Things I learned this weekend

I learned a few things this weekend at a retreat. There were a half dozen couples who met in upstate New York to talk. And talk. And talk. Two full days of conversation from dawn to dusk and into the night--we'd only relocate for meals (or an occasional walk or bball)--but the conversation never really stopped. It was GREAT!

Things I learned:

• God is alive and active in his world. He never stopped working and he never stopped speaking. Most people never hear him because they don't know how to or even that it's possible.
• Listening isn't enough regardless of who you're talking with. To really begin to understand each other all parties involved should try to hear the others. Listening isn't enough. (Let those who have ears to hear, hear. And be assured that God gives good gifts to his children when they ask him: Ask, seek, knock.)
• There's a wonderful sense of peace that comes when I no longer feel like I must say the things I'm thinking. I can wait and let other people speak first (their comment might be much more important or profound). Once a few seconds of silence have passed, then I can say what I want to--if I still want to. I don't have to share everything I think of.

Charismatic Tithing??

Don't start getting spoiled, but there have been too many "coincidences" in the past 12 hours to not share.

A bit of back story: Over the past several months/years I've had a staggering number of conversations about social justice and the Christian's proper response to helping those in need. I'm still thinking through the issues, but I'm definitely now more on the side of, "Let's do everything we possibly can to help restore as much of everyone's humanity as is possible!!"

So, for those of you not in a simple church you might not realize that we have no real expenses up here. We meet in houses. We feed each other whenever we get together. We share and just basically love being together, but we have no building, no mortgage, no heating (well, we do, but heating houses hardly counts. Although it feels like it should with $400+ heating bills--see my previous post.).

You might say, "So what's the problem? That hardly seems like something to complain about!" I'll tell you. Where does the money go? We need to be generous, but we don't have the "easy" option of just giving money to "the church" and washing our hands of the matter. There are so many good options out there, but I haven't been giving nearly enough of myself or our money.

Isaiah phrases it interestingly (check out the context):

If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness
and your night will become like the noonday.

Spend yourselves? How do I spend myself everyday? In a chasing after the wind? In pursuing religion?

Or in pursuing God and what He cares about?

Back to all the coincidences. Last night Adam W, a great friend who recently joined our group of Christ-followers, went to talk about a stewardship campaign at a local parish. While taking his wife, Nikky, home I asked what their experience with the Health and Wealth gospel has been. She hadn't ever heard of it.

Their position is that if a body of believers has committed to each other then they must share responsibility in all areas, including the finances.

Including the mortgage and heating.

What a profoundly simple idea. It makes so much sense.

This morning I was eating at my regular breakfast nook, The Broken Yolk, when the cook asked me if I had my Bible with me today. She was interested if I knew the verse where we were told to give 10%. I went off into a long diatribe on how that was never commanded of us--Abraham set a good precedent and Jacob after him, but we don't have to. We have to be generous with out lives.

Fortunately someone came in a placed an order, so she sent me looking in Ecclesiastes (where I found the profound wisdom I linked to above). I had some time to realize I was not having a conversation, I was teaching. When she came back to my table we talked, she read Ecclesiastes 5, she found Malachi 3:10ff, and we had a conversation.

I then realized I had been answering the wrong question. There are several commands to give 10% (literally "a tithe"), they just all happen to be in the Hebrew Bible.

Several months ago she had told me that her community is an Assembly of God in Revere. Before leaving I asked her about it (since yesterday's sermon had been on tithing) and she told me that it's a Spanish congregation and she'd love to have me visit. They even have a wonderful lady who will translate into English whenever someone shows up who would otherwise be lost.* I'm really looking forward to visiting soon.

The final coincidence was that George Barna had sent me his weekly study of American demographics while I was at breakfast. Here it is. Definitely something to think about.




*LOST. Isn't that a great word? I just finished a book AKA Lost that talks about how demeaning it is to even think that way. We strip people of their humanity when we don't think of them as humans, but rather "the lost." However, I most certainly would be lost at a Spanish congregation without a translator. Perhaps the word isn't all bad . . .

A surprise post

I never thought I'd say the following:

When I stepped outside yesterday my first thought was, "Wow! 24 degrees is so warm!"

That, my faithful few, is the sort of insight you've been without for the past 4 months (and yes, we have been having single digit highs). I know, because I haven't been sharing anything here. Sorry about that. But I make no promises for the future. Blogging isn't a new years resolution. But I'll try to be better.

In other news, here are my favorite 20 photos from 2007 (out of 12,609 I took this year). Feel free to pick your favorite in the comments.

Cruising Reflections

Perhaps you hadn't noticed, but I haven't been updating this thing too frequently. I apologize, but this will likely be my last apology. Blogging is enjoyable, but it is far from a top priority in my life right now, so I'll put something up when I have both the inclination and time. Oh, and I won't make the mistake of trying to catch you up on all that has happened since my last update either--that's a daunting task that only makes me less likely to even try. Now that that unfortunate business is out of the way . . . .



We returned from our cruise a week or two ago, and I've been planing on blogging about how pathetic it is that we Americans think of cruising as an ideal vacation. I started explaining my thoughts to Jen a few days ago when she said, "I just really enjoyed it. It was nice to relax and be taken care of for a while."

What a better perspective. I'm sure if I had just decided to dwell on the blessing of being on a vacation then I would have had a more cheerful one. As it is, on tropical vacations I usually let my thoughts drift to self or societal criticism.

Becoming "fully alive" is a personal and team goal, and I think a drastic and divine transformation and renovation of my mind is in order. I like how Paul put it:

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (Philippians 4:8 MSG)

So, friends, if you don't mind, then please help me with this transformation. When you see me help direct my thoughts toward the good and perhaps we can together find God in it.



A few cruise pictures for you:

Who Poached my Watermelon?!?!

Have you ever woken up with a real rush of emotion?

This morning when the alarm went off (probably the 6th time) I was irate. The thought running through my head:

WHO POACHED MY WATERMELON?


Surely that means something.

Why Photography?

I was asked "why photography?" when I joined the Boston Photography Center. I think I finally figured part of that question out:

Photography, unlike most art forms, generally doesn't attempt to create. Rather, a good photographer will see the beauty surrounding him in every moment and capture it. He freezes the essence of the world in that place and time. Therefore, a photographer should be humble--his job is to capture (reflect) the inherent glory of creation in his work.

A parallel: as Christians, we too should learn to be fully present in every moment. Then we can humbly always be reflecting the glory of God to those around us.

Men are happier

I just received this from a good college friend. I don't usually care for forwards, but it made me laugh and so I thought I'd share. (I don't envy all you ladies out there.)

Men Are Just Happier People--

What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pa y. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress~$5000. Tux rental~$100. People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of
thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. Your belly usually hides your big hips. One wallet and one pair of shoes one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier. Send this to the women who can handle it and to the men who will enjoy reading it.

Simplicity

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.

--Simple Gifts, an old Shaker hymn by Elder Joseph Brackett

(the melody is hauntingly beautiful, please take a moment to listen)

Last night Jen and I joined several of our friends in downtown Boston for two one acts at Emerson. Both were by Thornton Wilder, and the first one was actually good (we won't speak of the second). The evening opened up with this famous melody and made me remember just how much I love it.

Perhaps of all the spiritual disciplines I'm most reluctant to truly practice simplicity. I want the freedom that naturally follows from living simply, but I'm afraid of the necessary demands and changes to my life. I seem to have bought into this ideal of affluence and "comfort" as an important part (perhaps the most important part?) of what is proper and good in life. Richard Foster points out that as a society we have developed an insane attachment to things because we lack a divine Center. I'm inclined to agree.

The central point for the Discipline of simplicity is to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of his kingdom first and then everything necessary will come in its proper order. . . . Simplicity itself becomes idolatry when it takes precedence over seeking the kingdom.

Focus upon the kingdom produces the inward reality, and without the inward reality we will degenerate into legalistic trivia. Nothing else can be central. The desire to get out of the rat race cannot be central, the redistribution of the world's wealth cannot be central, the concern for ecology cannot be central. Seeking first God's kingdom and the righteousness, both personal and social, of that kingdom is the only thing that can be central in the Spiritual Discipline of simplicity.

The person who does not seek the kingdom first does not seek it at all. Worthy as all other concerns may be, the moment they become the focus of our efforts they become idolatry. To center on them will inevitably draw us into declaring that our particular activity is Christian simplicity. And, in fact, when the kingdom of God is genuinely placed first, ecological concerns, the poor, the equitable distribution of wealth, and many other things will be given their proper attention.

--Richard Foster on Simplicity in Celebration of Discipline

A singularity of focus on God will put everything else in perspective. I'm sad to say my focus is far from singular, but hopefully every day is a little better than the last.

The practical implications of simplicity are where I hesitate--buying useful things rather than status building ones, rejection of any thing that I'm addicted to, habitually giving things away, refusing the lure of gadgetry, enjoying things without having to own them, using plain and honest speech, refusing to give support to things that oppress other people, and shunning things that distract me from my singular focus on the kingdom of God.

Father, please teach me how to loosen my grip on my life so you can move me to where you want me to be.

This and That

How easily time can disappear. I know that my schedule seems to stay completely packed, and it seems that I'm not alone. Americans in general hardly take any time out for rest, relaxation, family, community, long meals, volunteering, recreation, or any of hundreds of other ways to spend their time outside of work. This urgently needs to change. So much of culture is defined by how time is spent and what is deemed valuable. In this country time is spent working and the dollar is esteemed as the only standard of value. It's no wonder we're losing much of our identity as a nation and, even more regrettably, as God's ambassadors on earth.

Take Back Your Time is an organization that I stumbled upon tonight. Perhaps some of their efforts and media attention will pay off. At any rate I think I desperately need to try harder to not get swallowed by school.

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On a quick and unrelated note, Marvin and Judith Crowson from Harding visited our team this past weekend. Marvin has been a mentor to our team and the instigator of much of the domestic church planting efforts coming out of Harding. Outreach America is his organization on campus.

We spend a very short weekend going through a ton of useful stuff, but most of our time was spent in rediscovering who we are as a team, verbalizing what is and isn't working for us up here, and trying to discover solutions. Spending time refocusing was invaluable, especially since much of the newness of having moved here has worn off during the three months since we moved.

As always, notes and prayers from those we love are indescribably helpful. Thank you for letting us know that you care about what we're here to do.

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One last thing before I go to sleep: My mom flew up this past Wednesday to spend some time with us, and she'll be around until Tuesday. Unfortunately I had class all day Thursday and Jen had to work, so I dropped mom off in downtown Boston to let her explore. Somehow she hooked up with a couple of ladies from Australia. It sounds like the three of them had fun.

Today (and most of the past week) I spent trying to get our cars (yes, both of them) back into drivable condition. When I say that I did that what I really mean is that I took them to people who undoubtedly know worlds more about cars than I do (it wouldn't take a lot of knowledge to qualify). It's taken time at any rate to deal with Jen's car (new battery, replacement alternator and ac belts, a flat tire--twice--resulting in a new full set of tires, and an oil change) and mine (one of my brake pads somehow disintegrated and it sure sounds like we've been destroying the rotor while continuing to use the car while Jen's was unavailable). But as of today Jen's car should be good to go and mine is at the shop. All that to say that we didn't get much done or seen today, or last Wednesday, or the Friday before that, or the Wednesday before that.

I'm very glad that we have a working car now because tomorrow we're going apple picking in Stow, MA. The Honey-Pot Hill Orchards is a farm about an hour away that Jen's boss highly recommended for this favorite New England fall family activity. So by tomorrow night I imagine that we will have obtained a couple pumpkins and a 13lb bag of personally picked apples, enjoyed a hay ride through the beautiful countryside as it's changing colors, and have gotten ourselves completely lost in a hedge maze. I know you wish you were here.

Sunday plans include a Duck Tour. And Monday I'll take mom up to see Tufts. At some point I might even try to make a dent in my homework--or then again . . . maybe not.

A Possible Definition of Education

The continual progression and realization of one's ignorance concerning the true nature of reality.

Thoughts On Insomnia

It's early, 5:45, and I've been up since about 1:00. I can't sleep and the sun is starting to rise. I've never really had a problem with insomnia before, but I'm glad I've experienced it. I can see why it's such a predicament for people. I must say I've enjoyed it though--but I am ready to sleep now. So here I sit with some tea1 and my thoughts. "Perhaps writing them out will help," I thought, so here I am. I'd appreciate some feedback on what I'm about to say though (if I say crazy things then I blame sleep deprivation).

Over the last few hours my mind has had a chance to roam without all the normal distractions--like light. Now that I again have light I see that the notes I made aren't going to do me much good. Moving on.

Here's my question: "On the New Earth will we sleep?"
I don't think we will.

Here's why:

• On the new earth there will no longer be night. With the time for sleep removed it seems that sleep might go along with it. [Revelation 21:25, Revelation 22:5]
• Sleep seems to be a shadow (perhaps an echo) of death, and thereby a result of the fall. Genesis 2 seems to imply that perhaps Adam hadn't slept until "the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep." [if you'd like to read it yourself]
• While we sleep we dream. Dreams (both the fun and the horrifying) are constructions of our mind of alternate reality. Once we've entered into true reality then there will be no reason for our minds to construct other options. (Don't read that I think imagination will be abolished along with sleep--imagination is one of the greatest gifts God has given us and I seem no reason we won't continue to use it in the world to come.)
• Sleep is a non-productive time. Nothing is accomplished either for good or ill aside from allowing our bodies to rest and recuperate (regenerate?). With death and decay no longer around will we need whatever happens while we sleep2? We'll be working on the new earth and I believe we'll experience joy beyond what is available in this world while doing it and praising God. Sleep would seem like a curse if it removed us from that. [Revelation 22:3-5 again--we "will serve him" and "we will reign"]

What do you think?

Well, the sun is up and the birds are singing. I think I'm going to have a hard time making it through today. I think a nap will be in order.

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1. I've never really made tea for myself before. I did enjoy tea time while I was at the villa in Florence a couple years ago. I wanted a warm drink (and I don't drink coffee) so I thought I'd try some of Jennie's tea. I made it too strong. Perhaps I'll get it next time.

2. It seems we still don't know.