Your Tribe

We don't go into our different denominations too much here. I think that is good. I believe it is because we already realize we are from different backgrounds and our goal is not to win each other to 'our' side.

I'm gonna break with the just a bit, but for good reasons, I think.

I've grown up and still 'reside' in the Church of Christ tribe. Like any other denomination, there are good and bad things associated with our heritage. I stay, at least for now, because there are others like me in the CoC that don't want to leave 'immediate family' but would still like to encourage questions and conversations about all of the God stuff. Servants are needed everywhere.

One thing I embrace about our heritage is our affinity for a cappella music. In 'big church' we don't sing with any instrument, other than our voices. Yes, some in my group have held that up as the only way, the gold standard, but I have my issues, too. I love instrumental music, don't get me wrong, but a cappella music is in my DNA.

Anyway, all of that for this, last night several of us got together in one of our homes and sung some good old songs. Songs I remember singing as a kid. I loved it.

I realized Church of Christ folks aren't the only ones that do this, but it is something particular to us.

I started thinking about other folks and wondering what it is you do that might be more specific to your tribe's walk that you love.

What is it about your tradition that you love and embrace? We talk too much about what we don't like in our groups. What do you like? What is it in your gatherings that you really look forward to?

Friday's Frame

"Why this? What does it mean?"

You tell me.

Friday's Frame

This is what's left of the historic Bethel Baptist Church in Freedmen's Town. When slavery was finally abolished in USAmerica, it took two and a half years for that information to reach Galveston and eventually the rest of Texas.

Freed slaves settled on the edge of Houston in an area now just outside of downtown. It became known as Freedman's town and was Houston's Harlem, bustling with clubs and restaurants and more importantly to the residents, freed 'men'.

These former slaves built up the area. The tiny streets there, including this one, still have patches of the old brick that the original habitants placed so many years ago.

Throughout the years, as Houston grew and people moved further out, the area fell into decline. The city mostly ignored repairs to the area. Money and help mostly went to other neighborhoods. It became an area that attracted the homeless and dealers.

In the last five to ten years the property values have surged. Old shotgun houses were quickly torn down, folks were displaced as new townhomes came in.

Bethel Baptist Church, founded in 1896 by Rev. Jack Yates, moved eight years ago as their building deteriorated beyond use. Attempts were being made to raise funding for the restoration without much success. Last year a fire broke out and nearly destroyed the structure.

In the following days a bulldozer showed up to finish off what the fire couldn't, until folks quickly came to the rescue. Some suggested arson as a motive to replace the church building with a more tax generating structure.

The effort is under way to save the building and restore it. City inspectors say the four remaining walls are not safe.

It is sad what happened. How great it would be for it to be rebuilt. But, in the end, it is a building and not a church.

Acts 17:24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.

Really, Where Are The Christians?

Have you heard about the war in the middle east? No, I'm being serious here. Apparently there is a war, battle, crisis, whatever they are calling it on the news, between Israel and Lebanon. Israel and everyone, for that matter.

You sure haven't heard much about it from Christian/emergent blogs, including this one.

Where are we on this? Why are we afraid of talking about this?

I know, let's talk about our next cohort meeting and the latest church planting book or debate using the word emerging over emergent and what we think is our identity.

I have never fought in a war. I don't want to. I love my many freedoms I have because I am a American. I did nothing to earn that except I was born at the right place at the right time. It's like the grace of God, but not near as good.

I appreciate those who have given their lives in war, including relatives of mine, so that I can sit in a Borders listening to my iPod and write whatever I want because someone sacrificed it all for me. And I mean all.

I hate that I have to qualify all of that to feel like I can now say something that might be perceived as negative.

I hate that it took Pat Buchanan asking me where I am to get me to write about this.

Did you see that yet? Check out the article.

Look, I know there are so many layers to this that it is difficult to get our collective head around it in 500 words or less.

I don't have any answers.

Is Israel justified in this? Is this retaliation the right thing to do?

At the risk of sounding like a bible banger I hesitate to throw this out there...but what would Jesus do? Seriously. We call ourselves Christians, that is, Christ-like. Are we serious about that? It is easy to profess, but hard to do. Would Christ go down this road?

What about that stuff about turning the other cheek? Being nice to your enemies? Yeah but this is different right?

If I walked out of the store and I saw a man holding a knife to a kid's throat I wouldn't just pray for the child's safety. I would want to do something about it. Then I would want to make sure the guy paid for what he did. A little retribution.

Take Israel's two kidnapped soldiers. This was the tipping point for unleashing an attack. If any of my kids were kidnapped, I would want everything possible done to get them back. If anything happened to them I would want that person to suffer horribly. I'm not proud of that. I just know myself.

See, we pretty much toss out all of Matthew chapter 5 when we come in contact with the world. Matt. 5 works great in a vacuum, like bible class/church.

So, what do we do?

Start talking. You don't need to have all or any of the answers.

If you are a pastor that drops by here from time to time, and I know there are a lot that do, then don't talk this Sunday about the amazing love and example of Jesus and the same time sweep all of this under the rug and ignore it.

Or how about praying. Try this..."God hear our prayer and end the fighting in the mid-east. End the violence. God, soften their hearts and keep them safe."

Over the 4th of July weekend, I heard a church leader proclaim his thankfulness for those willing to commit violence on our behalf. Part of me agrees and laments this statement at the same time.

Perhaps someone fighting in the war is thankful for those willing to pray for them on their behalf.

I don't know.

Start somewhere. Start now.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

I want a mohawk ...

Ok, I have always chuckled at people who care deeply about fashion or body modification or anything like that. I just did not have anything worth saying. For me cloths were all about function, ease of use, and ease of care. This week that changed, I am not sure what I want ... what to do ... or how to do it ... but the call to publicly declair my opposition to the dominant systems is something I can't get past.

These are the thoughts I wrote at a mission trip / work camp last week

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I want a piercing ... or a mohawk ... or really long hair ... I want to do something visible, concrete, and in your face to declare my rejection of Christendom. Something that makes baby bombing parents worried I am going to corrupt their kids ... because to be really honest I do. I want to corrupt their self-obsessed, ego-centric pursuit of feeling good by serving others. I am sick of it. I am sick of just preaching get happy sermons. I am tired of treating the devil only as the source of anything not fun in your life while ignoring the face of the devil when you shake the hand of a Wal-Mart greeter. I am tired of fixing someones home year after year, I want to be fixing the things that cause poverty or at least be working in my own life each week to help reduce it in my neighborhood. I am tired of empty promises ... just get right with God and you will have complete peace. Just get right with God and you will have your miracle or your victory ... just get right with God and you will be happy. All of these are not promises from God they are sales pitches ... marketing slogans ... buy tag body spray get women ... buy our church(Jesus) and get peace. No! A clear reading of the life of the saints, or the life of the disciples, of the life of Jesus is that they were often confused, lonely, frustrated, tired, in periods of dark and desperation, The way of the cross is not about happiness, religious experience, feeling high or good, none of that BS. The way of the cross is about changing things. It is a pronouncement of a new order, and new way of living, a new king and authority, new systems, new cultures.

I was told tonight that our camp leaders were philosophically opposed to doing something that might disturb people in worship. No offense to our leaders, who I really believe love their Jesus and want to be a blessing to others; but if you are not willing to disturb people in worship, you have gutted half the bible and abandoned your willingness to be a prophetic voice. If your central message to a room full of Christians on a mission trip is: you need to be saved ... you have lost your chance to speak like Elijah. Ezekiel, Jeremiah, James, or Paul, or Jesus. Do you think the church or Corinth, Ephesus, or Thesollanica enjoyed reading Paul's letters? Or did it disturb some of them? This is one area where I miss the courage of preachers in the Black tradition. There is a willingness to challenge and confront.

Perhaps Dreads are the answer ... I just want way to announce I am getting out of this corrupt generation ... to convey that I am not like that ... and I want to get into a community so I can live my life with that same conviction.

So any ideas or suggestions on what to do, or how to do it?

Time To Emerge

I've been thinking of trying out a little experiment. You can do it to. It is rather easy.

The next time you take a trip, go away on vacation, or have a holiday...after you come back, get together with some friends and tell them about it. Except, just before you start to tell them your stories, hand them a piece of paper for them to take notes. Just remember to leave blanks at the appropriate places of your three points. Also, you may want to leave a little bit extra space for any thoughts your listeners come up with on their own. Don't forget to put a date on it, either.

Be clear to repeat you key words at the right time with emphasis. This will add to your story and truly make the listener feel as if they were there with you.

Don't let them interrupt or make any response (head nodding is okay) until the very end. (And only, only after you have requested them to do so.) Something like, "Meet me at the other side of the room and whisper or write down how the words affected you and I'll share them with everyone."

Crazy, huh?

That's what they would think. Hopefully you would, too.

The greatest story, the most incredible adventure ever told is relegated to this every Sunday morning.

How did the point of worship become a 30-45 minute lecture? Why did we buy into this? It is time to emerge!

I know, you might agree but add, how can 1000 people sit around and tell stories? I don't know. Maybe they can't. Maybe bigger isn't the point.

The point I'm trying to make, don't confuse the lecture/sermon as worship.

Jesus didn't list points. If anything, he just answered questions with more questions. Yes, he taught. He made declarative statements. However, it was more of a...well, a conversation.

Friday's Frame

You speak of signs and wonders
I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I’m waiting on the crumbs from your table

From U2's, Crumbs From Your Table.

Today's picture (click on for larger image) is of End Hunger Network's new headquarters off 1-45 near downtown. The building is brand new and jumps out of the landscape. It grabs your attention just like the idea that there are hungry people in this city.

Hunger seems like something that only happens a world away. But 800,000+ (men, women, children, and elderly) in the Houston area will go without food at some point during the year. Doesn't that seem amazing?

Their website offers several ways to help out if you are interested.

*Photoshop disclosure* They are still landscaping the grounds and I added the grass on the hill. I took the liberty after seeing the artist rendering on their website.

Unplayed Piano

Please use your liberty to help promote ours.

That quote is attributed to Aung San Suu Kyi. Last week, as we in USAmerica celebrated the anniversary of our freedom, she continued to be denied hers. This is not to make any of us feel guilty for ours, but to motivate ourselves that we must promote liberty for others.

She has been under house arrest off and on for the last 17 years. Her dad negotiated independence for Burma from the U.K. in 1947. With a degree from Oxford, she worked for the United Nations. She returned to Myanmar to care for her ailing mother. The country experienced political/military upheaval.

A student of Ghandhi's non-violence ideas, she entered politics to help bring freedom to her people. She was first place under house arrest in 1989 and was offered freedom if she left the country. She refused.

After winning the Nobel Peace Prize years later, she used the 1.3 million prize money to establish a health and education trust for the Burmese people.

She has been under house arrest off an on during this time. The term was set to expire May 27, 2006, but the Burmese government extended it for another year. There have been reports that she was hospitalized on June 9 of this year for severe diarrhea and weakness. She turned 61 ten days later.

More quotes from her...

It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.

The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.

I think by now I have made it fairly clear that I am not very happy with the word "hope." I don't believe in people just hoping. We work for what we want. I always say that one has no right to hope without endeavor...

So what can we do?

Pray. Talk about it. Use your liberty to promote hers.

And go here for more information and how you can help.

Several years ago U2 wrote a song, Walk On, about her.

Recently, Damien Rice released a beautiful single with the proceeds going to the Burma Campaign. You can find the song at iTunes. They also have a different video. (Performance mixed with video of Aung San Suu Kyi.)

Is Christ Divided?

Call emergent what you want, and it does have its' share of critics, (including myself sometimes) but I haven't seen anything else out there that bring folks from so many different denominations together.

Whether you are Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, or on and on, that is not what is important to those of us in the conversation. Yeah, we each have our own thing that we are hung up on. We all have our preferences. So what?

I love to give MY translation of the bible and different verses in it. (Remember, you get what you pay for.)

1 Corinthians 1:11-13

My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow the Baptist"; another, "I follow Methodist"; another, "I follow Presbyterian"; still another, "I follow Christ."

Is Christ divided? Were the Baptist crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Lutheranism?

Of course, that's not how it goes. Yes, I know that isn't exactly what Paul meant. Here is the real one. Can I stretch it to that? I just did.

I hate to admit, but growing up, I bought into the idea that "everyone else is going to hell" except us. I confess my ignorance.

We have so much to learn from each other. Emergent is the classroom that brings us together. (Yes, Christ is the main reason, but we were all for Christ before and not doing much talking to each other until now.)

Don't buy into Emergent for the sake of buying into something.

Embrace it because it helps us to embrace each other and Christ at the same time.

"Everything is Sold Out" Tour

Rob Bell is traveling around the country with his Everything is Spiritual tour. He makes his way to Houston on Wednesday, July 12.

If you don't already have tickets then you may not be able to make it. They are officially sold out, but the website says some may be available on day of show.

I'm not going but would like to. If anyone is going, please come back by here and let us know how it went.

The funny thing is he will be 'playing' at Numbers. It is not that odd, but Numbers is not the first place I think of when someone says a show about Jesus. Which makes it even better to have it there. It really is a good fit.

Who in this town hasn't been to Numbers? Clubs come and go, but they have been around for 28 years! I still remember the first show that I went to. I almost hate to admit it, but it was the Thompson Twins, 1984. What about you? Remember any of these?

If you are up for a road trip, Dallas still has tickets available for the following night.

Update: NYT review and from Gina who went to the Sacramento show.

Friday's Frame

Photo Phriday is a big thing out there in blogland. You know, on Friday, folks break out a photo they have created and post it. Sometimes there is a story behind it, other times maybe not.

Being a photographer I love the idea. I'm gonna try it for a bit. I'll share some pictures of mine. Feel free to comment on them. If one reminds you of something completely different, throw it out there.

Except Photo Phriday is over-used, so I'm going with Friday's Frame.




With all the talk around here about the Spirit the last few days, I think I was quick to 'see' something that I normally wouldn't.

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

I think I was born in a church. My parents tell me it was a hospital in downtown Houston, but I think otherwise. I say this because of the frequency that I was in a church building during my childhood.

I'm talking at least three times a week. Throw in pot-lucks, gospel meetings, VBS, and youth meetings and the church building was my home away from home. I'm grateful for this, don't misunderstand me.

My tradition isn't very charismatic to begin with, so it all became a familiar ritual early on.

I remember as a kid the arguments when the NIV was introduced. The King James was still "king" around these parts. The language appealed to me in a Shakespearian sort of way (even to this day I say, "verily, verily"), but I liked knowing what I was reading so I preferred the NIV.

What I miss is how I thought of the Holy Spirit. He was renamed, or better translated, in the NIV. The King James is different. Remember the Holy Ghost? Finally, some mystery to something that had become so concrete.

Every bible school teacher I had could tell me how to prove the existence of God and show the Bible verses to back it up. It was a formula for faith. It all fit. But the Holy Ghost didn't really fit. It was exciting when this unknown "thing" would make an appearance in all that is known. I would hear from the pastor, "God, blah, blah, blah and the Holy Ghost."

I would perk up. What? Ghost? What is this Ghost all about?

What was even more amazing to me was when I found out this Ghost got Mary pregnant!

No one had much of an answer for me. I should say, no one would really try to answer it for me. They didn't know either. I wanted to know. I love ghost stories!

I've been thinking what Daniel wrote about the Supernatural and I thought of the Holy Ghost again. I wondered once more, what is this Ghost all about and what has he been doing all this time? Have I lost the mystery, the supernatural of this Ghost, this Spirit?

Would I believe in God if I didn't have a Bible? Would I believe if I never heard all those stories? Would you?

We probably don't hear, "In the the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Bible." but it has become our mantra.

Has the Holy Bible replaced the Holy Spirit in your life. My answer would mostly be yes. I mean, if you want to know God's will, don't you just look it up in the answer book, uhh, Bible?

I know it seems hard to imagine? You think, every thing you know about God is because you've read or heard about it in the Bible.

But is that true?