Blah Guy

There is small talk that “the office” may spin-off a show for Dwight. Read the article. Every believer in the world should pray that this doesn’t happen!

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18-19

Tell us what you really think Jesus?

The poor, the prisoner, the blind, the oppressed? What is this talk?

Some revolutions* come and go in violence. Death is left in its wake like a plague eating humanity from the inside out. These revolutions always begin with one thing in mind. Conquest. Taking over. To have just one more pay taxes. Just a little more income; enfranchising, enforcement, encroachment.

Some revolutions begin with something else in mind. They are few and far between because there is little to be gained but much to be given. People are not locked down and controlled, they are released. Their chains are destroyed and put aside for want of new life and freedom.

One revolution brings chains; another breaks them.

Listen to the words of this Jesus. He mentions all the unmentionables. Beggars, murderers and child molesters, people who need glasses (and those who altogether can’t see a thing), those who make less than minimum wage. And with one swoop of the savior, all things were meant for change. His vision is never pro-stagnation. He brought the change machine.

And this Jesus came to begin the most silent revolution this world has ever seen. From creation to crisis to calling to covenant, he has slowly but surely begun the process of eradicating the world of oppressive (my senior pastor calls them False Authorities) forces which seek to bring those chains back. And where there are chains, this Jesus is dying to bring change (or could we say he died to bring change).

Enjoy this freedom. Change is here!

*This term is used by Brian McLaren in The Secret Message of Jesus.

Does it feel like worship has been “franchised”?

Our conversations are so interesting. Sit sometime and listen to the little inuendos we use…

“Worship was good today!”
“Man that worship kicked.”
“I don’t worship that way”

Let’s all remember what Burger King says… “Have it your way!”

We have to have it our way don’t we?

I fully come alive when I realize something. But this is no secret that many want me to know. Not because it’s a bad secret, but because it is the best secret the world has ever seen. And when someone comes to this secret in faith, and grasps hold, and never lets it go, it changes everything. EVERYTHING.

“You will worship neither on this mountain or Jerusalem” - Jesus in John

Jesus of course is trying to explain to a theological confused and somewhat morally displaced woman who was convinced that worship was intended only for a few. Jesus stands with her…and passes on the secret.

“You will worship neither on this mountain or Jerusalem”

Worship remains not a location or organization centered activity. Nor does it have to be an activity. It is a reality. A place of Spirit, a heart, a life. And it doesn’t have to pay the bouncer at the door, because it’s been paid for. The secret sets me free. Free to worship. The gates are open. No more membership cards, no more bouncers, no more measuring sticks. Its free. And if you realize who it is who talks to you, you will surely understand this secret. That you are free. Jesus says so. Just believe.

Check out this article from betachurch. It’s about Jott, a new service which allows you to call a number, leave a message, and is automatically transformed to email. Crazy?!?

Imagine the possibilities?

“The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great – and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” Rev. 11:18

It abhors God how bad his people are at taking care of Earth. This little promise should ring in the hearts of all of them. He will destroy those who destroy his Earth.

Wow! Talk about ignorance.

We are so ignorant because we think that Jesus is coming back soon and we can screw the world up as much as we want with wonton abandon.

We are so ignorant because we think that environmentalism was created by activists in the 20th century when in reality God is the original environmentalist.

We are so ignorant to the fact that to most people who are actually trying to save the world, evangelicals and Christians are one of the main enemies.

We are so ignorant of the heart of God.

Why? God really hates it when people mess up the things he makes. Any good father would be the same. You come in and destroy his yard, kill the family dog, and pull down the tree house he made for the son, he will get his shot gun, come out, and take care of business.

Why would God be any different?

“Destroying those who destroy the earth” Christian or not?

This week I was the guest of a local radio program. It is the most liberal radio station in Eugene. I loved it.

Born and raised a conservative who is learning to rid all labels and political subscriptions from his profile; I found the experience absolutely enlightening. They as well I am sure were expecting something quite different. They knew I am a pastor at a large (mega large) church in town that tends to lean quite right. With their expectations most likely hover somewhere between low to nothing, it was awesome to witness to Jesus without having to fight for a political party.

I am learning this as well. The people I am learning to love who happen to lean left in their own political fettish tend to be very good at listening. While this is of course not the case for every bobble head radio commentator around today, it is for the people I am beginning to know.

Jesus is teaching me to look past labels. It’s my mind that loves to find and obey them.

The great thing about truth is it doesn’t come by association. You don’t have to know the right people to know truth, although it can help. Truth is God’s. He owns it. He also gives it to people who hate him. Satan is smart.

The most dangerous (good dangerous) Christian is he who is willing to be obedient to truth wherever they find it, whether at a Christian bookstore or not. I would argue that the Christian tradition has a large corpus of truth, it does not have a monopoly on it.

My point?

I am done seeing truth as something we have. Rather, I see truth as something we all have. I just have to shut up and listen.

There is considerable discussion today as to what “core beliefs” are necessary for being a Christian, a sort of “what makes you in/out” sort of discussion.

Two problems with this discussion are found in our assumptions. First, that our lists actually matter, as if God comes to me wondering, “What does AJ think the list should be today for everyone to be a good little Christian.”. Secondly, every-one’s list is different. I rarely to never find two lists the same, which from my perspective, appears to create somewhat of a theological “pickle” if you will.

At the same time, I think it is a cop-out to simply say “Jesus” like a 5 year old in Sunday School as an answer to that question.

I love the discussion, but it can only be done in the context of the understanding that this discussion will never end. At any point our little “list” is set, I am checking out of the talk. And at the same time, when the “list” never ends, I can never be in with God.

So, keep the discussion rolling.

Dan Kimball has an excellent discussion going on right now and I would highly encourage you to check it out. I love his style. So will you hopefully!