A Parable for our Seeker-Sensitive, Purpose-Driven, Church Growth Oriented Friends

Once upon a time, there was a village that had a great heritage of education among its citizens. For many years, the community had wonderful schools, but more importantly, great scholars, statesmen, artists and educators. Education was important to families, children and businesses. For years, it was rare to find anyone who wasn’t a graduate, and almost everyone believed in the worth of a good education.

Over time, the community’s commitment to education waned, and more and more students lost interest in education. A steady stream of students dropped out of school. Absenteeism grew. Test scores declined, discipline problems increased, and many children began to rebel altogether at the idea of going to school. Few people wanted to teach. Smaller schools arose for those families who cared about education, but even those schools could tell that times had changed. Students were no longer interested in education. It wasn’t important to the community.
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A Rigney Read for the Fourth

Reading this story on a Patriotic Rally sponsored by a Lexington Baptist Church, I was reminded of one of my favorite Internet Monk essays: Christianity and Patriotism by IM contributor eric rigney. This was written several years ago, but is still timely and well thought out. Few evangelicals question this sort of thing, and none will surpass rigney for clear thought and insightful expression.

UPDATE: A fine fourth of July sermon from Donald Sensing at One Hand Clapping.

300 pages into “My Life”

Yes, I’m reading Bill Clinton’s “My Life.” I’m 300 pages into the ex-President’s magnum opus autobiography, and he just got booted out of the governor’s mansion by the voters of Arkansas. He learned a thing or two about how rural folks feel when they discover- at the end of a long line- that their auto tags have doubled in price to pay for something or the other.

My conservative friends all sneer when they see me reading the book. I know more than a few have said they wouldn’t ever read it. I’m reading it for a simple reason: I hear ABOUT liberals all the time. I want to hear what a major league liberal has to say for himself about his team. And I’m getting my $21 worth on that question.
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Pit Stop Update : You Don’t Make Me Crazy

Time for a “Pit Stop” update. (We’ll just give that little title to posts referring back to the original post about my Summer ’04 spiritual crisis. I’m not a NASCAR fan, btw, but in baseball we often talk about “fixing the flat,” so I can live with the title.)

I’ll start by saying a huge thanks to all the folks who sent along encouraging notes and comments. It’s great to not be alone in the journey. My mailbox is full of hundreds of notes from people who are dealing with similar emotions and experiences to my own in their churches and faith journeys. It’s probably a good thing we aren’t all in the same room. We’d cry a lot and break some furniture. Still, it feels good to know you people are out there. I won’t say something dumb, like “I’m there for ya, man,” but I will say you’ve encouraged me to persist and not give in to the all too attractive phoniness that plasters over so many of our struggles. Let’s keep it real, ok?

So, this “Update” is entitled “You don’t make me crazy.” Which means…..what?

It means that not all evangelicals drive me crazy. Most, but not all. In my journey to construct an approach to my tottering faith that works for me, I’ve had to consider the thousands of hours spent with preacherly voices that made me nuts. I’m not saying they were wrong or evil or bad, though some were. I’m saying that their effect on me was bad. So I have to be more selective. And fortunately, there are some voices out there that reach me, teach me and leave me better than they found me.

Let me share four of them with you. If things keep going the way they have the last month, these guys may become the only Christians I can listen to and/or read.
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How we sound to those who don’t believe

Today I listened to the preacher in chapel. Really, really closely for a change.

It probably wasn’t a good idea. See, God is giving me a gift. I’m starting to hear sermons like non-Christians hear them. I’m starting to feel what they feel, and it’s disconcerting.

It’s scarey. Some of my Christian friends won’t like this, but that may be a good sign.
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The Ten Greatest Baseball Movies of All Time (?)

Christianity Today has some wonderful articles on film these days. (Hats off to CT for the increased attention to what most of us were told would send us straight to hell.) This week they have the “Ten Greatest Baseball Movies of All Time.”

Since baseball is my therapy, and I want more of my peers to put down those darned books and go to the ball park, this list may help a good cause. Here’s some of my thoughts on the best baseball movies.
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Wizards or Idiots? It’s your choice

Every time Baptist Press lights one up on the subject of Harry Potter, I want to hit the pause button and ask a few questions.

Assume that a child has no one to help him/her understand what they are reading. Should we be more afraid of him/her reading Harry Potter or the Bible?
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Patty Loveless in Concert

Denise and I were the guests of friends at the Patty Loveless concert tonight at historic Renfro Valley. I’ve wanted to see Patty Loveless for years, so this was a nice surprise.

Patty is one of the finest voices and song crafters in country music. She’s from Pikeville and Elkhorn City here in Kentucky, and she’s kept tremendous respect for the Bluegrass and mountain roots of country music. She’s blessed with a voice that has the signature sadness and strength of mountain singers. From that foundation, Patty can sing country, rock or cajun with equal profeciency. She’s well known for being a frequent contributor to the “new traditionalist” sound, and has won awards for duets with Ralph Stanley, Travis Tritt and George Jones.

Loveless was sensational; one of the finest artists I’ve ever seen in concert. Every song was a masterpiece, but I was extremely partial to the traditionalist songs that form the center of her set. With a seven piece band that was as proficient in acoustic as electric sets, Loveless showed that she understands country music from the roots up. The Bluegrass had the pathos and the harmony. The country was rockin’ and danceable. The most memorable songs were those that put Loveless in the voice of women who suffered and survived. Loveless has lived enough to have a strong emotional connection with her audience and her songs, and those who hear her will know they are hearing something special.

I hope I get to hear Patty Loveless again, but if I don’t this was one fine visit with a classic performer of the music Kentucky is known for.

(If you don’t know Loveless’s music, I would recommend Mountain Soul as a great way to hear her at her best. Really, any of her last five cds will not disappoint.)

Do churches and numbers mean anything?

How much comfort should America take from the fact that we are a land of churches and large congregations? Does the presence of churches- especially megachurches- imply the “discipling” of Americans into a Christian faith that effects lives and culture? Do the crowds we see filling churches, stadiums and Christian events really signal a “Christian soul” in our culture?

Philosopher and ethicist David Gushee penned some thoughts about this in Christian Century magazine a while back. He was meditating on the relationship of visible Christianity- i.e. churches and numbers of people identifying themselves as Christians- to the genocide in Rwanda in the last decade. His words need to be considered by American Christians whio take great comfort in numbers.
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Whither Calvinism?

I’m a bad Calvinist. (UPDATE 4/05. I’m not longer a Calvinist.) Meaning, I’ll call myself a Calvinist, but I have more than a few exceptions and quibbles with Calvinism. So when someone in the camp speaks up plainly and says things aren’t quite perfect, I will listen.

This extended quote comes from someone at Pilgrim Publications. It has a bit of “Wretched Urgency” in it, but it also has a lot of truth. It’s well worth hearing a couple of times. Calvinists…what do you think?
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