Hmm

So I might have over reacted a tad bit... I think what I'm finding is pretty straightforward..the trouble is I don't want to get ahead of myself. There's a lot of Bible out there just luring me in...like a holy seductress.

Doin's a Brewin

Ok so I can't go into detail within my present time constraints, but I think I'm on to something...it's like one of those OT linked into the NT amazing kind of things and it revolves around Jesus and Snakes...oh I know crazy sounding right...just wait, more to come after I get some sleep.

A few thoughts on Fear (Exodus 1)

For many of us we find the very definition of who we are as individuals mysteriously wrapped up in the positions we hold. It's no wonder we find ourselves in such a place living in the society that we do. The realms that are under our influence, so we are told, are a direct reflection of who we are. Success in the market place means we have found our niche of personal identification...now,we think, we know who we are. As we travel back to our ancient example of Pharaoh the scenario plays out in similar ways. Who is Pharaoh? his people say he's a god and what do god's do for a job? they rule over people, imposing their will within their realm of influence. But what happens when that realm poses the possibility of becoming unmanageable, what do you do then...if you're a god?

"the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country."

Notice the language being used: "if war breaks out"? So there's your worst case scenario, being opposed by an outside force only to then have the people you are presently ruling over join the enemy lines. talk about a major hit to the god complex. But wait there's more, what if people leave? So here's how the measure of success goes...the more people we rule over the better, but if they pose a security hazard, action must be taken.

There are a ton of assumptions being made about the nature of what I will call The Other. The Other is to be feared regardless of any intrinsic values that The Other may hold. It is a matter of perceived threat, not one of a realized threat...this is paranoia. And then what happens when you fear the very thing that gives you a sense of meaning and stature in the world...you oppress it.

So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor.

Follow the train of thought, the Israelites have become too numerous so oppressing them will some how fix the problem? This only makes sense if the oppressive forced labor will decrease their number...this only makes sense if the forced labor will kill them.

Politically it's a brilliant move, morally it's abhorrent.

A Biblical Theology of Ecclesieal Formation

I've been thinking about our book and what my contribution might be. I'm going back to exodus...finding that God is building a community with a certain moral, ethical, spiritual character. A people that will carry on a God tradition in the place where they dwell. I'm looking for the methodology that God uses to place certain people in certain roles. I think it might be easy to travel to the writings of Paul in order to find the gifts that God has equiped his people with, but I want the bigger picture...what has been working itself out the whole time. What kind of teaching are God's people to institute...What kind of discipline must be executed...what sort of individual and communal cultic practice is best to draw people together in worship of God? More thoughts later...

More questions but in a way that isn't sarcastic

Are there certain questions we want to compile in order to make our meeting with Dr. D as fruitful as possible? If so what would they be...perhaps you can list them here and I'll compile them. I'm sure he'll take some time getting to know everyone else before he even addresses our questions. Atleast that's what he did to me. I had several academic questions that I needed to ask him in a meeting, but before he even addressed any of them he asked me all these personal questions about my faith and family and passion for life...you know nothing big.

Questions....(said in a mysterious voice...by somebody like James Earl Jones

In response to a youth pastor's recent outreach effort I have constructed a new series that really brings a lot of hip "pizazz" along with it. I have entitled the series "QUESTIONS?" and have even taken the libirty of developing my own sweet graphic that I think will really sell the idea to the community. This graphic is so cool that only the holy spirit himself could have inspired such a creation. To this I must add a big freakin' TA DAH!!!!

Holy Week

Today Jesus enters Jerusalem...Hosanna in the Highest, Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord.

Community of Truth

I think Pharaoh's problem was that he didn't live in a community of truth. What would have happened if some dude would have come up to him and said, "umm yeah I'm pretty sure you don't have jack squat to do with the water level of the Nile, and I'm real sure you are not descended from the Sun." Well I think it's safe to say that that dude would not live long. And why would he not live long...because truth has no relevance in a community of lies.

Feeling Freedom

I didn't share this with you guys on Thursday night, but going to River Oaks was a very freeing experience for me. Everytime I've been there over the past year I would break out into a sweat and my heart rate would go way up and I'd pretty much be completely uncomfortable. Thursday was so different...I felt at peace there as if I was free from what had been following me around. It's all very supernatural...not easily explainable. So this is where God is working in me...in the unseen and yet very real.

Snapshots of Exodus

The Nuts and Bolts of dreaming beyond ourselves and wondering how such a beautiful book could have be written.

Exodus is just the Barasheet...beginning

Questions from Aaron

I'm considering something Aaron asked Matt and I this weekend. Who is Jesus among us, why did he come to town and (paraphrase) how do we organize ourselves in response? We have been told in the past that we "need a system to sort through the story of scripture" and so in polite response I say "This is our system". Still lots of questions, but I feel as though there is a solid foundation emerging. Here's the real deal for me...this is going to be a lot of work and I'm scared as hell. We are not depending on 'marketing' to build our church, but instead authenticity and passion to reach people for the Living Christ. ~beautiful~

Amazing Things From Strange Places

So many questions and possibilities ...I'm just wondering about issues of structure and vision. Where will we be in a few weeks...months...years? Several people have given me hope for the future and possibilities for direction.

Writing about dead Christians

I've been reading this book entitled Heroes of the Holy Life and I'll be honest...it makes for some lame reading. One thing I have realized is that we live in such a different Christian culture than the pastors and evangelists of old. There was this Christian ethic that was open accepted back then. Knowing Jesus seems to have been easier in some ways. So you keep getting these pictures of mass conversions and city-wide revivals. How does that translate to us?

I Realized Something Today

Today Dr. Dendiu talked about a model of counseling that views many people's reoccurring sin as a means of escape. We are hurt somewhere deep in our soul and so we continue to sin as a means of mysteriously escaping pain. It hit me as one of the biggest truths in my own life. Amazing, God really said something through that discussion. I'm finding new freedom as of late and I didn't know how wonderful it could be. I think I'm actually coming to terms with past hurt and that seems to be where change happens. It's an Exodus out of a bondage that I was unaware of...

The First Few Steps

Exciting isn't it! All the what ifs that don't seem scary, but rather inspirational. The three of us met on Saturday morning...coffee and pancakes (or french toast in my case) and I just get the sense that we can do this. We can live out that which we have been called to. Right now we seem to be caught up in the detail work, but I know that we can emerge with ultimate direction and purpose. God is making himself known in many places and sometimes we just have to stop and say wow...I didn't expect to find Him here.

What are we leaving behind?

Today I wrote a letter that was the beginning of something and at the same time it was the end of something. We are going to a new land, a place of promise where we hear God desiring the indwelling of righteousness. As we leave I can't help but wondering what we are leaving behind for good and what we might return to. New traditions, old traditions. Old habits and new habits. Saturday morning, pancakes, coffee, and our new direction. What do we need to learn as a community, what do we hear God teaching us so that we may teach others? I am excited, terrified, and humbled.