David Kenney

photo credit: brh_images

So I have to give my wife credit for this one,  she passed along a news article to me about some Ohio strippers who turned the tables on a local church and picketed the congregation one Sunday morning.  It seems the church was picketing the strip club once a week, so the owner and girls got fed up and decided to play “fair is fair” to see if the local church enjoyed bikini clad water gun fights on their front lawn.

They didn’t.

The Ohio pastor rebuttals, “I will put a roof over (their) heads, and (their) bills will be paid, and (their) children’s bellies will be full,” he explains.  He just wants to offer the girls “a way out.” But, I doubt the employees (who are sometimes Mothers and married women) see picket signs and video taping their patron’s license plates as “helping.”

I wonder why the church thinks that picket signs, protesting, bull horns, pamphlets, tracts, filming surveillance footage and otherwise obnoxious behavior can be classified as “helping.”  Not to mention loving – or loving your neighbor as yourself. What are those steps anyway? How do you go from the bible and the teachings of Jesus and “take the log from your own eye” to… protesting-sign-carrying-jerks?

Is this still the image we as a church body want to convey to a lost world in 2010?

Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is one of my all time favorite science fiction books. And sure, Frankenstein’s monster killed a little girl, a violinist and later, the scientist’s own bride, but I have always been as equally scared of the angry mob carrying pitch forks and torches. And when you read the book, Shelly has a way of helping you to feel sorry for the Monster, you realize that he is the fault of the creator and not because of some own twisted choice to be evil. The Monster just wants love and to be left alone. But the turn is, the creator in this story doesn’t want to redeem his creation, he only feels remorse for having made him and sets out to kill what he gave life to.

I think Strippers are a lot like Frankenstein….

(actually I just wanted to say that, my analogy isn’t that tight)

But seriously, I think most people who are in the adult industry, or who manufacture weapons or cigarettes, alcoholics, drug addicts and any other malcontent the church might be after…. I don’t think these people “asked” for the life they got (most of them). For the most part, I think at one time or another we’re all handed a pile of dirty stinky smelly “life” and you pick your options.

“Well, I had it rough and I never became a stripper.”

Well good for you – here’s a cookie.

But it’s unfair for you or I to sit back in our polished pews and judge a sinful and broken world. I actually think casting judgment on anyone (even other Christians sometimes) is a very dangerous place to be standing. Yes, I know there are verses that appear to condone discernment and judgement, but I see a lot more that talk about love, and forgiveness and mercy and grace.

Plus if we truly want to call ourselves “Christians” – well then I certainly never see Christ judging the lost or those on the fringes. He appears to constantly welcome in children, women, the sick, half-breeds and anyone else the church has “judged” to be inferior. He even tells a woman “caught in sexual sin” what?

“Neither do I condemn you.” (John 8 )

The good news is our creator does want to redeem us – he sees our flaws and brokenness and he wants to love us regardless. He isn’t out in the parking lot taking pictures of our license plates, he isn’t shaming our life choices and he isn’t even demanding that we change… Jesus illustrates that the father simply waits for his lost children to come home (Luke 15:11-32) all so that he can show them extravagant grace.

You know, I think we picket and point fingers because it’s easy. It’s real easy to tear others down, to criticize how they love, or how they raise their kids, how they teach the bible or how they earn a living; being a back-seat critic is safe and it places us up out of harm’s way.

I can find fault with anything.

But Jesus didn’t tell me to judge the world – he told me to love it. And if the world doesn’t receive me or the message of the gospel.. what am I supposed to do? (Matthew 10:14)

Walk away.

“But then how will the strippers ever know we disprove of their lives?!”

John 16:8 - When the Holy Spirit comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

God is the judge and he is the conviction of sin.

Those are his jobs.

He does them best.

What do you and I do?

Matthew 10:7-8 – Go and announce that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons.

Announce

Heal

Raise

Cure

… and if we’re not received?

No torches

No pitchforks

No picket signs

No hate mongering

No defaming websites or email

Just walk away.

[Read what happens next in this story- here]

photo credit: Ev0luti0nary

A judge today (August 4, 2010) overturned Prop 8 deeming it unconstitutional. Judge Walker’s ruling said the opponents of Proposition 8 had “demonstrated by overwhelming evidence” that the ban violated their constitutional rights.

Ya know, it’s too bad a “judge” doesn’t know what “rights” are. Because prop 8 was about giving equal rights to all, and now that it has been overturned…  a few have “special” rights, because they cried fowl.  That made me remember an article I wrote a while back - and let me preface it by saying – I know gay people, work with gay people, love gay people – this article has nothing to do with sexual preference – and everything to do with the “argument” that prop 8 took away American “rights.”

Here is my article from 2009:

……………………

A wise man once said, “Genuine politics — even politics worthy of the name — the only politics I am willing to devote myself to — is simply a matter of serving those around us: serving the community and serving those who will come after us. Its deepest roots are moral because it is a responsibility expressed through action, to and for the whole.”

There was a dark period in our nation’s history where both women and blacks were not allowed to vote. And it wasn’t that they could only vote for other women, or other African Americans – they were not allowed to vote – period. A fundamental right was stricken from them based on gender and ethnicity – and it was because of American pioneers of equality and grace that those limitations were lifted and rights were restored.

But is it happening again?

The gay community says that they are fighting for their fundamental rights, that I as a “straight” white man have more rights than my fellow “gay” white man. He is out there fighting for his American rights, and that Prop 8 [in California] has denied him rights.

The gay community is fighting for equality.

I gotta say, there is some ad man out there patting himself on the back right now, because adding the word “rights” to this conversation has certainly turned the tide for a lot of Americans. But is it the right word?

Is this about rights?

“You have the right to marry who you want.” Someone shouts, “…and we are fighting for that same right.” Is that true? I have the right to marry who I want?

[picture scene – me walking up to an attractive female at a bar] “Hey, I want to marry you.”

“Buzz off creep.” [I realize people do not say “buzz off” anymore]… [or creep]

“But it’s my right to marry who I want, and I want to marry you.”

Do you see how stupid this sounds? I don’t have the “right” to marry ‘who I want.’ Those are not the right words. Any more than I could marry the girl I had a crush on in 7th grade, or I have the right to marry a 12 year old boy, or a goat, or my sister – I as an American do not “have the right” to marry who I want.

“Ok, you have the right to marry who you love.”

Uh, that’s not the right statement either. See above argument. I can be in love, or love any number of people; it doesn’t give me the right to marry them.

Without boring you with more scenarios – let’s really call it like it is. I as a male, have the right to marry a female [and visa versa if she so desires]. But truth be told…. Those same rights exist for us all. Everyone in the state of California has the “right” to marry a person of the opposite sex if both parties agree.

We all have the same rights.

So why do gays feel stricken against? Well, they are being told they don’t have the right to marry who they “prefer.” Society has deemed that women marry men. So what the gay community is asking for is not fundamental rights given to all – but rather “special rights” given only to them.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not against gay people – far from it. But what I am against is people using words incorrectly to twist people’s perceptions of truth. The truth is we all have the same rights – just because you have alternative beliefs from the majority, society does not give you permission to have your own set of standards.

Certain Mormon sects still believe in being allowed to have multiple wives. We as a society have made laws against that [to protect children and to protect women], but haven’t we in effect squished their “religious rights” by not allowing them to marry “who they want?” Yes we have.

But is society in error?

Haven’t we all as a society deemed stealing from one another is wrong? But criminals obviously don’t agree, and they buck the system and they steal – consequently, they are thrown into prison! “Hey,” shouts the person in jail. “My rights as a criminal are being ignored. I should be treated like everyone else.”

Any minority group could stand up and say, because there are not “special rights” that apply just for them – their rights are being stepped on. But guess what? I love William Shatner, and in the U.S. I am probably in the minority. So I belong to a minority group called, “fans of William Shatner” and I want to make his birthday a national holiday.

Society votes no. But I still want to take the day off from work…what should I do?

Nothing, because the laws are there to protect the majority. NOT the minority. When blacks and women were not allowed to vote – it was wrong because they were actually NOT ALLOWED to vote.

But gays are allowed to marry; and they are allowed to marry the same people as everyone else.

My friend Darren is a minority member. He isn’t gay, but he is attracted to 16 year old girls. He wants to marry one. And right now the state of California won’t allow him to. Darren is 37. Initial reaction?

What if he has consensual sex with a 16 year old girl? It’s statutory rape, but he can’t help it – he says he was born this way. Did you know right now over 20 states in the U.S.  have their legal age of consent law at 16? It’s true. Which means, Darren will probably move to Alabama, or Kansas or Montana. But right now, living in California, he wants to change the legal age of consent so that he can marry – “who he wants.” If you had to vote tomorrow on this – would you give Darren this right? Do you believe his rights are being stepped on?

…and what if the age of consent was 15…or 14…does it matter? What about his rights?

Ok, I don’t really know a Darren, but I know he is out there – and so are thousands of others who have their own wants and desires – my point is – do we then make laws for all of them?

Or what if the age of consent law is passed to 16 and we also pass a gay marriage law. Wouldn’t that mean that a 47 year old man could now legally marry a 16 year old boy? What was once considered child molestation….is now legalized.

Forgive me, but I thought laws were there to protect those who could not protect themselves, and to protect society. And every member of society alive right now is the product of heterosexual sex, either real or artificial. Every person alive, gay and straight has had a biological mother [female] and a biological father [male].

Society is built upon heterosexual sex.

You know, if I want to be a fisherman in California, I also have to get a fishing license. And while it doesn’t really require anything from me to obtain one, once I do, I have to obey the laws. Yes, there are fishing laws. I don’t get to fish “how I want” and I don’t get to fish “my preferences” I have to fish how I am told…. Do you know why? To protect the fish, who in this case are the majority.

I’m sorry life isn’t always fair and I am glad that it isn’t. I’m glad life sometimes tells you “no” and puts up road blocks. It means you realize you live in a community with other people – and that your actions affect everyone. It means you live within a system of rules that look out for the safety of all. And right now in California those laws say that you can only have 1 marriage partner, you can only marry someone 18 or older and you can only marry a person of the opposite sex. Those same laws apply to me and you.

We all have equal rights.

So I have been following the progress of the new Pirates of the Caribbean film.  A lot of production work has been starting so there is some movement on the internet to watch and keep track of. And in case you didn’t know, the movie is set to release on May 20, 2011.

Well that date has become interesting to me lately, because in my web surfing, I stumbled upon another “big thing” coming on the following day May 21, 2011.

The Second Coming.

Yes, apparently Harold Camping , also called “the Bible Answer man,” (no, not Willie Aames) has predicted that Jesus will be coming back for his elect in less than a year and then the official “end” of the world will be later that same year in October. All of this comes from his new book, Time Has An End.  And ironically this is not the first time the Family Stations broadcaster has made an end-times prediction. His earlier book 1994? predicted the end of the world on September 6, 1994; but according to wikipedia NOTHING happened that day.

In Camping’s defense his book in 1994 DID say that the end of the world “might also happen” in 2011 – so his bases are covered and we can’t exactly scream “false prophet” and point fingers just yet. And you can do your own web research on these claims to be sure, but initially you might be thinking… well didn’t Jesus say…

Matthew 25:13 So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

And earlier in 24:36 However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

These would seem to imply that nobody (oudeis oude) knows when Jesus will return. And both verses use the word hēmera for the word “day,” which can either mean a literal day or the “last day.” This would seem to imply Jesus was saying that nobody would be able to predict the end of the world.

Nobody *

In a 1994 interview, Camping admitted that he does not know Greek or Hebrew and typically uses a concordance for his bible studies. If he ever has questions about original languages he asks a friend of his. So when asked about these passages and how they relate to his prediction, Mr. Camping commented that those verses were directed to “non-believers” and that the bible gave him the 2011 date through a course of study and prayer (I may be paraphrasing).

Either way, this prediction has stirred the typical pot of “oh no he didn’t” and “you better get ready,” and I guess we will all know the truth on Sunday May 22. But, I assume  Jerry Bruckheimer and I will probably be watching the Pirate weekend ticket sales totals from his recent release on that day.

The apostle Paul wrote to the chruch in Thessolonia

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way.

In fact, I don’t know how skilled you’d need to be in Greek to decipher these texts – I think the point scripture is trying to make is “don’t get too worked up about the second coming, or when it will be.”

And for the most part, most Christians won’t even hear about this prediction and the rest won’t even care. May 22 will come and go and Harold and his disciples will write it off somehow so that it doesn’t discredit his reputation, I’m sure.

But… this whole discussion reminded me of a passage in the book of James.

James 5:7-8

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Here James is comparing the Lord’s return to a farmer’s crop harvest. How does a farmer wait for his crop to yield? Wouldn’t you say he waits with hope and anticipation? Each year the crop grows and ripens and is ready to be pulled and James says we should be looking forward to that day…

So are we? Are we looking forward to THAT day? Or are we looking forward to the big church barbecue or are next sermon series? How would our plans change or what programs we developed if we were looking forward to Christ’s return?

So as far-out as Mr. Camping’s prediction might be, what if we just decided to live like he was right?

How bad would it be to live like Jesus was coming back next May? What would you change, how would you live, what goals would you begin to set for yourself?

You may just decide to stress less about certain aspects of life… you’d be surprised how quickly your worry levels fade when you adjust what is truly important to you.

But what happens if we live like Christ is returning on May 21 and it comes and goes?

What do you do on May 22?

My suggestion would be to go see Pirates of the Caribbean and rejoice that we were given another year to live for the Kingdom.

* 220 Dates for the end of the world… and counting.

Today is Earth Day so I decided to repost an article I did for Relevant Magazine way back in 2007. I went back over it and reworked a lot of it, so consider it an Earth Day article “recycled.”

April 22 is Earth Day, despite the fact that DramaRama thinks Earth Day was yesterday. Which brings up a good point; the whole idea of Earth “Day” as only one specific day of the year is a little bit ridiculous. It reminds me of the other pseudo holidays like administrative assistant day, or talk like a pirate day. On those days we buy someone a card and flowers or we wear an eye-patch, and then we just go about our normal workday.

And I would argue that Earth day is probably not much different. But we really should appreciate and respect our assistant’s every day, right? So, the same should probably be said for the planet that we live on. How can we only set aside one day to be “aware” that we all live on a chunk of rock that needs our love?

More and more I am coming to the realization that as a Christian, it is not only my responsibility to be conscious of my impact on the environment, but to be conscious of my witness as a child of God. This past year I moved from a city that recycles my garbage for me to a city that has me separate the plastic, paper and glass. Before 2010, it was never a visual thing for me; I just threw it away and somebody else took care of it. But these past few months, I have had to be the one that was conscious of the part I was playing – and I guess I am always surprised at what can be done.

In Genesis 1:28, God tells humanity; “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (TNIV).

Now, in our English language, I think the words “subdue” and “rule” comes with a sense of freedom to discipline or tame something. The verse sounds like God is giving us free reign to do whatever we want. But there are not many places in scripture where God says, “Eh, do whatever you want.” Are there?

And if we were to look in our Bibles just one page over, the Lord gives this command again, but He uses an extended instruction. Genesis 2: 15, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (TNIV).

There are two Hebrew words here: The first word is ’abad; it means “to work or serve.” It carries with it the idea of cultivating a garden. The second word, shamar, means “to exercise great care over.” Now go back and start at the very beginning of Genesis and read the whole account again. Look at the attention God gives to each day of His creation.

God creates an entire ecosystem of intricately designed plants and animals that operate within a solar environment, and then He hands the entire thing—His great masterwork—over to the people as His “gardeners.”

So now in 2010, if I profess to be a child of God and a person who is obedient to scripture, what kind of witness am I to the world if I am just as guilty of wasting water, paper and electricity? Am I the caretaker that God has designed me to be?

Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Living green is really something we can all do, and the great thing is, even one person can make a difference. And for those of us who are parents, we can begin to help train the next generation of consumers.

So here are 20 really easy things we can all do to decrease our ecological footprint on the earth.

1. Lower your thermostat and buy a programmable thermostat.

2. Reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water. (In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics.)

3. Check out your bathroom; use low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.

4. Start a compost in your backyard or on your rooftop.

5. Buy foods locally. Check out Eat Local Challenge and FoodRoutes to get started. Buy locally made products and locally produced services.

6. Buy foods in season.

7. Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. You’ll find more on energy-efficient products and practices at Energy Star.

8. Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).

9. Recycle your newspapers.

10. Car pool. Connect with other commuters at eRideShare.

11. Consider a car sharing service like Zipcar.

12. Ride a bike.

13. Walk, jog, or run.

14. Go to your local library instead of buying new books.

15. At holidays and birthdays, give your family and friends the gift of saving the earth. Donate to their favorite environmental group, foundation, or organization.

16. Get off junk mail lists. GreenDimes can get you started. They’ll even plant a tree for you!

17. Buy products that use recyclable materials whenever possible.

18. If you use plastic grocery bags, recycle them for doggie poop bags or for small trashcan liners.

19. Bring your own bags to the grocery store. Given a choice between plastic and paper, opt for paper.

20. Buy locally. Find farmers’ markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food near you at LocalHarvest.

* More tips can be found at http://www.divinecaroline.com/22355/28177

A recent Times article was reporting recently about a “North Carolina-based charity that gives drug addicts $300 if they go on long-term birth control or undergo sterilization.” The aim of the foundation “is to prevent addicts from having children they can’t care for and reduce the number of babies born exposed to drugs.” And I guess that seems like it would be beneficial…everyone can agree that the health of unborn children is an important thing.

But the flipside of this is – there is no redemption involved here.

No forgiveness.

What this says to drug addicts is, “you can not be trusted to reproduce.” It gives them money (which is a terrible incentive by the way, it reduces something that God has given people as a gift to take part in the creation of life to something that can be bartered or worse – stolen) to make a (perhaps) permanent body modification on the gamble that they might never be healed of their addiction.  In other words the charity organization is betting against the addicts.

This is why I think the message of Jesus is so different than the message of the world.

The message of Jesus is a world restored and healed.

To come to Christ is to admit brokenness and to inherit grace.  Ironically Jesus likened this several times to children and to babies because a baby is a symbol of newness and of bright futures (John 3). So to take part in a message that the world offers that denies you of a hope and a future, that tells you that your future is destined for failure and is best to barter away for less than a week’s pay is to take part in destruction.

The world tries to tell you that you are valueless and that the only way you can find some happiness is to redeem the blessings that God has given you in exchange for temporary pleasures.  You see this message in everything from advertising to career choices.

How did I get on a rant?

Every other faith practice will convince you that you’re worthless and that all you need to do is try harder. The world may bet against you and it may be a million-to-one shot that you make something of yourself, but Christ already bet his life that you could inherit eternity.

Paul writes in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” In other words no matter what is happening now in your life it pails to what is coming. Winston Churchill said something similar, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”

The world may want to buy you out, and it may be spewing a message that you can’t make it, but Christ came to destroy that message. He came to offer an alternative to cheap grace and a try-and-try-again forgiveness.

Paul continues in verse thirty-eight, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That’s why following Jesus is different than any other faith, creed, choice, mantra, company, CEO, or paradigm shift. Once you decide to follow Christ – your future is set – you’ve already “made it” and you have guaranteed success.

Forgiveness has already been given…

Salvation has already been assured…

and nobody and nothing can steal that future from you.

I guess I am always the last to know, but apparently the emerging church has died. Sadly much before I could ever call myself an “emerging church pastor” our short lived church movement has come to a very quiet end. I guess  I’m still thinking about it, so I don’t have much to say yet, but please read these 3 “obituaries” and share what you think…

1. Cheaper than Therapy – The Emerging Church, A Controversial movement inspiring many the past 10 years, Dies at 21

2. Tall Skinny Wiki - Emerging Church Movement (1989 – 2009)?

3. World Mag.com -Farewell emerging church, 1989-2010

I have a love hate relationship with youtube. On the one hand it’s always fun to get a video from someone that depicts a cat wearing a tie or some skinny teen falling down a flight of stairs – all those things are hilarious. But the part of me that likes things clean and organized hates all the repetitive data out there, the mislabeled, misspelled, and all of the utter useless garbage taking up cyberspace.

There is also a huge pile of random faces out there just looking for their 10 minutes of 2GB fame. Youtube is a choir of millions of voices and sadly there isn’t a lot out there worth listening to. I guess that is why I gravitated towards Eddie Eggleston. Eddie is an 18 year old vlogger who goes by the screen name “The Blue Office Chair” and I am only stopping to point him out to you because, well…. out of all the “fake” out there… Eddie is real.

Now granted I don’t know how special or different his story is, but I don’t think that every good story needs things like originality or car chases (although they help). No, Eddie’s story is interesting because he is a good story teller and he came across to me as an authentic Christian.

“I’m someday that constantly checks my faith,” says Eddie in one of his vlogs; and I think it’s that youthful self-awareness that kept me listening.  Sure, his videos are fun and it’s pretty obvious he has a talent for this (even though he has only been vlogging for about a year) but I think what keeps you  tuned into his channel is his humility and his genuine spirit.

I first found The Blue Office Chair while searching for videos on Rob Bell. As a response to one of Rob’s Everything Is Spiritual clips, was a video from a vlogger channel called Dan Brown Universe. In the video, Dan begins to explain the big bang theory in a very polite and succinct fashion, but it was pretty obvious to me that Dan wasn’t responding to Rob Bell. Turns out, Dan was replying to one of Eddie’s vlogs – and the two of them were deep into a discussion of faith and science. And at first that might not seem that interesting, but some of these videos had close to twenty thousand views.

These two young men were each discussing their beliefs… and the world was watching.

And for me as the “Christian” who came late into this discussion – what kept compelling me to watch wasn’t Eddie’s amazing orthodox answers… not at all. I don’t think there was anything earth shattering going down on either side. No the element that was new to me through this whole conversation was Eddie.

He’s nice.

No matter how many times someone called him an idiot (or worse) Eddie was nice. He didn’t feel the need to retaliate or name call or take the offensive, in fact his entire demeanor brought to mind the story of the blind man who was accosted by the religious leaders in John 9.

A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man (Jesus) is a sinner.”

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

The accusers wanted answers and the blind man didn’t have any. The only thing the blind man had was his own story and that’s what I saw in Eddie. But the other thing that quickly became apparent was… the world saw it also.

The world was watching someone who was real and kind and had the spirit of Jesus living in them – and for once it wasn’t painted on and it wasn’t biting back.

And the proof was in the responses from those who watched him.

“Hey dude I have to say that you are a great representative for the Christian people on YouTube and although our beliefs vary a little I would still pick you to show that all Christians and religious people in general are not all fanatics and completely insane.”

“You… are really darn nice. I’m actually an atheist, so we obviously have some widely differing views, but you’ve been cordial and respectful in your discussion with Dan and I respect that.”

And then there was this one…

“I came here from Dan’s channel. I’m a follower of his and am also a very skeptical atheist, so I admit I was completely prejudiced when I started watching your ‘pro-Christian’ video. I almost never comment on videos and even less on profiles, but I have to say this – I was truly amazed. until this point I would never have thought I could sympathize this much with religious views that are as convinced as yours. I see a lot of Christians and Christianity in my everyday life and frankly that is probably why I have grown into such a skeptic – I am used to see religious people as relatively dumb and sanctimonious. Your well thought out arguments disproved my opinions. I see you are wise and considerate, and for that i respect you. And also, even though in principles I agree with Dan, for that my atheistic paradoxical sympathies belong to you. Rather than him. for he lacks the latter.”

So after a few hours of reading and watching I decided to contact Eddie briefly for this little write up I was planning and I asked him to tell me in his own words how this whole thing was affecting him and this is what he said…

“This whole deal was amazing. I still have conversations with a lot of the people about certain religious topics that really get me to think about my faith and why I believe in God.  Hopefully I will plant seeds as well.  As far as my videos go, I’m going back to my old format.  In that I don’t only talk about religion; usually just some different conversations that I’m having with people on Youtube.  I’ve made my character known and I now have people watching.

I realize that I must be a good picture of a Christian on my channel, but I’ve decided that I don’t have to always preach to my audience to do that.  They know I’m a Christian by my words and now I must show them by my love.”

You see, Eddie gets it. “We don’t do it with all our heart as working for the Lord merely because the Lord is watching. We also do it with all our heart working for the Lord because the world is watching. And when the world sees that the way we work is different from the way they work, they may just get the idea that we are doing it for a greater purpose than defining ourselves.” ~ Mark Steele

Eddie didn’t set out to change the world or to become a Christian voice or to become the next video evangelist. He wanted to make videos on youtube, but because he did it with the right spirit and the right heart – he ended up being a witness and an example to thousands of people.

I wish more Christians remembered to be nice and considerate when sharing their faith. We all claim to be followers of Jesus and yet I think we sometimes fail to offer the level of  love he shared.  Just by being nice, Eddie was able to change misconceptions and able to bring others into the conversation.

Listen to what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5,

When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,  so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Paul said he came with a demonstration.

He said, I didn’t’ come to argue, with words. Words don’t have the same weight we might think…

I think there is an impulse within us as Christians that we have to have all of the right answers – or that we have to defend Jesus or defend our faith.

But guess what – All you have to know is that you were blind and now you see.

You don’t have to have answers to criticisms, controversy, or religious theology…

What is your story? “I was blind, and now I see.”

You don’t have to defend your story.

You don’t have to defend God.

You don’t have to have all of the answers.

Like Eddie, you can win the world by just being… nice

Michael Spencer, the Internet Monk, passed away last night in his sleep due to complications with his cancer, he was 54. Michael was easily one of the best Christian bloggers on the planet and certainly one that many of us look up to and respect – he will be missed.

But rather than go on with my words, in honor of Michael, I encourage you to read his:

1. Why do they hate us?

2. Why I am a Christian

Towards the end of his life, Michael wrote these words, “This cancer situation is not going to give my old life back. It may take the life I have. I choose whatever mission God has for me.”

I encourage everyone who has loved Michael’s work to purchase his book: Mere Churchianity.

Last night my wife and I watched Ricky Gervais’ recent movie, The Invention of Lying. And from the commercials, I thought it would be a fictional movie about a universe where nobody lied, and then how one man discovered how to tell an untruth and then learned to exploit it for his own advantages.

That was the first 30 minutes of the film.

The rest of the movie is watching how learning to lie quickly leads to creating the idea of an afterlife, and then heaven, the 10 commandments and then God. So apparently, according to Gervais, lying leads to religion.

And you know, I could see how an outsider might reach that opinion. To claim that “God spoke” to them seems so outlandish that most reasonable people might suspect that person was lying. If someone told me that today – that God spoke to them in an audible voice and told them to do [or not do] something I would either think they were lying or crazy. And Gervais even takes this a step further in that people who don’t know how to lie are gullible children who follow the liars like sheep.

And I know it’s a comedy and supposed to be taken lightly, much like Mel Brooks’ History of the World part 1, but the conclusions that Gervais comes to seem a little off putting.

Are we to assume that if lying didn’t exist… neither would reason? Or censorship? People who don’t know how to lie say whatever they are thinking and eventually say only rude, or negative remarks to each other. And I would argue that just because I don’t “say whatever I am thinking” doesn’t mean that I am lying. And in turn even if lying didn’t exist, I doubt that would mean people were not reasonable or intelligent. Just because someone claims to be hearing from God, or that his back account has more money than the computer says, doesn’t mean that he is factual – he could be crazy.

Being “wrong” is also an option. Forgetting is an option…. In a world of truth there would still be inaccuracies. People tell their own version of perception and “truth,” but it doesn’t have to be a lie.

Which brings me to another thing that I thought was sad. According to the movie, hope is also a product of lying…and so is encouragement. If you tell someone that “things will be better” or if you have an optimistic attitude about life… according to the film, you’re lying to yourself and others. Before lying is invented, people are seen in the film as being lost and lonely. Jonah Hill’s character wants to kill himself before Giarvis’ character learns to lie.

Lying leads to faith, which leads to encouragement which leads to hope; hope in something better, hope in acceptance, reward, and even love. Which according to the movie, is all a big fat lie. The result for me watching this movie….life is pointless.

Before lying, there was no point to life, nobody wanted to go to work, nobody had any self interest [which was ironic, because apparently there was capitalism] and for the most part people spent their days being mean to one another. If that was the world in which I lived, I’d be with Jonah Hill’s character: what’s the point?

In fact it isn’t until Giarvis learns to lie that he discovers how to put others before himself. He has to “lie” to Hill’s character to spend time with him and take an interest in him because he sees it would be beneficial for the sake of another. So apparently lying also leads to kindness and looking beyond our own world. Once Giarvis learns to lie, it’s only then that he treats the elderly at the Old Folks home with kindness or helps a homeless man get back on his feet.

I would argue that even in a world of only truth telling, people would still know how to be compassionate and kind.

In fact, at the end, I don’t know which side Giarvis happens to be arguing for? The invention of lying is a good thing? Or a bad thing? Perhaps both. Good because it allows us to be civil to one another and it allows us to push self interest aside and bad because it can be exploited to lead people to follow false prophets.

And with so many faith practices circulating today, each one claiming to be “the way” we do have to admit…. Someone is lying. All paths can’t lead to God. All religions can’t be simultaneously “true.” The popular coexist bumper sticker is interesting to me, because it is primarily adorned by people who do not practice any of the religions represented. So it isn’t the faithful asking other faithful to get along – no.

It’s the outsiders looking at the religious and telling THEM to get along with each other. It’s the parent storming into the room and yelling at the arguing kids, “I don’t care who did what – all of you shut up.” The bumper sticker people don’t want to know about truth… they just want peace and quiet.

That’s funny.

At the beginning of the movie there was peace and quiet, and there was brutal truth. But there was no hope, no hope in life and no hope in a future beyond this life. It wasn’t until faith was introduced that people actually became…. Happy.

Coexisting doesn’t lead to happiness, it only leads to sedated tolerance.

So while Giarvis’ fantasy world of truth telling was a humorous simulation of one extreme of honesty, so was his depiction of lying. You can have honesty without brutality just like I think you can have hope and encouragement without being deceptive.

And certainly you can have faith, and you can offer comfort without leading people astray.

At age 30, Da Vinci submitted this cover letter to the Duke of Milan. WOW – it’s so much better than mine…

Most Illustrious Lord, Having now sufficiently considered the specimens of all those who proclaim themselves skilled contrivers of instruments of war, and that the invention and operation of the said instruments are nothing different from those in common use: I shall endeavor, without prejudice to any one else, to explain myself to your Excellency, showing your Lordship my secret, and then offering them to your best pleasure and approbation to work with effect at opportune moments on all those things which, in part, shall be briefly noted below.

1. I have a sort of extremely light and strong bridges, adapted to be most easily carried, and with them you may pursue, and at any time flee from the enemy; and others, secure and indestructible by fire and battle, easy and convenient to lift and place. Also methods of burning and destroying those of the enemy.

2. I know how, when a place is besieged, to take the water out of the trenches, and make endless variety of bridges, and covered ways and ladders, and other machines pertaining to such expeditions.

3. If, by reason of the height of the banks, or the strength of the place and its position, it is impossible, when besieging a place, to avail oneself of the plan of bombardment, I have methods for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were founded on a rock, etc.

4. Again, I have kinds of mortars; most convenient and easy to carry; and with these I can fling small stones almost resembling a storm; and with the smoke of these cause great terror to the enemy, to his great detriment and confusion.

5. And if the fight should be at sea I have kinds of many machines most efficient for offense and defense; and vessels which will resist the attack of the largest guns and powder and fumes.

6. I have means by secret and tortuous mines and ways, made without noise, to reach a designated spot, even if it were needed to pass under a trench or a river.

7. I will make covered chariots, safe and unattackable, which, entering among the enemy with their artillery, there is no body of men so great but they would break them. And behind these, infantry could follow quite unhurt and without any hindrance.

8. In case of need I will make big guns, mortars, and light ordnance of fine and useful forms, out of the common type.

9. Where the operation of bombardment might fail, I would contrive catapults, mangonels, trabocchi, and other machines of marvelous efficacy and not in common use. And in short, according to the variety of cases, I can contrive various and endless means of offense and defense.

10. In times of peace I believe I can give perfect satisfaction and to the equal of any other in architecture and the composition of buildings public and private; and in guiding water from one place to another.

11. I can carry out sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay, and also I can do in painting whatever may be done, as well as any other, be he who he may.

Again, the bronze horse may be taken in hand, which is to be to the immortal glory and eternal honor of the prince your father of happy memory, and of the illustrious house of Sforza.

And if any of the above-named things seem to anyone to be impossible or not feasible, I am most ready to make the experiment in your park, or in whatever place may please your Excellency – to whom I comment myself with the utmost humility, etc.

Mike Taylor made this t-shirt and it sure beats other “Christian humor” shirts like  “Do the Jew”, and I find it more accessible than the familiar, “God said it.  I believe it.  That settles it.”

Mike is a paleontologist, so it’s perhaps safe to say he has little time to pursue graphic design.  But at least he centered it well.

Came across Amazing Grace Baptist’s Book Burning Night on the internet. This is what their website  says, and I am not making this up….

“Come to our Halloween book burning. We are burning Satan’s bibles like the NIV, RSV, NKJV, TLB, NASB, NEV, NRSV, ASV, NWT, Good News for Modern Man, The Evidence Bible, The Message Bible, The Green Bible, ect. These are perversions of God’s Word the King James Bible.

We will also be burning Satan’s music such as country , rap , rock , pop, heavy metal, western, soft and easy, southern gospel , contempory [they misspelled the word, not me] Christian , jazz, soul, oldies but goldies, etc.

We will also be burning Satan’s popular books written by heretics like Westcott & Hort , Bruce Metzger, Billy Graham , Rick Warren , Bill Hybels , John McArthur, James Dobson, Charles Swindoll , John Piper, Chuck Colson, Tony Evans, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swagart, Mark Driskol, [also misspelled, but then your pastor wears overalls] Franklin Graham , Bill Bright, Tim Lahaye, Paula White, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn , Joyce Myers, Brian McLaren, Robert Schuller, Mother Teresa , The Pope , Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Donald Miller, Shane Claiborne, Brennan Manning, William Young, etc.

We will be serving Bar-b-Que [ahem it's spelled "barbecue"] Chicken, fried chicken, and all the sides.”

If you’d like to read the whole thing, you can here >

The hilarious thing is that this church event, involving “FIRE” is taking place on Halloween.  You’d think people this afraid of “books” would also be too afraid to be outside on a night supposedly belonging to their nemesis.  It really is a shame, once they burn those books, all of that information will be lost… too bad there isn’t some new fangled machine that can make more books once old books are destroyed. Or better yet, some fancy digital place that contains multiple translations of the bible for everyone in the world to read for free.

You know, I don’t know how any reasonable person believes that the KJV is the only translation of scripture. How do they feel about the Hebrew and Greek texts? Burn those too? I hope these KJV only advocates understand that the bible wasn’t written in English to begin with and just because the language is flowery and beautiful doesn’t make it any more “holy.”

And what about that flowery language? These are actual words from the KJV, “Sith the noise of the bruit of this school hath reached to thee-ward, we trust that our concourse liketh you well-particularly those who blaze abroad that there is error here. Whoso setteth thee against us-whoso saith we offend all-speaketh leasing. We be not affrighted, but withal, we are straightened in our bowels. We knoweth well that what thou wilst hear straightway wilt fast close up thy thoughts. With som we be abjects, some have defied us; but there has been no daysman betwixt us. They subvert the simple!”

Don’t you feel closer to God already? There are over 400 outdated words in the KJV.  Call me crazy, but I think the bible should never keep you from understanding God’s word; and it certainly shouldn’t contain mistakes….like the KJV…

Acts 12:4 has the word “Easter” in it. As if the early Jews celebrated Easter. No, they celebrated Passover. Writing the word Easter makes it sound like Peter and the gang searched for eggs.

1Sam 10:24, 2Sam 16:16, 1Kings 1:25 all translate as, “God save the King” instead of “May the king live.”

Gal 3:24 says “schoolmaster” where it should say, “guardian” It should be understood that understanding the law brings us to Christ and was a substitute until he arrived and not that the law taught us about Christ.

Not to mention the fact that identical words in the original manuscripts are translated differently throughout the whole KJV.

You can read more about it here >

Now, I am not one to pass up on fried chicken with all the sides, but to burn those bibles and authors, there would literally be nothing left on my shelves.  And their church claims these bibles and authors belong to “Satan.” Wow. I hope they are sure beyond the shadow of a doubt that what they teach is true… because Jesus had some harsh words for people who make such claims…[and let's put it in the KJV so they understand it]

Mark 3:28-30

²⁸Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

²⁹But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

³⁰Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

Why did this happen? Because the “religious leaders” [cough church pastors] said that Christ’s miracles were acts of the devil; and even though they thought they were right [cough Amazing Grace Baptist Church] they were wrong. They were too blind to recognize that God was actually standing in their midst.

What is amazing to me is that Amazing Grace Baptist Church won’t burn bibles written in “other languages.” So it apparently has NOTHING to do with translation… only competing translations written in “English.”

So I guess that means Satan only works through English speaking pastors and English translating bible publishers [does that mean God and the devil only speak English?]. Even though the English language didn’t fully exist until around 1066, but I guess before that people just went to hell.

You can even watch a news piece on this “church” of 14 members on youtube.

Recently Pastor Mark Driscoll was on Nightline talking about the 10 Commandments. You can watch the segment here>

The interviewer started off with how America seemingly worships at the altars of those in music, sports fashion and politics. And while I agree that we can “idolize” those people, I don’t know that they ever take “center stage” in our lives as being the one thing that we look to for comfort and protection.

Mark Driscoll said, “an idol is someone or something that occupies the place of God in your life,” he said. “[It] gives you identity, meaning, value, purpose, love, significance, security. When the Bible uses the word ‘idol’, that’s what it’s getting at.”

But then Driscoll clarified if with “If you worship alcohol you become an alcoholic. If you worship food, you become a glutton. If you worship pleasure you become a sex addict,” Driscoll warned. “All the modern vernacular is really not dealing with the root issue of idolatry: Something or someone is preeminent other than God.”

THAT I would agree with. I think a modern day idol is something that you turn to for grace, protection, salvation, forgiveness, love… it’s something you turn to when you need to fill a need in your life.

I don’t know that you can compare that to loving a musical artist like U2 and Michael Jackson.

Driscoll then drive through Seattle comparing things like corporate jobs, starbucks and the Sea Hawks to “human sacrifice for position and lifestyle.” And while I can see on the one hand how some of those things can give a person identity – I think when ASKED a person might disagree.

You see, in the ancient times, when the bible was being written, I think people knew quite well who their Gods and Goddesses were – and they still had their own jobs and sports heroes on the side. There was still a separation from the deity that they worshiped and the lifestyle they lived. But it seems now, Pastors have to “tell us” what our idols are, like we don’t know.

“The Seattle Sea Hawks may be your idol.” Hmmmm, I’ll have to give that some serious thought.  If that’s true my priorities are out of whack. [well, who am I kidding. I like the Chicago Cubs]

And I am in no way countering what Driscoll said, this isn’t just HIS philosophy, pastors have been saying these same things for years.

“All Hail King Homer.”

But I think a lot of people give 40-50 hours a week to their career, but they don’t give their life to it. I think a lot of people drink Starbucks coffee or attend sports games, but they would not reach out to those things if they were hanging from a burning building.

I would actually flip this conversation to the other side. How many people really have ANYTHING that they would call their “salvation?” I think there are thousands of people searching for significance and purpose. I think there are whole lost generations out there without security or love and that if it came right down to it….the life of a corporate job, a venti coffee and tickets to tonight’s game…are just falling into a bottomless pit that can not be satisfied.

Driscoll says that our jobs, our appetites and our addictions can become our idols and he is right, but I argue that I bet a lot of people if honestly faced with the question… would have nothing that they could call their “worship.”

Or perhaps in our shedding of gods and goddesses, the truest “god” in our lives is becoming…ourselves. Perhaps when it really comes down to it, the thing that we are really counting on saving us… the place where we find the most security and love is in the self.

Gap 1969 jeans is asking right now… what were you born to do? I hear this statement on American Idol and America’s Got Talent all of the time. People holding a dog, dressed as a giant flower dancing to disco by Abba and they tell the judges, “this is what I was born to do.”

Patrick Robinson says he was born to “explore” and “figure out a new path.” He argues that our world can be as small or as massive as you want it to be. In essence he is saying that “reality” can be anything he makes it, which in essence is saying…it’s not fashion or gap jeans that has become his idol…it’s himself.

In our desire to shed the pantheons who ruled our ancestors, WE have become the very things we were running from.

+ Read Scott McKnight’s response here >

This was the best part…

Stephen: Design exists in the universe

Dawkins: Design exists where there are humans

Stephen: Ok, and humans exist, and design, that capability is within us, right?

Dawkins: Yes

Stephen: So we can’t just make something out of nothing because…nothing comes from nothing and therefore design existed before our use for design

Dawkins: And where did design come from then?

Stephen: God; are you deaf? It came from God.

Dawkins: Now look…

Stephen: He knew you in your Mother’s womb.

[ha ha]

After you watch this, you can read the interview from the last time Richard was on Stephen’s show where they discussed “The God Delusion” here.

So Satan is in the news again…

Director Lars von Trier has a movie releasing October 23 called Antichrist staring William Defoe and Charlotte Gainsburg. It’s the beautiful story of a grieving couple that retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But of course, nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse… [dum dum dum]

Also being released is another beautiful romp through Hell, Scott Stewart’s upcoming horror-action movie Legion, [sometime early 2010] starring Paul Bettany as an archangel who voluntarily falls to Earth to help the humans go to war against a slew of evil dark angels. During which they discover a young waitress is pregnant with the messiah.

Of course.

So, dust off that protest sign you used for the DaVinci code and head to your local theater. Your pastor is probably already downloading a free sermon to combat this devil propaganda.

Ok, I’m “joking” people, but the serious side of this should not be the negativity that movies like this stir up, but the fact that people are going to be interested in these subjects again. It probably means the History channel will run a special and one of the networks will buy some cheaply made flick to piggy back off the hype.

But rather than stage a protest or draft a sermon series…. how can a church actively prepare to engage people in meaningful conversations? How would you as a Christian talk about the archangel Michael? Or even Angels for that matter? How do you take pop culture, and transform it into a meaningful conversation that is both relevant and engaging?

Yea, the devil is going to get some publicity, but he can’t share the stage without people also thinking about God.

My recommendation is read The Last Word and the word after that by Brian Mclaren

or read Jason Boyett’s article at Relevant Magazine

and let me know how your conversations go…