I don’t get it…

Help me out…hydrogen gas technology around for 30 years…and we still act like the technology doesn’t exist.

I don’t get it.  Somebody….anybody…help me out.  How has this gone on this long?

The Joker…eat your heart out: How is Jack Nicholson one of the coolest guys in the world…even 30 years ago?  My man buries his face in his exhaust and says… “steam bath…” Are you kidding me?  Hilarious.

How about “Carrrrrr…”?  You gotta love it.

This video is a must see filmed in 1978 of Jack Nicholson’s hydrogen car - great footage.

“Wall-E” better than Batman’s “Dark Knight?”

I didn’t think it was appropriate to take my four-year-old son to the new Batman movie “Dark Knight” (it was a close call though)…so instead, we journeyed over to watch Pixar Disney’s animated “Wall-E.”  

Wall-E truly is a movie that needs to be seen by everyone.  If you care – you’ll leave caring even more – and if you don’t care, you’ll start to.  This movie fell right into my wheelhouse of what I’ve been going through this year.  How could a movie, for kids, about Robots, with all of 15 words said through the entire movie (of which not a single word was uttered for the first 25 minutes) keep anyone engaged, much less keep us on the edge of our seats?  It did so by tackling some incredibly hard truths regarding earth, life and purpose.  In about the year 2300, earth has become a desolate land filled entirely with skyscraper heaps of garbage…an abundance of garbage due to the overconsumption of the world.  Basically - it declares the exact place we’re headed if we keep living the way we’re all living.  It painfully depicts and plays right into what makes us tick at the heart of our culture.  All human existence has basically used up all of what the earth has to offer - and now lives in a mammoth quasi-cruise ship in space named the “Axiom.”  It cuts like a knife when you learn that the corporation that hosts this “new life” as “BnL” which stand for “Buy-Now-Large.”  It plays into consumerism really, really well.  I have no idea if anyone could leave the theatre without feeling uncomfortable…especially after holding our traditional 5-gallon buckets of popcorn and 64 oz sodas…it was great.  All of mankind on the ship is referred to as “Auto-Pilots” showing how we’ve all become so numb to real life, destined just to follow status quo living for our next purchase to satisfy our insatiable need to consume and gain for ourselves.  Humans live in moving recliners, served their every need by robots, never having to lift a finger for anything - becoming ever so blind to human touch, love and real life encounters.

All of this is taking place in the background, while Wall-E discovers something that everyone is in search for.  I don’t want to ruin the movie and tell you what it is - but it’s powerful.  It’s amazing what it is and even more amazing in what it symbolizes.  At one point, the captain of the perfect world Axiom ship, is given eyes to see and declares, “I don’t want to just survive anymore, I want to live.”  It was incredible.  I recently heard a quote that has played a part in shaping my recent existence that says, “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.”  We’re a people plagued by status quo.  We’re daunted by staying safe and self-protection.  We’re drowning in being conservative…rather than taking this world by storm - and turning it upside down.  We’re promised the Kingdom has come and is coming to earth - why don’t we start acting like it?  Why can’t we push each other and ourselves to the limits to bring about change and a fuller existence in life?  When do we realize status quo is directly from the world’s system and has nothing to do with the Kingdom or a higher life?  It’s Tyler Durden in “Fight Club” that says, “I don’t want to die without any scars.”  I’m finally starting to understand what he means.  I don’t either and I refuse to.  I’ve played it safe for too long.  Tyler just wants someone to punch him right in the face so he can actually “feel” something for once.  

We’re not called to drag this body through earth like a corpse until we “get to the other side.”  We’re called to be co-creators and dreamers with God.  Why aren’t you more excited to get up in the morning?  If this is true - why won’t tomorrow be the greatest day of your life?  It won’t be, because we’re going to do the same thing we did yesterday.  We won’t take any risks and we won’t take any chances.

We need to Dream Big.  We need to change and be transformed.  We need to live out the Really Real and turn the world upside down.  That doesn’t mean anything more than it affecting your own little world. That’s not a daunting task that seems impossible - because it truly just means your own little world, tomorrow.  The people around you, your co-workers, your job, your money, your kids, and your community.  

Wall-E brought to back to earth, life…at all costs.  At all costs.

As the credits come at the end of the movie, it ends with an amazing Peter Gabriel song, “Down to Earth” and the first line says, “Did you think that your feet had been bound by what gravity brings to the ground?”

Let’s not be a people defined by what grounds us - but rather by all the things that’s left to be imagined.  There’s a song we sing that says, “The only limit left for us is what we dare believe.”  

So what do we believe?  Status quo just barely making it through our day?  Or Life in abundance?

I’m taking my ball and going home.

I have a four year old boy named Carson and a two year girl old named Josie. I’ve played catch with my son a lot thus far in his life…but never with Josie…until this weekend.  So the three of us - played catch together.  Josie is just now at the age physically that she is able to understand how the game works.  You know - I throw it to Carson…he throws it to her…and she throws it back to me.

All weekend long - the same thing would happen over and over again.  I’d throw it to Carson, he’d throw it to her…then…then…she’d just keep it.  She knew what she was supposed to do - but she couldn’t bring it to herself to give up the ball.  She just wouldn’t throw it back…she just couldn’t give it up.  She was so afraid that if she gave the ball up - she wouldn’t get it back.  She knew as soon as she threw the ball back to me…she was risking it not coming back to her.  What fun is it to give up the ball and have it not come back?  It’s not.

 

But what she didn’t realize…was that there was plenty of ball to go around.  There was more than enough to share.  There was more than enough to give it up…and have it come back to her.  I’m watching this happen and I become sad.  I’m sad because she was too worried about what she was losing that she missed all of the fun.  She was so concerned that the ball wouldn’t come back to her…that she missed the whole point of the game.

 

In other words - she was hoarding the ball.

 

So let’s think about this…having more than enough to go around…keeping more for yourself…never having enough…hmmm - something sounds familiar…

 

…I just can’t put my finger on it.

It’s great.  I’ll stop thinking about it - that way I don’t have to come up with an answer.

Bill Clinton Endorses Barack Obama…

And no…I don’t want to see any of your “I think Obama is a Muslim” posts…just view, laugh and tell me I’m funny.

 

“All I need”

This Radiohead video is a deeply moving comparison between two worlds.  Two worlds that until recently, I never knew existed.  Now that I know…and I can’t ignore it any longer.  For some, everything must change.  This video wrecked me.  As I watch, I see my own boy on left and contrast with so many others on the right.  I’m thankful…but then I realize - it’s not enough just to be “thankful” then move on about my day ignoring what I know.

The tension lies between a pair of shoes.  The point of the video?  The video ends with this line…“Some things cost more than you realize.”

(ht: C. Wess Daniels)

Pangea Day

4 Hours.  24 Films.  A new way to see the world.

On May 10th, gather to watch films made by the world for the world, broadcast live around the globe.

This event is a worldwide event designed to be watched as a community.  We’re hosting an event at our house to accomplish the following things:

1. Expand our horizon and awareness to “others” beyond ourselves around the world.

2. To connect with those around us in our community that share the same heart to love one another.

3. To be inspired.  I love the Pangea Day quote: “Movies can’t change the world, but people who watch them do.”  In a world that is so easy to see our differences - we need to keep focus on God’s dream for the world and realize how He includes us that dream!  To truly be inspired to change the world - to experience His Kingdom here on earth.

Come see the world through different eyes.  Begin to change the lenses from which you’ve viewed the world from your entire life - one of self and individualism.  Gather with people that have different social classes, different economic classes, different race, different background…and gather together to find your similarities.

If you’re in the Portland-Vancouver area on May 10th - please join us!  If you aren’t going to be in our area, think about hosting your own event or finding one near you.

If you end up hosting an event - share your experiences with us!!

 

Here and Now…

You know those times…when you’d just like to camp out for a bit…when the glimpse In is just too much?  I’m overwhelmed this morning…I’m overwhelmed by the Kingdom.  

What’s that mean?  What’s that really mean?

It means everything.  It means all.  It mean that everything matters.  It means the Kingdom is here and now.  It means we don’t have to wait.  It means…it means that God is for us.  The God of this universe is actually for us!  No guilt.  No pressure.  No competition.  Just love.  His overwhelming love.  We can go in this world and love and be loved! 

Now.  

Not tomorrow.  Not when I have more time.  Not when I get out of debt.  Not when life gets better.  Here and Now. Why wait for Heaven?  Why wait for Heaven…when Jesus says “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  In a world that is constantly reminding us that its’ foundation is fear, power and control…this Kingdom is here and now.  We don’t have to live the way the world lives.  Instead of fear, power and control - we can live by Love, by Hope and by Faith…all things that are His life!  In reality they are Him.  We call them different names, but they’re all Him - distinctively.  We don’t have to project this Life into “another world.”  This reality can be our reality of today.  This changes everything!  This is our Hope - a hope that truly satisfies.

God calls us to live in the tension between two realms, holding them precious together.  He’s telling His story.  Truly, what part will you play today?

There’s so much here.  There’s so much more to come - it’s just too much…

And life could not be more exciting.  Today is the most exciting day of our lives.

Sometimes, the worst part of buying something…

…is the buying part.

Check out this very quick post by marketing guru Seth Godin.

I love Seth.  I read him and subscribe to him.  But this is the consumerism that scares me.  It all scares me, but the simplicity of this is unbelievable.

Buying never satisfies.  It’s the world’s most accepted form of Heroin.  Our economy is driven and actually measured by it.  We actually measure how “well” our economy is doing by its’ production and consumption.

Let’s, as a “called out people,” stop this hypnotic dance with the world.  How incredible and earth shaking would it be…if Christians started to recognize this trance of consumerism we’ve fallen into.  We’d suddenly not fit into this system very well would we?  Right now, we’re “okay.”  We’re accepted - actually we’re loved. Because we consume…a lot.  Everything must change. 

Tramps like us…

I Can’t Stand It Anymore…

“Since 1913, the United States witnessed only one other year of such unequal wealth distribution — 1928, the year before the stock market crashed, according to Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington.”

I wish this quote wasn’t true.  I wish I could post about how things in the United States were improving…that the gap between the wealthy and poor was diminshing - but it’s not.  It’s getting worse, much worse.

One of the leading hedge fund managers, John Paulson, made $3.7 billion dollars in 2007.  No typo here…it really is $3.7 billion…BILLION…in one year…for one man.  It’s 14 times more than Oprah Winfrey and 32 times more than Tiger Woods made last year!

Is the gap really widening?  The amount executives are making is 18 times more than they did in 2002.  It’s clearly widening.

If you can stomach it, click here for the full article.

The Tension: A year ago - I’d be defending these executives.  They work hard-They risk big-They deserve every penny they make.  But I can’t do it anymore.  This world’s system is all about “getting mine” no matter at whose expense.  As long as I get mine - it doesn’t matter if you “get yours.”  This is the ultimate in self-protection.  There is so much here.  This is what this blog is about.  How do we, as a called out people, operate completely in contrast to this world’s system?  A recent Barna study revealed that Christianity is so closely connected to consumerism that believers can barely be distinguished from the outside culture. “Barely” may even be a stretch.  We’ve got to look different. We’ve got to subvert this empire.  This is why I blog.  To share with you how I’m being transformed and to hear how each of you are being transformed.  How the decisions you’re making don’t make any sense to the world and even to the Christian system.  How your lives are being invaded and taken over by a new Kingdom culture…and to hear how instead of this being depressing…its actually the best thing that’s ever happened to you!!  

Please don’t be quiet any longer.  The world is listening.  Other disciples are listening.  We need to share and hear from each other.

How is the Kingdom culture invading your life?  How is your world being turned upside down?

 

 

 

Is Theology Important?

I think its important for us to realize that Theology and Doctrine are not the same thing.  With most of us having departed from the institutional church, it’s easy to have a slight fear to reluctancy to use some words or terms - and I think Theology is one of them.  The word seems so scholarly, so rigid, so pedantic, it seems maybe “unpractical” and maybe meant to be discussed exclusively by clergy or at least intellectuals.  And I don’t think those could be more wrong.  I do however think it’s completely normal for us to feel this way about the word - but also be good to become comfortable with the word again.  To me, Theology simply means - “thoughts on God.”  That’s it?  That’s it.  It’s your thoughts on God.  And the cool thing is, we all have them - even if we think we do or not.  We all have our thoughts and opinions on God based on the things we’ve been taught and the experiences we’ve had or not had.  Everything we’re taught and every experience shapes our “thoughts on God.”  ”I believe God is a loving God because he rescued me from a horrible time in my life.”  Or, “I think God is an unloving God because he didn’t rescue me from a horrible time in my life.”  So, since we all realize we all have a Theology - it hopefully will become easier and more comfortable to share it with each other.  Most importantly - we need to realize: our different Theology doesn’t mean one of us is right and one of us is wrong.  We can’t be afraid to share with each other in fear that my thoughts don’t match up with your thoughts.  They’re just thoughts - you don’t have to cling on to them or be afraid of them.

For me, I’m realizing how valuable it is to write them down.  I think we tend to gloss over some of our thoughts or beliefs about God without REALLY thinking about what that means or why we think that way.  How many of you would be comfortable answering this question in front of the group: What does it mean to you that “we meet under the headship of Jesus Christ?”  How comfortable to would you be to answer that right now?  I think most of us would agree to that statement, but I don’t know how many would be comfortable answering it.  So, I think writing it down - makes you ACTUALLY think about what you think about.  You can’t just skip over a thought if you actually have to write it down.  It’s so easy to skip over thoughts and think - “well, I just know what that means…”

And for me - writing isn’t easy.  It’s not easy and I don’t like it.  But - I think there is value for us all to stretch ourselves and be able to write out our thoughts on God or Core Values.  I think it’s easy to maybe just fall on just believing what my husband believes or what this or that brother believes.  How incredible would it be for somebody to sit down to write down their core values …and really not know what to write down.  How exciting is that??  I think both - scary and exciting actually.  And that’s okay.  Normal and okay.  The greatest thing about seeing what everyone’s Theology and Core Values are…is that it will effect and shape my Theology.   This Christian life indeed continues to be a shared One…how incredible is that?

As far as Doctrine goes: Doctrine and Core Values could defined as being similar - both meaning “beliefs or positions.”  But the difference - and it’s a biggie - is that doctrine refers to a “principle of law.”  And I don’t believe this exercise that we’re doing has anything to do with Doctrine or putting law into effect.  There’s a huge difference between a belief you have versus a law that is mandatory.  One you self protect and the other you don’t.  One breeds Life and the other one breeds death.

So, let’s realize that we’re doing this exercise to find our Lord in together and not to find reasons to split or disagree.  Not meeting together because our beliefs are a little different from each has been done before…again…and again….and again.  We don’t all believe the exact same thing…hey, maybe that could be one of our core values…  Also, it’s important that visitors know what we believe.  We can’t depend on “personal one-one-one’s” to accomplish this everytime we have a visitor.  So - knowing what we believe is two fold!!  For us AND for visitors.

I’ll end with this:

We have to be okay with being wrong.  We have to be okay with not knowing everything.  We have to be okay with realizing that we don’t have God figured out.  We have to be okay with the fact that our “core values” may look different a week after we write them down.  We have to be okay with our Theologies looking different after talking with a fellow Brother or Sister.  And just because you write something down - doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong.  It just means that it was for you at that moment in time.  It is okay to be wrong.  Let’s agree that we’re going to look back on our lives five years from now and realize that we missed the boat on some things…and be okay with that.

It’s not about right or wrong - it’s about Christ.  And it’s about what it means “to be about Christ.”  It’s about God telling His story and us getting to be a part of it.  It’s about His life being lived out in each one of us while living in the tension between two realms.

Life could not be more exciting.