Fuzzy Thinking

Just posted a new TMAP episode. It is again recorded at a Taco Bell. We decided to ask real college students some questions.

You can get the podcast from here

Jeff and I have a new episode of Two Middle Aged Pastors. We are sitting at Taco Bell discussing church programs.

We did a second podcast while at Taco Bell. We were in Lafayette because I was taking my MAT test at Purdue. Since we were there, we decided to talk with a few college students about “church.” I also took time to add some music to it. Not sure when it will be online, but I thought I’d give a short teaser

Well, I took my MAT test yesterday. I needed a 419 in order to get into the Doctorate program. My “preliminary” score? A 419. I wish I knew there were study aids available for this test. Also, I wish I would have had a liberal arts degree too. There were many questions about literature, history, music…not one question about technology.

I hope the preliminary score holds up. I don’t want to have to take it over…but at least I can study for it next time.

TownOnline.com - Beacon Villager - Local News

I guess all is fair in love, war and business. I’m sure the Christian’s at the Christian radio station feel justified in taking the local school’s frequency (after 35 years of the school broadcasting in the community) after all, they are broadcasting God’s Word. Seems ironic to me.

I guess I would feel much better about this _if_ it was the FCC making the decision and the Christian company “Living Proof, Inc” doesn’t really know that there is the potential of taking this schools freq.

“Enter through the narow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” - Jesus (Matthew 7:13-14)

Starbucks to put God quote on cups

Thursday, October 20, 2005 at 07:46 JST
NEW YORK — U.S. coffee giant Starbucks will put religious quotes from Rev Rick Warren, author of the mega-selling “The Purpose-Driven Life,” on its cups from next spring, USA Today reported Wednesday.

The paper said the quotes are part of the “Way I See It” campaign which includes 63 quotes from writers, scientists, musicians, athletes, politicians and cultural critics on cups for company-run and licensed locations to carry on the coffeehouse tradition of conversation and debate.

The cups will carry a disclaimer that the opinions “do not necessarily reflect the views of Starbucks.” (Wire reports)

from Japan Today

What I’m finding is that Jesus is right. As I struggle with prayer and the inner life, I find that it is difficult. The road that I know leads to life is narrow. I want it to be easy, yet, it is not. The easy roads that I have tried taking have always left me wanting in the end. When I do walk the road that Jesus calls me to walk, I find it is difficult and, at times, even lonely.

What surprises me is why it is difficult. It is difficult because I have to continually deny myself. In order to find, in Madame Guyon’s words, Union with God, I must first allow myself to become less and less. Sometimes I feel like the Incredible Shrinking Man who found himself becoming smaller and smaller. Yet, as he became more ‘insignificant’ in the sceme of things, he found acceptance and discovered his true existance within the universe (or something like that). What I find is that acceptance is difficult when your agenda and will is called to shrink.

While in one way I celebrate that Starbuck’s is going to start putting quotes on their cups that I can applause, I fear those quotes, the quotes that point toward life, will be put on equal footing with all the other quotes. They will become just another option for our culture. We will be the one’s in control and instead of our agenda’s falling away, they just become stronger.

We will find people combining those quotes with other quotes and create a new religion, not based on Jesus, but rather based on our own agendas. Instead of allowing Jesus’ words to be our Master, we will be masters over his words; accepting some, rejecting others, adding what He says to what others say until we discover our own personal spirituality. The question becomes, which road are we on?

Subversive Influence » Rick Warren and the PDL Cathedral of Comparisons

Ah…I read the quote referred to about a week ago in Christianity Today and thought Warren’s metaphor using the computer was a bit uninformed. I just put it off as someone in one discipline trying to use a metaphor from another discipline that he really doesn’t understand.

For one, not all computers use Intel. In fact, fewer and fewer do. Also, Windows is not the only Operating System and I sure wouldn’t want to say I was the “windows system for the 21st century” like Warren did. I would hope we would have a bit higher standards especially after Microsoft finally realizes (or admits) Windows is really broken.

Maynard is right on target comparing the traditional model church with Microsoft and the ermegent church with Open Source though. In fact, I’ve felt for a few years that the Open Source model could perhaps help us in the church figure some issues out.

Open Source is about distributive computing and creating. Open Source development needs people who know what’s going on and people who can actually do the work.

The traditional model doesn’t work that way. Basically, you have one entity (could be a pastor or “The Staff ™” who calls the shots. They tell “The Others ™” what to do. As long as “The Staff ™” know what their doing and “The Others” follow along everything is alright. It bcomes a top-down organization which worked in the past, but, isn’t really geared for the present or the future.

The problem, I see, in the top-down model is, “The Others ™” never really get to experience ministry first hand. Sure, they are followers, but they really aren’t experiencing the full move of God in their lives. While they may do what the leaders tell them to do, the experience is top-down (Although I should compare top-down to Top-down)

I’ve often wonder how we can have UM churches that have people who have been a part of it for years and decades, yet, they are unequiped to really do ministry. Sure, they might paint a building or two over the years, or give money, or work with kids at VBS, but really, do their day to day lives reflect a ministry or missional mindset.

There are some and, thank God for them, who have been able to rise above and discover God’s call on their lives. They are not Purpose-Driven ™, but rather Spirit led. God moves in their lives. They know what they’re about.

Perhaps I’m just ranting and I’m sure I’ve gotten off topic. The bottom line is this: I believe we, as the church, have stopped equiping and empowering Christians to make a difference in the world in which they live. Instead we have created followers of programs.

If there isn’t a DVD or book, or training involved, we don’t know what to do. We have forgotten how to listen for God’s Spirit moving in our lives. We study our Bibles, but do we allow God to speak through them?

There are some connections between Open Source software development vs. Traditional (read Microsoft) software development and the Emergent Church vs. Traditional Church. Perhaps I can flesh that out some more. The thing to remember is Microsoft is finding out the old software model doesn’t work. We, in the church, are discovering the old model doesn’t work. Yet, just as it is very difficult for Microsoft to change, so it is for us.

SouthBendTribune.com: ‘Jesus’ beckons ND flock

This article appeared in the South Bend paper before the ND - USC game. It was pretty cool what Jim Caviezel did and said, but what I found interesting was the following:

The candle-filled cove is a place set aside for prayer and reflection. Every evening at 6:45, the rosary is said. The quiet ceremony draws 25 or 30 people.

Last night, it drew several hundred.

It just points out how we still don’t really get the spiritual life in our current culture. I guess people would rather get together to hear what an actor has to say rather than spend time with unknown others taking a journey inward.

Brighthand — Wireless Networking Will Change Your Life — Part II

I love Wi-Fi. I love to be able to sit down at home, or better yet, at an internet cafe somewhere and be able to access the web, get email or download my favorite podcast using QuickNews for Palm. All in all, it is a pretty sweet setup that I’ve used many times.

Yet, this article scares me to death! I read through it and my throat starts tightening up. I love gadgets, but it took me a while to get a cell phone because there were times when I didn’t want to be reached! Now, I have a cell phone…

The worst part about this article is this quote:

After lunch, Bob heads off to his son’s Little League game. When his son isn’t on the field, Bob makes a couple of business calls and uses the voice-recognition capabilities of his handheld to work on a report he’s writing. He doesn’t feel uncomfortable doing this, as about half the people in the bleachers are doing the same thing.

Yea….I want to be so weighted down with work that I have to make some calls and write a report while my son isn’t on the baseball field. Too bad my son plays soccer…he’s constantly on the field.

That sad thing is, when I first read the article I thought, “Gee…that would be so cool to do.” I now repent.

While I look forward to the future and the ability to do such things, perhaps we need to keep things in perspective.

Apple - iPod

Ah…the new Ipod plays video! How awesome. Too bad that I would need broadband to download videos. Pretty cool nevertheless….

Well, my good friend Curt asked that I be a bit more specific on the Doctoral program I’m looking at. So, I thought I’d just do the update here for all to see.

I want my concentration to be in Spiritual Formation, so that left quite a few schools out. I found a program I liked at Gordon-Conwell, but didn’t feel comfortable with the theological slant. I am very much Wesleyan-Arminian, so I don’t believe I would be very comfortable in a Calvinistic environment (which I believe Gordon-Conwell is).

So, I went back to the other program I had been looking at. It is Asbury Theological Seminary’s Doctorate of Ministry. They have a concentration in Spiritual Formation. This program was also listed on Reovare’s site under training.

I was hesitant because I received my M.Div degree from Asbury. But, after looking at the program I felt like it was more in line with what I’m hoping to accomplish. The program at Fuller looked interesting….but it would mean trips to California

I’m filling out applications now. IF I make it, I’ll post more information.

Thanks Curt for making me do this update!!!

I’m in the midst of filling out an application for D. Min studies. Not sure how I will be able to pay for it, but it is something that I sense will help me to fulfill God’s calling in my life. Not sure if I will make it or not, but I feel for now it is the next step for me.

The track I’m signing up for is Spiritual Formation. I look forward to getting into the classics of faith and spirituallity. Perhaps I can write more later.

Any suggestions on this process is greatly appreciated.