Saturday, April 25, 2009

Gospel Coalition

I have been gone all week attending the Gospel Coalition conference in Chicago. It was a very helpful, challenging, and encouraging time. There were quite a few great messages, but Tim Keller's message on idolatry was profound. You can watch it here.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Susan Boyle

If you haven't heard about this yet, consider yourself officially out of the loop. Seriously, this video tells a pretty great story. After watching the video, check this article out on how the tv powers that be are reconsidering the role of ugly people. I'm not joking. It seems a stunning new revelation that unattractive people can actually do something of value. Hopefully, the realization lasts for more than a moment. There is a metaphor of the gospel in here (and no I'm not stretching), which is why I think the story is so powerful.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

A Visual Metaphor

This looks to me like a visual metaphor of relational strife. What do you think?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Romans 5:6-11

"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.(Romans 5:6-11)
What does your worldview tell you about your enemies? How about what you are to do to your enemies? And I mean all enemies from the jerk at work who incessantly mocks you to the terrorist who blows up your husband. None of us likes violence, arguments, or war. Some of us are even anti any war. In case you are wondering, this isn’t a defense or an attack of any war. I’m intentionally leaving out any political overtones. My point, though, is that it is easy to stay out of such things as war and violence, slander and malice, from a distance. But what happens when the attack is up close and in your face. What does your view of the world tell you that you should do?

Here is my observation. Many religions say that they are about peace. But at the heart of the faith is a certain sense of superiority. They’ve got the answers, and those who oppose their answers are opposing the work of God. Their enemies are God’s enemies, and what do you do with God’s enemies? On this point the secularists are all saying, “Amen! (or a secular version of amen)” And they are eager to point out that much of the unjust violence perpetuated throughout history has been in the name of religion. I hear them saying, with Lennon’s Imagine playing in the background, “As soon as you bring in God and ultimate truth you undermine the mission of peace and love.” But I have another observation. Secularists want their to be no universal truth, that is except for the truth that there is no universal truth. Those who believe in universal truth, they affirm, are dangerous. Which sounds a bit like saying they are enemies. And then my mind recalls that much of the violence over the past century have come at the hands of secularists (Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc.). It seems that all worldviews tend to create a class of superiors and a class of enemies.

This all leads to a third observation. What happens when I move my gaze from nations to me? What happens when I’m cheated, ripped off, criticized, hated, rejected, beaten, raped, abused, manipulated, treaded upon, oppressed, etc. What happens when real life happens? What does my worldview tell me then? Because if the mission of peace and love doesn’t happen on that level, there seems no chance that it is going to happen on an international level.

Enter Romans 5:6-11. Universal truth creates a class of superiors and enemies, right? Well, what if the universal truth is that the Author of truth dies for his enemies? What if the ultimate truth is that the King of kings sacrifices himself for the opposition party? What will that tell me on a personal level and on an international level? Maybe Christianity does draw a line between those whom God has rescued and those still in rebellion against him, but God dies for his enemies. If Christianity singles you out as an enemy of God, then my role as a Christian is not to hate you or stand in pride over you. My role is to die for you as my God died for me. I know of no other worldview, religious or secular, that calls for a such a radical mission of peace and love.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Bathroom Reading

I am a firm believer in taking every moment captive for Christ's use, and to me that includes time on the can. Recently I had a chance to look through, though not all the way through, Whiter Than Snow, a book of meditations by Paul Tripp. The chapters are very brief and can be read over in a couple of minutes. Despite its brevity, the content is incredibly rich. I'm not sure what Tripp would think of me calling his book bathroom reading, but hopefully he'll realize that a potty break needs as much redemption as any other moment in my life.

Jesus Wants the Rose

A few weeks ago I referred to a story told by Matt Chandler about Jesus desire for the rose. Well, here is the clip of the original telling.

Real Sacrifice

Here is a video of a real passover lamb sacrifice.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Christian Mission on Skid Row

Here is a video of mission in action in one of the worst places in America.