No More Mr. Nice Christian

dustinbryson2 Comments

Mrnicechristian_1

A few months ago I was asked to speak at a camp in March and I was excited!  It’s not everyday I get asked to speak somewhere (as a matter of fact the youth at my church are glad I only speak once a month!) so I was up for the challenge.  I was then told about the theme of the camp and I was given a suggestion for a book to read to help me better understand how the camp was going to be set up.

So, I get the book on Amazon.com and I begin to read through it and the more and more I read the more and more I wanted to find out about the author.  So, I ask around and I find out he has a couple web sites and I find a podcast that he did with a different website so I decide to listen.

At the beginning of the podcast we hear the hosts making nicey nice with the guest but you know, deep down in side, that they are about to bring the noise, thy are going to bring the hammer down on this cat, and sure enough about halfway through, they do.

The thing that is the most hurtful to me as a Christian who is trying his darndest to love God and love others it the angry, cocky and sometimes mean spirited way both sides of the ‘discussion’ were treating each other during the cast.  Now, I know that makes me sound like a prudish big time sissy boy, but trust me I am not.  I just know that the world is checking us out and if we are not living for Him on our websites, podcasts, bus rides, work places, hearts .. people WILL see it, and God knows nobody wants to serve the God of punks.  When asked what the greatest commandment was Jesus replied:

“The first in importance is, “Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: “Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”

I don’t see anything in His words about being right all the time and if your not getting aggressive when challenged, or lashing back.  As leaders we have a duty to be humble, to serve, and above all else to love.  I realize this is a strange post, but I have had a heavy heart about this so I wanted to put it up with the hopes that it start some dialog.

[Note: If you are interested in hearing the podcast I was referring to check out www.stupidchurchpeople.com and find the Tony Jones podcasts.  There are two of them]

Sacrifice Simplified

Luke Benson5 Comments

 In the dark days of Israel before the time of Christ, the law called for a sacrifice to atone for ones sins. I get the idea from scripture that the right thing to do was with a good and giving heart bring God your best and offer it to Him at the Temple in Jerusalem. That meant that a family would raise an animal (their best animal), treat it probably better than they would treat their own kids and when the Day of Atonement would draw near they would make the long trek to Jerusalem and offer it up in sacrifice to God. They didn’t have station wagons in those days so if you lived far away you may have to travel across mountains, deserts and other obstacles the wilderness of Israel might hold. I can only imagine the sacrifice families would have to make to accomplish this. Maybe making sure the animal ate well before the family ate or using all their resources to bring the animal to the Temple. Always trusting God would forgive them and continue to provide for them.

 

 

  

 When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and went to the Temple He was angered by vendors offering to sell people animals for sacrifice. I don’t think it was so much the fact that money was changing hands in the Temple. I think it was because of what the vendors had turned the act of sacrifice into. Sort of a fast food, drive up mentality to getting your sacrifice to God over with and out of the way. This meant the family no longer had to worry about raising an animal to give to God they could just buy one when they got to the Temple. No longer thinking of God daily as they raised and cared for the animal they were to bring to Him.

 

 

As followers of Christ we realize Jesus is the complete sacrifice and atonement for all our sins.

 

 

    The other day I read an article about a church that has purchased three ATM/ offering machines for their lobby. The pastor was quoted as saying “Its like an ATM for Jesus”. They are located so that they are the first things you see when you enter the church, just like the moneychangers at the Temple. One of the people who attend the church said it was much easier for her to break down to the Lord (whatever that means?) These card readers also known as Giving Kiosks and tithing machines have increased revenue for the church and made it so much easier for all the attendees to give. Even if they didn’t think about the Lord all week they could remember Him by swiping this Sunday. It makes me wonder if Jesus visited that church if He would turn over those machines? Maybe when people get those micro chip thingy’s implanted in them they could just pass a small scanner down the aisles of the church to make it even easier to give God their best.

Is There Music on a Printed Page?

Rob Woodrum3 Comments

The band Pieces of the Wreck is going to play a little “mini-show” on December 31st (New Year’s Eve).  We’ll have our Burning House service, and then roll right in to a Sounds of Thunder/Pieces of the Wreck concert. 

It’s sort of funny though, because they are almost the same band with the exception of just a few members here and there.  Same bassist, drummer, guitarist…the only thing that will distinguish us is the band name.  Heh.

Anyway…this all means that we have to practice, which is always a combination of hilarity and extreme frustration.  Last night, we were working on a cover of the Train song “Calling all Angels”.  It has been a while since we last did that song, and I had a little trouble at times trying to keep the rhythm, vocally.  I had the words right, and the tune was correct, I just had the wrong emphasis going, which put me out of sync rhythmically.  When I realized it, I hurried through the vocals to catch myself up…you know, just sort of droning through them quickly with no emphasis or passion at all. 

It got me thinking about the Bible.

“Doesn’t EVERYTHING make you think of the Bible?”

“No…well, maybe, I don’t know.  Stay out of this.” 

Maybe part of the problem that seems inherent in the 21st Century
American Church© is that we’ve worked so hard to get all the words right that we’ve lost the proper emphasis over time.  Is it even possible that having all the words just right may not be the most important thing?

If you look at a sheet of music, with lyrics and musical notes printed on it, does that piece of paper accurately convey the song the composer wrote?  It does potentially, but not in practicality.  How could looking at all the notes in place and all the lyrics written out ever reveal the beauty of a song?  Is it even music if it’s not performed? 

But when it’s performed, it must be done with more than just the right notes and the lyrics properly in place…it must carry the right emphasis and passion in the expression of it.  Think of how a singer can do a cover of another artist’s song.  He makes it distinctly his own while not doing damage to the original tune.  The cover artist can only do this by retaining the original emphasis, and taking the song into himself and then expressing it with his own passion.

As we come to God’s Word, our interest has to run deeper than just getting the words right.  It’s more complex than just parsing out proper context and interpretation.  We must take it in, find the rhythm of it, find the emphasis, and then express it as our own life.  Otherwise, it’s just words on a page.  Is there really any music if a song isn’t performed…is there really inspiration if the Word isn’t lived out?

Just some thoughts over my coffee this morn.

Ride For Africa | Pre Ride

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A lot is happening in Africa. Some would say we have enough problems here in America to deal with and that attitude would be perfectly fine if Jesus had died for Americans, but He didn’t. He died for humans, that includes Africans, Frenchies, and Iraqi’s. His love wasn’t bound by masses of water and his people shouldn’t be either.

So for the next seven days I am riding my bicycle for Africa. I am attempting to raise awareness and a few dollars for Invisible Children. Below is a video from invisible children and below that my pre-ride video. To find out more go to www.InvisibleChildren.com and www.HopeIsRampant.com.

Mac vs PC parody, Part Two

Rob Woodrum5 Comments

I don’t know…this may be right along the lines of “us versus them”…but there still needs to be room for parody and self deprication, which the PC “Christian” really is.  I believe it’s self deprication because the PC Christian is my brother, no matter how he comes off.  We’re sharing the same life, so to point out his goofyness, I am indicting myself along the way.

Anyway…I still thought it was funny.

Are You a Purple Cow?

dustinbryson2 Comments

Seth Godin wrote a book called Purple Cow “Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable”. In short the story of the purple cow goes like this.

Seth and his family were on a road trip and his kids were in the back doing what kids do, fight, and his wife was zoned out. As the road stretched on they came across some cows and suddenly the fighting sounds ceased. Seth looked in his rier view mirror to see his children starring at some cows. Then just as quickly as the punchfest ended it began again. Seth then asks the readers why this happened and what would happen if those cows had been purple instead of normal old cow color. He says not only would the kids stop fighting and stare, but he would have pulled the car over. The whole family would have gotten out and many photos would have been taken. They would have most likely jumped the fence and petted the purple cows. Those cows would have been remarkable. In other words they would be worth speaking about again (re: marking).

What about our faith, our church are they remarkable? Are you a purple cow? If you take the whole marketing thing away and apply it to our faith it really does take on a whole new meaning. Our faith is worth discussing, it seems our “leaders” are remarkable as of late, unfortunately. Eastgate is remarkable! The people that fill the big room and corner every Sunday are genuine and loving, and that, to me, is remarkable. You are remarkable, if you choose to love others more than yourself. If you don’t think Jesus was remarkable consider this, more books, songs, poetry, and speeches have been written about Him than anyone else who has ever walked this marble. I would say that makes Him ultimately remarkable.

What about Jesus, Christianity, Eastgate is remarkable to you?

On Purpose

Luke Benson3 Comments

 We are coming to the end of a study I have been participating in centered on the book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. It really is a great book and has some wonderful insights into the journey a follower of Jesus is on. There have been a few things that I find myself wondering about though. One of the things is in chapter 38, titled “Becoming a world class Christian”. In this chapter he encourages readers to go on an overseas mission. He goes on to say we should shift our thinking from local to global and from making excuses (lack of money, language barriers ect.). to thinking of creative ways to fulfill our commission. Is it really our commission to go on overseas mission trips? He uses the verse from the book of Acts;

  Acts 1:8  “But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  

  He then interprets the verse as Jesus giving the command that we should be witnesses in all theses places as individuals simultaneously and not sequentially. Maybe I am wrong but I don’t interpret that piece of scripture to mean that at all. What do you think?

  Maybe Jesus was telling us to go hold the hand of someone who is alone and scared, growing old in a nursing facility down the road from our own home. Perhaps He was talking about visiting and encouraging someone who is recovering from drug addiction in the local jail or serving food and cleaning rooms at the local rescue mission. Maybe He meant to be a witness by just loving our neighbors, coworkers and everyone we come in contact with in our own daily lives. You wouldn’t even need to raise any funds for this type of mission. One thing that I see consistently throughout scripture is that when Jesus gives a command to us its always something that all of His followers can do. I don’t think He expects someone who is economically incapable of going overseas to do so. I look at it this way; this is not my home anyway so I am on a mission trip wherever I go.

 K.P. Yohannan of Gospel for Asia is an advocate of native missionaries. His view is that the best way to reach people is with believers who are a part of the culture they are trying to reach. That makes a lot of sense and if we support missionaries like that we are after all thinking globally and perhaps using our resources in the best possible way.

  Anyway you look at it the needs are great everywhere. Should we make a point of caring for the needs of our own community first and then think globally?  Has Jesus called everyone of His followers to overseas missions?

The Christmas Junkie

Rob Woodrum3 Comments

I’ll admit it right off the bat…I’m a Christmas Junkie.

I love Christmas.  At 45 years of age, I still slow down to look at cool displays of exterior holiday lighting, and run through the house in my pajamas at random moments shouting “It’s almost Christmas!”.

I think my love for this holiday is two-fold.  For one thing, there were eleven or more years of my life spent without Christmas.  According to the belief system of the church I was a part of when I started following Jesus, Christmas, as with all popular holidays, had a pagan origin and should not be indulged in by God fearing Christians.  Even after I left that church, I still struggled with my participation in the holidays.  I just remember one day, walking through a department store alone, trying to avert my eyes from the beautiful decorations, and it seemed to me (you don’t have to believe it) that the Lord spoke to me. 

“What are you afraid of?”

“Well…I’m not supposed to be afraid of anything….perfect love casts out all fear.”  Slowly, my tight resistance to the holiday began to loosen.

For some reason that little exchange woke me up.  This was no different from eating meat sacrificed to idols.  Paul made it clear, those things mean nothing, it has everything to do with our own conscience (Romans 14, 1 Cor 10) and what we do with it.  I could celebrate this holiday and let it be the warm, wonderful family holiday I wanted it to be.

(By the by, John MacArthur has written a really good article about the origins of the Christmas tree which I think puts to rest any worries about pagan connections to our dear tanenbaum.)

I think the other reason I’m a Christmas Junkie is the way it transports me back to a different time in my life.  A time of innocence and ardent anticipation of good things to come.  I believe there is a place for that sort of thing in the Christ Follower’s life.  In so many ways, the childish rush of Christmas joy is a foretaste of what can be found in a life centered on Jesus.  That’s the way I put Christ into Christmas…by seeing this holiday as a point of reference.

How about you?  Are you in to Christmas, or is it a drag?  Got your holi-dizzle in full effect, or do you think this is a heapin’ helpin’ of pagan stew?

Rocky Gets Saved?

dustinbrysonLeave a comment

180x150Hollywood has been pimping people for a hundred years. They have chewed up and spit out hundreds of thousands of wanna be actors and actresses and then wiped the corners of their collective mouths and let slip a satisfying burp.

Now they are ready to pimp the church.

You see it’s the job of film execs to make sure that a film will be well received by the public. They want sex, and they want violence because that is what sells! There has never been a consorted effort to advertise to ‘Christians’ because the truth is, Jesus lovers all over the world sit in movie theaters chalk full of scenes we are supposed to abstain from just like everybody else … so why advertise to us any differently? Enter Mel Gibson and the The Passion of the Christ, and everything changed.

Exec on Rocky: “I want to pimp the Christians, and make them put our banners on all of their blogs and websites, but how do we go about that?”

Marketing Guy: “Just add one line about faith and they will jump all over it”

Exec: “BRILLIANT”

It’s not that I am not excited about this movie coming out … I am, as a matter of fact I almost got into a fist fight earlier in the week when a friend of mine started making fun of Sylvester’s age, but c’mon. You can’t add some clever tag line and think we will jump all over it, oh wait yes they can, and yes we will. CRAP .. I want to be Buddhist.

(disclaimer: Rocky execs: I am sure you didn’t use the word pimp | Everyone else: please remember this is my knee jerk reaction. I will be back, at some time in the future, (probably after seeing the film) and I will bust out my thought out, prayed about thoughts.)

Just How Cool is Jesus?

Rob Woodrum3 Comments

Ok, so I was reading a blog, and it was an article on Steven Baldwin’s activities to “cool up” Christianity.  The article is found here….and you need to read it before you read my post.

Here’s the thing….at first I was all “you gotta’ be kidding me, this is stupid, Christianity will never be cool”, etc.  My usual tirade.  But then I started really thinking about it…about how Jesus would react to my reaction (so to speak).  So I wrote a little story.  Enjoy.

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John and another disciple were out of breath when they finally found Jesus.  They stood before him, huffing to get air into thier lungs after what appeared to be a long run.

“Jesus….puff, puff….we….did something….huff…..for you.” said one of the disciples.

“Yeah!” exclaimed John, bending over and holding his side, “we….fixed a real……problem!”

Jesus squinted his eyes, and let slip a barely perceptible “yikes” through his lips.

“What?”

“Nothing,” said Jesus, “what problem did you fix?” he said, making quotation marks in the air at his last word.

“We found this guy…and he was setting people free from the devil, but he wasn’t one of us!  He was using strange terms, like gnarly and awesome…and we knew those weren’t words that we use.” said the one disciple, his face aflush.

“Yeah…and they had skateboards and ramps and….well….what in the world does that have to do with what we’re doing?  Anyway, he’s not one of us, so I told him to knock it off!” John said, with a flourish of his hand.

“You told him what?” asked Jesus, furrowing his eyebrows.

“I told him that in order to use your name, he had to be like us, and part of our group, using our words and our approved methodology.” John was beaming.

Jesus groaned, and began rubbing his temples. “Guys….John…you can’t do that.  John, what did you say this guy was doing in my name?”

“Trying to set people free from bondage to evil…but don’t worry Jesus, we made him stop!”

“Were people being set free John?”

“Well…yeah, I guess, but that’s not the point, is it?  He isn’t one of us!  He was doing stuff that we should get to do, we’re the ones who’ve made the sacrifices to follow you.  Who does this guy think he is, just coming on the scene and doing things like he was part of your plan?”

Jesus took in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.  “How much evil do you think there is in the world, John?”

“I don’t know….lots?”

“Yes John, lots.  Do you think there won’t be enough evil left for you to fight against if this guy fights evil too?  There is plenty of evil to go around John.  There are plenty of demons to cast out, everyone will have more than their fair share of work to do, you don’t have to worry about that.  John, those who use my name for good are not your enemy.  You only have one enemy, and this guy aint him.  Do you understand what I’m saying?”

John had the look of someone who was slowly coming awake.  His head began to slowly nod, like an engine starting to chug and a smile emerged on his face.  “I get it Jesus!  You want us to go and make him one of US!  C’mon guys, lets go get this guy!”

The disciples raced off down the road, arguing about who would be in charge of training the new guy.

Jesus called out after them, waving his hands for them to listen to him, “He who is not against us in ON our side!”.  But the disciples couldn’t hear him.

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You can read the real story in Mark 9:38-40