Not really a vent...just a funny happening from the other day:
So, Jos and I are driving near our home yesterday in my truck. In front of us is this older Accord. in front of them, an SUV of some sort. We were all in the turn lane.
The SUV begins to go and turn right, but immediately brakes because he/she notices that traffic is coming and he/she would cause an accident. Car #2 (the accord) must have been to full of coffee cause they were raring to go...so they had to slam on their brakes which was immediately followed by their slamming their hand on this thing called "the horn." Now, mind you, a little horn tap goes a long way in driving. I don't mind it at all.
Said driver of car #2 - here-after referred to as DWEEB (Dude With Emotionally Eratic Buttheadedness) didn't just tap the horn...he laid his hand upon it like the Ducks laid their hands on the Beavers this year...SMACK!!!! SMACK!!!! and then a constant - unending SSSSMMMMAAAACCKKK!!! DWEEB wouldn't quit the honking.
This, as you can imagine, caused the passenger in the SUV to let him know that he was "number 1" in their heart. Jos and I kind of chuckled, but also talked about what a DWEEB the DWEEB was being. Patience is a virtue after all.
So...the SUV turns, DWEEB turns, we turn. SUV then proceeds to go about 15 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone. DWEEB drives right behind him...and because we feel like we are being left out of the fun - we tailgate the DWEEB with my truck so all he saw was a grill.
Eventually Mr. SUV turns into a parking lot, with the female passenger giving the DWEEB a double-barrel salute and DWEEB goes on...ultimately turning into our subdivision - where i get a nice view of who the DWEEB is...and honestly - he looks like one of our many Meth heads here in Eugene. Maybe an unfair characterization...but having lived here for 5 years, I am beginning to get a good eye for these kinds of things.
So...any funny stories out there???
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
a little about works versus faith
Study through James and one comes upon this writing:
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?" (James 2:14-15)
Now - it is pretty obvious to anyone who reads the New Testament once in a while that anyone who claims to follow Jesus is supposed to be involved in serving others. This is the way of Jesus and one cannot be a follower of his without living as he did. Seems straight forward enough.
Here's the problem (ie...my vent): It seems like very few Christians (at least in American Christianity) actually follow through on this need to serve others...which may explain why American Christianity is struggling in the faith department because James seems to be saying (imo) that it is these acts of service and love that will energize our faith.
Think about it. How different might the world be if followers of Jesus put as much effort into serving others as they do into their Sunday morning attendance, or their Bible studies, or their accountability groups. Don't get me wrong, those are important...but why do we focus on those so much and exclude a focus on caring for others.
Indeed, one of the things that ancient Romans historians noted was that even though they found the followers of Jesus strange in some things; they noted how they were known for loving and caring for others.
So...how different might the world, our cities, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and our churches be if faith communities all over began to take seriously the need to "do good works."
What would it take for this to happen? What would the cost be?
Just something to think about.
In grace and understanding - John
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?" (James 2:14-15)
Now - it is pretty obvious to anyone who reads the New Testament once in a while that anyone who claims to follow Jesus is supposed to be involved in serving others. This is the way of Jesus and one cannot be a follower of his without living as he did. Seems straight forward enough.
Here's the problem (ie...my vent): It seems like very few Christians (at least in American Christianity) actually follow through on this need to serve others...which may explain why American Christianity is struggling in the faith department because James seems to be saying (imo) that it is these acts of service and love that will energize our faith.
Think about it. How different might the world be if followers of Jesus put as much effort into serving others as they do into their Sunday morning attendance, or their Bible studies, or their accountability groups. Don't get me wrong, those are important...but why do we focus on those so much and exclude a focus on caring for others.
Indeed, one of the things that ancient Romans historians noted was that even though they found the followers of Jesus strange in some things; they noted how they were known for loving and caring for others.
So...how different might the world, our cities, our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and our churches be if faith communities all over began to take seriously the need to "do good works."
What would it take for this to happen? What would the cost be?
Just something to think about.
In grace and understanding - John
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A continued vent from facebook
Okay - so on fb I posted this and would like to continue the discussion:
Thinking about the paradigms within the church world...I want to consider this question: If making disciples is the primary mission of the church, then why do we use the paradigm that we do on Sunday mornings? Is it an effective means to meeting the goal or is it just an old ineffective paradigm? And if it is ineffective, what are other options/paradigms that might be more effective?
What do I mean? Well, simply put, most every church does the same thing on Sunday's. Generally it looks like this:
So - the question to consider is: Is this the best use of 1-2 hours every week in an effort to fulfill the said goal of making disciples? And if not, why do we do it this way? Is it biblical - therefore - we must? Is it cultural - therefore we do?
And if changes were to occur - what would they look like? What would take its place?
Let's get creative!
Thinking about the paradigms within the church world...I want to consider this question: If making disciples is the primary mission of the church, then why do we use the paradigm that we do on Sunday mornings? Is it an effective means to meeting the goal or is it just an old ineffective paradigm? And if it is ineffective, what are other options/paradigms that might be more effective?
What do I mean? Well, simply put, most every church does the same thing on Sunday's. Generally it looks like this:
- Opening song
- Greeting/Welcome
- Music we sing to (anywhere from 3-7 songs)
- Message (anywhere from 20-60 minutes depending on the ego...err...uhm...wordiness of the pastor/teacher)
- go home
So - the question to consider is: Is this the best use of 1-2 hours every week in an effort to fulfill the said goal of making disciples? And if not, why do we do it this way? Is it biblical - therefore - we must? Is it cultural - therefore we do?
And if changes were to occur - what would they look like? What would take its place?
Let's get creative!
An Initial Vent: Why is there no opportunity, within the church, to vent?
Venting, or expressing one's displeasure and desire for change or alterations is often seen as a negative. While it is true that venting just for the sake of venting, can be psychologically and emotionally (even spiritually) beneficial, it ultimately changes nothing; except of course for letting off steam.
Thus this blog. At times I may just vent and anyone reading (or just the air if no one reads) may just need to say, "feel better John?" However, the goal of this blog is to use our venting expressions as a means of bringing creative change, if not to the church at large, then to this local Eugene, Oregon expression.
A couple rules:
Thus this blog. At times I may just vent and anyone reading (or just the air if no one reads) may just need to say, "feel better John?" However, the goal of this blog is to use our venting expressions as a means of bringing creative change, if not to the church at large, then to this local Eugene, Oregon expression.
A couple rules:
- no foul language. (I will try hard to obey this one too.) Foul language simply isn't creative enough to belong on this blog.
- no putdowns of others opinions. (Again - be creative. saying one's idea is stupid isn't creative, its juvenile. Use creative reasoning to debate and discuss)
- no holding onto past traditions just for the sake of...well...holding onto past traditions.
- no other rules.
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