I've been using a new blogging interface called w.bloggar (download). Works straight into my Blogger website, but I don't have to be signed onto Blogger to use it. I don't even have to be signed on the internet. I can write and edit posts off-line, then just sign on whenever I want to post them. It's got a pretty neat little group of editing whatzit's. I love little editing whatzit's.

bs

Totally boring day at work. Plenty of things to do...just brain fried from doing too many of them. Smoke coming out of ears and I'm hearing "TILT" gongs in my head. Time to go home.

bs

Christian Exodus :: Come Out of Her, My People

That's a new one on me...Christian Constitutionalist? I'm surprised they didn't move to Oklahoma to do this.

"ChristianExodus.org is moving thousands of Christian constitutionalists to specific cities and counties in South Carolina through a series of emigrations. Our board of directors considers the values of this state to be very similar to the values held by our membership. Additionally, South Carolina possesses a rich history of standing up for her rights.

The cities and counties will be selected based upon, but not limited to, the following criteria:

1. Voter turnout in primary elections.
2. Voter turnout in general elections.
3. Moral nature of the electorate.
4. Cost of living/housing.
5. Economic and employment opportunity.
6. Christian educational choices (including home school networks)."

I wonder how much Kingdom impact there would be if these same folks moved to New York or L.A. and devoted themselves to living out the Sermon on the Mount? I wonder what would happen if I started doing that???

-BS

Now, that's what I'm talkin' about...

The overshadowing event of the last two centuries of Christian life has been the struggle between Orthodoxy and Modernism. In this struggle the primary issue has, as a matter of fact, not been discipleship to Christ and a transformation of soul that expresses itself in pervasive, routine obedience to his "all that I have commanded you." Instead, both sides of the controversy have focussed almost entirely upon what is to be explicitly asserted or rejected as essential Christian doctrine. In the process of battles over views of Christ the Savior, Christ the Teacher was lost on all sides.

Discipleship as an essential issue disappeared from the Churches, and, with it, there also disappeared realistic plans and programs for the transformation of the inmost self into Christlikeness. One could now be a Christian forever without actually changing in heart and life. Right profession, positive or negative, was all that was required. This has now produced generations of professing Christians which, as a whole, do not differ in character, but only in ritual, from their non-professing neighbors; and, in addition, a massive population has now arisen in America which believes in God, even self-identifies as "spiritual," but will have nothing to do with Churches--often as a matter of pride.

What is new in the current revival of interest in spiritual formation is the widespread recognition that by-passing authentic, pervasive, and thorough transformation of the inner life of the human being is not desirable, not necessary, and may be not permissible. We are seeing that the human soul hungers for transformation, for wholeness and holiness, is sick and dying without it, and that it will seek it where it may--even if it destroys itself in the process. We are seeing that the Church betrays itself and its world if it fails to make clear and accessible the path of thoroughgoing inner transformation through Christ.

Dallas Willard, in an article at Alleon.

I think Dallas (I can call him Dallas; I've met him...) is saying that doctrine is like a tool chest. We love our doctrine. And a tool chest full of good doctrine is necessary in order for us to do the work of the Kingdom. But, we spend all our time polishing up our doctrinal tools, thinking that if we get our doctrine right, then that will transform us into Christlikeness. Nope. At some point we've got to get the tools out and let the Lord start banging and sawing and doing the work of transformation. Orthodoxy is the tool box; but Discipleship is "job one."

-BS

Wow...look at THIS! After Viet Nam invaded Cambodia, Cambodian refugees hid in the jungle for 25 years, scared that the Vietnamese were going to get them. Uh...the war's over, dude.

What a happy coincidence...

I saw a disturbing cartoon/bumper sticker yesterday.

"What a happy coincidence. God hates the same people I do."

Ouch. Do I do that? That's something I'm working on right now. Trying to get out of my own head and develop the "mind of Christ" on things. Forget my perspective; what's His perspective? Forget what I've always heard about "Christian values." What does the Word say that Christian values are? Forget my picture post card idea of Jesus; what did he really say, and how did he really live?

Certainly the Carpenter of Nazareth did not come to earth to die in an effort to reinforce my preconceived notions. He came, in great part, to challenge the world's structure and thought pattern. Much of that world thought pattern is still embedded in me. He came to transform me. The kingdom of this world is "upside down" compared to His Kingdom (see the Beatitudes) and I can not just comfortably assume that my thoughts are in line with His. He's got to keep reminding me to re-evaluate, constantly.

Please go read "Citizens of the Empire - Thoughts on Patriotism, Dissent and Hope" by Robert Jensen (a .pdf file, so you can read it online).

Jensen challenges my comfortable thought patterns about nationhood, patriotism and citizenship. As a Christian, it leaves me with some disturbing questions to answer. As a Christian, am I a citizen of the United States, or am I a citizen of the world? In answering that, what does it mean to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God? As a citizen of the United States, I know I have the "right" to dissent and speak out when I disagree with the government. In fact, Jensen would say I do not just have a "right," but an obligation. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, though, how much deeper is my obligation? Forget my duty as an American; what is my duty to my King?

America is slipping further and further into empire. We like to think of ourselves as a benevolant empire, but are we being blind to our own arrogance and violence? Because of our power, it is easy for us to impose our will on other people. Because we can easily impose our will, there is a natural temptation to use our power to selfish ends. We like to tell ourselves that we use our power for noble causes; yet are we just kidding ourselves?

Iraq, for example. If Iraq did not control so much of the world's oil supply, would we even know where it is, much less be concerned with "bringing democracy" and stopping Saddam from killing his own people? If our international motives are truely to relieve suffering, bring democracy and stop genocide, then why haven't we intervened in East Timor, Sudan or any of the other shameful examples of genocide around the planet? How many tyrants has our country supported (including Saddam), and how much genocide and injustice have we knowingly ignored, because of our "national [usually economic] interest"? Quite often America acts with good motives, to help the oppressed and bring justice; but quite often America acts with evil or selfish motives, to line its own pocket and to sacrifice the security, freedom and economics of other people in order to make sure that the people of America are wealthy and have cheap gas.

I fear that someday future generations will look back on this time and wonder where all the Christians were. This is a "What would Jesus do?" question. Will future Christians look back on us some day and wonder why we kept silent, or allowed ourselves to be blinded to injustice because we were so focused on being "patriotic" or winning an election? Not that we necessarily fit into the "Nazi" mold, but millions of German Christians bought into the Third Reich, and a few (e.g., Bonhoffer) fought against it. As Christian citizens of the new "Empire America," how will history judge us? Will we be remembered as Christians who spoke from a true Kingdom perspective, as voices of the true King; or will we go down as one more generation of Christians who towed the party line, and waved flags and watched while our government created, or approved of, unspeakable attorcities around the globe?

And the personal question to me now is, what am I going to do? How should I then live?

Have we found a new church?

Since the demise of Water's Edge, we have been trying to figure out where we fit within "the body of Christ." Do we even "go to church" anymore, or just do home church? Do we go denominational, megachurch, small town church, etc.?

This Sunday we visited, for about the fifth time, one of our local congregations. It consists of about 50% college age and 20 somethings, but still has a fair amount of grey hairs attending. The music is progressive (edgy...way on past "choruses") and the preaching is great. I still feel a real pull to be involved with young people. Sue and I both enjoy the worship time. I think we may have found a good candidate. If I want to be involved in ministry to young people, this would be a place to be.

Concerns:

I'm still not convinced that we need to struggle to find a "building" to worship in. Sometimes "going to church" can numb you from "being the church." Is God just asking us to be satisfied with our home church and not worry about finding a building with a bunch of people?

Although I enjoy the young crowd, and the preaching, and the music, do I really sense a heart for "outreach" in the new church? It's a fairly new church plant. They have poured their energy into reaching out to youth and college age...is it fair to expect them to have already developed a ministry to the poor, for example? Actually, I do not feel that this church is too inward focused. If I give them some time, or become involved myself, I will probably discover a heart for outreach that I just don't see yet.

How will we get to know people? There is no "sunday school" structure; everything is in small groups. That's tremendous; except we already have a small group meeting in our home. Will we miss out at the new church because we are not in one of their home groups?

Oh well...don't know. I do know that He's in charge of this. But we still need to listen closely so that we get His plan and not ours.

The Return of the Prodigal Blogger.

Not sure I should even do this, but here I am blogging again. I question whether this activity is worth the effort. If no one is reading this, is this merely a glorified diary? If it is a diary, then why keep it public? If people do read it, even occasionally, is it wise to be revealing anything of any substance? And, if we're not dealing with substance here, then what's the point? Is it all just ego?

I notice that Blogger seems to give you many new editing and formatting possibilities. I've been looking around at some of the other blogging programs. But, I'm not really sure what real benefits they would give me over Blogger. Shows how long it's been since I've looked at Blogger.

OK. So here I am, back "on the air." Guess I'll try to add this to my morning routine. (Gee Brad, try not to act so excited about it.)