 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Well I went to church on-line today! It is Sunday so I had to go to church this morning, right? But this Sunday morning was a little different. I decided to watch the Leadership and Compassion / Civil Forum, hosted by Rick Warren at Saddleback Church (so I went to church).
This blog has entire forum setup to watch. It’s all youtube so it loads like butter and is easy to watch. You can find this video all over the place though.
Rick Warren asked the same questions to both candidates separately. I thought it was a pretty helpful format. I think it helps to get a feel for both candidates and helps to really hear what they each have to say on particular topics.
If you want a real side-by-side comparison check this out. It’s the transcript with the answers next to each other, pretty helpful to be able to read it this way.
For me, Obama said a lot of convincing things and carries himself way better than McCain… in my opinion. I probably agree with them both on some things but with neither of them on all things.
Politics :: Who knows!
That’s where i’m at. I really want to follow Jesus and still don’t feel like I have a good grasp on how the Jesus following Christian would interact in the world of politics. I think it’s way more complicated that most of us let it be. Or maybe I just make it to complicated. Who knows!
What do you think?
I like the idea of voting for Jesus. I’m looking forward to reading Shane Claiborne’s book. I do understand that can be a trite escape from a real obligation. But maybe not.
Who are you getting behind these days? And why?
PS: I am going to REAL church tonight. A friend of mine is playing drums at North Coast Church, Carlsbad campus. Haven’t been there and I am looking forward to it!
Shalom (now that’s political !!!)
“Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “ Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
QUESTIONS:
Is it not natural that in the middle of a storm, when the waves are crashing in and about to consume you, that you would cry out to the Lord? And more than just natural is that not a good response, to turn and cry out to the Lord?
Fairly recently I heard Rob Bell ask the question, “What do you think God is doing?” He went on to explain that your answer to that question will reflect your theology, your thinking and speaking about God.
I think that’s true.
So what do you think God is doing these days?
My life is currently in upheaval and when I hear that question, “What is God doing?” my honest response is, “Good question.”
The mental image that has come to my mind is that God is juggling a lot of balls or spinning a lot of plates. My plate is dwarfed in term of importance and seriousness of need and so I wonder if God has quite spinning my plate momentarily or has dropped my ball!
Simply; it feels like the waves are engulfing me!
I understand the poor theology of this mental picture. But these days I feel much more solidarity with the psalmist than I do with the disciples.
What do you think God is doing?
Tags: bible, Rob Bell, theology
A friend of mine from High School recently ran across my blog. It’s always crazy when that happens! But my friend, James Chambers is follow Jesus and working on his M.A. these days. He’s got some good things to say, you should check out his blog. He recently read a book by Scot McKnight, a fellow pretzel (our home town mascot). The book looks pretty good, i’m excited to read it. He asked me if he could post the review on my blog and i thought, “Why not.” Let’s make it book review week here at Revolutionary Thoughts. Enjoy!
——————————————————
This past week I was awarded the opportunity to read Scot McKnight’s new book The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How you Read the Bible before it actually is released (Projected Release Date is November 2008). If you are not familiar with Scot McKnight you can check out his blog, Jesus Creed, here. Scot is a fellow Freeport native and I have been reading his blog for over a year. However, this is my first opportunity to read one of his books and I am very happy to have been given the opportunity to read his book.
Being a graduate student I am constantly reading. Desiring to become a college teacher I continue to read even when I don’t have too. Each book I read helps to further refine my faith and help me to live my Christianity out in a real and practical way. Scot McKnight’s book is another one of those books that has helped me to see how to live my faith in today’s world.
McKnight’s purpose in his book is to help the reader learn how to read the Bible in order to live out what the Bible says in today’s context. He starts out by asking the question of why we follow some of what the Bible says and not other aspects of what the Bible says? Scot believes that we all pick and choose and he is concerned with how we pick and choose. Scot is not afraid of the fact that Christians pick and choose, he defends that the church has been picking and choosing throughout her history. What Scot desires to do is to show that by reading the Bible as it should be read allows Christians know how to live the Bible out in today’s context.
Scot McKnight begins by outlining the different ways that people pick and choose when reading the Bible, giving two ways that he argues are deficient and then providing a third way that he sees as the best way to read the Bible. After these introductory issues are discussed, Scot elaborates on how his method of reading is done, all for the purpose of living out the Bible today.
Scot introduces his readers to the concept of the Bible as Story (which he does not claim to be his idea). When the reader of the Bible stops viewing the Bible as story and instead views it in ways it was not meant to be distorts the purpose of the Bible. Once we understand the story of the Bible we are able to listen (which is the second point of his method). Once a person learns how to truly listen, they are able to discern how to live the story out today’s context. Obviously this is a brief synopsis of the book as I truly think each of my blog readers should read this book, so I don’t want to give too much away.
The reasons I have found this book very helpful is that no matter where a person is at in their Christian life (mature, new believer, unsaved) this book offers wonderful tips and ways to grow in reading one’s Bible. It also helps the reader of the Bible begin to wrestle with the grey areas of Scripture, to expand their thinking about what it means to live like Jesus in the 21st century. But the greatest reason that I endorse this book is that it is the first book that I have read on “How to read the Bible” that treats the Bible as it was intended to be. When we see the Bible as story we are able to take part, become an active player in the story. When the Bible is seen as a book of proof texts or laws or a theological text book, it minimizes the reader’s response to live out what it is asking for. Scot says it best, “Until we learn to read the Bible as Story, we will know how to get anything out of the Bible for daily living.” (pg. 57)
Another positive of this book is that examples are plenty (and for me this is a plus). I want to see how a method or theory actually plays out, to see that it actually works the way that author thinks it should. Scot McKnight gives an example of reading the Bible with his method that helps the readers see flesh to his method. Scot also speaks at a level in which he can be clearly understood.
All in all, Scot McKnight’s book is a must read for those who wish to get more out of their Bible reading than they are currently getting. Scot follows in a long line of evangelicals who have come to see that the way the Bible has been used for Christian spiritual formation was lacking something; that the Bible was not being used according to its intended purpose. Scot’s method of reading, understanding, and applying the Bible to today’s context is a shot in the evangelical arm to get the most out of our reading the Bible and living the Christian life (two things I am very passionate about). I can see this book becoming a useful resource in discipling new Christians on reading the Bible as well as becoming a book used in Christian colleges to help students understand the role of the Bible in academics and life. One last word of caution is that this book will stretch Christians, but it is a stretch that needs to be made.
So, I encourage you to head back to the top of this blog and pre-order this book. You will be challenged!
——————-
Thanks James!
Tags: Book Review
Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit that has always intrigued me. They called him An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ I love the imagery and implications. The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something that institutionalized Christianity has missed out on.
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.
The Introduction to Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson
That’s where Mark Batterson starts in his new book Wild Goose Chase and from there, he leads his reader through an exciting, inspiring and provocative journey of chasing hard and fast after the Spirit of Jesus, the Wild Goose who is trying to lead all of us into the full and exciting adventure we call life.
Early in Wild Goose Chase I think Batterson really hits a 21st century Christian nerve when he says, “Christians are bored with their faith.” Our Christian (sub)culture has established a very safe and calculated way to be “successful,” but Batterson would say chasing the Wild Goose, the Spirit of God is never predictable and as good as it might be, it’s definitely not safe.
This book is full of great one-liners to put in your pocket and chew on later. Sometimes the one-liners become a bit cliché but overall, there are tons of great nuggets that really leave you thinking and challenge you to take your pursuit of God to the next level.
One of my favorite was is found on page 58, “Spontaneity is an underappreciated dimension of spiritualaity.” “It is our moment-by-moment sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that turns life into an everyday adventure.”
Another thing Batterson does well is to keep his content challenging yet uber accessible for the average reader. He never gets too fluffy, too “spiritual” or too heady for the average guy or gal to get ahold of what he’s saying.
And in the vein of any good rabbi or pastor he asks great questions! Wild Goose Chase is full of inquisitive and challenging question for the reader. This was a part of the book I really enjoyed and it really displays his pastor’s heart.
Batterson’s book is honest, simple and full of great challenges for the Christian who want to pursue God even if it’s going to be like a Wild Goose Chase, who knows, maybe that’s a good thing. Mark Batterson would tell you it is! And he would say the adventure is well worth it!
Check out the website www.chasethegoose.com
and order your copy—it came out today, at Amazon.com.
You can also check out Mark’s blog at Evotional.com
Enjoy the read,
Erik
Tags: Book Review, books
So, probably about a week or two ago I had this dream and I can’t stop thinking about it!!!
That’s weird for a couple reasons…
#1.) I DON”T DREAM! Like I dream: Someday I want to do this or that but literally dreaming… I don’t really do that much. At least I don’t remember the dreams I do have 99% of the time. And I when I do remember a dream most of the time I don’t want to.
#2.) I can’t stop thinking about it. This dream pops in my head pretty regularly these days, especially every time I pick up my guitar.
// THE DREAM
Palms are sweaty, guitar feels heavy, lights are as bright as a shooting star that just isn’t fading but about as annoying at that little kid at camp who keeps pointing the flash light directly into your eyes. There is an excitement in the air kinda like you feel when you think about the apartment pool that you could swim in all day long on a hot summer day with pretty girls all around the edge, one in particular. But there’s also a tension on the stage that’s so intense your just sure it’s gonna snap like a rubber band waiting to leave a nice red welt because you pulled or pushed to hard.
Just as my head is about to explode because I haven’t taken a breath in about the 5 minutes that I have been standing on stage tuning my guitar Chris walks up and takes the mic, introduction me as the opening band. I blink my eyes and realize this is really happening (in my dream), Chris is the one and only Chris Martin and I am opening up for COLD PLAY.
For some reason I know that I signed up for some raffle type drawing and got picked out of the millions that also signed up. I’d know my band but in the dream it feels like they are friends and this is our first show! Yea, we are opening for COLD PLAY. I play 5 original tunes and I kill it!!! The crowd loves it, they love me and Chris loves it! He’s loves it so much that he comes out on stage as everybody is hooping and hollering and says, “We’re gonna take a break but before we come out (we being COLD PLAY) I want Erik and his crew to play one more song right before we come out to set the stage.” During the break I run to my bag and grab my old beaten folder but all that is in it are worship songs. I think, “I can’t play a worship song at a COLD PLAY concert. I’ve got nothing!” I begin to freak out! Finally, I’m up! I gingerly walk up to the microphone, thank Chris and COLD PLAY for letting us open for them and begin to play a 100 Portraits / Water Deep song. After the first verse I begin to forget the chords and then them the rest of the music also begins to fade like one of the sand in a little hour glass but at the end I’m not going to have lost a game I am going to have blown my only shot, I’m going to have made a fool of myself as the opening act for COLD PLAY.
The venue is fairly small, it’s feels famous, maybe the Ryman or a House of Blues somewhere cool. The crowd freezes just like I do and then I walk off stage. COLD PLAY rushes on stage and just starts playing.
Then I wake up!!!
Now that’s a nightmare!
I have been thinking ever since about all the crappy songs I have written and what I would do if I got such an opportunity. I’m not going to tell you but know, I have a gameplan and ig COLD PLAY every comes calling i will be ready.
What’s your craziest dream?
DO SHARE!!!
Dreaming / Nightmaring
Well I was going to tell you all about Bon Iver today (his stuff is stellar, you should check him out) but then I ran across an old friend of mine, THE Laurianne Cates. She released an EP last month entitled Something Real and it’s for real! For really good that is.
Laurianne or LA as some people call her (I thought that was her real name for like a month when I lived in Nashville) is a great song writer and those skills shine on this little 5 song EP.
Everything Right is that song that when you hear the chorus you just can’t help but to sing along. I went to a show Laurianne did at Christopher’s Pizza in Nashville and I just remember when she hit that Chorus for the second time the whole place was singing along. It’s always cool when a song kinda sucks the entire crowd in and you can look around and everybody is singing. I think if I were a musician (I wish) that is how I would know I wrote a good tune.
And I remember sitting in her living room with a bunch of friends. She had just written the song Louder. I was asking some questions about song writing, being a wanna be song writer. I remember Laurianne being very gracious and grabbing her guitar, she started playing this song, explaining to me the build, the hook, the chorus structure and some of that other musician stuff. I remember it as a very cool experience from my Nashville days.
She kinda has the genes for this whole singer / songwriter thing. Her brother Chad, is also a song writer. He has written on tons of Christian stuff that you probably have heard. Bebo Norman, Casting Crown, and more. Chad was in my bible study in Nashville, I miss those days. Her brother Jesse is also a songwriter based in LA. He has written some tunes for the Back Street Boys and other stuff like that.
SO yea, it’s in the genes.
You can grab Laurianne’s EP on iTunes or on eMusic. Wherever you get it just make sure you get it. You’ll enjoy it, promise!
Here is her Myspace link, you can preview some of her tunes before you go BUY IT! And if you can somehow get ahold of her old EP, DO IT. It’s also really good. Songs like Anybody and my favorite, Back in June are really good as well.
Here is a link to an interview she did with her church. She answers some question about the music bizz and talks a bit about her heart. Good stuff!
Enjoy!
Tags: friends, music, Music Monday
Well i will admit it, i am a wanna be! A wanna be artist / designer / photographer. I enjoy doing all of the above but really i just play around. I enjoy it but wish i was better at it all! Maybe some day.
Well the other night i designed this little logo for my lovely wife! (it was my first logo)
She is pretty amazing but don’t take it from me, read her blog, it’s great! She is working on her resume these days and wanted to have a snazzy little logo to go with it. I made this for her…
I thought it turned out pretty solid! I wish the W in Willits looked cooler but there is only so much i can do with fonts. And without really know ANYTHING about photoshop.
But if you need a writer with a stellar resume and fairly nice logo contact the lovely Andrea Bailey-Willits!
She is always wanting to do freelance and if you offered her the right job you might even be able to steel her from Outreach Magazine! 
// Some of my other art…
I designed the blog for Brad Goode. It’s probably the only thing i have ever been paid to design. And really Brad didn’t want to bother with the setup so he tossed 20 bucks at me and said go for it. But non the less it’s my design.
I have also designed a ton of sermon background slides. I have some of them posted on my VIRB account. Check em’ out. They are all under the category “sermon art”.
You can also see some of my photography on my VIRB (the link above). But more of it can be seen on my flickr account. I am by NO means a real photographer. I have some friends who are (you should check out their sites: Jeremy Cowart, Sam Wells, Micah Kandros, Caleb Kuhl). These are all friends of mine who are real photographers, PROS! I just mess around. But it’s fun!
Anyway, i think that is all the art i have for you. I actually have a website with some of my poetry on it as well (yes, i did say poetry). But i am not releasing that info at this time. It’s pretty poor and mildly embarrassing. maybe someday.
Got any art you want to share?
I would love to see it!
Peace and art,
Erik
Tags: art, friends, graphic design, photography
Just got my copy of Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson in the mail today. They actually sent me 2 copies if anyone wants a free book just let me know. This is actually my first “official” book review. I am excited about reading it and letting you all know how it is. The official review should be up in the next week or so. The book hits stores on the 19th but you can go on Amazon and pre-order it. You can also go to the website, www.chasetehgoose.com to find out more.
Peace & reading
Erik
Tags: books
In the last day or so I have watched 3 movies, all three pretty heavy and heart wrenching. I might have even shed some tears but I’m admitting that to you!
// Grace is Gone
A John Cusack flick (Cusack is probably my favorite actors so I might have a little bias).
The film is about a father who finds out his wife has died “in the line of duty”. The movie shows his struggle to figure out how to tell his two young daughters that their mother is dead.
The film makes sure to highlight crosses on the walls of a strong moral family. This obviously coincides with a strong allegiance to country. For a practicing Jesus following pacifist this is a bit frustrating but a stereotype that is all too true. The film shows another side of the war conversation that makes you think, “Maybe it’s not worth it after all”. It was a pretty slow movie, Cusack did a great job in a different kind of role for him. It was pretty thought provoking and in general a pretty sad but solid movie.
// The God Grew Tired of Us
This was a documentary that followed a few young men and told their story. The young men have been labeled the lost boys of Sudan. I think their story is pretty well known these days but this movie really focuses on a couple groups of these young men who are chosen to be moved to the United States and given opportunity for education and career.
The title of movie comes from an interview with one of the boys who tells about his friends and family being slaughtered by the government and in an attempt to flee many more were killed by crocodiles, hyenas and lions. Not to mentioned those that died from fatigue and starvation. In the interview the young man simply says that he just figured that God had grown tired of them. Tell me that doesn’t wrench your heart and make you think and ask some pretty big questions about justice and the role God and his people are to play in these kind of matters. I know it prompted me to think and also helped me to put some things into perspective.
// The Namesake
This movie followed an Indian family that had moved to the United States. The struggle to adapt to a new land yet hold on to some old traditions is really interesting dynamic. I am really fascinated by other cultures and just realizing that they are so different than ours, so family oriented and carrying a name and a tradition means everything. This really opens your eyes to our American individualism and lack of authentic family community. Even families that are tight here don’t hold a candle to the ways that other cultures live out the value of family and community.
This was a really good movie, a bit depressing but once again thought provoking and really good.
So those are my recent movie views and a few words. Hopefully next time I will have some happy movies to tell you about.
Today’s music Monday features probably my favorite musician, Griffin House. I read a review that compared Griffin to a mix of Dylan & Bono. I ‘m not sure about all that, that’s a lot to live up to, but I am sure that his music is great.
// Story…
I first ran into Griffin when a friend of mine told me that she had a musician friend who she went to school with at Miami of Ohio and that I just had to check out his stuff. I was skeptical so I didn’t bother until she finally burned me mix CD with a couple of his tunes on it. I didn’t really listen to it much, here and there and it was solid but his stuff didn’t really suck me in. Fast forward a year or so… After having developed a minor crush on said girl I ran across this musician friend of hers, Griffin House, in Best Buy. I thought it was interesting that his CD was for sale at Best Buy so I picked it up. It was his CD entitled Lost and Found, I couldn’t stop listening to it! I still listen to it all the time actually, I’m listening to it right now!. It wasn’t to long after I picked up the CD that Griffin was opening for Over the Rhine (another great band) in Chicago. I happened to be at home in Freeport, IL that weekend and found out that this girl was in Chicago and would be attending the show. It was official, I was going!
The short story is… I got tickets to the later of 2 shows, she had tickets to the earlier of the shows. Come to find out Griffin was interested in the same girl. I didn’t have a chance. I hung out with the girl after the show, which is where I met Griffin for the first time. She assured me she wasn’t interested in him. They later went to date or something. I don’t know the whole story but i think it included a ring???
Anyway, that’s my Griffin House story. After I moved to Nashville I found out a lot of the people I became friends with were also friends with Griffin. Some of my friends out here in California also know him from College. It’s a small world!
But you should check out his stuff, it’s really really good! His most recent CD is Flying Upside Down. It’s a great CD, songs like I Remember and The Guy That Says Goodbye To You Is Out of His Mind are classics!
My favorite CD of his is still Lost & Found. It’s simple, classic, and great. Probably my favorite of all his songs is the song Liberty Line which is on this CD. But songs like Amsterdam, New Day, Waterfall, Tell Me a Lie… all so good.
Liberty Line
(Click to listen to audio)
Another interesting and thought provoking song by Griffin is the song Judas. It’s on his first CD Upland but it talks about the fact that someone had to be Judas. I know Griffin is a spiritual guy, I think he’s a Christian. Last time I talked to him at the coffee shop he was reading The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. But yea, this is also a good song.
Here is a little youtube action as wells as his myspace link, check it out!
ENJOY!
Tags: music, Music Monday, youtube