balmy

It's February in Georgia... that means last week was really nice (short-sleeved shirt, 70's and sunny) and that today is na-haaasss-tee (coat, 40's and drizzling).

Maybe someday soon I'll have a bit more time to comment on more than just the weather...

soul.break.february.05

I haven't been blogging lately because I haven't had internet access. I've been away on a soul.break. I left for the lake on Thursday of this week to find some solace and spend some time in prayer and reflection. Kim joined me after I had been there for a while, and we simply relaxed and refreshed our souls in the presence of Jesus and his creation. A definate needed "mental/spiritual/emotional health" time.

It's hard to believe that my last soul break was literally 1 year ago...
soul.break.february.04
soul.break.november.03
soul.break.july.03

what is a christian?

At the risk of sounding unbelievably cliche, I've decided to post my thoughts on a somewhat ubiquitous question that someone asked me recently: "What, in your opinion, is a Christian?" So, here it is. My ideas of what it means to be a Christian...

The following is my response in an recent email conversation with an anonymous buddy of mine (I have his permission to reprint my response):

You asked some intriguing questions regarding Christianity. I'm more than happy to dialogue with you about these things via email...

You asked: "What does becoming a Christian mean to you?"...

In my opinion, you should not believe something simply because someone else wants you to. That's religious activity, and it lacks integrity. I am opposed to religion and religious ideas because they run against faith. Faith is the stuff of "owning" your "own" beliefs. In other words, they mean something to you on a deep personal level.

For instance, I have been a "Christian" most of my life. I've participated freely and willingly in Christian religion. I do not necessarily agree with or "jive" with everything about Christian religion. However, beneath all of that I have a faith in Christ. THIS is who I am. My faith in Christ is non-negotiable to me. The religious stuff is negotiable.

I say all that to ask you a couple-o questions: "What are those beliefs that you do not necessarily agree with? Are the 'religious' in nature? or are the more fundamental 'faith' stuff?" What do I mean by 'faith' stuff?...

Again: "What does becoming a Christian mean to you?" Very simply, here are the non-negotiables (the faith stuff, not religious stuff)... A Christian has come to the place where they recognize they are naturally an enemy of God (i.e. they possess a sinful nature) and they have made the voluntary choice to trust that Jesus' life, death and resurrection remove their sin and make them friends with God again (the Bible refers to this as adopted "sons" and "daughters"). Moreover, they have dedicated their life to knowing Jesus on a personal level (NOT religious level) and to the pursuit of a life of holiness as commanded and made possible by Jesus Christ. The Bible becomes their standard for decision making and lifestyle choices, and the Church becomes the place where they interact with other sons/daughters of God, worshiping and maturing together. They voluntarily chose to be a part of that community (i.e. Church) through baptism--an ordinance that reflects a new life direction.

What it doesn't mean: Christians are people who go to some building for religious services once a week. Christians are people who vote Republican... or Democrat. Christians listen or don't listen to a specific type of music. etc...

Those things are "religious." What I mean is they are based on control: "Christians do this... Christians don't do this..." Religion is dangerous and ultimately gratifies the selfish desire to meet God on my own terms. Faith is on God's terms and can only be accessed by the humble in heart and spirit.

I suggest you pick up a copy of C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity." You (like me) are very intellectual and may readily absorb things better in a way that Lewis packages his thoughts on Christianity.

origins

*sigh*

Don't think I'll be making it out to the Origins Experience this year. That's a pretty big bummer. It rocked my world last year. (Here are some of my thoughts from last year: HERE and HERE.)

Check out the site for more details here: Origins : Awakening the Apostolic Ethos.

leavin' town...

We're heading out this afternoon for our annual family gathering in North Carolina. This is always something I have looked forward to. I love my family. It's a huge family. (Put it this way, my mom has almost 40 cousins...) Unfortunately, it's going to be a quick turn around for us. I'm preaching this Sunday morning. (If you're in town... swing by!)

Oh, and I'm going to postpone posting the "Getting the Word Out" stuff because I don't have time to do it today as I previously hoped. Thanks for understanding...

Peace and coffee!

getting the word out - reminder!

Just a reminder that I'm doing a blog-project called Getting the Word Out. I've gotten a few suggestions via email and my blog, but I'd like to have a larger variety to offer folks. So, nominate those blogs you want other folks to see!

special post-valentine's day posting!

Those of you who were around this time last year know about my angst ridden valentine's day posting. (James put it into perspective, suggesting that Kim slap me in the face.) Anyway, this year I'm going to take a slightly more light-hearted approach to the pseudoholidayscam thatforcesmentopurchasecandiesandflowersandmultiplepinkthings and foreverywomantolikehergiftsevenifshecouldcareless by offering you a few post-valentine's day sites:

My Really Bad Date: For starters, this is a website created by an Atlanta based Bible study called 722. It's a current series they are in.

Homelife Security: I found this site on Theo's Blog. I am extremely reluctant to comment on the nature of the site. You'll see why. In the meantime, turn your speakers on and check it out...

it's public!

Yesterday Kim and I shared with our church that we will be moving to the Baltimore area in late June to start planting a church. We are both excited about this call on our life, and are pumped and ready for this new adventure.

This has actually been a dream of mine that has been defered for several years--since spring of 2002! I was planning to head up to Baltimore after I graduated from seminary in May 2003, but that wasn't in God's plan. Five months after I "died" to my dream and committed to stay in Roswell, I met my wife, Kim, at a local coffee shop. God's ways are mysterious, but he is faithful to those who hear his voice and obey it.

I'll definately be posting more about this at a later date. For now, thank you for your prayers...

a peasant's quest

This Friday morning post goes out to all you Homestar Runner fans out there. A few months ago the Brothers Chap came out with an online video game called Peasant's Quest. It was in line with all those wonderful "King's Quest" "Space Quest" "Janitor's Quest" games of the late 80s and early 90s. *sigh* [nostalgic moment... excuse me... sorry.] The funny thing is I think I brought "Kings Quest VII" (or something like that) to college with me. (My original posting about Peasant's Quest.)

Anyway, this week they produced a movie trailer for A Peasant's Quest - The Movie. Perhaps my favorite part of the entire thing is Trogdor burninating the villages and peasants. That, or: "throw baby!"

HUGE thanks to my cousin James who lurks around my blog from time to time, and told us all how to beat Peasant's Quest:
Just to get you started:
- Find the archer, talk to him.
- Go to the lake shore (so its on your left) and pick up the pebbles.
- Go to the well, use the pebbles.
- Type "get berries" outside of the woman's house at each of the bushes. Get the chickenfeed from the womans house - it's good to fish with.
- Then throw the chicken feed into the lake so the old man ctaches a fish.
- Go to the horse and use what you got at the well
- Say Haldo to the man the horse reveals.
- Take an arrow from his area also.
- Go back to the archer and after giving him what you found in the bushes of the womans house, play and win the game.
- Now kill the kerrek
- Take his belt
- Walk to the mud pit and get muddy
- Hide in the hay
- Walk down and steal the Jhonk'a gold. Answer his question 'no'. Go give the gold to the woman and take her baby.
- Throw the baby in the lake, in the well, and give it to the old man who was fishing but is now at the inn.
- Walk to the mysterious house with no door knob by the horse.
- Move the one round rock in the wall. Deploy the baby into the hole, he'll let you in.
- Open the drawer and take the robe.
- Close the drawer.
- Go get another arrow from near the horse.
- Go to the inn and sleep the night. Get the grease bucket from the top shelf in the night.
- Go outside and while it's still night go to the lamp hanging on the tree (it's lit now) and set your head on fire.
- Go to your old house and take the map
- Now go up the mountain to fight Trogdor!

Thanks again, James...

the weather

Over it!! Thanks for your prayers and thoughts!

It was rather bizarre. I had been battling a cold off and on for about 2 weeks. Conquered it. Then, while I was at the gym the other night I got extremely dizzy and weak feeling. (Feeling weak at the gym is really nothing new.) Went home, took a shower and fell asleep immediately. My nose got all stuffy and I started running a temperature. Kim took good care of me, though. She drove to CVS late that night to pick up some drugs, and knocked me out with some NyQuil. It was a bizarre 24 hour kind-of cold. Weird.

Anyway, I'm feeling much better today! I think I'll be able to drink coffee without feeling dehydrated.

the weather

I'm under it.

getting the word out '05

So, I did this last February. I called it: Getting the Word Out. Basically, this is a forum for you to nominate blogs you read or frequent, and get them some more exposure. Props to Darren over at LivingRoom who did something like this a few years ago (I was actually nominated in '03). It's also a way to help you branch out into blogdom and begin reading some other folks. If you're like me, you kind of find yourself in a rut of reading only your friends' blogs and those that you are really familiar with.

Here are the rules:
1) Nominate a blog via my comments section below or via e-mail--provide the name of the blog and URL.

2) Provide 1-2 sentences on why you like the blog, and why anyone else should take the time to check it out.

3) Self-nominations are still not permitted (they weren't permitted last year). If you want folks to check out your site, provide your URL in the comments section and people can link to it if they so desire.

4) You can nominate up until Wednesday, February 16.

I'll post all of your suggested blogs plus a few of my own on Friday, February 18.

Ciao! (I'm not sure why I just said: "ciao!")

Thanks. Thanks a lot. Part 8

Update! I drove back by "that church" the other day. The sign did not say: "Failure is not an event. It is an option." It said... "It is an opinion." I still don't understand it.

A different church this time! The disease is apparently spreading. Hold your breath...

"God grades on a cross, not a curve."

Aside from this quip totally minimizing the passionate expression of love, the eternal significance and cosmic altering event of "Christ's cross," all I can say is: WHA--??

The Archives
Part 7 - "Failure is not an event. It's an opinion."
Part 6 - "The Bible[:] A Document Even CBS Can Trust"
Part 5 - "People who fight fire with fire end up with ashes."
Part 4 - "The Easter Bunny didn't rise from the dead!"
Part 3 - "Don't make me come down there. God."
Part 2 - "Be an organ donor, give your heart to Jesus!"
Thanks. Thanks a lot. - "For all that you do, His blood's for you!"

launching sunday

Praying for you guys!!

good laugh

*ahem* Need a good laugh? This guy insists that "baby got book" is the best way to go: Baby Got Book (expect a long download time on some comps - 12.5mb file).

The video originated from New Life Christian Church in DC.

blogging: a loss of connection

I've been blogging for just under 2 years now. Recently I've been finding more and more people saying: "I'm sorry I don't [call/email/write], but I feel like I know what's going on in your life because I read your blog regularly."

At first, I'm flattered. It still amazes me that people actually read my musings. There's a subtle sense of accomplishment to know that there are a few of you who read my blog regularly. (You know who you are...)

However, my recent reaction has been one of frustration. It's almost as if I've established a one-way communication between myself and, well, you. Granted, most of you leave comments (thanks for dialoguing!). It feels less and less like a one-way communication that way. I've even gotten to know some of you whom I have never met in person via our blogs.

But, for the majority of you whom I do not converse with on a regular basis (via email, phone or hanging out), you really do not know what's going on in my life. Geez, I hope that doesn't sound like an indictment. It shouldn't. Rather, it's just the reality of my blogging behavior. See, I limit what I write on my blog for various reasons.

For one thing, I'm trying to be careful that some freaky figure out there doesn't steal my identity. Another reason is that I have a wide variety of readers: friends near and far, cousins, parents and grandparents, Christians/non-Christians, and folks from the Church I serve. On top of all of this, I'm on the fringes of the emergent Church conversations (those of you who care know what I'm talking about), so I feel a need to be posting church-practice and theology related items from time to time. It's hard enough trying to find some sort of "median" content that everyone can relate to.

Back to the original idea behind this post. I guess what bothers me about this is the loss of connection I feel every time someone says: "I feel like I know what's going on in your life--I read your blog." Is there a solution to overcome this issue? Perhaps you can start a blog (I'm grateful Chad and Gerry started blogging recently). Perhaps you can post more comments on my blog. Perhaps you could email me an update occasionally. Perhaps when we talk on the phone next time you could do all the talking and I'll listen silently on the other line whilst my minutes tick away on my cell phone.

I dunno. It's a weird thing, this blogdom.

jeremy carr

It seems I've just been throwing links at you lately. Sorry, but I'm going to do it again.

Jeremy Carr (click here for his website) is a seminary buddy of mine who lives in Augusta, GA. An excellent musician. One of my fondest memories with Jeremy--aside from Greek class (oh wait, that wasn't fond at all)--was when Reggie (um, another cool seminary guy), Jeremy and I hung out in the French Quarter @ the House of Blues during a week-long workshop.

Incidentally, he and Reggie are planting a Church in Augusta called the Well.

Some of Jeremy's stuff is on the web HERE.

(I hear rumors that he hangs around my blog anonymously...)