Thursday, June 24, 2010

the lost journal entries: the demon possessed man



i rewrote the story of the Demon Possessed Man for a worship service last September on the theme of Brokenness. i scribbled it out on to a few journal pages first...








here is what it says:
the story about the Demon Possessed Man found in Mark ch. 5:1-20



I come from the region of the Gerasenes. I had been living in the tombs (with dead people)... i was in hiding. No one wanted to be around me. Some said i was crazy. They tried to chain me - but i'd always bust out. No one was strong enough to contain me.

Night and day i would cry out. i swear, i had these evil spirits in me. a whole group of them. i was out of control. i'd yell. scream. i even cut myself.

then, out of nowhere, this guy, Jesus shows up. when i saw him, i ran to him - fell at his feet.

"What do you want from me, Jesus?" "Don't torture me! Please Help me!!!"

i told Jesus my name was Legion.

There were abut 2000 pigs in a smelly field nearby.

These demons in me then begged Jesus "Send us to those pigs over there."

Then the evil spirits were cast out of me and into those pigs.

Then all of those pigs rushed down the hillside and into the lake and drowned. All of them.

Man was that pig farmer mad. the whole town was mad.

There i was, clothed and in my right mind, healed by Jesus.

The people - mad about the pigs - asked Jesus to leave. I wanted to leave with Him but he told me to go and preach to the people of Gerasenes.

I'm the demon possessed man and this is my story.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Book Review: A New Kind of Christianity

A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith by Brian McLaren


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
if you know anything about Brian McLaren you know that the church has a love/hate relationship with him. some are quick (too quick) to call him a heretic, while others view him to be the post-modern/emergent leader who will bring the church to the place it needs to be.

Brian McLaren is neither.

But his latest book A New Kind of Christianity is certain to further the divide between progressives and fundamentalists. that being said, it was and is a book that needed to be written.

I find myself trying really, really hard to not drink the kool-Aid when it comes to McLaren and the like. at first read, parts of A New Kind of Christianity found me giving thanks that someone had given a voice to the questions i have had wanted to discuss for quite some time. however - i try to remain fair, objective and level headed. letting his ideas fester in my soul appears to be the best solution. it keeps me balanced.

the controversy lies with his views on such things as 'how the Bible should be interpreted, is God violent, what is the Gospel, human sexuality (i.e. homosexuality), eschatology, relations with other religions.'

for the most part, McLaren conveys the gentl, humble spirit in this book (he has the same demeanor in person, i might add - having heard him speak and debate). But at times, he seems to get a little pompous. This, no doubt, irks those who dislike and disagree with him.

at other times in ANKOC, McLaren seems to be filling the pages with words, only he's not really saying anything.

I did take/make a lot of notes while reading. He brings up some things related to our Christian faith (and it's history) that should be looked at. Is our faith rooted more in Jesus or is it tainted with a Greco-Roman lens? I am thankful McLaren dares aske some questions like he has. too many Christians take the intricacies of the faith for granted. they overlook them - not knowing how there views may (or may not) be skewed by them.

i think this book deserves to be read - and more so, deserves to be discussed with civility. For too long, the church has decided to follow: pastors instead of Jesus; political parties instead of Jesus; war instead of peace; pride instead of humility; words instead of action; prosperity instead of helping the poor; serving self instead of serving others; status quo instead of useful change, etc. some in teh church appear to trust Paul's writings while neglecting Jesus' teachings.

You will not agree with everything McLaren writes - but don't fear his words and opinions. don't judge him - especially if you have not read his work. the church needs to diologue. and then it needs to act.


highlights from the book:
~looking at the narrative of the Old Testament and viewing how it relates to the New Testament.
~his in depth analysis of John 14:6
~how is a Christian to relate to a person of another faith?



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Sunday, June 20, 2010

the lost journal entries:

i've collected and filled (some partial, some entirely) a handful of journals over the years. most of the journals are used for brainstorming. lately, i've been looking through some of them. i figured i'd take a picture of some entries and then blog about it. so this is thus the 1st of 'lost journal entry' posts.





this is what a few of my journals look like.
(click to enlarge)


i've always enjoyed doodling, abstract writing, brainstorming and dreaming. that is why the pen was invented... to bring imagination to the page.

sometimes (more often than not) the inspiration seems utterly useless. sometimes a hidden gem lies hidden on the page.







sometimes the words and drawings and scribbles are merely chaotic. somehow - i am able to comprehend it all. sometimes i forget what my original intent was. regardless, the chaos on the page, at times, has brought about something magical.






(click to enlarge)
this chaotic mess makes sense to me. it was an outline for a message i preached at a youth camp last summer. the title was 'free your mind'.

each of the boxes represents a segment of my talk. thus - the most unorthodoxed outline. there is nothing linear about it.

ironically, as chaotic as this journal entry is, my talk was about how to connect with God through the freeing of our mind - of stress, chaos and the busyness of life.






sometimes i just draw random things. they don't mean anything. they just are what they are.





(click to enlarge)

this are some random drawings of televisions. maybe there is some subliminal significance to these simple drawings. or not.














i think i may attempt to upload and post some more of my random lost journal entries.

stay tuned.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

2 Mile Fun Run

jen and i ran in the annual Louisville YMCA 2 Mile Fun Run.
it went very well. the weather was a bit muggy - but beautiful. i ran my fastest time (in a race). i finished in 15:55 / 7:58 pace. it felt really good - and i was thankful i was able to overcome the mental anguish that usually comes when i hit the big hill with a 1/4 mile to go. I was 20th overall.

i got 2nd in my age group and even got a medal. ha! alas - there were only 4 men running in the 35-39 age bracket. good odds!

Jen did well, too. Was 33rd overall and the 10th woman to cross the finish line. she is a bit upset - seeing that had the race been a week ago - when she was still 29 (she turned 30 last week) she would have been 1st in her division. but she did really good and we both really enjoyed it.

here are some pictures. note the picture of me passing an 8 year old on the final stretch before the finish line. i felt a little bad about it... but when i saw that i could finish under 16 minutes, i took off.



























































































total times:

Thursday, June 10, 2010

What i learned (and hope to put into practice) as a result of studying Sabbath.

June 10, 2010

insights, quotes and notes from the book::
SABBATH: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller
(read my review HERE)



The Chinese pictograph for “busy” is composed of two characters: heart and killing. If that is not a poignant reminder of what happens to the human mind, body and soul when consumed by the chaos of life, I don’t know what is. (pg. 3)


“What makes life fruitful? The attainment of wisdom? The establishment of a just and fair society? The creation of beauty? The practice of loving kindness?” Was it not American Statesman Thomas Jefferson who so eloquently suggested that all mankind had a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Are not the three “intimately” intertwined?

what is life? but a passing wind - a storm of busyness lived at a speed beyond comprehension - where in the end, most of the meaningful things are missed, forgotten or neglected? Was life meant to be lived at such a dizzying pace?

“While Sabbath can refer to a single day of the week, Sabbath can also be a far-reaching, revolutionary tool for cultivating those precious human qualities that grow only in time.”

Busyness can become violently unfruitful. Sabbath time is effortless, providing nourishing rest that brings fruitful healing. (pg. 4-5)


“Sabbath time is time off the wheel, time when we take our hand from the plow and let God and the earth care for things, while we drink, if only for a few moments, from the fountain of rest and delight.” (pg. 8)

Can not Sabbath be a time of refuge... can it become a Sanctuary of sorts? Sabbath can become a protector against an information overload of 500 channels, social media devices, handheld electronic gadgets and the like. Could it not shield us from multiple platform advertising techniques that tell us to do this, buy that, you need this, eat that?

Sabbath invites us to disconnect. and be free. Sabbath invites us to find comfort in simplicity; to rest in the presence of God; to seek nothingness and to discover delight that comes with it.


Practice: Begin your Sabbath by lighting a candle. Take a few breaths and allow the mind to quiet. Feel the tension leave the body. Recognize the sacredness of the moment. (pg. 21)


Examples of Jesus taking time to rest and pray:
Matthew 14:23
Luke 5:15-16
Mark 1:32-33; 35-36
Jesus didn’t wait for everything to be done first - before retreating to quiet places to pray and rest. Jesus “obeyed a deeper rhythm.” (pg. 25)
He invited the disciples to do the same. Again - he did not wait for them to finish the task at hand. “Come with me. Let go, and rest, and pray.”

“to pray” is sometimes translated as “to come to rest”
Practice: turn things off. Electronic devises, etc. give them a rest for a period of time during Sabbath.


Another way to practice Sabbath is to fellowship with friends and family over a meal. To keep the work on the lighter side, have the meal be a ‘hands on’ meal - like “Make Your Own Tacos, Ice cream Sunday bar, Make your own Sandwiches, etc. The goal is to make it less work for the host and more enjoyable for those sharing in the meal. (pg. 33)


“Do not wait to enjoy the harvest of your life; you are already blessed. The kingdom of God is already here. It is within you and among you.” (pg. 43)


Part of Sabbath is taking notice of blessings around you.
Practice: Have elders lay hands on youth as a way to ‘bless them’.
Parents may also place hands on their children and pray a prayer of ‘blessing’ and ‘thanksgiving’ upon them.
“Let them feel the truth of your prayer in their bodies.” (pg. 46)


Practice: Take a walk in silence. intentional silence. choose some time for a walk, bike ride or hike and intentionally be silent. Notice what arrises in silence: the impulses to speak, the need to judge or respond to what you see, hear and feel. Notice discomfort that will no doubt arise when you get the urge to speak. Learn to delight in silence. It can become a genuine time of safe sanctuary. (pg. 55-56)

Practice: take a 30 minute Spirit Walk. Let your soul catch up with you. Let your senses guide your walk. if outside, notice the color, the smells, the beauty often missed. What do you become drawn to? If you feel the urge to stop and investigate, do so freely. After 30 minutes, notice what happens to your body and soul and mind - as well as your sense of time. (pg. 70)
[side note: on the day i read this section of the book - i was outside - sitting in the shade, on a calm, cool late-spring evening. my daughter picked a very tiny flower of some sort. i placed it in the book, in between the pages. It has reminded me of the simple things that are often missed.]

“Sabbath challenges the theology of progress by reminding us that we are already and always on sacred ground. The gifts of grace and delight are present and abundant; the time to live and love and give thanks and rest and delight is now, this moment, this day. Feel what heaven is like; have a taste of eternity. Rest in the arms of the divine. We do not have miles to go before we sleep. The time to sleep, to rest, is now. We are already home.” (pg. 79)


“be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.”
~LAO-TZU

Sabbath requires surrender. (pg. 82)


Practice: Lectio Divina. a way to reflect and meditate upon the Word of God. (pg. 92)

Seize the Day. The story on pages 103-107 about how W.K. Kellogg shortened the work week starting in 1930 is fascinating. Productivity and moral sky-rocketed during the time of great depression. Why? Happy, rested employees worked less, got paid more and the rest is/was history.
Time was more valuable than money. Unfortunately, after 50+ years of running the Kellogg Cereal business that way, people changed. Money began to become more valuable than time - and Kellogg’s shorter work day and work week ended.

“The endless expansion of desire, as the Buddha noted 2500 years ago, is a fatal, impossible folly.” (pg. 131)

Practice: be creative. write a poem about nothing of any importance. rip out pictures in a magazine. plant a flower. take a walk around the block. sing a song you know from heart - from beginning to end. do something simple and playful every day.
“Let the power of a simple act of creativity stop you, slow your pace, interrupt your speed. Notice how willing you are to be stopped. Notice how it feels when you are.” (pg. 145-146)


“The Sabbath prohibitions restrict those things that would impede our sensuality.” (pg. 151)

When Jesus was tempted in the desert he was tempted to be “useful, important and powerful” (insight from Henri Nouwen).
Compare our temptations to be useful, important and powerful with the teachings of Jesus (and the saints) to show kindness, to act humbly, invisibly and quietly.
“Mother Teresa reminded us, we do no great things, only small things with great love.”


Blessing or disaster? Blessings often turn to disasters and disasters often turn to blessing. “the changes have no end, nor can the mystery be fathomed.” (pg. 187-188)

Practice: Give away gifts. (pg. 208)


The book concludes with an entire section on how to live out a Sabbath through various ways, including ideas for how to start and how to keep it going. All in all Wayne Muller does an excellent, extensive job painting a large landscape of a picture of what Sabbath looks like, feels like, smells like, tastes like and sounds like. What a beautifully practical book. I am eager to try many of his suggestions. I can only hope that my strides to rearrange priority will no doubt take shape in my life. I am eager for change. I am excited to slow down. I am also excited to share ‘sabbath’ with others. God commands that we take sabbath. it is the one commandment that is broken with great regularity in the Christian world. I aim to reclaim that aspect of life.

Book Review: Sabbath (by Wayne Muller)

Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The book is filled with delicate teaching on the Biblical and Spiritual principle of Sabbath. My understanding of Sabbath has exploded. I knew so little... i appreciated it so little.

Wayne Muller has done a masterful job - through extensive study, the use of personal reflection and stories to give more than an overview of Sabbath. Muller gives everything. There are so many practical examples on how to live out a regular time of Sabbath, including ideas for how to start and how to keep it going.

All in all Wayne Muller does an excellent, extensive job painting a large landscape of a picture of what Sabbath looks like, feels like, smells like, tastes like and sounds like. What a beautifully practical book. I am eager to try many of his suggestions. I can only hope that my strides to rearrange priority will no doubt take shape in my life. I am eager for change. I am excited to slow down. I am also excited to share ‘sabbath’ with others. God commands that we take sabbath. it is the one commandment that is broken with great regularity in the Christian world. I aim to reclaim that aspect of life.

for my blogged notes on the book go here: what-i-learned-and-hope-to-put-into practice after studying Sabbath

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