Home for the Holidays

My biggest best Christmas gift this year - having the family all together at Christmas. This everybody on Christmas eve.

Does it really matter?

Somewhere in the 1500's an astronomer by the name of Copernicus proposed a "scientifically based heliocentric cosmology that displaced the Earth from the center of the universe." This theory was regarded by The Church as "false and altogether opposed to Holy Scripture." (The Church would have been the Roman Catholic Church - but before the Protestants really got rolling so it would have been in essence "the church" of the day.)

I wonder what weight the debate or discussion regarding this issue would have carried with the average joe church person back then. Copernicus theory to most probably seemed absurd. But I wonder how many would have thought "what does it really matter anyway?" I mean after all, the sun rises every morning, sets every night, there are seasons, and we can go to beach and get good tan. Does it really matter if the sun revolves around the earth or the earth revolves around the sun?

It mattered more if you realized all that Copernicus was saying in his "heretical" theory: that the sun, not the earth is the center of our solar system; that "there is no one center of all the celestial circles or spheres"; that "what appear to us as motions of the sun arise not from its motion but from the motion of the earth and our sphere " and thus the earth has more than one motion.

And it matters today in so many discoveries that have been opened up through the acceptance of Copernicus's "theory".

I wonder how many "church" people have the same attitude toward the discussion of the emerging church. On the church needing to be "incarnational" rather than "attractional". On whether the Christendom model of church is broken, over, or irrelevant today.

Does it all really matter anyway? I mean, so long as people are being "reached", the gospel is being preached, and Jesus is coming back does it really matter anyway?

It might matter more if our goal is authentic disciples and not just getting people to attend a church or have a better life. It might matter more if Jesus wasn't returning to take His church out of the earth but to bring His kingdom to earth. It might matter more if "modern" culture is over (and that "modern" isn't good or bad - just a describer and the same with post-modern; but they are a way of thinking, seeing, understanding and the ramifications are far reaching just like Copernicus's were.)

Does it really matter how we do church anyway? When you consider all that we are really saying through the way we do what we do I believe it does.

(Did you get that last sentence? I'm not sure if I do - but I'll try it like that.)

Go on over

Good discussion going on on my friend Sam's blog Eleven on "an interesting concept" Sam thinks might work for under-used church buildings. Plus a question from Chris welcoming enlightening comments on what and why the traditional church mode of meeting needs to change.

Christmas Joy

Next

I recently rented "Next" on DVD . Next features Nicholas Cage as a guy that can see 2 minutes into the future. The government becomes aware of this and hunts him down to get him to help them prevent a nuclear attack by a terrorist faction. The plot was little hokey - I mean they literally hunt him down with big time manpower and equipment - I never could understand why they didn't just go up and ask him for help. (If anyone else saw this one maybe you can explain this to me.)

Anyway, even though the plot was rather hokey I thought the "moral of the story" was pretty cool. I'm not going to tell you what it was cause I don't want to jeopardize the ending for any who might want to see it. And this movie is all about the ending. (At first I didn't like the ending but after thinking about it I got it - then I liked it - the ending that is.)

I'm blogging about this not to develop any skills as a movie critic - which I'm not - I just know what I like and what I don't. I write to post a "rave" (a comment - "speaking out wildly") and a couple questions.

My comment - I have movies I like which I wouldn't necessarily recommend - not because of content, per say, or most times - but because I didn't think the movie was that well done for some reason usually acting or plot. "Next" would fit in this category. LBNRS - liked but not recommended strongly. Then there are movies I liked and would also recommend (too most people - my mother, though, that's tough one - I don't use her for a "filter". ) LAR - liked and recommended. The last movie I rented that I would put in this category is "Reign Over Me".

My questions - what is the last movie you saw that you would recommend someone to watch? And what is your "rating criteria" for recommendations to friends?

On becoming someone to be remembered

Amazing! - several of the of my favorite blogging friends (Love Wins - to name one) are pondering on a similar thought I find myself wondering about this Christmas season - how God emptied Himself and became a man. Not a super man but an ordinary man. Who began his life as we all do - as a helpless baby.

The idea of God emptying himself really blows me away.

I'm not sure who wrote this poem but it really spoke to me. (I got it from Kingdom Grace and it looks like she got it from Kester Brewin's book).

THE GREAT REVERSAL

Walking with the crowds
Carried along by the pressing forward.

Each one eager to get ahead
But each one starting the same:
Born as a baby, and from then on, struggling towards
meaning, power and influence.

Be someone
Be remembered
Make a big impression
Leave some indelible mark in your 3 score years and 10

From birth, a struggle to find eternity, to burst
through life with such dazzling intensity, that
everyone will remember forever.

But walking the other way, picking out a route
against the crowds, a solitary figure passes me…
passes all of us - all straining away innocence, to be someone,
And he passes us, a quiet chaos in the crowd.

Christ, eternal, omniscient, creator, beyond time,
source of wisdom and beyond petty claims of influence…
in very nature God, slips into reverse
and walks back past us -

away from Kingship, away from power,
away from influence, away from eternity,
away from wisdom… towards infancy.

Calmly stepping into the body of a tiny child.

And even as this baby grows,
figuring out how to control the body he himself designed,
he still walks the other way,
realizing that life cannot be found in the struggle for permanence,
but in giving it up.

This Great Reversal subverts me.

Tired of pressing forward,
I realize I need to turn,
for what I have been searching for
has just walked past me the other way.

Happy Birthday Kaden!

Kaden Cole Stryffeler is 2 years old today! Kaden calls me "Poppee" and I think he is the smartest most advanced two year old I have ever known! Happy Birthday Grandson!

A Toast to Sean

That's my boy, Sean. He turned 23 today! Happy Birthday - and many more!

I hate when this happens ...

I've had some (rare) quiet time this weekend. I saw it coming so I went to the library to get a novel. (My usual reading is "study books" as my wife likes to call them and I usually have 2 or 3 going at the same time. But sometimes - especially when the weather gets colder I just like to get into a "story book" - I don't usually read anything too deep or complex here.)

I picked out Ken Follet's A Dangerous Fortune - I've read most of his stuff - most of them are what I would call time period soap operas. I'm reading along and every once in a while I get this deja vu feeling. So I start thinking - wow - I don't remember his plots as being so predictable.

By the time I get to page 350 (it's the large print edition)I figure out what is going on - I've read this before.

I hate when this happens because...
* I have never read any book more than once. Not that there haven't been excellent books or stories - I just figure there is so much else to read, I'd better move on to something else.
* It scares me that it took me 350 pages to finally be sure I read this before. The book was written in 1993 - and I'm sure I read it less than 14 years ago. The large print doesn't bother me as much as this part.
* I don't know what to do now. I'm halfway through a book I already read and the more I go the more I know what is going to happen. It musn't have been that good the first time or I think I would have remembered it more. Unless there is more to my reason above and again, that scares me.

Has this ever happened to any of you, my friends? Please tell me it has. My wife told me it has happen to her numerous times but she reads so many books (I bet she reads 100 or more novels a year. I might read 2 -4.)

Sam Shouted At Me

I told Sam if he shouted at me I would give this a try again. So here I am - no promises on blogging everyday for a month. But I do want to do this more regularly. I appreciate the way my friends share their thoughts and their lives and I fell richer reading their entries. I'm glad they write regularly - I look for new additions everyday. Occaisionally I'll comment but mostly I read and listen. I guess that makes a "lurker" or a "voyeur" (Wikipedia comment: "A literal translation would then be “seer” or "observer", with pejorative connotations.) I don't like the pejorative connotations associated with these words. But I do feel something is missing - I am a wanna be - I wanna participate more.

So how do some of you guys do it? (Don't make the sexual connotation here!!!) What satisfaction do you get from posting on a regular basis? Has writing down your experiences, thoughts, and feelings made you a better person or richer relationally?

Who Am I?

Who am I and what am I doing here? Any guesses and comments are welcome.

Where Am I ?

Does anyone know where I was from this picture I took recently? (Only answer if you know from THE PICTURE).

Honestly

The other night I was watching a movie ("The Departed" - the story was interesting but the language was "over-flavored" with the f-word for my liking; and if you like happy endings you probably wouldn't be happy about this one)...

Anyway, though, something in the movie got me thinking. A counselor was talking to her client and remarked something to the effect -"telling the truth is not equal to honesty".

Then last night I was reading a blog where someone, unrelated to the movie, made a similar statement.

Honestly (this was a bad place for a pun) in my mind I have considered "truth" and "honesty" to be pretty much synonymous (the same thing).

I am thinking about this one. I have some thoughts but I'd like to hear yours first. What do you think - Is "telling the truth" the same thing as "honesty"?

Reverend Pastor Sir

OK - the title of my blog is "Dave's Raves" and it's probably about time I ranted or raved about something. I'll post my first "rave" about one of my pet peeves - titles we think we need to bestow upon clergy or, worse, titles clergy expect us to bestow upon them.

When I was a pastor of a "traditional" church (and even when I was a pastor of what was considered a "loosely organized" unconventional church) I did not want anyone to use the term "Pastor" as a part of my name, as in "Pastor Dave". This was not because I did not see myself as a pastor but because 1) in didn't make sense 2) I thought it was something Jesus told us to watch out for or avoid doing and 3) it only helped put me in a special class called "clergy" and put those without out that term as a part of their name in a category called "laity".

It doesn't make sense...
If we need to use the term "Pastor XXXX" then we should equally refer to others by their function or profession; Jeweler Bill, Musician Bob, Housekeeper Terry, Best Damn Automechanic John, etc. In the bible the term pastor always refered to a function - it was never used as a title. (BTW - Apostle was never used as a title either; Paul never refered to himself as Apostle Paul. That's someting we do/did. Whenever Paul refers to his apostleship, it's Paul, an apostle.

Something Jesus told us to avoid...
The way read the scripture about calling no one on earth "Teacher", or "Father" or "Leader" - I think Jesus was talking about this very thing. Seeking honor or esteem in a "earthly" way just like the world does. It's not that that there aren't teachers, leaders, or fathers - it's that we aren't to insist or seek to be called that.

Clergy Class...
The biggest reason I think the "Pastor XXXX" is unhealthy is because it emphasizes a special class of Christians called "clergy" and then by default another class called "laity". Even if we don't use the term "clergy it still creates or accentuates the division. If every Christian has a gift (which I think they do and more than one) then why should one class of gifts be singled out for "entitlement". Besides I think the term is over-used and miss-used. Many people with the title are not pastoring anybody; many others would be more accurately named in one of the APEPT gifts (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher).

I think the leaders in God's church should be humble servants seeking to honor the only one worthy of many titles, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. Isn't it amazing that we can call Him, simply, "Father" or simply, "Jesus"?

"Corrupt Communication"

Paul posted this story -

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Pastor Terry McCann was pleased to see his associate pastor interviewed on the local news about helping to solve school truancy. But he was mortified when the associate used the word "sucks."
"I called him immediately and said, 'What on earth are you doing?'" says McCann. "He told me, 'Relating to the younger generation.'"
The staff of Rolling Hills church is evenly divided over whether the word "sucks" is appropriate or not.
"I don't think twice about it," says the youth pastor who uses it commonly with youth. He bonded with his new associate pastor by using the word.
"When you can freely say something sucks, it feels good. It's like letting your heart out," he says.
But he catches continual flak from pastors who find the word offensive.
"Do people know what it means?" says the executive pastor incredulously. "I don't care if everyone says it. It's beneath us."
He and others send out emails that remind their co-workers to "Let no unclean words proceed from your mouth." Some roll their eyes at the "sucks police." The singles pastor, a die-hard "sucks" devotee, responded one time with a reply that said simply, "That sucks!" He included a photo of a vacuum cleaner in the message, to cover himself.
During a recent sermon while McCann was on vacation, the college and career pastor used the word "sucks" off-the-cuff. When his wife pointed it out, he absconded with the sermon recording so McCann wouldn't hear it. But McCann found out anyway because members of the church sent him angry emails.
McCann finally insisted that no church staff member use the word, especially during ministry. He suggested alternatives like "that stinks" and "that's terrible."
"Saying something stinks sounds like you're just afraid to say 'sucks,'" gripes one staff member who says it "may take me a while to get around to changing my habit."
Meanwhile, McCann recently used the words "scumbag" and "brown-nose" in a mid-week sermon. Staff members later called him on the carpet.
"Do you know what those words mean?" they said with mock outrage. McCann looked up the definitions, turned red and vowed to ban the words from his vocabulary. •

This story gets me thinking - what is the "corrupt communication" we are encouraged to avoid? Some thoughts I had while considering this --

• When I was growing up - OK that was more than 40 years ago and I suppose that is relevant to the point I am trying to make here - the word "fart" was considered in my home to be in same category as the word "shit" - a bad word, a "swear" word. Today I allow that word in our house (which includes 5 boys) not considering it as a bad word. Does "corrupt communication" change over time or are my standards becoming "corrupt"?
• Are "substitute words" (frinkin'; freakin') not as corrupt as the real words they stand for? How can something be not as rotten; not as corrupt? if something is rotten, isn't it rotten - not just a little bit rotten?

Overall, I'm wondering what you think the "corrupt communication" -that's the King James Version of "unclean talk"- (That's the version I grew up memorizing) - what do you think that means and how do you try to avoid it?

News at "Eleven"

There is a good discussion going on over at Eleven started by Kyle and provoked by Sam (I think Sam provoked the whole thing from the start). It's about "Church" - it's relevance to our lives personally. Here's the comment I posted (but the other comments are better than mine - check it out!)


Sometimes, in discussions like this it seems like we are trying to determine whether church is necessary or not for one to be a Christian. I believe we can not "escape" the church if we are a Christ follower. It is something Jesus is building and nothing will stop Him from building that church.

Sometimes it seems like people think I've given up on church but I never have. It's just important to me to try to deconstruct our modern idea of church - it's not very close to original version, in my opinion.

It's interesting to me that Jesus never called his followers "Christians"; Christians didn't even first call themselves Christians; the "world" first called us Christians. Christ folowers were originally called just that - Christ's followers or disciples; later the Followers of The Way. A follower denotes movement and BEING; something we are actively doing and pusuing. Now - today - we call ourselves Christians and name our churches but don't focus much on what it means to be a Christ follower.

I fully believe Jesus didn't come to start a new religion called Christianity. He camed to call people to follow Him. Those followers ARE his church. When I think of church in these terms it is impossible for me to think of church as something I go to. I'm not saying we shouldn't go to meetings or worship or fellowship. If we a following Jesus we will worship together, pray together, work together - aren't there about 30 "one anothers" in the New Testament part of the Bible that indicate what our life together will be like - what we are - what we are doing?And the first Christians did "meet" from house to house and in the temple. So there are meetings whether in houses or in buildings.

What Sam or Kyle or whoever started all this is trying to put out on the table concerns "why" of "going to church" and the "what" is the church - not the "whether" we should go to church.

No sugar tonight in my coffee...

I decided to fast something this Lent. Mainly to join a lot of the church that I had written off before - more Christians fast during Lent than any other time, I think. And also because I think fasting is "good" for a body. But I don't like to do it.

So I decided I would need to fast something that would be a sacrifice and for me that would be coffee. So coffee it's been. No coffee since Ash Wednesday. My body has missed it. (I didn't fast caffiene - so Excedrin has been helpful). My soul has missed it. I love the smell of coffee. I love the routine and ritual of my morning coffee. I love relaxing with a cup of coffee and i love getting going with a coffee. I love conversation around a cup of coffee.

But it's been good in a strange kind of way. It's good to tell the "flesh" "NO" sometimes. It's good to remind the body it's not the boss of me. And not to dicotomize myself too much - it's good to remind the soul who's in charge as well. Man shall not live by coffee alone.

Anybody out there fasting over Lent? How's it going? What are you learning this time through it?

Trip to Indiana

Brenda and I got a chance to get away this weekend for a quick trip to Indiana to see our son Ryan and his lovely fiance Kristen. They are getting married May 5 and if you can't tell I'm excited about this. I'm especially excited about welcoming another daughter to our family. (The reason I have 5 boys is because they are boys - we kept trying to have another girl it never worked.)

The occasion for our trip was a shower for Kristen which Brenda was invited to attend. The trip to Anderson, Indiana is 337 miles which means almost 6 hours of driving for me. Brenda doesn't like to drive unless she has to and I don't mind driving but when I drive I usually get into a "zone". I turn on my music and get lost in my own thoughts.

Brenda doesn't like the "zone". She considers it a shame to have ridden 6 hours with a person and not to have had some conversation with them. I find no problem with that and figure I could be a good truck driver. But on this trip to Indiana I decided I would try to be more of conversationalists and stay out of the "zone".

I did pretty good at least on the trip out. I cheated because I need help - so I looked around on the internet and got a printable list of "discussion" questions for married couples. We took turns picking numbers and answering the questions. It went better than I thought it would and I think I got points from Brenda for it. I really did enjoy it and learned some stuff about my wife.

On the way home we were both talked out from the weekend and she got a little sleepy so I did enter the "zone" and listened to some good classic rock tunes half of the way home.

Did I just bless somebody, or what?!

I was picking up some things this evening at WalMart for a fajita feast tomorrow night and thinking how good a Corona would taste with those fajitas! So I loaded a 12 pack of long necks on my cart. Just now (at about 10 pm ) I started thinking about that Corona again and then I suddenly remembered I never brought that in from the van. Then I suddenly remembered, hey, I bet I never took that case off the bottom of the cart when I loaded up my van in the parking lot. A quick hopeful look, just now, in the back of the van confirmed my (suddenly working) memory.

So I called Walmart Customer Service and was sorry that that no one had "turned in" any Corona Extra from the parking lot. Also, sorry, but they had cleared the parking lot and said I probably didn't need to call back, sorry, for your loss.

Just curious, what would you have done if you saw my beer in the parking lot on the bottom of a shopping cart?

> Say "Thank you God" it's even cold!

> Make the long trek in the cold to the Customer Service area (and wait in line) to turn it in?

> Look at it and say, "they'll be back for it" - I better just leave it there.

> Think I don't drink that stuff and neither should you.

I have to honestly say I probably would have picked it up and received it as a gift.

I did this once before with a gallon of milk only I didn't feel as bad then as I do now. I guess since I would have received it as a gift - I'll just head off to bed now feeling like I blessed someone.

Ride Captain Ride

I've got biking music on my mp3 player that gets (and keeps) me going. The other day (when it was above 40) this song came on ...

Seventy-three men sailed up from the San Francisco Bay,

Rolled off of their ship and here's what they had to say...

"We're callin' everyone to ride along- to another shore,

We can laugh our lives awayand be free once more."

But no one heard them callin', no one came at all,

'Cause they were too busy watchin' those old raindrops fall.

As a storm was blowin' out on the peaceful sea,

Seventy-three men sailed off to history.

Ride, captain ride upon your mystery ship,

Be amazed at the friends you have here on your trip.

Ride captain ride upon your mystery ship,

On your way to a world that others might have missed.

I remember this song from the 60's by The Blues Image but I never knew who they were singing about. (I thought then it might have been a "veiled" drug reference; I don't think anybody really knows for sure, though some speculate it may have been about Sir Francis Drake). But today I can't help but think they might have been singing about anyone who answers the Captains call to journey with Him. I am amazed at the friends I have here on this trip!