A Different Kind of Christian Demonstration at Gay Pride | TimSchraeder.com

Reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel. Reconciliation between once-opposed enemies is truly good news for all people. (What the angels spoke of to the shepherds in Luke’s gospel)

Even as a kid we are taught to say we are sorry. Even if we believe that we are 100% right, we were taught to learn that there must be something that we need to apologize for. That we at least have 1% of the problem to own…but honestly only arrogant people would claim a measly 1%!

Being able to say sorry first is a humble expression to move towards the issue or the people. I think that what our brothers in Chicago did is a great example of moving toward an issue that needs reconciliation.

May God give us all the courage to reconcile the ‘wars’ that wage in our lives. When we do, we model His movement towards us as humanity. When we don’t, we miss out…We miss out on the Gospel coming alive in our lives.

When you think of reconciling an issue in your life, what comes to mind? What issues might have you been too afraid of to move towards?

May God’s grace be with you as move towards these things…

Tonight is the story of two train rides that have a sobering similarity.

On my way out to practice it was rush hour. There were hundreds of people out and the train was packed. There was no chance of finding of seat so I stood with backpack squeezed in between my ankles, certainly too cramped for me to wear the backpack! I had to hold the bar up above my head to keep my balance. This reminded me of my days in Paris when I’d ride the metro there at around 5:30pm! I love riding trains like this, unless it’s all four of us and we have a stroller and two kids that are getting smushed! The diversity of the people here is remarkable. Each person with a past, a story, a place they are coming from, the experiences of their day. Who knows where they are going…what their home is like. Most people are riding by themselves and sharing nothing other than a seat with the person sitting next to them. All that to say, the metro was packed with people from everywhere…and when you stop to really look at other people, you can’t help but be touched by their humanity and really wonder who they are…at least for me.

My ride home from training was much different. When I walked down to the track there was only one other person waiting for a train. I walked down the platform to the back of the train because I knew that the exit where I would get off was down there. I had my headphones on so I couldn’t really hear anything, but in that particular station there is always the smell of oily railroad ties…I kind of like that smell. I sat there smelling the smell, hearing my music, and looking for the train with virtually no other sign of life in the station. It would have made for a cool photo shoot spot. When the train came into the station I walked up to the door that stopped in front of me. I pushed the green button to open the door and I got on the train. This time, instead of ‘standing room only’ I had the pick of every seat in my car. I was alone. It was almost creepy…especially with my headphones on not being able to tell if anyone else really was on there with me. I looked over my shoulder a few time (as I often do in my neighborhood) to see if anyone was there because in situations like that, I don’t like surprises (not saying that the trains are dangerous at all in Barcelona…just saying I like to know if someone is behind me!) As we pulled into the Arc de Triumph station I stood up and looked around at all the empty chairs and realized something.

“Statistically speaking, there are probably just as many people on this empty train that follow Jesus as the crowded train that I rode on the way to practice early tonight: one…me”

I’ve probably said this 50 times at gatherings in the US…the reality in Europe is that when I ride the bus or the metro there is a high chance that I am the only Jesus follower on that bus or metro. It’s really a huge contrast to the places that I’ve lived before.

But tonight it was different for me to experience that reality like this. Being alone physically really heightened the truth that I am often very alone spiritually.

I guess there are two points to me processing this: one is to remind myself of the vacuum that exists here. I really believe that following Jesus is the hope for this life and the next…and it kills me that so many go through life never knowing the God who is Love…the love that brings grace, redemption, wholeness, peace…

The second thought that comes to mind is the story Paul when he was in Corinth and felt very alone. God reminded him that He had ‘many people’ in that city and that God himself was with Paul (Acts 18). I know that there are two kinds of people that God has here: one being other people that follow Jesus already (we’re trying to meet and connect with these people now), but the other being people that are seeking God…that God has already begun working in their lives and they just need someone to walk with them on the road. This is why we’ve come here…to trust God that we’ll be lead to these people and that they will with experience Jesus through us…and even better, taste and see for themselves that Jesus is who he claimed to be and that becoming ‘a learner’ of Jesus does bring the Life that Jesus said it would.

The beauty of living in the middle of a city (and sometimes difficulty) is that I just can’t escape human contact. I am constantly reminded of my smallness, my weakness, while swimming in this sea of life. I’m grateful for how this teaches me humility. I am also humbled by the work we have chosen to embrace…living out the Kingdom of God in a place like this seems small…like a mustard seed, or a bit of yeast, or something…but we look with anticipation to what is to come. I’m loving this lesson that I learned on the train…

BBC News – Racist abuse against Balotelli feared at Inter-Juve tie

The truth is that Europe is the first place in the world that is making (has made) the transition to being truly multi-cultural…or maybe synchronistic is a better word. Sure, there can be a case that the United States was first many hundred years ago, but even then it didn’t have the mix of religious, deep cultural, and ethnic synchronism that is at the core of how Europe’s modern culture is being formed. Europeans that may want to keep their countries or regions truly mono-cultural have already lost the fight. There is no end in sight for the shifting landscape of Europe as east, west, north, and south merge together here.

The ugly attitude (and words) of the fans in the article above is representative of this dying breed of people who hold onto the idea that Italians, Spanish, or French could maintain a historic hold on their image. This idea is no longer. People are going to have to live with the reality that a black man is as Italian as they are. And as time goes on all Europeans will have to live with the fact that what makes someone European or not will have nothing to do with their family history.

]]> http://urbanidealist.com/2009/12/06/a-scene-of-racism-in-modern-europe/feed/ 0 http://urbanidealist.com/2009/12/03/commitment-to-excellence-more-like-commitment-to-self/ http://urbanidealist.com/2009/12/03/commitment-to-excellence-more-like-commitment-to-self/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:43:37 +0000 Justin http://urbanidealist.com/2009/12/03/commitment-to-excellence-more-like-commitment-to-self/ Disgruntled Oakland Raiders fans post billboard asking owner Al Davis to hire GM – ESPN

Al Davis has done a fabulous job of preparing the Raiders to establish a new legacy when he’s no longer running things. I am a not a Raider’s fan at all, but still feel for fans who’ve had to put up with his selfishness and lack of wisdom.

Just to add some sort of relevance to this post…This situation reminds me of what happens at churches when new leaders aren’t developed and the church slowly loses relevance. The only difference is that these fans don’t just leave and start rooting for a new team and talk bad about the team they left! If only churches could have more healthy debate (key word healthy), but I guess that would require shaking up the current hierarchy that exists in many of the families of God…

One: The words…

I have finally found a way to live, just like I never could before.
I know that I dont have much to give, but I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a way to live in the color of the Lord.

I have finally found a place to live just like I never could before.
And I know I dont have much to give, but soon Ill open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a place to live in the presence of the Lord.
In the presence of the Lord.

I have finally found a way to live just like I never could before.
And I know I dont have much to give, but I can open any door.
Everybody knows the secret, I said everybody knows the score.
I have finally found a way to live in the color of the Lord.
In the color of the Lord.

Two: As a guitarist, a rocked out, overdriven, wah wah pedaled, guitar solo has got to be one of the best ways to celebrate the presence of the Lord…Yes Eric, yes….and yes Jesus, yes.

Here is a story of another man who might be suffering from the same level of deception:

BBC NEWS | Europe | US veteran’s D-Day lies exposed

It would be sad if this man were just be a deceiver like some boys (in contrast to men intentionally) on the Bachelorette named Wes. But his stories and ability to continue with them make me think that this guy has just created some memories and really believes them. (Unlike creating the idea that you’re going to be a successful public figure when everyone now knows how cruel of a person you are.)

But if you’re interested in learning more about self-deception and false memories you should really read the book…it’s very very interesting!

The Future of Food

To be honest when it was over, I was pretty fired up. The thought that kept going through my head was

The love of money is the root of all evil.

I am not shocked, but I am saddened at how many in our government are creating and ruling on laws that benefit themselves while the American people are kept in the dark.

On top of the political side of the documentary, I was saddened by the ecological side as well! The diversity of foods are being controlled by corporations who make a ‘super seed’ that they can sell to farmers that will grow and with stand ‘Roundup’ because of its DNA manipulation…this just isn’t natural.

On top of the political and ecological issues, I was saddened by the ethical practices of corporations who have patented seeds, that even when scattered accidentally on a farmers property (like from a passing truck) give the corporation right to sue the farmer for ‘patent infringement’. Patent infringement? On a seed? Well, it makes money, a lot of money…just watch the video.

After watching things like this, it makes me glad that we are moving to Europe. When people in Europe fight for their rights, people hear about it because they aren’t inoculated by garbage news stories that take the American attention away from the real issues of life. And beside…When Europeans outraged against genetically altered food, their governments listened, because they didn’t have personal profit at stake!

Here’s the point though…we can speak out against things and get information out. That’s part of why I why I write on here. So watch the movie, be mad, and then start changing things…for the future.

So fast forward to this morning. I’m reading the Bible and a guy sidles up to me.

“What are you reading?”, he says.

I said, “the Bible.”

He says, “What part?”

I say, “I Samuel…the part about David and Goliath.”

This is when he said, “I’m Miguel by the way.” Then he had me turn to Romans chapter 1 and proceeded to tell me about Martin Luther. He asked how long I had been studying the Bible.

I told him, “A while.”

He then told me that I needed to ‘forget about stuff like Samuel.’ And that I need to focus solely on the Gospel. That is where the power of God is at.

Then as I started talking, he excused himself from the conversation.

Let me go over a few reasons why I beg you not to be like Miguel:

a.) Don’t ever criticize how or what someone is reading in scripture. Especially, if you don’t know them at all!

b.) Don’t ever tell somebody that they should ‘forget about’ parts of Scripture. C’mon Miguel.

c.) Don’t ever preach a sermon to a stranger and then walk away as they start to respond.

d.) Don’t ever forget that the Gospel is God’s story of redemption through Jesus and we find that all over scripture.

e.) Don’t let your head knowledge of the Good News become more important than living the Good News. Jesus said that loving God with our all our heart, mind, soul, and strength was the most important thing. And the second thing was ‘like it’, love your neighbor as yourself. Our surrender to God releases us to be surrendered to others. Our love for and from God inspires us to love others. If our relationship with God gets boiled down to doctrine and intellectual enlightenment then we are missing the boat. (not necessarily saying that about Miguel, probably preaching a sermonette to myself.)

As he walked out the door I tried not to feel judged, or to judge. I prayed that he would step into the fullness of the Good News and that his life would become ‘the workmanship’ that it was created to be. I prayed that his heart would align with his head. But in the meantime…be like Jesus…not like Miguel. No offense Miguel.

Oswald and his dog decide to build a birdhouse. They get the supplies and build their nice wooden birdhouse. They get it ready to put out for the birds, but then a friend comes by and says,

“That’s not what birds like. Birds like polka dots.”

Because Oswald is a sweet and caring walking Octopus, he gets paint and puts polka dots on it. Once again he goes to put it out for the birds, but then another friend comes by and says,

“Oh, that smells like paint. Birds don’t like the smell of paint. You should put flowers in it.”

So Oswald goes and gets some flowers and puts them in the birdhouse. For a third time he goes to put it out as another friend comes by and tells him,

“Birds aren’t going to know that this birdhouse is here. You need to get some bells to draw attention to it.”

Oswald goes out and finds some really nice bells to draw attention to it and then goes and hangs it in the yard. Birds fly by, but none of them ever go in the polka dotted, flower filled, ringing house. Oswald had done everything his friends told he needed to do to attract birds. He didn’t understand what he was missing.

As he was pondering it started to rain. The wind started to blow. The polka dots got washed off and the wind blew the flowers and bells away. The rain and wind left and Oswald is left with the birdhouse that he started with. Just has he’s starting to talk about all the work that he had to do again, a few birds come up and go in the house.

Then came the line. Oswald says,

“I guess what the birds really wanted was a nice, plain, and simple birdhouse”

This reminded me of something.

I thought about how as church-planter, it’s easy to listen to all the voices that, with good intentions, speak into my life or work. Or listen to the new books that say to add this or that.

As we head off to start a new work, I am consciously trying to reject being over complicated, or excessively professional or slick. When I really think about what people without faith in Jesus are looking for, it’s not the newest trends or ideas that we talk about in the Church-world. (I think that a lot of this is a distraction from simple mission, and new ways to talk about keeping believers entertained and interested) I think that what people are looking for are summed up in what Henri Nouwen asks in his reflection on leadership, “In the Name of Jesus”,

“Do you love me?”

At the end of the day, I think that what people want and need to experience aren’t the polka dots, flowers, and bells that we decorate Church with…they need to experience the simplicity and significance of what it mean for God to love them.

It’s easy to give into the temptation to listen too much, and add too many things to the simple practices that God has given us to participate in. I do believe that in Europe the rain and wind have come on the church and are calling us to simplify in order to be a home for the world around us.