Well, this is a first. I am flying between Dallas and Austin right now. The flight attendant just came on and informed us that this is a wi-fi enabled flight. So I am posting from a Typepad App on my iPhone. Very cool.
I going to Austin to present at Q - a conference modeled after TED. Speakers include artists, scientists, business leaders, cultural icons, and faith leaders. The format is an 18 minute presentation. There will be a few 36 minute presentations as well. I will do a 36 minute presentation tomorrow titled, "Revisiting the Gospel." I'm excited to be at Q. If you interested, google Q Conference Austin to learn more and see a complete list of presenters and topics. You can also watch select presentations from previous events.
"[God] said (in the Bible) that we were 'gods' and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him - for we can prevent Him, if we choose - He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for."
This is the astonishing power of the God that was at work in raising Christ from the dead and is now at work in us, too. Or as Paul wrote to the church in Rome:
"It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's." (The Message)
I went out two nights in-a-row this week - not something that happens much around my house...
On Tuesday night, Mimi and I joined some friends at the Crosstown Station to see the band Oriole Post, who opened for Oakhurst (wow). Oriole Post (different link) is fronted by Rachel Bonar, she of the angelic voice, who can be heard throughout the JW record and is often seen and heard leading worship for our community.
Oriole Post was absolutely fantastic. They play self-described, "folky hill music that you want to sing along and break your heart to." Indeed. If you go to their myspace page (first link), you can hear a little bit of their music - though I believe what you will find there is what Rachel recorded herself, singing into Garage Band on her MacBook. The full sound of the band includes stand-up bass (Roger), mandolin (Seth), percussion (Bill), violin (Michaela), and backing vocals (Michelle), and the good news is that the full band is currently in the studio at Jacob's Well recording a 12 song record with Mike Crawford. See pics below (and click to embiggen).
Night two? I received an email yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon from Corby Pons from Disney Studios. Kind of random, but I generally like random - especially when it involves invitations to movie screenings. He invited me to a screening of a new film called Earth, the first film Disney Nature is releasing from the Planet Earth series. Here's how he described it:
"Earth is the most captivating and compelling footage of life on earth ever recorded and is regarded as a cinematography break-through as it follows three animal families from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans over a five-year odyssey. It is 'not' political or an agenda film. Earth captures images we have never before seen in ways we never before imagined. The movie is narrated by the incomparable James Earl Jones. The first movie from Disney Nature, Earth will provide families a total immersive experience into the wild wonders of God's creation."
So, I took my 12-year-old daughter with me to a packed AMC theater for a 7:00 p.m. screening. And I pretty much agree with his description. The footage and cinematography were breath-taking. It was 'not' a political or agenda film. It was an immersive experience for my family (at least the part of my family that was able to go with me - my youngest came down with the flu and was bummed to be left at home) that we really enjoyed. I would have loved to see this film in IMAX. Even so, you definitely get a sense of the scope and grandeur of God's creation, as well as its fragility and resilience.
I think Corby is working to promote the film among people of faith, many of whom are, for the first time, beginning to see stewardship of creation as part of faithful discipleship. What a good thing. Towards that end, I recommend it highly. There is something so good and so humbling to regularly be reminded of the scope and grandeur of God's creation - particularly as it relates to the biblical narrative and that God's plan is for the salvation and restoration of all things - including creation. As the Apostle Paul writes in the New Testament letter of Romans, "...for the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up the present time."
The film will be released on Earth Day next week. And by the way, I sat in front of the Kansas City Star's film critic Robert Butler. When he posts his review, I'll link to it. Also, if you do go see it, stick around for the credits. They include footage of the filmmakers going to various and, at times, extreme lengths to capture creatures in the wild - the most amusing is a film rig that is basically two lawn chairs tied to a hot-air balloon flying at low-levels over the African savannah - comedy (and pain) ensues. Check out the trailer below.
Have you ever been to Powell's Books in Portland? If so, then I don't need to say anymore about it. You. Just. Know.
But if not...well, I can't explain it. You'll have to trust me...and then make a pilgrimage of your own someday.
In the meantime, I just stumbled onto their online newsletter/blog and a wonderful post from children's fiction author N.D. Wilson. It is not a long post, and it is definitely worth your time - especially if you are any kind of lover of stories; especially if you have kids and they beg you to read them just one more story...
Here is a great quote from Wilson about why he writes:
"I am regularly asked why I write stories for children. The easy answer? I'm childish. But to be honest, I have no intention of limiting myself to children's stories. At this phase of my life, however, they are the most important stories I can tell. I have children, I love children, and imaginations need food. The world is big. The world is wonderful. But it is also terrifying. It is an ocean full of paper boats. For many children, the only nobility, the only joy, the only strength and sacrifice that they see firsthand comes in fiction. Even when children have plenty of joy in their lives, good stories reinforce it. As long as I'm dealing in honesty, I may as well admit that I have been more influenced (as a person) by my childhood readings of Tolkien and Lewis than I have been by any philosophers I read in college and grad school. The events and characters in Narnia and Middle Earth shaped my ideals, my dreams, my goals. Kant just annoyed me."
And as long as I'm dealing in honesty, well - then me, too. My childhood readings of Tolkien and Lewis - especially Tolkien - have continued into my childish adulthood and they have influenced me more than anything else I have read. In fact, I'm currently reading The Hobbit to my youngest, finishing up The Lord of the Rings trilogy for the 14th time (Aragorn has just emerged from the paths of the dead, btw), and taking a leisurely stroll through The Tolkien Reader, particularly the essay "On Fairy Stories." In that sense, I never want to grow up. More, I want my children to know and love these worlds (that of Middle-Earth and Narnia) as they were described in words by Tolkien and Lewis, not just as they were filmed by Jackson and Adamson.
What worlds do you live in? To what fictional authors do you return again and again?
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain
"This is why I speak to them in parables: 'Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not understand.'" - Jesus of Nazareth, quoting the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, in Matthew 13:13.
What do you think? Has Twain captured the essence of what Jesus is saying?
How fitting that the Kansas City Royals begin their 2009 season during Holy Week. May the Royals of my childhood be resurrected this season. As of right now, they are undefeated. Go Royals!
As we approach Easter Sunday, we commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of Christ. However, Easter Sunday only comes after we solemnly observe Good Friday, the day when Christ was tortured and executed at the hands of sinful humanity. At the beginning of this Holy Week, I am thinking about the current conversation that is happening in our culture about the Bush administration and the use of torture as a means of getting information for our "security." I am also thinking about our entertainment - how a highly rated show like "24" stirs the blood as it asks what is justifiable treatment of "enemies" so that a community might be made secure?
Thoughtful Christians have been dialoging about issues related to life and the last election, particularly abortion. Most Christians I know are incredibly concerned about what impact the Obama administration will have on the reality of abortion in our country. Or if not incredibly concerned, then at least aware and paying attention (and wondering what they might do). And this is as it should be. As followers of the God who gives life, this conversation is more than important.
However, life is more than what happens in the womb, though it is certainly that, too. Can Christians ever justify torturing someone made in the image of God, especially when the one we worship as God refused to defend himself or countenance violence for his own security? As the justice department continues to investigate the way in which the last administration circumvented the law to extract information, I am wondering about whether Christians will eventually express the same kind of outrage that is normative in discussion about abortion. If not, why not? And make no mistake, the United States tortured. A recently leaked report from the Red Cross is clear about that.
Part of what prompts this is an article I read this morning by Steve Waldman, the editor-in-chief of beliefnet. The article is titled, "Why Didn't Ashcroft - the Christian - Stop The Torture?" Please take some time to read Waldman's article. Then, if you are inclined, please share how you believe Christians should be responding to this. Did Ashcroft, as the Attorney-General and also a devout Christian, have a responsibility to protest this administration's policies in the same way that he has been committed to the advocating for life for unborn fetuses?
Please do not misunderstand me here: I am not setting abortion against torture or vice-versa. I am proposing that both are issues that Christ-followers should be aware of and concerned about and even engaged with as an outflow of discipleship. What that looks like is uncertain, and I am not here to propose something at this time. I am inviting discussion about a discrepancy. Thoughtful and active Christians are rightly concerned about Obama administration policy related to the abortion of fetuses. Are thoughtful and active Christians also equally concerned about Bush administration policy related to the torture of living human beings?
I expect, as always, civil conversation and dialogue on this issue. I will be an equal opportunity deleter of comments that I deem to be out-of-bounds in spirit or content.
My friend Jeremy Collins, whose illustration graces the banner on this blog (and the cover of my book), just returned from a three-week climbing adventure in South America. Jeremy traveled to Patagonia with his brother, and there met up with the North Face climbing team and a film crew from National Geographic (they were there filming someone else, but I think Jeremy got some time in with them). He was there to attempt an ascent of Mount Fitz Roy, to establish a new route on a smaller peak, and to draw every day that he wasn't climbing. What a trip.
If you are interested in hearing about the trip and seeing a slide show, Jeremy will be giving a presentation tomorrow night (Tuesday, April 7) at 8:00 p.m. at the North Face store on the Plaza in Kansas City. As this is Holy Week, we will be hosting the final Lenten Table on Lent at the same time, and so I will not be able to attend. However, Jeremy has said that he would be willing to do the same presentation at JW at a later date. If you can make his talk, I'd highly recommend it.
Here is a short video from his time in South America. Breath-taking. Read a couple of posts from his trip on his blog: here and here.
I am doing some studying/message preparation this afternoon. I have already mentioned that Jeff Cook's book, Seven: The Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes, has been a really wonderful resource for me through the series. At one point in the reading, Cook references the band Seether, who I didn't know, and a music video that they did for their song, "Fine Again."
,
Have you seen that before? What a compelling illustration of sin, of what is deadly, of what is hidden, of what separates us from ourselves, one another, from our world, and ultimately from God.
In the midst of that reality, Jesus declares, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God." Huh? It seems like those who are poor in spirit only have that, a poor spirit and little else. What comfort is that?
Here is what Cook has to say:
"Jesus alone shows us that our condition is not hopeless. Just as Socrates knew that the only ones who are wise are those who know they are fools, so too Jesus shows us that the only ones who are complete are those who know they are falling apart. Heaven is occupied not by those who think they have it all together. Heaven is the refuge of the infirm and mending..."
Cook continues:
"Being poor in spirit is like being part of an AA meeting where all the participants confess openly that their lives have become unmanageable. Poverty in spirit is a conversation over coffee in which tears and regrets and inadequacies cover the table. Poverty in spirit is no longer keeping the toxic things bottled up within - or merely written on signs that read, 'I disgust myself,' or 'I have shallow, unrealistic dreams.' It is ripping the tape from my mouth and confessing that I am in desperate need, that things inside me are tragically out of order and I lack the life I ought to have. Those who know they are poor in spirit are blessed because they alone know they need help - and any step toward help must be a step toward community."
Then bringing it all together, he declares that those who declare their spiritual poverty experience heaven in the real relationship that results from no longer denying need - for God and for one another.
"Here in heaven we suffer and mend together. Here in heaven the language we speak assumes that you and I are one, that we need each other, that healing comes when we exhale all the toxic things within us by confessing them. Total exposure is not a requirement to enjoy heaven; total exposure is what enjoying heaven looks like."
A couple of people have asked me for the Thomas Merton quote from Sunday's message on the deadly sin of Sloth. Here it is:
"Do not look for rest in any pleasure, because you were not created for pleasure: you were created for joy. And if you do not know the difference between pleasure and spiritual joy you have not yet begun to live."
Recent Comments