This World.

I have been exploring the interplay and/or dichotomy between that which may be considered to be of a spiritual nature and that which may be considered to be of an earthly reality. How do the "spiritual" and the "natural" co-exist? Which (if there is separation/distinction) is reality?

Lyrics from Caedmon's Call: This World

There's tarnish on the golden rule
And I want to jump from this ship of fools
Show me a place where hope is young
And a people who are not afraid to love

This world has nothing for me
And this world has everything
All that I could want
And nothing that I need

This world is making me drunk
On the spirits of fear
So when he says who will go
I am nowhere near

And the least of these
Look like criminals to me
So I leave Christ on the street

This world has held my hand
And has led me into intolerance
But now I'm waking up
And now I'm breaking up
But now I'm making up
For lost time

Imprecation

Now listening to: Dashboard Confessional, Dusk and Summer album.

Does anyone have any thoughts on "divine vengeance?" A friend of mine sent an e-mail to me discussing "imprecation psalms" to defend the position that violence is not always wrong because it may be being carried out by God. You may read the except that he copied into the email at http://theologica.blogspot.com/2007/09/crying-for-justice.html. My response was as follows:

"So... maybe there were people in other countries praying hard enough for divine vengeance against the United States, thereby we could call Hurricane Katrina imprecation. God bless the U.S.A."
Please note: The preceding sentence is laced with a double-dose of sarcasm. I am not of a reformed mindset nor do I claim that any natural disasters are caused by or initiated by God.

Thoughts?

Lighter.

Here is a pretty inconsequential and unthoughtful post to rest my mind.

Top 5 Best Athletic Movies (in no particular order):
- Hoosiers
- We Are Marshall
- Miracle
- Rudy
- Remember the Titans

Consuming Me.

I am reading Matthew Sleeth's Serve God, Save the Planet. After quickly reading through chapter (1) I found myself broken, guilty, and in need of repentance. The book is not intended to be "guilt-trip" inducing (at least I didn't read it that way). The author confessed his previous sin of consumption and is passionate about his cause and calling and has demonstrated his commitment to a different way of living. It is, indeed, challenging (for lack of a more powerful word).
While the book is likely to continue specifically with creation care and love as the central theme, it provoked me to dig even deeper into myself to ask, "What really controls me?" I am broken right now - disgusted at myself. I have allowed materialism, status, and acceptance to reign in me and my attempts to be otherwise have been futile at best. I would try to explain my existing methods and praxis for being a steward of creation and wealth but I would merely be attempting to justify my lack of true commitment to giving and ultimately to worship of YHWH. May grace cover me and change me and my family and community.

Human Reality.

I am trying to grasp the fullness of human life. My wife and I left for the hospital on the evening of June 17 and arrived back home on the afternoon of June 19 with a small person with us who was just welcomed into human reality. She is fully human yet is completely dependent on our provision for life. I have seen her progression from birth through 3 months old including physical and mental growth, change is attentiveness and reactivity, and motor skill development. She now laughs, makes expressive faces, tries to talk, grabs things with her hands, looks around, gets excited. She is fully human yet cannot do anything to keep herself alive. It is the breath of YHWH that naturally fills her and sustains her while his (not intended to be patriarchal or label YHWH with a gender specification) creativity keeps her body "involuntarily" functioning. I may be trying, but I cannot grasp the fullness of human reality.

Driscoll vs. Emergent

Some conversation in the blogosphere is centering around a lecture given by Mark Driscoll for the Convergence Conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I recommend that one listens to the PODCAST if he/she has 1.5 hours of free time and doesn't mind heretical accusations being placed on followers of Jesus. Though I am typically opposed to pain medications, the length of Driscoll's lecture prompted me to take (1) ibuprofen tablets. The content caused me to take another. (2) pills later I am very disappointed.

The presentation has initiated the aforementioned blog dialogue that appears to be quite hateful and intolerant. Driscoll initiates the bantering by referencing Emergent and/or theologically non-conservative-evangelicals, specifically Doug Pagitt, Brian McLaren, and Rob Bell. I have read and/or listened to each of the three and my intent here is not to defend each's theology or to speak negatively about of any. My deepest concern is that the focus of many teachers, public voices, and bloggers has been to harpoon each other at the expense of learning the way of Jesus. That which is called "theology" has become quite the opposite. What should be expressions about and of God have become psuedo-academic/scholastic rants to defend one's stance on any given issue or doctrine while sacrificing the worth of others in the community.

I may unpack the previous line of thought later as I must fully process and think through the proper language to use. For now, my question in response to this podcast is, "What good did this do for the Kingdom of God?"

Journey.

Sarah, Kyla, and I attended a gathering this morning with those who call themselves Journey Church. Journey is good people. They are kind and welcoming. We saw several good friends and shared a meal following the teaching. We will begin to integrate ourselves into that community.

My concern with the Journey gathering is that everyone with whom we interacted or met is of nearly the same demographic. We are all young (by which I mean college students to young parents with children ages 3 months - 11 years old [Kyla is the one who is 3 months]). We are nearly all white. We all appeared to be monetarily "fine." Sarah and I hope to discover or initiate a genuine yearning and purpose toward decompartmentalizing and finding value in diversification and intentional relationship beyond that which currently exists.

Alternative Consciousness

The post entitled "Narrative." contains a vague statement about "alternative consciouness." Walter Brueggemann deals with this idea in "Prophetic Imagination". There exists a movement and thought pattern that thrives on criticizing institutions, traditions, theologies, and "church." I would include myself in the collective community of criticizers who know there is a method(s) and picture of church that must be more in keeping with what Jesus intended compared to that which currently and popularly exists in America. Brueggemann makes an important assertion that criticism of the current consciousness is not in and of itself evil, bad, or wrong, but must be complimented by an energizing toward an alternative consciousness. Our gathering is a progressive movement alternative to that of three songs, an "offering," and a 30-minute lecture. It is by no means new or creative unless one is ignorant to the meetings of 1st century Israel, avoidant of extending grace, hope ,and peace when there exists an atmosphere of openness, vunlerability, and authentic mystery, or insistant on adhering to modern, popular methods of American evangelical "church."

Narrative.

About 15 (fifteen) of us gathered tonight in the living room of the apt. connected to Oakwood Hall to discuss our lives as covenant community. The gathering is called "narrative: grace. table. story. breathe." Our time together was rich. I am thankful to have heard the stories that were shared tonight. It seems as if the walls built by "the church" (walls which guard intimacy, relationship, authenticity, vulnerability, and transparency) are beginning to crumble. The alternative conciousness of church may not be so alternative anymore.

Blog Rush

In an attempt to add traffic to my blog and thereby increase my commitment to continually updating my blog I have added BlogRush. Follow the link by clicking here if you are interested in adding. It is very, very simple to add and useful in finding others in the vitual community with whom to dialogue.

Reform Period.

Is the reform that is needed for the church today equivalent to that of the Protestant Reformation in Germany and England in the 1500-1600s?

Two Parties.

My political stance is notated as "unassociated." I cannot say that I am Republican for I do not adhere to all that Republicanism is. I cannot say that I am Democrat for I do not adhere to all that Democratism is. I suppose by default that I would be Independent even though I am not essentially independent from any group, community, coalition, or partnership. Why must our nation's political system be constrained to a two party system? If one is not Republican or Democrat it is next to impossible to have the monetary system of support to be elected into a major office. Monetary support and campaigning is a whole different issue.

Uncomfortable Habit.

"The longer you look at Jesus, the more you will want to serve him in this world. That is, of course, if it's the real Jesus you're looking at. Plenty of people in the church and outside it have made up a 'Jesus' for themselves, and have found that this invented character makes few real demands on them. He makes them feel happy from time to time but doesn't challenge them, doesn't suggest they get up and do something about the plight of the world. Which is, of course, what the real Jesus had an uncomfortable habit of doing."

N.T. Wright. Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship.

Freedom and/or Apple Pie.

A post from my previous site on January 4, 2006:

last night: trouble sleeping. tired but restless. sleepy but sleepless. hopeful that the pseudo-life of a motion picture could distract my mind enough to allow at least a few hours of rest. morgan freeman, however, captivated my attention once again in the shawshank redemption. and god captivated my attention when "the warden" gave "andy" an apple pie. apple pie. andy and red had a sense of freedom when they ate apple pie or shared a beer in the open air on the roof during a work break. it was like a taste of freedom. i started thinking about apple pie - with a cup of coffee. i could sit and enjoy apple pie and coffee whenever i want - as long as i make the time to sit and enjoy. the same with a baked potato - the skin rolled in salted, melted butter with fresh steamed brocolli and bacon on top. i rolled over in bed to admire my wife sleeping. suddenly, i was free. suddenly, i could sleep.

Life.

Life :: To live is Jesus.
The life of Jesus resulted in the torturous Roman penalty of death by affixion of the body with metal nails to large wooden beams. To live is to be crucified, which is, to die. To die is to live for death echoes the life of Jesus and fulfills the completion of life. The "American," "inalienable" "right" to life is in actuality a right to death so long as the individual is a follower of Jesus. For the follower of Jesus is essentially a citizen of the kingdom of God only and prior to any earthly institution of empire or religion.

Justice Defined.

What is justice? (I almost posted an image but chose not to at the risk of inadvertently informing opinions, thoughts, and ideas on justice).

Via Bike.

I road my bike to the market today to purchase 2 ears of corn, 1 bag of peaches, a bunch of green beans, and some red potatoes. I have a nice backpack so I just wear it empty and load it up after picking my fresh fruits and vegetables. In the process I haven't used any gasoline, I haven't wasted plastic food sacks, I have gotten some needed exercise on a sunny day, and I was able to get fresh, healthy food for a very reasonable price.

Kingdom Within

I am currently reading Leo Tolstoi's "The Kingdom of God is Within You." In the beginning pages, he states, "But while we adhere to the doctrine of non-resistance and passive submission to enemies, we purpose, in a moral and spiritual sense, to assail iniquity in high places and low places, to apply our principles to all existing evil, political, legal, and ecclesiastical institutions, and to hasten the time when the kingdoms of this world will have become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ."

What are the evils of the kingdoms of this world politically, legally, and ecclesiastically?

Tolstoi (translated as "Tolstoy" in English) was born into Russian nobility in 1828. His writings, including Anna Karenina, War and Peace, and Confession focus on the brutality of the Russian czar and the oppression of the ruling class.

Aesthetic Fruit.

I believe it to be no coincidence that food which is most physically beautiful is the creation that gives us the greatest nutrition to live life fully. Watermelon is composed on mostly water as is the human body. Watermelon is beautiful. Lemons are beautiful. Oranges are beautiful. Pineapple is beautiful. Strawberries are beautiful. The list goes on and on. May we nourish our bodies with the beauty of creation rather than with partially hydrogenated and chemically preserved and altered nastiness.

Leadership Reduced // God is Green

This is from post I published a blog for MVNU student leaders:

Leadership is very complex. I have read several books on leadership along with attending conferences that include "leadership" break-out sessions. It is intriguing to read and hear all the different perspectives and ideas that surround the buzz-word topic. I have discovered that my own leadership is flawed if I do not experientially demonstrate any concept or behavior that I wish to communicate.

I have been accused lately of being a "tree-hugging-hippie" because I am a non-violent activist who has taken up reducing, reusing, and recycling. Sarah, Kyla, and I have bins in our kitchen area for the recycling of plastic, metal, cardboard, and paper. When a bin fills up I take the materials to the Knox County Recycling Center on Columbus Road. I hope my attempt to "live green" leads others to do the same.

As lovers of creation, the staff of Oakwood Hall is planning to initiate a large recycling campaign. Many automobile manufacturers and social organizations encourage people to "Live Green" by reducing oil usage and automobile emissions along with caring for streams, lakes, and rivers and preserving the natural habitat of creatures. I would contend that followers of Jesus should follow the lead of said associations not as conforming citizens but as worshipers of our Creator. God is green. He has entrusted humanity to care for ourselves and the rest of creation. We are to control our consumption and reuse our resources as stewards of Creation and as leaders.

May we reduce leading others to our own demonstration.
Live Green.

Jesus Stickers?

On Judgment Day you'll wish you actually loved people.

If you want to know what I really think I'll just say that I edited my original post responding to this text so as not to offend anyone.

Music.

Music invigorates the soul.

Today I listened to James Taylor and Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major with Kyla. I later perused my itunes library and found delight, rest, and content.

Thank you musicians and lyricists.

Music invigorates the soul.

Merely Conceptualized

There exist two concepts about which I though I possessed understanding until I had a child: Service and Dependency.

Beauty.

Kyla Beth Keller

Born :: 06. 18. 2007
Time :: 04:59 a.m.
Weight :: 8# 6 oz.
Length :: 20.5"
Hair :: Black






Kyla: Org. = Scottish Gaelic; Def. = Beautiful, Church, Attractive, Narrow way

May you love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Bless those who persecute you. Love your enemy. May you follow the way of Jesus. Be covered in the dust of The Rabbi.

The Finals

The team prevailed over the individual. The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Finals over LeBron James. LeBron had been compared to Michael Jordan but at least Jordan demonstrated that his championships were not his. The Bulls did not win only if their best player scored 25 of the final 30 points. They were a solid team. The community always prevails over the individual. The church will always prevail over the god of self. Defense helps, too.

Breathing YHWH

Have you ever been at a loss for words? I have had people extend such kindness to me that I do not know quite how to respond. I do not have a vocabulary extensive enough to verbally convert the thoughts in my head to a valuable and meaningful vocal expression of gratitude. I have scene sights and felt feelings (profound, huh?) that have taken my breath away. In El Paso, Texas after a hike that took my breath away, I looked around from the peak of a mountain to see the landscape created by God only to have more breath completely escape me. Looking up from the New River Gorge and seeing rocks and cliffs adored with greens, browns, and oranges that extend to take over the sky left me without air. Oxygen evades me more during the thrill and rush of rafting the whitewater of the Upper Gauley River than it does with a face full of water crashing against me.

Yahweh was the name for God that could not be spoken. If one wished to refer to God, the names Elohim and Adonai (among others) were sufficient. Yahweh, however, could not be spoken due to the level of respect and adoration granted to God. Perhaps, the mere thought of the grandeur and sovereignty of God takes ones breath away.

Involuntarily, our bodies breathe. Air in. Air out. The only sound that could be associated with the name Yahweh was the human breath. A breath, that which gives us life, is the only possible utterance for the name of God. Though unspeakable, with every breath one breathes, he/she does speak the name Yahweh every moment of every day unless of course, he takes your breath away. But then you are not alive. So to be fully alive is to live in the fullness of the image of Yahweh with every breath.

Living Theology

A contemporary who attends Princeton Theological Seminary asked the question: "What is theology?" There were many written responses. Some were too long to give the time of reading. I posted the following comment in response to his question:

We make it too difficult and resultantly become discracted from living theology. Theology: From the Greek “theos” and “logos” meaning “God” and “word, account, expression” respectively. Theology is the expression of God. Expression may be in dialogical speech but I would rather express who God is by living the way of Jesus.

I am unsure if anyone ever refers to that term "living theology." I thought of it when considering that "logos" is an "expression;" more than spoken words, discourse, and conversation. Living Theology is a state of being and the act of living the way of Jesus.

The Office

Thank you, NBC. Thank you.

Tortilla Chips

I have found that finding savory value in a tortilla chip initiates with the proper rotation of said crispy mexican snack. When I eat the same brand of chip over and over again, it loses its flavor. I will then switch to a different brand to be refreshingly pleased with the level of salt and thickness of tortilla. When my selection of tortilla chip loses its creativity, the chip loses its saltiness. How then may it be made salty again? If I come back to it after trying something different will be as pleasing as the initial bite? Though there continue to be new brands and styles and flavors created with more and more salt added as a marketing tool, I always do come back to the Blue Chips. They are organic. They are the original. They are from the earth. They are like the Acts 2 church.

Nice Starbucks

After dropping off a friend at the airport early this morning I decided that my 5:00 a.m. awakening necessitated an over-priced cup of caffeinated goodness. I went to one of the four Starbucks within one mile of each other on Polaris Parkway. I was greeted by a friendly but not overly-perky female who helped me decide how many shots of espresso to add to my grande dark chai latte. For what it is worth, chai tea with two shots of espresso is a wonderful combination: a muted aroma of chai compliments a decadent balance of soothing tea with the fine flavor of freshly ground espresso bean. It made me pierce my lips, squint my eyes, wrinkle my forehead, and nod. The scruffy yet well-mainted guy who handed my drink to me was also especially nice. All of my last 12 trips to any Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, or local coffee shop in the central-northern Ohio area have been filled with pleasant people-encounters. Is it the atmosphere? Is it the subculture? Is it the closest existence to community that most people experience?

Paradox

Paradox. Simply paradox.

Do not resist a liberal person?

A fellow student in my History of Christianity II class commented about a Methodist congregation in Columbus the bears a overly-large banner in front of their meeting place that references homosexuals as being "welcomed" as Jesus would welcome. The congregation claims to be "inclusive" of all people types. Her angered statement concluded with, "they are just so liberal."

Is it evil to be liberal?

Many of my contemporary conservative evangelicals would say, "yes." I have heard multiple negative remarks about "liberals." What does it mean to be "liberal?" Are we referring to politics, theology, or a merging of the two?

Is it evil to welcome a homosexual to a place where Christians gather?

I do understand that the National Methodist Conference balloteers did indeed decide to change doctrinal statment about acceptance of homosexuality. Aside from that context, why would Christians not want to engage in relationship with homosexuals? But that argument doesn't really work because any gathering modeling that of he previously mentioned in Columbus does not neccesarily foster relationship.

Jesus says, "Do not resist an evil person?" Are conservative evangelicals translating that now as, "Do not resist a liberal person?"

Polital Rhetoric

"Madam, Speaker" was the only worthwhile set of words spoken during the 2007 State of the Union address given by United States President George W. Bush. All else may have seemed bold and convincing until we ask the question "Why?". The pathetic appeals of W. Bush were unsuccessfully disguised as strategies for moving ahead. If one listens closely, he/she will be able to pinpoint the demographic groups (African-Americans, immigrants, women, families of soldiers, "evangelicals," etc.) whose support the Republican speech writers and advisors wish to win back after two presidential terms of poor decision-making. The speech's minimal content was drastically overshadowed by political rhetoric.

Personal Property?

"Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared."

Henri Nouwen

Bleeding Benediction

I love and loathe the following benediction:

May all your expectations be frustrated. May all your plans be thwarted. May all your desires be withered into nothingness. That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child and sing, dance, and trust in the love of God who is Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen.

Given by Brennan Manning on October 11, 2000 in a chapel service on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

I am challenged to embrace trust. I am challenged to embrace love - to sing and dance when I am not loved in return.

Deadly Life

Our lives are meant to be lived only to eventually die. One week ago, an acquaintence from college died suddenly in his sleep. A memorial service was held tonight. I could not go. Too many memories resurfaced from my friend who died in January. I now realize that I haven't handled that death very well. I fought through the tears when speaking at his funeral and tried to help others through the torturous grief. I only allowed two people to comfort me, my wife, and one other shoulder upon which I cried.

Trinity Talk

I don't like the word "trinity." Is it necessary to use such a word in a vain attempt to finitely describe an infinite God? I agree that there is one, true God. I understand that his nature is revealed and carried out in different ways. Biblically God is described as a Father. The man-version of God is Jesus described as Son. The indwelling presence, helper-version of God is described as Spirit. While all such labels are distinctive and aim to clarify the person of God I do not believe that we must insist on terminology that quantifies the infinitely perfect and overly sufficient nature of God. The label causes confusion and does not fit into our modern, scientific systems of description. Why can we not accept God for who he is without containing him to what our minds can capture? Are we simply not creative enough? Do we simply not trust?

Realized Kingdom

What is the kingdom of God when it is realized? I'm suggesting that the kingdom must be understood and seen as more than a mere suggestion of what the kingdom is in and of itself. What does our definition of the kingdom of God mean for what we look like as the Church? For the kingdom to be made real (or at least recognized and with less limiting of its presence) who do we need to be/what do we need to do?

Ballot Casting

Is it ironic that the word "casting" is used in reference to a voting ballot and lots for the cloth worn by Jesus?

I have decided to not vote. This Tuesday will break my "perfect" voting record, though my candidate selection in years past makes me hang my head in disgust. I will not allow the poor decisions made by politicians to shed blood on my hands. I will not be a part of selecting a person for office who participates in gossip, slander, and character defamation. The two-party system needs dismantled. My vote is to not vote. Such action may only be a whisper (if that) but nonetheless... well... I just can't vote with a clear conscience and that's that.

Thinking Friends

Last week granted me the pleasure of spending some time in dialogue with Corbin Casarez and Kevin Peterson. Corbin challenges me to pursue cognitive and philosophical growth and Kevin nudges me to practically pursue a God-given vision. Grace has been granted me to experience the pleasure of connecting with old friends, openly discussing life, ourselves, God, and other intricacies as if there were never a gap of time separating us. I am anticipating more reconnections this week with Wes and Kristen Buchanan and Mike and Holly Cunningham. I am blessed.