a boyhood dream realized...

When I was younger I wanted to be Kirk Cameron. Mostly because I did not yet possess the abililty to differentiate between an actor and his TV alter-ego. And there was just no one cooler on planet earth than Mike Seaver. He always kept the guys laughing, the girls swooning and the principal guessing. He had style; he had guts; he had it all.

And I wanted to be him.

As I got older, and Growing Pains got cancelled, my longing to be Mike Seaver naturally (and thankfully) waned considerably. He is still one of my favorite TV characters of all time, but frankly the guy has just done one too many Left Behind movies for my taste. However, to this day, his remains to be one of a very small number of faces that can stop my remote on a dime.

I mean, he's still Kirk Cameron.

Well, this Friday night I am going to be helping lead worship for a "The Way of the Master" conference held here in Knoxville. And who do you think is going to be speaking? Hmm...well, I'll give you a hint: his smiling face and curly hair are somewhere on this page (maybe in the upper right-hand corner of this post...maybe) .

Yep. Chances are real good that this Friday night I will be getting to meet Kirk Cameron somewhere back-stage. Unfortunately, I have to leave as soon as it is over and head to Indiana. But I am hoping to get an opportunity to chat with him a little.

And see if we can't get that Boner Stabone saved yet.

invisible children

Last night, I played a charity concert downtown and got to share a stage with some of my favorite musicians and songwriters.

That was cool...but THIS is important.

I won't tell you the whole story; you can go to the website and read that. But I will say that if you take seriously the call of Jesus to take care of the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the vulnerable...you need to check their site out.

www.invisiblechildren.com

church of scientology grows in number

Well, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have reproduced (or so we are being told).

You know what that means, the Senior Minister (or whatever they're called...'Grand Dragon' maybe?) of some Church of Scientology in L.A. is boasting that his congregation grew by at least one yesterday.

Yep. One...very scary little child. And likely future contestant on Celebrity Fit Club 27.

baptism in america, pt.3

I did not plan on posting a third time about baptism. But the conversation has continued and evolved and…well, frankly I have come to a new understanding of this discussion because of one of the comments to "baptism in america pt.2". I’ll share with you a few excerpts from that comment:

“…how about this: Baptism is essential TO salvation. See what I did there? Kept salvation and baptism and essential in there, but didn't hinge salvation ON baptism, but made it seem incomplete without it.”

“I think it would be safe to say that anyone who is serious about their relationship with Christ would be serious about their repentance. They would claim it was essential TO their faith. That it would be impossible for them to follow Jesus without repentance. That without repentance, their conversion wasn't really serious. That without repentance, the words they said didn't really have any meaning. So take everything I just wrote and insert ‘Baptism’ into it. On the issue of essential FOR salvation, won't touch it with a seven hundred and seventy seven foot pole. But if you want to ask if it is essential TO salvation...well, I think He's already spoken.”

I think that changing “for” to “to” is huge. And it is not just semantics.

The phrase, “Baptism is essential for salvation”, to me, sounds an awful lot like, “Baptism is essential for saving my butt when I die”. The word “for” makes it a conversation that is really only about what happens after death. I don’t like that. I think that is a horribly inappropriate way to talk about such a beautiful and powerful thing.

But the phrase, “Baptism is essential to salvation” seems, to me, to say, “Baptism is essential to the salvation that I am continually working out with fear and trembling. Or in other words: it is essential to my life with Christ, which is my salvation.”

And I completely agree with that.

The reason I agree is because eternal life starts at the moment of conversion. The abundant life which Jesus offers is available now, not just in heaven. And exactly what is this eternal and abundant life? It is our life…if our life is one lived with Christ. But that life is not complete upon conversion or ever during our time on this planet. It requires…and even more than requires, it inspires and enables growth and maturity and development.

The point of my previous post on baptism was, let’s change the discussion about what is essential for death to what is vital for life.

See, we Americans are so obsessed with the end product that we constantly under-estimate the importance of the means.

Think about it…we actually microwave food. How telling is that? We make the decision on a daily basis to sacrifice flavor for convenience. So it’s not surprising that we do the same thing with matters of faith.

Not suprising...but unfortunate.

Let’s revisit the marriage analogy. I previously stated that getting married was not, in the secular and practical sense, essential to my wife and I being able to live together, have sex and eventually start a family. Could we still have that type relationship with out the marriage? Yes. But, it is so much more abundant and complete now. I wouldn’t skip the July 12, 2003 part of our relationship for the world. What we did on that day was much more than ceremony or ritual. And it was even more than just an act of obedience to what we thought was commanded.

Something deep and right happened that day.

Something that is essential to the way we now live.

And, you know, I am good with the comparison that the comment makes between repentance and baptism. Peter linked the two together, so I think it is fair and safe to make such a comparison.

Repentance is not something that I do because of the effect it will have on my death. It is something that I do because of the effect is has on my life with Christ.

And so it should be with baptism.

Previously I wrote, “Is it (baptism) essential? I couldn’t care less…”.

The problem is that I was relating the word “essential” to salvation as it occurs upon death, instead of the salvation that we live out every moment of every day. Because in that sense, is baptism essential? Yeah, I think so.

And I couldn’t care more about that.

lord over me

(click here to listen this song)

How unworthy am I in Your presence
Hands are dirty, heart full of sin
How do I look through eyes made for perfection
I have never felt such compassion

You call me beautiful
You call me loved

And I fall down at Your feet
Proclaiming You merciful and holy
And I fall down at Your feet
Anointing You worthy as Lord over me

I have never felt such compassion
How unworthy, I bow before You
Here's my every desire and possesion
All I have is the least that You're due

I wrote this song from the first-person perspective of the sinful woman who fell at Jesus' feet in Luke 7. And when I first wrote it, the words to the chorus were:

And my tears fall at Your feet
Proclaiming You merciful and holy
And my tears at Your feet
Anointing You worthy as Lord over me

And actually, the song makes more sense and remains closer to the story in Luke with the original lyrics. But I changed it because I felt like the current chorus is more universal and easier for your average congregant to grab onto and make his/her own. And I don't believe that changing it severed the song from the story.

And that was important, because that story is one of my favorite stories in the bible.

Basically, Jesus was dining at a Pharisee's house one night. Back before tv, radio or the daily newspaper, when an important person in the community invited another important person over for dinner, it was not uncommon for large crowds to gather outside the house and listen in to the conversation. So, for that woman to be in attendance that night was not unusual.

However, her response to seeing Jesus was.

Apparently she had had a previous encounter with Jesus and knew that He was special. We don't know what the encounter consisted of...but she had obviously been shaken to the core by the words or deeds of the Man she was now watching from afar.

And in seeing Him again...she snapped.

She broke out from the crowd and drew unwanted attention to herself by running towards Christ. Certainly the people in the crowd knew this woman...or at least her reputation. They would have found it embarrassing and completely inappropriate for her to approach a Pharisee, let alone whoever this Jesus guy might be.

How unbelievably humbling would it be to come before a Man who you know is privy to every horrible thing you have ever done? How dirty would you feel knowing that these eyes, that were made to gaze upon the splendor and perfection of the inner sanctuaries of heaven, now fell upon you, in all your filth and despair? How pathetic would you feel having nothing with which to clean the feet of this holy Man, except your salty tears and matted hair?

And then...how would it feel for Him to look at you, and despite all of the above, call you beautiful and loved?

Well...that'd probably be enough for you to pour out everything that used to be of worth to you and call this Man: Lord and Christ.

baptism in america, pt.2

I don't know why, but for some reason that USA Today article (see previous post) really got me thinking.

And the more I have thought about it, I think the biggest reason that people don't care to get baptized anymore is because people just don't see the point.

Nobody thinks that baptism is essential for salvation anymore.

And, well...I don't think that I do either.

I mean, I think that it is commanded. I think that it is good and right and pleasing to God. I think that there is no good reason for you NOT to be baptized if you believe Christ is who He says He is and want to allign your life with His. I think Christ did it and taught us to. I think the apostles did it and assumed that every other Christian would to. And...I think that it is proper.

But essential? My opinion is that it is not our place to use such a word when talking about baptism. My opinion is that we should concern ourselves with obedience, and leave the figuring out of what is essential and what isn't to God. Because...regardless of what we think or believe, you know He gets it right every time.

And frankly, God is probably saying, "Wait, wait, wait...who said anything about "essential"? I just want you to do it because it brings you and I closer together and it connects us on a level that is, granted, deeper than you are able to currently comprehend...but I didn't think that would matter. I just figured you would want to. Man, I wish you guys would stop worrying so much about what is going to happen between you and I when you die, and start concerning yourselves a little more with what could happen between you and I right now."

You know, this time three years ago I could have looked at my wife and said, "Babe, let's not do the whole wedding thing. I mean, we can still move in together and have sex and eventually start a family without actually getting married and going through all that ritual and ceremonial mumbo-jumbo. Let's just skip all that."

I could have done that.

But it would have robbed my wife of the opportunity to get all her friends and family together; get dressed in all white; and slowly walk through the middle of the room while every person in attendance stands to their feet and glues their eyes to her radiant face. It would have robbed her of the one day in her life when she gets to be, all day long, far and away, the most beautiful and important person in the world. And it would have robbed her of the opportunity to hear me declare, in front of almost every person we know, that I love her and want to live the rest of my life loving her, loving only her.

Yeah...I could have done that. But it would have been stupid and selfish. And I would have sacrificed a blessing to my own soul, because my mind reasoned it was unnecessary.

But still, I could have done that. Because, in the secular and practical sense, marriage is not "essential"...but it sure is better.

I think that it is absolutely vital that we start teaching our people that there is power in baptism; that there is mystery and beauty in baptism; that baptism is a privledge, an honor, a joy, not a have to, but a get to. We need to start teaching our people the importance of baptism as a connection to Christ, to our rich history and to one another.

Oh, if God's people could begin to see baptism again for what it truly is...

Is it logical? Probably not.
Is it practical? I don't know.
Is it essential? I couldn't care less...
Because it is wonderful.

And it is ours to claim and freely partake in.

Why aren't Americans getting baptized anymore? Because we, Christians, have spent all our time and energy speculating on its possible effect on our deaths...rather than rejoicing in its powerful effect on our lives.

baptism in america

Here is a very interesting article from USA Today regarding the decline in the number of baptisms in the United States in recent years.

This discouraging trend is currently shared by all denominations: Catholics, Southern Baptists, Methodists, even non-denominational churches.

Personally, I thought the part about the growth of the "Seeker" Church, which generally down-plays tradition and ancient rituals in it's attempt to make faith appealing by making it simple, practical and non-threatening, as being a part of the problem was especially interesting. The non-denominational "Seeker" Church is the type of church that I have been a part of for the past decade, and my opinion is that this observation is quite accurate.

Do you have any thoughts on the article?

(NOTE: this article does quote Brian McLaren and Rob Bell. So, come on...you know its worth reading.)

the war on easter

Finally, a cause worth backing. I know, I know...we could concern ourselves with fighting world hunger, or unfair foreign trade policies, or things of that nature. But why worry about petty issues like that when the real problem with our world is so obvious: Easter.

Check this out.

So apparently a belief that has survived and spread under intense scrutiny for the last 2,000 years (literally since day one) is going be taken down a notch or two this Sunday by 666 copies (Ooo, clever) of a DVD that will childishly be snuck into and left inside various churches across the nation. Impressive. This Brian Flemming guy is quite possibly a bigger tool than Michael Moore (which I did not know was possible).

He is either unbelievably arrogant or unbelievably foolish. Or...more than likey, he is just in it to make money and understands that stirring religious controversy is a very lucrative business. In that case, I applaud the guy because I'm sure he will be extremely successful.

But if he is even slightly sincere in believing that this will have any kind of effect what-so-ever on Christianity...he is moron. A comletely and utter moron.

By the way, Mr. Flemming, I am also a "a self-described 'former Christian Fundamentalist'". But that doesn't make me hate Jesus...just Christian Fundamentalism.

But whatever, good luck with your mission. I am sure you will accomplish...something.

an apology

I realize that I haven't been real good at updating my blog recently. I realize that and I apologize...to those of you who care anyway. See, I have recently been extraordinarly busy and pretty daggone sick, too. But what is worse than being sick and tired...and really a side-effect of being sick and tired...is that I have had very little going in recently.

And with little going in...I just have not had much coming out.

So...I apologize. I will try and do better. I am now healthy again and, post-Easter Sunday, my life should slow down a bit.

Thanks for your patience.

getting my strep on

Alright...so I got a bit cocky.

As I have mentioned before, during the trip out west every one of the guys got sick...except me. While they were throwing-up all over themselves, I was having a good ole time, just as healthy as can be. And maybe it went to my head a little. Maybe I started to wonder if I was some kind of super-human, immune to any earthly virus or disease. I mean, every single person gets sick except for me...that has to signify my superiority over the average man, doesn't it?

Apparently not. With my immune system weakened from battling the rebel stomache virus all day every day for more than a week, my body was left defenseless and Strep Throat strolled in with little to no resistance.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

And not only did Strep Throat decided to take-over my battle-laden body, but he brought along his lackeys: the Flu and Sinus Infection. And the three of them have been partying it up the last 5 or 6 days.

So, I am not super-human. Okay, I get it. Point made. Now I am ready to be well again.

Funny story:
Tuesday, when my wife got home from work, she took me to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions. While she was inside, I was sitting in the front seat of the car reading the inside of a CD sleeve while Harley, our pug, sat on my lap. Harley loves people and was staring out the window hoping to draw the attention of every person who passed by. She apparently caught the eye of one particular gentlemen who was parked in the spot to our immediate right. Thinking that she was a very precious dog (which she is), he proceeded to pucker his lips and make kissy sounds towards her.

That is normal enough.

But the whole episode took an extremely ackward turn when I looked up from the CD sleeve and locked-in eye contact with this gentlemen...mid kissy-face. Now this guy is no longer making a kissy-face towards my dog...he's making it towards me.

And we don't know even eachother.

He's just some random middle-aged guy, with a wife and kids, who had to pick up some AA batteries for the garage door opener on his way home from work (I'm guessing) and is now making a kissy-face towards some sickly-looking guy lying near death in the front seat of his car.

Creepy.

So Strep hasn't been all bad...at least it provided me with that funny encounter. Although it hurts to laugh, so even then I couldn't enjoy it fully. But I am ready to be over it and back to normal.

If not super-human...at least normal.