Projekt Revolution
Yesterday, Friday, July 25, I took my fourteen year old son, Jeremy, to his first real concert. It wasn’t just any concert though. I took him to an all day music festival in Raleigh called Projekt Revolution. Projekt Revolution is hosted by Linkin Park and includes other groups on the main stage such as Chris Cornell, The Bravery, and Ashes Divide.
Linkin Park was excellent! I was very surprised at how good they were live. They performed most of the songs from the latest CD, Minutes to Midnight, as well as some of the more popular songs from their previous CD’s.
I was also very impressed with Chris Cornell. I’ve heard him before (as I’ll explain below). My favorite songs – and it seems the favorites of the crowd as well – were some of his older songs, including “Hunger Strike” from Temple of the Dog, and “Black Hole Sun” from Soundgarden.
Besides the main stage, there was also a side stage where other bands played earlier in the day. I was very impressed with a band from Knoxville called 10 Years. (Jeremy wanted me to say that the younger people – like him – liked a band called Atreyu better.)
This was not my first all day music festival. Sixteen years ago – in 1992 – when I was only 25 – I attended Lollapalooza with my brother-in-law and some friends. That concert included many big names from the alternative music scene of the early 90’s: Pearl Jam (my favorite), Soundgarden (which is where I heard Chris Cornell before), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ministry, Ice Cube, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Lush. On the side stage at Lolapalooza, I saw less-known (then) bands such as Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine, Porno for Pyros, Cypress Hill, and many others.
In comparing the two music festivals, I have to say that Lolapalooza was better musically, for two reasons. First, I knew more of the bands that were playing at Lollapalooza, while I really only knew Linkin Park and Chris Cornell at Projekt Revolution. Second, there were more bands and more diversity in the music at Lollapalooza. However, I think that Linkin Park put on an awesome show – as good as, if not better than, most of the groups at Lollapalooza.
Otherwise, besides the music, I think that Projekt Revolution was a better overall experience. First, I was suprised at the age range at Projekt Revolution. When I went to Lollapalooza as a 25 year old who was not really into the counter culture scene, I felt old and out of place. As a 41 year old who is still not into the counter culture scene, I did not feel old or out of place. There were many, many people there older than me. Most of the people looked like normal people – young or old.
While I know some were smoking marijuana at Projekt Revolution (sniff sniff), it was not as prevalent as at Lollapalooza. At Projekt Revolution and Lollapalooza, there was plenty of beer drinking, and plenty of people getting drunk. However, at Lollapalooza I saw many more people who were passed-out drunk, sneaking in bottles of liquor, and getting sick from drinking too much.
There was much less fighting at Projekt Revolution. In fact, we only witnessed one near fight, and it was started by an older man who was drunk. At Lollapalooza, teens were fighting all the time.
I’m glad that we went to Projekt Revolution. Perhaps, over the next few days, I may share some of the song lyrics that I’ve really enjoyed – especially from Linkin Park. Too many times, the music of today’s generation is dismissed for being loud, screaming, ranting, etc. If you are a parent, listen to the music that today’s generation is listening to. You may find legitimate critiques of your own generation and the world in general. You may also learn something about the struggles that young people are facing today.
I think we’ve been adopted
I few weeks ago, in a post called “Missional without the label“, I wrote about some friends of our who have been going to a nursing home every week for the past year or so. They meet with these dear men and women on Monday mornings. While class is in session, I cannot meet with them. But, since its summer, and classes are not in session, I’ve been able to take an early lunch hour and get to know some of the residents. My family has joined us as well.
During these times of meeting with the nursing home residents, we’ve met one person in particular. Her name is Jenny (see my post “Faces, Names, Lives” where I mention Jenny along with a few other people that God has placed in our lives). We’ve visited Jenny a few times on Saturdays (we’ll probably visit her the day this is published).
I’ve learned so much from talking to Jenny. She grew up in New York City – quite different from rural Alabama where I grew up. She was not introduced to God at an early age the way that I was – although she says that she was never an atheist. She does not know much about the Bible, and has only recently started reading it. She lost both of her sons when they were in their early twenties. She’s now living in a nursing home – in a wheelchair. She recently hurt both of her legs in an accident. Very few people come to visit her. The staff of the nursing home take her out to dinner once a month, and they take her shopping once a month.
So, what does Jenny say about all this? What does she say about her life? What does she say about living in a nursing home and rarely leaving?
Jenny says, “I’m blessed”. She crocheted butterflies for the children who meet with her and the other residents on Monday mornings as a way of saying, “Thank you”. She makes blankets for children with cancer and sends them to a local hospital. Jenny doesn’t know alot about God, but she recognizes that God is doing something in her life, and she is responding to God and demonstrating the love of God – even in her situation.
Jenny says, “I’m blessed”. Yes, she is blessed. And, my family is blessed to know her, and I’m looking forward to learning more from her. Yes, a young (relatively) man who grew up “in church”, graduated from a seminary, and is studying for a PhD in biblical theology can learn about God from Mrs. Jenny.
Who are learning about God from?
Some observations about structure
Here are some thoughts about structure:
- Healthy organisms have structure.
- Unhealthy organisms have structure.
- Dead organisms have structure.
- Things that are not organisms at all have structure.
- Structure is not a sign of life.
- Structure can aid organisms.
- Structure can hinder organisms.
- Structure can kill organisms.
- The type of structure can be an important issue.
- When an organism is living, the structure adapts to the needs of the organism.
- When an organism dies, the structure remains fixed.
- Structure is not the most important thing.
- Structure can be a very important thing.
While the above observations do not only apply to the church, I think they do apply to the church.
Learning from the Joker
Last weekend, I went to see Dark Knight with my son, Jeremy, and some friends. (There are no spoilers in this blog post.) I enjoyed the movie. Believe it or not, I enjoyed the character of the Joker most of all.
I realize that this has been said before, but I believe the Joker in Dark Knight is one of the best representations of a “satanic” character ever portrayed in the movies. First, the Joker enjoys evil for the sake of evil. Death, violence, and chaos are his reward – he does not desire anything more. However, beyond this, the Joker lives to corrupt others. He desires to do evil and to entice others to do evil. He lives to corrupt.
And… I learned from watching the Joker in Dark Knight. What’s even more interesting is that I did not primary learn about Satan or evil from watching the Joker. Instead, I saw the exact opposite of how followers of Jesus Christ are supposed to live.
Those of us who follow Jesus Christ should love and desire good – not just anything called “good”, but the good that only comes from God. We desire to see life and healing and reconciliation and hope and promise.
Beyond seeing God’s good in our own lives, we also desire to see others impacted by God. We desire to see the un-corruption of people and society. We love to see people reconciled to God, relationships mended, and families strengthened. In fact, the more our hearts are turned toward God, the more our actions and motives are turned away from ourselves and toward the benefit of other people.
Unfortunately, this is not the way we always live. You see, watching the Joker also taught me something about the corruption in my own heart. There are times when I turn my heart away from God and others and toward myself. During those times, I can demonstrate as much evil and animosity towards people as I saw in the Joker. I thank God that someone greater than Batman exists to cleanse my wayward heart and point me back to God and others.
When you look at your life, and your influence on the lives of other people, what do you see? Are you impacting people for your own gains and for evil? Or are you impacting people for God and for their own benefit?
Challenging excerpts
Please note that the title of this post is “Challenging excerpts”, not “Challenging experts”. I read it wrong myself at first. I realize that this post will be longer than usual for my midday posts, but I wanted to include all of these quotes from other blogs. Thursday evening – when I wrote this – I read these quotes again, and continue to be challenged by them.
The first excerpt is from Ray Ortlund from “Christ is Deeper Still” from a post called “Truly Reformed“. You may have seen this already, because it is winding its way around the internet. Perhaps you are not reformed. Fine. Replace the word “reformed” below with whatever label you use to identify yourself:
My Reformed friend, can you move among other Christian groups and really enjoy them? Do you admire them? Even if you disagree with them in some ways, do you learn from them? What is the emotional tilt of your heart – toward them or away from them? If your Reformed theology has morphed functionally into Galatian sociology, the remedy is not to abandon your Reformed theology. The remedy is to take your Reformed theology to a deeper level. Let it reduce you to Jesus only. Let it humble you. Let this gracious doctrine make you a fun person to be around. The proof that we are Reformed will be all the wonderful Christians we discover around us who are not Reformed. Amazing people. Heroic people. Blood-bought people. People with whom we are eternally one – in Christ alone.
The next excerpt is from Dave Black. He wrote this as he was contemplating the book that he was writing on the topic of discipleship. You’ll find it posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 8:24 pm:
Who am I? That’s a silly question to be asking! But I’m writing the preface to my book on discipleship so the topic has come up, at least in my own mind. Am I a conservative or a liberal, right-wing or left? Though my theology is conservative, I’ve learned much from my brothers and sisters on both ends of the evangelical spectrum. Some of my friends think only about Israel, others only about Palestine. Some complain about the 3,000 unborn who are killed every day in America, while others focus almost exclusively on the 30,000 children who die of starvation every day in the world. I see no need reason to establish boundaries of love. If we mourn the loss of 4,000 U.S. service personnel in Iraq (as we should), we must also mourn with the same outrage and passion the life of every innocent Iraqi civilian who was lost. Some evangelicals believe that right-wing politics hangs the moon; others support the liberal left. I pledge my allegiance to neither. Folks, I just want to be a Christian — a simple, radical, marginal, downwardly-mobile follower of Jesus. There’s nothing unique or spectacular about being a Jesus-follower. You just remember that God’s love is borderless. You just declare the Good News to the poor, as He taught us to do. And it all happens through relationships, not programs or organizations. And here’s something strange: I am learning to fall in love with people and not just ideas. And I love ideas! Crazy people like Jim Elliott are finally beginning to make sense to me. I’m learning how to reprioritize my values and resources. Just think — the average American consumes as much as 520 Ethiopians do. Can we do anything about it? You bet! Because of our website Becky and I receive gifts for reading glasses and protein bars and pre-natal vitamins Bibles and meeting houses and evangelists’ salaries and equipment to show the Jesus Film with and food to feed hungry prisoners and on and on the list goes. No fancy organization, no 501 c(3), no overhead, no bureaucracy, no HQ. Just Jesus-people connecting with Jesus-people.
Man, am I becoming a Jesus Freak again like I was in the 60s?!!
The final excerpt is from Cindy at “run with it” from a post called “various disjointed observations from my week“. Since Cindy is a fellow Alabamian, I knew I would like what she wrote. In this excerpt, she begins by talking about taking her daughter to tennis camp:
I was struck today by a remarkable experience in polarities. The tennis camp is held at an exclusive private school. It’s the kind of place that makes me wonder if my t-shirt is on backwards or if my socks match. Where the moms wear designer shorts and high heeled sandals (making me curious as to why they require such fashion to cart kids around on a 95 degree day in the middle of July). I have worried a lot this week that my daughter would feel out of place or be ostracized by elitist little kids in coordinated tennis outfits. (she has done great, btw- she has an inherent ability to find the genuine kids in a crowd of strangers. I should and will give her more credit!)
Today, immediately after leaving her at the school (and taking a deep breath of relief), i took some items to goodwill. The man who opened the door to receive my donation was the epitome of quiet humility. He spoke softly, was so appreciative of our cast off things that I felt ashamed, and sent me off with a blessing. As I drove away I couldn’t help but consider how much more at ease I felt at Goodwill- a place of need- than at the school- a place of wealth. Peace was to be found in the place of need rather than the place of wealth. Given a choice of which place I’d rather spend a day- there would be no question.
I hope these excerpts (experts?) challenged and encouraged you as much as they did me. Now, the question remains, will it make a difference in how we live our lives?
Living in the change
In my previous post – “What is God doing?” – I said that God was teaching me to love people who are different than me. It is interesting that in the comments Mark mentioned actions and Mary mentioned listening. Both of these are part of what God is doing in my life – and I’m living in the change now.
For example, today I took the opportunity to be around people who are different than me – that required action. Primarily, I listened to what they had to say about what was going on in their lives.
I listened to one lady wonder if it was okay that she asked God why her two sons died while they were in their twenties. I listened to a young man ask if God was mad at him because of his tattoos. I listened to another lady wonder if God was going to heal her of cancer since she claimed his healing.
Acting and listening are a big part of how God is teaching me to love people who are different than me.
What is God doing?
One of the questions that I like to ask people is this one: “What is God doing in your life?” Usually, people have to think about it awhile, but most eventually recognize that God is working in their life.
What is God doing in my life? He is teaching me how to love and serve people who are different than me. This is a very uncomfortable lesson for me, and much less “theoretical” than other lessons.
What is God doing in your life?
A weak church or a strong church?
I have read recently that those who hold to a more structured and organized understanding of the church have a “strong ecclesiology”, while those who hold to a less structured and organized understanding of the church have a “weak ecclesiology”. I am one of those who believe that the church is not defined by either structure or organization. I believe that less organization and structure is better. I also believe that organization and structure often hamper the church. Is this a “weak ecclesiology”?
In my ecclesiology, all believers are “ministers” – servants. All believers respond to God by serving others – both other believers and nonbelievers. Leaders (pastors/elders or deacons) are not more responsible that others. All believers teach, care for, and watch out for other believers. Leaders are not more responsible for teaching, shepherding, or overseeing. Believers do not serve because they hold a certain position, but because they are all gifted to serve.
In my ecclesiology, all believers are “missionaries” – sent out into the world. All believers respond to God by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in word and in deed. All believers live in a way that demonstrates the love of God to “the least” of society. All believers speak in a way that proclaims the truth of God, including his grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Leaders (missionaries or evangelists) are not more responsible for proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. Since all believers have been reconciled to God, all believers are ambassadors, representing God in his ministry of reconciliation.
In my ecclesiology, all believers speak and serve one another during the meeting of the church. All believers are gifted by the Holy Spirit; and, when the church comes together, he alone decides who speaks and who serves in a way that best edifies all believers present. Even those who aren’t prophets can prophesy when enabled by the Spirit. Even those who aren’t teachers can teach when enabled by the Spirit. Leaders (teachers or preachers) are not more responsible for speaking during the meeting of the church. Since all believers are gifted by the Spirit, and since love and edification – not training or education – are the requirements for speaking during the meeting of the church, all believers share that responsibility.
In my ecclesiology, all believers make disciples. All believers work to see one another grow in maturity in both the knowledge and unity of Jesus Christ, with him being our only measure and goal. All believers consider how best to stir up one another toward love and good deeds. Leaders are not more responsible for discipleship than other believers. All believers help one another bear their burdens, correct one another in gentleness, and exhort one another daily to grow in character and obedience toward Jesus Christ.
In the traditional “strong” ecclesiology, a few leaders in the church are responsible for serving, evangelizing, speaking, and discipling. In my “weak” ecclesiology, the entire church – every believer – responds to God’s amazing work in their lives by serving, evangelizing, speaking, and discipling.
What’s the difference? In the traditional “strong” ecclesiology, leaders are given and take responsibility for things for which they (alone) are not responsible. Other believers, in turn, allow or expect leaders to carry these added responsibilities. Then, when things are not “accomplished”, the leaders are found to be at fault. This may be a “strong” ecclesiology, but I believe it creates a weak church.
Missing the message in the details?
As we’re continuing to study through the Gospel of Matthew, we’ve almost reached the end of the Sermon on the Mount. The first time we studied Matthew 5-7, it was as a complete unit – apparently as Jesus presented it, or at least as Matthew presented it. Since then, we’ve divide the Sermon on the Mount into smaller sections. Although we’ve tried to keep the “big picture” in mind, I can’t help but wonder if we’re missing something by focusing on such small sections of Scripture.
For instance, last Sunday a brother taught from Matthew 7:15-20. Next Sunday, another brother will teach from Matthew 7:21-23. Then, finally, another week from that, someone will complete our study through the Sermon on the Mount by teaching Matthew 7:24-29.
But, notice the continuity in these passages:
Matthew 7:15-20 – False prophets are identified by their fruit (actions).
Matthew 7:21-23 – Actions alone do not make anyone acceptable to God.
Matthew 7:24-29 – The difference between the foolish and wise is that the wise actually DOES what Jesus says, while the foolish just hears (and studies?) what Jesus says.
Fruit… Actions… Deeds… this is a common theme running through the end of the Sermon on the Mount. But, don’t we see this at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, too?
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 ESV)
But, if we only study this passage in little chunks, we may never see the importance of good deeds in the Sermon on the Mount. But, what about the entire Gospel? Is there a point to the entire Gospel that we miss when we read one or two verses, one or two paragraphs, or even one or two chapters at a time? I think so.
Because of this, I’ve been reading entire books at a time – if possible. Or, if I can’t read an entire book in one sitting, then I read as much as I can, and I try to finish the book as soon as possible. It is amazing how much the tone and message of a book changes when you read it as a unit – as it was written and meant to be read. Try it sometime. Or better yet, if you want to see how important this is, the next time you read a newspaper or magazine, just read one paragraph per day… or watch a movie 15 minutes at a time. Do you think you might miss the message?
Studying How Jesus Loved
On Sunday mornings, we’ve been studying through the Gospel of Matthew. We’re working toward the end of chapter 7, which means we’ve almost finished the Sermon on the Mount. Last week, as I continued reading through Matthew, I noticed how Jesus demonstrated his love for people. I decided to study Jesus’ love in the Gospel of Matthew.
Of course, you can’t start a study of Jesus’ love in the Gospel of Matthew without mentioning the Great Commandment:
And one of them [the Pharisees], a lawyer, asked him [Jesus] a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40 ESV)
Apparently, love is very important to Jesus. He said that the Law and the Prophets (probably a reference to the Hebrew Scriptures) depend upon both loving God and loving others. How did Jesus demonstrate that love? How did he model love for us?
Certainly, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us both to love our brothers and sisters (Matt 5:21-26), and also to love our enemies (Matt 5:43-47). But, Jesus did much more than teach us to love with his words. He showed us what it meant to love.
Jesus cared for those who were hurting – either with physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual pains (for example, Matt 4:23-25, 8:2-3, 8:5-13, 8:14-15, 8:16 – not that these are only a few examples that surround the Sermon on the Mount). Jesus demonstrated his love by spending time with people – both with those who followed him closely, and with those who did not follow him closely. While we may notice that Jesus often had the harshest words for those who considered themselves the most religious, we should also recognize that Jesus continued to allow them to ask him questions. He did not give up on them.
Jesus spent time with people in their homes. He spent time in Peter’s home. He also spent time in Matthew’s home along with Matthew’s friends who the religious people labelled as “tax collectors and sinners” – those who were not worthy of being loved.
Perhaps one of the clearest images of Jesus’ love in Matthew (apart from the Passion narratives) occurs in chapter 18. In that chapter, Jesus teaches about kingdom in terms of love, mercy, and forgiveness. Specifically, he compares himself to a shepherd who will go out into the wilderness in order to find one lost sheep.
We know that Jesus desired for his followers to imitate his love – by the power of the Spirit, of course. When Jesus told his followers to pray for harvest workers in Chapter 9, he then immediately sent them out in Chapter 10. What did he tell them to do?
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (Matthew 10:7-8 ESV)
As the apostles proclaimed the kingdom of God in word, they were also supposed to demonstrate the love of God in actions.
Then, of course, we cannot forget the Passion. Paul tells us that through his death, Jesus revealed the love of God and demonstrated to us how to love one another:
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)
In light of Christ’s death, we should also remember that we have been called to take up our cross as well (Matt 10:38, 16:24). While taking up our cross and following Jesus is not limited to demonstrating God’s love to others, it certainly includes demonstrating God’s love.
This was a very interesting study for me. I enjoyed learning about how Jesus demonstrated his love for people in the Gospel of Matthew.
To be honest though, this was a difficult study – not because of the material, but because of the interruption. People kept emailing, calling, and stopping by the house to tell me about their problems. Some people were sick; some had friends or family in the hospital. One guy was having trouble dealing with his children. Another woman was struggling in her relationship with her husband. It seems like every time I really focused on the love of Jesus, someone would interrupt my studies. I can understand now why so many pastors and scholars like to have office hours where they won’t be disturbed as often. I mean, how am I supposed to learn about Jesus’ love when all of these people keep interrupting me?