Awake

Morning Meditation

Started something new this morning: lectio divina, facilitated by a devotional based on The Message that I recently received.

This morning's reading was Genesis 3:1-10.

What struck me about this passage was that the serpent depicted God to Eve in terms of knowledge—his all-knowingness:

You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil. (Genesis 3:4-5, The Message)

Focusing on the attainment of such extraordinary knowledge, Eve, and later Adam, tragically cast aside their Garden-fellowship with the Creator and, indeed, do attain knowledge of themselves—but through their own eyes, instead of through the eyes of their loving Creator. Ashamed of their nakedness, they crudely cover themselves and hide.

When God later comes through the Garden, he doesn't make a knowledge-based statement, such as, "I know where you are; you can't hide from me." And isn't that often the question we, in our guilt and paranoia, imagine him to be saying to us? On the contrary, in fact, quite unexpectedly, he asks, "Where are you?"—a question of pursuit, of seeking. It's an invitation to come out of hiding, isn't it? And, indeed, Adam's response is to come out and respond, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid."

This morning I reflect on God who seeks me and finds me, even—and especially—in my shame and my guilt, in my paranoia and in my doubt. He is God who finds me in my hiding place and calls out to me—not to boast knowledge of my deeds, good and evil—but to ask in his pursuit of me, "Where are you?" God invites me to walk with him. Am I hiding or following after him?

Cross raised at new worship center at Village

DSC00057
Originally uploaded by villageonflickr

Glad to see pictures of the cross-raising at the construction site at Village today. Wish I could have been there! More pictures of construction at villageonflickr's photostream and in the photo pool, Village Baptist Church Construction Photos. (I'm admin of that pool and I invite you to add your photos of the worship center construction to that group! So far it's just me (and I don't even live there!) and Patty (who takes the pictures for Village). The more the merrier!

A Day of Concrete Tilt-Up

Spent Monday morning on-site at Village watching the walls go up. It was a beautiful sunny day, albeit cool and crisp. Picked up Grandpa Doug at 9:30 am and found a nice vantage point in the front parking lot. We staying until noon watching the crane and the men work on tilting up and putting into place the towering concrete sections of the new sanctuary walls. I took a bunch of pictures on my cell phone. You can find them over here, along with the other photos I've taken of the site over the past month or so.

I really really really want to go to this...

Oh MAN. I was just visiting Dallas Willard's website because a friend from Biola "became a fan" of his on Facebook and I also "became a fan" because, well, I AM a fan (and currently reading The Divine Conspiracy with plans (that I formulated only last night) to re-read The Spirit of the Disciplines) and so I was perusing his website and upcoming speaking events, WHEN LO AND BEHOLD, a Journey conference is schedule for this summer! Holy crap! Ok, that may not be the appropriate response to a conference on spiritual formation, discipleship, and the spiritual disciplines, but whatever, HOLY CRAP! One of my fondest memories of Biola was the Journey conference that took place there when I was a student. I still have the hemp-tied booklet that was given out to all attendees. Coincidentally or not, I have, very recently, started reading and re-reading Nouwen, Willard, Petersen, with plans to break out Foster. To have the very words I read be expounded upon by the authors themselves and to discuss these things and take (and give) encouragement from others in the Church sounds like something to good to pass up, yeah?! Where do I sign up?! (Oh, here, by the way.)

The only teensy tiny little hiccup in this great and amazing plan of mine to attend this conference is the date and the location. The date may be too near when a certain someone is expected to arrive and it's in, well, San Antonio, which is kinda far away (though not as far as it seemed to be, before I actually visited).

So I'm gonna pray about it and hopefully receive some clarity on the matter before the Early Bird Registration Deadline of February 1st. :)

Link: 2009 RENOVARÉ International Conference THE JESUS WAY Registration

Weekly update on construction at Village posted

Week 17 Winner
Originally uploaded by villageonflickr

This week's news update and prayer reminder regarding the construction of Village's new worship center has been posted on radicalconnections.org. Don't forget to peruse the the latest photos of the site on VBC's flickr space.

Links:

• Weekly Prayer Reminder: 1-20-2009
• Village on Flickr

June 2008 Prayer Events in Portland

From Reneé Boucher, of LivingStonesPDX (aka Portland International House of Prayer aka Downtown House of Prayer):

There are a lot of things happening in June prayer-wise across the city. Here are a few you may be interested in:

June 14th

Compassion SE

www.compassionse.org

a one-day free medical/dental clinic and social services fair.

at Woodmere Elementary school on SE Duke and 79th.

—the need is for people to take one hour shifts between 9am and 4pm to pray for individuals who may request prayer. 2-4 people per shift.

contact Renee (username: boucher.renee
domain: gmail.com) before THURSDAY of this week (June 5th) to sign up.

PRAYER AT THE WELL

Prayer for the Church and for the Portland Region

7-9pm

www.thewellchurch.com

1734 NE 1st Ave

Portland, OR 97212

June 21

Bound4LIFE

"Bound4LIFE is a grassroots prayer mobilization movement targeting the ending of abortion, the increase of adoptions and the reformation of government and society through spiritual awakening. It is made up of intercessors who stand with "Life" tape over their mouths at courthouses and abortion clinics across the nation. This "Silent Siege" is not a protest. It is a silent prayer meeting."

Please join Beaverton Bound4LIFE the third Saturday of every month, from 10:00a.m. to 12:00, starting June 21, as we hold a Silent Siege outside the Beaverton Planned Parenthood office, 12220 SW 1st., in downtown Beaverton.

We will also be holding a prayer meeting the third Thursday of every month at Song of Hope Church, 5656 SW Humphrey Blvd. from 8:00-9:30a.m. for the ending of abortion in our city.

Contact email: username: bvtnbound4life
domain: yahoo.com

June 22-28

SEVEN

www.awakethecity.org

Seven days of fasting and prayer for revival in our city

Join together on Saturday morning, June 28th as churches from across the city gather at Council Crest to pray (I believe it begins at 9am....)

Thanks Reneé.

Check out the LivingStonesPDX blog for ongoing information regarding prayer in Portland.

January 2008 Building Project Update Posted to Radical Connections Website

For you Villagers out there, just letting you know that the January 2008 Building Project Update has been posted to the Radical Connections website. My dad worked hard on this month's update which includes new schematic drawings and drawings of the exterior. Check it out!

January 2008 Building Project Update

Weekend focus on politics: Barack Obama on the Issue of Faith

This weekend I am looking into Barack Obama's views on faith and politics. To start, I will go to Barack's website and under "Issues," I will visit the "Faith" page:

www.barackobama.com/issues/faith/

On that page, I will click to "Watch the video" and continue watching the videos featuring Barack's view on faith. (The intro was good — looking forward to the Call to Renewal speech.)

I'll post my reflections here. But perhaps you would like to join the conversation? (Conversations are, after all, more interesting than typical blog pontifications, don't you agree?)

So I'll agree to read and watch the info Barack has provided and maybe you will too. Here's a question that I've been asked to explore—perhaps we could use it as a jumping off point for our discussion:

Is there room under Obama's umbrella for a evangelical conservative?

What do you think? I'll see you back here soon. ~Amber

Transcript of Bono's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast

I know, I know, I'm slow. I'll use my faithful scapegoat, "School" to take the blame (even though I hadn't even started school yet when this was posted). ANYWAY, for the record, here's a link to Bono's quite prophetic remarks to the attendees of the National Prayer Breakfast earlier this year.

Bono's remarks to the National Prayer Breakfast via DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa).

On Awakening

Ever get that feeling that you are about to change in some deep significant way?

Me neither.

Ever really really want to?

Me too.

This summer, I had classes five nights a week and worked full time. On the positive side, I stayed on a fast-track to getting my license. On the negative side, I put volunteering at the dispute resolution center on hold until October; I could never get started with a new small group bible study; and I won't be able to volunteer at AWANA this Fall. In the gray area is all the resulting feelings...feeling isolated, struggling with loneliness, feeling a bit more tired than usual (not too much, just a bit). So what am I gonna change as a result? First of all, my class schedule. Instead of a 5-nights-a-week schedule, I'm splitting up my 2 classes, one in the morning (Tu/Th), one in the evening (M/W). I'll have a spectacularly extravagant 3 evenings free...until I put back mediation and bible study. Ok, so one night free. And Friday, to boot. I'll take it.

But more than changing my schedule, what I really want to change is my heart. A bit more passion would do nicely. A bit more compassion wouldn't go amiss either. A dash of activism and a pinch of righteous indignation would savor well in my soul I think. I've been there before. It's a good place to be, but this time I'd like to take along my whole self, body included. I want to be transparently awake and ready and watchful and prayerful and loving and compassionate, ferociously pursuing justice — from skin to spirit, guts and all.

But I just keep coming back to that island of me. I'll change in private and show you later, when I'm ready, when I'm perfect. Hogwash. Ridiculous. Perfectionism. Ick.

What I dream of is a hand to hold. Someone to gently guide me from the island to the community. It seems preposterous to me (so strong! so willful! so capable!) to need such a thing. (Pride, when swallowed, can make such a painful lump in one's throat.) But I do want that. Don't know if I really need it. (I probably do.) But I definitely want that. It's mushy, but I don't care. I could use a little mushiness in my life.

Sentimentality aside, I do sense a change of tides signaling more than just the every-minute wave tumbling toward the shore. It's no tsunami, just a rip tide — hopefully strong enough to pull me into the deep.

Brant Blogs

It's true. Brant updated his blog. Go check it out:

dream

Jeans and Multimedia at the Pulpit Delight Over 50 crowd

My brother Brant is involved in leadership at a neighborhood church plant in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle and as this weekend was his bride's college graduation there was an abundance of family members in town. My parents and Grandpa Doug attended the church service and when I asked them about it later that day, I was pleasantly surprised and a little bit amused at the irony of their responses.

Dad remarked that he was very impressed at how the young leaders of the church today are preaching the Word. He seemed very enthusiastic and refreshed by the pastor's approach.

Grandpa Doug beamed at how the pastor wore jeans and had the scripture up on a screen on the stage. He seemed delighted by his approach and encouraged by the sermon.

As I understand it, that church mainly targets young adults in the Queen Anne neighborhood. Well, your message was well received by a widower from Medford, OR in his mid-80s and a married man in his 50s from Portland as well. That says to me that the message was presented and received clearly, warmly, and authentically. Very encouraging to hear.

Mysteries in Mystery

Just finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, my favorite of the series. And oh the sweet sadness! The last few pages explain many mysteries of the Harry Potter myth and create even more. Here are a couple of passages that have lingered in my mind even since the last time I read this book (Over a year ago, I think, maybe two.)

From Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Lost Prophecy, page 835-856, hardcover edition:

[Headmaster Albus Dumbledore speaking to Harry] "But I knew too where Voldemort was weak. And so I made my decision. You would be protected by an ancient magic of which he knows, which he despises, and which he has always, therefore, underestimated — to his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died to save you. She gave you a lingering protection he never expected, a protection that flows in your veins to this day. I put my trust, therefore, in your mother's blood. I delivered you to her sister, her only remaining relative."

...and... (later in the chapter, on pages 843-844, Dubledore continues...)

"There is a room in the Department of Mysteries," interupted Dumbledore, "that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects of study that reside there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has not at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests. In the end, it mattered not that you could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you."

I really do enjoy these books—for the characters mostly—but I do find these themes of sacrificial love as death-defying protection and queries into the powerful content and nature of the heart resonate with me in my own journey of faith. These mythical stories help me (my mind, my heart, my soul) explore the mysteries of the Gospel. The mystery of Christ dying on the cross, a willing sacrifice, and in the small but eternally significant matter of an uttered confession and decision of the heart...this sacrifice somehow applies an eternal protection over our soul enabling fellowship with God regardless of bodily life or death, new Earth or old Earth, Kingdom Now or Kingdom to Come—there's a lot of mystery there! I like to read fiction and fantasy because somehow I think it trains my imagination and I strongly suspect that the strength and character of my imagination has everything to do with how I process the mysteries of faith and come to believe in them wholeheartedly. So while some sharing my same faith confession might choose to burn and scorn Harry Potter books, I will continue to borrow them from my Grandpa and read them, alongside Tolkien and Lewis, and L'Engle, and oh yes, David, Paul, Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, Peter, and John and I will continue to look for revelation in the most unsuspecting of places.

So thank you for writing these stories, Ms. Rowling. My sincerest thanks, indeed.

Designing the Emertional Church

Months back, I saw the word "Emertional" scribbled on the white board in Pastor John's study. I chuckled. "Emertional? Is that a word?" John's expression came alive as he explained it and I had to smile at his child-like enthusiasm for his newly-coined term which married "emerging" with "traditional" and references a particular vision of the Church that we as Villagers have been working out for the past several years (and many more years to come). "Giving the Emertional Church Its Due" is a recent post on Pastor's blog that explains what he means by the emertional church and why we should consider it. Mid-entry, he explains...

The following is a church I want to be a part of: Intimately large (not necessarily an oxymoron), a community devoted to one another, yet expanding in its capacity in order to create a movement; increasing its capacity to be global, doing the kind of cross cultural ministry that greater resources enable it to do.

Now some reading might squawk at "intimately large (not necessarily an oxymoron)" and I would as well were it not for our efforts on the building committee to advocate for and ensure, even, a design of a larger sanctuary that does not sacrifice intimacy. One that in fact, by design, encourages it. Design decisions like, the back row of the sanctuary is no further from the platform that it is currently, though the capacity is three-times as great. The inclusion of four spacious alcove spaces, two on each side, in the interior walls of the sanctuary, that invite prayer, communion, and even reconciliation—all during service, as well as before and after and any time of the week. A large lobby or "Hub" with a fireplace and couches and chairs a plenty that invite lingering conversation instead of our current small foyer that screams "get me out of here" instead of the gentle invitation of "welcome and why not linger awhile here?"

To some, it seems preposterous and even sometimes evil for a church to build and grow. (Some might contend that the terms "build and grow" should not co-exist.) Indeed, many churches have failed miserably in their execution of such a task, breaking hearts and budgets in the process. For us, though, each week, has brought one miracle after another. And I'm not using the term miracle lightly. I am not the only one to notice these miracles. More and more I sense the faith of the people increase--not just Villagers either, but our architects as well. Personally, many cold and bitter areas of my heart have warmed and softened and instead of sarcasm and intellectual cynicism spouting unrelentlessly out of my mouth, awe and wonder and even joy come forth instead.

We are not even close to being "there" yet. But I believe now more than ever that this path that we are on is one where we are chasing after, trying as hard as we can to catch up with God, instead of asking him to bless our so-called brillant plans. That seems right to me. A proper posture for the church: to run hard after God instead of warm a pew in comfortable cultural proximity to our neighbor.

There is much for us to learn in the process. We need to drive fewer cars. Use the bus stop that's right in front of the property. Come to church as families instead of individuals. All of this will be good for us to learn. We are learning it already, however slowly. Just last week a young woman proudly recounted to me how she got a ride to church with her sister on the way in and with her boyfriend on the way home. One less car. (Now we just need to multiply that!)

So check out either Pastor John's blog or RadicalConnections.org to learn more about this crazy intimately-large-traditional-emerging-missional-movement-of-a-church thing (with an open mind, if you don't mind).

Happy emertional church-envisioning. I've rambled on long enough. ;-)

Theologian engages scriptures as feminist, Indian

Sr. Rekha Chennattu is the first Catholic woman in India to hold a doctorate in scripture and she is now the new head of scriptural studies at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, a leading theological institute based in Pune, India.

The hermeneutical key for interpreting the Bible, Chennattu says, is employing the experience of the oppressed and the marginalized, especially of women. She says she tries to bring out the richness of the Word of God in a way that is not only rooted in the biblical tradition but also relevant to the contemporary context of the Indian church and of women.

...Chennattu wants to encourage Indian women to steer clear of submissive withdrawal and surrender while at the same time avoiding the violent retaliation and revenge often reflected in Western feminism. She says that Indian women theologians need a vision that blends the Indian cultural heritage with the wealth of our Christian faith through critical reasoning, creative initiative and committed action.

Read more about her here.

Seth's new blog: Ignite Revival

My brother Seth figures blogging is a great way to cast vision to his ministry teams, especially since he's juggling several projects that are still waiting for the launch sequence, metaphorically speaking. He also figures blogging will help keep momentum going for projects that are moving forward, but at times at a indiscernable pace. To avoid frustration from seeming stagnation, he's decided to grease the communication gears and has launched three blogs in one week. (Did I mention he's ambitious?) He had the domains already registered and with a little of my help, walked through the Blogger advanced setup with ease. I'll introduce each blog as it gets rolling. Today, I give you Ignite Revival. Seth has a passion to get 24/7 prayer going in Olympia, Washington. (Mmmm 24/7 prayer...sound familiar to anyone reading?) Yes, I know there's some people reading that are passionate about 24/7 prayer and city transformation here in Portland. So head on over to igniterevival.com give him some comment love and good ole' fashioned brotherly encouragement.

Bonhoeffer airs tonight on PBS

Filmmaker Martin Doblmeier profiles Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young Christian theologian who was hanged in a Nazi concentration camp.

In Portland, it's on at 10:00 pm on PBS (Channel 10) tonight (Monday).

Bonhoeffer (2003) - Program Details - Yahoo! TV

Rich Fuller: Spirit Guide Me

Melanie points out that Rich's song, Spirit Guide Me, is now on bob.blog.

It's a prayerful, meditative, wonderful song. Check it out.

Copy and paste this URL: http://bobhyatt.typepad.com/bobblog/files/spirit_guide_me.mp3
(I'm working out a bug and had to take down the link for the time being...)

(Let me know if I'm stepping on any toes spreading the word on this. And Bob, if you are reading and want me to serve this link on my server, drop a line in comments.)

Hello, friends

Is it January or what?

A downpour of good intentions, goals, and resolutions flood my mind. And then there's the rain. Lots of it. Downpouring, sprinkling, misting, showering, whatever, it's always raining. Yesterday, there was an afternoon sunbreak. I threw open the blinds and basked in the sunlight. We watched trees and other debris drift down the brown waters of the Willamette. If rain is cleansing, we won't see the shine until Spring.

I am haunted by a thought that has recently risked surfacing amidst a life, full and busy and distracted. Let me share it with you in hopes that one of you may help me find my way.

I've told you, I think, about Famo. Famo is a young 12 year old girl who is here on refugee status. She is Bantu Somali. I know her because every Thursday I come to her house to tutor her older sister in English. Famo often joins in the lesson. Famo has not been going to school for the past 5 months. Why? Because she does not have the use of her legs. She cannot walk and she has nothing and no one to assist her.

Her lameness has perplexed me these many months. She has regular doctor's appointments but all I see as a result of them are prescription bottles of ibuprofen. First with 200 mg, then 400, now 600 mg tablets. Why isn't she coming home with an appointment for surgery? Or a wheelchair. Or even crutches? Where are the X-Rays? Mere pain medication? I don't understand it. As a refugee, she is entitled to free medical of any scale or magnitude, including surgery, for up to 5 years. I cannot ascertain why she has not been healed by medical professionals nor why she has not received assistive devices to enable mobility out of her apartment. Perhaps she has not learned to ask properly. Perhaps I live in a world of entitlement and cannot comprehend this situation. Or, perhaps God is waiting for me to act.

Meanwhile, I have been faithfully listening to Bible verses of some half-dozen 4th grade girls every Wednesday. One by one, they come to me and recite Matthew 11:4-5:

Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

This verse haunts me. It chews and nags and eats away at my calm. I am reminded of how the good news is preached in rural areas of the world. Through prayer and healing. Through prayer and healing. I am reminded of how the world is shrinking. Rapidly. And how the rural villagers of the world are now my neighbors. And I visit them every week. And I have something they do not. I have the power of Jesus Christ. Yet I am reluctant.

I am reluctant. I remember my schooling. Learn the language first. Learn the culture first. You can't communicate with someone until you understand their cultural values. And words define worlds. I don't know Mai Mai. I got "Cs" in linguistics and never took language learning. I have a hobbyist's interest at best in linguistics and language. And I am not the only one with the gospel who has access to these people from Somalia now living within a 5 mile radius of not only my house but my church's building. But I don't know if anyone else knows what to do either. Certainly I have no idea what to do except teach them English phonemes and give rides to the local Goodwill or Fred Meyer. (And procure mattresses, fill in checks, read mail, and donate shoes.) But I don't know how to heal Famo. Or do I?

I am haunted by the way my ministry has become increasingly disconnected from the Spirit. I am disturbed by my own willful powerlessness and lameness. I know she could be healed. I know that Kathleen and Shawn and I could go over there and pray for her and she would walk. I know she would. Or at least I strongly suspect. But I resist. There are powers and spirits holding power over that family and that group and we would be mounting a war against them—a war that would take time, effort, and discipline to fight. And faith. I am haunted because it seems like my life has little room for the miraculous working of Jesus. And no one seems to care or take notice that I am not the only one in the Church whose life has come to this.

I go over to Famo's house this evening. What will I do? Will I act? Will I pray for her? And what will happen if I do? I have no answers to these questions nor any expectation that I will do anything worth mentioning. Perhaps these things take time. But shouldn't healing be an urgent matter? Where is my sense of urgency? I know the hot embers of my faith lie in wait for a wind to come and ignite a sleeping Amber into flame and fire. But when will that be? How long will Famo have to wait before I regain my courage?

Or will I ever?

30

It's here.

No more twenty-something.
No more in-between stage.
No more excuses.
No more drifting.

Here's to Directed Steps.
Here's to Deliberate Choices.
Here's to Focus.
Here's to Knowing the Question.
Here's to More Playtime.
Here's to Discovering Vocation.
Here's to Finding The One.
Here's to Growing in Grace.
Here's to Being Closer to Jesus' Age in Ministry.

Here's to The Thirty-Somethings.

The Bible in Legos

This guy is illustrating the Bible using Legos. He calls it The Brick Testament.

What I think is interesting about that is that Legos, little plastic interlocking pieces of perpetual fun and activity for all ages is spelled the same way as the Greek work legos, which can be translated the Word of the Lord. So he's using Legos (TM) to bring the Legos (Gr.). Hmmm. (Wow Amber that was deeeeeeep.)

Anyway lots of Bible-learning, lego-building fun over at The Brick Testament.

An Online "Intentional Communities" Directory

I was curious to see if there was an online directory of Christian communities somewhere on the web. In fact, there is a Communities Directory which, I have learned, is part of the Intentional Communities website. Who knew? Apparently lots of people not me. ;-)

Here 'tis: Communities Directory: FIC Directory Online

House hears testimony on caste-based discrimination, untouchability, and the plight of the Dalits in India

Something VERY interesting happened today (October 6, 2005). The U.S. House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations heard testimony from Indian human rights leaders, including Joseph D'Souza, on the situation of the Dalits in India. They testified about the unconstitutional practice of untouchability, situations of blatant disregard of religious freedom, and caste-based discrimination.

I watched most the hearing live on the Web. The video is now posted on the Subcommittee's Web site and I'll include a link to it below as well. Also, the full written testimonies are also online and links are provided in the list below.

Hearing: India's Unfinished Agenda: Equality and Justice for 200 Million Victims of the Caste System

• Index of Hearings: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations (Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives)
• Video: India's Unfinished Agenda: Equality and Justice for 200 Million Victims of the Caste System (You will need RealPlayer to view this. It's free forever, you just have to look for the "Get Real Player Free" link (Basic Player not "SuperPass").)
• Testimony: [PDF opens/downloads in separate window] Left Behind: The Importance of Reservation for the Future of the Dalits. (Dr. Udit Raj, National Chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations & Indian Justice Party.)
• Testimony: [PDF opens/downloads in separate window] The Abolition of Untouchability: The Key to Stability in India. (Dr. Kancha Ilaiah, Professor of Political Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India.)
• Testimony: [PDF opens/downloads in separate window] Thrice Oppressed: Caste Violence Against Dalit Women. (Indira Athwale, General Secretary and Maharashtra State President of All India Conference of SC/ST Organizations.)
• Testimony: [PDF opens/downloads in separate window] Joseph D'Souza's Testimony (Joseph D'Souza, President, All India Christian Council; President, Dalit Freedom Network.)
• Testimony: Amnesty International Testimony (T. Kumar, Advocacy Director for Asia & Pacific, Amnesty International USA)

Other links of interest on the Dalits and religious freedom

• Christian Solidarity Worldwide
• Joseph D'Souza's blog (just lauched)
• All India Christian Council
• Dalit Freedom Network

A couple of books that were cited in oral testimonies during the hearing:

• The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions. William G. Bowen, Derek Bok. ISBN: 0691050198.
• Untouchable Citizens: Dalit Movements and Democratization in Tamil Nadu. Hugo Gorringe. ISBN: 0761933239.

Other issues that affect Dalits in India (unbeknownst to the world's leaders in some cases)

Disclaimer: articles found via a quick Google search; I can't vouch for the other content on these web sites, but the articles I link to below I felt were fairly good primers on the topics.

• Human trafficking
  • HumanTrafficking.org
  • United Nations document: Trafficking in Human Beings
  • usinfo.state.gov: Human Trafficking
  • ...and many others
• Sex-selective abortion
  • Wikipedia entry: Sex-selective abortion and infanticide
  • Catholic World News article, September 22, 2005: India Offers Free Education for Girls, To Curb Sex-Selection Abortion
  • In India, sex selection gets easier - abortion of female fetuses common in India due to use of ultrasound technology - Brief Article (UNESCO Courier, Sept, 1999)
  • India's Top Court Bans Sex-Selection Advertising (October 9, 2002)

It's well worth it to learn about the Dalit movement in India as well as the discriminatory practices that gravely insult the dignity of human beings all around the world. I hope you will take some time to read or to listen to at least one of the resources I listed. You may find yourself learning more about how God feels about injustice and that may draw you nearer to Him, which is a very good thing, wouldn't you agree?

Why doesn't Christian community last?

My mom brought up an interesting question during lunch today, "Why hasn't Christian Community lasted?" She raised the question after reading Brant's paper, A Theology of Christian Community in a World of Strangers and noticing my reference to Bartimaeus Community. She noted the ones that seem to survive over generations are either separatist, autocratic—having one person exert control over the community— or living only in the pages of ancient Biblical texts and history books.

Certainly there are lots of groups of Christians and certainly non-Christians living in community based on Christian values, but the question I'm raising here is why isn't it popular? Why isn't it widespread? If it works so well, why isn't "everyone" participating? Why hasn't it caught on? Why doesn't it last beyond a generation? My mom mentioned the story of Ananias and Sapphira. They dropped dead falling short of the standards of Christian community. If that's not a public relations nightmare for Christian Community, I don't know what is.

These are intriguing questions to me, questions that I'm going to leave unanswered for the moment. Instead, I'm going to do a little digging and see if I can piece together some of the stories from past and present of successful and not-so-successful Christian communities. In collecting these case studies, I hope to gain some understanding of how the theory of Christian community plays out in a selection of contexts. Perhaps in examining some cases of Christian community, both good and bad, we can discover a satisfactory answer to this question and move toward Christian community and Kingdom-living that reaches beyond our own sight and our own time, that perhaps even touches upon the eternal Kingdom of God. (After all, isn't that the "immaterial" point?)

Perhaps you are already enjoying and participating in Christian community. What do you think? What about your community works? What elements, values, and practices do you think will last? How do you think your community will look in 10 years? 100 years?

What stories of present and historical Christian community do you know? It would be interesting and much more valuable to make this a collective inquiry. Please, I invite you to participate.

I hope you will join me. And thanks, Mom, for raising the question.

Stress, deferred

I've been so excited about applying for law school I forgot that I am struggling to increase my time on 2 major sections of the admissions test! Ack! And last night, there was a small emotional landslide as I was stressing out over LSAT analytical reasoning questions to the point of withdrawl into late-night AMC movie watching.

Well, some of you know that I am transitioning to my gmail e-mail account. I've decided my .mac account is no longer an expense I can justify. Part of the transition is to unsubscribe from e-mail lists and in turn subscribe under my new address. One of the lists I "unsubscribed to subscribe" was Bruderhof's Daily Dig. In their unsubscribe confirmation e-mail, they consider the possibility that one might unsubscribe because they don't fully appreciate the content provided, so they offer up Breakfast with Blumhardt as an alternative. Even though I was in actuality just changing the e-mail address I was subscribing under, I was intrigued by the suggestion and promptly subscribed.

Late last night, in the midst of my "unwinding," I received the next day's installment of Breakfast with Blumhardt. The first line read, "As a warning for each one personally and for all of us, I say: keep the Lord before you; then he will remain at your side, and you will not be shaken." This was an echo of what I knew in my heart even in the midst of my little breakdown: had I set the Lord before me in taking the LSAT? I knew in even asking the question, I hadn't. This morning I resolved to take along with me on my train commute my recently neglected One Year Bible to see what the Word was for today. Indeed, reading about King Hezekiah dealing with threats of the Assyrian king and God's powerful response really put my law school admissions test into perspective.

So I am grateful for how I was led back into the Word today and how I was reminded to put God ever before me. He, after all, is way more qualified than I to fight my battles.

Thanks, mysterious, compassionate, warrior: Jesus.

Words of Peace from Brother Roger of Taizé

This is a letter from Brother Roger of Taizé who was stabbed by a deranged woman at a evening service in his community in France and died this week on Tuesday, August 16, 2005:

Brother Roger and the more than 100 brothers who have joined his ecumenical Christian community since 1940 have devoted their lives to working for peace, reconciliation and Christian unity. During World War II they harbored Jewish refugees, just one of many ways they have actively expressed their love for the downtrodden. —From Bruderhof Community's Intro to A Future of Peace

Also, the BBC just published an article, How Taize Changed the Church.

Founder of Taize Stabbed to Death

On the BBC: Brother Roger, the "90-year-old founder of the French-based Taize Christian ecumenical community has been stabbed to death at a prayer service."

My brother Brant visited a Taize prayer service while he was in Europe which seemed to have a profound impact on his view of worship, prayer, and community. I, too, am shocked and saddened to hear of this news.

{hat tip: tsk}

McLaren Offers Wisdom to "Bridge Builders"

Brian McLaren, author of several books, the latest of which is The Last Word and the Word After That, writes the cover story, A Bridge Far Enough?, in the latest issue of Sojourners magazine. In it, he uses Jesus and Paul to suggest several principles of "counterpart communication"—how to respond to someone from an opposing point-of-view gently and respectfully. I found his article excellent and timely; but, to put McLaren's advice into practice may be easier said than done. :)

Are we ready to battle with evil?

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a book that leaves me with an impression that evil should be approached with purity of heart; friends, prepared, armed, and ready; and a focused driven attitude—even to the point of sacrifice.

Though what I love best about the books in the Harry Potter series are the endearing protagonists, delightful setting, and engaging plot, many times in the series, especially in the last three books, I have paused to think about the due diligence (or lack thereof) evident in my own life as I walk with the current of the Kingdom-Come flowing swiftly and surely in and around me.

Am I prepared for the seemingly fantastical battles ahead? Is my soul ready for the heart-wrenching decisions I will face? Despite the content of witchcraft and wizardry which some oppose (though they may not object to it in LOTR), I believe the service J.K. Rowling renders to her readers, young and old alike, is the comingling of innocence and guilt, lightheartedness and forboding, safety and danger, truth and lie, illumination and obfuscation interwoven in a context of fictional story, characters, and setting.

Though rendered in the realm of fantasy, does this not inform, if not warn us here in the Real World and in the Church that though it may be too heart-breaking to acknowlege, to difficult to comprehend, to frightening to ponder, we are, as with all creation, headed toward a new world, a new earth, yes, a new creation—a place of victory—only preluded by epic battles of war, death, torture, separation, fire, destruction, monsters and beasts, and creatures that we perceive to only exist in Faerie?

I believe that Rowling, along with many other writers of fiction and fantasy, can prepare the imagination for the truth revealed in the Word of God. To me, we seem too ill-prepared for the days ahead. I am thankful to the writers, filmmakers, and other creatives who create a bridge from Reality to Another Place, so that when we close the book, walk out of the theatre, or power off the DVD player, we can return to our World, perhaps more prepared, or at least inclined to get prepared for the "real" magnificent stories awaiting us in the days to come.

Rights for Dalit Christians?

In my very limited education on the human rights situation in India, I have been told that Dalit Christians are severely disadvantaged because they are ineligible for some of the social affirmative action programs that are designed and targeted for Dalits. So this news today is very interesting because it seems to be a major political milestone for Dalits, especially Dalits who are Christian because:

• it is a recognition by the judiciary of the widespread caste-based discrimination that persists despite its illegality;
• it recognizes and recommends political action to address the inequalities and discriminatory practices affecting these people;
• it recognizes that past political action to end caste-based discrimination has utterly failed.

I pulled a few interesting quotes from the article:

"It is also unfortunately the sad reality the converts from Hindu religion to other religions have carried their caste marks with them whether they belong to higher caste or lower caste.

"The result today is all the religious communities in India except Parsis, have an ingrained caste system prevalent in all spheres of life. We had assembled here to consider the special case of Dalit Christians who were similarly converted from Hindu religion to Christianity and carried with them the same disadvantages and disabilities and they are carrying them even today. They will disappear if at all, only when similar disabilities suffered by Dalits of other religions, namely Hindu, Sikhs and Neo Buddhist, will disappear."

"It is therefore necessary that the Christian Dalits are given the same benefits aids and advantages, facilities and opportunities as are given to Dalits of Hindus, Sikhs and Neo Buddhists on the basis of caste to which they belong before conversion and which they are carrying even today," Justice Sawant, Barrister Sona Khan and the Jury said.

Read the whole article if you have a few minutes. It's very interesting. Leah, chime in if you can with some insight on this. Link: Dalit Christians must get Scheduled Caste rights says the tribunal.

Free the Dalit.

Bunk Beds Needed for Famo and Isha

I had fun making this flyer (and learning Adobe's InDesign at the same time!) I'm making copies of this to distribute around church this Saturday. Clicking on the image opens up a PDF of the flyer. Please feel free to share with friends who might be able to help.

BC Ferries Incident Impacts Copper Island Volunteers

Just received this urgent prayer request from Jennifer Dudenhofer. Her husband, Jeff, is director of a summer camp for native youth on a small island in the Port Alberni inlet, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The camp starts this next week, with volunteers arriving imminently. But, a BC Ferries boat ran aground yesterday causing delays in ferry service from the continent to Vancouver Island. I was a counselor at this camp a couple of years ago; this is a key ministry to native youth in the area.

Dear Friends,
Thanks to those of you who prayed for Jeff's travels up island. He did make it back early this afternoon, in time to make a previously scheduled meeting even on time!

We have an urgent prayer need. A BC Ferries boat crashed this morning in Vancouver. (BC Ferries is the transportation all our staff use to get from Vancouver to Vancouver Island). One camp staff member made it across before the back-up. However, my dad, a camp cook, and the boiler from Portand, are stuck somewhere in the line-up. Please pray they make it in tonight, as the first SeaHaven (mission boat) run from Port Alberni to Copper Island with camp staff and stuff is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) morning. Also, please pray for the rest of the camp staff members traveling by ferry on Saturday, that the delays would be removed by then. This is the Canada Day holiday weekend (equivalent to our July 4) so travel was crowded as it was without this major delay.

Thanks for praying!
Blessings, Jennifer

Here's an exerpt of a BC Ferries news release of the incident:

QUEEN OF OAK BAY LOSES POWER AND RUNS AGROUND Horseshoe Bay — At approximately 10:10 a.m. today, the Queen of Oak Bay, which sails between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay, ran aground while coming into Horseshoe Bay. The vessel drifted into Sewell’s Marina, damaging several boats. Preliminary reports are that the vessel lost power. An investigation is currently underway. Emergency and regulatory authorities have been contacted. No injuries have been reported at this time.

... There will be delays at Horseshoe Bay terminal. Customers travelling between Vancouver Island and the mainland are advised to choose the Duke Point-Tsawwassen route. More information on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay schedule will be provided as soon as possible.

#1 QUEEN OF OAK BAY LOSES POWER AND RUNS AGROUND

The Big "C"

I experienced a big "C" evening on Monday. "Huh?" you say? Well, some of you are familiar with naming conventions for the word "church". Believe it or not, there's style guide for the Christian subculture. (Official website: unknown. Any takers?) It is generally accepted that lowercase "church" refers to the local church, as in physical location and attenders. So my church (little "c") is Village Baptist Church (big "C" because of proper nounage; but imagine "Village Baptist church", illustrative of my point.) When used in a non-proper noun sense, the word "Church," capitalized, refers to, literally, the Big Church, the whole, global, universal, "we are all brothers and sisters" Church. This is the Church I experienced in a small, but significant way on Monday evening.

Before I experienced The Big "C", I tried out the little one. That was tolerated by the Big "G" (sorry, I couldn't resist) for approximately 16 minutes.

I sent an e-mail to VBC's (Village Baptist church's) classfieds person at 4:31 pm on Monday. The ad I was placing requested a crib mattress. At 4:47 pm, I received e-mail notifcation of Traci's comment indicating that she had a crib mattress that she would be glad to give. (I've seen immediate answers to prayer in my time, but they never cease to amaze me.)

Earlier that day, my friend Stephanie called to cancel our dinner/hang-out time we had scheduled for that evening. (I now had the evening free.) Her sister was coming over to help her price items for her upcoming yard sale. One of the items she said I could have was a toddler bed, which was of course in want of a crib mattress. I called Stephanie back to let her know I would be around her house that evening after all to get the bed, because now I was going to have a crib mattress to go with it.

Called Mom and Dad's house and left a message: Could I borrow the Explorer to transport the bed? Answer was, of course, "yes."

Talking with Traci, she brought up my proposed method for finding out the kids' sizes. (Ruth lives in an apartment complex and in this apartment complex are several other families from Somalia and lots of kids.) She suggested that I bring some clothes with me for them to try on; that would be a better way of determing what would fit. I called Stephanie to relay the idea. I collected the 3 bags of clothes, a kids bed with a mattress, a scale, measuring tape, a clipboard with paper and pen, and the Explorer from Stephanie's, Traci's, and my parents' houses. I was off to Ruth's apartment.

As I was driving from house to house, collecting the generosity of the Big C (Stephanie, Traci, Dale, Martha) to redistribute to a tiny community in need, it started to rain. Six blocks from Stephanie's house, it downpoured. I stopped in front of her house, stopped the car, opened the door: the rain stopped. I walked up the steps to the covered porch, rang the doorbell, and the downpour resumed. When I brought the mattress out, the rain had paused once again.

At Traci's, the same thing: no rain during loading.

On the way to Ruth's, a giant full rainbow filled the sky.

And at Ruth's, the rain stopped just as I arrived.

The combination of the other big "C", the Creator working in and through the Church that evening in small but significant ways put a smile upon my face. I laughed and laughed with joy at the little things that came together that evening.

He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.

Colossians 1:17, The Message

The thing is, I know Steph and Traci from the little "c", but they don't go there anymore. Now we are connected in more significant way, at the Creator's bidding, as part of the Big C. Combine that with the fact that my relationship with Ruth has nothing to do with a program at little "c" but has everything to do with my membership in the Big C; Monday night truly was a good night for the Church to shine. And all praise goes to the original Big "C", that is the Creator (hey, that's Jesus), for all the good and amazing things came together and were held together that night.

Go Big C.

Open Letters to the Pope

Global Perspective is featuring open letters to the new Pope from around the world. Here's an exerpt from the May 31st edition, an open letter by Fr. Francis Gonsalves, a Jesuit in Gujarat, India.

Global Perspective: An open letter to the new pope

Your Holiness, you spoke of "deserts", repeatedly: "the desert of poverty, the desert of hunger and thirst, the desert of abandonment, the desert of God's darkness." India is often deemed a "desert of poverty." Millions of Indians are poor, hungry, dying. Conversely, the so-called "Christian West" dies from a "poverty of desertion" as Westerners conveniently desert spouses, children, churches and seminaries leading to "spiritual poverty." Worse, powerful nations sometimes called "Christian countries" desert their responsibility towards their poor and suffering brethren. When you condemned "the powers of exploitation and destruction" we exulted because some guru, David-like, must someday stand up to global Goliaths and shout, "This is not Christianity!" We pray you will be that one.

This week, an open letter to the Pope by Joseph Adero Ngala, an African journalist based in Kenya who won the German Shalom Prize for reporting in Rwanda and Sudan: Africa knows the church's good works, not its doctrine.

Happy open letter eavesdropping.

Out of Context

"You may sense that you are on a spiritual journey; you know that you cannot remain where you are, you know something is happening inside you. You may not be able to put your finger on it, but you know that some very profound changes are occuring in your spiritual outlook." Robert Webber

(If you want the context, see pg. 34, 3rd paragraph of Webber's Ancient-Future Faith.)

Ancient-Future Faith

Monday, I took off and spent an extra day in Olympia with my brother, sister-in-law, and two niece-babies. Spending time with Seth and his family is sort of a "life-barometer" check. Since Brant, Jackie and my parents were also there on Sunday to celebrate Mom's day, the "check" was especially acute...in a good way. I really don't know how to explain it, but basically spending time with them in their home gives me a shot of perspective on how I'm living my life, for better or for worse. And if I'm sporting any bad habits (which inevitably I am) the extra day gives me a chance to try and break the cycle.

The cycle I managed to break was my commuting habits. I had been driving a lot to work and not only is it expensive and dumb, considering the price of gas and parking, but the habit robs me of my cherished reading and wind-down time that I get riding the train. Plus I get a little bit of exercise because of the extra walking to and from the station.

So this week's commuter reading is Ancient-Future Faith by Robert Webber. My brother, Brant, has been telling me that I've gotta read this book for a while now and from the first couple of chapters, I can see why.

This is gonna be a re-reader. I may have to buy my own copy. Anyone else read this? This'd be a great one to discuss as a group...

Behind the scenes of an empire

Took my Borders coupon and went to get Newbigin's An Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission (theology of mission = always an exciting topic) but they didn't have it.

"Out-of-print."

What? ;-)

With all the missional (both community- and globally-focused) churches around here with all those crazy ministers with their love of the written word, there's no pent-up demand for Newbigin's classics?!?

[Maybe it's the publication date (revised edition, 1995).] Yeah, I suppose that's what it is.

Foolishness to the Greeks is already on my shelves from college days and Brant said I could borrow The Gospel in Pluralist Society, so I wandered elsewhere and found Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, which I purchased straightaway.

Prefacing his confession, the author John Perkins (not this John Perkins) writes:

Admitting to a problem is the first step toward finding a solution. Confessing a sin is the beginning of redemption. Let this book, then, be the start of our salvation. Let it inspire us to new levels of dedication and drive us to realize our dream of balanced and honorable societies.

What adventures in personal/national confession and action will ensue after millions of people read this book, I wonder? Will its bestselleriness be usable to the One who says Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

I wonder.

Nooks, crannies, and scalloped walls

I started reading this book on church architecture today and after reading a few pages, I flipped to the back of the book to look for drawings and floor plans. I saw this drawing and it immediately resonated with me because we're in the midst of envisioning a "sacred space" for corporate worship that is inclusive and participatory and allows for varied forms of worship. I felt that this layout had some potential for providing what we're referring to as "alcove spaces" that might accommodate some of these various forms (that is, beyond a band, a sound board, and worship aerobics).

One of the things I like about this layout is the scalloped walls. On the building committee and with the architects, we've been talking about the idea of alcoves, nooks, and crannies, kinds of secret hiding places for prayer, worship, drawing, painting, conversation in the midst of big church worship...and places for these same kinds of activities throughout the week, unscheduled, unprogrammed, unrehearsed.

Found in the book Liturgy and Architecture by Peter Hammond (Columbia University Press, New York, 1961.

Disasterous beauty

Soren Kierkegaard writes:

The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.

Source: Your Daily Dig via SojoMail

I don't think my life has been ruined enough (enough??? at all???) by the Word of God. This quote reminds me of a comment made on Renee's blog where she posted some insights from the group that has been meditating on scripture together on Wednesdays. Rick said, "'Religion' is the undertaker, trying to make our dead body beautiful. (The Spirit brings true beauty.)"

My heart, my soul, my mind (oh curses on my pride-filled mind) needs you, Spirit, Word, Father, God. Ruin my life and create me all over again.

48hrs

i hope i can make it to a portion of 48hrs...

Community worship as an orchestra????

current sanctuary...lots o' services...too many...one community...many strangers. worshipping together happens only 2 or 3 times a year.

new sanctuary...how do our values determine our design? how do we creatively provide structure to our vision? we long to be a community of priests...we long to see each one use her and his spiritual gifts...we long to not only sing and listen, but pray and eat and drink and dance and draw and paint and kneel and a bunch of other things that we have never even thought of as a community yet (cuz we're a little behind...or maybe we're right where the Spirit wants us...we're finding out...)

so....we need a flexible space. but a sacred space. not a alabaster box decorated with many fake ficuses but a place set apart...a place to focus on the Creator, the Savior, the Son of God, the Christ, the Redeemer.

so Jesus...he says he's the Head of the Body. and his apostle Paul says that there's one Body and many parts. so I was thinking about our space...about what our space says about who's who in the Body...about how our space enables or disables us, guides us or denies us from moving physically and spiritually closer to Jesus.

and i thought to myself: an orchestra.

what if we, that means everyone present at a time of community worship...lead worshippers, the choir, the people, the person(s) teaching the Word, the people serving (communion, offering, whatever) were seated kinda like an orchestra is seated.

we're leaning toward a flat floor space with some stadium seating in the back. what if the choir was in the back seats, like they would be at the Schnizter or Benaroya, what if the musicians were seated accordingly, what if the people were seated around a center, facing each other.

what if we started Reading, and the Readers were seated together. and the singers were gathered together. and the artists were gathered together. and what if there was Joy and Encouragement and Strength displayed in worship before God?

what if Listening started to happen as the parts of the Body learned to Tune. what if after we learned how to Tune, by listening to others near us with similar Gifts, we then learned to worship together in mixed and diverse arrangements, free to move about. not just sitting somewhere because i'm imprisoned by cultural proximity values and i've sat in the general area for the past 5 years, but chosing a seat strategically and wisely, with discernment and boldness.

where God do you want me to minister to your Body at this moment? where do you want me to minister to Your Heart? where do you want me?

moving about a physical space as a metaphor.

making connections.

learning to warm hearts, not pews.

learning to engage and act, not politely listen and endure.

i have a drawing of this in my head...maybe when i finally get it down on paper, it won't pan out. but for now...i offer it up.

(if you were able to meander with me down this little stream of consciousness, i salute you...i'm not sure if this will make sense to anyone but me...)

Day of Prayer for Burma: March 13

I've never been to Burma. This is no surprise to those of you who know me—that my interest in global issues goes far beyond the few stamps in my passport. I'm just trying to do what I can, which right now, apparently, is get informed and get on my knees. So, I would like to do this one small thing and participate in the Day of Prayer for Burma on March 13 (Sunday). Maybe you will decide to participate as well. If so, here are some prayer requests taken from page 10 of Christians Concerned for Burma's Day of Prayer info doc that you might find helpful, as I do.

Some of the listed requests are:

• For God's light of truth and love to penetrate every part of Burma.
• For freedom and lasting peace for the whole of Burma.
• For justice and the desire within all those in leadership to work for the good of everyone they represent.
• For relief teams of all ethnic groups to be trained and sent to give help, hope and love to the oppressed. Please pray they will be effective in bringing relief to suffering people of Burma as well as building up understanding, reconciliation and unity between all the peoples of Burma.
• For friends around the world to stand up for the people of Burma.
• For the restoration of democracy, ethnic rights and freedom for all political prisoners.

Also, there are some great articles and resources on Burma out there just a Google search away. Here's a couple to get you started:

• Christians in Burma: 'We feel we are known by no one'
• Human Rights Watch: Asia: Burma—Articles and Background Info. Pick and choose the articles you want to read/skim. You might want to start with their Essential Background article.

Happy learning. Happy praying.

Finding Faith in Tijuana

You may find this article interesting, as I did. Malcolm Beith is a general editor at Newsweek International. He describes a recent interaction he had with some nuns in TJ and their mission to provide a home for abandoned and exploited women and children. His perspective on these faith-motivated actions as an agnostic makes his story unique and interesting.

Finding Faith in Tijuana (Global Perspective March 8, 2005)

Strength in the sanctuary

I'm on the building committee at Village. My dad is the chair. He is an excellent man altogether and a great person for this role. This has been one of the most exciting things I've ever participated in at Village, because though it is not "mega-huge", Village is a large-ish church and I had/have been feeling rather lost in it. There has been much talk of the future vision but not a lot to show for it. This is all changed being on the building committee. It's been made clear to us that it is not about the building, but about building the vision. I have seen this to be much more than rhetoric. I believe it to be true, and this has encouraged my heart more than anything.

One of the focuses Dad has started us thinking about is the idea of "sacred spaces". This is not anything new, in general, or to the church at large, but it is a bit new to us. We are a suburban church focused on families, programs, and functionality. Creating "sacred spaces" has never really been on the agenda. Until now.

Why am I writing about the building committee in Beaverton from a hotel room in India? Because, exactly seven days before I left, I went to the downtown house of prayer to visit my old small group that I decided to leave in favor of teaching a group of 3rd grade girls on Wednesday night. Though I hadn't prayed with them in 6 months (they're still faithfully praying through the seven days of creation, as they have for the past 3 years or so), (this may sound silly) I wanted to be prayed for "properly" before I left. And though I could only stay for 20 minutes (3rd graders calling), prayed for properly, I was.

The Word I was left with was Psalm 96. And in it, the psalmist proclaims, "Strength and majesty are in His sanctuary." The word "strength" really stops me in my tracks. Translating that down to building a new sanctuary in Beaverton, Oregon...how do we design a space that proclaims the "strength" of God? What does that look like? What does that feel like? How do you invite the stregnth of God to be present in a house of worship? How do you imprint that on the walls? Really really really big columns? Giant mural of thunder and lightning on the ceiling? Thrones as chairs? "All caps" in the weekly bulletins? Ok, not really serious on those. But serious about the question. We think about the beauty of God, the love of God, the reverence of God, the joy and hope we have in God when designing worship services. But, I personally, have never considered the strength of God within the context of worship. And I have a feeling it will require more than the conspiracy of a sound guy and a worship leader to create a climax that may or may not be presently real.

Giving smartly to tsunami victims

There exist many legitimate concerns regarding the decision to give money to disaster relief. The disaster is so overwhelming and our bank accounts so underwhelming, it is difficult to decide how and if one can give with any sort of impact.

David Batstone, an editor for Sojourners magazine provides good advice on how to decide whom to give money for tsunami relief. How an organization is positioned to provide emergency relief, reconstruction of critical infrastructure, and contribute to sustainable development in affected disaster areas should be key to any decision to give.

Read How to give smart (and compassionate) aid to tsunami victims, by David Batstone for more insight.

Happy smart/compassionate giving.

Read the Bible in a Year

Well, the purpose of the One Year Bible Blog is to encourage people to read through the entire Bible in a year. I am encouraged thusly. ;-)

I signed up for the One Year Bible blog's weekly e-mail list, so here's hoping I stay encouraged to read the Bible every day and finish it in a year. Usually when I attempt this, I always get caught at the Exile; however, this method isn't chronological, so maybe I'll finally be successful at reading the Bible this year.

Once again, thanks to Andrew Jones for the link.

Update and Focused Prayer Requests on Asia quake/tsunami crisis {24-7 Prayer}

24-7prayer.com: 24-7's Kim Hughes in Asia quake

Virtual prayer room created for Asian tsunami crisis

How should we pray for those deeply affected by the Asian tsunami crisis? Head over to Messy Christian's post, Virtual prayer room: Asian tsunami crisis and post your prayers, pictures, or what you think we should pray about. (A wonderful idea for lifting up prayers with one voice and in agreement with on another.)

Far away, so close

wed·ding
2 : an act, process, or instance of joining in close association

The Angel said to me, "Write this: "Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!" —Revelation 19:9 (The Message)

rec·on·cile
1 a : to restore to friendship or harmony

If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! —Romans 5:10 (The Message)

It has occurred to me, through participation in various family gatherings in the past two weeks how weddings and funerals bring people together—albeit in different ways and for different purposes. Although a dim one, I have seen both the wedding and the funeral as a reflection of how God has chosen to bring us into close friendship with himself. How? Through the pictures of family members, some of whom have not been seen together in many years. Though it is difficult to make clear to you, I have seen in my heart a glimpse of how and why God uses a death and a wedding to bring us together with him.

Laundry List of Links (LLL)

Tonight's LLL is brought to you by one very good night's sleep, a mid-afternoon nap, and three cups of coffee.

Thought I'd take a moment to post some of the more interesting links I've learned about from various e-mail newsletters I receive on a regular basis...

First up is Goshen College's Advent Devotions. On a technical note, I noticed they're using blosxom to power their content. Kudos to them. I've installed blosxom and played a little bit with it, but I'd really like to look into again for powering "sideblog" type content. It's a very lightweight weblog application and has a very simple interface. But I digress... here's the welcome message to Goshen's Advent devotions:

Goshen College Advent Devotions

Next on the list is last in National Catholic Reporter's Global Perspective Journey's in Theology: Women's Stories. To quote Gemma Tulud Cruz, the author of the article, Faith seeking empowering understanding:

Theology lies not only in the carefully worded propositions of erudite theologians but also in the songs, poems, stories, testimonies and reflections on the day to day struggle of ordinary people by ordinary people themselves. Much of the Filipino contextual theology called "theology of struggle", for instance, is expressed and embedded in these forms.

The diverse, complex, and immense problems we face today impel us to expand our theological imaginations. A theology that inspires hope must learn to speak not just about the metaphysics but the aesthetics of existence. Just as Jesus' story ends not with his death but with his resurrection, theology must insist that the Christian's final experience in God's great economy of salvation is love and life not suffering and death.

Also from Global Perspective, Indian minorities are again anxious, which discusses the anxiety of religious minorities (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist) in India over the BJP's recent change in party leadership and in their public rhetoric, a reiteration of fundamentalist, anti-minority, Hindutva idealogy.

From Human Rights Watch:

• D.R. Congo: End Arms Flows as Ethnic Tensions Rise
• Malaysia: Mass Expulsion Puts Migrants at Risk
• Sudan: Human Rights Accountability Must Be Part of North-South Peace Agreement
• Millions of Landmines Destroyed

From Reuter's AlertNet:

• Photo Album : PICTURES: Landmines around the world
• FACTBOX: NGOs respond to renewed conflict in Ivory Coast
• CRISIS PROFILE-Why is tension resurfacing in Georgia?

Haven't read all of these, but I'm posting them here as a reminder.

Happy reading.

Brant Himes: A Theology of Christian Community in a World of Strangers

Little bro' just posted a paper he submitted for his "Theology of Christian Community and Ministry of the Church" class at Fuller Theological Seminary. Give it a read over at his blog, "dream":

A Theology of Christian Community in a World of Strangers

Thanks for sharing this with us, Brant!

short sista.

Talking politics with a 3rd grader

Had an interesting conversation about the elections with a sweet little 3rd grade girl the other day. Though she is young, she displayed a uncanny ability to reflect the political views of many voting adults this past election.

Sweet little girl: "I'm happy that Mr. Bush won the presidential election."

Me: "You are?"

Sweet little girl: "Oh yes."

Me: "Is that who you would have voted for if you were old enough to vote?"

Sweet little girl: "Uh-huh."

Me: "What do you think makes him a good president"

Sweet little girl: "He's a Christian."

Me: "Do you think any Christian should be able to be president"

Sweet little girl: "No."

Me: "What else do you like about him?"

[long pause]

Sweet little girl: "I like the laws he made."

Me: "Ok. Which ones?"

Sweet little girl: "I don't know. You're asking me lots of hard questions."

Me: "I know. It's OK. I just want to get you thinking."

Sweet little girl: "Oh. Ok."

Read Jim Wallis' commentary: Progressive faith did not lose this election (No, I didn't tell her to read it, I'm asking you to. ;-)

On hold

Here are the books I have on hold at the library. (Future commuter reading/listening fodder.)

The art of the start: the time-tested, battle-hardened guide for anyone starting anything

by Kawasaki, Guy, 1954-, Portfolio, 2004. Date Placed: 10/11/2004. Active, 6 of 9

Recommended by Don Schenck here

City on a hill

MM Essential Records, pc2000. Date Placed: 10/21/2004. In Transit, 1 of 1

Checked it out before, checking it out again. Played at the portland dhop from time to time at a session with kathleen.

Hilary Hahn plays Bach

by Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750. Sony Classical, p1997. Date Placed: 10/21/2004. In Transit, 1 of 1

Hilary was featured on violin in The Village soundtrack, which I enjoyed thorougly. I especially loved playing it for the Dadoo in his mini and watching him practically jump through the sunroof on track 4. ;)

Life for rent

by Dido. Arista, p2003. Date Placed: 10/21/2004. Active, 13 of 13.

Checked this CD out the first time on recommendations from Shawn and someone else I found through Andrew Jones' site, who had it on their "now playing" sidebar; they both had some thoughtful things to say about the album, so I thought I'd check it out. I'm checking it out again because I still don't have the money to buy it on iTunes.

Religion and public life in the Pacific Northwest: the none zone

AltaMira Press, c2004. Date Placed: 10/20/2004. Active, 6 of 6

Recommended by my brother, Brant, (marrying Jackie Dec. 10). Brant just started taking classes at Fuller Theological Seminary's Seattle extension campus. He called me the other day to tell me of this book that was mentioned in his Theology of Christian Community and the Ministry of the Church class. The "none zone" subtitle refers to the fact that most of the people surveyed in the Northwest regarding their religious affiliation answered, "none of the above."

And so I wait.

Ideas

A couple of ideas for visual communcations, interactivity and just plain being engaged while in the midst of a fellowship of believers:

• Enable Text-Message-To-Screen in Church Service


• Enable WiFi at Church

Both ideas found on Andrew Jones' blog (TallSkinnyKiwi). Thanks again for more great ideas and insights.

Flannery O'Connor on the Church

I think that the Church is the only thing that is going to make the terrible world we are coming to endurable; the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the body of Christ and that on this we are fed. It seems to be a fact that you have to suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.

—Flannery O'Connor
The Habit of Being
Quoted in Flannery O' Connor and the Christ Haunted South by Ralph C. Wood

Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid

Just wanted to pass along a tidbit from yesterday's Economic Reporting Review (Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research)...

Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid
(Christopher Drew and Richard A. Oppel Jr. New York Times, August 9, 2004, Page A1)

This article reports on the close ties between Bush administration officials and the coal industry. The Bush administration has supported the coal industry on a variety of environmental and health and safety issues.

This article reminded me of how important it is to have leaders (and followers) that have integrity and how destructive the consequences are when this is not the case. It also reminded me a myth I used to believe in which it does not matter what one president does or doesn't do because somewhere down the line a policy or legislation will come along that reverses or fixes the harms of "X" policy or legislation. I think I thought this because of (mis)interpreting Schelsinger's cycles of American history that I read about in high school which left me with the (false) impression that everything will eventually balance out (in the political and policymaking realm) and I needn't worry about one man's position because another man will come along with a polar opposite viewpoint and subsequent policy or legislative proposal. This is a falsehood. There are real harms being done. Real people being killed. Real injustices being committed. Real air, water, and soil being poisoned. This article says that:

Although pollutants from coal are among the biggest contributors to acid rain and global warming, coal is also plentiful and secure, with domestic reserves that could last for 230 years.

What is 230 years? How long does it take for a hill from the Appalachians to regain its former glory and beauty? How long does it take for water to be drinkable again? I actually don't know if any amount of time can repair these things. But I am realizing one thing: in 4 years, a White House administration can do damage to people and the Earth that can never be reversed, repaired, recinded.

I am only thankful that there is one King who has compassion on those who are oppressed and mistreated and who has declared authoritatively a reality in which justice and accountability will be reckoned with and the consequences of that reckoning cannot be illuded, avoided, paid off, talked through, compromised or mitigated due to good behavior.

The catch is, this work of justice and accountability has been delegated to we kings and queens as well. We must not falter in our responsibility to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

Alright, I'm stepping slowly and deliberately off the soap box. ;-)

Happy moral outraging.

Inside Al-Qaeda's Hard Drive added to this week's commuter reading list

Inside Al-Qaeda's Hard Drive, Alan Cullison (The Atlantic Online, September 2004)

Jason Fried says, "Print this article out and give it a read when you get a chance. It's worth whatever time it demands."

Since his Webvisions presentation, I have come to respect the words that come out of Jason's mouth -- either on paper, screen, or in person -- so I have printed out this article and am adding it to this week's commuter reading list, which also includes:

• The July/August 2004 edition of Books & Culture
• A stone of hope: prophetic religion and the death of Jim Crow by David L. Chappell (on hold for me at the library)
• The dwelling of the light: praying with icons of Christ by Rowan Williams (also on hold for me at the library)

And today's "commuter reading list inspired" quote comes from "Omit Unnecessary Words: On the trail of faith and writing" by Andy Crouch (Books & Culture, July/August 2004, pg. 17):

It's not hard to look out over the audience and imagine a thousand children who "could actually be disciplined," as pastor and writer James Emery White recalls his own own childhood, "with the threat of 'no library for a week.' " There's something unsettling about seeing so many young adults intent on listening and reading. Shouldn't they be home, I find myself thinking, watching television?

Don't worry. We are. I am very unhealthily addicted to winding down after a day of coding in front of the accursed tele. In fact, just checked out Signs from the library. Can't wait to see it (again). Probably won't be for another week at least since I have to get a freelance client project wrapped up before I go camping this weekend on the beautiful Oregon coast.

Happy reading (and watching).

Commuter Reading List: Argentina, Tolstoy, and the Corporate Soul

Today's commuter reading list is inspired partially by a grant from chapter one of Dallas Willard's book, The Divine Conspiracy which has been the most timely, inspiring, and refreshing book I have read since yesterday (as I am concurrently reading Richard Foster's Streams of Living Water).

So Mr. Willard says that one of the most important books in two centuries is Tolstoy's Confession ; so, I picked that up at the library at lunch today. Incidentally, there was a concert going on Arts and Music floor (which also houses the books on religion) so after I found it, wandered around the literature section a bit, waiting for a pause in the program, and found a book that I thought Grandma might enjoy while she is recovering at the skilled nursing facility: a book of Christopher Marlowe's poems. Hopefully she'll like it. She's been wanting a book of poems to read.

And yesterday, I picked up David Batstone's book, Saving the Corporate Soul which they also had at the library and as of this morning's commute am finding to be a great read indeed. (Good stories, so far, too.)

But I think the most exciting thing I will read today is the College of Arts and Craft's Fall Course Schedule pamphlet which I picked up at The Real Mother Goose (at the MAX stop which is nearest the library). Would you believe they have a class on Celtic calligraphy on Monday evenings this fall? And the school is just around the corner from my new place. Brilliant. I am very excited. Now to save my dollars for the tuition. Maybe I oughta start charging my clients for web hosting...hmmm...also most brilliant idea.

Also on today's commute, a couple of articles on Argentina and one on Venezuela. Argentina's economic situation is proving very interesting and will probably have far-reaching consequences to countries all over the planet currently indebted to the World Bank and the IMF. (Don't know yet. Have only read the 2002 article. I'm in so much suspense right now!) The Venezuela thing is actually the testimony of Mark Weisbrot (of CEPR) "On the State of Democracy in Venezuela." But the real reason I decided to print it out was <sarcasm> because I was deeply and profoundly intrigued by the name of the subcommittee he was testifying to: "Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs". The PeaceCorps guys are trafficking drugs again, huh? </sarcasm> But I digress.

• Argentina's Crisis: The Costs and Consequences of Default to the International Financial Institutions
• Argentina's IMF Agreement: The Dawn of a New Era? | (Printer-friendly PDF over here)
• Testimony of Mark Weisbrot On the State of Democracy in Venezuela before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, June 24, 2004 [It's a PDF]

And finally, today's verse is:

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Happy wisdom-gitt'n!

What is holiness?

Reading Richard Foster's Streams of Living Water has been a very encouraging, restful, and rejuvenating journey for my mind and my heart. I just finished the chapter on the "holiness tradition." What I found most interesting and enlightening about this chapter was the definition of holiness offered by Foster:

Holiness means the ability to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done. It means being "response-able," able to respond appropriately to the demands of life. The word virtue (arete) comes into our New Testament from a long history in Greek philosophical tradition, and it means simply to function well. Virtue is good habits we can rely upon to make our life work. Conversely, vice is bad habits we can rely upon to make our life not work, to make it dysfunctional, as we say. So a holy life simply is a life that works.

Foster goes on to say how contrary this notion of holiness is to our popular idea of it. I couldn't agree more. I'll leave it to you to read about his reasons why this definition is so different from a more popular understanding (see page 83 in the hardcover 1st edition).

But, really, it's obvious. We see the word "holy" kicked around by a lot of people in a lot of different contexts. It'd be interesting to do an informal poll up at the Square to hear what people think that word means. I would be very surprised to hear anyone person define a "holy life" as a "life that functions well." (Although Foster's book was at the Central branch of the library...and the library is only a few blocks from the square...evenso...)

The word "holy" has gotten such a bad rap lately, I think. Especially during this particular time of war. (Holy war this, holy war that.) I think I can safely say that none of the battles of this war have "functioned well" (which begs the question, of course, 'what is a well functioning war' -- um, let's not go there.)

But personally, too, holiness seems like such an unattainable and even old fashioned thing to do. Something that might be attainable for some vague historical figure in a different denomination; because, honestly, did you ever hear of a holy evangelical conservative baptist? Didn't think so. Or maybe you (and I) did. But we just didn't think of their life as "holy."

If I understand and believe that a holy life is simply a life that works well and that holiness is a heart issue that deals with the very core of my personality and the very center of my being, then I am free from a legalistically giving in to actions, attitudes and beliefs that my culture/sub-culture as a collective would have me embrace with religious fervor (ironically enough).

In fact, this understanding frees me from any religious attempts (i.e. following rules and more rules) whatsoever in regard to God or the Bible. Understanding that holiness is a life that works well preserves my uniqueness and individual bond to the Father; it encourages me to remember that my entire being is laid bare to Him; there is nothing hidden from Him; so, neither can I attempt to hide the true state of my heart through any actions or words that may seem to myself or others as "holy" or "righteous."

To be holy isn't to do what everyone else thinks is right -- to somehow "righteously conform" to a set of rules and bylaws and ("Christian") cultural values, essentially coming before the Father as just another cut-out cookie on the baking sheet. No, to be holy goes much deeper than that, even to my very core and it strips away any presumption of righteousness outward action by itself would claim on the state of my soul.

In truth, as I learned from Foster, being holy is more about the striving than the accomplishing, the journey more than the cushy hotel suite at the end of the road.

So what am I striving for? A membership card to workaholics anonymous or an intimate knowledge of God? Right now the answer seems all too clear.

Thanks, Richard Foster for writing another challenging and inspiring book. And thanks Multnomah County Library for stocking it.

Brand-name Idolatry and the Disconcerting Silence of the Church

From Naomi Klein's Fences and Windows , page 30 (July 2000):

We live in an era of the high commodity fetish, to borrow a phrase from Karl Marx. Soft drink and computer brands play the roles of deities in our culture. They are creating our most powerful iconography, they are the ones building our most utopian monuments, they are the ones articulating our experience back to us: not religions, not intellectuals, not poets, not politicians. They are all on the Nike payroll now.

In response, we are in the midst of the first stages of an organized political campaign to de-fetishize commodities, to say, no, that sneaker is not, in fact, a symbol of rebellion and transcendence. It's a piece of rubber and leather and somebody stitched the two together and I'll tell you how and how much she got paid for it and how many union organizers had to be fired to keep the price down. Commodity de-fetishization is about saying that the Mac computer has nothing to do with Martin Luther King, Jr. but does have to do with an industry bent on building information cartels. [emphasis mine]

This movement toward "de-fetishizing commoditities," is both interesting and condemning to the church today, IMO. First, it is interesting that intensley branded objects are being described as deities, or in Bible-speak, as idols. Second, it is interesting that this declaration is being made from a grass-roots, cultural, in other words "worldly" perspective. What condemns the church is that the voice of the church is largely absent from this collective declaration (though, there are certainly exceptions to this, thankfully.)

What could this mean? Has idolatry gotten so out of control and the church so overwhelmingly silent and impotent that an "Elijah vacuum" has been created? [1] And the church, not being willing to fill it, has handed over its power to others who are rising up as (pseduo-???) prophetic witnesses of a viral-like infection of false deities spreading throughout the world at the current rate of "free trade" proliferation?

Where is apostolic power? Where are the prophets? Where is discernment of the truth and a lie, of master and servant, of wisdom and folly, of misplaced love and affection? Where is spiritual fire, violence, and a battle against a real enemy? I fear that too soon these things will be upon us. And that we will be ill-prepared for it.

Even now, I believe, the battle rages and I find myself with so many others— staring in the screen of a computer for hours at a time, willingly unwittingly consuming precious resources at an alarming rate and remaining all too ignorant and slow to see, to truly witness the signs: what is happening in the world; the effects of our noble causes, campaigns, crusades, and colonies; the pain, hurt, and the destruction that has resulted from the rejection of the Creator, of the God of love, mercy, justice, and truth.

There is a message for a world in such a state as this. There is truth to be spoken, love to be given, justice to be delivered, mercy to be granted and wisdom to be discerned. It has been given. It has come. There is a Word of love, power, healing and truth that has already come and even lived right here on this very planet. How long will we decline comment and refuse to give the world a Word of hope?

But I'm babbling again. Just raving. Just rambling. And yet haunted by the question, when will I give the world the Word of hope? When will I stop regurgitating disturbing news and begin to act and speak on what I see and hear? Or will I, too, be all-too-surprised by what is to come?

[1] I'm making quite a few assumptions in this post. One of them is that, I'm assuming you know who Elijah is (from the Bible) and what he did concerning idols. If not, you can read the story here. If anything else needs clarification, feel free to leave a comment or a question.

Suddenly Seminary

What do you get when you cross a virtual hotel web site with a visionary leader in the emerging Church? The rebirth of "Suddenly Seminary." According to Andrew Jones, the self-described "tall skinny kiwi" behind the blog of the same name,

Suddenly Seminary, in moving over to a virtual space, will continue to be as unorganized and fun as always, and will maintain a commitment to equip people to seed new communities in the emerging culture. Conversation will probably revolve around the themes of spirituality, ecclesiology, new media, and postmodernity. But that will be up to you.

The Habbo Hotel, "a virtual hotel where you can meet your friends and create a room of your own," will be the virtual host of what looks to be a weekly event. Having the seminary online with participants from all over the globe is the very thing I am looking for right now. Just this week, I've been scanning seminary catalogs and programs, looking for a flexible and affordable distance education program -- even if it's just for "personal enrichment" and not toward a degree.

With my debt situation being what it is, I am highly relucant to leave my job (and my ability to pay my monthly bills) for graduate school. I don't even care about the degree at this point -- I'm just interested in conversing with others wiser than myself and gaining a more solid footing in principles of interpreting and applying the Word of God. So an opportunity like Suddenly Seminary couldn't come at a better time. The only problem is that I will be at work during the proposed time slot. So maybe I can convince my brother, Brant, to participate and then he and I can talk about what was talked about. So potentially I could be vicariously attending seminary through someone who is virtually attending seminary. Ha! Was there ever a time such as this? =)

(Oh, I do hope transcripts will be archived and made available (hint hint). That would be brilliant.)

Here's the "skinny" on Suddenly Seminary from TallSkinnyKiwi's site: Invitation to Suddenly Seminary

Here's to virtual and vicarious equipping of the saints. Happy emerging!

Inspiring Interview: Economics, Freedom, and Faith

An inspiring and wonderful interview of Wendell Berry is featured in the latest issue of Sojourners Magazine. The complete interview is online here:

Web Exclusive: Wendell Berry interview complete text, Sojourners Magazine/July 2004

Berry has some facinating remarks about economics and freedom -- facinating especially to a suburbanite consumer such as myself.

Definitely worth a read.

This week's commuter reading list: PHP, Sustainable Economics, The "Emerging Church", and Calligraphy

Here's this week's commuter reading list: articles on the web printed out on the blank side of former printouts for my light-rail commute-home reading pleasure.

• PHP From The Command Line, Part 1 (SitePoint)
• Web Exclusive: Wendell Berry interview complete text (Sojourners Magazine)
• When We Stop Emerging (TallSkinnyKiwi's Weblog)

And then of course, there's The Illuminated Alphabet: An Inspirational Introduction to Creating Decorative Calligraphy, which I checked out from Central the other day.

I am happy reading.

Donating Dignity for a False Promise

In Antonio D. Sison's article, "For Sale: Third World Kidneys," Sison uses the film Dirty Pretty Things to spark a discussion of human dignity and the cost of justice. Like many underground torrents of injustice (i.e. human slave-trade, prostitution) the black market trade of organs provides yet another false road to freedom for the indigent and destitute at the going rate of "one pound of flesh."

The ethical and philosophical questions that arise from trading organs for supposed freedom or immigration documents are plentiful, but the primary issue in my mind is that of wholeness.

There are many things that will deprive a person of wholeness. Trauma, loss, hurt, wrongdoing, violation, injustice and insidious behavior either given or received will deprive a person of fullness, wholeness, and abundance of life. How much more will a person be be deprived of an abundant life and wholeness of self when one donates a kidney for a passport? The organ donation black market seems to me to be a poignant metaphor of what is lost in our very souls when sin enters in.

So where is the hope for these people and where is our heart, as Christ's body here on earth? Have we donated our heart -- our passion and zeal for God, our feeling and compassion for the poor -- for what what some seem to regard as a free ticket to heaven?

Friends, at what point will we boldly announce the coming of hope and salvation and strive to prepare a people ready for the Lord? As the Church, as Christ's ambassadors, to leave all of this injustice and sacrifice for him to clean up when he returns again is an insult indeed to his Name, isn't it? He has already come once and told us what we need to know. Do we really need to be told twice? Let us not insult God's rule and reign by denying the present existence of his kingdom and his power.

I rant at myself as well as the Church. I am tired and desire to be aroused into consciousness, realizing that the thoughts of leaving behind the violence and injustice that only seems to increase each day is only a dream rooted in falsehood.

We are kingdom people and our king has already staked his claim. He has already come once. He is indeed here with us now as the head of the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. If you think the sounding of some trumpets is going to make the reality of God's kingdom sink into your heart, then go ahead and wait. I, for one, don't want to be caught with no oil in my lampstand.

We cannot call a people to fullness of life in Christ, salvation, and hope if we, the Church have sacrificed our own heart for false promises. Let us return to the feet of God's throne and rest awhile in his presence. Maybe then we will realize, that all else is for naught.

Advertising a Call for Justice to the Arab World

My office-mate passed this along to me: it's a Web site called faithfulamerica.org and they have an ad they would like to put on a prominent Arab television station in which several people of various faiths state:

[Ad transcript:] "A Salaam A'alaykum ["Peace be with you" in Arabic]. As Americans of faith, we express our deep sorrow at abuses committed in Iraqi prisons. We stand in solidarity with all those in Iraq and everywhere who demand justice and human dignity. We condemn the sinful and systemic abuses committed in our name, and pledge to work to right these wrongs."

"This message was endorsed and paid for by thousands of Americans. www.faithfulamerica.org" [Appears on screen at end of ad]. Speakers - Rev. Dr. Don Shriver, Imam Feisal Abdur Rauf, Sister Betty Obal and Rabbi Arthur Waskow.

Definitely an interesting idea. Check it out.

Burn

-out.
Been away for awhile. Too busy for words. Even typed words. Need rest. Need peace. Need love.

-ing.
Something just ain't right. All over, from my dyed hairs to my unpainted toes, something beneath my skin simmers, fires, melts, (refines? I can only hope.)

-ed.
Learned something the other day. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. Or be bothered to show up. (I know, I know. Had to work. I heard. I heard.) This cute little proverb also apparently applies to at least one man. It's too bad about that. (Yes, I know, I know. Had to work. Not his fault. I heard. I heard.)

Somethin' just ain't right. All over the planet. All over my heart. Somethin' just ain't right. Something's brewing. I can just tell. People are moving. Restless. Jittery-like. On the verge of tears, but the tears won't come. On the edge of a knife, but the knife is dull and unsharpened and won't cut for anyone. Somethin' just ain't right.

The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tonges declare
The one discharge from sin and error.
The only hope, or else despair

Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre—
To be redeemed from fire by fire.

Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar Name
Behind the hands the wove
The intolerable shirt of flame
Which human power cannot remove.

We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire.

—T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding IV

BurnRefineRenewReheatResolveReconcileRevealRememberBurn

I want to be done. Well-done. (And not too crispy or crumbly, please.)

When I first met you girl
You had fire in your soul

I want to be done.

Jesus in Beijing

"For readers whose Christian imagination permits of a future in which America is not God's vicar, Aikman's book is provocative reading. His appendices, which include the formal creed of the House Church movement, are worth the price of the book." (From "Jesus in Beijing: Christianity Today")

Hat Tip: TallSkinnyKiwi: Jesus in Beijing

Unexpected goodness from "Van Helsing"?

Now this is unexpected: a glimmer of hope and a good review of the newly released film, Van Helsing.

Huh. Maybe I'll add it to my Netflix queue after all (and wait ever-so-patiently for the DVD release).

Hat tip: TallSkinnyKiwi

Contriving a Lesson for the Church out of Tolkien's Silmarillion

My brother, Brant, asks some interesting questions about the nature of music and its use in the worship of God -- especially in church settings. He also discusses how people purpose music to attempt to "set the mood" or "get" people to behave or feel a certain way.

But the point that Brant brings up that interests me the most is the issue of personal preferences verses community preferences. What happens when an individual decides to exert his personal choice for music (or whatever it might be) in the context of a community? (That is, he makes this decision not in a vacuum, but in the midst of his community.)

I believe J.R.R Tolkien has an interesting take on this question in his book, The Silmarillion.

The first chapter, "The Music of the Ainur," describes the story of the creator, Illúvatar, and how he made first the "Ainur" (even before he made the World). He gave each of the them a "theme of music" to sing before him. And since each of the Ainur only comprehended a part of the mind of the creator, as long as they sang by themselves, or only a few at a time and with the others listening, their understanding of Illúvatar grew only very slowly. But as they listened closer to each other, the Ainur came to a deeper understanding and "increased in unison and harmony." The remarkable thing is what happens next. What the creator, Illúvatar "willed" next was that they sing in harmony together "a Great Music" which he would sit and listen to and "be glad that through you great beauty has been wakened into song."

All was going well; it was the greatest music ever played by the Ainur -- it seemed to be without flaws (all those rehearsals must have paid off!). But then,

...as the theme progressed, it came into the heart of Melkor to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Illúvatar; for he sought therein to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to himself. (emphasis mine)

Mmmm. Now that strikes a familiar chord, if you'll forgive the pun. A musician or band member wanting to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to himself? Worse yet, a leader in the church wanting to increase his own glory? Yeah. Unfortanately, yes, this does strike a chord.

But what intrigues me today in this story is why Melkor decided to interweave music that was not in accord with the theme of the creator: he was impatient to see Illúvatar make something out of the "Void" that existed. (Because, in the story, the Ainur were made first, even before the world.) Now eventually Illúvatar did show them through a vision what will be as a result of their interwoven themes into a "Great Theme"...but they were to wait a little while.

I think a similar thing is true for the Church today. There are some in the Church who can get so enamoured with the "theme of music" that has been given to them by God [1] that, they come to truly believe that they are actually entitled to increase the power and glory of their "theme" under the pretenses of filling a perceived void in the Creator's kingdom [2]. Instead of listening intently to the others around them and together growing in understanding of the Creator and increasing in unison and harmony, the "Melkors" of the Church entertain a thought in their mind of their own making that is not in harmony with the others nor is it gladdening to the heart of the Creator. And as such it becomes "discord," done at the expense of harmony. The sad thing is this self-centeredness and feeling of entitlement is actually motivated by something noble: to see a void filled with something noble and beautiful [3]. And unfortunatley, the "Melkors" of the Church think that noble and beautiful thing is them!

So to get back to one of Brant's original points, leading the congregation into a deeper understanding of worship may very well help answer some of these difficult questions of worship, music, and community. But I submit (with perhaps some backing from Tolkien, of all people), that leading the Church (including its leaders!) into a deeper understanding of "harmony"[4] may help answer a related (greater?) question of "how can we gladden the heart of the Creator?" [5]

I don't know, though. Just a thought.

Amber's "Metaphor du jour" to Christianese Dictionary
[1] Themes of Music -> Spiritual Gifts
[2] Void -> The Kingdom to Come
[3] Fill the Void -> Advance the Kingdom
[4] Harmony -> Unity (see John 17)
[5] Gladden the Heart of the Creator -> Glorify God

Jim Wallis on TV this Thursday

Sojourners' Jim Wallis will be appearing in the PBS documentary The Jesus Factor airing this Thursday, April 29, at 9 p.m. (Check local listings at http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/ ) The one-hour program explores President Bush's connection with the 46% of Americans who describe themselves as "born-again" Christians. To what extent do the president's spiritual beliefs impact or influence his political decision-making? And how closely do Bush's religious views mirror those of the country's burgeoning - and politically influential - evangelical movement

(From today's SojoMail and PBS...)

Could be interesting...

Truth is still one big "pillar of cloud"

I learned something interesting this morning. Truth and justice are cloudier issues than I thought. I guess I should have known. God did reveal himself as a "pillar of cloud" to the Isrealites on their journey through the desert, after all.

In a culture of the sovereignty of individual opinions, an increasingly free, open, and universal press (thanks to the web), and the persistance of nation-states, nationalism, and good old fashioned state-sponsored obfuscation of the truth, I find the line between truth and deception, hero or villain, right or wrong, to be increasingly difficult to draw.

With the very real possibility for all the facts to be gathered, all the truth revealed, I see an attitude of complacency to gather these facts, to reveal the truth, prevailing. This complacency only contributes to the surreptitious behavior of those who would "policy-make" their way out of testimony to the truth.

So even though we live in a world with incredible access to information, we have yet to see a world able to discern the credibility of this information.

Am I any better? I'm myself only a small voice that is maybe a just a little more than half-heartedly seeking to reveal the truth.

But I will say this: onward the explorers, the seekers, the ones who would embark on a journey to find the truth, to see it revealed before their eyes, to know, to believe and to gain something that they did not know they were looking for: a love that cannot be described in words, though it seems right to describe it as the deepest, widest, most amazing love they have ever experienced.

Today's journey takes us to the crazy mixed-up state of Israel. Both a favorite and a despised topic to "discuss" for a wide variety of people, today's story is one of a tiny bit of historical perspective coupled with the latest reports of an event that happened just the other day: the strictly conditioned release of Mordechai Vanunu from an 18-year prison sentence for his 1986 revelation of Israel's "not-so-ambiguous-after-all" capacity for developing WMD's via the Dimona nuclear power plant in the Negev desert.

Here's the oh-so-tiny bit of historical perspective: Past references to Vanunu in Sojourners Magazine:

• Commentary: Beyond Clan Politics: A consistent stand against persecution (January/February 1998)
• Between the Lines: Inspectors Turned Away Again (January/February 1999)

And...some selected recent coverage on Vanunu's release from the BBC (UK):

• Vanunu: Israel's nuclear telltale (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)
• 'Proud Vanunu vows to fight on (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)
• Vanunu: Hero or villain? (Friday, April 23, 2004)

Thanks to Shawn for the BBC article on Vanunu that sent me on today's journey.

Happy exploring.

Theology, Film, and a "New" Category: Third Cinema

(Well, new to me at least.)

Just came across these two brief articles from the National Catholic Reporter written by a doctoral student researching systematic theology and "Third Cinema" (which he describes in one of the articles I've highlighted here.)

Ok, I'm intrigued.

In the article I read first, "An earth-friendly film festival," Antonio gives us a run-down of some of the films screened at a festival in the Netherlands.

This film festival was unique because it sought to draw attention to oil extraction and mining activities in the developing world and how those activities have impacted the environment and the human beings living in the midst of this "development."

(I wonder if these films are available anywhere in my neighborhood?....neighborhood=Internet....hmmmm....)

So after reading this review, I thought to myself, "What is this concept of Third Cinema, anyway?"

Luckily for me, at the bottom of the article, there was a link that serendiptitiously stated:

For more on the concept of Third Cinema, see "Third Cinema and the God of the Edge," Global Perspective, Nov. 19, 2003.

So I did. And so I also recommend it to you.

• An Earth-Friendly Film Festival
• Third Cinema and the God of the Edge

Happy learning.

A Saint's Day: About St. Patrick

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, which I totally forgot was today, I thought I would post a couple of links regarding the saint originally known as Patricius Magonus Sucatus.

• A contribution Goshen's Lent 2004 devotional site, this entry features a poem (with a morale) that tells the story of St. Patrick's life and honors St. Patrick as one who being reconciled to God was able to return to the land (Ireland) that enslaved him with love and compassion.
• It's really (really) long, and I only managed to read the first few paragraphs; but, I'll post it here for good measure and maybe get to it later (like so many of the things I post here). It is the confession of St. Patrick (translated, of course). There's also a few trivia tidbits to find if you scroll down (way down) to the bottom.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. (Hey look - my site is St. Patrick's Day compliant!)

Interior Unfit To Connect to the Internet: Indian Trust Fund Data Vulnerable

Here's an excerpt from an Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton press release, 3/16/2004, that I found particularly interesting....

For the third time since December 2001, a federal district court ordered the Department of the Interior to disconnect its computer systems from the Internet due to pervasive security weaknesses. The United States District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth issued the preliminary injunction as part of the litigation stemming from the eight-year-old Individual Indian Trust case.

Judge Lamberth found that "the continued connection to the Internet of any IT system that houses or accesses individual Indian trust data constitutes further and continuing irreparable injury to Plaintiffs.... Their continued connection to the Internet provides an opportunity for undetectable, unauthorized persons to access, alter, or destroy individual Indian trust data via an Internet connection." Hundreds of millions of dollars in oil, gas, timber, and grazing trust revenues held on behalf of the individual Indian trust beneficiaries are in jeopardy of loss or theft as a result of Interior’s inability to implement effective security measures.

Read the entire press release at:
Judge Again Orders Interior Dept. to Disconnect Computers from Internet; Cites Vulnerability of Trust Fund Data

I have a few reading recommendations for the Department of the Interior, which seems to be the victim of what can only be described as really really bad leadership. (Unless their mission as a department really is to do harmful, stupid, deceptive things to the country's people and lands.) Here they are:

• Well, anything from security.oreilly.com.

Ok well, that's well over hundred books right there. So maybe they can start with that. In the meantime, maybe Secretary Norton can check out this little volume, which is really one of my favorites -- and I think with the right attitude and level of receptivity, could really be an agent of positive change in her life, relationships, and work.

Why see "The Passion of the Christ"?

If anyone is out there listening, I am curious to know why you have or haven't seen the movie, "The Passion of the Christ." I am also interested to hear from those of you who are planning on seeing it. What is your personal reason for wanting to see or actually going to see the movie?

I am finding the buzz surrounding this movie facinating and am very curious to hear from the 5 or 6 of you out there who might be reading this. =)

Lenten Devotions

Lent-Easter Devotions (Goshen College)

Light the Fire Again

The Flaming Fire Illustrated Bible.

God and Politics

Just received notification of an Op-Ed piece that Jim Wallis of Sojourners wrote in yesterday's NY Times. Here is the NY Times link:

Op-Ed: Putting God Back in Politics (registration required...I registered as a male doctor making over 150 grand per year, tee hee hee)

Basically Mr. Wallis feels that Republicans and Democrats should quit focusing on narrowing the acceptable set of debatable "religious" topics and begin to boldly address issues of economic security, health care, educational opportunity, poverty, war and peace in terms of moral responsibility implied by true faith. According to Wallis,

God is always personal, but never private. The Democrats are wrong to restrict religion to the private sphere — just as the Republicans are wrong to define it solely in terms of individual moral choices and sexual ethics. Allowing the right to decide what is a religious issue would be both a moral and political tragedy.

I generally agree with Wallis, and this is no exception. The intersection between faith and politics continues to be confused and passionately muddled by Democrats and Republicans alike. Whether it's the logically sickening false alternatives presented in the abortion debate, the over-simplification and oft misunderstood statement, "the separation of church and state," or the always amusing and yet confusing propagation of civil religion in nearly every corner of American political expression...whenever politics intersect religion, almost without fail come cognitive-dissonance-related headaches.

By continuing to narrow the list of acceptable topics that are supposedly affected by or influenced by faith, political leaders will continue to frustrate American people that know, at the very least at an intuitive level, that a worldview that insists upon fragmenting life into manageable "topics" or "issues" that do not or should not affect one another is not consistent with reality. Those leaders who insist upon promoting a fragmented world will continue to isolate themselves from those with whom they would desire to have an attentive audience.

Whether it's a foreign policy that would have the unprecedented growth of an increasingly unaccountable empire, wars justified by half-truths and color-coded domestic intimidation, or the state of hunger, poverty, and lack of economic security right here in the homeland, those who would desire to lead the American people have got some 'splainin' to do...and these muddled issues, in my opinion, could be clarified when cast in the right light. And that right light just might have something to do with God. Imagine that.

Christmas in the trenches

Read this:

Source: Sojourners 2003 (c) http://www.sojo.net

"Silent Night," by Stanley Weintraub, is the story of Christmas Eve 1914 on the World War I battlefield in Flanders. As the German, British, and French troops facing each other were settling in for the night, a young German soldier began to sing "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht." Others joined in. When they had finished, the British and French responded with other Christmas carols.

Eventually, the men from both sides left their trenches and met in the middle. They shook hands, exchanged gifts, and shared pictures of their families. Informal soccer games began in what had been "no-man's-land." And a joint service was held to bury the dead of both sides.

The generals, of course, were not pleased with these events. Men who have come to know each other's names and seen each other's families are much less likely to want to kill each other. War seems to require a nameless, faceless "enemy."

So, following that magical night the men on both sides spent a few days simply firing aimlessly into the sky. Then the war was back in earnest and continued for three more bloody years. Yet the story of that Christmas Eve lingered - a night when the angels really did sing of peace on earth.

Folksinger John McCutcheon wrote a song about that night in Belgium, titled "Christmas in the Trenches," from the viewpoint of a young British solder. Several poignant verses are:

"The next they sang was "Stille Nacht," "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I.
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming towards us!" the front line sentry cried

All sights were fixed on one lone figure coming from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright
As he bravely strode unarmed into the night.

Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeeze box and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men.

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone for evermore."

My prayer for the New Year is for a nation and world where people can come out of their trenches and together sing their hopes for peace. We here at Sojourners will carry on that mission, and we invite you to continue on the journey with us.

Blessings to you and your families. —Jim Wallis

• The complete lyrics to John McCutcheon's song
• A new book by German author Michael Jurgs draws from previously unseen letters and diaries to detail the Christmas truce of 1914.
• More history of the 1914 Christmas truce, including many first-person accounts.

Advent Devotion

Goshen College is doing a devotional series on Advent with a new devotion every weekday. Here's today's: December 16 - Within the grasp of our hands

And here's a short bio of the poet, Rainier Maria Rilke, who is quoted in the above link:
Rainer Maria Rilke - Bio, Selected Bibliography, and exhibits elsewhere on the Web.

The site also features an e-mail opt-in list which will entitle you to receive the devotions in your e-mail box each day.

Very nice idea.

On The Surface: What Preachers Are Reading

An interesting survey taken by Pulpit & Pew in 2001 asked the questions, "How often do clergy read? And what are they reading?"

Pastor's Picks: What Preachers Are Reading

Among other things, Pulpit & Pew concluded,

Unfortunately, these preferences leave out works of serious theology, biblical interpretation, history and social analysis. Although one hesitates to pass judgement on pastors with busy lives and constant interruptions, the overall impression is that clergy do not read very deeply. Although they may read regularly, what they read seems to be relatively light fare and pragmatically focused. (emphasis mine)

This study was interesting to me because although I sometimes am leary of jumping on the bandwagon of a popular book, many times my reading decisions are influenced by recommendations in my circle of friends and acquaintences — which includes pastors and church staff members. It is good to remember that what pastors and church staff are reading (and recommending) is also influenced by a larger trend and influencing sub-culture. So perhaps a movement toward deeper reading needs to begin at the grassroots, and not necessarily at the busy and preoccupied top of the clergy food chain, as it were.

This week I'm reading:

• Acts in the New International Version (NIV)
• Usable Shopping Carts, written by Jon Stephens, Clifton Evans, and Jody Kerr
• Daniel 4 in the New King James Version (NKJV)

I don't know if these reading selections would do anything to change any trends in pastoral reading...I would assume and fervently hope that the Bible is already being read daily by pastors and church staff and Usable Shopping Carts is hardly a catalyst to "moving and shaking" the reading trends of the pastors in my sphere of influence. Oh well. I'll try again next week.

Changing the world is such tedious business.

On Jesus and the "new" leprosy

That there's a force of love and logic behind the universe is overwhelming to start with, if you believe it," Bono told the Chicago Sun-Times as he road past mown corn fields west of Omaha. "But the idea that that same love and logic would choose to describe itself as a baby born in s--- and straw and poverty, is genius. And brings me to my knees, literally.

Christ's example is being demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy, which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here. If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't, it will be irrelevant.

— Bono, as quoted in Bono issues blunt message for Christians (Chicago Sun-Times)

Birthday Edition

Thanksgiving has come and gone and once again it's December 2nd which is only significant to me because it is my birthday. But a birthday is a good day to be thankful too. So in order to exercise my thankfulness muscle, I think it's only wise to think of a few things for which I am thankful. So...

Today I am thankful for:

• The guy who took my order at La Terraza who thought I was only 23 or 24. That was very kind.
• Our wonderful receptionist who says I remind her of Grace Kelly. That was WAY too kind.
• VJ's gift which was perfect because I was just thinking the other day of how much I wanted a new candle. And it smells so nice.
• My mom and dad and their friends, the Vandeheys, who sang Happy Birthday in 4-part harmony to my voicemail this morning on their way to Seattle.
• A successful e-bay auction, the proceeds of which will support my trip to India in February.
• Internet access at The Apple Store at Washington Square which just opened a few weeks ago and enabled me to check the auction in its final minutes last Saturday. (That was very cool.)
• My 15-month-old niece, Adalie Grace, who I swear nearly said "Auntie Amber" the other day. She is so cute.
• The generosity of my family and friends and their support, whether financial, personal, and/or prayerful of me as I prepare to go to India for a few weeks in February.

This has been a good exercise I think. In the midst of so much preparation and looking forward, I forget the importance and the gift of the present moment and all that has been given and sacrificed for me to live as I am right now. A lot less worrying and a bit more celebration is in order for my life, I think. A bit of renewal. A change, I think...

The John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast but your disciples do not fast?"

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.

Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

—Matthew 9:14-17

Quote of the day: Pascal on the present moment

"We never care for the present moment. We are so foolish that we
wander in times that are not ours, and never think of the only
time that belongs to us; we are so frivolous that we dream of
the days that are not, and thoughtlessly pass over the only one
that exists. We never live, but hope to live; and since we are
always preparing to be happy it is inevitable that we shall
never be so."

—Blaise Pascal (168, Pensees)

(Hat tip: Sojomail)

Nationalism, War, Foreign Policy and a Silent Church

At last week's CCDA conference, Rev. Craig Wong delivered a message and a prayer of repentance for the "Church's tacit acceptance of our bellicose foreign policy" which has revealed a "compromised gospel that has reduced the American church to nothing more than a state chaplain, good for religious services but impotent in prophetic witness."

Craig's remarks were so encouraging to me and I thought they might be encouraging to you as well, especially if you find yourself asking, where is the voice of the Church in all of this reckless nationalism, war, and foreign policy carried out by the U.S. administration largely on supposedly moral grounds? So I e-mailed Craig and asked if he had his remarks anywhere online and he graciously sent me a PDF.

So here it is, "A Prayer for the Church in the Shadow of Empire." [pdf]

Wisdom of the Sadhu: Teachings of Sundar Singh (A Book Report)

Wisdom of the Sadhu: Teachings of Sundar Singh is a unique anthology of the writings and words of a Sundar Singh, a wandering holy man who lived from 1889-1929. To be completely linear about a totally non-linear book and teacher, there are three things that struck me about this book.

The first thing that fascinated me was Sundar Singh's actual teachings. He had a very consistent, authentic and simple way of what I would call "presenting the gospel." This presentation was boldly and courageously infused with every aspect of his being. And he was a person whose heart and soul was so saturated with the life and love of God. Words that flow from such a life are themselves deeply drenched and dripping with the peace that comes from knowing the love of God.

The second thing that struck me was the way in which Sundar presented his teaching. The dialogue and conversation, the parables and stories, the common questions answered with uncommon responses, the inevitable and purposeful acknowledgement of the tension between Western and Eastern thought and belief, discipleship and religion -- all of this was instructive of a way of presenting the gospel, of advancing the kingdom, of following Jesus that sharply contrasts with traditional Western methods of doing these things. It is a very attractive pedagogy.

Both Sundar's teaching and presentation were exceptional and refreshing and food for much thought and action; but, there is one more thing that I believe is a most valuable lesson of this book. This observation is set within the framework of the question, "Why would they have us read this book as preparation for a short three-week mission trip to India anyway?"

What finally struck me about two-thirds the way through was that a materialistic, ethnocentric Western church has little place instructing a people of deep spiritual heritage about peace with God. But there’s a big "unless" here: Unless the people of the Western body of Christ awaken from what is an effective spiritual coma, induced by the love of money and material things. The Church must declare to the West a call of repentance – to leave a life of idolatry to the almighty dollar -- and call for true discipleship -- to follow and serve with everything the living Christ. Until this is done in the power and work of the Spirit, there will continue to be little use for the Western church in the Eastern hemisphere. (This is not to say that God does not do many things in spite of the heavy baggage Westerners bring into its well-intentioned mission to the East, nor to say that all Westerners that go into the East as missionaries are ethnocentric and materialistic. Read on…)

Indeed, the teachings of Sundar Singh simply call the Western Church to understand and recognize its own ethnocentric and materialistic cultural values that it brings to the world in a very dominating and powerful fashion. This call I think underscores the vital importance of cross-cultural training in the church if Westerners especially are to experience witnessing God's presence and kingdom as it exists in the East. Furthermore, I believe this book affirms a strategy of building up the Indian body of believers: training and sending out Indian evangelists, pastors and teachers to the farthest reaches of the earth -- both within India and without (instead of sending Westerners). This is, I believe, the strategy currently being employed and pursued by my church through partnerships with various people and organizations in India. And for that I am thankful and excited to be a part!

Finally, I pray that my own life will be an authentic expression of love and service to God and neighbor as I daily receive the gift of faith that enables me to receive the gifts of grace and "release," which are freely given by the only truly loving, peace-giving and living God and Savior.

And that someday, I will be able to tell a story as good as Sundar Singh.