invitation to include more "projects."

So check it out and if you have a great idea that you think would make an excellent project share it with us here.

Barbie Doll Jesus

The other day I was looking at a picture of Jesus. It was a classic image, one that often appears in the mind when a thought is conjured of the Jewish carpenter. He is looking to the side, eyes looking upward, white robe, blue sash, long flowing hair neatly trimmed beard, blue eyes and striking anlgo features. This image could be anything but a carpenter or Jewish. While on one hand you can (and many have) make an argument about how unlikely Jesus would have looked in our modern portrayals the opposite can be just as troubling; if we make Christ so rigid in our imaginations we will never really consider Him for who He truly is for He is beyond our canvas and too good for our brushes.

When my daughters were young they had many... I mean lots of Barbie dolls. For hours on end, they would dress them up, create identities and act out their surrogate lives on the bedroom floor. There was a much larger size Barbie doll head where the girls could fix her hair differently and put make up on her giving Barbie many different looks. When the girls felt happy and fun, Barbie was whimsical and youthful, when one of them was angry or frustrated Barbie looked like she could be walking the "streets!" You know... in that part of town.

There is a part of us that will make Jesus a figment of our imagination. We can't help it. Before I go on trip to a place I've never been I imagine what it'll be like. When we try to think of things that are real of which we've never seen, we do that.  However, we need to be earnest in our search for information as to who Christ is so we do not fall prey of "making him in our own image." By doing so we make Jesus out to be just like us and the last thing I need is a Jesus to be like me (scary thought). Also, we must be careful to not accept any description as fact without investigation. We must come to know Jesus as real, divine and human; this is exactly what history and the Bible tell us about him! Many would like to argue only one is true or neither is but just because they say so doesn't make it so.  In the same way, just because some images of old or descriptions as of late, depict who he is, doesn't necessarily make it so either.

Most recently some have taken issue with the casual portrayal of Jesus in the fictional work of William P. Young's, The Shack. While I have a hard time imagining Jesus as a huggy, back slapping, flannel-shirt wearing part of the Trinity, I have to admit I don't know what he would be like if personified today. I am sure he would not be a clown-faced singer such as the one portrayed in the early 70's musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak, Godspell but when I was new in my faith and a product of that hippy-happy generation, I can't tell you how much I wept when Victor Garber was convulsing on that chain link fence.

As specif as we wish Him to be, his descriptions are varied and elusive. He is the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:22, Mic.5:2... the agent of creation (Col 1:15-20)... the one who let his disciples pick and eat grain on the sabbath (Matt. 12:1-8)... who let prostitutes get close and come clean (Luke 7:36-50)... who told his friend who denied him, "feed my sheep" (Jn 21:17)... the one who the apostle John fell face down before "as if dead!" when looking upon him glorified (Rev. 1:12-18) and the Jesus who is coming soon as the groom to receive his bride (Rev. 22:12-16)!

What does Jesus look like to you? How would you describe him?

If we insist that Jesus be left alone and no one ought attempt to paint him then our pulpits would be empty and commentaries useless. However, if we are too sloppy with the makeup or happy with the scissors then we will present an image that is phony and scary to those who are looking for the real Jesus... the one in whom we were made; by Him and to be like him.

Thank You, No Really... Thanks

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to all you wonderful people who email me and tell me personally how much you enjoy my blog. It really makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to read and hear such glowing remarks.

But will you please stop it! ... emailing and telling me personally that is.

Just below each post is an underlined word in blue which indicates it is a link to another place in cyberspace called "Comments." This is where bloggers not only like to hear the nice and glowing praise of their readers it is also a place, believe it or not, I like to read your disagreement or additional thoughts.

A friend of mine, who will remain nameless (but his initials are eff pillman) tells me he wants to comment but thinks what he has to say is more prone to a personal conversation... while another friend told me several posts had stirred thoughts within her but felt her opinions weren't that important because they were based in her personal experience and not known fact. Most recently I received a great email from a friend down in So. Cal who just started reading my blog and shared with me how much he enjoys it and noted, through the "Linkin Blogs" posts, how he discovered other bloggers who he now follows and downloaded one of their albums from iTunes... now that's the beauty of the blogosphere!

By the way... before I forget. I want to thank those who are regular comment contributors because you add wit, intelligence, and deeper insights into what can be nothing more than a speech in cyberspace so really... Thanks!

But for the rest of you... don't be shy. This is not a solicitation for gratuitous praise. Uh uh, disagree, rant... tell me I'm too skinny or old... call me a straw man, I won't care (actually that last one will hurt) but just click the little word below and leave several words of your own. I care about what you think and the world does too.

Have a great Friday!

Lest We Forget

As triathletes we aim to race... not just one race but as many as we can physically and financially afford. I've met people who will set a goal to do "a" race but generally that race becomes the beginning of what we like to call in triathlon, a "life-style." When people in triathlon stop racing the reasons vary; injury, career change, change to a new sport... but I've not met anyone who said, "'I just don't like it anymore." I'm sure there are a few out there but I've never trained with them.

As races come and go we enjoy the memory of the last race gone - by hanging up the medal and piling the teeshirt with the others and anticipate the next one coming up on the calendar by specific training and preparation for just that day. It is the habit, the pattern of a triathlete. Each race leads to the next. I can honestly say I don't have a race or date in mind that I know will be my last. I just assume I'll be racing until, well, I don't even think about "until" and I probably wont until something happens. As triathletes we rarely look back and we never really consider the future, we just take life one race at a time. It is the habit... triathetes are addicts and they can't shake the habit. Recovering alcoholics recite the axiom "One day at a time." They have broken the habit in hopes of a healthier life. I don't know any recovering triathletes perhaps they too exist, but I've never trained with them either. But let me be clear; the race habit isn't healthy for our overall outlook on life.

"What!!!" I can hear it now. All you triathlete types want to argue the point. "NOT healthy?" Well... Get over it.

We learn the most by understanding our past. We gain wisdom by studying our experiences which are forged through the furnace of loss and defeat, pain and suffering and we apply our findings to our future goals and aspirations. Unfortunately, most of us are unwilling students.

In racing like life we live in the moment. We can only feel what we feel in the moment. Past pain and glory is only remembered through the filter of the present and the future can only be imagined. Therefore, we live in the moment and call on the past only when it is convenient.

But... lest we forget.

I was convicted yesterday when I got mostly through my day and had forgotten to pray for Jamie. Yesterday she was to have her second drain tube pulled from her body and to have the remainder of her stitches removed from her latest surgery. My excuse was I had just got caught up in the moment and forgot. Each day we move on... next day, next race. While Jamie continues to lie on her side staring at the same vista she's been forced to memorize we move freely and explore new sights without even noticing.

Lindsey's memorial service was last Friday. Hundreds of people gathered and remembered... then they went home.  Her father calls her cell phone just to hear the message... we will eventually erase her number from our phone; not to be cruel but because it's practical.

We move on... lest we forget.

We triathletes see our racing as a personal battle; mostly against self and occasionally against the competition. We endeavor to triumph, we rejoice in the success... yet will we learn from the experience, no matter how good or bad? Will we come to realize that we were not the only person in the race!

Far-called, our navies melt away;

On dune and headland sinks the fire:

Lo, all our pomp of yesterday

Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!

Judge of the Nations, spare us yet.

Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Music Mirror

Talking with my daughter Sara, who is a music encyclopedia, I had to agree with her that music reflects the times. Simplistic as that may seem, her expertise is in the "indie" scene where, she tells me, the real music exists. Here where the "suits" have no control, the artist is free to express without the conflict of marketing, AR, profit thresholds and Billboard 100. Content is reflected in a true creative environment akin to pure water pushed through rock... the real kind not the music type.

For us boomer types we like the comfort of our known bands. Give me Genesis, U2, the Police and Coldplay. But travel to a younger state and you hear tunes from St. Vincent, MGMT, Tokyo Police Club and  The Notwist.

My daughter thinks it's weird I like St.Vincent. Why? She tells me... "Because I just recently found them and you're much older than me and that's just weird."

Here's a band she turned me on to called Nickel Creek...

...what happens when a band stops being indie because they become mainstream? Do they loose their reflection on the world or gain it? Is it bad or good for the art from of musical expression? What's your favorite indie band or do you not have one?
 
Respectfully submitted as one of topics of conversation around the Watercooler this day. Check it out here.

Linkin Blogs

Again, just going down my Google Reader list in an effort to inform you, the wonderful folks who regularly visit this blog, who I check out regularly...

A while back I jumped on the Flowerdust bandwagon because she was one of several bloggers who traveled to Uganda with Compassion International to blog stories, pictures and appeals for people around the world to sponsor impoverished children with AIDS.

Anne Jackson, the "mind behind," is a self described blog extrovert while being an introvert in person. I've not met Anne, I suppose I will some day soon but in the mean time, her internet presence is everywhere. Just this past week Anne twittered she was just shy of making the top 5K technorati ranking... this caused me to breath a quiet "OMGsh!" and do a virtual visit to help push her over the top.

Anne recently joined the staff at Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN after being apart of the staff at LifeChurch.tv. She is the author of the book Mad Church Disease and is a contributor to the Deadly Viper Character Assassins blog.

If you were ever wondering what I hope my blog will be like when it grows up... Well, you can go to Anne's blog by clicking HERE. Generally the visit is short, witty, sometimes provocative and always full of compassion. But please remember to come back... because I'll miss you if you leave me for another woman.

The City Within the Final Chapter

At the end of Part 1 I mentioned Part 2 was going to get more "personal" and I'll assume, for anyone who's been following, you thought I would write something about you, the reader, when in actuality I was writing about me and leaders within the city. In this final chapter I want to bring up another subject that I hope stirs thought and provocative interaction. So please, join in.

As we study the book of Nehemiah we see the passion of a man who was burdened to do something he had never done before, in a place he had never been for a people he had never met. He prays for and receives the favor of his king and sets out to restore the walls and repair the gates of Jerusalem. Against opposition, famine, internal strife and weariness the task is complete in 52 days and realizing the city was built to be inhabited set forth a plan to put families back in the city. In other words, it was time to fill the city.

If you haven't picked up on it by now the city is just a cute way for me to say "church."

The city is where I do my business. As pastor of a "city" I suppose you could say I'm the mayor. As such, I often find myself taking an honest, if not hard, look at the condition of the city and find it is often lacking in resources and pride and If I'm not careful I can become envious of other cities... if I'm not careful I will put unfair and unrealistic expectations on the people of the city and if I do this; I'll have to come to terms with why I did and who I was really trying to help? 

Therefore, it behooves me to understand what's the purpose of the city and to make good decisions resulting in good inhabitants rather than just good walls. I have seen and can understand how some cities have gone from slum to chic while others have gone from upscale to downtrodden. My observations aren't proven but I have a theory; see if you agree. When a city betters itself it is rarely the result of greater revenue and when a city decays it isn't because funds dry up. Many towns in the last couple of decades found themselves with windfalls of cash and dangerous streets while others others could eek by on limited taxation with safe neighborhoods. I believe this is because the people of the cities either saw themselves as the resource of the city or the resources they had to become the resource of the city. In other words, neighborhood watch, pride of ownership and a sense of belonging trumped vigilant policing, CC&Rs and surveillance cameras.

For a city to thrive it doesn't need more money AND it doesn't need more people. For a city to thrive it needs people to fuel the city. This is a simplistic way of saying we must take what we have and do our best with it to the best of our ability. Example... a fire needs fuel but no matter how much fuel you have a fire unattended either goes out of control or goes out... That's why we must fuel (verb) the city! Unfortunately many churches have gotten either out of control or have gone out and because of this we are struggling to find a new foothold.

Enter the "Emerging" movement. In it, postmoderns are struggling with how to believe and how to live knowing people outside the "city" would rather stay in the country. So more and more people are opting to abandon their homes in the city to go "live" elsewhere... for two reasons. First, they don't like the city anymore; for reasons stated above: They're being overly taxed! And second, they would rather live closer to their friends who like them (and the Jesus they see in them) but don't like the city folk (and the Jesus they never see in them). Some are calling this dangerous while others are calling it essential. Even within the Emerging Movement there are differences arising from charismatic and influential leaders and authors. At the pivot is orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right living). One side stating good behavior stems from good belief while the other claims good behavior has rarely ever been the result of many a Bible thumpin pulpits!

So, here are Monday's questions in light of a weeks worth of musings on the church/city.

• While the pendulum may need to move should it swing? and how far?
• Does the church weaken or get stronger when the leaders step out of the way? Why?
• Is the city better off being mobile, small and nimble or planted, large and multifaceted?
• Do we close the city to those who refuse to believe and then live because they aren't the resource that will enhance the city?
• Can you deconstruct the city without being destructive?
• Should the attributes of the church be consistent with the attributes of God?
  • Read Hebrews 13:7-9 and how does it relate to both?

Finally, while most would agree there needs to be an equal balance of both, right living and right belief; how is this managed in an ever changing, never yielding culture first inside the city and then without?

I personally believe this is one of the most critical questions facing Christianity today. What do you think?

The City Within Part 2

Lately I've been engaged in multiple conversations revolving around the topic of "what exactly is church?" With that I've been diving further and further into social networking by reading, experimenting and launching myself into various web 2.0 applications such as Facebook, Twitter and my soon to be launched (oh, my kids will cringe) myspace page. The ironic thing here is I'm not that passionate about finding a new solution to church and therefore insistent on starting an alternative. But I am becoming more and more uneasy about doing church as usual. The singers sing, the preachers preach and the world drives by wondering what archaic topic or boring, outdated issue is being shoved down the throats of those willing to drink the Cool-Aid.

As those of us who know Christ's gospel of grace and restoration, we can insist the message is anything but archaic or boring but try telling that to those who need it. They generally don't have a problem with the message; they specifically have a problem with the medium. During our entire lives we have been taught to sit down and listen to someone who'll tell us what the books, that we're unwilling to read, mean. This occurs in school when it's required and in church when it's voluntary. In school the good teachers were the ones willing to debate and discuss the issues while in church we sit politely and listen and think the good ones were those who told us what we already know in a more entertaining way.

If this is true of teachers, shouldn't this mean the good preachers would be the one's willing to debate too?

Think about it. In a new world where integrity is discovered through knowledge and maintained by accountable relationship, we've already seen social networks expose the liars and cheats in the worlds of business and journalism, so I have to ask: How will this affect the church? Is the day of the monologue coming to an end? Will every preacher soon be subject to instantaneous criticism on Twitter as the congregation starts asking themselves, while he's mid-sentence, "Who is this guy?" or saying outright, "He may know Jesus but he doesn't know Jack!" in 140 characters or less?

I have to admit; I sometimes wonder why people are so willing to accept whatever I say just because I'm the Rev. And if I were truly transparent right now, I'd let you know, there are times when I speak about things I'm aware I don't understand thoroughly myself... and if I don't; chances are you won't either, even after listening to what I have to say. But then again, can you really know everything about something? So, here's what goes through the minds of preachers everywhere (or maybe it's just me looking for company), if I open up for debate, as the guy standing up front, you might kick my butt on an issue and then I'll just be the guy standing up front with egg on my face.

But it's time I take that risk... and it's time the church steps up too. Because certainly the pastor has to know but the congregation must not be ignorant either. So, let's talk! What do you think? Is the day of the monologue coming to an end? Will churches be more effective if they engage in open discussion about spiritual and practical issues? And was Jesus a monologuer or a dialoguer?

 

If Bill Can Do It, Why Aren't You?

Bill Bell is a legend.

Known all over the world as the Iron Gent he was the first man to complete the Ironman race at the age of 80! When I think of all those who have inspired me I put Bill at the top of the list. But before I learned Bill lived only a couple of miles from my home, in the desert of southern California; I knew about Bill.

He was featured at the end of the 1995 NBC coverage of the Hawaii Ironman that was the genesis for my getting in the sport. Needless to say, I was a bit in awe when I started to learn how to swim, as Bill was often in the lane next to me at College of the Desert.

Over the years we've nurtured a great friendship, sharing stories of racing and faith. Bill honored me, by letting me interview him one weekend when I presented my first "Ironman Faith" message at Southwest Community Church. That day Bill inspired many and continues to do so at the age of 86 every time he shows up to the start line of a race. Yes... Bill's still racing.

Now many of you might be thinking what is the secret? Was Bill some amazingly gifted athlete in his younger years? Is he the benefactor of some scientific experiment for aging and longevity? The answer is no. In fact, you may be surprised to discover, Bill didn't even start his triathlon career until he was 60! But having completed 32 Ironman races and hundreds of shorter distance races tells me for anyone who says they can't do something; tells me they don't know Bill!

One of my favorite lines of his, and he has many, is when a much younger triathlete comes to him and says... "Wow! I hope I'm still doing what you're doing when I'm your age!" Bill responds with, "I hope I'm still doing what I'm doing when you're my age too!" Now that's a great outlook on life!

A couple of years ago at Oceanside 70.3 Bill was body marking the pro athletes... when he saw me enter the transition area he called me over and told me not to wait in line but for me to let him pen the numbers on my arms and legs... I easily obliged knowing I would save some time but most importantly I would get a word of encouragement for the day!

Just like today.

Thanks Bill for the phone call. Thanks for doing what you always do for us. You lead and we follow.