Archive for the 'To Think About...' Category

Black Friday

Published
by
Justin
on November 29, 2008
in Life and To Think About...
. 3 Comments

Well…today we had our own version of Black Friday…the day typically known as the biggest shopping day of the year in the U.S….we did spend money, but it wasn’t on gifts. 

Our Black Friday contained us missing our train back to Holland by…1 minute. Then having to pay a nice sum to get on the next train, despite our tickets being fully exchangeable. Needless to say, we weren’t happy about this and what made matters worse was that our (hopefully still) good friend Nadine had booked tickets to ride up to Holland with us for a trip of her own. She made it. We didn’t. Not cool. 

But I’m writing to talk about two stories that I saw on the news…both put the black in Black Friday quite well.

While the allure of good deals is always a temptation for me, I just am never dedicated enough to get up early and do the ‘first one in the doors’ game. Unlike some people at a Wal Mart in the U.S. who stormed the doors at 5 a.m. to be the first ones in and subsequently trampled an employee to death and injured four others. My mouth dropped open when reading about this…I knew consumerism was bad on the wallet and the soul, but never imagined that it could be this inhumane. Usually, our consumerism harms kids and workers thousands of miles away, not underneath our feet in the good ‘ol USofA. Here’s the article.

The second story is of two people who shot and killed each other in a Toys’R'Us in Palm Desert, California. Apparently, the two men were both carrying loaded weapons on their shopping spree and both happened to be willing to kill for the toy for their special little one. I don’t mean to make light of this at all, but this is just crazy. There are so many things wrong with this and I can’t get my mind around what would possess someone to carry a loaded gun to a toy store for kids. Or what would possess someone to shoot someone over a toy (allegedly). It’s a sad twist that they killed each other…You can read about this story here. 

What a depressing post…I guess the way that I would apply this to myself is just to ask, “How do my self-centered pursuits add to the ‘black’ days of the world around me? How do I give way for the light within me to battle the darkness of consumerism and lust of junk that I carry? Am I living in a way that brings light minus shame to the world around me?” That’s all I got…I hope that my next post isn’t so…black.

As a Kid…and a whole lot more that got added in as I started writing

Published
by
Justin
on August 30, 2008
in Life, Posts That Even Make Me Mad and To Think About...
. 5 Comments

In my last post…a lot of people chimed in…I’m really glad about that and thanks for all of you who contributed…not all of us are coming from the same place or ending at the same place, but that’s ok and the dialogue will hopefully land us closer to Jesus in the end.

So, Jeremy made a comment about life when we were younger that got me thinking about my life as a kid. I wanted to share some of my thoughts on that…

I think that every generation thinks two things: 1. This is the evilist of all generations. And 2. If you are a follower of Jesus, that this world is sooo bad that He’s coming back in our time. Seriously, people from every generation since Christ have thought this…each one more certain than the last.

I think in our time we have more mediums for bad things to happen, but in an upside down world like ours, the potential for sin is just as great 1000 years ago as it is today. The reality is that we have always had to be wise, engaged, and involved in our kids lives. Sheltering our kids from the world is an illusion. Our power/witness/influence in this world won’t come from how well we shelter our kids from what’s not good, right, and true. It will come through teaching our kids how to find and choose Jesus while they navigate the pain in this world that is sure to come. Jesus never once promises us physical safety, physical protection, or physical comfort…it’s our ability to find these spiritual realities in an upside down physical world that will be our true sign to others that He is with us and there is a difference in our souls. Simply trying to avoid pain or what is ugly in this world (which may just be the opportunity to discern right from wrong) will not get us the results we hope for.

So…now on to what I intended to write…

When I was living in Indiana we lived on a street with some rough kids…they smoked, drank, listened to Beasie Boys, mooned my mom, talked about sex, had pornography, watched Nighmare on Elm Street, fought, cussed, flipped off my dad, and stole. And these are my memories from when I was 9. Sure, I got into some trouble with these guys…like throwing a log through a window and breaking into an unlocked mobile home to drink their 7-up. All growing up I went to public school with ‘all the sinners’…heard a bunch of stuff that kids shouldn’t be talking about, saw a bunch of things that I shouldn’t have seen…said and did a bunch of things I probably shouldn’t have said or did! Through all of this I think my parents did a bunch of things really well…What they didn’t do was try and remove me from the environment I was in. Looking back, I can see how they helped me navigate where I was and the issues I was facing…

1. They communicated to me very clearly what was right and wrong about what I was seeing.

2. They instilled in me a sense of self and encouraged me to be myself and to be an example, not a follow the crowd.

3. They stayed engaged in my world.

4. They knew my friends and welcomed them into our world.

5. They helped remind me that Jesus was more important to ‘impress’ than my friends.

Now, I screwed this up a lot…especially in college. But they gave me the tools to figure things out on my own instead of trying to manage my ‘life-experience’. I greatly appreciate them for this! (among other things!)

So, back to the ideas in my head…My hope in talking about this is that we’ll all wrestle with how our families will be the kingdom of God in our worlds. If we only change the places we go, the things we watch, the things we read, and miss out on figuring out how to love, trust, give grace, forgive, and be free, then we’ve missed the point. But if we do learn to trust Jesus, love others, forgive ourselves and others, be rich with grace and forgiveness, and experience the freedom we have in Jesus while living in this world, then we truly give honor to God and express gratitude for what He has done in and for us.

Ok…this post is long enough…

Ok…one more thing: Why does God keep us on this earth with it being as messed up as it is? What can we learn about His trust in us and purpose for us through this?

Psalm 19:1-4

Published
by
Justin
on August 13, 2008
in To Think About...
. 0 Comments

The heavens declare the glory of God,

And the sky displays what his hands have made. 

One day tells a story to the next.

One night shares knowledge with the next without talking,

     without words,

            without their voices being heard.

Yet, their sound has gone out into the entire world,

Their message to the ends of the earth.

Hmm…we gotta do some thinkin’ on this one

Published
by
Justin
on August 5, 2008
in Leadership, Missional Church and To Think About...
. 2 Comments

I got this stat from another blog called ‘Next Reformation‘ who writes from Canada…Worth a listen and some time asking this question, “If we are really serious about blessing the world around us, are we really listening to what those further from God care about or do we just simply want to do what we care about better?” 

“Studies have shown that only 10% of the non-churched population are comfortable with and open to ‘contemporary worship’ style services. (ie. Hillsong style singing - preaching etc). Yet the same study shows that up to 90% of churches are moving towards this type of service. By my calculations that leaves around 90% of the unchurched population without a church presenting the message of Jesus in a culturally relevant method for them.”

This stat could be seen as a negative thing…but I see it like this: We have much possibility for innovation in the ways in which we express the Kingdom. And if our innovations move towards blessing others there are lot of people who will be on the receiving end of the good that Jesus will do through us.

Bells

Published
by
Justin
on August 4, 2008
in To Think About...
. 3 Comments

I had forgotten about church bells in Europe…funny the things that leave the mind after a year. But near Phil and Laina’s there is a church called De Bron (in English = The Source).

On Sunday as Jen and I were sitting up in the office at the house we heard the bells ring. And then 45 minutes or so later, we heard them ring again. Both times they rang for a while. 

Jen asked, “Why are they ringing so much?” 

The first thing that went through my head was, “To remind people that they are still there.”

Is There Just Too Much on the Jesus Sandwich?

Published
by
Justin
on May 12, 2008
in Missional Church, Posts That Even Make Me Mad and To Think About...
. 5 Comments

Yesterday I went over to my buddy Jeremy’s place to help put in a fence…I got in a conversation with one of his neighbor’s friends who had recently started going back to a church because of his kids. As the conversation went on we started talking about the Church. I was asking his thoughts about his new church experience and stuff. He was saying he grew up Methodist, so the new rock music at church was quite different. His wife still did not attend as she ‘didn’t have any experience with the Church as a kid’…i.e. there was nothing to return to, because she had never been. He asked me my thoughts on ‘contemporary’ church…this is where is gets a little tricky. Because on one hand, I didn’t want in the least bit to discourage him from going to his new church, yet on the other hand, I wanted to be honest. 

So, I told him that I thought that church’s efforts to be more relevant to culture via music and style were great. However, my fear is that we as church leadership are only creating a tastier religious culture for the churched to consume. I have this creepy feeling that we are replicating the sickness of consumerism from our culture in the Church. ‘I’m not being fed. The teaching isn’t my style. The kids ministry doesn’t do enough. The music is to loud. The room is too dark. The room is too big. I don’t like the color of the pastor’s shirts. I have to park so far away.’ … and even…’I am so fed at my church. I love the pastor’s wardrobe. I am only asked to give 10% of my income at my church. I love the dark and more spiritual feel of the auditorium.’ … these are the cries of people who have become connoisseurs of the Bride of Jesus. And sometimes all we do as leaders is refine their palates. But don’t worry…I didn’t go into that detail with this guy…I instead tried to offer the positive (and less prophet sounding) answer…

I told him, that I think that all of the new things that we are trying are good and express a good heart and good intentions, but I felt like so often we add too much ‘mustard and mayonnaise’ to a simple Jesus sandwich…and never taste the real meat. Call me crazy, but I told this guy that Jesus teachings were very simple, but would take a lifetime of devotion: Love God with your heart, mind, and soul…And love your neighbor as yourself. Trust that Jesus was who He said he was and follow Him. It’s that simple. 

The ‘good church-leader’ in me balked. Inside I heard a voice say, “But be sure and add in all the stuff about going to church!…oh and tithing…oh and doing a quiet time…oh and serving in the kids ministry…gotta get that in too! Quick, make sure he knows right away everything that he’s supposed to do or you’re not doing your job!” But I stopped with Jesus. I stopped where He stopped. I believe that Jesus is THE message and that in Him we are guided by the Spirit in God’s timing to maturity. I wanted this guy to hear clearly my belief in the simple message of Jesus, the most simple/dangerous/costly/attainable message in history. 

I could have talked all about being missional, being incarnational, being relevant, being worshipful…but instead I walked away from the conversation certain that I had done my Lord right, by putting Him at the forefront, in the center of all things, and as the most important thing. My prayer is that we as followers of the Way would come to believe that Jesus is the way, He is our salvation, and we can trust Him for guidance. I believe that as we live as Jesus lived, a light, an offering, one poured out, touching the ugly, restoring the shamed…He will orchestrate koinonia…true ‘fellowship’…around us…and that is the Church. The earthly manifestation of God’s good intentions for the world. 

Hope That Changes Everything

Published
by
Justin
on March 23, 2008
in Head to Fingers, Theology and To Think About...
. 1 Comment

I have been doing a lot of reflecting as we’ve been coming up on Easter. In a lot of church circles, people have rediscovered traditional ways of preparing for Easter…namely Lent. I’ve tried to do lent, but usually forget what it is I’m fasting from until I’m half way through some fries or a glass of coke. But this year, I’ve just been silently meditating on what this day/event means to me.

In a phrase, Easter gives me hope that changes everything. Honestly, if you take away Jesus’ resurrection, He is still a wise teacher, a revolutionary leader, a polarizing historical figure, a brilliant Rabbi, but insane for sure…These things are great in and of themselves to think about (except if he were insane) and to emulate. But seeing as I believe the resurrection of Jesus really did happen it changes everything. The ‘earthly’ genius of Jesus remains intact (and given even more authority), but it is in the felt-but-not-seen realities of our world that the huge change takes place.

In the resurrection of Jesus I believe that death has no power. I believe that death has been conquered, defeated, and disarmed of fear. And when we live in a world where spiritual death is absent, then it only leaves us with life! Only life. And this changes everything.

In the resurrection of Jesus I believe that my sins and mistakes do not count against me. The reality that Jesus death covered our sins is only influential in that Jesus also defeated our sin by being restored to life. Because of this, I can believe that my mistakes do not disqualify me from also being restored. Because we are all chosen in Christ, we can each embrace the reality that we are not lost in sin, but we are forgiven to forgive. We are loved to love. And we are restored to restore. Sin has no power because of the resurrection. And this changes everything.

In the resurrection of Jesus I believe that I am also called to live a resurrection life. This is when we realize that we are gifted with the ability to reenact in our spirit and life the resurrection of Jesus…on a minute-by-minute, day-to-day, month-to-month basis. It is in the freedom found in the resurrection of Jesus that we are called to live freely. Free to love. Free to forgive. Free to be sent. And also free of shame, fear, and guilt. And this changes everything.

The hope that my life counts, that I have a purpose, that I am loved, that I am forgiven, that I am chosen…hang in the balance of the resurrection. And because it really did happen all of these (and so many more) are true.

Have a great Easter…I hope that you will find yourself continually amazed at the breadth to which Jesus resurrection can, does, and will restore all things.

The Story of Stuff

Published
by
Justin
on January 6, 2008
in To Think About...
. 1 Comment

If you click on this website you’ll find a 20 minute video that should change the way that you think about your life and the way that you live it. It did for Jen and I. I couldn’t help but feel that this video was a truth that we Christ followers should be (and should have been) preaching and thinking about.

Story of Stuff

If you watch it and think, “Tree Huggers…” or “It isn’t so bad…” or “the world is going to end and Jesus is going to come back before it gets too bad”… please watch it again (and look at our call in Gen 2 to be stewards of the earth*) and try to focus on the effect that this has on people…God’s people. God’s children. If you knew that one of your kids was getting rich by forcing one of your other ones into prostitution, you’d probably be pretty upset. Sorry God…forgive us and give us wisdom and discipline to change our ways.

*And then think of how Jesus taught about how important it is to be found doing what we’re supposed to be doing when He does come back. Or think about how in your gut this just doesn’t feel (or look) like it’s how God intended it to be, and then think about how we as followers of Jesus are left here on earth to actually be God’s ambassadors…as if God himself was making his plea (making His case that His way is better than ours) through us. If the best we can come up with is gross mis-stewardship, undisciplined and careless living, abusing strangers, and not living out God’s mandate for creation, but we get to escape all the consequences (there is a huge element to this obviously found in grace and the Gospel) it just doesn’t feel right to me. And I don’t think that this way of thinking is congruent with a biblical world view. But we’ll see one day…

Thanks to Dan for putting this on his blog…and Rogier…some Americans are speaking up. (Don’t know if he will even see this, but after a recent post of his, this stuff should be good news.