Worlds Collide

World One:
Well I am pretty sick today. Strep throat I think. Went to the doc got some meds. Pretty much have done two things, slept and watch TV. Mostly kids TV, but TV nonetheless. I was fortunate enough to catch a couple minutes of a human interest story on CBS. Human interest generally means not depressing, so being a little under the weather I was happy to stop even for a minute. The story was on Cameron Clapp a triple amputee who has a made something of bad situation.

World Two:
I am taking a course on Biblical Interpretation for Preaching and Teaching right now. I have finished reading the overview of interpretive style and approach from the 'beginning of time'. Not heady at all. The humerous part about the history is you see this ebb and flow in interpretation from simple, literal to complex multi-layered and frankly less useful methods. The flow is that over the centuries the church of or better yet, Christians have done better with the simple, humble approach to interpreting the Bible. It has amounted to better Christianity and better Christians.

Collision:
So I was thinking about the media in Canada and the States. How are they trying to interpret history and events as they unfold? The media in Canada is sooo liberal, and frankly self-righteous, but why? Then it hit me. Because they are trying, for the most part, to be honest, to be authentically critical. They don't believe that every cloud has a silver lining, they believe every government is covering a scandal, or a negative, suppressive, meta-narrative-like religious agenda. In their zeal to interpret news correctly, as in some of the bible interpretation methods, they have errored on the side of critical. There is not nearly enough constructive, or just plain, life is good coverage, especially in the news. Perhaps one would argue the Dr. Phil's and the Oprah's of the world offset this. I think they just make the world look unbalanced and sick, but that is another story.

Conclusions:
Keep it simple. I suppose I think we need to pursue truth not just story. Life, not just celebrity and scandal. Hope, love, each other. It would sure be nice to wake up one morning and feel like everything wasn't on the precipice about to tumble. Not head in the clouds, just looking at the lining as well.

Revolution!

George Barna in his book, Revolution, © George Barna 2005, had this to say:

"Many well-intentioned pastors promote this perspective by proclaiming, "The local church is the hope of the world." Like most advertising slogans, this notion is emotionally appealing. The trouble is the sentiment is not biblical. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the hope of the world. The local church is one mechanism that can be instrumental in bringing us closer to Him and helping us to be more like Him. But, as the research data clearly show, churches are not doing the job. If the local church is the hope of the world, then the world has no hope."

I have "published" a similar thought (July 28, 2004) previously to some criticism. Now that someone with a name has said it, I am sure I will be told who I am quoting:)

What's Going On?

• Spring, sweet spring is bringing energy back with gusto. Man I love the heat, any heat, when it comes to weather.
• Vacation. We have not taken a break since last October. Poor planning in some respects. Making up for it with a 10th anniversary break in Cancun!! (sans les enfants) with amazing friends!!
• Music:
• At church the bands and singers have been soooo good. I have really been enjoying some of the musical ideas and progress we are making. Worship has been great.
• Personal Music. Not enough gigging is getting me down a little. That being said, and I think I have several times, I am writing some cool new tunes. Also it looks like the jazz thing might come back onto the table soon. Kind of cool.
• Beyond that looking forward to slowing down a little (I hope) over the summer. Connect stronger with family and friends.

Eating Out

Humoursly the name of a new song I wrote. But that is already a tangent. I wanted to give you a picture of the pizza but I can't. All that said here is the meaningless link. The real point is that we don't eat out that often and if we do, well it's on coupons or gift certificates or something. But heh, here's a full price you can afford once in a while. $5 pays for three little princesses to chow down!! A buck and change a head. Come on, that is unreal. Not always healthy, but a parent saver once in a blue moon. Just thought I would add little to no value to your day - or....

Le Bible

Two languages. Cool eh?

Do you know what kills the message of Christ in culture. Opinion. That's really it - opinion. My own success in living a Christian life is often helped or hampered by how much of an opinion I have on something. And here is the rub. The degree to which what I am saying AND living agrees with the Bible is the degree to which I am living a 'successful' Christian life.

How does that play out without becoming legalism?

1. Interpretation of the Bible should agree with historical interpretation of the Bible throughout time. (e.g. saying that this is a dumb point based on an abuse of the Bible during American slavery, which was later corrected back to better interpretation is not valid)
   
2. The principles applied should be applied as principles rather than as practices. What do I mean? One person may show love by giving away tonnes of money or possessions while another only gives away a little bit of money and stuff. Both are applying an Acts 2 (the Bible) view of the church and how a Christian should act so both are doing right. One may have given a car - does that mean giving a car is the right way to "do" church or Christianity, of course not.

This can be applied to many things can't it. Very often the principles are clear, and if we were honest, practices are grey. Jesus himself was accused of being a drunkard and a glutton (for socializing basically), and John the Baptist was called demon possessed (for hanging out in the desert where they thought demons lived and not socializing and eating and drinking). Seems to me that there is only one way to God (Jesus), but many ways to be a Christian:

1. Poor
2. Rich
3. Middle Class
4. Simple
5. Complex
6. Educated or not
7. Single, divorced, married, youth, children, le aged.
   
8. Right brain, left brain, a little of both (please a little of both:))
9. and so on....

Where does this leave us? I think humbly realizing that far more of the good in life than we give credit came to us from God through the Bible. Literary style for instance in Western culture. The concept of goodness and charity. A healthy (but fading) view of money, work ethic, family, creativity, music, art, friendships and so much more. Why don't we live the origin of our best stuff simply, PASSIONATELY, through the lenses of the greatest book every put together.

Changes a coming

Well I just found out from a friend that it can take up to 10 months for an independent to get tunes on itunes. Wow, not a very quick way to get stuff out there eh. I also am also considering some other options as it pertains to distributing music. I really enjoy the ministry and creative aspects of the music career, but I have not had the time with everything else to try anything new lately. I have been writing more tunes, some of which I think are pretty cool. Hopefully I will have more news for you in the next few days.