"Welcome to the crowded margins of life. It's a place where normal people don't feel normal."
This book is for those who have felt like an outsider; for those who feel like they don't fit or won't fit; for those who don't connect or can't connect; for those who know they don't have it all together; for those who feel like they are the only one.
It's an easy read. It's not overly profound. If you've grown up "in the church" you've probably heard most of this before. But it's an encouraging reminder to meet Jesus as we are rather than hiding in the margins until we get our life together.
Back in June I attended a mini-conference (or should we call it a "conversation"?) called Emergence that brought together 4 emerging leaders and gave them an opportunity to interact with one another (and with the audience in attendance). The basis for the conference/conversation was a book called"Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches". I got the book as a freebie for attending Emergence and I am proud to say that I finally got around to finishing it.
Isn't it a good day when you finish a book?
The book basically takes 5 different emerging leaders and gives them each an entire chapter to write about their theology. After an author has given their summarization, the other 4 authors each take an opportunity to respond to what has been presented.
This leads to lots of "I know this person" and "I like this person, but...". It's obvious that most of these people genuinely like each other but it's also quite apparent that they all have different opinions about different aspects of faith and theology.
My only advise is that you don't go into this expecting a handbook of "This is What the Emerging Church Believes". It's a good read to get a little bit more of the picture, but I don't believe it's the whole picture. It would probably not be "emerging" if it was the whole picture.
I worked on a few blog posts this past week about a variety of experiences that have taken place lately. And while I usually operate on the belief that I should "think it, write it, post it", this time I have apparently decided to add the phrase "sit on it".
In lieu of that, here's some randomness:
Celebrated 9 years of marriage to this lovely woman...no, not the blog, but the woman who writes the blog
This is the coolest looking Joker pic ever...but it's a fake
Watched my first live MLB game...don't tell anyone, but I actually enjoyed watching a ballgame
Got cussed out by a homeless man because I wouldn't just give him a coupon for the grocery store and instead offered to get him some food...there's a blog post simmering on this one
Found out I get a free month of Setanta via my satellite provider...but after that I'm out $15 a month to keep it
I'm on night 2 of a three night marathon of youth events
Stumbled on this site about NHL logos which keeps track of all the changes teams are making this year...go here to design your own jersey
Ok, here's some more from Mark Driscoll about burnout in ministry. You can see the rest of the list here and here. I'm not all the way through this series, but I've found some of the info very fascinating. It's a great heads up as to how stress works in our lives and the impact it can have on our ministry and our families.
And if you think you're above burnout and that it could never happen to you, so you have no need to know this stuff...you're an idiot and it's likely you'll be the next poster child for burnout. (Wow...maybe that was too harsh. But at least you can sense the severity of the topic, right?)
My SP gave me this book (Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?: Taking Derrida, Lyotard and Foucault to Church) a few months ago to read and I've been slowly plugging away at it over that time. It's all about post-modernism and the connections with some of the recent trends within the church that have hints of some "old school" philosophical lines of thought (and even practice).
James KA Smith uses a few films to describe links between some thinkers like Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault and then compares them with the church. At times the comparisons are intriguing, yet at other times they are simply mind-boggling. There are so many uses of various "isms" that I usually needed to have a dictionary open while I read.
It's definitely one of the more challenging (intellectually) books that I've read in a while, but I hesitate when it comes to practicality. If you're at all familiar with the names associated with the book or with concepts like deconstructionism or metanarratives, this will probably be an good read for you. If not...make sure you have a dictionary and be patient as you read. You'll feel smarter when you're done...or at least that's what I keep trying to tell myself.
This weekend was the beginning of a new footballing season in more ways than one. On the one hand the English premier League kicked off, and while I'm a little disappointed that my beloved team was unable to get on the score sheet at home against Reading, it is only the first game of a long season. We'll have to see what May 2008 has in store.
Sunday also brought about the re-beginning/continuation/revival of my somewhat non-existent footballing "career". Most of you are well aware of my knee problems over the past few years. Knee problems that have seen me under the knife on 3 separate occasions, 2 of which were for major ACL reconstruction. (You can read more about all of these here.)
I'll admit that I've had days when I wondered if I would ever be able to play again. After the first ACL surgery I worked hard to get fit and back into the game only to tear the ACL again in the opening 30 minutes of my first competitive game back. Now it's been almost a year since my last ACL surgery and the mental preparation for this return has been even harder. Will this ACL hold? Can I handle another major knee injury? Will I keep my sanity if I never play soccer again?
Well, on Sunday I made it out to play an 90+ minute scrimmage. Wow, I missed playing. I think this return is good for me, not only physically but mentally and emotionally. I'll be the first to admit that I was only playing at about 70%, but it felt good. A little sore and a little tentative, but it was somewhat familiar territory as I made my way around the pitch.
And lest I feel like I've lost any ability to play the game I received an invite from one of the players to join their team for the upcoming season. This came after only playing about 30 minutes of soccer. I'm leaning towards giving it a go. Some connections outside the church will be nice and an outlet like soccer is a necessity for me. The question will be whether or not I can stay fit and keep the ACL intact.
I'm sure if you keep wandering back here from time to time you'll find out whether the second ACL reconstruction will hold up. Come to think of it, someone could make a reality show out of this.
Around this time every year a pile of people plop down in a church sanctuary with a pile of other people who call themselves leaders in order to listen to famous people who are called leaders talk about what it means to be a leader. It's Willow Creek's Leadership Summit.
I'm not knocking it, because you can definitely get some good stuff out of it. And I have gotten some stuff out of it...none of which I'm actually going to blog about. I think it's for my head and my journal right now and for our staff round table discussions, but it's not ready for consumption by the blogging world. It's too much to handle.
I think I just laughed at myself...
Anyway, I will share with you the high point of the Summit so far (punny, eh?): Erik Mongrain. I blogged about this guy before (see here) and I nearly jumped out of my seat when they introduced him. He played 2 songs and it was cooler than watching him on YouTube. If you haven't seen him or listened, do me a favor and watch a video. Your mind will be blown. If it isn't I will refund your money.
I do believe I may be one of the only Summit bloggers to not write a single blog post about anything any of the speakers said.
My wife is out with some of our youth girls. I'm home with my kids. I'm currently eating a freezie and watching Ultimate Fighting. I also spent some time with the guitars. But I can't seem to focus long enough to write anything.
I'm not a great song writer. I try, but I can't ever seem to finish anything. I'm in awe of people who have a way with words and music that seems to come so simply. I'm impressed by the variety of sounds that some people can come up with. I feel like all my songs sound the same.
I've only ever played 2 of my own songs in public. One was a Christmas song I played at my last church and the other was a song based on part of Job's life for a sermon my friend Bryce preached. That was also in my last church.
A group of my current students and I have come up with a little song during our worship practice, but I hesitate to call it a song because I don't know if anyone actually likes it.
Well...there you have some completely random thoughts from a Wednesday night.
Saw this video on another blog this week and I think it ranks up there with some of the other guitarists I've included on this blog from time to time (like this guy, this guy and this guy). I just can't believe people can play the guitar this way. I am in awe.
The van pulled into the driveway last night after almost 25 hours of driving, and now it feels like we're trying to settle into normal life. Come to think of it, I think I'm going to refuse normal life. Yeah, that sounds like a better plan...
Anyways, I know that you all missed my randomness and profound blogabilities, so I won't taunt you anymore. Here's the long-weekend-Monday haps:
Read too many blogs today...and I'm still nowhere close to caught up.
Watched Manchester United defeat Chelsea in PKs to take the FA Community Shield...now bring on the regular season with next weekend's kick-off against Redding.
I bought a shirt that my wife doesn't like.
I was introduced to a new band called The Cobalt Season (review shall be forthcoming).
We are currently behind in our regular summer TV viewing of Big Brother.
We're neck deep in getting prepared to take a pile of our students to Creation Festival. Sure, we can talk about the Christian subculture bubble until we're blue in the face, but I'll gladly cave on my feelings in exchange for the relational time that comes out of a week like this.
We've got an interesting group too. Middle school, high school, regulars, newbies...the mix is all over the map for this one.
But consider this:
4 grads that came on last year's trip have worked with our student ministry over the last year
3 of those former-grads-that are-now-leaders are coming on this trip
We have a student to leader ratio of 2:1
A regular driving tradition of playing the first 30 seconds of "Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2 (which we affectionately referred to as "track 4") began last year and has continued on every trip so far (one van listened to that 30 second clip for over an hour straight)
We had 10 tickets donated to our group for this trip
I was removed from food prep detail after a fiasco last year involving spam, chili and mac & cheese
I had 4 dozen hot dog confiscated at the border on the last trip
One of our leaders fell asleep with his feet on our remaining hot dog buns (and there were toe marks evident in some of the buns come dinner time)
A while ago I posted about some video clips and notes that had been showing up on Mark Driscoll's blog that deals specifically with the area of burnout in ministry. Here are a few more of the additions:
Here's 2 books that I was able to finish up over the vacation time.
Obsessed by Ted Dekker was my latest foray into the world of fiction. All in all, I don't think fiction is my thing. Or maybe I just keep choosing the wrong books. After reading Lamb a few months ago I thought I'd try this book that my wife had lying around. And I'm left with the feeling that it was the author's attempt to be rated R in a PG setting. Does that make sense?
I felt that the book for the most part was just missing that next bit that would have made it a really good book. And other parts were completely cheesy with random "super spiritual" moments that focused on being obsessed. It was just too much of a stretch. So I'm looking for suggestions as to what could be my final attempt at fiction. Any ideas?
This next book by Dan Kimball was very typical of the whole "emerging" line of thought. Today's generation likes Jesus but they don't necessarily care for what Christians have turned the church into. Unless you live in the stone ages, this book probably won't hold any new revelations for you. But still it's an ok read. I found some of it fairly repetitive but it's reinforcing stuff I've already been witnessing or experiencing.
The big question is what are our churches going to do with this information? And that part has me more intrigued, curious, excited, hopeful and confused than anything else.
Above all else in the book I was hit smack in the face with the reminder that I need to start spending more time with people outside of the church. I've got a few ideas, but I'm not entirely sure what this will end up looking like.
Your thoughts... So, what do you do to stay connected to people who don't know Jesus?
Oh what fun. I got tagged by Adam and Patti on this one. Here it goes...
Rules to play:
1. players start with 8 random facts about themselves. 2. those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts. 3. players should tag 8 other people and notify them they have been tagged.
And now for the randomness...
1. My first car was a 1982 Honda Civic. It was a stick and cost me $250. 2. I don't profess to any "man crushes" but I will admit to have taking a liking to Miss Jennifer Love Hewitt at one time in my life. 3. I once went to a Crash Test Dummies concert. 4. I love Disneyland. In fact, for our honeymoon we had the chance to go almost anywhere in the world and we chose Anaheim so we could visit Mickey & Co. 5. I got my first guitar as a gift for graduating from high school. 6. I bought a new Bible last week. 7. I just started watching UFC and am immensely enjoying it. 8. I almost pass out...for most anything that requires being stuck with a needle.
I know you're excited about this. Another post from vacation without pictures. You'll have to trust me that I really am on vacation and not just hiding in our basement.
Bryce and I are currently killing time before we head out for another stellar movie. We have a habit of picking out some of the strangest and worst movies ever created. I contemplated creating a a blog post of all the terrible movies we've seen, but then I knew that many of you would lose what little respect you still have for me.
And to those of you who are allowing us to eat your food, sit in front of your fan and sleep in your back yard, we are thankful.
Yeah, I had high hopes of getting a wireless signal somewhere and doing some diligent blogging over this vacation. So far I've had to settle for using the internet at my folks place. I've done some reading, listened to some podcasts, hunted wild butterflies with my new airsoft gun, and even got a little sleep.
I know it doesn't sound like much, but that's what is so great about vacation. But tomorrow that may change as we get ready to head into the big school reunion weekend. Maybe if you all behave I'll post some pictures eventually of what's going on.
I know my wife has a picture of the welt I got after she shot me in the back with the airsoft gun. You may want to stay tuned...
I'm officially on vacation. I have a pile of books to read. Am I allowed to read them if they mention Jesus or the Church? Or is that classified as work?
I was tagged by Adam and I wouldn't want to be the one who doesn't respond to a tag. I hear it's bad. So, without cheating, here are the next 10 songs that ended up in iTunes shuffle:
"Funky Tonight" by John Butler Trio
"Fred Jones Pt 2" by Ben Folds
"Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan
"Landed" by Ben Folds
"Dear Slim Pt 2" by KJ-52
"The Maker" by Dave Matthews Band
"Atmosphere" by TobyMac
"Sunny Days" by Jars of Clay
"Wandering" by Ben Folds
"Stuck On Rewind" by Thrift Store Romance
I'm a little amazed by the Ben Folds favoritism. I didn't even know I had that Dylan song. And no playlist is complete without Dave Matthews.
And now I shall tag Erin, Bryce, Nick, Mike and Tammy & Blaine. Pick the next 10 songs on random/shuffle and then post them. But don't cheat!
I picked up Jesus In the Margins after I had read Rick McKinley's second book This Beautiful Mess. This book identifies with me based on this phrase alone that is found on the cover:
