faith, doubt, and a new kind of christian

_The Last Word and the Word After that_
great book. get it, and think my friend!!
there is definitely something fresh and life-like about being relevant - not to match a crazy ignorant cultural sway, but to be real - here and now.
McLaren's fictional character Neil puts it like this:

"It's all about incarnation - about God entering and embracing our story. So if you want to abandon the story, if you want to get out of time and culture and into some timeless neutral zone above the fray, you're trying to get out of the very thing God is deeply into."

that moves.
and, it relates to some doctrine/foundational stances that want sooo bad to distance from cultural "incarnation." why not let the Word become _flesh_? i'm very glad McLaren fleshed out these bold ideas.

great book.
-s.o

the chore of "doing" good

while I have enjoyed a new view of faith - one that might really be about doing good, and not just talking about someone who did good once - my ole pal H.D.T. (thoreau) fittingly chimes in to offer his prophetic perspective:

"What a foul subject this is, of doing good, instead of minding one's life, which should be his business - doing good as a dead carcass, which is only fit for manure, instead of as a living man, - instead of taking care to flourish & smell & taste sweet and refresh all mankind to the extent of our capacity & quality. If I ever did a man any good, in their sense, of course it was something exceptional, and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am constantly doing by being what I am."

here, here HDT. I know, in my haste, I could easily have tracked into seeking out ways to be doing some good deeds here and there. hasty, indeed. we must BE good, live it. doing good seems like an unwanted task. being good resonates with the desire of my soul. doing good is a chore; being good is a song. and, though I think some chores are absolutely neccesary, shouldn't we sing while doing them?

"whistle while you work"

-s.o

why I hate christians

why hate christians
Originally uploaded by thoseawake.

down in austin this past weekend, while hearing don miller speak, i got to see what had gone on during UT's "rez week." it was friday, and the conclusion of their week, so a good time to take everything in. the pic here shows large poster boards with certain topics on them - students on campus were able to come by and write whatever they wanted all week. the topics included: why I hate christians, what path leads to God, why jesus is a democrat, why jesus is a republican, etc.

perhaps the humility was prompted or encouraged by miller - he came across very gentle & real & refreshing. for all his quirkiness, he is authentic and that is most needed. he kept the group of christian students laughing, hurting, praying, and really thinking.

-s.o