I’m sitting here somewhat engrossed in the fifth movie in the “Harry Potter” series (for those of you who haven’t been keeping up with all things Hogwarts that would be “The Order of the Phoenix”) and I’m asking myself why this particular movie world has become so popular for so many people.
I guess it could be the quality of the product. I’m not much of a movie critic but each of the films in the series seems to be fairly well produced, decently acted, with nice special effects and fairly true to the book on which it was based.
What I think is happening is that there is something appealing about a world filled with magic where nothing about life is set in stone. How many of us grew up wishing we could wave a wand and change the size of our noses or whisk off a few extra pounds? There was a time in my life when I actually wanted to be a “wizard.” It was an irrational dream but I was young and insecure and thinking about it today reminds me of how desperate life can be.
I’m starting to think that we want to believe in a Harry Potter world because life is hard and we are weak.
Some people would say that we believers in God do so for the same reasons but I see it as just the opposite. In the Harry Potter world I either have magical powers or I don’t, some are blessed and some are not. In God’s world all of us have been equally invited to belong to Him. All of us can know his love and forgiveness in our lives. In a Hogwarts world I manipulate the world to make it what I want it to be. In God’s world I have come to learn that God is the author of all creation and that I have been invited to be one of his stewards. In a Harry Potter world I escape from reality. In God’s world I come face-to-face with the person I really am.
I still like a good fantasy. I have been a sci-fi guy since I picked up my first Superman comic but I understand the difference between make believe and reality and I am here to testify that it doesn’t get any more real than Jesus.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Isn't God Amazing?
I was reading an interesting article in the most recent “Christianity Today” about a man who was moved to return to faith through reading the writings of Albert Camus, a French philosopher (and atheist) who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. It reminded me a little bit of my own faith journey.
I’m not trying to suggest (or even imply) that I was filling the quiet moments of my teenage years reading the works of Albert Camus, I had never even heard of Camus until I was in college, but one of the big players in my spiritual journey was the rock musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” a musical and dramatic piece that was never thought of as being that complimentary to the historic Christian faith.
“Superstar” was the only thing that I asked for on my 18th birthday. I listened to it incessantly and after years of singing in Church choirs this was the first time that I consciously remembered hearing about people like Caiaphas (the High Priest in the temple in Jerusalem) and Judas Iscariot (the disciple who betrayed Jesus.) I learned the story of Jesus passion from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
I didn’t give my life to Jesus because of “Superstar” but I did hear the story in a way that I had never heard it before. No matter how inaccurate (or inappropriate) “Superstar” was socially or theologically it became a piece of the spiritual puzzle that I was struggling to understand.
In 1 Corinthians 10 the Apostle Paul said, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial” and I believe that to be true. There are lots of things that can influence us away from hearing or following after Jesus. Not everything is helpful, but I wonder if we sometimes dismiss things too quickly. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I believe that God is able to use an amazingly diverse collection of things to draw us closer to Him and we should never underestimate what God is able to do with ordinary things and in the lives of ordinary people. I guess what I’m trying to say is, “Isn’t God amazing?”
I’m not trying to suggest (or even imply) that I was filling the quiet moments of my teenage years reading the works of Albert Camus, I had never even heard of Camus until I was in college, but one of the big players in my spiritual journey was the rock musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” a musical and dramatic piece that was never thought of as being that complimentary to the historic Christian faith.
“Superstar” was the only thing that I asked for on my 18th birthday. I listened to it incessantly and after years of singing in Church choirs this was the first time that I consciously remembered hearing about people like Caiaphas (the High Priest in the temple in Jerusalem) and Judas Iscariot (the disciple who betrayed Jesus.) I learned the story of Jesus passion from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
I didn’t give my life to Jesus because of “Superstar” but I did hear the story in a way that I had never heard it before. No matter how inaccurate (or inappropriate) “Superstar” was socially or theologically it became a piece of the spiritual puzzle that I was struggling to understand.
In 1 Corinthians 10 the Apostle Paul said, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial” and I believe that to be true. There are lots of things that can influence us away from hearing or following after Jesus. Not everything is helpful, but I wonder if we sometimes dismiss things too quickly. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I believe that God is able to use an amazingly diverse collection of things to draw us closer to Him and we should never underestimate what God is able to do with ordinary things and in the lives of ordinary people. I guess what I’m trying to say is, “Isn’t God amazing?”
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sailing Through Life With A Smile
I was driving home from Church a few weeks back and I happened to glance in the rearview mirror and realized that the woman behind me, driving a rather large SUV, was flossing her teeth. With two hands doing the flossing there were no hands left for the steering wheel. I’ve heard some car companies suggest that their vehicles practically drive themselves. At this particular moment I was hoping the claim was true.
And, to make matters worse, while I was using my rearview mirror to check on what was going on behind me (something my Driver’s Ed. instructor told me I was supposed to do every eight seconds) this woman was using hers to check her smile.
Now, I have nothing against good oral hygiene, but I wanted to say to the woman with the clean teeth, “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?” And then I found myself praying for a complete stranger in a big SUV who happened to have a nice smile.
This picture in my rearview mirror was also a reminder to me that the world around me is outside of my control. I can order my own life to the best of my ability (keep both hands on the wheel and pay attention to where I’m headed) and still be run down by someone who thinks they are somehow exempted from common sense.
This, in turn, reminded me that I really do need to trust in someone who is bigger than me; someone who is bigger than SUV’s and inattentive drivers.
Some people might call this need for someone to order my “order-less” life a weakness but I think of it as just being smart. If I know that there are large segments of my life that are beyond my control it seems to me that I (we) need to give control to someone who can take the randomness of our lives and make it meaningful.
I’m not talking about a self-centered protectionism. This is not a relationship that exempts me from the stupidity of the people around me. But, this is a relationship that can help to make sense out of the stupidity that we see lived out every day. In His own miraculous way, our God is able to take the “out-of-control” and use it to transform the world. I’m just saying. You have to pay attention.
And, to make matters worse, while I was using my rearview mirror to check on what was going on behind me (something my Driver’s Ed. instructor told me I was supposed to do every eight seconds) this woman was using hers to check her smile.
Now, I have nothing against good oral hygiene, but I wanted to say to the woman with the clean teeth, “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?” And then I found myself praying for a complete stranger in a big SUV who happened to have a nice smile.
This picture in my rearview mirror was also a reminder to me that the world around me is outside of my control. I can order my own life to the best of my ability (keep both hands on the wheel and pay attention to where I’m headed) and still be run down by someone who thinks they are somehow exempted from common sense.
This, in turn, reminded me that I really do need to trust in someone who is bigger than me; someone who is bigger than SUV’s and inattentive drivers.
Some people might call this need for someone to order my “order-less” life a weakness but I think of it as just being smart. If I know that there are large segments of my life that are beyond my control it seems to me that I (we) need to give control to someone who can take the randomness of our lives and make it meaningful.
I’m not talking about a self-centered protectionism. This is not a relationship that exempts me from the stupidity of the people around me. But, this is a relationship that can help to make sense out of the stupidity that we see lived out every day. In His own miraculous way, our God is able to take the “out-of-control” and use it to transform the world. I’m just saying. You have to pay attention.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Run Away Life
I apologize for being away so long but these last couple of months have been crazy.
For those of you who don’t know us that well, Julie and I found out at the end of January that we were being reappointed to Community United Methodist Church in Elm Grove, Wisconsin and since that time we have shopped for and found a house to purchase, arranged for new flooring, appliances and countertop, sorted through 15 years of accumulated memories, packed our entire lives into boxes, moved to New Berlin, unpacked countless boxes and tried to create some form of a “new normal” life.
What I have been learning (and not for the first time) is that “life” has a way of grabbing you by the nose and leading you from one challenge (or opportunity) to another, leaving you very little time for the things you want to do or for things you know you should do.
It’s an interesting thought...to be enslaved by our own lives. To paraphrase Walt Kelly, “I have seen the enemy and he is me.” To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, “our battle isn’t against flesh and blood (other people)”, our real battle is against our own desires, our dreams and fears.
Jesus’ message has always been that if we are willing to trust in Him He will help us re-order our lives. He can change the way we see ourselves and the way we see everything around us. Jesus can fulfill our dreams and take away our fears. This is the kind of help we all need.
So, as I watch my life run away with me I realize that I need His help. The temptation will always be to work harder or get up earlier and try to bend my life to my will. I have played that game and lost a number of times. Our help will always be found in Jesus. That’s the first thing we need to recognize and then we need to learn to lean on Him.
For those of you who don’t know us that well, Julie and I found out at the end of January that we were being reappointed to Community United Methodist Church in Elm Grove, Wisconsin and since that time we have shopped for and found a house to purchase, arranged for new flooring, appliances and countertop, sorted through 15 years of accumulated memories, packed our entire lives into boxes, moved to New Berlin, unpacked countless boxes and tried to create some form of a “new normal” life.
What I have been learning (and not for the first time) is that “life” has a way of grabbing you by the nose and leading you from one challenge (or opportunity) to another, leaving you very little time for the things you want to do or for things you know you should do.
It’s an interesting thought...to be enslaved by our own lives. To paraphrase Walt Kelly, “I have seen the enemy and he is me.” To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, “our battle isn’t against flesh and blood (other people)”, our real battle is against our own desires, our dreams and fears.
Jesus’ message has always been that if we are willing to trust in Him He will help us re-order our lives. He can change the way we see ourselves and the way we see everything around us. Jesus can fulfill our dreams and take away our fears. This is the kind of help we all need.
So, as I watch my life run away with me I realize that I need His help. The temptation will always be to work harder or get up earlier and try to bend my life to my will. I have played that game and lost a number of times. Our help will always be found in Jesus. That’s the first thing we need to recognize and then we need to learn to lean on Him.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Spiritual Meatloaf
May 12th:
The other day I was enjoying a meatloaf sandwich (some things are just better leftover) and mid-bite a morsel of ketchup and mayo covered meatloaf fell out of the sandwich, bounced down my shirt and on to my pants. It’s one of the risks one accepts when you’re dealing with culinary perfection. Consequently, after the sandwich was gone I went to change into a spot-free outfit.
As I was going through my clothing change I thought back to my childhood to a time when my shirtsleeves were my napkins and dirt simply wasn’t that big of a deal. This led me to wonder what it is about youth that makes appearance such a non-issue and what it is about adulthood that makes appearance such a big deal.
I’m not sure I have all of the complexities of this issue figured out, but the word that came to mind was “oblivious.” It seems to me that children have a tendency to be oblivious to what is happening around them including what other people think. Ketchup spots just don’t register.
The question then became, “When Jesus suggested that we all need to be like children was he encouraging us to be “oblivious” to the world around us?” I don’t think so. Jesus sends us into the world to “seek and save the lost.” That doesn’t happen unless we care and in order to care we have to pay attention.
Maybe what Jesus was saying is that we need to learn to be “oblivious” to ourselves. We need to surrender ourselves to God’s love for us and then (because we are convinced of that love) we will begin to understand how unimportant all of the temporary things in our lives really are. Ketchup spots just don’t matter and neither does the style of our clothes or the size of our houses. We are not the sum total of our things. We are special because God declares it so. The challenge of faith (for those of us beyond our childhood) is to be oblivious to our own lives and passionately involved with everyone else.
Like I said, I’m not sure I have all of the complexities of this issue figured out, but I am working on it. One thing I do know for sure. I like meatloaf sandwiches.
The other day I was enjoying a meatloaf sandwich (some things are just better leftover) and mid-bite a morsel of ketchup and mayo covered meatloaf fell out of the sandwich, bounced down my shirt and on to my pants. It’s one of the risks one accepts when you’re dealing with culinary perfection. Consequently, after the sandwich was gone I went to change into a spot-free outfit.
As I was going through my clothing change I thought back to my childhood to a time when my shirtsleeves were my napkins and dirt simply wasn’t that big of a deal. This led me to wonder what it is about youth that makes appearance such a non-issue and what it is about adulthood that makes appearance such a big deal.
I’m not sure I have all of the complexities of this issue figured out, but the word that came to mind was “oblivious.” It seems to me that children have a tendency to be oblivious to what is happening around them including what other people think. Ketchup spots just don’t register.
The question then became, “When Jesus suggested that we all need to be like children was he encouraging us to be “oblivious” to the world around us?” I don’t think so. Jesus sends us into the world to “seek and save the lost.” That doesn’t happen unless we care and in order to care we have to pay attention.
Maybe what Jesus was saying is that we need to learn to be “oblivious” to ourselves. We need to surrender ourselves to God’s love for us and then (because we are convinced of that love) we will begin to understand how unimportant all of the temporary things in our lives really are. Ketchup spots just don’t matter and neither does the style of our clothes or the size of our houses. We are not the sum total of our things. We are special because God declares it so. The challenge of faith (for those of us beyond our childhood) is to be oblivious to our own lives and passionately involved with everyone else.
Like I said, I’m not sure I have all of the complexities of this issue figured out, but I am working on it. One thing I do know for sure. I like meatloaf sandwiches.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Value of Things
April 24th.
At one point in our house search we made an offer on a house that had been on the market for over 500 days. This house was priced higher than what we wanted to spend and when we looked at all of the details we decided that it was priced higher than what it was actually worth. So, in real estate lingo, we made a “low ball” offer which was, not so promptly, rebuffed. My Dad used to always say that things were only worth what someone was willing to pay. We (buyers and seller) had a difference of opinion about value.
This difference of opinion actually moved us to make an offer on an alternate house that, it ends up, will be our future home. So, we are convinced that this whole part of the process was God directed.
As we prepare to move we have been living out a different kind of “value” experiment. Our Denomination pays to move the first 12,000-pounds of our stuff and after that we get charged something like 39 cents for each additional pound. A representative of the moving company has already estimated that our load will be 14,000-pounds which means that we have to dispose of a ton of stuff. The bottom line is that “valuable” things have a place in a moving box, things that don’t matter end up in the garbage or in a bag headed for Good Will.
When you are forced to sort through your entire life you begin to realize (rather quickly) that “value” has very little to do with how much money something can generate. We have already given away items that cost us hundreds of dollars to buy and then, in contrast to that, there are pieces of paper covered with crayon marks that I would never sell for any price. Value is an interesting thing.
I often say that if you want a sense of how valuable you are all you have to do is look at the cross where Jesus died. Jesus came to save us from our brokenness to sin and to bridge the gap between God and us. The price required to accomplish this miracle of salvation was Jesus’ life. This is how much God was willing to pay and subsequently this is how much you and I are worth to Him.
This value conversation is worth spreading around. Everyone should hear that they are important enough to God that He was willing to surrender Himself to the cross. I mean, once people understand the incredible price that was paid for them maybe they will begin to live like they are people of value. Then maybe those valuable people will begin to treat the people around them like they are valuable as well. Value is an interesting thing. It can change the world.
At one point in our house search we made an offer on a house that had been on the market for over 500 days. This house was priced higher than what we wanted to spend and when we looked at all of the details we decided that it was priced higher than what it was actually worth. So, in real estate lingo, we made a “low ball” offer which was, not so promptly, rebuffed. My Dad used to always say that things were only worth what someone was willing to pay. We (buyers and seller) had a difference of opinion about value.
This difference of opinion actually moved us to make an offer on an alternate house that, it ends up, will be our future home. So, we are convinced that this whole part of the process was God directed.
As we prepare to move we have been living out a different kind of “value” experiment. Our Denomination pays to move the first 12,000-pounds of our stuff and after that we get charged something like 39 cents for each additional pound. A representative of the moving company has already estimated that our load will be 14,000-pounds which means that we have to dispose of a ton of stuff. The bottom line is that “valuable” things have a place in a moving box, things that don’t matter end up in the garbage or in a bag headed for Good Will.
When you are forced to sort through your entire life you begin to realize (rather quickly) that “value” has very little to do with how much money something can generate. We have already given away items that cost us hundreds of dollars to buy and then, in contrast to that, there are pieces of paper covered with crayon marks that I would never sell for any price. Value is an interesting thing.
I often say that if you want a sense of how valuable you are all you have to do is look at the cross where Jesus died. Jesus came to save us from our brokenness to sin and to bridge the gap between God and us. The price required to accomplish this miracle of salvation was Jesus’ life. This is how much God was willing to pay and subsequently this is how much you and I are worth to Him.
This value conversation is worth spreading around. Everyone should hear that they are important enough to God that He was willing to surrender Himself to the cross. I mean, once people understand the incredible price that was paid for them maybe they will begin to live like they are people of value. Then maybe those valuable people will begin to treat the people around them like they are valuable as well. Value is an interesting thing. It can change the world.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Fortune Cookie Wisdom
April 18th.
So, my fortune cookie said, “Be calm and collected, peace is a virtue.” To which I replied, (Yes, I’m having a conversation with a cookie) “Peace is a fruit of the Spirit.” I didn’t dig it up from somewhere it is part of the gift of a changed life that Jesus offers those of us who trust Him. My cookie’s only response was an opportunity for me to learn how to say “popcorn” in Chinese. Popcorn?
So, I moved on to my second cookie (they’re small), which said, “You have executive ability. Apply this in the future!” and I found myself saying, “Oh, all right…Hey!” (Which would be a rather obscure “It’s A Wonderful Life” reference.) I’m not sure I like this “mini-cake’s” implication. I didn’t even bother with the lucky numbers.
The third (they’re only 10 calories) said, “You have a flair for adding a fanciful dimension to any story.” We call that the “5th Dimension”, thank you.
The last of my Chinese treats said, “Analyze only when necessary” to which I replied, “It is always necessary.” Being a follower of Jesus means always paying attention to the details of life. Being one of Jesus’ Disciples means I am always analyzing, not only my actions, but also my motivation. Being Christian means always paying attention to the people I meet and to the things that are happening around me. There is no automatic pilot in the Christian life. I need to be introspective and realistic, contemplative and practical. So should we all.
I don’t place much store in fortune cookie fortunes, but they make a decent low cal snack and every once in a while they even make me think. In case you’re wondering the Chinese word for “July” is “qi yue.”
So, my fortune cookie said, “Be calm and collected, peace is a virtue.” To which I replied, (Yes, I’m having a conversation with a cookie) “Peace is a fruit of the Spirit.” I didn’t dig it up from somewhere it is part of the gift of a changed life that Jesus offers those of us who trust Him. My cookie’s only response was an opportunity for me to learn how to say “popcorn” in Chinese. Popcorn?
So, I moved on to my second cookie (they’re small), which said, “You have executive ability. Apply this in the future!” and I found myself saying, “Oh, all right…Hey!” (Which would be a rather obscure “It’s A Wonderful Life” reference.) I’m not sure I like this “mini-cake’s” implication. I didn’t even bother with the lucky numbers.
The third (they’re only 10 calories) said, “You have a flair for adding a fanciful dimension to any story.” We call that the “5th Dimension”, thank you.
The last of my Chinese treats said, “Analyze only when necessary” to which I replied, “It is always necessary.” Being a follower of Jesus means always paying attention to the details of life. Being one of Jesus’ Disciples means I am always analyzing, not only my actions, but also my motivation. Being Christian means always paying attention to the people I meet and to the things that are happening around me. There is no automatic pilot in the Christian life. I need to be introspective and realistic, contemplative and practical. So should we all.
I don’t place much store in fortune cookie fortunes, but they make a decent low cal snack and every once in a while they even make me think. In case you’re wondering the Chinese word for “July” is “qi yue.”
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