Last night at our Liberty House Church gathering, Mark said something pretty funny. We have been studying Philippians from The Message, just reading it scene by scene and letting the Epistle work its magic of practical wisdom and instructions on humility. It has often instructed us to "love well" and be "full of grace". Mark confessed that his neighbor is somebody whom he finds the hardest for him to love. Now I'm not even sure that Mark would categorize himself as a Christ Follower but this Jesus stuff just gets viral and infects the systems of our selves. This week while he was mowing his lawn, he noticed his dreaded neighbor's lawn also needed cut. And he knew that they were out of town because of some emergency. So he was compelled to love his neighbor by mowing their lawn too. It was so funny as he was telling the story because in jest he was saying how he doesn't want to be thought of as a "nice guy" and if he keeps doing stuff like this, he's gonna stop coming on Tuesday night. We had lots of laughs over the story and I just find it beautiful. The Jesus life is infectious. When we approach his teachings with humility and a desire to learn, something spiritual happens. It gets in our bones and connects with the way we were intended to live back in the Garden. Again, I'm not sure if Mark would categorize himself as a believer, instead, he's behaving like a genuine Christ follower.

Is it true that belonging and behaving precede believing?
It used to be that when someone made a public profession of belief (baptism), then we gave them belonging (membership) and hoped that they would spend their time behaving (discipleship). Is it possible that in the emerging world, this journey is circular and not linear at all? Belonging, Believing and Behaving all work together in no particular order. Just some stuff I'm thinking about.

Stop and notice the Kingdom around you today.

peace,

Ok, back from Va. Beach as of last night and we had a blast. The weather was up and down, sometimes nice and sunny, sometimes overcast and breezy. Our first night, we had front row seats to a sweet lightning, driving rain storm. We sat on our porch outside our rooms and watched it like Discovery Channel Live. I went out on a charter deep sea fishing boat with 8 other guys, it was a nice boat ride, apparently we passed some whales I never saw, and all of us caught 10-15 fish. However, they were all saltwater trout, only one guy in the back of the boat caught a flounder, all else was trout. Fun, but got boring after awhile. I primarily ate seafood and pizza, and most of those particular items in the buffet format. The last night, 8 of us went to a seafood buffet on the boardwalk and had a few contests. There was the Crab leg eating contest won by Kris Thomas, Lord knows how many he actually ate, but they tasted realllllllly good. There was the Hush puppy eating contest won by Dan Hauer at 21 total balls of fried batter. Then I won the dessert eating contest at 8 desserts + frozen custard at Kohr Bros. later in the evening. Then there was Craig Laake who decided to compete in all 3 contests, much to the demise of his stomach. He got a solid 2nd place in all 3 and then scorched porcelain in our hotel room for the next 12 hours. Thanks to those guys, plus Jen B., Jon, Ben and Dustin for a ton of laughs that night over dinner.

I got to hook up with one of my best friends from high school whom I hadn't seen since he was in my wedding 11 years ago. Steve is a Naval Officer on the USS Ashton ported in Norfolk, VA. I spent a couple afternoons with him and caught up on lots of stuff. He is married now and expecting their first child, it was so good to catch up. He took me aboard his ship and gave me the civilian tour, I am fascinated by all things military and it was cool to get some VIP treatment. Better than that, he took me to a local dive called "the thirsty camel" and treated me to some of the largest steamed fresh shrimp I've ever had. We had great conversation, I was able to apologize on my Pharisee ways in high school and explained the different ways I see Jesus' teachings now that I understand them for myself outside of the systems I grew up in. So good to see Steve.

This trip more than anything will only deepen the fact that I will miss these students as they move on. I'm hoping some will stick around in our Sunday night house church as they go to school locally, but I will surely miss all. It was a very successful senior trip, now let's get these exams out of the way and bring on summer break!!!!

peace,

Well, this is where we are staying on Virginia Beach with the seniors this week, should be fun. I pray for safe travel and great spiritual community time. I also pray that my natural born skills in Euchre come back naturally so I can win some m & m's on late night gaming. Will blog next week on the results.

peace,

Just checking in at this early hour to say that I had a great weekend. Friday night BBQ was awesome, so many great friends hanging out under the stars, around the fire in my backyard. Its one of my favorite things in the world, everything seems so right when we do that. Bill Bean spent the night friday night and we had some great fellowship time accompanied by an important conversation about the kinds of spaces our communities have within them and how to read the story God is writing amongst us. We ended our time by seeing "Troy". I give it a 6 on the 10 scale.
Saturday morning, Ali finished off her undefeated soccer season with 2 assists. Saturday night we went to the drive in with the Minniears to see Shrek 2, also a 6 on the 10 scale.
Sunday morning OCC leadership team meeting to discuss our June 13 big party and planning. We are also looking to throw together an "underground worship" event in the next month, stay tuned.
Went to the Reds game with my brother-in-law Sunday, saw Cory Lidle pitch a complete game shutout against the Astros for the Reds to move into 1st place. They are shocking my socks off so far. I'm glad I was wrong about them. Sunday evening student house church (we need a real name)was pretty cool. Really in depth conversation around some of Dallas Willard's concepts in Divine Conspiracy, good time. There was some energy in the room last night, the Spirit is doing stuff we can't see. Community is happening, I hope this story has many more chapters, these are some gifted students who just need some hope and a reason to believe. I pray we go to the center of the life of God together.
I have 2 days to get a lot done before I leave with the seniors to Virginia Beach. Have a blessed day.

Stop and notice the Kingdom amongst you today.

peace,

He done did it, blew me right out of the water. This is from my boy, Paul McGillivary. If you care about or are leading a missional community, this NEEDS to be read. Talk back to him.

1. Christ followers follow Christ. Okay, semantic mumbo jumbo it would seem, but i don't think it can be emphasized enough. Talk is cheap, actions speak volumes.
2. The "main event" is not when we gather. Yes, we meet to encourage, to learn, to pray, to sing, to eat, to take communion, etc. But we emphasize the mission of our community: to be Christ's presence in our communities. When we leave, we don't simply tolerate life until next meeting, we live our faith in front of others. We listen to the hurting, we give aid to those who need it, we pray for folks. We become the body of Christ to our world. This is huge.
3. Everyone must exercise their giftedness for the body to function correctly.
4. Leaders must lead, but they must lead in a way that helps others burst forth. If the leader is the spotlight, then they are not leading correctly.
5. Community takes time - loads of it!!
6. How you handle children is something you must negotiate in your group. Whatever you decide, make sure to celebrate them in your community.
7. Get folks excited about giving money away. Show direct connections between what they give and who it went towards.
8. Spiritual disciplines can help us. Don't let it be legalistic.
9. Our culture's hyper-individualism will continue to bump up against your community.
10. A couple hours in a community gathering only . . . serves your vocation in the world for the rest of the week.
11. A couple hours in a community gathering only . . . serves your vocation in the world for the rest of the week.
12. A couple hours in a community gathering only . . . serves your vocation in the world for the rest of the week.
13. I just want to emphasize numbers 10-13.
14. Be willing to change your plan for what God has in store.
15. Organic things live and die. Organic groups should be allowed to do the same.
16. Success is following Jesus.
17. Success is not in amount of $ your community has, number of people that come to your gatherings, or number of people you "convert."
18. Obedience in the small things - we always want to jump on to the big things.
19. Love those around you.
20. Sometimes the best thing for a community is change.
21. Sometimes the worst thing for a community is change.

ok, I suppose early morning posts are becoming more frequent. Its 3:46 a.m. and some things need to be said. For some of my senior Bible students out there who read this blog, this one is for you (Ben, Kris, Jon, Josh and others) I mentioned earlier that I have bonded with this senior class and I really didn't want to see them go, well, that reality is settling in more and more. I just woke up, having had a dream of their graduation and my heart is like, missing them. And to top it off, I dreamed I was burning them a CD and the last song was, (are you ready for the sap?), Boyz 2 Men "Its so hard to say goodbye to yesterday". <<< insert tear and "you had me at hello"

Yesterday was the seniors last chapel and they led it from top to bottom. I'm going to go as far as to say that it was the best worship experience I've had in years. I mean, it makes me giddy thinking about it. My whole goal for them this year was to do everything I could to get them to think for themselves, believe for themselves so they could lead on their own. They entered this chapel with some opposition by some on staff who just don't understand them nor their culture to express themselves. I have watched time and time again, a spirit of legalism try to control the faith in these students that is dying to coming out. As I was jogging on Tuesday, all of my prayers were centered on them and this chapel and God spoke to me on behalf of them. He said, "tell them not to let anyone look down on them, but if its in their heart to worship, then worship. If its in their heart to lead the people, then lead."

Worship sometimes is done with a chip on your shoulder. In the face of oppostion, spiritually and sometimes physically in history, true worshippers let it rip. These students yesterday led us all with a passion that I have LONGED to see in my day. Out of the experience,they confronted legalism and said they refused to shut their mouths, but that their faith would have a say. They took their hurts, struggles and losses and instead of letting them fester more in bitterness and negativity, they symbolically brought them before the Healer who makes all things new. They raged towards God with honesy and authenticity and I loved it. Tears were streaming down my face, I wanted to come out of my skin, I wanted to dance, I wanted to celebrate the God they were exalting, I wanted to run, I wanted to get out of the way. There is a time when the teacher needs to step aside and let the student lead them when they are ready. That time was yesterday. They made a statement before the entire community of CCS and it was God honoring. They blew the roof off in worship and heartfelt words. I am soooooo proud of them and yes, they will be missed. Its not over though, next wednesday, I will act as one of their "chaperones" for their senior trip to Virginia Beach. It will surely be a blast and I look forward to passing on to them any last words of wisdom I can impart. More than that, I look forward to just spending time with them.

U2 has often been asked why they don't embellish the "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll" rebellious lifestyle. Bono says, their faith is their real rebellion. Our faith is not to be tamed, its not to be controlled, is not to be put under a blanket. Our faith is a primal scream, its our rebellion, Its a rebellion against our sinful nature and its a rebellion against the way things are with a longing for them to change. To cry out in deaf world that we belong to the One who is making all things new, that His Kingdom reigns now and not yet. Our faith breathes life into dry bones. Thank you to the Seniors who breathed life back into my heart yesterday. Much love.

peace,

Quote of the Day. Discussing Dallas Willard's thoughts on the reduction gospel today in senior bible class and how it is a far cry from "kingdom now", most of the students looked at me as if I had just told them I am the Easter Bunny. But for a few, it made total sense, as should be our reaction to Truth. When comparing a Gospel that is only about "heaven and hell" and "getting saved" vs. a Gospel of life in the Kingdom now and not yet. As the concept settled in, Jon Wedaman said,
"Its the difference between a cartoon lion and a real dangerous one."

Beautiful words. I love it.

1) New look for the blog, thanks to p-mac "the computer kevorkian" for helping me out with some kinks
2) Saw "Big Fish" again and "13 going on 30" this weekend, I've heard tha "Troy" is not good
3) I am within 3 weeks of having a 2 1/2 month vacation (too bad I have to find summer work for $$)
4) I realized again today how many incredibly good friends I have (grandma taught me to count my blessings daily)
5) 6th Bell Senior Bible had some spicy conversation today, including sex, masturbation, sex, making out, sex, marriage, sex, lust and sex. God made it and called it "very good" but he also designed oneness intimacy for lifelong marriage. Good practical discussion of what we all think about and never say. I hope I made some sense today.

peace,

Rains just had a 4:30 a.m. blog and I guess its my turn (its 4:27 presently). Woke up at 3:44 a.m. with many thoughts in my head and I suppose internal pressures I'm feeling. I'm going to be very unspecific about the context of my thoughts and just say how I'm feeling. I'm in a place where I'm not sure what to do. I have a myriad of directions and options I could take, and I honestly don't know which road to take. Not knowing what to do is very unsettling. I've been in cruise control for quite some time and I've been liking that. It has helped me get grounded and really pay attention to my family. But I sense changes on the horizon and for the first time in my life, I'm apprehensive about it. I used to thrive on change, bring it to every situation I found myself in. But I also used to have an addiction to success and was never satisfied or ever content. I never experienced the peace of Christ and the simplicity of walking in Him. But now I have. Now I have learned to run the race of the turtle, sure and steady. Its not very exciting, but Matrix-like, it slows the world down enough to where you begin to see things you never saw before. A contemplative life, being a suburban monk in mindset, opens my eyes to the access points of the Kingdom that I never saw before and now can experience. But I sense that my little comfort zone is changing and I don't like it. It feels unsettling.
As I survey my life, many things are going quite well, and some things need fixing. What to do, what to do? Which path to take?
I'm still reflecting on my experience in this genre of church planting known as house churches or simple churches or organic churches or missional communities and would continue to say that I am converted for life. But I have this critique, we have a hard time getting over our pain and loss in traditional church structures. I have heard so much lately of bitterness coming out of my mouth and others that I recognize is purely flesh serving flesh. We major in proclaiming what we're not about. But what about the Gospel? What about the transforming power of Christ amongst us accompanied by the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit? What about being governed by the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self control? I am wondering if my own bitterness is stifling the life of Christ and the presence of the Spirit in gatherings I lead. Because within me is a river of depth and spiritual power that I hardly ever access because I fall into default roles of sarcasm and fear of intimacy. And the very idea of being serious about spiritual ministry just conjures up images of past abuses. unauthentic christianity, programs and bad experiences I didn't trust. So the baby has gone out with the bathwater? We reform not towards Christ and him setting captives free, but we simply reform away from trad. church. (please note that I'm talking about my own experiences, many of you out there may have found a much more healthy deal) I am comfortable leading conversations (which is most of what I do presently) but I long to use other gifts God has given me that seem to have no place in the movement known as "not being institutional church". And I wonder anymore if me not using these gifts is a help or a hindrance to seeing God's Kingdom amongst us. At some point you have to decide what you're about and give it a shot, regardless of what others think. I pray that the church that is emerging will have the maturity to be more than "not my father's oldsmobile".

Stop and notice the Kingdom today.

peace,

I wanted to respond to some questions regarding what it means for us to have been "affiliated" with the MBC. It actually has more to do with the MBC than it does for us. As for how could we qualify for it? We had to show in real life that we are a healthy community of believers who desire to seek God's Kingdom in our neighborhoods. We are a bit of a pioneer community for them so they have not measured us by typical church planting measures, but rather because of their trust in us, allowed us to set those measures. The only thing they asked for was for us to show how we desired to be re-producing or that we wanted to be planting new communities (house churches) and not just one. But there has been no pressure on counting, just that they know its our heart to do so within organic relationships. We also tithe back to the MBC to show that we believe in them and their desire to change and affirm new kinds of church planting. They officially created a new category for what we're doing called "apostolic church planting" as opposed to traditional church planting. They are also hoping that we could help them assess new planter types and design some processes for supporting and coaching others who desire to be "outside the box" of traditional planting. They recognize that it isn't fast church growth, it isn't sexy, it doesn't create $$ for the conference. But they believe its healthy and biblical. If there was the typical pressure, we never would have made it this far. So the MBC has been willing to be learners in this process and it has been a great relationship with them.
As for why is it important for OCC to be connected to the MBC? I can say that I had a strong impression from God that as we began this story about 4 years ago, he put it in my heart that we should be a part of a larger spiritual family and see it as an investment. Sure, we can do what we're doing without any official affiliation, but I felt called to walk through the murky waters of where an established church conference who gives 73% of its resources into planting new churches could partner with a network of house churches and see it as a win/win. It was all about relationship. I have a great relationship with Dan Peterson, exec. director of MBC. And out of our friendship is forming a new stream for church planting and perhaps helping many other planters out there like us who feel alone and could be supported. Its not about $$, the MBC has little resources to help there, but we're bi-vocational anyways. The issue is family, belonging, different contexts but one kingdom and one faith and one baptism. So why are we glad to be a part of the MBC? Because its pro-Kingdom. And I'm committed to being more pro-Kingdom than I am being anti-institution. Deconstruction and reactivity are not a big enough idea for me. Partnering with Creator-God to do new things, mend broken relationships with Church at large and still be about organic mission here on earth is what keeps me going. Its been very healthy. If we de-humanize organizations and not understand that they are made up people like us, then I think we can miss out on Kingdom possibilities. However, I am not naive. This partnership may not work in 95% of all other denoms. out there, all I'm saying that this has been an exception to the rule and I'm glad to have been a part of this ongoing story, which I believe is a part of the greater Story.

peace,

I know I said yesterday that my venting was done, but I'm fiding that hardly the case. Last night however was a dose of good medicine for my mental/emotional health. Had a BBQ with McGillivary, Canipe and Johnson. We must have spent an hour conjuring up 80's Christian music artists and our memories of them, breaking out into lyrics when the moment caught us. Around the fire a little later on, my daughters quizzed the trio of pastors with questions of God, the devil and the purpose of creation. It was pretty funny. At one point when McGillivary was explaining to Ali why God made us, Ali turned to him and said, "now what does that mean in English?" ha ha.
Leaving this afternoon with the McGillivary's to the annual conference for the Mideast Baptist Conference where Ordinary Community Church will be taken off "church plant" status and officially affiliated as an established "church". This is kind of a marker moment for me. I began this journey over 4 years ago in complete pain and desperation, believing that if this didn't work, I was out of church for life. Well, this experiment has changed my entire life and reality. I have tasted of the Kingdom of God so deeply and so profoundly. Its nothing very exciting, it truly is quite ordinary and that's the beauty. And we're not alone. So many of you are out there in communities and are a part of the larger Story that we find ourselves in. This weekend will be fun just to drive and hangout with the McGillivary's, do some dreaming of the future of OCC and I will be teaching a seminar on "living out an old faith in a new world". We'll see how that goes. Hopefully I'll politely rustle some feathers.

Stop and notice the Kingdom around you today.

peace,

I'm not sure what my problem is today but I've seem to have hit a wall. I feel like I just lectured one of my senior bible classes on how we have reduced the Gospel to heaven/hell and getting saved (i.e. Dallas Willard thoughts)and that we don't have a freakin' clue. I feel tired and worn out with what I've been seeing lately. And then I look at the students and they are bored out of their mind. Jesus is a cliche. Religion has ruined them for life. But all that they are sick of has NOTHING to do with Jesus. Its man made systems based in fear and control. Its not the Gospel. Jesus draws, but he's not invited. My heart is so heavy for this scenario. I know that the Jesus of the Kingdom can transform them, but in my position, I just represent the system. My cynicism is raising and that usually leads to unhealthy comments coming from my mouth. Jesus said "follow me", not "get saved". We dwell on 1/2 the Gospel and have no theology for Jesus following. I want to come out of my skin. Sit down, sit down, sit down your rocking the boat. Chill out, Marshall, let it go, let em sleep. And if this is the case, then don't ask me to @#$% care. Don't ask me to program changed behavior from within a system that sucks the life out of the Truth. Don't ask me to pimp out a safe Jesus who is separated from his reality. The Kingdom of God is all pervasive reality, living outside of it is death and separation. Religion is irrlevant and yet its my daily grind, and I get paid to represent it. AAAAGGGGHHHHH. Venting done.

Instead of karaoke or dancing at Cincinnati Christian School prom, the students were presented with Charlie Cadabra. Yes, Charlie Cadabra. We don't dance or do music because we are afraid, we're afraid of teenagers with feelings, emotions and hormones. We have all of our own repressed guilt and shame regarding our own sexuality so we certainly can't expect teens to handle themselves in any healthy manner. Rather, let's picture them as a-sexual 7 year olds and hire a magician (who lacked serious quality, felt sorry for the poor guy). The students were very polite, they could have made it hades for the guy, I was proud of them for that. So the night was not about the students, it was about another message that we have no real answer for the "world" and its desires. Rather, we sell a gospel of fear. Oh by the way friends, we're losing this game in evangelical Christianity. The game of sexuality that was God's idea by the way back in the Garden. He called it "very good". But our best idea since then is to live in fear of our sexuality, repress it, pretend its not there, push it underground and attach shame to it. By not addressing the issue or blushing at the thought of it, we reinforce our position of completely IRRELEVANT. If the game was being irrelevant, we are going for hall of fame status. Rather, our teens have to figure it out for themselves, Gospel by trial and error.
When oh Lord will we recapture your Garden intention? When will we face our insecurities and fears and overcome them through your redemption of the "whole" of us? Who will take on the arrows of shame the enemy hurls at us and repel them with truth and goodness? Well, apparently not us here at CCS.

peace,

Memories of 80's Prom fashions.

Going to Prom tonight with the wife as "chaperones". Of course prom for a Christian High School involves absolutely no dancing, but rather dinner and socializing. For my wife and I, senior prom was our first official date. That was 13 years ago. We attended different high schools and our proms were on the same night. So we went to mine first for a couple hours then headed over to hers. The only problem was that I got lost for about an hour and refused to read the directions. Why Nicki didn't move on to a more evolved human being at that point, is beyond me. Perhaps it was my pink bow tie and cumberbum that kept her interest peaked. I do remember Nicki looking ubelievably "HOT" that night. She was tanned and all done up, I would have walked the streets of Cincy all night just letting people know she was with me. My principal pulled me aside and said that he was casting his vote for us as "best dressed" because of our perfectly matched pink hue. We didn't stick around to see if we won or not. I was already pretty sure that this girl would be the one I would spend the rest of my life with, but now 11 years of marriage later, 3 kids, a home to call our own and a faith community we love and belong to, it seems fairytale-like if it wasn't for all the hard work it takes to get here.
I will enjoy tonight. I have bonded with this senior class and I really don't want to see them move on. I suspect some of these friendships will be life long. If there is Karaoke tonight, I will lay down something proper of the 80's genre. But because of the Christian School culture, there will be no "Safety Dance" :)

peace,

Took my daughters out to dinner last night and then we went shopping for Nicki's Mother's day present. I had something electronic in mind, but decided to get her what she actually wanted instead of what I thought would be cool. And in true "marsh" fashion, I gave it to her the moment I got home instead of waiting til Sunday. Its a big canopy/gazebo to go over our back patio to enhance our bbq experiences with shade and rain relief. Looking forward to putting that puppy together this afternoon and seeing if it can withstand the rain and wind.

Had one of my more fundamental baptist students say yesterday that my NT survey course was a waste of time because it wasn't "deep" enough. I have long been accused of not giving people the "Word" in my past. But I honestly have no @#$% clue what that means. If it means that I don't judge people enough, I don't create timelines for end times events and that I don't tell people they're going to hell enough, then I suppose I should take this as a compliment. The context of the comment came out of a day where I was teaching on 1st century Gnosticism as a threat to young Christianity and the reason why the apostle John wrote the epistles of 1st, 2nd & 3rd John. I suppose having a historical understanding for the writing of NT epistles is a shallow endeavor for approaching the Scriptures. I suppose I should just teach my opinions without any accountability to disciplined exegesis and that humility need not be applied to the ancient texts. I suppose I am not a very good preacher. I hate the word "preaching", I have no positive feelings towards it. If that offends some, know that I affirm teaching and proclamation which is "receptor" oriented. But preaching the Word as I have come to learn it and be measured by, I find it pure ignorance.

I find that arrows received from fellow believers hurt me deeply. It used to destroy me and render me incapable of going on. I projected perfection on the Church and it disappointed me over and over again. I am just an "all or nothing" kind of guy. Either Jesus is real and the Kingdom of God is all pervasive reality, or let's just sit around and smoke your plant of choice. I work really hard at keeping my heart tender and open towards the Church, its just gets hard when I am vulnerable to attack on wounds yet open. But bitterness is not a big enough idea for me. Contempt does not feed my soul. I don't long for justice here on earth. Rather I choose to keep my heart open, to bless those who curse, to turn the other cheek and to choose meekness over division. This Christ following stuff is harder some days than others.

peace,

I actually have really good things to report on but lacking the energy to give them due justice. I wrestling with like an inner ear infection that is messing with my head, my hearing and my energy. But here is a short list.

1) Had a pretty blessed time traveling with K-rains to Harrisburg, PA and retreating with some missional community leaders there. We just really affirmed what they were already doing. The highlight was hanging out with my bro, Rains for the weekend. We laughed ourselves to tears for various reasons and dreamed of more Kingdom stuff in the future.

2) I had another niece born this morning. Rob and Becky had their 3rd daughter, Kate came at 4:20 a.m.

3) Will be attending and speaking at the MBC annual conference next weekend with the McGillivary's

4) Will be chaperoning prom this friday night and the senior trip to Va. Beach May 26-30. Its that time of year.

blessings upon your week.

peace,

In Liberty House Church tonight, we watched the live DVD performances of Coldplay "Clocks" and "The Scientist" and discussed the lyrics a bit for reflection. Are we a part of the cure or a part of the disease? What is "home" to us? Where do we find it? What is the place that gives us roots and gets us out of the rat race? Nobody said it would be easy, so what can we know about it? Can we always get another try and take it back to the start? All good questions to ask. We read from Philippians 1, "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears." I suppose if you feeling in the funk and don't see this perspective, its good to have others around you who are confident of it for you. I've always been such a big fan of the song writing of Rich Mullins. He once said, "there is music you make, and some music makes you." I think this applies. My faith is not the product of my effort, it is something that is happening to me and in me within the context of a larger Story. A Story that isn't tame, isn't scientific, isn't systematized and isn't black and white. My faith is a mystical story in which I am a character, but not the only character. I have a role in how the story goes on and ultimately will end, and yet I am not the author of this story. This story is living, it breathes, it feels, it chooses, it worships and it longs for a deep connection within His bigger Story. He started the work and he finishes the work, but he lives it with me and in me as we go. Sounds like a paradox, but welcome to the way story works. I don't want answers, I don't want to KNOW what I should do or how it will end. I just want to live and breathe its reality. I trust the author, He has been very good to me. He is truth, the only black and white I know. I long to be closer to the author this night. I want to feel His hand in mine. His touch is a part of this story, it is then that I know that I am not alone.

peace,

Weekend went by much too fast. Ali scored her first career goal in soccer on saturday morning. Not sure who was more excited, her or me. I was beaming. She really has improved so much over the past couple years, i love watching her play and improve all the time. I hope she sticks with it, its fun debriefing with her over ice cream.

Spend saturday evening in Norwood with many friends including Palmer who was down for the weekend a bit. Amazingly good ribs (atta boy to Aaron and Rains) and great conversation as expected.

Watched most of the NFL draft all weekend while doing other things, Bengals had a solid draft. Not a sexy draft, but a solid draft. We'll see how it pans out.

Had our 2nd student house church meeting last night, good discussion on authentic christian community. We talked of the idea of having to deny self in order to be in community. To accept others and be willing to take the risk to be ourselves and be accepted by others. That community does not allow us to choose how we feel like living, but calls us to a consistent life of Christ following. Community is hard, challenging, keeps us accountable, gives us belonging, gives us purpose and increases our freedom and growth in Christ. It appeared to me that this same conversation with students who mostly hold to a postmodern worldview, "get" the idea of community and circular thinking than adults who I've had the same conversation with but think mostly in linear terms. They seem to inherently see the issues and see life within the context of organic relationships, rather than within the construct of modern thought. As we continue to go deeper, it will be interesting to see what kind of story God wants to write with this group.

I can talk about the implications of community every night of the week. I think I may be a community geek. Confession over.

peace,

Ok, me and the fight club boyz went to the Reds game last night in my in-laws front row seats and something very appropriate happened: a fight broke out! After the 1st inning, both benches cleared after a collision at home plate. After tagging Casey out, the catcher stood over him and dropped the ball on his chest and walked away. Casey sat up, took the ball and beamed the catcher in the ARSE!! It was classic. I love Casey, named my dog after him, love his passion and fire. It was fun spoiling 3 of my best friends, giving them rock star status with the best seats in the house. However, Glenn performed one of my all time pet peeves: calling people on his cell phone to see if they could see him on TV. Glenn, that may go over at a NASCAR race in the south, but not when we're amongst the elite here north of the Mason-Dixon line :) Reds lost in extra innings but the night was a win/win. too much fun.

peace,

Ok, Brother Bean (no relation to Brother Bear) has called me out which requres me to respond with a fluid flow of thought. How is it that back on Mar. 24 I was singing the praises of contentment, peace and happiness, and that the past couple days my blog fodder has been of darkness and pain and gloom??? Short answer = borderline bi-polar. If you understand the mindset of a Philadelphian, in particular a Philadelphia sports fan, you may understand where I'm coming from. When things are going well (as they are right now for the Flyers), its the best sports city in America. Passion unbridled. When things aren't going well, they put nets under the bridges to catch the yahoos jumping off after another loss by the Eagles in the NFC Championship game. They are also the only fans who in their gloom who have been documented to cheer wildly at the scene of an opposing receivers neck injury (i.e. Michael Irvin) and to heckle and boo Santa Claus when he made an appearance at mid-field. Think about that, we booed Santa Claus, that's sick! That's borderline bi-polar.
Theological answer is something we discussed at Liberty House Church last night in the introduction to Philippians. Paul uses the phrase "rejoice in the Lord" 16 times in Philippians even though he is writing from a cold, dark, wet and lonely prison cell. How is it possible to have joy in that circumstance? I believe there is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is contingent on external circumstances, the things that happen to us. Joy is rooted in the promises of God and Kingdom that never change. So, we can have joy in all circumstances, whether they make us happy or not. So even though this week has been rough for me and rather depressing because of circumstances, I still have enormous joy in being God's beloved and living in a community of Christ followers (i just didn't have the perspective to blog about it). On March 24, I was reporting that my constant joy and my happy circumstances were matching up, it was a win/win. Joy is stable, doesn't go away, is manifested in a deep sense of peace, belonging and stability. Happiness sometimes in this life joins the party when circumstances are positive.
Like sometimes the Eagles go to the Super Bowl (1980), sometimes the Phillies win the world series (1980), sometimes the Sixers win the NBA championship (1983) and sometimes the Flyers win the Stanley Cup (1974, 1975 2004??????????). In the meantime, we scream profanities at jolly old men who hand out toys to needy children. Bah Humbug.

peace,

You ever wake up in the morning with a song in your head that you haven't heard in a long time, but it seems your subconscious is trying to say something? This morning I have a Moby song in my head, with the lyrics "why does my heart feel so bad?" playing over and over again in my brain. So what is my mind telling me? Low-grade depression? Overwhelming circumstances? Frustrations beyond my control? Pressure? Past hurts coming back to haunt me? New hurts making an introduction? Disappointments with self? I'll leave all this for some amateur Freud out there. But as I get tired and beat down, my patience lessens significantly. I tend to be less of a nice guy and more confrontational on everything. Why does my heart feel so bad? Not sure, just know that it does.

peace,

On Saturday night, went and saw "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" with mr. Joe Long. As I drove home, I was filled with some thoughts about pain in general. I got marked down in seminary one time on a paper because I made the statement that "pain is a part of the human experience" and that we should "embrace suffering". The professor in this class on healing was not fond of my presuppositions and let me know my errant theology. I suppose I was to say that if we pray and have faith, it is God's will to hear us and heal us instantly. That line of thinking is still not consistent with my experience, perhaps I need more faith. Perhaps I need to buy a Tony Robbins DVD. Perhaps I should have plastic surgery a.k.a. "the Swan" to have my pain go away. Perhaps I should have some memories erased as the characters in the movie suggest. Doesn't that seem the right thing, pain avoidance?
Pain has always been my connection with people. Some find that too intense at times and I'm just so glad that those have not had to experience deep levels of pain in their life and I in no way think its a pre-requisite for Christ following. But I do believe that most of the change and transformation in my life has come out of pain. Its how I learn big teachings. It is why I care about people, why I care to pay attention to them, why I care to respond to them in the Spirit, why I care to build and invite Kingdom into people's lives. I care because of pain. It has real purpose for me, it drives me to transformation and action. I don't want it erased and I don't want to short-change others away from their pain of how it might be used for greater healing. C.S. Lewis said that "pain is God's megaphone for a deaf world". Pain is a great attention getter. And if we are people that are teacheable, we ought to embrace these experiences, not avoid them. I believe its a mark of maturity for the Christ follower, how they deal with suffering. To read the N.T. and not see a huge theme of pain and suffering is to read with eyes wide shut. Jesus, Paul, Peter and John, the dominant authors make it a point to address it constantly and not avoid it. The O.T. is chock full of horrific painful stories of the tragic history of people.
Avoid pain? Seems a logical thought. But it might be the one that strays you from the story of God.

peace,

I know that I am constantly badgering everyone to "stop and notice the Kingdom today" and that seems quite an abstract thing. I mean how do we actually do that? I suggest that its at one time a very mystical thing and another time a practical thing. But I believe that the Kingdom of God is all pervasive reality. Christianity is not a faith, a mental ascent to some historical information, its not a religious system to control or be controlled by. Rather, one enters into the reality of the Kingdom of God through the person of Jesus Christ, it is a relational story. Authentic Christianity is written into the code of universe, living in harmony with the teachings of Jesus is to live in harmony with the whole of God's Creation. I believe that code is best spelled out in the Sermon on the Mount. So to stop and notice the Kingdom around you is not mystical reflection, but a literal and physcial aligning of oneself with the Spirit of the Creator God. I believe this is what Paul meant by being "in Christ".

Yesterday's Finan Reading of Celtic Daily Prayer speaks this discipline well:
"Those creatures in whom I admire a reflection of His perfections, on whom there falls a little ray of the infinite sunshine, are outside me, far removed from me, distant and separate, whilst You, who are perfection, beauty, truth, infinite and essential love, You are in me and around me. You fill me altogether . . . there is no particle of my body that You do not fill, and around me You are nearer than the air in which I move. How am I blessed! What happiness to be united so completely to perfection itself; to live in it, to possess it living in myself! My God, You who are in me, in whom I am, let me know my happiness.
Give me a perpetual sense of Your presence, of Your presence all around me, and at the same time that loving fear one feels in the presence of Him one loves passionately, and which makes one, in the presence of one's Beloved, keep one's eyes on Him with great desire and firm purpose to do all that may please Him and be good, and gently fear to do or think anything that may displease or harm Him.
In You, by You, and for You. Amen."

Stop and notice the Kingdom around you today.

peace,

Buffet of topics today:

1) At Fight Club last night we had a first, we allowed a woman to attend. Palmer was in town with his friend Amy so we allowed them to join us for dinner at P.F. Changs. Good spicy chicken, always good seeing Palmer and the usual suspects of FC. Palmer and I continued dreaming of the reality of our European pilgrimmage this summer, Ukraine, England and maybe touching shore on Ireland and Scotland. Afterwards, Chad, Rains and I went for some coffee and hashed over some life stuff and theological topics. One thing I learned from the culturally savy Canipe, apparently the Toyota Rav 4 is the vehicle of choice for women who prefer women. You fill in the blank.

2) The Cincinnati Bengals 2004 schedule came out and I found myself strangely excited. I'm already thinking through the games I want to be at (which is probably all of them) but especially excited about our first Monday night football game in like 10-12 years. In October vs. the Broncos, that's a must see. The draft is also coming and its in Marvin we trust, he has done everything right so far. I have a lot of optimism about the season this year. I know we'll have a first year QB, but I'm a believer.

3) 73 degrees tommorrow + friday evening = BBQ!!!!!!! Its time to get the parties started. I want to have no less than 20 backyard bbq's between now and October. I love having community friends over my house, new friends and strangers. Food, music, DVD's, fire, smores, cigars, pipes, brew of choice, Holy Spirit, Kingdom conversations, sports debates, movie recommendations, life sharing, encouragement, horseshoes, wiffle ball, cornhole, stars at night and the occasional coyote sighting. Bring it!

4) As an extrovert, I am trying to discipline myself to read an hour a day. There are so many amazing books on my shelf that I'm dying to digest but must force myself to do. Workouts and regular reading are the disciplines before me right now. That and a pile of paperwork that I'm buried under.

Stop and notice the Kingdom today.

peace,

I find that in vacations and time away, if I take the time to be available and to listen, God always speaks. But never in the way that I wished he would or not in getting a pat on the back, he often gives me marching orders and warnings. It usually requires me to cut out yet another sin in my life for holiness. Or to own up to some mistakes that I have left dormant. Or to consider new areas of spiritual responsibilities. Its never, "well done, go on to eternal peace". I guess that will have to wait for a different kind of vacation :)
I had a vivid dream of the demonic realm about midweek. I was in a holding room with a door on the other end. I was face to face with a demonic spirit and it seemed like we had met before. Fear and anxiety made my heart race. I confronted the Spirit as it headed through the only door in the room. My confrontation had no effect. It was apparent that where it was going, I had no access to. I demanded that it be stopped but it just sneered at me and laughed. It was going to prey on something or someone and I couldn't stop it or protect. I was denied access. As it slipped through the door, I was left alone and felt helpless but also with a sense that it was meant to be. I woke up pretty startled as if this wasn't a dream but a real confrontation in the spiritual realm. I'm not sure what it all means, but I know that it happened. God does not always reveal to us what we want, but rather what we need to know. This is a hard lesson.

"You take us by the hand and lead us, not there were we would wish to go, but there where it is best for us to be." April 13, Finan Reading of Celtic Daily Prayer.

peace to you this day,

ok, we're back and we don't want to be. We had a GREAT time, fantastic family time, I really, really did not want to leave. Disney was a side thought, we just really enjoyed our time together. This trip probably just became our best family vacation to date, the kids were great and the weather was awesome. I miss the 85 degree sun already. Hope all of you had a blessed Easter. I will blog further about some Kingdom thoughts that occurred to me during some reflection times this past week. Right now, I need to get out to your blogs and catch up.

peace,

On vacation april 3-11. Have a blessed Easter. Will blog again soon.

peace,

The countdown is on, can't wait to head to florida on saturday morning. Making last minute plans, planning on relaxing with my kids and wife.
I got my head shaved down yesterday, took off the locks. The fight club boyz kinda dared me into it since K=rains took off his locks and beard and went monk again. I didn't want them to think that I was metrosexual that I needed some hair to put product in so I became manly and shaved it off. However, I don't look monk, I look like a drill sargeant. Some looks just don't work on some folks.
Had a small but great house church meeting last night. We're walking through the "way of the cross" during this lent season following the Celtic Daily Prayer. Real good issues came up such as our own tendency to judge instead of encourage, get obnoxious in our passion and reflecting on memories that provoke smiles. Things are kicking real well on Tuesday nights.
Having really good conversation in my senior Bible class re: church structures, their origins and possible alternatives. I try hard to present a balanced view of all perspectives without being too obvious with my bias. If you know me, you know that's a discipline in itself.

3 days til we go to Mickey's kingdom. However, screw Mickey, this vacation is about Nicki, Ali, Meg and the Zach Attack. Spring fever is upon me.

stop and notice the Kingdom today.

peace,

My Xavier Musketeers finally ended their season this evening much to my dismay. They just didn't make the big plays in the final 4 minutes and the hated Dukies did. We outplayed everybody's expectations making this a fun tourney to watch this year. As for who's left, I picked UCONN from the get-go so I'll stick with them. Okafor is a beast in the middle

I really loved hanging out with my friend Bill Clark, who flew in from Seattle on sat. night as he prepares for some teaching in missions here locally. He and his family are missionaries to Kazakstahn and absolutely one of the most sanctified and holy guys I get to hang out with this side of the Kingdom. He's a great humble and calming influence on me. We sat around a fire in my backyard til 1:30 a.m. on saturday just with Kingdom talk, what a great bro.

As a side note for those tracking my physical progress or regress. As of this morning, I have officially lost 20 lbs. in 7 weeks via a moderate Atkins diet and pretty rigorous workouts 4-5 times a week. I feel good, getting stronger all the time and feel as if I can maintain this pace for a long duration til my goal weight is attained. I can say I am almost halfway there and realize it will be possibly a year until I reach my goal. But my race is that of the turtle, I'm getting too old for the rabbit mentality anymore.

This week is all about one thing: preparation. Next week is Spring Break for me and at 7:46 a.m. Sat. morning, my family and I are boarding a plane for Orlando and spending 9 days in Disney World. We love all the activity and options with our kids, we're just about professionals at this point in our strategies and disney experience. Its our way of pouring $$ back into the economy and bowing to the consumer gods. I relax best by being with my family and having the opportunity towards an overwhelming experience. I am really looking forward to this trip, it will prove to be a memory maker in one fashion or another. And I thank our missionary supporter who has given us this trip the past 2 years. Sometimes being a man of the cloth has its perks :)

peace,

First things first. The Lord blesses his Jesuit children. I predicted a good run, and they have delivered. This is officially the best team in Xavier history having reached the great 8 for the first time ever. Now all they have to do is take out the hated Duke Blue Devils to get to the unheard of Final 4. Jesuit Catholics vs. Devils? I hope all my brothers and sisters out there will join me in supporting these kingdom workers :)

Been thinking a lot about monasticism this week and ancient forms of the faith. Paul Mc. and I had b-fast this morning and discussed much about how we see monasticism influencing our surburban communities. Then we went and worked our butts off at a property we are using for our OCC monthly community gatherings. Its a friends wooded lot and we gathered up tons of wood and made HUGE fires to burn them out. Then Paul got his hands on a chainsaw and, I haven't seen him that happy since he held the potato gun a couple weeks ago. Big fires and chainsaws, that's the good kind of work. But hard work is a part of our spiritual disciplines. The act itself has its own rewards. Its fruitful and productive. Whether you are nurturing children, laying cement, cutting wood or pushing pencils, our work has its own reward. If its just a paycheck, we may be missing the joy in the journey. Hard work honors God. Hard work fulfills the curse on Adam in the Garden. Hard work clears the mind. Hard work burns calories :) Hard work can create space in our life for God to speak. Hard work is good for the heart and soul. Monks had daily chores and property to upkeep so that work was a normative part of their days. We pray, we're quiet, we're reflecting, we're exercising, we're communing with the One who isn't busy or looking past this moment to get to the next. I think I just talked myself into some more work days at my friends property. Spirit lead on.

peace,

Monking in the Real World

After Chad had to slip out and the fight club boyz regurgitated many relevant and absurd topics over Starbucks in Barnes and Noble, Rains, Glenn and I settled on monking in the real world. This seem to resonate with us as a part of the calling that God was ushering us into. It seems to be some of the reason he called us out of "vocational" ministry and to getting jobs in and amongst people and not in a church office. I'm not here to say that one is right or wrong, just to say that this is what we have been called to and find our present joy in. We have been quite influenced by the writings of Henri Nouwen, Eugene Peterson, Dallas Willard, Brother Lawrence, Richard Foster and the like. At the same time, we are church planters by nature, giftedness and calling. We desire to plant communities of faith with people in every part of our lives. So we desire to do our monking in the real world amongst people, jobs, families and seductive influences.
So what is monking in the real world? I suppose its creating space in your life for deep community, simplicity, humility, hospitality, dying to self, prayer, solitude, sacred encounters of the divine, hard work, loving neighbor, missional living/thinking/talking/listening, seeing Kingdom come all around you. I suppose its something like that. I seek depth and clarity, not relevance in this world. I want to be quiet so that I have something worth saying. I want to spend time in reflection so I have something worth writing. I want to center my life in Christ so that I have the urge to love a stranger. I want to be filled with the Spirit so that I have the capacity to be a conduit of the Kingdom to my neighbor. I want to sit and listen to God so he can teach me to listen to others. I want live in community so that my life is a bigger expression than my individualism. I want to die to my neighbor so that I can finally love them and not need their affirmation. I want to live simply so that I have the time and attention to provide hospitality. I want to monk in the real world.

"What could please God more than for us to leave the cares of the world temporarily in order to worship Him in our spirits? These momentary retreats serve to free us from our selfishness, which can only exist in the world. In short, we cannot show God our loyalty to Him more than by renouncing our worldly selves as much as a thousand times a day to enjoy even a single moment with Him." -Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

stop and breathe in the Kingdom of God today.

peace,

I am in a stage where I am just enjoying life. I enjoy my job, teaching the 153 students each day just a little something about the Kingdom. Being able to stay out of all the administrative dramas that come with an organization, I just stick to my classroom and teach. I really enjoy my children. So fun to just sit with them at home. Paying attention to each of them and noticing something special, looking them in the eye, giving away the touch of their father, I love it. I am really enjoying my marriage. Nicki and I have been clicking pretty well for awhile. Keeping on the same page, feeling connected with her. I am really enjoying my faith community. They make me so proud to belong to them. I enjoy my time with them, such love and mutual encouragement. I feel as if my whole future is intertwined with them. I am finally winning some battles in my physical life. Been doing atkins and working out pretty hard for 5 weeks. Have officially lost 15 lbs. but have lost more size than that as I've gained muscle through lifting. I am enjoying the life that God has provided me and maintains through daily disciplines. In a world of seemingly endless obsessive compulsive disorder, I am feeling contentment. I think its less the result of something I did, and more of something that is happening to me and within me. Thank you, Jesus for peace today.

stop and notice the Kingdom today.

peace,

Earth is crammed with heaven,
and every common bush afire with God,
but only they that see,
take off their shoes.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning


Wow. Stop and notice the Kingdom of God around you today.


peace,

Yes, for all you non-believers out there, Xavier has outlasted their critics to the Sweet 16! Not since my junior year in high school have we been there. I remember listening to that game in Spanish class with my walkman in my sweathshirt and the earpiece thread up my shirt and holding it on my ear, pretending i was taking notes. These Muskies are red hot and it wouldn't surprise me if they won a couple more games. Defense, guard play and senior leadership win in March. Xavier has all three. Its fun to be an X fan right now. As for UC and UK, well, its good to be an X fan today :)

peace,

Blessings on my Jesuit Catholic brothers tonight. GO XAVIER MUSKETEERS!!!!!!

Celtic Christianity has been one of the driving influences in my life. I pray the virus finds you too.

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me,
Christ, as a shield overshadow me,
Christ under me; Christ over me;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful,
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.

-St. Patrick Morning Canticle

Blessings and peace to you my brothers and sisters on this St. Patricks Day.

peace,

I believe this is the official symbol of Christian Guy camping, but I'm not sure. I'll do some more research on that. What an outstanding weekend! We (Bean, Creech, Rains, Matt, Paul, Glenn) camped in the Red River Gorge in east kentucky. Friday night was real cold, probably dipped below 20 degrees, got only about 4 hours of sleep as the fire at 4:30 a.m. was calling my name. We took a sweet hike up the Natural Bridge in the warm of the afternoon on Saturday, cooked up some serious steaks and then entered into the best Kingdom talk I've had in a long time. WOW. I love these bros. I was so amped, my adrenaline was overflowing. we challenged each other in theological quandries but it led to a unifying story. The story of what God is doing and has been doing since he decided to create. The story of how we all met and how that networking happened so organically with such tangible love. We want to be known, not for events like Mayhem, not for training programs, not for "successful" church planting (atleast not how most define it), not for being post-whatever, but for our love one for another. And there was a lot of Kingdom love around the fire this weekend.
Bean slapped me upside the head again, intellectually speaking, and gave me some pretty inspiring, simple thoughts. I won't explain this all now, but we need to start with our Christology (life with God), allow that to naturally develop our missiology (life in the world) and only then consider our ecclesiology (how we do church). In all my theological training, I can say that I was indoctrinated to the opposite. That we have pre-determined ideas of what church is and ought to look like, we spend all of our time running that plan. If we are really capable, we move into missiology in the form of evangelism that will increase our ecclesiology or church growth. And if there is anything left, maybe there are a few around the church who take the time to focus on their Christiology, that is a deep connection with the spirit of Christ. With this backward way of looking at things where we seek to be relevant to the world first without finding our "nothingness" before God and receiving our beloved is just panning for fools gold. Is it any wonder that the crises for the north american church is with its leaders? Doing the work of church and mission without the focus on a life with God first and showing that focus in their formation and structure. It leads to emptiness, depression, isolation and despair. mmmmmm, despair. Rather, God wants us to focus ourselves in him first and take our lead from that. Then and only then will we have a clue as to how to love this world and the people in it and finally how we should gather as his local community here on earth. Christology cannot be assumed. It must be planned for, intentionall sought, willing to be disciplined and placed in the center of life. It is what you anchor yourself to, without it . . . well, you know how it feels.
More on this yet to come, let me know if it makes sense to you. I am filled to the brim with Kingdom relationship, brings tears to my eyes. Never have I felt so alive.

"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matt. 6:33-34 The Message)
There are 2 types of people, those who dream of this reality, and those who are experiencing it. I pray the virus of the Kingdom of God finds you today.

peace,

(thank you Brian for these words. my thoughts exactly. the movie was great art, not the best outreach opp. in 2000 years)

Passionate, but Not for Mel's Movie
Why The Passion 'outreach' was all hype, and I didn't fall for it.
By Brian McLaren, Leadership columnist


The music was appropriately dramatic: bass strings, heavy and resonant, with a mezzo-forte attack and building to fortissimo from there. Then, against a stark black background, a promotional slogan appeared in bold white capitals. It grew, filling the screen's full width: PERHAPS THE BEST OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY IN 2,000 YEARS.

I was watching a video to promote the release of Mel Gibson's film, The Passion of The Christ. One expects hype at such moments, but this slogan made me wince. It defines, I think, a frontier between two worlds.

In one world, modern American Christians can be trusted to bounce and bound like golden retrievers from one silver-bullet "outreach opportunity" to the next—seeking single source shortcuts to complete our mission, which we hope to finish as soon as possible, I guess so we can all get to heaven so the world and its troubles are left behind™. Maybe it's a boxed set of books and videos, mass rallies, radio/TV/satellites, the Internet, PowerPoint, or seeker services. Or else it's adult contemporary praise music, electing Republicans, or a new booklet or tract. Maybe it's candles! Or a new model (take your pick from traditional-modern, contemporary-modern, or postmodern-modern) for "doing church." Or a new film.

In the other world—which many of us are calling the emerging culture (post-Enlightenment, post-Christendom, post-colonial, etc.)—we are watched with amusement, pity, cynicism. There they go again, emerging culture people say about us, unimpressed.

After enough hype-induced disappointments to abash even ever-optimistic American evangelicals—after being drained and perhaps even disillusioned by enough campaigns and programs that didn't deliver what they promised—will we be ready to do what we find it oh so painful and hard to do? To slow down and think deep?

For example, we might wonder why slogans like The Passion's appeal to us.

Emerging culture people are, no doubt, as sensitive as anyone else to dramatic, multisensory, rational-plus-emotional presentations. Special effects can impress them. But they're also suspicious of the whole business. They're looking for something that can't be "produced" but which can only be created: Authenticity. Reality. Honesty. Fruit.

That last word, of course, has special resonances to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Think of the difference between produce (like fruit) and products (like films, radio broadcasts, boxed programs, etc.). Think of something that must be the organic outgrowth of genuine health and vitality versus something that can be produced with money and technical savvy.

Jesus didn't say it was by our clever outlines, memorable mnemonics, snazzy programs, and special effects that we would be known as his disciples, or that he would be known as sent from God. Rather, he said, it was by our love that we and he would be known, and by our fruit: our good works that shine in darkness and inspire all to glorify God.

No doubt, Mel G's film will be powerful and will help many—millions, I hope—for it is a sincere labor of love about the ultimate labor of love. But it's not the greatest outreach opportunity in 2,000 years, at least, not for the emerging culture. I'll tell you what is.

Actually, I won't, because there isn't one thing. Rather, there are uncountable great outreach opportunities. For example, there are millions of people, precious to God, dying of AIDs. And their orphans too. Do you want the emerging culture to sit up and take notice? Don't show them another movie, however great it is. Show them Christians around the world (starting with those who have been given the most: us) who care and give and love and move to serve.

There are millions of poor Muslims who see the West as decadent, strident, arrogant, selfish, careless, and pugilistic, and of course, they are right. Can you see how offering them a fine movie could just make things worse? Instead, why don't we show them some Christians (in the West but not of it) who are honest, upright, peacemakers, compassionate, humble, and generous?

Our world is torn by ethnic, class, and religious hatred. Don't show the emerging culture a movie about Jesus: show them a movement of people living like Jesus—people who like him love the different, even the enemy, whose doors are open and tables are set with welcome.

Brian McLaren is pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in metro Washington, D.C.

Next week, Rick Warren tells why his church is riding successfully the culture wave generated by The Passion.

Copyright © 2004 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.
Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
March 9, 2004

Ok, let it begin. T minus 50 hours and it will be time for the ultimate guy, late winter camping trip down in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. The Characters involved are Father Creech, Bean the bookseller, K to the Rains, Glen "Watch the Lamb" Johnson, Paul "the Englishman" McGillivary, a couple more guys from vine and branches community and Marsh madness will be in da house (or da tent). Imagine if you will, numerous tents for very large men, one 4 wheeler, one potato gun, a poratable canopy poker room, a few fishing poles, a fire raging larger than necessary, fine cigars and pipes, choice Irish/english ale and I hope Kingdom conversation under the stars til our hearts content. I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Come monday, the real stories from the weekend will come out. Lets get the party started.

Any camping advice from the peanut gallery out there?

peace,
Marsh

Sad news from one of my good Kingdom friends. Amidst the beauty of Kingdom come, I at times hate living in a fallen world.


Ian David Reider

Ian David was born at 6:31pm March 5th. His first 45 minutes he fought for life as a dozen doctors and nurses gave him breath and chest compressions. He nearly died in his first hour. He was born with severe hydrops (large amounts of fluids in his body) and this caused his lungs to not carry oxygen efficiently. He was "stable but very sick" for the past 3 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit but seemed to be becoming more independent every few hours. This morning (Monday, March 8th at 4:45am) the doctor called us to the hospital becuase his condition was weakening. We arrived at 5:20am to see 8 doctors huddled around his incubator- again, they were breathing for him and giving him chest compressions. For some reason his oxygen was being replaced by carbondioxide and his heart rate was barely 30bpm. They inceassed his oxygen intake, replaced chest tubes and many other things. They told us that he was failing and they could do no more for him. He died at about 5:25am. There is an ache in our hearts that cannot be described by words, melodies or colors. Please pray for our family.

Thanks,
Robbie, Dana & Olson

This is a book review I did for Next-wave.

Get Up Off Your Knees, Review by Chris Marshall

"Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24) Have you ever felt that way? Its not that you don't have faith, its just that you don't yet have the faith that you were looking for. Its seems a dangerous place to have belief and longing in the same heart. It can only be at the point of desperation that mystery can have a seat at the table. This is the space where U2 has lingered in for years drawing people to their passionate story and a longing for a different Kingdom here on earth. It is only natural that many would resource this voice to find a prophetic word for the world we live in now. Get Up Off Your Knees is a compilation of sermons from a diverse background of faith utilizing U2 lyrics as their primary text. The issues that are raised are as varied as the voices that speak them. They speak of peace but see violence, immediacy of death and the reality of hope, lamenting but yet crying for deliverance, looking up but living in the now. It is a dangerous place to have faith and yet long for more. God cannot be domesticated and so our hearts yearn for his reality. The voice of a new prophet lives on in the preaching of the U2 catalog.

There is a six week group study in the final sections of the book that I used as a resource for my weekly house church meetings. You will need quite a few resources beforehand in the form of live DVD's and varied U2 CD's, but it makes for very interesting discussion. Each lesson has a Scripture passage or two to meditate on in conjunction with some of their most provocative songs. I often used the Psalms as a point of reference for most of our discussions with U2 songs and lyrics. I found it helpful to print out the lyrics for everyone making the discussion more specific and concrete. Our conversations ranged from social justice, war, forgiveness, passion, daily faith, distractions, seducing influences, sexuality, mystery, death, trust and a Kingdom come. We ended our study with an authentic Irish U2 dinner party and watched a live DVD in its totality. I found this study to be fruitful and a nice change of pace interacting with song lyrics of faith alongside Scripture.

This book is not for the novice U2 fan. It assumes that you are already pretty familiar with the early U2 years through their 1990's experimental stages. The sermons come from varied faith backgrounds and do well to keep their voices broad and diverse. I recommend this book for the U2 fan who is not familiar with the spiritual journey of the band and for the one who is obsessed with all things U2. Bono often quotes Psalm 40 in live concert crying out, "How long, will we sing this song?" That same longing for a kingdom come can be found in Get Up Off Your Knees.

been feeling under the weather the last couple days. the weekend will be a welcomed event.
I got a contract to teach again next year and I'll be signing it. I can't believe that I came to this job even though I didn't want it and now I'll be signing on for my 3rd year. It has brought stability and contentment. Who would have thunk it?

On a different note, I'm pretty stoked about the Bengals free agent moves so far. Webster is what we needed, a beast in the middle. Being that I played linebacker I love to see us upgrade there. Hering is a bruiser of a safety and both of these guys have Super Bowl rings. Its saying something in Cincinnati that we are more interested in the Bengals off season than we are the Reds who are in Spring Training. I will go see the Reds this year for social reasons only, the Reds did NOTHING to get ready for the season. Another year of uncle Carl just doing nothing.

hope ya have a good weekend.

peace,

ok, had Ali's 1st soccer practice yesterday and I was a bit nervous. This is her 3rd year playing but her coaches this year are turning up the volume. From the first phone call and coaches meeting, they have been animate about playing to "win" and not have much room for girls who don't pay attention or loaf off. This was going to be a serious season and more competitive. (mind you they are 7) The coach's daughter played on a team last year with a few other future olympian types and they crushed us like 11-1 and 9-1. Now we are on that team with this coach and daughter who is pretty good and an attitude to boot because she knows it. I went in just wanting to give the coach the benefit of the doubt and that in a real life situation, he wouldn't be that hard core.
When they went through some drills and one on ones, the coach matched up Ali with his daughter because it was evident that she was the best defender. And I thought to myself, this will be interesting, what will my emotional/overly dramatic girl do with this tomboy who is out to kill? Well, for the next few minutes, Ali frustrated the heck out of her. They jousted and jousted. The competition level kept increasing the jousting turned into pushing, then shoving then tripping. My daughter was going blow to blow with this giant in her life and unrelenting. Eventually Ali got shoved to ground a last time and broke down crying as the coach addressed her. (the coach handled it great) I thought though that fun Ali had her feelings hurt so I asked her. It turned out she was frustrated that the other girl was cheating by pushing her and that her feelings weren't hurt all. Rather, she stopped crying, wiped off her tears and went right back after the ball.
I was BEAMING! I was never the most talented athlete, nor the most skilled, but nobobdy outworked me and nobody outdetermined me. It was my competitive edge. It took me pretty far in athletics and honestly as far as I wanted to take it. Competitiveness is so overdone in our culture but its a part of who some of us are. Its a part of our make-up and wiring. Its a part of how God uses us in prayer and ministry. I have stared down the enemy in the lives of many Christ followers and it came from much practice facing dominating pitchers or bruising tailbacks. That competitive nature is still very much alive in me and when I see it in Ali, I was just so stoked and so proud. Bring on the soccer season!

peace,

I took my wife to the "Passion" yesterday with some others in our community (yes, somehow I've seen it twice now) and the implications of the Jesus event in history leave me a little confused. For the life of me, I can't understand how a natural progression out of his life, death, resurrection and teachings has come mainstream hierarchy, orthodox religion, mega church growth theories, health and wealth gospel, KKK, Crusades or the like. It just doesn't make sense to me. His life was so simple, humble, died to self, incredibly honest, compassionate, epitomy of integrity, servant of servants. Intellectually and spiritually, the simple monastic life is the one that seems to be the most accurate of the Jesus of Nazareth. Today's Finan reading from Celtic Daily prayer:

"The Desert Fathers' creative subversion, their simple and radical renunciation, cut powerfully through the subleties of religion and reminded ordinary people that behind all the argumentation was the simple gospel challenge: 'If anyone wants to be a follower of Mine; let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow Me.'" (Matthew 16:24) William McNamara

Stop and notice the Kingdom today.

peace,

Good morning, its friday and that's just alright with me. Go read K-rains blog today re: Jesus at the Pub. It is the point of what missional communities are about.

Went and saw "The Passion" with the fight club boyz on Wednesday night and I am just now kind of ready to talk about it. It is overwhelming. This is not a movie that you say that you "liked" or didn't, its just a movie you said you saw. I literally was in clinical shock for about the 24 hour period following. I describe it as "horrifically beautiful". I think I can even say that it might have actually changed me, it was that profound an experience for me. Watching the Jesus who has carried me through so many trials in my life, who has blessed me beyond measure, who has inspired the man that I am becoming was like taking a travel in time and actually being there. The implications of that cross continues to be overwhelming to me. The Kingdom has come. The Kingdom has conquered. The Kingdom is ultimate reality. I want to say !@#$ religon. It is so trite, so trivial, not even close to the profound "veritas" (truth) of the cross. Jesus is not to be a marketing ploy, he is to be the Lion of Judah who once let out of his cage, will devour the foolish thinking of this world. It is this Jesus that I serve. It is in him that I swear singular allegiance. He has all of me and in him I have found fullness. While driving home after the movie, I began to pray and cry a bit. My only words were, "I hope that I get even close to teaching your truth". I mean, if I'm even in the ballpark it will set captives free, give sight to the blind, hope to the hopeless, love in the darkness and resurrection to the dead. I'm tired of small thinking and obsessive compulsive theologies that are all about control and keeping the Lion in his cage. Following the Jesus of Nazareth who was born to be the Christ is leading a rebellion against our sinful nature and man made religion.

I close with the words of Paul at the closing of Philippians 3. "But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him."
Submit your life to the Christ today.

peace,

I'm dealing so much this week with all my church baggage. I don't want to debate any topics right now, I just want to communicate what I'm feeling. I don't want to accuse, condemn, judge, point out or prophesy against, I just want to express what I'm feeling. The combination of 2 things for me this week, "Spiritual Life Emphasis Week" here at the school I work and the release of "The Passion" film. I'm struggling with my own cynicism.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2004-02-24-passion_x.htm - here's a beautiful link to the merchandising for "The Passion" film. If its not enough that we can't just let the film be a film, if its compelling then let it speak . . . but of course let's try some marketing ploys. Let's sell trinkets of a horrific death and maybe a board game for my kids. The christian sub-culture is ruining this movie for me with its hype. I am going tonight with the Fight Club boyz but I admitt that I'm not that excited about it. I obviously have strong feelings about Jesus of Nazareth who became the Christ, but I'm not sure I resonate with the Jesus sold by evangelicalism.

That leads me to my next point. We have "Spiritual Life Emphasis Week" this week and the whole premise is just so foreign to the way I understand the Kingdom now. It basically is 5 days of intentional time of worship, drama, teaching and altar prayer which I struggle with why I'm so cynical of it. But it seems so evident that the message all the time in these meetings and the thousands of its sort I've been to in my lifetime is that the great hope is to "try harder". Seek after God more, pray more, read Scripture more, be more hungry for God, find more gumption within you, strain ahead, be restless, cry out, repent, mean it this time, get serious, try, try, try, try, try harder.
My conclusion is that the end conclusion of the system known as evangelicalism is to "try harder" and frankly this is not helpful to me.

What I struggle with is that I am completely convinced that the ancient spiritual disciplines of prayer, Scripture meditation, solitude, community, sacrament and worship are absolutely necessary for experiencing the Kingdom of God and that they definitely require great effort and attention on my part. So what's the difference? Maybe it has more to do with the source of the effort. When I try harder in evangelicalism, its all about me and my resources. When I rest in solitude, connect with the living Christ I find that the spiritual disciplines are a grace that he breathes within me and carries me on. So the source of the effort is God himself and not my gumption.

I also disagree vehemently with this longing/striving towards the future. That the answer for us is yet "out there", the magic pill will get me there. To me, yearning for something more and holding God hostage for it is just about sacrilege. God is here amongst us, all around us. His Kingdom invaded this world through the life and ministry of Christ and he left the Holy Spirit to continue its work. He is here, now. The Kingdom is now, at this moment, not the next one. Not resting in God now, receiving the graces he has given us but demanding for more is like biting the hand that feeds us. If we're not experiencing the Kingdom we need to face the demons of silence and just rest, quiet the soul, center oneself with the core of Christ within you, this is a disciplined approach. The answer is not in the next thing, it is in the thing that is here now. It seems that even though Christ is here and has demonstrated numerous wonders and acts around us, we still demand for him to come off the cross, fly around and prove his deity again. The problem is not him, its us. He doesn't move, we do. I think sometimes the best discipline that we can utilize to experience the Kingdom is not to strive ahead but to sit still. Seek soul quiet and see if his graces fill you.

Stop and notice the Kingdom around you today.

peace,

"Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ."
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

I've been meaning to pick this book back up so I did and we discussed these ideas with OCC yesterday in great depth and practicality. Community is not a catch phrase for me anymore, I am living in its daily reality. It is sometimes painful, but it is also the well that I drink from often. I don't go to Church, I belong to a tribe of Christ followers. This brings definition to my life.

peace,

Throughout my life, I have typically had 1 or 2 good friends in which I hung with but never stayed in one place long enough to go too deep with them. I probably only have one friend that I have stayed in close touch with for over 10 years now, the rest have lost their contact. But now I have an enormous supply of great friends. Guys with whom I have spent a lot of intentional time with and would do anything for me. They make me a better Father, Husband, Neighbor and Christ Follower. Fight Club last night confirmed that. Rains, Glenn, Chad and I had great conversation and laughed a lot! I totally needed it, a great stress relief. We intertwine between theological quandries, cultural hot topics, severe satire of one another and general absurdity. Last night Glenn treated us to a moving rendition of Steve Green's "People Need the Lord" and Ray Boltz "Watch the Lamb" right in the middle of Red Robin Restaraunt. It was EPIC. I'm surrounded by brohterhood like I've never had in my life. I don't want it to ever end. Come March 12-14, about a dozen guys from the midwest region will be camping down in Kentucky just to celebrate our brotherhood and friendship. Life is good and so is the God who brought us together. I believe the key for us is not in trying to organize our influence or structure our friendships into a "greater impact ministry", but rather to enjoy what is before us. To drink deep in the well of peace and contentment and encourage others to do the same.

Seek out spiritual friendships and make them the point of your life. It seems to be one of those Kingdom secrets.

peace,

"Generous in love - God, give grace!
Huge in mercy - wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I've been, my sins are staring me down.
You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I've been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you're after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life."
-King David, Psalm 51, The Message

It takes humility to pray a prayer like David did here. I'm reminded of one the earliest prayers of our ancestors in Christ Following: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner."

peace,

My wife leaves today for her annual "Girls" vacation with her parents, sister, sister-in-law, aunt and grandmother. They are off to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla for beach and sun and no kids. My mom and I are splitting duty with my 3 kids and the highlight for me is that I have my son exclusively from friday evening until monday evening. Dad and Zach Attack and I'm relly looking forward to it. He is 19 months now and he cracks me up. It may be more diapers than I'm used to but I'm looking forward to a good weekend. If you think of it, you might want to keep me in prayer. Mr. Mom, here I come.

Stop and notice the Kingdom today.

peace,

It was about this time, 7 years ago that I began to have my first battles with depression. I was experiencing great outward "success" in ministry but inwardly was dying everyday. I couldn't figure it out. The more things went well on the surface, the more disconnected I felt inside. I had a void within me that ministry couldn't fill and I felt lost. In my heart, I had already resigned from my position at a "growing" church but was not sure what to transition into. Seminary seemed to be the best fit, that way I could leave the ministry and nobody would ask me any questions. I shared these dark thoughts with no one. But I found the whole system of church that I was involved in to be empty and completely disconnected with the Jesus I thought I knew. Nicki and I scraped all the $ we could, maxed out a credit card and I bought a plane ticket to visit Denver Seminary. I would be there for 4 days and my motives were to visit the seminary and not leave the Rocky Mountains until God spoke. I visited the Seminary and quickly decided it was not the right place. So I drove up in the mountains, trekked through the snow, sat in secluded places and listened. For 3 days, I heard nothing. Just my own anxiety and pain to keep me company. I was in my hotel room late at night with an early flight the next morning when I finally gave up and decided that God had abandoned me. I turned on the news and I'll never forget that story. They were showing the images of a school shooting that happened that day in Arkansas killing 4 and wounding many others. This was a year before Columbine in which my hotel room was a mile away from. The horror I felt as I watched those images began to grow a yearning in me that I can't explain. Tears began streaming down my face. Where has the church gone so wrong that such desperation is acted upon? It seemed clear to me that the answer could not be a "small" change but real radical change. I remember screaming out to God in agony (sorry to the neighboring rooms) and then I heard his voice. I screamed, "What do you want me to do?" and he said, "Dream for me, Chris . . . what do you want to do for me?" For the next 4 hours, I wept and wrote, wept and wrote, wept and wrote. Out of that night came a dream statement to build a church that would follow the core values of community, authenticity, passion and mission. I had no idea how, but that night I became a church planter I think. Out of excruciating pain, birthed a dream. And out of a dream, birthed a Kingdom reality. That reality today is Ordinary Community Church. A tribe of Christ followers to whom I belong to and who have been an agent of healing to me more than they will ever know. God is good.

Ok God, what's next?

peace,

For my wife and I, our primary calling is as missionaries. We are not church planters or pastors primarily, we see ourselves as called by God to live amongst a people with the intention of seeing His Kingdom come amongst them. One of my primary passions is what is historicaly called "evangelism" and I certainly have a different view of what that is now than I did when I started out. But there is always a tension point with Romans 12: "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out." (The Message)

Pope Paul VI said, "It is not a good thing to be promised to the world or unite ourselves with its thoughts, customs and tastes; but instead we should study it, love it and serve it." These seem to be words of wisdom for those of us seeking to live a missional life.

Stop and give away the Kingdom today.

peace,

Dinner tonight at a Scottish Pub with Craig, Joe, Gabe and Paul. Life is goooooooooood! Been a stressful week, looking forward to hanging with the boyz.

peace,

I'm gonna sound old here. But in my New Testament class, as an Intro. to studying Acts I have shown them the film of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life and death as a modern day martyr. Bonhoeffer's words on community have deeply influenced me and the way I do church. The students didn't have the maturity to deal with it and mocked it. It hurt me. Thinking, this is the future of American church? Consumers wanting to be entertained. Sad.

Thank you for all your responses. The consensus is that blogs are public space and should be treated that way in our expectations. However, all rules of proper engagement still apply: generosity, compassion, humility and grace. So the verdict is that my wife was RIGHT and that I was . . . WRONG. So the tally after 10 1/2 years of marriage is Nicki = 173 Chris = 14. Maybe when I get old and wise I'll make a comeback :)

If you care about the Church, you need to read this today:
http://quirings.blogs.com/greg/2004/02/_the_things_we_.html

peace,
Chris

Opinion Poll:

Are blogs public space or private space? Are they fair game to treat as impersonal public space, or should they be held with more gentle approaches because its personal space?

My wife and I were talking about this in regards to annonymous posts in some blogs we read. We have differing views of whether they are public or private space. What are your thoughts?

peace,

Dreams of anxiety in the night,
Mind always racing weary of the fight,
Heart feeling reckless with no rest,
Why can't we just exist without a best?
Striving, seeking, yearning for goals without an end,
I thought we were supposed to just sit here and try to be a friend,
America the beautiful, thanks for all our stuff,
I'm afraid we missed the point cuz its never enough,
Contentment, peace and joy, we'll leave those for the poor,
How can I know when I've arrived, will somday I be sure?
The goals and lusts of this world are projected onto me,
Anohter Kingdom around me sometimes hard to see,
I wander today with a soul longing to go home,
I wonder if we'll ever live in the reality of Kingdom come.

peace to you,

"I am sorry if anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance at the Super Bowl," Timberlake said of the incident. "It was not intentional and is regrettable."

MTV, which produced the halftime show for sister network CBS, issued a statement shortly after the game saying, "The tearing of Janet Jackson's costume was unrehearsed, unplanned, completely unintentional and was inconsistent with assurances we had about the content of the performance. MTV regrets this incident occurred and we apologize to anyone who was offended by it."

Jackson did not release an official statement after the game, but her representatives told MTV News that she apologizes for the incident.

Which part is more offensive of the public event: The continued over-sexualized nature of our culture as if women have no other part to their personality than their bodies and they can be groped by the whim of the male? or is it the bull@#$% lying that comes aftewards? We suck at relationships in our culture, WE SUCK AT THEM! Healthy relationships are the result of hard work, honesty and trustworthiness. Lying destroys all of that. Lying is our native tongue in America and its completley justified for $$. I hate it. I hate lying. It is destructive behavior and I can more easily explain Janet's misuse of her body than I can the acceptance of the justified lies. I have never bashed MTV, and I watch some of the programming, particularly the docmentaries. But they revealed themselves to have nothing to offer culture or art but cheap cliche and lawyer talk. Hey MTV, welcome to the world of being irrelevant. You just lost some stock in creative culture.

"One Celtic bother called Cronan moved his whole establishment to Roscrea after a royal visitor had been unable to find him in Sean Ross.
'I shall not remain in a desert place,' he said, 'where strangers and poor folk are unable to find me readily. But here, by the public highway I shall live, where they are able to reach me easily.'
This urge to dispense hospitality to the wayfarer and the indigent led to the founding of Christian settlements along the main roads of Ireland." (Finan Readings, Celtic Daily Prayer, Feb. 2)

I am a people person, over the top extrovert, I love to throw a party and be around lots of people, all kinds of people. I'm so glad my wife humors me in this area. I rearranged half my house yesterday just to throw an epoch super bowl party. But I have long felt guilty when I read introverted contemplatives to whom a monastic way of living seem to come so natural. I do not do well alone nor quiet. Its not peaceful for me, its really stressful. I believe that God meets you where you are at and how you are wired. I long to live in the reality of "soul quiet" which is only possible through the spiritual disciplines, but I don't want to go to the desert to find it. I am a missionary by calling. Called to be with people and incarnate the Gospel amongst them. But this is a challenge as well. Getting caught up entertaining and performing and not taking the time to as Paul McGillivary says, "feel your nothingness". But I am called to live monastically and missionally amongst where people are. And in my landscape, the public highway is here in the suburbs of Cincinnati. Yes, the suburbs. So we are to live missionally around lots of people in order to love our neighbor, but also live monastically where our journey of dying to self magnifies the love of God in our lives. I am a suburban, monastic, missionary living out an old faith in a new world.

Stop and notice the Kingdom today.

peace,