God - which one?

Was listening to NT Wright speak and discuss the Biblical God and Jesus versus the society understanding of God in light of the majority of people in the US and UK (Aus, NZ & Can also) believing in God, but not following or really having God in their lives much. He tells the story of how as chaplain of one of the colleges of Oxford University he would briefly meet with each new undergrad the first couple of days of each term. He shared how many said they'd not be around much as they did not believe in God... Tom would reply with, "Which one?" They'd be startled and stammer out some tripping definition of the zapper God in the sky.... His retort was funny, "Neither do I." Nice, Tom!

In wrestling "which God" within the Christian community, I often poke the ribs of many evangelicals, from which I hale, along with the religiosity of many liturgical friends... I can see the strengths of both traditions, along with the issues that each tradition is often blind to, and in denial when it comes to addressing those issues.

Sometimes, okay occasionally, alright - I at times am known to poke not the ribs, but the eye of those who get their knickers (underwear for yanks) in a knot and mad at the issues I bring up. While I try and temper myself - and believe me the version published is tempered (!) I can use satire, sarcasm and outright slash on the rarest of situations...

Recently, Adam shared this article with me. He speaks tongue in cheek, but there are serious issues, very serious issues, that I believe Christians, especially those who lean on the right wall, should reflect upon and address - and repent and change... It is going to sting, so I pre-warn you now. If you read it - take the time to take stock and consider what he says.

By the way, I agree - I think his letter is one that Jesus would write if Revelations' letters to the churches were written today...it'd be eight letters!

So, read Relevant. Bon journey.

God's blessing

In making hard choices, in attempting great feats, in discerning should we do, or not do something, we as people following God, intercede and ask Him for guidance and to lead us. We then naturally interpret that if there is no resistance, if it works out smooth, if we land on both feet, then God is in it. If there is resistance, circumstances get complex, then He is not for it.

I understand how we conclude this - but we are simple for it. You know, when I look at many things in God's Word, in living my own life, quite often it doesn't go smoothly, there is huge resistance, it is out of the ordinary and causes delay and multiple challenges to overcome to be faithful to what God is calling me to, us to. Daniel's and his friends' experience in captivity in Babylon was the same. It was definitely a swim upstream, and made it more complex - not fighting them, but in simply striving to get it right. It was no difference for those in the New Testament. It is the same for those who had it go smooth when they made decisions against God's will, e.g. Joseph's brothers, or Jacob's deception, or David's sin. I know, some of these are sin, some of them are people trying to do the best who made mistakes because they had no resistance.

God simply does not always block our poor choices, or even good ones out of His plan. He doesn't always pave the way for things He actually wants us to do. It's not so religious. He is so much more complex - like - say a person! You actually have to know Him, really know Him, have intimate times to know intimate preferences. You have to have lots of time logged in different relational histories to know what He would have you do.

Right now we have one couple dying to move here, after 18 months of uphill striving to make it reality. We have another listening to lead with no resistance to stay or leave. Where is God's will? Which is right?

Then, when you know it - you nkow it and the resistance doesn't matter. So, what are you asking wisdom for?

Oeace. Be Still!

Holy Unto The World

We're exhausted. It never seems to stop.

Nor should it. We've spent the summer busier than ever. Now, there are others, people already in our lives calling. It goes like this... "Ugh, guys, I don't know how to even ask this. We, well, ugh, need some help..." We're known for being His people.... Amen!

We're now working how we can unite people in our spheres to love each other with us!

So often, we get questions regarding our spiritual formation. They focus on information transfer
and how exact we are in jots and tiddles of theology. We agree - this is important, to know the real God, for who He is - not images in our own making.

Yet, we encourage you, and those in our lives here, that God's holy living is not withdrawn, not set apart and alone, not Christians holding hands, but Christians sacrificing ourselves for others, and for each other... We should be the most depleted and giving of all, should we not!?

Our spiritual formation is indivisible from how we live, from what we do. It's not Christianese language discussing lofty abstract concepts, but a missionary activity; living for others, praying actively in the real world.

We must live such lives - that people die to join us!

Matthew 5 - We must be: salt of the earth, light on a hill, light on a stand ...let your light shine so that people may see your good deeds and praise your God in heaven.

Our lives are to be holy, so delicious...that people ask, "What's going on with those people?" We're judged by how compassionate, how generous, how they love, how they care. What have they got?"

I know, after such a long silence, it's not neat, not prophetically and quotable, but it's the passion burning in me now. What burns is our lives changing lives in our real world.

I need to go now - we have a neighbor's yard to cut, a sink to install, a baby to cuddle, a ride to offer and a God to share.

Ciao!




Chad with two of our lax players working for a widow.



Our ladies and some of the women in our world - on a regular ladies' dinner out... Jesus ate with them, spoke healing to them, and loved them.