Online Evangelism?

In the past week and a half I have had two encounters with this concept of online evangelism. The first was a phone call to the church office by a gentleman who described himself as an "old crusader," referring to his involvement in the initial movements of campus crusades, who wanted to recruit me or one of my "tech savvy" youth to post an evangelism video he had created and used to lead thousands to Christ, "to a website and then direct people there through myspace, facebook, chain e-mails" (though not one's with "blessings or curses for those who act or don't act") and so forth.

The second encounter came through my e-mail box in a bulk newsletter sent out by youthministry.com that I peruse every so often. It was promoting a concept called an "online mission trip" where students use the avenues they already plugged into on facebook, myspace, world of warcraft, or wherever, to begin to talk about God and share their faith for two weeks in February. This "mission trip" would be preceded by my training my students to share their faith and how to do it in this medium and then providing new believer follow-up and discipleship in my youth group for those who become Christians.

Truthfully, I am torn over the topic. I am always excited about new ways to help my students learn to share their faith. I also am a big fan of helping them to minister in their current spheres of influence and not have to have an event or youth pastor do it for them. I struggle, however, with the lack of intimacy in the forum. I don't doubt that God can use it, but is it the way he wants us to be salt and light? Will this produce people who come to Christ out of relationship and love, out of being served and experiencing the love of Christ? Or out of a dry conversation? Will these be lasting disciples or flashes in the pan? Is it okay to use a "shallow" method to help people to make the first step toward what might be a lifelong, deep relationship with God and with others? Is it possible to take the concept and make it better? Or should I just go a different route because of my misgivings? Maybe I should even have these misgivings!

Can you see my dilemma? I'd love to hear your thoughts?

It's A Small World - A Disneyland Theology

The family and I went to Disneyland for a little vacation back before Thanksgiving. It was a blast, especially seeing our daughter Peyton enjoy the characters and the magic of it all.

While we were there, the It's A Small World ride reopened after being closed around a year for a full rehab. It was all decked out for the holidays, had brand new boats and dolls and a few new features. What stuck out to me the most was the meaning of the ride which hasn't ever changed.



The message is peace on earth, restoration of human unity and the like, very similar to what the Bible describes. You begin by looking at the many nations desiring this restoration. They are all separated from each other, singing in their own languages and with their own cultures, but their cry is the same, for unity and restoration. In the end you enter a room in which everything is white, everyone is together, cowboy and Indian, American and Russian, you name it and everyone is singing in the same language (English of course!). The only thing that the ride does not explain is how the transition occurred. It seems that the assumption is that by wishful thinking, by the innate power within humanity desiring unity and peace, it will happen. It is at its heart a humanist message. that we can do it through our own strength.

It seems to be the overall message of Disneyland the more I thought about it. If you cover up the dirtiness, cover up the pain, cover up reality, you will have a magic kingdom where everyone can be happy and live together in harmony. It doesn't seem to take into account that our separation from one another is only indicative of our separation from God. And that only reconnection with God can reconnect humanity in peace. This reconnection cannot occur through our own strength or wishful thinking but occurs only because of what Jesus did on the cross. Kind of like my high school football coach always said, you can't keep doing what you've been doing and expect the same results. We can't just keep thinking happy thoughts and singing kumbaya hoping world peace will come, but being the tough work of reconciliation that begins by leaning on the on saving grace of Jesus Christ which constitutes our reconciliation with God.

My blog renewed

It has been over a month since I last posted :-(
It was bound to happen.
I don't doubt that every first time blogger hits some kind of posting slump.
Mine just happen to coincide with the last month of my class for seminary.
Every waking moment not already dedicated to family, work, eating or sleeping has been dedicated to finishing papers.
But now I'm back.

A couple topics I've been hoping to think more about.
"It's A Small World Renewed - A Disneyland Theology"
"Christmas Renewed - Thoughts on Advent Conspiracy"
"Youth Winter Camp Renewed"
"The Eighth and Ninth Months Renewed"

Our Country Renewed

There has been a lot of talk concerning change from both political camps. Some are saying "yes we can" and looking positively toward the possible changes that might be coming our way and some are saying "no way Jose" and are fearful of those same changes.

During my study for next week's ONE80 message I came across this passage in Isaiah 58 that struck a chord in my heart. It describes a people who have been fasting for God to move, people who have been praying for what is "right" and for God to bring good decisions. Then when the day comes people feel as if God has not noticed; that during that prayer and fasting they were not showing love or seeking justice and compassion.

And then God says, "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 with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" (vv. 6-7)

Then God tells us the results of this kind of fast, a fast of action, of love for the poor and of compassion. "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. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger 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. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 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." (vv. 8-12)

That we would be a people who don't just pray and politic but act in love and compassion. That we would care more about the love and compassion we are showing than being "right" and forcing others into our view of "right" instead being the people God has called us to be. Then our light will rise in the darkness, then our needs will be satisfied in a sun-scorched land and we will be like a well-watered garden. Not through principle, not through words, or showing people they are wrong, but by showing them what is right and what is good. And this is what God says is good, "To act JUSTLY, to LOVE MERCY and to WALK HUMBLY with your God."

Have we been living out this kind of fast? Have we been doing what is truly good?

California Election Results

For all of us in California

Election Results

Just because I'll be following them all day I figured I'd add this in case you were too.

Halloween Day O' Fun!

Here are a few pictures of Peyton at our churches Harvest Festival.



The Festival entry was this huge pumpkin that you could walk through that lead into a corn maze inside. Peyton was a little scared of the maze. There was the cutest little petting zoo that Peyton must have gone in at least 10 times.

They had Trunk or Treating where members of the church decorated the trunks of their cars and the kids went from car to car to get candy. Peyton learned to say "Trick or Treat" and went to every car at least twice.She got her face painted...
Of course her favorite candy was the lollie Pop. After her third one of the night I had to take it away from her and lets just say Peyton did not appreciate this. She threw a huge tantrum the whole time yelling "but trick or treat...but trick or treat!"
Peyton with buddy Caleb dressed like a Pirate. Petyon got to ride a pony. She loved it and was saying "1..2...3..Go!" the whole time. When we got home she tried to ride one of her fisher price horses.
Peyton with pastor Ed. They are buddies!
The night ended with a hay ride through the neighborhood. unfortunately it started pouring rain while we were on the ride and we got soaked. All and all the night was a huge success. Here is a video of Peyton dancing and enjoying her lollipop.

Harvest Festivals Renewed

I have often made fun of harvest festivals in the past. I saw them as a typical Christian enclave event birthed out of fear of the world instead of engaging it. It always reminds me of the Air1 motto that bugs me so much every time I hear it, "safe for the whole family." I also made fun of the name because who besides Christians talks about harvests on October 31 (which I still think is a highly outdated name especially in an urban city in California).
All that said, I took part in my first harvest festival this Friday night and had a blast. A good number of people were there from the community that may or may not have been followers of Jesus. It was a good time to party. I got to connect with a number my student's families who do not all come on Sunday morning but were willing to come to this event. Most of the neighbors that I talked to thought that it was great we doing it for the community. Because so many of our people were working the festival, it wasn't really for "our" families who wanted an "alternative" for Halloween, but was truly a community outreach event. All that besides being freezing cold and raining during clean-up made it a great night and my view of church harvest festival renewed...slightly.
p.s. i hope to post some pics soon.

Barack better for choice for pro-life???

I ran across this article by Brian McLaren concerning why he feels that Barack Obama's policies concerning abortion are a better option for Christian pro-lifers than the traditional arguments given to support the Republican Party and "overturning" abortion. It is part of a 5 part post on why he has chosen to vote for Barack Obama. I share it, not to persuade anyone one way or the other, or even because I agree with it all (particularly post 2 which seems to be based on a few presuppositions and and false presises) but more out of my love for sincere dissenting opinions especially among Christians on political and social issues.

The logs in our...hands???

Jesus told us to not take the speck out of our friend's eye unless we have taken the log out of our own eye first. What if we have a log in our hand?! Here's the log the doctor pulled out of my hand today. He said it's the largest one he's ever pulled and that I was lucky he found it while probing instead of having to do surgery. I'm pretty sure that its 25 mm.

Bike rides in Capitola

Apparently bike rides in Capitola can be a little more dangerous than I expected. I was so proud of myself because I had my most successful ride yet. I went further, rode faster, and even started to figure out the gears on my "new" old school bike. Then...as I was riding down a little bike path that cuts over a creek toward the homestretch, I took a turn a little too fast and maybe too confident. I was edging toward the wood railing and stretched out my hand to keep from hitting it (even though I don't think I would have). I was successful in adverting a crash, but in the process cut my hand. I didn't think it was that bad...until I looked at my hand at home. It was pretty deep and dark in there.
Luckily, I had a doctor's appointment already scheduled with our new doctor to just get a check up. Unfortunately what started as a check up turned into probing my hand for "foreign objects", a tetanus shot, an hour wait for an x-ray and a day full of changing band-aids, using my left hand and being doped up on vicodin. It's all pretty funny, but kind of sad at the same time. Maybe soon I'll have my first uneventful bike ride.

Revelation Renewed???

The elections were brought to mind again today as I came across some propaganda questioning Barack Obama's U.S. citizenship. Obviously, no matter who you are supporting in the elections, it is easy to recognize that the video is done by people who do not want Obama to be President and has such a spin on it. Similar propaganda came out about John McCain way back in February by people who obviously don't want him to be president. To me it is very sad when we go after the identity of a person to try and disqualify them or make attacks on a person's family history (which has been done to both candidates) instead of on the merit of their own decisions and platforms (both of which can be rightly called into serious question for both candidates in various areas).




The whole issue got me thinking about a number of the fears I have heard from friends and family about the possibility of us being in the end times. These fears have been expressly connected with fears about Obama being the antichrist, or more mildly, what his possible term in office might unleash in the way of world events. Most of these people are obviously Christians since they are pulling on imagery of the end times found in Revelation, Daniel and some of Jesus' sayings. They also are obvious supporters of McCain along with what seems to be a heavy majority of Evangelical Christians. One piece of irony I have noticed is that according to the claims of Jesus that in the end days there would wars and rumors of wars...I would be more inclined to think that McCain's intentionally hardlined international policy would lead us to the state of affairs in the world that many believe will precede the apocalypse.

What is probably most ironic is that people's understanding of Revelation and application of it to our modern day situation is in many ways undermining the message of the book . The book begins by saying "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near....and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. " Whoever reads the book (with its original intent I would think) will be blessed by it. This is a far cry from the fear and propaganda it has bred. It goes on to say that Jesus, who is the faithful witness to the prophecies (which is a way of saying that he brings truth to it and validates it) is "ruler of the kings of the earth." I think this is the main message in the book of Revelation and it's original intent for the readers of it's day, that even when things seem dark, even when it seems like the state of the world is so bad that it is the end of the world (such as persecution of all Christians by wicked emperors like Nero or Caligula) that Jesus is king, that his kingdom will reign and that his dreams will be reality. Our trust is extremely misplaced if we think that one person even if she/he is the leader of the "most powerful nation in the world" (which Rome was in it's day too) will thwart the good plans of God for the world because it is his kingdom that reigns, his peace that will rule, his justice that will bring truth.

While I am glad and I think that it is important many Christians have taken a renewed interest in politics, we must also recognize that Jesus truly is the only door to bringing heaven to earth and all political parties, all other candidates fall extremely short (another key message of the book of Revelation...the beast...trying to establish his kingdom...could be...any world leader who tries to establish his own kingdom...or...either...candidate......whoa!!!) It does seem as if the need for the book of Revelation has been renewed, but maybe not in the way that many think.

Steve Fee and Catalyst Worship

I went to the Catalyst conference in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago and got the opportunity to hear some great up and coming worship leaders that I think will get even bigger in the next couple of years. The main people that lead worship at different points during the conference were Steve Fee, Kristian Stanfill and Aaron Keyes. The first two are both worship leaders at North Point Community Church in the Atlanta, GA area. Aaron Keyes leads worship at Grace Fellowship Church in Lawrenceville, GA. I had heard of Steve Fee and Kristian Stanfill because of their involvement in a few of the Passion worship CDs. Aaron Keyes I had never heard of before.

A few things impressed me about each of the worship leaders. Steve Fee was the one that we probably heard from the most and pretty much did all original songs. The biggest impression was that his songs were very victorious. Most all of the songs that he did were also very upbeat and positive. I think the reason why this impressed me the most is that I have been in continuing dialogue with a worship leader friend of mine concerning the content of our worship songs. Her view is that the large majority of our songs should praise God for the victory and freedom that he has given us in our lives. We should be proclaiming what Christ has done for us and the battle already won. She sees many modern worship songs as coming from a place of defeat and focusing on the old broken self instead of who we are now in Christ. The content of Steve Fee's songs reminded me of this discussion as all of his songs (as far as I can remember) would have been right up her alley. Personally, I really enjoyed his lyrics and especially the music. On the whole, he was very upbeat and also very creative in the movements of individual parts as well as the overall arrangements of his songs. One new song of his (while not the best example of what I'm describing) that really helped me to connect with God at the conference was "Glory To God" As far as I know the only place that you can hear it is on youtube from when someone taped him doing the song at Catalyst.



Aaron Keyes' worship sets also fit into this vein of discussion. The strong point of his worship leading for me was the way in which he engaged the crowd verbally in the midst of or in between songs. I kind of double took at a few of the things he said because he was often quoting one verse out of a larger chunk of scripture that had nothing to do with worship such as the book of Isaiah or something. I often wondered if the way he used his one verse was appropriate in the context of what the passage was trying to do. Overall though, i was highly impressed by his knowledge of scripture and "worship references" in the Bible. Most of all what I saw in his referencing these passages was his enormous desire to see people worship in authority and to engage God with all they are on a level so much deeper than just singing songs or a one time worship experience. He really did an amazing job of painting a picture in which one could see how the worship that we were creating together was a part of a larger picture of the kingdom and the ministry that we all do no a week in week out basis. Worship is the beginning of winning the battle for our world is one of the ways that he put it (probably not in those exact words).

Kristian Stanfill is just an amazing vocalist and extremely energetic!!!!!!! He also didn't feel like he had to do all of his own songs which i appreciate because I think it is a fine balance of doing your own material and also incorporating what God is doing in the larger world of worship. It's also a balance of doing songs that most people would know and doing new songs for them to learn and that provide new expressions of worship to God. I thought he struck both of these balances well.

Anyway I would encourage you all to check out some of their music on the links provided above as well as their main websites and pray that God would continue to raise up more and more great men and WOMEN of God who will lead God's people into a holistic view of worshiping Him. I especially pray that God would do that right here in Santa Cruz, at CLC, and in my very youth group!!!

My Office Renewed

Well, I finally got moved into my office. It was quite a mess, but it is finally finding some sense of normalcy. I have to admit that a messy office is quite an excuse to not get much work done. For some reason i felt like I couldn't get anything else done until my office was in order. This was a pretty odd sensation since I've never felt the need to have my office very clean before. But there is something to a new start, at a new church, at a new office that seems to inspire a guy to start clean and fresh. So, while I may not have spent as much time on what might seem like "productive" activity toward our first night of youth group last night, I feel as if I will be able to move ahead even better this week now that I've restored "Kingdom order" to my office. I guess it's all give and take.

My Heart Renewed

I don't know how long I'll be able to keep up the renewed theme or if it something that I even want to stick with in the long run anyway, but it works well for tonight, so great.

I've been at the catalyst 2008 conference the last two days. It's kind of a network of churches that I haven't every really run in too much so I've been enlightened as to a new movement of young leaders who are passionate about God and compassionate for our world including the least of these and some major global issues. I still don't know too much over all, but my experience has been great. I've heard of guys like Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, and Steven Furtick, but this has been my first time hearing them speak and I really enjoyed them all for the most part.

All three were great communicators. I'm always more for the content than just great stories and such and all three of them had great content (even though all of them weren't extremely in depth or anything with maybe the exception of Andy Stanley). Certainly they were all inspiring. Especially Craig and Steven. Steven for the fact that he is so young, so passionate, so yielded, and God is using him im such amazing ways. It is always inspiring to see such an example of what God can do through a passionate and humble heart. Craig because his talk particularly hit home.

He talked about being stretched, but that first we have to be healed and that before we can be healed we have to be ruined. He used the text from Joel chapter two which call God's people to return to the Lord with fasting, weeping and mourning. I think it is true that this may well be the only truly fruitful way in which we can return to him. I'm by no means in a bad place or a desert. I've been there and I'm not there. I've kind of in the in between zone, the no man's land of spirituality. The place where its safe and that's usually the way we like it if you know what I mean. As I start on this new endeavor at Christian Life Center I don't want to be there, because I won't be leading people anywhere. I want to be moving forward into the great things that God has wherever that is and whatever that takes. I'm willing to stop the things that keep me from going there and being the things that help me to go there. In a small, yet monumental way, my heart has been renewed.

Politics Renewed

I've been watching the presidential debate tonight and thinking about a book that I read in college by John Howard Yoder entitled The Politics of Jesus. One of his central theses is that there is no way that we can separate the Jesus of the gospels from the politics of his day. Because of his mission and his ministry he was thrust into the limelight of the political scene. He was constantly asked, who do you agree with the Pharisees or the Saducees? the Herodians or the Zealots? The Republicans or the Democrats? Similarly, I often feel pushed into fitting into one label or another. I tried to shed that stigma by registering as undeclared, but in conversation, even tonight with our church staff, I always find myself putting other people into dichotomized categories and thinking in them. Jesus had this amazing way of getting above the fray and getting to the heart of what is really going on. A simple example is when the Pharisees (who were more anti-Rome) and the Herodians (who were extremely pro-Rome) came to question Jesus about where our money goes. This is something hotly debated in the political world, especially among your average Joe. Should the government get to spend my money? Should I get to spend it the way I want? Should I be forced to pay for programs I don't agree with? This is a similar question that they asked Jesus, "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" What they were really asking was who do you support? Do you support us or them? What was his response? A new way to look at it beyond the two-sided rhetoric of either party. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." In some ways he was siding with the Pharisees because as you think about it, you quickly realize, everything is God's in th end, something that would have pleased them greatly. But at the same time he does not completely deny or support either party, but rather brings the topic to what it is really about, where our ultimate allegiance truly lies, not with a party, not with one side or the other but with God. We need a renewed vision of politics that steps above the polarization that occurs in our world today and while I'm sure we may rarely find one voice as to what this looks like perhaps Jesus' call to give to God what is rightfully his (all things) is a great place to start.