SOME THOUGHTS ON MATTHEW 5:20

Matthew 5:20 “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” 

This passage really stuck out to me today.  It stuck out for two reasons.  First, because of what it does not say.  And secondly, the ambiguity it leaves open for interpretation.

The Pharisees were known to be strict adherents to the Judaic law.  This would lead one to believe that the Pharisees would rank high on the ladder of righteousness.  Therefore, it would be hard to surpass their righteousness.  Of course, one could make the argument that Jesus was being sarcastic and downplaying the importance of the Law.  Yet, if we go back to verse 17 we find that Jesus states the following: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Interesting that with the “Law” Jesus mentions the “Prophets” as well.  The Prophets who perpetually spoke out against injustices and perhaps this is what the Pharisees were missing. Because of the Pharisees’ myopic view of the law that strives to have everything on the surface look as it should, while neglecting the deeper issue of injustice that surrounded them they lacked righteousness. 

This takes us back to what first stuck out to me with this passage—what it does not say.  I think many in our church today would more expect this passage to say, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the poor who are too lazy to get a job, the prostitute that whores herself, the drug addict that refuses to turn his life around, the rapists and murderers that steal life from others, and the terrorists who blow up buildings, people and themselves, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  For many of us this sets an easy standard to make it to heaven or for what it means to live righteously.  Ironically, however, it is those listed in the re-quote that Christ came for—he came for all, but if you read the scriptures closely it is apparent they are for who he came for the most.  It was Shane Claiborne who pointed out that much of early Christianity grew because a former terrorist and Pharisee by the name of Paul recognized his acts of injustice, repented and started following the One he persecuted.

RAISED RIGHT IS RIGHT ON

Waterbrook Multnomah has been graciously providing me with books free for more than a year now.  The only stipulation is that I provide them with a fair and honest review of each book.  Alisa Harris’s Raised Right How I Untangled My Faith From Politics is the most recent.  I have put off writing this review for several weeks now because I am conflicted about what I have to say about it. 

All of the books that I request from Waterbrook are non-fiction and many of them tend to lean politically left or right.  When this is the case I have noticed a pattern with my reviews.  Since I tend to lean left, the books that lean left get a good review and the books that lean right get a negative review.  This is far from objective and the lack of objectivity troubles me.  So there you have somewhat of a disclaimer—because the book leans left the review will be favorable. 

With all of that said, I am looking forward to the book that leans left that I do not like and the book that leans right that I absolutely love just to be able to show that I can, in fact, be objective.  Raised Right, despite the irony with the title, however, is not that book.

Raised Right is Harris’s memoir—something quite strange or unique for someone who, from what I can gather, has yet to begin her thirties!  Despite being young, Harris spews forth wisdom that many twice her age lack. 

The story depicts Alisa’s life growing up in a family that was both religiously conservative and politically active.  “I had been picketing since before I could walk.  Before my parents moved to Oregon from New Mexico, they had bundled me into a carrier twice a week and hauled me and their signs to the local abortion clinic, where they paced the road across the street, praying as pregnant women walked in and empty women walked out.” (p. 13) Then the story moves on to Alisa’s college life and ends shortly after college. 

Through the transitions from home to college to post-college life Alisa weaves a narrative that demonstrates a gentle and graceful transition or reinterpretation of the conservative values that she was taught as child.

While I did not grow up in a religious home I did grow up in a conservative one.  Alisa’s story truly resonates with me.  I did not become a follower of Christ until my first year of college and my conservative upbringing certainly influenced my worldview and how I viewed my relationship with God.  At some point, like Alisa, I became disgusted with lack of love, mercy, grace and compassion as well as the hubristic adherence to religious dogma so often displayed from the religiously conservative right.  And again, like Alisa, this caused me to begin re-evaluating what it means to be a follower of Christ.

I believe that Alisa and I are both in similar places and I believe that is why I loved this book so much—it helped me feel like I am not alone.  Moreover, it reinforced the notion that it is okay, good in fact, to challenge the status quo.

For anyone raised in a religiously conservative home who struggles with its ideology I highly recommend this book!

GOING BENEATH THE SURFACE WITH MATTHEW'S GENEALOGY

Most of us who read or have read the bible at some point complain to someone about the genealogies.  I have done this on numerous occasions.  However, the more time I spend reading the bible and the more I pay attention to details the more things just come to life.  Today I started reading Matthew and I was stunned by the language of its genealogy in the first chapter--two verses in particular:

vs5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, vs6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

Of course, I am no bible scholar, but wow!  It is rare that women particularly mothers are mentioned in genealogies and here we have three mentioned in two short verses.  The first is a prostitute, Rahab, that hid Hebrew spies; the second is a Moabite woman, Ruth, who demonstrates endearing loyalty to her mother-in-law after her husband dies. 

Interestingly, the genealogy mentions both Rahab and Ruth by name yet Bathsheeba is not mentioned by name.  Rather, the genealogy states, “David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.”  This language completely draws the reader to David’s sins of not just adultery but to Uriah’s murder which David arranged.  And all of this is to show the genealogical line that Jesus comes from—a genealogical line that is far from perfect—a genealogical with questionable a past to say the least, with perhaps the exception of Ruth.  However, Ruth could still be considered an outsider being a Moabite woman.  Moabites were excluded from the assembly of worshippers being descendants of an incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his eldest daughters.

Writing this reminds me of the Steve Taylor song, “Jesus Is For Losers”.  I remember buying the album and seeing the song title and being offended.  Then I listened to the song and said to myself, “Man, this is brilliant!”  I leave you with the last couple of versus:

Just as you are
Just a wretch like me
Jesus is for losers
Grace from the blood of a tree

Just as we are
At a total loss
Jesus is for losers
Broken at the foot of the cross

Just as I am
Pass the compass, please
Jesus is for losers
I'm off about a hundred degrees

Just as I am
In a desert crawl
Lord, I'm so thirsty
Take me to the waterfall

WHERE I WILL BE TOMORROW

My wife has some pretty funny stories.  One of my favorites is a particularly bad date that she went on some years before we met.  If I recall correctly the guy was someone she met at work who was genuinely nice.  However, he was somewhat boring and seemed to lack passion for just about anything.  They were struggling for conversation during their date so Helene asked him if he had any hobbies.  He said, “Oh yeah, I really like to bike.”  Helene responded, “Really?  So tell me what kind of bike do you have and what kind of riding do you enjoy?”  Her date’s response: “Oh, I don’t own a bike.”

Last week I framed an entry on this blog about immigration with a conversation I had at a wedding about what I am passionate about besides kayaking.  I stated in that conversation that I was passionate about justice and went on to demonstrate that much like Helene’s date from years ago, I merely pay lip service to my passion for justice while I live out my passion for kayaking—something that I am not incredibly proud of.

Well, I am also passionate about the environment and tomorrow gives me an opportunity to demonstrate that passion.  In all honesty it is somewhat of a struggle not to serve myself and my other passion of kayaking tomorrow and go to the river on what will be a beautiful day.  And part of me writing this is to hold myself accountable for something that is bigger and much more important than me going to the river to burn a few calories and have fun.

The proposed 1,661 mile Tar Sands Pipeline is scheduled to cross many rivers including the Yellowstone in Montana, the Ogallala Aquifer and the environmentally sensitive Sand Hills in Nebraska. Moreover, the pipeline requires a presidential permit because it crosses the US-Canada border.  I am opposed to this project because of the risk that this pipeline puts on incredible natural resources and our country's stubborn reliance on oil and lack of effort to seriously consider alternative energy sources.  Tomorrow there is a planned protest at the Whitehouse that I will be a part of.  I am proud to be saying yes to something that is bigger, much bigger, than me just having a good time on the water. 

For those interested in joining you can find more information here. And I hope to see you there!

A THOUGHT ON IMMIGRATION

I was recently at a wedding where a friend of mine who knows I am passionate about kayaking asked, “What else I am passionate about?”  The question left me speechless for a several moments—it was a great question, some might even say a loaded question.   My delayed response after some serious, introspective thought was, “Justice.”  While I believe that answer was honest, I must begrudgingly admit that while I may be passionate about justice it is an embarrassingly distant second to kayaking. 

There is a little irony that I am writing this shortly after spending my 100^th day of the year on the water in a kayak of some shape or form.

If you know me and my wife at all you are aware the she and I recently purchased our first home together.  The mixed feelings about actually buying a house are another topic that I may delve into at some point, but not here.  This blog entry however, could not occur if Helene and I did not make that decision.

The previous owners had done some work to the kitchen before we put our offer in that was just really bad.  I won’t get into the details, but there was a lot of stuff that we decided to have fixed and improved on.  Since we cook a lot we decided that we really want/need a range that has an outside duct.  We had this work done yesterday.  One person came and did most of the work—the only thing that needed to be done was some drywall-finish work.  I agreed with the contractor to have his drywall finish guy, Carlos, come to do the work.

Dave, our contractor, said that Carlos was on another job and would come as soon as he was done.  Dave also asked me if I spoke Spanish.  Needless to say, I was a little concerned that I would lack the skills to communicate with Carlos despite knowing un pequito Espanol.

Carlos a tall guy with drywall-mud-splotched clothes, a pony-tail and quite a few bracelets showed up around 7:00.  Even though his English was better than anticipated it was not fluent.  Watching Carlos work his magic with drywall mud while having a great conversation would be the highlight of my week, yet bittersweet.

You see, Carlos is an illegal alien from Central America.  Amazingly, Carlos was very forthcoming when I asked right out whether he was here legally or not?  His wife is here legally and they have a child that is a US citizen because of being born here.  When asked if he was worried about being deported his answer was that yes he does worry about having to go back to his country but that he focuses on living in the moment and enjoying the time that he is here.   He also said that he loves doing drywall-finish work, which was apparent from the enthusiasm he put into the work that he was doing on our kitchen--work that he was doing after a long day on another job.

Of course this got me thinking about one of the hot-button issues of our day, illegal immigration.  When asked why Carlos decided to come to the US and about the journey to get here I got a pretty amazing story.  Naturally, Carlos wanted to be with his wife.  However, you would think that a person with three years of studying law in his home country would have a promising future there.  However, Carlos told me that work is hard to come by even with a law degree, due in large part to a civil war that has been going on for the past 12 years.   He stated that even doctors have hard time finding work--he even has a sister who still lives in his country who is a dentist and because of the civil war really only practices with family and friends.  Carlos essentially risked his life to come here, walking much of the way and crossing borders that could have easily got him arrested and even killed.

So, Carlos is passionate about his work, supporting his wife and seven year old son and bracelets, while I am passionate about kayaking.  This makes me think about the freedom I have been given.  I was born in a country that I that I did not choose to be born in, yet gives me the choice to be passionate about kayaking.

In fact, there is not one person that was born in the US that made that choice with their own volition.  Yet somehow so many of us, me included, think that being born here gives us rights that others not born here should not have: the right to live in peace, the right to create a good life--the right to the “Pursuit of happiness".  Moreover, when one wants to think about it, while England made it legal for people from their country come and settle in the “New World”, it is very apparent that the Natives of this land could look on us exactly like we look on those that are currently here illegally.

Being passionate about kayaking makes me aware of something in my life.  I am a US citizen who is just a spoiled rotten child. 

Our current unemployment rate has hovered just above 9% for the past several years and the common complaint is that illegal aliens play a big part in this because they are taking our jobs.  Well perhaps, just perhaps, part of that high unemployment rate is because of the fact that we are a spoiled nation.  Illegals do the work that we consider below us and refuse to take.  Moreover, when we make statements like, “They are taking our jobs” it is essentially saying that we are better than they are.  Again, being born here was not our choice but it somehow makes us more deserving of having a living wage than it does for someone who is here illegally?

Sadly, I do not have the solution to our immigration problem.  However, I do not have an argument against someone coming here to escape a civil war and wanting to make a better life for their family and doing work that so many of us find beneath us.

RELIGION IS DANGEROUS

This is precisely why, in a recent book review, I stated that I agree with atheists Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris when they say that religion is dangerous!  Christians are also not immune from this hatred and lunacy.  If you pray--please join me in prayer for this Christian Pastor as well as a change of heart for his persecutors!

WEIRD REVELATION

So, planning raft trips are just like running a marathon only anachronistic.

The training for a marathon is actually kind of fun.  However, about 3/4 of the way through you start cussing at yourself, "What the f*%# was I thinking? I ain't never doing this sh*t again!"  Then you cross the finish line and an hour later you start telling yourself, "I have to do another one."

With the raft trip the cussing comes first, "How I am going to pull this f*%#ing thing off? I ain't never doing this sh*t again!" But then the raft trip is really fun, the weekend ends, and you start telling yourself, "Man, I need to plan another one of these!"

PERHAPS CAMPOLO IS ON TO SOMETHING WITH HIS RED LETTER CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT

Tony Campolo writes, “Gandhi once said that everybody in the world knows what Jesus teaches in those red lettered verses — except Christians.”  And Wikipedia’s page on Red Letter Christians states, “’Red-Letter’ refers to New Testament verses printed in red  letters to emphasize the actual words that Jesus spoke …While many Christians have defined  themselves as such over the years, a mass-market movement was initiated by authors Tony Campolo and  Jim Wallis who felt the religious right spend too much time on  two issues: abortion and  homosexuality. They believe Christians should be promoting biblical values such as peace, building strong families, the elimination of poverty, and other important social justice issues.”  Albert Mohler’s Culture Shift provides plenty of evidence for why we need Campolo’s Red Letter Christian Movement.

While Mohler delves into some other issues beside abortion and homosexuality, a huge chunk is dedicated to those two issues.  Before I dive into what I disliked about the book, I should mention that I was rather impressed with Mohler’s discussion on offensiveness found in the chapter “The Culture of Offendedness”, his chapter on character and his chapter discussing the dangers of modern technology.  The latter reminded me of Nicholas Carr’s fascinating and well researched The Shallows, which I highly recommend.  Also, I could not agree more with Mohler’s arguments in his last chapter “Redefining Retirement” where he states “There is room in the Christian life for leisure—but not for a life devoted to leisure.  As long as we have the strength and ability to serve, we are workers needed in Christ’s kingdom.” (p. 185) In the rest of the book however, I see much of the same overly conservative religious right dogma promoting an agenda that has little to do with what it means to be a follower Jesus.

For example, the following two statements are worrisome, “Islam is the single most vital competitor to Western ideals of civilization on the world scene.” (p. 154) and “Islam and the West offer two very different and fundamentally irreconcilable visions of society.” (p. 155) Does this mean that we are to blindly accept that western ideology is actually what Christ intends for us?  I was recently at an event where I saw a former US army soldier wearing a shirt that read, “God > U.S.”.  When Mohler completely leaves God out of the equation with “Islam is the single most vital competitor to Western ideals of civilization on the world scene”, isn’t he in fact saying “U.S. > God”?  I believe that we Christians need to build bridges with Islam and the entire world.  Mohler rather, chooses to reinforce a paradigm of Islam phobia that we desperately need to break out of!

Mohler discusses atheism alluding to the Four Horseman of atheism: Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris.  Mohler tells us that both Dawkins and Harris believe religion to be dangerous to society.  Mohler however, does not dissect this statement to determine whether it might actually be true.  Being a Christian myself and thinking about the statement, “Religion is dangerous” I have to side with the atheists.  Isn’t it fair to say that the crusaders of the middle- ages who killed countless infidels did so in the name of religion?  Isn’t it fair to say that the people blowing up abortion clinics are doing so in the name of religion and those flying airplanes into tall buildings as well as  those driving vans into buildings loaded with explosives are doing these things because of religion.  Personally, I believe Dawkins and Harris have hit the nail on the head!

Of course, Jesus did not come to start a new religion.  He came to provide a way for us to have a relationship with him—with God.  Moreover, he came to model how we are supposed to live our lives, which includes “loving our enemies.”

Also in this chapter on atheism Mohler “draw[s] a straight line from the emergence of evolutionary theory to the resurgence of atheism in our times.” (p. 162) Personally, I find it laughable that Christians continue to be threatened by evolution.  Francis Collins’ The Language of God is a refreshing read for those that struggle with reconciling their Christian faith with evolution.  Moreover, I honestly believe this is a fear driven issue that really deflects our attention away from the issues of the poor and oppressed in our society.

Most of Mohler’s book views the world through the lens of fear: the fear of terrorism; the fear of evolution; the fear of atheism; the fear of homosexuality; the fear of science; the fear of technology.  Fear creates a culture of judgment and insecurity rather than love.  We have a God who has conquered fear!  Hallelujah!! And because He has conquered fear we need not fear but rejoice in the freedom to love…love those that do not agree with us and even those that would do us harm.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

LESSON LEARNED AT JESUS BOMBS AND ICE CREAM

Saturday was my birthday and to celebrate my wife and I made the trek to the city of brotherly love to attend the sold out Jesus Bombs and Ice Cream.  It was an event to show that we have not lost our imagination. This was an amazing event where there was an artist on stage the entire time painting, an awesome band known as the Psalters, speakers sharing about what it means to be non-violent and more than loving your neighbor, loving your enemy.  There was also the world’s best juggler and a welder working outside during the show that turned an AK-47 into a pitch fork and a shovel.  Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, and Shane Claiborne, Co-Founder of The Simple Way, hosted the event. 

Both of our hosts shared something that I have recently heard elsewhere in Jim Wallis’ God’s Politics, “Budgets are moral documents.”  While I cannot share some of the amazing displays of talent here I can share the two demonstrations that Ben gave us. They are sobering in demonstrating where our government’s priorities lie!

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE

"In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and the Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord will bless them, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork and Israel my inheritance.'" Isaiah 19:23-25

I read this today and could not help but think of the pending UN vote for Palestinian statehood. Today I am praying for the Palestinians to have a state in the near future and more importantly for Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and "worship together."

FINAL REFLECTION FROM MY TIME SPENT WITH THE SIMPLE WAY

I am now back home in Silver Spring.  However, I do have one last reflection from the week that I wrote this morning before leaving Kensington, Philadelphia that I wanted to share.

Well, I am back from Morning Prayer and just about packed up and ready to hit the road.  Again, I can’t wait to see Helene, but I am also sad to leave.  I prayed for the children on Potter street at prayer this morning—I still can’t get out of my head the image from sitting on the porch at the Hospitality House last night.  To give you a better image Potter Street forms a T with H Street and the Hospitality House sits on H Street facing Potter. Looking down Potter Street and seeing all the kids playing—some were riding bikes, some throwing a football and others just talking—all of them in peaceful community with each other.  These children are the future of this neighborhood and there is such promise for them.  My prayer, again uttered here, is that this future is what God wants it to be!

A RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION: WHY DON’T CHRISTIANS JUST DO THE THINGS THEY PRAY FOR?

For the past two weeks I have been part of a Facebook thread with a friend of mine who I deeply respect, but who has quite a bit of enmity for religion and, for pretty good reasons, Christianity in particular.  One question/issue that has been raised more than once in the thread is that prayer is pointless and rather than praying for things why don’t Christians just do the things they pray for.

This is a really good point/question.  If all of our effort for change is exclusively limited to prayer I honestly believe our lives are not what Christ calls them to be.  Moreover, if our prayers are centered on some friend becoming a Christian because we are unwilling to accept them where they are then this is not only an insult toward that friend, but it is an insult to God and it shows judgment rather than love.

On the other hand, prayer helps me to know and accept that I am not capable of affecting change in the world by myself.  Prayer screams out “I need help, the world needs help, I want to see the world a better place, but I am completely incapable of doing this on my own.”  Also, I shudder to think of the big head that I would have if I were capable of affecting positive change on my own—prayer keeps me humble; it keeps me grounded; it helps me to know that I am not God.

THOUGHTS ON LISTENING TO GOD

Just got back from morning prayer.  I really only thought I would do this the first day of the week—because I normally hate getting up before 8:00 in the morning.  Something draws me back each day though.  The five minutes of silence each morning is difficult…well I could just sit there and let the time go by without caring about making it count.  However, trying to make this time meaningful takes effort.  That is quite a paradox; it takes effort to put forth no effort.  To be still and know that God is God, to say the very least, is something that I struggle with.  However, these five minutes the past three mornings have been good.  So often our prayers are words: words of adoration; words of confession; words of thanksgiving; words of supplication.  It seems so rare, for me at least, to sit and try to listen.  Listening for the voice of God is something I need to do more of!

SOME THOUGHTS ON COMMUNITY

I am not sure if I will have access to the internet tomorrow so I thought I would post today’s reflection while I have the chance.

I essentially had three reasons for wanting to come to the Simple Way this week.  The first was to serve, the second was to learn and the third was to reflect on my relationship with my creator.   Last night I was talking with my wife on the phone about the whole idea and concept of community and what that exactly means.  It is a word and concept that I have been trying to get my mind around for several years.  I think the more technologically advanced we get as a society the more difficult it is build community.  I truly believe that there is a right way and a wrong way to do community.  However, community is going to look different depending upon the context that it is in.  To give a few examples: Community in the Kensington section of Philadelphia where I am staying this week, which happens to be in the inner-city is going to look different than community in pick any agricultural region of the Midwest. 

An African Village, Suburbia USA, a monastery, prison, white collar work places, blue collar work places, being part of sports team, travelling the same train or bus or even carpooling every day—this list could go on—all provide opportunities for community.  Yet how community in each one of those contexts plays out is going to look different from the other.  My biggest struggle is that I have this desire to have one mold for community that fits all of these contexts.  It is hard to swallow the fact that there is not one mold.  Knowing that in each one of the contexts that I am involved in there is a different paradigm for community is overwhelming to me. 

Getting back to the complications technology throws at us, the newest contexts of Facebook, E-mail, Twitter et al continue to me being overwhelmed! 

The suburbs is one of the contexts in which I live.  I have lived in my current location for more than two years.  I know the names of three neighbors, Christian, Patricia and Rose. I have had three conversations with Christian and six or seven with Patricia and other than introducing myself to Rose have had no interaction with her.  I believe part of the reason for this is the context of the subarbs.  People find a location where they want to live for any number or reasons.  Ours happens to be because of its proximity to work and for my wife the Sligo Creek Trail where she likes to run.  Most often, I believe these reasons are not because you share interests or passions with those you will live next to.  However, I believe the bigger part of the problem with lacking community with my “neighbors” is because I don’t have a clue how to pursue it.  Or maybe even worse and this relates to yesterday’s reflection—I do know and this is just another instance of me refusing to embrace discomfort.

I  would love comments here or on my Facebook Page on how you create community in your contexts!

SOME THOUGHTS ON COMFORT

So, I have been pretty idle with blog posts recently.  However, I am up in Philly for the week spending time with The Simple Way.  I am here to serve, learn and reflect.  I could not help but think that my blog would be a good place to share any reflections that I might have here.

This is from yesterday:

What does it mean to be comfortable?  Should we pursue comfort?  I cannot help but think of Pastor Mark encouraging us to worship in a new way…a way that makes us uncomfortable.  The more I grow the more I realize the need to embrace being uncomfortable.  Of course being uncomfortable should never be an end in itself.  Wearing a hair-shirt for the sole reason of being uncomfortable is pointless.  However, introducing yourself to your neighbor can be uncomfortable, but it expresses the love of God.  Offering to buy a homeless person dinner and sitting and sharing the meal with them can be awkward but both parties will walk away richer from the experience.  Attending a religious service different from your own may not be that fun and you may feel entirely out of place.  But what does it say to those there that you decided to break out of the cultural walls that normally confine you and how can you not be richer and have a deeper understanding of those that are different from us?…in fact how we will ever make inroads toward peace and reconciliation without doing things that violate our comfort?  If we want to grow our decisions should more often choose discomfort over comfort!

The World Does Not Need More Cowboys

The word “radical” is the hot word of late in Christian devotional/spiritual growth books; so much so that it has found its way into titles like Shane Claiborne’s The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical and David Platt’s more succinct Radical.  Troy Meeder breaks from this new paradigm in his Average Joe. 

While there are certainly thoughts and ideas in this book that challenge me to move toward Christ, there is an allegiance toward American ideology that is at odds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I will discuss this conflict then highlight some of the ideas and thoughts I found helpful and challenging. 

However, before I continue I want to give a quick disclaimer.  In the back of the book it mentions that Meeder founded the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch ministry which rescues horses and mentors children.  I cannot help but have an immense amount of respect for the work that Meeder has ensconced himself in.  I am merely a government employee that is perhaps too comfortable with his predictable workload and paycheck.  My desire in reviewing books is not to be right but to be honest, even if it creates tension.  If we work through tension while being centered on love, which is to be centered on Christ, I believe we can affect great change in the world.  In other words, it is okay, good even, that there are thoughts and ideas in Meeder’s book that I do not agree with; lets take a look at a few.

 “I THINK THAT MOST EVERY GUY, at some point in his life has dreamed of being a cowboy.” (p.61) This how the seventh chapter of Average Joe begins.  I could not help but think that a lot of guys in our inner cities have never thought about being a cowboy.  Moreover, I have doubts that many guys in third-world countries and in Europe dream of being a cowboy.  Sure, you could say this is just a lead-in to a chapter, which is exactly what it is.  However, reading this evoked an emotional response in me.  I even wrote a note on this page that says, “Really?  Perhaps every white, rural, U.S. male has dreamed of being a cowboy, but even then, I doubt it.”  Meeder writes from the perspective that all men are like him with respect to their dreams and likes, and there is a danger to that.  The danger is that if someone is different from you they can easily become wrong as well as different which makes you perpetually right. 

This is further exemplified on the previous page.  “Does the kid with his pants pulled halfway down to his butt understand that young men his age died in battle? Does he even care?  Does the young couple driving the car with the ‘Peace Not War’ bumper sticker understand that freedom is not free?”  (p. 60) Rhetorical questions for sure; but nonetheless rhetorical questions that say “I am right and you are wrong.” 

Now, I do not mean any disrespect toward the members of our military.  It is honorable that they serve, even to the point of death and they have my utmost respect when it comes to that.  However, I honestly believe that the profession is at odds with the Gospel.  The U.S. spends almost as much on the military as the rest of the world combined—what does this say to the rest of the world?  That we are for peace? Or that we are for war?  War plain and simply is at odds with the Gospel.  Jesus was not in the military and never physically harmed anyone. He even rebuked the disciple who cutoff the ear of his arrestor and immediately healed him.  If Jesus were driving a car today I would not be surprised at all if it displayed a bumper sticker reading “Peace Not War”. 

To my recollection there is not any advocacy toward peacemaking in Meeder’s book.  No mention of Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu or any other peacemaker.  Instead we continue to find celebrations of war.  Here is Meeder’s description of his Friesian horse, “A war horse bred by ancient nobles of the Netherlands, the Freisian’s sole purpose was battle.  History records campaigns won, enemies vanquished, and nobles victorious, all from the back of this valiant partner and warrior.” (p. 128)

While I do not agree with Meeder’s apparent appreciation for all things war (perhaps that is a little hyperbolic), I found some gems to take away from this book.  If we want to be used by God then we need to allow ourselves to be broken.  This is something I typically fight hand and foot!  I love Meeder’s quote from A.W. Tozer, “’Whom God would use greatly, he will hurt deeply.’” (p. 19)  Meeder expands upon this, “I believe that every man—yes, even an average Joe—can and will be used greatly by God if he allows himself to be broken, refined, and shaped more into his image.” (p. 19)  The biggest thing I was able to take away from this book was Meeder’s conviction that men are called to invest in the lives of other men.  This theme appears in nearly every chapter and is a reflection of Christ’s relationships with his disciples.  Meeder writes, “Investing in a real friendship with another guy is one of the most rewarding relationships in a man’s life.” (p. 86)  Real friendship goes beyond shallow sports talk as well.  Meeder is incredibly blunt in his reasoning for why men do not have real friendships with other men.  “I think we don’t have real friends because we don’t try to have real friends.  Yep, that simple.” (p. 84)  That is certainly true for me and this certainly makes me want to try!  Finally, it is apparent that Meeder is a much better mentor than I am.  Chapter 8 is about mentoring, an area of my life where I fall miserably short.  This chapter was also a wake-up call to me that I need to start investing in the lives of guys younger than me. 

I am on the fence about whether I would recommend this book to friends.  If the author were to read this and want to get together for lunch to discuss this review and his book I would certainly take him up on his offer.  Despite our differences, I believe that we both love Jesus and more importantly Jesus loves us.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

BREAKING AWAY FROM THE ELECTRONIC WORLD

I was recently asked to do a column on outdoor activities for the monthly employee newsletter at the Gaithersburg Costco.  I was excited about this opportunity to share my love of the outdoors and to get people away from their TV screens, computer screens and other electronic stuff that we can so easily allow to monopolize our time.  Moreover, rather than limit my audience to just the employees of the Gaithersburg Costco I thought I would add some eclecticity to my blog and let the rest of the world in as well.  I hope these posts will encourage you to get off your couch or recliner and get out and experience creation!

Did you know that the average American watches four hours of television per day?  That is nine years in front of the television by the time you are 65!  All the while there is this beautiful world just outside of our homes that provides infinite opportunities for entertainment, leisure, worship, relaxation, and exercise.

We, at Costco 213, have the wonderful advantage of living in an area that is incredibly rich with opportunities for time spent outdoors.  Each month I will be describing one of the myriad opportunities our area offers to break away from the electronic world.

GREAT FALLS MD

Great Falls Maryland is a special place for me.  I have been going there for more than 20 years, mainly for the purpose of whitewater kayaking, which is one of the things that I am most passionate about.  However, this area is not limited to kayaking.  There is great fishing, hiking, and overlooks that provide a surreal view of Great Falls of the Potomac.  There are a few picnic tables as well, and one can hike for miles along the C&O Canal on the towpath or for those a little more adventurous on the Billygoat trail.  Wildlife is often available for viewing:  great blue herons, Pileated woodpeckers, an occasional bald eagle, turtles,  and fish can be sighted without too much effort. There is even a canal boat ride that will give you a history lesson of the canal.

DETAILS

The entrance to Great Falls Maryland is located at the intersection of Falls Road and MacArthur Boulevard.  If you are on Falls Road make a right to enter the park.  There is a $5 entrance fee per car and it is good for three successive days.  You can also access the park free at Old Anglers Inn—make a left from Falls Road on MacArthur Boulevard and go one mile.  You will see the Old Anglers parking lot on the right.  Be aware that on a nice weekend day any time of the year parking at Old Anglers can be a challenge.  Here are the details for those interested in the boat ride: the cost is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for children.  The boats run Wednesday through Sunday at 11:00am, 1:30pm, and 3:00pm with park employees dressed in 19^th century clothes and the ride lasts for about an hour.  If you want more information you can call (301) 767-3714.

PERSECUTION AND BEING A PEACEMAKER

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.  Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also…” (John 15:18-20) 

John 15:18-20 coupled with Matthew 5: 9-11, part of the beatitudes, has really pushed me to look at what it means to be persecuted.  I remember being really young in my faith and having this simple evangelical faith where I was supposed to share my faith and expect persecution for it—a sharing of faith that more or less forced my faith down the throat of someone else instead of involving myself in the mess of that person’s life.  After looking at Jesus’ life it is apparent that he involved himself in the mess of the lives of those around him and frequently experienced persecution as a result.  Whether it be the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, Roman officials or even his own disciples at times, Jesus was not popular with any of them.

After visiting Israel with my church and doing this trip within the paradigm of what it means to be a peacemaker I am still struck by a quote from one of our group, “Peacemaking is hard!”  This pretty much sums it up.  The reason this is so hard is that peacemaking results in persecution because it puts you in the middle of the conflict.  Instead of choosing a side you must make the decision to see both sides.  This is hard in and of itself—how often does one sit down and watch a sporting event and not choose a side?  Moreover, this stance does not provide you with support and accolades from either side.  Quite the contrary—usually when someone or some group realizes you are not completely for them they will persecute you.  This means that conflict opens you up to persecution from both sides.  This, I believe, is what Jesus was referring to when he said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”

During my trip I was particularly struck by the injustices that I saw at a Palestinian village known as Nabi Saleh.  I continue to be outraged by the injustices that occur in this village at the hands of the IDF every Friday as they try to disband the peaceful protest marches regarding the Israeli settlements that have infringed upon their basic human rights, such as access to the spring that provides water to the village.  Every part of me wants to side with the Palestinians in this village—to witness what is going on there makes this reaction natural for me.  My inclination is for me to de-humanize the IDF just as they dehumanize the people of Nabi Saleh by shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at the people of the village as well as arresting their children in an attempt to get them to end their peaceful protest marches.  However, dehumanizing the IDF merely brings me down to their level and is in stark opposition to Christ’s approach.

While it is fine, noble even, dare I say Christ-like, for me to be outraged at the injustices that the Palestinians in Nabi Saleh face each Friday, the real challenge for me and infinitely more so for the villagers of Nabi Saleh is turning the other cheek and recognizing the humanity in their oppressors.  Isn’t this what Christ did with those that wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery found in John 8?  By stating, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus revealed and recognized the humanity of the woman's accusers.  Furthermore, he helped them see the humanity in the woman rather than seeing her as an object to scorn because of a rule that she broke.  I think we could read this passage and believe that Jesus took the side of the woman caught in adultery, but he didn’t.  While Jesus states that he does not condemn the woman he challenges her to leave her life of sin; he creates an atmosphere of peace by challenging both sides to look at themselves.

I feel so powerless to change the situation in Nabi Saleh. Currently, my only course of action is to pray.  Initially my prayers were exclusively for the Palestinian villagers.  However, recently I have included the IDF soldiers in my prayers.  Basically, my prayer is that they will not lose their humanity and that they will recognize the humanity of those they are oppressing each Friday.

I also hope that you would join me in my prayers for both the villagers of Nabi Saleh and their IDF oppressors and also for reconciliation in Israel/Palestine.

ISAIAH 58 COMMENTARY

A little less than a year ago, several months removed from the earthquake that devastated Haiti, a team from National Community Church that included both myself and my soon-to-be wife sat in a Miami airport waiting for their connecting flight to Haiti.  Last night I was vividly brought back to this moment as I was reading through Walter Brueggemann’s Journey to the Common Good.  While waiting for that connecting flight I happened to be reading through the 58^th chapter of Isaiah.  I remember reading verses 11 and 12 with amazement.  “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame…your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”  My thought as I read these words were, “This is exactly what we are going to do.”  In retrospect, I believe this was a grandiose dream.  How much can a dozen people lacking carpentry skills accomplish in a week’s time?  In fact we did not “raise up the age-old foundations.”  We were not called “Repairer of Broken Walls” nor “Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”  We did help protect a school from erosion and helped some villages have access to clean drinking water.  However, what I walked away with or had reinforced from the trip was that people living in incredibly poor and dire circumstances tend to have more love and joy than what I experience in my homeland: the United States.

I don’t believe it was coincidence that Brueggemann’s book brought me back to this chapter in Isaiah.  Frankly, I really struggle reading the prophets or any poetry really.  Journey to the Common Good has brought the prophet Isaiah to life for me.  While my reading of Isaiah 58 sitting in that Miami airport was appropriate for the circumstances I believe another reading of the chapter as a whole provides insights and concepts that are paramount to my reading in the Miami airport.

I want to give an analysis of the 58^th chapter of Isaiah, which of course mostly relies on ideas and commentary found in Brueggemann’s Journey to the Common Good.  I wanted to give a quick overview of the book before proceeding.  The main theme of Journey to the Common Good is neighborliness.  Brueggemann uses the Pharaoh story from Exodus and the prophet Jeremiah to juxtapose two opposing triadic ideologies/narratives for society.  The first triad is wisdom, wealth, and might.  The second: steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.  Brueggeman writes that “One is a triad of death because it violates neighborliness.  The other is a triad of life because it coheres with YHWH’s best intention for all of creation” (p. 65).  Brueggemann argues that the triad of wisdom, wealth and might produces a narrative of scarcity while the triad of steadfast love, justice and righteousness produces a narrative of abundance.  The Pharaohic regime found in Exodus is one based on scarcity.   And our current regime in the U.S. is also based on scarcity.  The time is now to move toward a narrative of abundance.

The entire 58^th chapter of Isaiah is devoted to the act of fasting and what true fasting really is and/or should be.  The chapter opens with God declaring to “shout” the rebellion of his people; let them know their short comings.

‘Shout it aloud, do not hold back.  Raise your voice like a trumpet.  Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.  For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.  They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.’ (vs. 1-2 emphasis mine)

The word “seem” in verses one and two indicate a pretense on the part of Israel.  In other words their fasting is an outward display.  God then moves on to quote his people’s complaint.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it?  Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ (vs. 3)

Verse three continues with God’s response demonstrating how Israel’s fasting uses a wealth and might narrative.

‘Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.  Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.  You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.  Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?  Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?  Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?’ (vs 3-6)

God then reframes the fast into the narrative of steadfast love, justice and righteousness.

‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer shelter—when you see the naked to clothe him and not turn away from your own flesh and blood?’ (vs. 6-7)

What are the results if one fasts with this new narrative that God has proclaimed?

 ‘Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.’ (vs. 8-9)

In other words, if we live in the narrative of steadfast love, justice and righteousness we will draw near to God and God will draw near to us. 

God then uses an “if then” statement demonstrating that the use of might is not called for but the use of justice is.

‘If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing fingers and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness and your night will become like the noonday.’ (vs. 9-10 emphasis mine)

We are now back at the verses that I pondered in amazement while waiting for the connecting flight to Port Au Prince, Haiti.  Looking back it is apparent that I was approaching my trip to Haiti from the wrong narrative.  Living in the U.S., it is easy to live in the narrative of wisdom, wealth, and might which is where I was a year ago.  If I am completely honest I am still living within that much-maligned narrative, but reading the first ten versus of Isaiah 58 rather than just verses 11 and 12 has showed me the error of my ways and I am prayerfully pursuing a transformation to a narrative of steadfast love, justice, and  righteousness.

WISDOM FOUND IN LOVE AT LAST SIGHT

It was about a year ago that both my wife and I picked up Kerry and Chris Shook’s One Month to Live.  After we finished reading it we both agreed that we were not very challenged by it.  If I were to have written a review of One Month to Live a year ago I am sure it would not have been that positive. So when I went on Water Brook Multnomah’s website to choose a free book for the purpose of doing a review I was reluctant to pick Love at Last Sight because it was by the same authors as One Month to Live.  However, that is exactly what I did.

Before I discuss some of my thoughts on Love at Last Sight I would like to share some thoughts on One Month to Live because doing so will help frame what I have to say about Love at Last sight. 

One Month to Live focuses on a concept that really did not gain popularity or come into sharp focus until the printing press—individual salvation.  Prior to the printing press scripture needed to be discussed in communities, that is, individuals did not sit down with their own Bible that they just picked up from the local bookstore and read scripture—the clergy interpreted it for them.  This paradigm of individualism reached its apogee in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.  I am certainly a child of the 20^th century and became a follower of Christ within the individual-salvation paradigm.  Recently however, I have begun to drift away from this paradigm thanks mostly to the Emergent Movement.  I certainly believe that there is importance in salvation and the individual.  However, our society tends to focus on this to the exclusion of community—we focus so much on ourselves that we neglect those around us.  Sadly, this is true for both Christianity and society in general. One Month to Live is written within the paradigm of individualism and while I believe there are some useful ideas and concepts that one can commit to, I believe the time is now for us to give community a seat at the table with individualism.  By community I mean how we can involve ourselves in the mess of other people’s lives.

Personally, I am pretty good at the individualism thing and pretty bad at the community thing.   Love at Last Sight is a book that is all about community; about how we involve ourselves in the lives of our family and friends.  One main theme of the book is the contrast of “love at first sight” with “love at last sight”. “The concept of love at first sight permeates our music, movies, television, and books.  What we learn as children and continue to believe as adults is that a fairy-tale relationship somehow just happens...I don’t believe in love at first sight; I believe in love at last sight” (p. 6-7) .

While the book does not come right out and say it, it is apparent that love at first sight generally is derived from selfishness while love at last sight is derived from selflessness. 

Love at first sight says, “I’ll love you until…” Until you turn forty.  Until you become too much trouble. Until I feel differently.

Love at last sight says, “I’ll love you even when…”  Even when you’re sick.  Even when helping you is difficult for me.  Even when your eyes dim and your skin sags.  Even when you wrong me (p. 55).

Love at Last Sight challenged me.  The Shook’s suggestions and applications are not easy, but they are God-centered and will provide opportunities for growth and meaning in the beautiful mess of your life and the mess of the lives of your family and friends. 

I would like to include a quick post script.  My previous blog entry was a direct result of reading this book.  I would like to thank Chris and Kerry for this wonderful book and the change it has made in my life.  My wife and I are planning to lead a small group with our church this fall using Love at Last Sight--it may be the best book I have read this year!