Questions for God

My friend and mentor, John Mulpas, pastor of Orrville Christian Church has initiated an intriguing new sermon series at his church. Through his blog (link is in my blogarithms section), people are able to post questions that they would like to ask God. The top seven questions (based on a ranking system from all blog readers) will be addressed in seven sermons in the questioning God sermon series. I'm curious what you all think. What would your question be? Is there something you've always wondered or some area of your faith that you have authentic doubt?

I'll get to my question in a second, but this idea of doubt is important. Church goers seem to think that doubt is a sign of weakness and faithlessness. One thing that the emerging church has contributed to the dialogue of faith is the encouragement of authentic doubt. There is a time and place that we as God's people should be able to express our doubts and uncertainties about the faith and see if together we can spur one another along in community. Doubt creation? Doubt miracles? Doubt God's goodness? Doubt the resurrection? Come and let us wrestle with it, rather than being a closet doubter. Perhaps this is the essence of loving God with all our mind? That we stop having a 'blind' faith and start engaging God and his Word and saying 'I believe, but help my unbelief.'

My question to God: If you are entirely good and trustworthy, then why do so many bad and evil things happen in and around my life?

Cheating the Church

Andy Stanley introduced a concept of "Cheating the Church" that I believe everyone should embrace. It's a model that, although Stanley proposes is a church staff model, I believe it can be incorporated into any business/workplace arena.

Here's the basics...No one should be working more than 45-50 hours a week. For Stanley, his church staff has to keep track of their hours and if they are routinely going over the 50 hour max, then repercussions set in. For one of my pastor friends, Charles, if his staff exceeds the hour max, he will sit them down and talk about potential job loss. The idea is that the church should not be to blame for family issues, marital issues, or personal issues. Each person needs to seek and pursue wholeness in spiritual, familial and personal realms. They can not do this if they are workaholics.

While choosing to cheat is a definite plus for church staff, it is important for everyone to choose to cheat whatever their occupation is. This does not mean, cheat the company of hard work, but it does mean taking personal days with some level of consistency to get away from the mundane. It does mean if you have the choice between making it home for dinner with your wife/husband or staying the extra 2 hours to get an objective completed, you choose your spouse everytime.

Rick Warren throws out an ideal that I agree with (though some times its hard to incorporate. He says everyone should

DIVERT DAILY-What can you do to get away for a little while each day?
WITHDRAW WEEKLY- It should not always be rush..rush..rush. Can you section off a few hours that are solely for your own personal wholeness?
QUIT QUARTERLY- Get away for a weekend from the routine. Whether its taking the spouse to a bed and breakfast or taking the kids to an indoor water park or just getting away in solitude to spend time with nature and with God.
ABANDON ANNUALLY- Two weeks of the year should simply be you, completely separated from any type of work.

Choosing to cheat makes you more effective in the Revolution in the long run. Any thoughts?

Fool's Gold

As part of my noble role as husband, I went with Shaina to a matinee (after all, who in their right mind pays 10 bucks for a movie?) and saw Fool's Gold the day after Valentine's Day.

There were a few funny moments, a few intense moments, but for the most part, I was unimpressed. It was more of an action movie than I was anticipating, but the general plot was lame and the characters were cheesily underdeveloped. There's (as usual) a good deal of crudeness throughout the movie but it does end on a positive message of restoring relationships.

I wouldn't pay to watch this if I were you...but if you catch it 3 years from now on TBS and you are bored out of your wig...watch it and be sedated for 2 hours.

Any movies out there you'd recommend?

4 Letter Word

There is a word that bothers almost everyone in my generation. For many, its worse than an F-Bomb or that water retention device beavers construct. It is COMMITMENT. I am not sure what the reason is, but to get people to commit to anything is always a challenge.

I heard recently of a study done on the vigorous sport of bowling. The study said that more people in the United States are bowling than ever before. But while this is true, the number of bowling leagues/teams is at an all time low. Ok...so what? Well the guy who did the study suggests that people want to do things on their own time...unrestrained by commitment to groups. I will bowl when I feel like it...on my time...with my people.

The common response when I invite friends to do something is "Yeah, I should be able to make it." When translated, "I could potentially be there if no better opportunities arise between now and then, and if I still feel like it at that time."

I realize that a big part of this is culture...the 'post-modern mindset'...but what happens when the teacher says, "Come and follow me." The revolution does not allow us to say, 'sorry teacher, my show is on'. Or when He says "Love me with all your heart, all your strength and all your soul," we can not respond in any way BUT whole hearted commitment.

A revolution starts with the turning of one heart...will it be yours?

The Art of Rhetoric

Have you heard of the emergent or emerging church? If not, its a relatively new response by some to make the gospel retain relevance in a post-modern mindset. Some people on the extremes of this movement have really 'tweaked' the message of the gospel. I do not endorse such extremes (though some of the questions posed are important questions). However, one of the biggest criticisms of this movement is the art of story telling. Pastors try to get the point across through narrative rather than a five step solution to something. People say that this type of preaching is not biblical. Here's my response:

The use of rhetoric (making an appeal to provoke a response in a targeted audience) IS BIBLICAL! The writers, particularly in the NT epistles are attempting to get the audience (various churches usually) to adhere more closely to the faith. The way they do this? They rhetorically appeal to the emotions (See the typical greeting by Paul...usually very flattering).

Anyways, I was just irritated by this criticism. It probably means very little in your life...but this is my blog...deal with it...haha. Have a great week.

Politics

Here's a question. What is the role of a mustard revolutionary in American politics? A good deal of people that I call friends and brothers and sisters in the way adamently believe that the Republican party, with stances opposing abortion and same sex marriage is the party God and consequently the church should align with.

The Bible does advocate life. If God has created life and 'knows us from the womb', then actions like abortion or euthanasia seem to be slighting God's creation. I don't have a problem with this. Similarly, the Bible is pretty clear about same sex relationships.

But I wonder sometimes if our perspectives on 'pro-life' promotion is too narrow. The Republican Party has not aided those in poverty like democrats have when they've been in office. When I read the Bible I do see God as one who grieves abortion, but he also grieves oppression. God calls us to take care of the 'least of these'...the needy...the poor. Pro-Life is so much more than pre-birth and I think its time that the church acknowledge this and spend the bulk of its time dealing with post-birth issues of oppression, injustice and poverty. This is the better use of our time. I am not downplaying the grieving that takes place with God and those involved in an abortion. But if we battled poverty and injustice, is it possible that the circumstances that result in people having abortions would lessen, consequently getting two birds with one stone?

I'm not a republican...I'm not a democrat. I simply wrestle with what the mustard seed means in my life. Your thoughts?

super bowl

Last night was the Super Bowl. I was mostly disinterested, because I don't care for either of the East Coast media mogul sports nations (New York/Boston). But I don't like the Pats, particularly Bill Belicheck, so, being a good American citizen, I watched the game, partook of the commercials (big fan of Shaq as a jockey!) Anyways, it turned out to be one of the best Super Bowls ever. New York, a heavy underdog upset the Pats with some last minute drama, including a play that will go down as one of the most remarkable in all playoff lore. Eli Manning, apparently sacked by 7 different Patrios, escapes launches downfield and its caught with one hand and one helmet.

I'm a big sports nut so I enjoyed the thrill-filled ending and David slaying Goliath (had to incorporate the Mustard Revolution somehow right?) No deep insights into life, faith or any other meaningful endeavor. It was just a fun game and a good opportunity to spend time with friends.

I'm preaching this Wednesday at the Ash Wednesday service. I am excited. Just need to spend the rest of my afternoon seeking God's face in what I should share. Have a great week!