welcome to the story.

"God is not 'man' said in a loud voice." - Karl Barth

I am the Mighty Moose's Bean Czar! Deny my throne if you dare!

What I'm Listening To This Week: Rufus Wainwright, Ryan Adams, Nick Drake, Ozma, The Rentals, Spoon What I'm Reading This Week: The Gospel of Mark, Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas

The only reason one is shocked by sin is because he denies his own. Jesus hated sin more than anybody, but He was never shocked by it. - Matt Donovan

An assignment from Christian Education to discuss some "old wineskins" that are in use by the church today. My response: - Sunday School (or Sunday morning Bible Study equivalent) as the primary vehicle for Christian Education and spiritual formation. Sunday morning Bible Study is typically information, information, and more information. A 45-minute sermon from the pastor, then a 45-minute lecture from the Sunday School teacher. There is more to education and spiritual formation than listening to information. Listening to information is a very foundational part of life change. Memorizing information is a very foundational part of life change. Knowing information is a very foundational part of life change. But I have no idea why we stop there. Most Sunday morning Bible studies consist of 5 alliterated points about the life of Joseph or something very similar, with no real emphasis or purpose in integrating the heart of the Sacred Scriptures into their students' lives. We approach Bible Study as an opportunity to study the text and to read it and take out of it facts to support our theology. When in reality, the text should be studying us, reading us, and taking out "us" and putting in "God". Sunday morning Bible Study as analytical and scientific was a great wineskin for the modern world of yesterday, but fails to be a serviceable wineskin for students of a postmodern world. - Monologue preaching as the only vehicle for teaching Truth. Monologue preaching is an extremely beneficial method in Christian Education and in teaching. There is nothing like sitting under the teaching of a well-educated, authoritative, theologically sound communicator. More truth can be learned in a short time under a wise man than in a thousand times with a thousand teachers who are "half-wise." But there is more to Christian Education and spiritual formation than simply listening to a monologue expression of knowledge. Sadly, I think the current church has forgotten this fact and has chosen not to use the wonderful tools of dialogue, Hebrew midrash, communal learning, and experience (all rooted in Scripture of course) to help in the teaching process. Sometimes you just have to simply "do life" in order to learn some things. And by relying solely on constant monologue sermons as the primary vehicle for learning, I think we do ourselves and our people a great disservice. Its so easy for us to read a book, listen to a sermon on tape, listen to a Wednesday night, Sunday morning, or Sunday night sermon, etc. that I think we have flooded our brains with to much knowledge and our lives consequently lack any real wisdom. - Sunday morning services as they are typically designed. Throughout church history the church has always practiced a variety of "sacraments" and/or methods to facilitate learning and spiritual formation, which is the goal of Christian Education. Only recently have we reduced these various learning methods to irrelevant or obscure. Some of these things that have been practiced by the church to facilitate spiritual formation were: preaching, worship, prayer, solitude, conversation, life experience, the Eucharist (Lord's Supper with grape juice), giving, fasting, baptism, etc. All of these things have been used by the church to help advance the learning process. But today's church almost solely relies on the sacrament of preaching as the only vessel for learning and spiritual growth. While we still worship and pray, we hardly ever approach or practice these things as learning experiences. More often than not, they turn into self-centered prayers and singing. And rarely do we think of the Lord's Supper, financial giving, or baptism as an opportunity for Christian Education. And fasting and solitude are absolutely foreign to today's church. Our church services have turned into nothing but preaching. Which I'm all for. But why not incorporate prayer stations, more Christ-centered worship, times for solitude and reflection, stations for offerings, stations for those who want to take the Lord's Supper weekly, etc. It seems that in our service design efforts we have forgotten some very important ingredients to Christian education and spiritual formation. - Gospel Tracts. A Soap Box Rant That Has Nothing And Everything To Do With The Topic Assigned. An excerpt from an interview with Leonard Sweet. The entire article can be found here Wesley invented the tract and believe it or not, it was cutting edge at the time. Wesley and some early Methodists in the late 18th, early 19th century invented street evangelism and they would attract these huge crowds with their preaching and by giving away tracts. Why . . . In the 1790's, a book was equivalent to one month's salary, so people didn't have books. And they didn't have literature in their homes. So pamphlets and tracts were the cutting edge hardware of the 18th century. Literally, a book is one month's salary, and you're on a street evangelism team giving out books and tracts and pamphlets. Well, hello! In the 1990's the computer was equivalent to one month's salary! And here we are still giving out tracts, which our ancestor's did, but if we were doing what they did, we'd be standing on street corners passing out Palm Pilots, PCs. You want to talk about crowds that would wait in line and listen to what we have to say? Now, of course, that hardware would have to come with spiritual software. The early street evangelists just didn't have pamphlets, they had chapters from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, or Fox's Book of Martyrs, or Thomas A Kempis' Imitation of Christ. So you just don't pass out Palm Pilots, you put Bible software on them, if you're passing out PCs, you put the whole Scriptures in there! We're so inept at evangelism that we think passing out a piece of paper to someone and this is doing them a "favor"? I mean, in the men's room they put tracts on the urinals. And this is evangelism?! Who's gonna pick it up? It's the wussification of the church's mind and mission, and it's embarrassing.

In the pauses Go gently into the day. Until I return anon My fuzzy head will satisfy. Moments closer to reunion Straightway will we embrace. For then the delay Will matter not. And then as always Will we find our hearts alive . . . Again and again And another time again.

What I'm Listening To This Week: David Crowder Band, Ryan Adams, Counting Crows, Damien Rice, Nick Drake, Coldplay What I'm Reading This Week: The Gospel of Mark, Subversive Spirituality by Eugene Peterson

Through your fading eyes you see green simplified As your pursed lips find the apple in complexity Two dueling saints of old Fighting to regather my scattered bits of self As an offering to the paradox That completes and finds me whole

Tired . . . Harry Potter rocks . . . Can I wait another year for book six . . . Mid-terms . . . Should I study a tad bit more . . . Diggity Dog.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

an email i wrote to one of my best friends who is frustrated with life and having to wait on everything that she wants. as i have been there, i wrote . . . and deep in the forest, a young girl began to sing an enchanted song that reminded all who heard that life was still unfolding before us like an unworn sweater that is unpacked out of a suitcase. and so it is. no doubt life is frustration. not having and knowing everything you want and need. what lies ahead tomorrow and the day after that and 10 years after that. it stays hidden. almost teasing us because of our lack of intuition or discernment of the future or whatever you want to call it. but we're not sister cleo who reads palms down the streets. we don't have any magic looking glasses. all we have is faith that things play out. and work out. and do so in a manner that is worthy of our patience. but thats where the beauty of life comes in. waiting and acting and playing and falling and stumbling and enjoying. tossed from one side of the spectrum to the other and then back again. believing that it all works out and doubting it all with every fiber of our heart. back and forth we go. swinging on our swing. free as a bird that is tied to the ground. a heavy fog that refuses to rise. a kite that is no less grounded than the largest of all mountains. all the while enjoying the decisions and moments and the present that is always shaping our future. so in the middle of all that we get to do what nothing else on earth gets to do. we get to enjoy life for what it is. despite the hum-drumness. despite the things that make us weary. despite not having who we want when we want them. but they're there. doing the same thing we're doing. waiting on us. figuring out life. learning and growing so that they are prepared to meet. and with that we wait. and we wait. and we wait. and then we wait some more. patiently for our life to unfold. a story that is still being penned or penciled (whatever your preference) or in this modern age - typed. waiting . . . once again . . . like an unworn sweater that is unpacked out of a suitcase.

A darker shade hangs on the moon tonight, Enfolding this heart of darkness in pockets heavy with hate. Unencumbered to the slavery of light, Feasting on all that has come to pass as fate.

Moving forward for the day that is Advancing backward for the day that was Yet still is Is there a difference between past memories And future ones? Surely not. But as the clock moves one step closer in its chase Our moments linger fresh in my everything Her smell, her face, her voice In my nose, in my eyes, in my ears In my heart - which is all of me Ten minute old history floods back to the present Caught between the simplicity and the complexity Of time well spent Paths playing out All in a drive that I wish I was not making Enslaved to the dawn And morning's doors; The doors that all too quickly will be here Opening and calling us to put Reality behind our dreams

Interestingly, the heavens sag heavy Weighed down by the tears of the sun But as the canvas sky moves onward to Oregon Resting not there, but again it finds warm soil Smile my friends, for today finds us beautiful again And again we find the day beautiful

But, somewhere, an old crumbly man with all the enchantment of walking on water collects the stars in a paint bucket. - Zachry O. Kincaid

What I'm Listening To This Week: Radiohead, David Crowder Band, Coldplay, Damien Rice, Nick Drake What I'm Reading This Week: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Colossians

Truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it. - Flannery O'Connor

Part of you is now in me, Pulled from my side, Collapsing the middle. Part of your smile, Part of your life, Danced in my dreams last night.

A response in my online class to the question of how we can communicate in a style that this generation connects with. Me: Perhaps it would be wise of us to rediscover the role of narratives in our communication of Truth. While I love good, systematic theology as much as any other seminary student, maybe we've gone to far in our diagramming, alliteration, sub points, and organization of what in its purest form is a love story. In today's cultural climate, where everything is explained down to the letter, why don't we rediscover the story of God in narrative form? In our attempt to expound the Scriptures, I'm afraid we may have in fact reduced them in a manner that shadows the scientific world in their "over"-explanation and "over"-analysis of life. While I think we need to know the "scientific" meanings of life and the deeper "explanations" of Scripture, maybe we need to look at God not as an object to be studied, but a Subject to whom which we have entered into story with. Its a shame that children understand and grasp this story better than we do. But we of course are wiser because we've systemized the story (sarcasm implied yet again). Mike Kinnebrew�s Response: I agree with what you said, but I would like to add that both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. People abuse the "narrative" approach to CE just as much as they do the "systematic" approach. Being at NPCC, you see the positive results of that type of teaching, but one does not have to look very far to see the abuse of the same. As long as Christian Education is done by humans, it will be abused and misused. Andy is a great story teller -- so is Louie. People like that are few and far between. People like MacArthur and Piper are great point by point, stick to the outline, teachers. People like them are few and far between. I think we need to be careful not to elevate one style over another. Pastors and teachers just need to find the approach that fits them best and enables them to communicate the truth of God's Word the best. Nothing is worse than listening to a pastor try to pawn himself off as something he isn't. It would be wrong to suggest that Andy communicates God Word more effectively that MacArthur because he's more of a narrator. It would be equally wrong to presume that Piper is a better teacher than Louie because he's a systematic teacher. People teach in different ways, which is good considering that people learn in different ways. Me: I agree Mike. As in everything with our faith, we have to blend the two and walk a tightrope down the middle without going to far in either direction. My post was just suggesting that perhaps we have gone to far in the direction of systematic over the last hundred or so years. In a time, today, when there are no more good stories, no stories with meaning, truth, and beauty. Only stories of lie and deceit and ruined marriages, I think it would be great if the church could begin to narrate The Story that brings meaning to the world. I'm just afraid that at times, we've gone to far in the direction of systematically explaining everything that we've sucked the life out of God's unfolding story of redemption. But like you said, we can definitely go to far in the other direction where we don't teach good theology at the expense of a "feel-good" story which is what some consider "good" preaching. The challenge is to deliver systematic truths in a narrative way, not detaching them from Scripture, but showing them as pieces of the puzzle, landmarks on the journey. And to deliver the good story in a way that highlights and accents systematic truth. And I don't know about you, but I'll take Piper any day. I don't care if he's got 45 points that all start with 'P'! Mike, I really respect your thoughts and wisdom. What role do you think these two different forms of communication will play in the emerging cultural climate? Whereas everybody used to know our story so we could begin with teaching "deep" doctrine and theology (systematically), now our story is almost foreign to North America. We are almost missionaries today in our country because no one has a clue about God's redemptive plan. At what point do we start in the story? Do we go narrative (as we would when we share with kids) or do we go systematic? I don't know myself. Just thinking out loud. Mike�s Response: "...just suggesting that perhaps we have gone too far in the direction of systematic over the last hundred or so years. In a time, today, when there are no more good stories, no stories with meaning, truth, and beauty. Only stories of lie and deceit and ruined marriages, I think it would be great if the church could begin to narrate The Story that brings meaning to the world." Man, well said! Ravi Zacharias said that Jesus "fused all of life with meaning!" As for your question about where we are headed, I don't know. I'm not too gifted at stepping back and seeing the big picture. But I know about the kind of Christian leaders I think I see LRS producing. But even in this class it's easy to see a melting pot of approaches to ministry. I do know that my heart attaches to the description you gave above. Isn't it great that we can trust the Lord Jesus to take care of His bride! I'm just thrilled to be a part of it, and long to see others brought in. Me: "Jesus fused all of life with meaning!" Wow! Very reminiscent of Acts 17:28 and Colossians 1:16-17. Your post got me thinking again. I think instead of first telling people they are right or wrong, maybe we need to first begin with telling them their Story. If they don�t realize there is an overarching story that can give their life meaning, then they are not even going to believe �right and wrong� exist, let alone listen to our rants about how they should behave �right�. This method of evangelism worked effectively 100 years ago because everybody believed the Christian story, so they knew when they sinned . . . they knew what was �right and wrong.� But today, maybe the reason no one believes in �right and wrong� (and acts accordingly) is because they have no story that �fuses their life with meaning.� Perhaps that is one of the reason why relativism is so prevalent in our culture today. In the absence of any truth, meaning, and beauty that can only be found in God�s story, why should you believe in right or wrong? If you don�t even believe that there is a story out there that involves us as individuals and a community, then why not do whatever feels good, whenever you want to do it. Maybe we need to begin by laying the backdrop of our story before we begin talking about �rights and wrongs�. By re-teaching a story that many have never been taught or become disillusioned with, by re-narrating the unfolding story of God . . . maybe people can begin to find their identity in this story as individuals and a community. I�m not saying we don�t need to talk about right and wrong. I think we need now, more than ever, these claims about Truth. But I�m thinking out loud if this should be our starting point in today�s evangelism?

A response in my online class to the question of how should we organize our ministries in today's world. Me: Today�s families are always going, going, and going some more. Their jobs, bosses, friends, family, school, and coaches are always demanding more, more, and then some more. When I was a kid I used to be able to go home after school and play war with sticks as guns with my little brothers. Today�s students have three hours of homework Monday-Thursday and some more on Sunday night. Mixed in with that, most work around 20 hours a week, participate in school activities, and try to have some kind of social life. No wonder they want to sit in front of a tv just to let their mind go blank for a few minutes. With these increasing demands on their schedule and the schedule of their parents (mostly split parents), the church would be wise to tailor the ministries that they offer and when they offer them. At my church, we don�t have any Wednesday night activities for children or students because we do not want to be an extra �thing� that kids have to pencil in there already busy schedule. I don�t think its wise of us to demand more of their schedule by making them feel guilty if they don�t come to Sunday morning Sunday School, Sunday morning service, Sunday night children�s or youth choir, Sunday night service, Tuesday night visitation, Wednesday night programs, and a weekend event. So maybe we should be more strategic and intentional with 1 night a week instead of spreading ourselves and our excellence in ministry thin over 4 or 5 nights a week. Another side note . . . the more we offer at the church, the more the ministers are required to be there. And the more they are there, the less they are at home with their families. Streamlining some of what is offered from a �programming� standpoint might not only free up the congregation, but might also free up the staff to build a family and not a ministry. I�m sure there are some pastor�s kids in here, and my best friend and roommate is a pastor�s kid, but he�ll tell you that pastor�s kids are often so �bad� because of the lack of their father�s influence on their life because of their over-commitment to their ministry. Maybe in streamlining our ministries we can free up pastors to be fathers again, thus being ones who can model for other parents how to raise a family. It seems odd to listen to a pastor preach about the lack of family values to a congregation when he only leaves the church to sleep. That�s why I applaud pastors who are able to balance the tension of leading a church and a family and who do both well. Those guys are far and few between but they give me hope as a future father and pastor. Michael McCartney�s Reponse: Josh, you point out some very real problems affecting the church, but I'm not sure I agree with the solutions. all the activities you mentioned consume 3 to 4 times more time than the average Christian spends in church, yet they find time to do them. I think the streamlining should be done on behalf of the people not the church. Scripture tells us "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another: and so much the MORE as ye see the day approaching" (Heb.10:25). I don't think cutting out services is a Biblical solution, nor do I think it really adds much family time. most that stay home on Sunday night & Wednesdays sit & watch tv, while kids play video games & get online. I think people should find what's important to them & do it. If the church isn't one of them they shouldn't blame the church for having to many programs. as to busy pastors, there is no doubt it is a demanding call. the pastor must prayerfully find a balance with God, wife, family, & ministry. I think perhaps Andy's dad had a bit more on his plate than most pastors. not only did he lead one of areas biggest churches, but was pres. of SBC, had speaking engagements all over the world, and found time to write several books. I'm sure if we laid our lives out on a spread sheet we could probably find several areas that could be streamlined before we start eliminating church services for those of us that enjoy a midweek boost. Me: Thanks for the conversation Mr. McCartney. You made some excellent points! And please don't misunderstand my comments. I'm not advocating cutting every single program we do out because people are busy. I'm just suggesting we take a good long look at what we do it and why we do and if we can better combine the resources, time, energy, creativity, etc. that we use 3 nights a week into 1. I can only speak out of experience. I work with students every week. We have no Wednesday night service. We have no Tuesday night Visitation. We have no youth choir. We have no weekend events. We have no events outside of our yearly camp and our mission trips. We don't go bowling as a group. We don't go to Braves games. We don't do anything. The only thing we offer is on Sunday nights. During this time, we pour all of our resources, creativity, time, prayers, etc. into this 2 and half hour time. We have a worship time, a master teaching time, and then we have small groups. And I would take the average student from our ministry and put him/her up against any student from a ministry that offers things 5 nights a week. I'd take the top 10 students from our ministry and put them up against the top 10 students from any other ministry in the country and I'm confident that our students are grounded in Truth, leading their friends at work, school, and on their sports teams. I'm confident that these students have as much character and depth, if not more, than most students in youth ministries that offer something every night and an event every weekend. And we do it all on one night. And in that, we have not "given up on meeting together as is the habit of some". We just choose to be very strategic and intentional with the time that we do offer. And because we do this on a Sunday night (we don't have adult Sunday night services), every student who is there on Sunday night is there because they want to be there. Granted my church is rather large . . . too large if you ask me, but on Sunday nights we have over 500 high school students alone worshipping and studying together. And to show the depth of our students, I have the privilege of leading over 200 volunteer students who serve on Sunday mornings in the Children's, Preschool, and technical ministries. I don't say any of that to brag or to elevate some church to some higher pedestal than what it is . . . a corporate servant of God, but we only offer one night a week, and it works. And it works extremely well. As for your example of Dr. Stanley, he indeed found time to lead a large church, become president of the convention, speak all over the world, and "find the time" to write several books. But it also cost him his marriage. While I am in no way attempting to slam Dr. Stanley, I think my point is well taken that in our attempt to offer something 8 days a week and be everywhere 8 days a week, we may have missed the point somewhere along the way. Finally, why do you think it is that people don�t want to show up on Sunday nights, and Tuesday nights, and Wednesday nights? We think the answer is that their priorities aren�t in line (which is probably true) but maybe the reason they don�t come is because they don�t connect with God there. Maybe they are unable to feel any life there, only deadness. True, in the New Testament and Acts in specific, they met every single day. But when they met they all had smiles on their faces. They all connected with their Heavenly Father. And they enjoyed each other�s company. Hardly sounds like the church we have today. Maybe that is the reason why people don�t come every night. Maybe we need to blame our poor programming and environments before we blame people�s priorities.

Its the beautiful days, full of grace, that make me want to die so that I can experience it fully with God. And its the dark days, the ones that are upside down, that make me want to live so that I can be a reflection of glory.

I got a cool girl Named Peggi-Sue-Lou-Who She's pretty I like her She likes me I don't know why Its a good question But one without an answer Do all questions have answers?

The Romantic Trapped Today being a good day to live. Air light on my face, heavy on my spirit. Too many books and not enough wars. Or the other way around Finds me spread on my bed, twisted flat With shards of sublime light opening doors to dead pathways. Traveled to much or not enough, only the fallen ashes of those who still breathe are aware of the truth. Skipping school, forsaking knowledge for the experience of glory. The divine chase that leads me everywhere without going anywhere. Stuck in the present as the present moves along without me. Seeing everything as more than whole, so I write of the moon: A crystallized sliver destined to find its reflection in July�s shallow waters. or of a rock: Idle but strong. Shattered over time in a fashion reminiscent of my cracked faith in hope. Freshly cut grass that clings to bottoms. Wind that cuts through the fingers, yet draws no blood. Watching a freshly sharpened pencil go dull as my hand speeds to keep up with grace. A blessed and damned fate it is to live Above the earth . . . Feet walking on the thin layer between soil and sky, made up of neither dream nor reality. Am I the only one who sees the flower bloom? I am the only one who sees the flower die. Residing in this gap, pulled thin by poetry and science. Hating both of my masters. Unfettered to float free. Grounded to a kite like a lost romantic in the Fall with cider in hand. A high tide without waves, flooding these wings, soaked with apathetic tears of those who can�t see. Do they have a clue? Or does its absence make them wise? So it begins, continues � ends. Tomorrow being a good day to die.