I know my blogging is sporadic at best and I still sometime wonder if it's worth it or why even bother.  But, here I am... unfiltered, uncensored and certainly unpolished.

The statement above (the title not the one about sporadic blogging) is so in contrast from the way I lived my life for years.  Most of my life, I was told to "dream a big dream."  Dream a big dream of doing something great... something big... something awesome for God.  And, make sure your dream is bigger than anything you can accomplish on your own or else it's probably not God which is code for you are doing it all in the flesh and without faith and... you get the point.  You've probably heard it too.  Heck... I even preached a couple of these in my day.

And, like most things in life, I'm evaluating everything.  It's just where I am these days and at this point in my journey.  So, I've been thinking about these statements and more importantly these concepts that we throw off on people in the Western church.  And, I've been looking to the Word (there's a novel idea) and comparing this line of thinking to the examples we find in there.

By and large, I don't see this as the line of thinking in the examples the Holy Spirit, in His limitless wisdom, decided to hand down for all generation to benefit.  Most of the men of faith had a measure of contentment rarely seen in church leaders in America.  You don't see the pressured "build it as big as you can, as fast as you can" stressed out, "why isn't this working, so let's try the next thing" frenzy that a lot of church leaders exist in.

I don't see the "big dreams" beginning with man at all.  It's always been initiated by God.

• God comes and taps Noah on the shoulder and somehow this drunkard of a man saves the planet and repopulates the earth.
• God comes to Gideon and his response is, "Certainly, not me."
• God comes and hits Moses up and Moses argues for three chapters why God got it wrong and he's not the guy.
• God chooses mere fisherman who are content at working the family business to launch a global movement.

The only figure I can identify with a lot of ambition and "big dreams" to do "great things" for God is Saul... before God knocked him off his horse and he became Paul.  He was killing Christians in the name of God and in the name of doing "great things" for God.

So, somewhere along the line, we have to stop the madness of it all and stop the frenzy of it all and just walk.  Struggle if need be.  And focus on what's most important.  And if somehow God taps us on the shoulder for something extraordinary then fine.  And if not, that's fine too.

We all have our part to do in raising our families.  Doing the simple work of caring for others.  Loving... truly loving our neighbors.  Being generous and humble.  Expressing devotion to God in simple service.  And, I think in those things, God may just be more pleased than us getting all worked up about fulfilling the "big dreams" and building it as big as we can, as fast as we can.

Some may say, "that's a cop out" but honestly I pity those that still live in that completely unbiblical, stressed out, fear-filled world of Amercian church leadership.

I for one, am living the dream and it may not be big to others but it is big to those closest to me.  And I've never been more content.

Ok... so let's talking giving, or better yet, the "T" word... tithing.  A friend and I are having an ongoing conversation about this issue lately.  It came up when he told me the associate pastor of his church asked him, in front of some other people what "his deal" was.  And by that I mean... asking if his family had been giving cash in the offering because he looked at the tithe records and said there's no way they were tithing regularly.  So, this pastor was asking him... in front of people... what the problem was and why he wasn't giving and it's biblical and what's the deal and blah blah blah.

After I got over my shock at how brazen and stupid this associate pastor was, we began an ongoing dialogue about giving and what it's for and what the Bible says about it.

Some people say tithing (10%) is a requirement.  Others say that's a good target but not required.

What do you say?  Where do you stand on the issue?

It's Tuesday... Let's Talk: Giving

A couple months ago I commented on a post about Philippians on friend’s blog. Here’s the passage that was up for discussion... Paul writes in Philippians 1:12-14:

I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I'm in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they've learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah.

“...my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect.”

It's not what you think but first I want to apologize for missing last week's It's Tuesday... Let's Talk.  Things were a bit crazy but I will say I did enjoy the break from blogging.  But now, I'm glad to be back and really looking forward to interacting with everyone that drops by.

So, here we go... It's Tuesday, Let's Talk... What Would Jesus Wear?  No, we're not talking about modesty either (that might actually be next week's).  We're talking about this...

A church in East Sussex has unveiled a bronze statue dubbed "Jesus in jeans" depicting Christ as a man of the 21st century.  Christ is wearing jeans and a shirt billowing in the wind while his hair and beard are neatly and fashionably trimmed.

Marcus Cornish's sculpture was funded by money left by a member of the congregation who passed away last year.  Father David Buckley unveiled the £35,000 (US$57,000) seven-foot high bronze statue at the Our Lady Immaculate and St Philip Neri Catholic church in Uckfield.

Father Buckley said: "You are always looking for new ways to enrich people in the experience of Christianity and it is good people can be open-minded to appreciate it.  On the continent you often encounter modern representations of Jesus but it is not so common over here. We wanted a figure of Christ not in suffering but dynamic and welcoming.  We felt this design summed up the spirit and activity of Christ perfectly and I think it speaks for itself."

I have my own thoughts which I'll reserve for the comments section.  I don't have any springboard questions.  We just want to hear your intial reactions... go.

via Telegraph UK

It's Tuesday, Let's Talk... nothing.  It's blank up there in the post title, because I don't have anything to talk about.  I don't feel like I have anything to give.  I've been grappling with purpose and how I can make a difference in the world.  The honest question really is: can I make a difference in this world?  Do I have what it takes?  Has my time passed?  I mean, I blog about cool sneakers for crying out loud.

I know, I know... we really shouldn't be blogging about this sort of thing.  Don't be so open.  Keep it light.  Keep it simple.  People might misinterpret what you're saying here Dan or DanisLinus or DNSLNS or whatever.  But really, I think it's a valid question.  I think we do need to evaluate where we are and what life is all about.

I can certainly tell you what it isn't about.  It isn't about building it as big as we can, as fast as we can.  Whether that be a church, a program, or a business.  There are more important things than whipping ourselves up into a frenzy and stressing out about why something is or isn't "happening".

If I'm honest, I think all of this mid-morning wrestling comes from a lack of truly exercising a Sabbath.  I like what Rob Bell says, "The ultimate rebellion against this Western culture is to consistently exercise the Sabbath."  And I don't merely mean going to church and all of the rushed activity that brings every Sunday morning.  I'm talking about truly being quiet.  Unplugging.  Like on an airplane... "If it has an on/off switch... turn it off at this time."

What about you?  Have you ever struggled with drifting on auto-pilot?  What do you do to find the quiet and get some perspective and focus?  Are you intentional about it?  If so, what does it look like and how often?  Help me out here.

It's Tuesday, Let's Talk...

I read a quote on a friend's blog the other day and it smacked me in the mouth.  Not literally, but you get it.

“Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: "a virgin's womb and an empty tomb".  Jesus entered our world through a door marked "No Entrance" and left through a door marked "No Exit."

Pete Larson author of "Rex Appeal"

Thoughts?

I've never shied away from conflict but contrary to what some may believe, I don't enjoy it.  In fact, I get all sweaty-palmed when I know it's coming.  In the heat of the moment though, I don't back down and that has not always been a good thing in my relationships, least of all my marriage.  But, conflict is inevitable as long as there are two people living on the planet.  It happens, and it can be a healthy thing that pushes us forward and helps us grow.

So, the question is: Is there such a thing as non-sinful conflict? If so, what does it look like?

More specifically, what does conflict look like for you?  Or put differently... what is your conflict style?

If you're married or in a relationship, what works for you and your partner and what doesn't?  And if not, what does conflict look like for you?  Do you clam up or lash out?  Do you pout?  Do you manipulate?  Do you approach the issue with level-headed objectiveness?  Are you loud or quiet?

It's Tuesday... Let's Talk: Conflict.

BTW, I'd recommend you read this article before you respond which was the spingboard for this week's ITLT.  It's pretty good.

I like this... a good way to start your week.

CLEAN SLATE: PEOPLE OF THE SECOND CHANCE from Deadly Viper on Vimeo.

via Deadly Viper

I know I reblog quite a bit but the reason is simple.  Honestly, it's because there are people out there a whole lot smarter than me.  And so, I want to toss out a selection from one of my favorite blogs...

"...we deny the gospel when we use guilt, threats, or manipulation to motivate good behavior. How is that different from the ways God motivates us?"

The heart of this particular article at Desiring God is all about... well the "heart."  Often times, we are only after a certain behavioural change whereas God is after my heart.  He knows that if he has my heart, then my behavior will fall in step with what he desires.

I think this principle should be true in all our relationships and not just the parenting example used although it certainly applies.  We all want people to be or act a certain way and if they would just simply do what we want, then the world would be much easier... for us anyway.

But, I'm with the writer on this one.  I don't just want my son to clean up his messes or obey me even if begrudgingly.  I want his heart.  I want to know that he knows he is loved by his father and that I belong to him and he belongs to me.

And, let's be honest here concerning marriage.  If Maria would just do what I want then life would be so much easier.  If she would give me the attention I "need" in the way I "need" it... have sex whenever I want... say nice things to me and about me... change her behavior to make it all about me, then life would be wonderful.  But that's not a marriage.

And although we can manipulate and coerce to get a certain behaviour out of our spouses, children, and friends, we can miss the entire point of walking together... and that's relationship.  It's to know that we are loved and can give love.

I'm sure I got you there with the title of this one.  It's not Tuesday and I don't care if you talk.  But, porn is a real issue and we don't talk about it near enough.  So... here's some great links I've come across lately (and some not so lately) on the topic.  These are definitely worth the read.  And it's an important conversation (that's not taking place enough in our churches) because it's so prevalent in our day and age.  It's not difficult to believe that statistically either you or someone close to you struggles with it.  So, here you go... Some Porn, Just for You.

• A secular take on "The Problem With Porn" by The Art of Manliness
  
• A video conversation with Anne Jackson of Flowerdust and Mike Foster of XXXChurch
• Porn-Again Christian by Mark Driscoll - A great little free e-book on the issue
• Covenant Eyes - the best safeguard around
• XXXChurch - the first one to really begin the conversation on the topic
• Deadly Viper - Not necessarily porn, but a great little site about Radical Integrity and Radical Grace

If you've got some other sites or stuff on the topic, hit it up below.