The Supernatural

I'm spending the summer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I made an extended camping trip on the way to Santa Fe and also visited Sedona, Arizona.

Both Sedona and Santa Fe are meccas for a whole crowd of alternative types. Crystal readers, psychics, and many expressions of the occult are so present in these towns. In Sedona, people believe that the mountains are aligned with certain powers which align into several vortexes that hold healing and supernatual properties.

I met a woman yesterday here in Santa Fe yesterday who wore a black crystal around her neck. I'm new to this whole phenomenon, so I asked her what it was all about. She told me how crystals have changed her life and affect so many aspects of her health and well-being. I listened really carefully, hoping to seek a better understanding of this thing that has captured the minds of so many.

A friend of mine in Houston recently had her first experience with Theophostic Prayer. She was raised with a background of New Age and recently came to know Christ. Her first reaction to Theophostic was, "It was like New Age, only with Jesus thrown in." I responded, "Maybe New Age is like Christianity, only without Jesus."

I'm coming to realize that the Spirit is present in so many things. So many people seek to understand God through "supernatural" means like New Age, psychics, crystals, Zen, acupunture, or whatever. In truth, they are seeking what the Church has been lacking for decades: a sense of mystery, wonder, and spiritual power. We believe that God is all-powerful; we know that God works miracles; we even believe in a Holy SPIRIT. However, we seem to have lost the supernatural truths given to us through our Father.

---------------
This is the first time I've posted here, so I thought I would just say "hello!" and introduce myself. I've lived in Houston for 4 years and I work primarily as a musician. I also work for Emmaus Ministries, an organization dedicated to helping men involved in prostitution. And here is My Blog.

Lawn Theory or: How I learned to stop hurrying and "love thy neighbor."

One of the first things I learned in graduate school is there is a theory for everything. Everything. Now, I contend, not everything needs a theory. Some things, sure. Relativity, most definitely. Every day common occurrences, no.

It made me giggle when I discovered this and professors don't like it when you giggle.

For instance, there is one called Expectancy Violation Theory.

Basically, we expect certain things when we talk and interact with other people. It assumes a sort of universal truth. If you are introduced to someone at a party and you stick out you hand to shake theirs, you expect them to reach for yours and shake with you. You do not expect them to take your hand and lick it.

If they do lick it or don't shake your hand, they have violated your expectations.

I learned all of this growing up.

But, I first learned what it was called from watching Seinfeld...The Close Talker. Remember? There was a boyfriend of Elaine that would stand way too close to people as he spoke with them. That was expectancy violation theory at its best.

Well, I would like to submit a new theory. This one is called Lawn Theory.

In the tropics of Houston, grass grows all the time. Well, except for two or three months out of the year, but even then it is threatening to grow. Summertime requires weekly mowing, especially in suburbia where the home-owners association police patrol daily.

I cut my own grass. I like doing it. I like the smell of it and so many other things about it. Many of my neighbors hire folks to do the trimming, but we don't.



I like to cut mine short enough to putt on it. Think of the 18th green at Augusta.

Even before I cut mine, it usually is shorter than my neighbor's lawn. My neighbor is a single mom of three kids. She would cut her grass and many times I couldn't tell much of a difference. I would think to myself, you should adjust you mower. It is too high.

At one point it was getting really tall. The sidewalk had not been trimmed. There were patches of blades so thick that you could lose a softball in. After cutting my grass I kept thinking, she really needs to cut it. When is she going to do it?

All week I kept waiting for the sounds of a struggling mower outside my window. I would come home in the evening and nothing changed.

Finally it was time for me to cut mine again. In the summer here, it is best to wait until the "cool" of the evening. I finished as the sun was setting.

I looked over at this increasing jungle and finally a veil was lifted from my heart. Something must be going on. What is she dealing with? Life must be harder than normal. What is wrong with me? Start cutting her grass. I did.

It was hard work. I had to raise the mower a couple of times just so it wouldn't die.

It was getting dark and I could barely see as I was finishing up. She drove up, got out of her car and was crying. She couldn't talk at first.

Her first words were, "I'm so embarrassed."

"Don't be. Please. I'm embarrassed for not helping sooner." I said.

"Thank you. Thank you, so much!" she said with tears coming down her face.

I won't go into all the things that had piled on her in the past month, but it was tremendous. I kept thinking, I didn't know. Why didn't I know?

I quickly confess my ignorance to the hurting of another and made it worse by questioning what I thought she should have been doing. Throw in pride and I was a pretty bad example of Christ.

Later I realized Lawn Theory. When things are going bad, despite the best efforts to cover it up, it can sometimes be seen in our yards. If the yard is looking bad, life is getting hard to keep up with. In short, tall grass...tall troubles.

If someone says everything is fine, take a look at their yard. It's just a theory.

Give 'till it Hurts

I'll come clean, other than marriage, I'm not much of an institutional guy. That won't surprise too many who know me. Actually, those who know me would probably say I belong in an institution. But that is another story.

I'm not on staff at any church. I never have been. I don't have any problem with churches having staff. I attend a large congregation, 1000+ members if you asked the pastor. (Which means it is more like 700-750.) We have a nice, new building and some fantastic resources. I realize that all has to be paid for and that comes from the contribution given by the congregation. Our church also does some fantastic mission and benevolence work. I'm for that too.

What I have a problem with is how we (churches in general) view giving. When someone mentions giving it nearly always refers to money. When you hear "We need to increase our giving," that means shell out more dough.


My tradition takes communion weekly. The contribution is always taken just after it. Again, I don't have a problem with giving to the institution. I just feel funny about passing a plate around and associating that with giving. I know, it is a convenient time to collect money and an easy way to get it.

There is also the guilt factor that goes with it. The plate coming down the aisle and you sit there wondering who is watching, seeing who doesn't put something in. I know I'm not alone on this one! And the funny thing is we precede it with the verse of how God loves a cheerful giver! I keep thinking, I wonder if he loves a guilty one? I can't seem to locate that verse.

Some would say you are not giving to an institution, you are giving to God.

In our culture (and many others) money is power.

I heard of a pastor stating that if all of the congregation would just give a tithe (10%) of their income, they could do so many wonderful things. I have a problem with that.

I have a problem with that unless in the same breath you mention if only folks would tithe (or give 10%) of their time during the week.

What is there, 168 hours in a week? 10% would be 16.8 hours or two full work days. Let's start at something easier, 5% of 168 is just over 8 hours. What if everyone gave, dedicated themselves, to 8 hours a week serving others, whether it was at the church building or out there. What about taking food to shut-ins, visiting the sick, helping someone out, going to visit the jails, hospitals, homeless not just telling folks about Jesus, but showing that love...just serving. Talk about making a difference!

What would that church look like? What would the world look like?

Now imagine coming together on Sunday (or whenever) for worship time. And after communion they said, we are going to pass around the collection plate and we want you to fill out a questionnaire and put it in so we can see how many folks you told about Jesus this week. Did you reach the number you 'purposed' at the end of last year? Are you taking your telling others about Jesus to the next level? We just want to know and encourage you to give more. We will track it over the year and compare it with years previous. We will break down giving by families and so on. We need to increase our giving.

"Remember," they would say, "God loves a cheerful giver."

McLaren the Pathfinder

This past Friday night, the Houston cohort got together and was treated with Brian McLaren as our guest. He was in town attending the Gathering of the Diocese and was kind enough to take time to speak and answer some questions. We gathered at 2115 Taft Street, home to Ecclesia.

Nelda and Wendy already wrote about the evening. About the only thing I can add are photos! Sorry it took so long.

Brian McLaren said many things that really hit me. He said things that inspired me, convicted me, and left me questioning my ideas. These are things that I'm still chewing on and no doubt will begin to surface here in the weeks and months to come.

But what I keep coming back to is his storytelling. He tells better stories.

Remember Nissan's campaign of "Tell Better Stories" for the Pathfinder? The commercials had some folks asking another couple what they did last weekend or whatever and they just went on and on about this incredible adventure. Their Pathfinder was able to take them somewhere that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

Steve Portigal wrote about the campaign...

The product itself will let you tell better stories because the product is an experience, an experience that can be shared.

Brian is great at sharing experiences. He was telling stories about his recent travels around the world. Stories about new faith and renewed faith and, sadly, lack of faith. I kept thinking, "One more. Just tell me one more story."

People love a good story. I know I do. We've got to be better storytellers. We've got to tell better stories.

Stories like Jesus did.

"You wandered off? We miss ya and we're coming to get you and take care of ya and we want you to come home." Or, "I don't care what you were caught in the middle of, I'm not condemning you or tossing a stone your way."

Leave the lectures for someplace else. Tell me a story instead.

Hey there...I'm Nelda Haney and I guess I should tell you a little about myself. Currently I teach elementary art and host a young adult discussion group at my home on Tuesday evenings. My husband Randy and I began the Harbour in Baytown about 4 years ago. You can check out that at www.theharbourbaytown.com. I have worked with young adults for about 20 years now. I also have mentored home educators over the years (I finished with my two children last year), and I have taught in various areas of special education in the public school system. I added my certification in art this year....that's all good, but I guess it was my two and a half years of graduate research in Christ's teachings and comparing Christian character curricula to what Christ taught that really made me analyse and look at what we were doing in main stream Christianity. Suddenly my eyes were opened and I have been on the most interesting journey ever since.
I so value the individuals that are in this conversation and are willing to ask the tough questions. Listening to Brian McLaren speak the other night about the opposition and hate that is often pointed his way struck home with me. We have also been in the news in that area and have received negative press...not any where near the level he has...but none the less, I have once again had to go through a healing process. You are valuable...if you are reading this, join the discussion...your words need to be heard.
I want to thank Wendy Bailey...what a sister she has become to me. Let's enjoy this road as Christ continues to reveal to us how to become part of the world around us and be His hands and feet.
Well...that's just a little about me. Thanks for the invite Bart...
n

An introduction and a few thoughts on last night

Hi ... I've met a few of you already. I'm Wendy Bailey and I work on the judicatory level of the Presbyterian Church USA. I am responsible for Evangelism, Congregational Transformation and New Church Development throughout southeast Texas. I have been ordained since 1987 and I've served churches in Baytown, Michigan, and Ohio. In addition to that, I have been involved in an emergent church plant in the Baytown area, Faith Harbour, which has had a difficult but very interesting few years. My best memory from Faith Harbour was when they baptized two young adults in our pool, as we watched and prayed from the patio and the hot tub. (BTW that's also a prelude to an invitation sometime for an afternoon or evening around the pool.)

What else to say about me? Well, I'm married to Dwayne, and mother of Katie who is a recent HS graduate. You can read more about me on my website and blog.

I really enjoyed our time together last night. I love hearing Brian's stories of the Holy Spirit at work all over the world. I find it interesting that groups of like minded people are finding each other simultaneously in many different circles. That definitely says that God is up to something good.

There are a couple of things Brian said that made me really stop to think ... and that I'd like to keep discussing ...

1) Because I am so involved in transformational ministry the quote "new churches innovate and established churches immitate" has left me thinking. What do you all think about that? Is it true in your experience? If so, what kinds of things could a judicatory like mine do to help both the innovation and the immitation?

2) The other thing that touched me, personally, was the call for more progressive Christians to speak out on the justice issues facing us and our nation and world. Yes! I agree wholeheartedly. I have already taken a few bullets because of my unpopular opinions which are fully grounded in both Christ and the scripture as I understand it. It can be both risky and terrifying to speak up ... even when it's just among friends or at work ... let alone to take a public stand. But I agree that we have to encourage other Christian voices to be heard. Any ideas of how we might help that happen at least in the greater Houston area?

Tonight with McLaren

David Cady and I just finished setting up chairs for the gathering tonight at Taft Street featuring Brian McLaren. So, your seat is ready and waiting for you!

Don't know anyone going? Don't let that stop you. When you show up, just start asking folks, "Are you Bart?" If they say no, then just say, "Oh, sorry. I'm ........." and then you can talk about what is their favorite coffee drink there or whatever and you will know someone. If it is me then you will know me and I'll chat with you. It may sound silly but don't let not knowing anyone keep you from going.

See you there.