In no particular order, here are the reasons I do blog.
1. It is a chance to dip into the thinking of people who have studied, thought, and written clearly about what they are writing. I am not talking about the "I have an opinion and 60 seconds to write it down" blogs, I am talking about the "I have devoted a substantial part of my life/thought to understanding this topic and want to share it" blogs.
2. While it is easy to give a caricature of a person, position, idea on a blog, the fact that readers are allowed to comment, while at times becoming ugly (it is easy to be ungracious when all that is in front of you is a computer screen and not a person) it also allows for correction and people to present their view in their own words.
3. Blogs connect people to resources along the lines of their interests and passions.
4. Because blogs allow for the sharing of information to a broad audience relatively easily, it is a great way to find out about things of note. Because there are a lot of worthless things that people are sharing anyway, this only works when you find bloggers who are consistently trustworthy and thoughtful. When that happens, blogs are a great way to learn about things that, rather than just being a way to waste time, actually provide enrichment.
5. Writing often clarifies thinking. Having a blog forces thought to become more concrete and careful, which it must become anyway if it is going to be any help to anyone.
A couple recommendations:
Between Two Worlds: Justin Taylor
Reformissionary: Steve McCoy
Challies.Com: Tim Challies
Sovereign Grace Ministries: C. J. Mahaney
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Why I do NOT blog
My thanks to Todd Best for the following:
"As someone who considers himself somewhat in step with the culture of thought in society and as someone who thinks a lot about culture and human experience, I have to confess that I do not blog. Not only do I not blog, but I do not participate, in general, in the whole blogosphere. Well, ok, sometimes I guess I am an occasional visitor or lurker to an interesting blog here and there. And there are friends of mine who blog that I try to peak in on from time to time. But by and large I am simply not “into” blogging as a practice. But I have my reasons that I think are good reasons, and ones that at least need to be taken into consideration when one blogs and reads blogs.
But first, a caveat: when I speak of blogging, I have a certain kind in mind, and that is the kind whose purpose is to provide a public space on the internet for ones thoughts to be displayed on any range of topics from personal, emotional, psychological life to politics, to religion, to cultural life, to hundreds of other things. On the surface, that doesn’t sound so bad – well at least the latter half of that list. But allow me to mention my reasons for sitting on the sidelines. And one more thing to clarify: I do not think others should necessarily adopt my own views on this, and I can certainly appreciate the various ways friends of mine utilize blogging. However, I also think that some of my reasons could supply some helpful parameters.
Reason 1: It minimizes incarnational communal life. The process of blogging is too disembodied and has disembodying tendencies for its users. It is already difficult enough to get substantive in-person interaction with others these days. Add to that the various ways our culture fragments us as humans and separates us from each other. While some might argue that blogging actually creates more transparency, intimacy, and opportunity to talk about what is most important to us, I say that may be true, but at what cost? I am not anti-internet and I am not anti-technology, I just think that we are flesh and blood and our bodies need to be part of the process of communicating as much as possible. We lose something when we do not experience face to face communication. Think about the difference of how you react when you bump into a physical human being on the sidewalk, and how you react to someone cutting you off in traffic. This isn’t to say that disembodiment of blogging automatically keeps you from experiencing what I call incarnational communal life, but it does present an obstacle. And for me at least, my time is such that I need more face to face not less. I need to cultivate organic, fleshy, visual interaction. The truth is that without blogging, I do not have enough in-person communication. By adding blogging as another hobby, as it were, it would remove me one more step from the real live enfleshed human beings I need in my life and learning.
Reason 2: It lacks authority. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that many who blog do so as a primary way of “learning” about something. Yet, blogs are more often not primary sources to gain knowledge from. They seem to me to be primarily about the blog’s author offering personal thoughts, opinions, feelings, etc. (albeit they can often be very interesting and they can point to more authoritative sources). Take politics, for instance. If I want to learn about a presidential candidate, I would rather first check with primary sources of reliable information (I know, that’s another problem) before checking with opinion-based blogs. Not to say that there’s such a thing as genuine neutrality, but there are at least places that try (NPR, BBC, some newspapers, academic sites). But blogs, while they may have a place, simply are not reliable sources for me. If I have a theological question, for instance, I’m not going to primarily look to a blog. I will first look to something that is more “footnote-able”, something I could find in a journal or publication or library, then consult a blog of, say, a pastor friend of mine or a respected writer online. I guess it’s kind of like the way Wikipedia lacks authority. No one writing anything respectable would ever footnote Wikipedia as their source for information, though it can be helpful on certain things.
Reason 3: Call me a luddite, but I prefer to read lengthy and substantive things as paper and ink. I guess this is somewhat related to the disembodiment issue above, but this time it has to do with my own body interacting with whatever it is that I’m reading. I want to hold the written text in my hands. I want to mark it if I need to and have that option. I want to carry it from my chair to the front porch. I want to be able to take it on a walk with me. I want to be able to look at it and discuss it with others who have their own copy…to be able to point to a passage and put my finger on the words.
Reason 4: I don’t have time to blog. I need to spend less time online, not more. The internet is a tool for me to use as an information source and a place to do initial research and sometimes a place to make purchases when I can’t find something I want locally. So, I have too many other things that demand my attention, besides blogging.
Having said all this, there is a type of blogging that my family does participate in, but I see it as something that is quite different from what I don’t do, and it is under tight parameters, i.e. generally not public. This is a family website kind of deal that we set up with multiply.com, a social networking site. We use it for posting pics, videos, and short narratives of our family’s adventures to help our long-distance family and friends stay connected to us. And, very important, it is not available to the public. (though I guess we have a public, minimal content blog.) There are lots of sick freaks out there scanning for places where they can get off in seeing innocent children’s pictures (not to mention child pornography), and who take the next step in stalking. Call me paranoid, but I think it’s a really bad idea to do public blogs that air pictures of children and name names and locations and such. But to do something that is by invitation only or is password protected can be a really good thing. In the words of a friend of ours, it serves as an alternative for those of us who aren’t into scrap-booking, but think that its important to have a visual expression and memory of what it is that we’re building as a family.
So there you have it. I may have overstated my reasons, but those are the things that come to mind. I don’t think blogs are wrong, evil, wasteful, or useless. It’s just that for my purposes, they don’t offer enough to me to carve out a space in my life for them. However, as I’ve mentioned, I do find it interesting and helpful to look at blogs of certain writers and friends from time to time. Heck, sometimes this is my primary way of keeping up with someone. But again, it’s just not a regular practice."
"As someone who considers himself somewhat in step with the culture of thought in society and as someone who thinks a lot about culture and human experience, I have to confess that I do not blog. Not only do I not blog, but I do not participate, in general, in the whole blogosphere. Well, ok, sometimes I guess I am an occasional visitor or lurker to an interesting blog here and there. And there are friends of mine who blog that I try to peak in on from time to time. But by and large I am simply not “into” blogging as a practice. But I have my reasons that I think are good reasons, and ones that at least need to be taken into consideration when one blogs and reads blogs.
But first, a caveat: when I speak of blogging, I have a certain kind in mind, and that is the kind whose purpose is to provide a public space on the internet for ones thoughts to be displayed on any range of topics from personal, emotional, psychological life to politics, to religion, to cultural life, to hundreds of other things. On the surface, that doesn’t sound so bad – well at least the latter half of that list. But allow me to mention my reasons for sitting on the sidelines. And one more thing to clarify: I do not think others should necessarily adopt my own views on this, and I can certainly appreciate the various ways friends of mine utilize blogging. However, I also think that some of my reasons could supply some helpful parameters.
Reason 1: It minimizes incarnational communal life. The process of blogging is too disembodied and has disembodying tendencies for its users. It is already difficult enough to get substantive in-person interaction with others these days. Add to that the various ways our culture fragments us as humans and separates us from each other. While some might argue that blogging actually creates more transparency, intimacy, and opportunity to talk about what is most important to us, I say that may be true, but at what cost? I am not anti-internet and I am not anti-technology, I just think that we are flesh and blood and our bodies need to be part of the process of communicating as much as possible. We lose something when we do not experience face to face communication. Think about the difference of how you react when you bump into a physical human being on the sidewalk, and how you react to someone cutting you off in traffic. This isn’t to say that disembodiment of blogging automatically keeps you from experiencing what I call incarnational communal life, but it does present an obstacle. And for me at least, my time is such that I need more face to face not less. I need to cultivate organic, fleshy, visual interaction. The truth is that without blogging, I do not have enough in-person communication. By adding blogging as another hobby, as it were, it would remove me one more step from the real live enfleshed human beings I need in my life and learning.
Reason 2: It lacks authority. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that many who blog do so as a primary way of “learning” about something. Yet, blogs are more often not primary sources to gain knowledge from. They seem to me to be primarily about the blog’s author offering personal thoughts, opinions, feelings, etc. (albeit they can often be very interesting and they can point to more authoritative sources). Take politics, for instance. If I want to learn about a presidential candidate, I would rather first check with primary sources of reliable information (I know, that’s another problem) before checking with opinion-based blogs. Not to say that there’s such a thing as genuine neutrality, but there are at least places that try (NPR, BBC, some newspapers, academic sites). But blogs, while they may have a place, simply are not reliable sources for me. If I have a theological question, for instance, I’m not going to primarily look to a blog. I will first look to something that is more “footnote-able”, something I could find in a journal or publication or library, then consult a blog of, say, a pastor friend of mine or a respected writer online. I guess it’s kind of like the way Wikipedia lacks authority. No one writing anything respectable would ever footnote Wikipedia as their source for information, though it can be helpful on certain things.
Reason 3: Call me a luddite, but I prefer to read lengthy and substantive things as paper and ink. I guess this is somewhat related to the disembodiment issue above, but this time it has to do with my own body interacting with whatever it is that I’m reading. I want to hold the written text in my hands. I want to mark it if I need to and have that option. I want to carry it from my chair to the front porch. I want to be able to take it on a walk with me. I want to be able to look at it and discuss it with others who have their own copy…to be able to point to a passage and put my finger on the words.
Reason 4: I don’t have time to blog. I need to spend less time online, not more. The internet is a tool for me to use as an information source and a place to do initial research and sometimes a place to make purchases when I can’t find something I want locally. So, I have too many other things that demand my attention, besides blogging.
Having said all this, there is a type of blogging that my family does participate in, but I see it as something that is quite different from what I don’t do, and it is under tight parameters, i.e. generally not public. This is a family website kind of deal that we set up with multiply.com, a social networking site. We use it for posting pics, videos, and short narratives of our family’s adventures to help our long-distance family and friends stay connected to us. And, very important, it is not available to the public. (though I guess we have a public, minimal content blog.) There are lots of sick freaks out there scanning for places where they can get off in seeing innocent children’s pictures (not to mention child pornography), and who take the next step in stalking. Call me paranoid, but I think it’s a really bad idea to do public blogs that air pictures of children and name names and locations and such. But to do something that is by invitation only or is password protected can be a really good thing. In the words of a friend of ours, it serves as an alternative for those of us who aren’t into scrap-booking, but think that its important to have a visual expression and memory of what it is that we’re building as a family.
So there you have it. I may have overstated my reasons, but those are the things that come to mind. I don’t think blogs are wrong, evil, wasteful, or useless. It’s just that for my purposes, they don’t offer enough to me to carve out a space in my life for them. However, as I’ve mentioned, I do find it interesting and helpful to look at blogs of certain writers and friends from time to time. Heck, sometimes this is my primary way of keeping up with someone. But again, it’s just not a regular practice."
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Jerram Barrs, Dick Keyes, and Ranald Macauley on Christian Heritage
Christian Heritage is an organization whose mission it is to "demonstrate to our contemporary society that Christianity was and is a living faith with the power to change people and therefore to shape history." There is a general assumption in our culture that Christianity doesn't "work," but if we seek out the way our culture was once influenced and radically shaped by the truths of Christianity, there is so much we can learn and be challenged by--in a real and relevant way.
Christian Heritage provides a lot of different articles and audio, even some by our new favorite people from L'Abri, Jerram Barrs and Dick Keyes. Here's a taste of some, but browse the website to find more interesting topics!
Evil and Suffering, by Jerram Barrs: Article (lecture transcription series) on brokenness, pain, evil, and suffering.
Knowing God, by Dick Keyes: Article on intuition, imagination, and knowing God--what does it mean to really know God?
What Can We Learn from Francis Schaeffer? by Ranald Macauley: Article reflecting on the legacy of Francis Schaeffer, seeking true truth and true spirituality, and his passion for L'Abri.
Is Art a Commodity or a Relationship? by Ellis Potter: How should Christians respond to art? (Audio)
Post-modernism / Post-modernism and the New Age Movement, by Jock McGregor: Audios on Post-Modernism in our culture.
The Real Problem with Buddhism, by Ellis Potter: As a former Buddhist priest, Ellis Potter discusses Buddhism. (Audio)
Christian Heritage provides a lot of different articles and audio, even some by our new favorite people from L'Abri, Jerram Barrs and Dick Keyes. Here's a taste of some, but browse the website to find more interesting topics!
Evil and Suffering, by Jerram Barrs: Article (lecture transcription series) on brokenness, pain, evil, and suffering.
Knowing God, by Dick Keyes: Article on intuition, imagination, and knowing God--what does it mean to really know God?
What Can We Learn from Francis Schaeffer? by Ranald Macauley: Article reflecting on the legacy of Francis Schaeffer, seeking true truth and true spirituality, and his passion for L'Abri.
Is Art a Commodity or a Relationship? by Ellis Potter: How should Christians respond to art? (Audio)
Post-modernism / Post-modernism and the New Age Movement, by Jock McGregor: Audios on Post-Modernism in our culture.
The Real Problem with Buddhism, by Ellis Potter: As a former Buddhist priest, Ellis Potter discusses Buddhism. (Audio)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Heart of Prayer, by Jerram Barrs
I picked up Jerram Barrs' new book at the L'Abri conference called The Heart of Prayer and wanted to write a little bit about it. It intrigued me for a couple of reasons: 1. It's Jerram, so of course it's going to be good! 2. Prayer is something that I feel like I continually fall short in, and for reasons that I don't always know. When I'm honest with myself, I can see that this is an enormous weakness in my life. I for sure can stand to learn more about prayer--I want to do something about this sense of "poverty in my prayer life."Jerram writes in such a way that isn't condemning, but is still voicing truth in every sentence. He continually shows Jesus' teaching and examples for us in a way that is so encouraging, and he provides questions at the end of each chapter for reflection.
Some of my favorite passages so far:
"Prayer is not a performance in which we are trying to prove something to God about our depth of theological understanding or our skills of eloquence. Nor is prayer a performance in which we seek to impress our fellow believers about these things. And prayer is certainly not a performance in which we are to appraise and applaud ourselves for theological acumen or verbal gymnastics. Prayer is talking to God; prayer is not about trying to feel better about ourselves" (18).
"The truth is that the New Testament teaches us that we are called to walk by faith now rather than by sight, and so we must be content with not always, or with only rarely, or maybe even not at all, having intense experiences of the Lord's presence (22).
"Prayer is our response to God, the God who graciously invites us to come to him with our thanksgiving and requests. He is never indebted to us; we are always indebted to him. We cannot manipulate him into a position where we can make him answer us--no matter how much time, how much emotional energy, how much spiritual fervor, or how much frequency of prayer we offer to him. We are always beggars who are completely dependent on his generous kindness to us. We are not those who can bargain with him on the basis of our perceived spiritual power or faithfulness" (22-23).
"We should remember that the Lord wants us to be specific, for it is only as we face up to the practical reality of our failing to love God and to love our neighbor that we begin to see the seriousness of our sins" (34).
"When we start praying for people, we must begin to stop hating them!" (35)
"If we actually succeed in observing the disciplines, and so increase the time, frequency, and passion of our prayers, there is the danger of spiritual pride. We easily begin to believe that we know God better, that our relationship with him is becoming deeper, and perhaps even that he loves us more because we are doing well at our devotions" (60).
"Or if, on the other hand, we find ourselves failing at the disciplines, we become miserable. We become confused and depressed about the poor state of our devotional lives. We are tempted to believe that God loves us less because of our weak prayer lives" (61).
"He is eager to hear us tell him that we are full of gladness and joy because of the beauty of spring, because of the glory of a fall day, or because of the splendor of a night sky. He wants praise to burst out in our prayers and songs to overflow from our hearts (prayers and songs that no one hears but him) because we are so pleased to be loved and forgiven by him. He wants us to be so full of wonder and delight that we pray secretly without the knowledge of others in our household. He wants us to pray when we are in bed lying awake, when we are washing the dishes, when we are in the yard weeding the flowers, when we are driving our cars, when we are working around the house" (70).
Friday, February 22, 2008
"Sex: Agony and Ecstasy" -Richard Winter
My thanks to Marta Douglass for the following notes from the L'abri conference:
I took a Sexual Health class at Mizzou last year and loved it. It was a very frank discussion on everything related to sex, but mostly came from the angle of "as long as it's safe, it is okay." Of course, the definition of "safe" can be relative. Emotionally? Physically? I wanted to go to Richard Winter's talk because I wanted to see what the Church has to say about sex. I have heard from seminary students about how Richard Winter would talk about how sex gets better and better with your spouse as you get older, and that promiscuous young people don't really know what they're missing. I love that perspective. Here are some bullet points from the lecture. Nothing too surprising, but everything wonderful.
I took a Sexual Health class at Mizzou last year and loved it. It was a very frank discussion on everything related to sex, but mostly came from the angle of "as long as it's safe, it is okay." Of course, the definition of "safe" can be relative. Emotionally? Physically? I wanted to go to Richard Winter's talk because I wanted to see what the Church has to say about sex. I have heard from seminary students about how Richard Winter would talk about how sex gets better and better with your spouse as you get older, and that promiscuous young people don't really know what they're missing. I love that perspective. Here are some bullet points from the lecture. Nothing too surprising, but everything wonderful.
- The agony of sex is when sex is without God. We are called to weep with those who have been wounded by unhealthy sex and abuse.
- "Obession with erotic pleasure yields to obsession with moral failure" - I don't really know what this means, but maybe I will soon.
- If we are evolved beings with no innate spirituality, then it makes sense for us to have sex like animals.
- The Church has a gnostic suspicion of the body that we shouldn't fall into. Passion is God's gift.
- Sex should be with the right person in the right place at the right time.
- Marriage should become the most important out of all covenant relationships: sex declares with my body my reaffirmation of the covenant and I am declaring that covenant with my life the rest of the week.
- Sexuality is like a river that should have high banks.
- The Message (modern language): The Song Of Solomon
- Masturbation: making love to oneself in isolation (completely out of community - where we should be), also "I will not be mastered by anything. " It is addictive.
- Being celibate while single lets us participate in creation groaning in Christ. It's anticipation, waiting. It's painful.
- No other physical act has the same level of communication as sex.
- We need to talk about the correct view of sexuality within the Covenant community. We are told the wrong view all the time by media and ourselves. We need the truth.
- Celibacy is practice at resisting instant gratification.
- Sex in the beginning is like learning to dance, you step all over each other's toes at first
- Men and women: Vive la Différence! (we're different, differently stimulated, and that's wonderful)
- Proverbs 6:26 - "For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life." We can treat each other like objects when having sex.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
"The Challenge of Hospitality in Our Contemporary Culture"
This past weekend was the L'Abri conference up in Rochester, MN (check out their website--www.labri.org) and like last year, I am left with so much to think about and process.
My favorite lecture this year was one that I went to hesitantly on hospitality in our culture--I am so glad that I went to this one because it changed and affirmed my views on what this really looks like and why it is so necessary.
Andrew Fellows, who gave the lecture, referenced Matthew 25, where Jesus offers a good description of hospitality: "when i was a stranger, you welcomed me." Early church fathers saw hospitality as central to the gospel, the primary means of imitating Christ. This is the heart of L'Abri's purpose and function, and this is what makes it such a unique ministry. I think that's why I liked the talk so much, because so many examples of L'Abri were used.
A lot of times we think of hospitality as welcoming in friends, and I think it is that, but I think it is also welcoming the stranger, the person who truly needs to feel loved and welcome and who needs a place to go.
The welcome we give strangers reflects the heart of Christianity and enacts the gospel, showing it in a real and concrete way. It is the most powerful sacrament of the love of God. What helps people the most at L'Abri is receiving the welcome that is offered to them. There were multiple people who commented during the discussion about how much that meant to them. Tears flowing down their faces showed their gratitude that there was a shelter they could go to, with someone opening up their lives to them, truly loving them as someone who is made in the image of God. That is the welcome of Christ to us: his door is opened wide and his love is there for us to run to, and when we enter his presence we are filled with a gratitude that this is even possible.
I think this is so counter-cultural to everything we see: we walk down the street and don't make eye contact, people are uncomfortable if you smile at them, and the thought of meeting your neighbors--much less having them over for dinner--strikes an uncomfortable nerve. We hang out in Memorial and talk to only the people we know, and we feel like someone has invaded our space if they sit at our table at a coffee shop, simply because this drives us out of our comfort zone.
Welcoming people gets to the heart of the "glorious ruin" principle that Francis Schaeffer talked about so much. While sin has damaged the goodness of creation, there is still a glory there that is reflected from God. You touch the glory and dignity of a person when you welcome them, but you also touch someone who is very broken and needy, no matter who they are. What is so cool about this picture of hospitality is that it solidifies the position that everyone is on level ground at the foot of the cross. We need his grace and welcome, and hospitality enacts this. There is something glorious to that.
My favorite lecture this year was one that I went to hesitantly on hospitality in our culture--I am so glad that I went to this one because it changed and affirmed my views on what this really looks like and why it is so necessary.
Andrew Fellows, who gave the lecture, referenced Matthew 25, where Jesus offers a good description of hospitality: "when i was a stranger, you welcomed me." Early church fathers saw hospitality as central to the gospel, the primary means of imitating Christ. This is the heart of L'Abri's purpose and function, and this is what makes it such a unique ministry. I think that's why I liked the talk so much, because so many examples of L'Abri were used.
A lot of times we think of hospitality as welcoming in friends, and I think it is that, but I think it is also welcoming the stranger, the person who truly needs to feel loved and welcome and who needs a place to go.
The welcome we give strangers reflects the heart of Christianity and enacts the gospel, showing it in a real and concrete way. It is the most powerful sacrament of the love of God. What helps people the most at L'Abri is receiving the welcome that is offered to them. There were multiple people who commented during the discussion about how much that meant to them. Tears flowing down their faces showed their gratitude that there was a shelter they could go to, with someone opening up their lives to them, truly loving them as someone who is made in the image of God. That is the welcome of Christ to us: his door is opened wide and his love is there for us to run to, and when we enter his presence we are filled with a gratitude that this is even possible.
I think this is so counter-cultural to everything we see: we walk down the street and don't make eye contact, people are uncomfortable if you smile at them, and the thought of meeting your neighbors--much less having them over for dinner--strikes an uncomfortable nerve. We hang out in Memorial and talk to only the people we know, and we feel like someone has invaded our space if they sit at our table at a coffee shop, simply because this drives us out of our comfort zone.
Welcoming people gets to the heart of the "glorious ruin" principle that Francis Schaeffer talked about so much. While sin has damaged the goodness of creation, there is still a glory there that is reflected from God. You touch the glory and dignity of a person when you welcome them, but you also touch someone who is very broken and needy, no matter who they are. What is so cool about this picture of hospitality is that it solidifies the position that everyone is on level ground at the foot of the cross. We need his grace and welcome, and hospitality enacts this. There is something glorious to that.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
L'abri 08: There and Back Again
A weekend full of lectures at the L'abri conference in Rochester, Minnesota is now over and I am going to try and put some contents from my notes (and hopefully the notes of the others who came to the conference... too many lectures and too little time for one person to get it all) on this blog. Stay tuned in the coming days/weeks for more content from the lectures and workshops. For this post I want to say something about L'abri generally. I was reminded this weekend of so many things I love about L'abri, its theology, and style of living the Christian life. Each of these deserves much longer treatment, but just to be brief, here they are:
What I like about L'abri:
1. Insistence the reality of God in the life of the Christian: God's truth is not relegated to simply a "spiritual" realm that has no contact with our daily lives. The gospel has implications for all of life, and if it is true it we should live in that reality as much as we are able. An example of how this works itself out at L'abri is in their prayer life. L'abri does not advertise, seek out workers, actively call people to come, or ask broadcast their need for financial support. They worship a God who knows their needs, who has purposes for L'abri in the lives of certain students, and who cares about all his creations deeply. This is not just an intellectual idea at L'abri; it is something they try to work into the fabric of their everyday lives and operations.
2. Common grace: This was the theme of the conference this year and something I am so thankful to God for his use of L'abri to speak clearly of God's common grace. L'abri insists that ALL people are made in the image of God and retains traces of their former glory, no matter how obscured those traces might be. Nothing is too twisted to be saved. God's mark on his creations is indelible. As Francis Schaeffer said, "We are glorious ruins."
3. Listening and respect: L'abri tries very hard to listen to every question and treat each person who brings comes to them with the utmost respect. This is not a groundless practice. It is founded on the belief in God's common grace. If God has lavished such love on his rebellious creations, how could we fail to treat one another with dignity in the light of that love? Schaeffer said that if he had one hour talking with a person he would spend 50 minutes of that hour listening and asking questions to be sure that he could give the answers that the person really needs before they parted.
4. Worldview: L'abri insists that everyone has a worldview. There is no "neutral" way to live in this world. Everyone beliefs about the nature of the world, the nature of God, right and wrong, what has worth in this life, etc. This understanding of the way that people are allows L'abri to have a unusually perceptive view of the mysteries of the actions from something so large as western culture to something as small as an individual student who comes to any L'abri branch. This vision allows L'abri to do what Luther said and "preach the gospel in precisely the area that it is under attack" to both people and institutions.
5. Art: Hans Rookmaaker said, "Art needs no justification." Francis Schaeffer wrote and thought deeply about art its power and that focus has stayed with L'abri ever since. L'abri values art for its ability to reveal the soul of a culture and its ability to display the glory of God in the talents of God's creations.
6. No sacred/secular split: L'abri has always spoken against the idea that there is a line between some things in life which are "sacred" (church, prayer, bible reading, evangelism) and things that are "secular" (the rest of the world). There is a line, but it runs between every single thing, not a group of things. There is both lightness and darkness in every area of life and the call of the church is to play a role in the flourishing of the light wherever it finds itself.
7. Hospitality: This is yet another things I find so attractive about L'abri that has its roots it common grace. L'abri places a high value on making people feel welcome, and inviting them directly into the midst of real life. It is a powerful witness to Christian truth when non-believers see the gospel prpfoundly affecting the daily lives of Christians.
8. Flow of History: L'abri insists that a person must understand how he came to be where he is before he can really understand where he is at all. An eye toward history is all over the writings of Schaeffer, and L'abri students and workers carry that work forward into our present day.
There is so much more. Keep up with the next few blog posts for more from L'abri.
What I like about L'abri:
1. Insistence the reality of God in the life of the Christian: God's truth is not relegated to simply a "spiritual" realm that has no contact with our daily lives. The gospel has implications for all of life, and if it is true it we should live in that reality as much as we are able. An example of how this works itself out at L'abri is in their prayer life. L'abri does not advertise, seek out workers, actively call people to come, or ask broadcast their need for financial support. They worship a God who knows their needs, who has purposes for L'abri in the lives of certain students, and who cares about all his creations deeply. This is not just an intellectual idea at L'abri; it is something they try to work into the fabric of their everyday lives and operations.
2. Common grace: This was the theme of the conference this year and something I am so thankful to God for his use of L'abri to speak clearly of God's common grace. L'abri insists that ALL people are made in the image of God and retains traces of their former glory, no matter how obscured those traces might be. Nothing is too twisted to be saved. God's mark on his creations is indelible. As Francis Schaeffer said, "We are glorious ruins."
3. Listening and respect: L'abri tries very hard to listen to every question and treat each person who brings comes to them with the utmost respect. This is not a groundless practice. It is founded on the belief in God's common grace. If God has lavished such love on his rebellious creations, how could we fail to treat one another with dignity in the light of that love? Schaeffer said that if he had one hour talking with a person he would spend 50 minutes of that hour listening and asking questions to be sure that he could give the answers that the person really needs before they parted.
4. Worldview: L'abri insists that everyone has a worldview. There is no "neutral" way to live in this world. Everyone beliefs about the nature of the world, the nature of God, right and wrong, what has worth in this life, etc. This understanding of the way that people are allows L'abri to have a unusually perceptive view of the mysteries of the actions from something so large as western culture to something as small as an individual student who comes to any L'abri branch. This vision allows L'abri to do what Luther said and "preach the gospel in precisely the area that it is under attack" to both people and institutions.
5. Art: Hans Rookmaaker said, "Art needs no justification." Francis Schaeffer wrote and thought deeply about art its power and that focus has stayed with L'abri ever since. L'abri values art for its ability to reveal the soul of a culture and its ability to display the glory of God in the talents of God's creations.
6. No sacred/secular split: L'abri has always spoken against the idea that there is a line between some things in life which are "sacred" (church, prayer, bible reading, evangelism) and things that are "secular" (the rest of the world). There is a line, but it runs between every single thing, not a group of things. There is both lightness and darkness in every area of life and the call of the church is to play a role in the flourishing of the light wherever it finds itself.
7. Hospitality: This is yet another things I find so attractive about L'abri that has its roots it common grace. L'abri places a high value on making people feel welcome, and inviting them directly into the midst of real life. It is a powerful witness to Christian truth when non-believers see the gospel prpfoundly affecting the daily lives of Christians.
8. Flow of History: L'abri insists that a person must understand how he came to be where he is before he can really understand where he is at all. An eye toward history is all over the writings of Schaeffer, and L'abri students and workers carry that work forward into our present day.
There is so much more. Keep up with the next few blog posts for more from L'abri.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Global Mind: Friends in Kenya (3)
Here is another story from a friend of the Crossing in Kenya:
Matayo’s (Kenyan translation of Matthew) comes from one of many broken families in Kenya. His father became an alcoholic after loosing a good government job as an accountant. Matayo’s father was blamed for the embezzlement done by more powerful men from a more favored tribe. This is a common tale especially among less favored tribal groups who suffer accusations & suspicion due to Kenya’s lingering tribalism. When Matayo’s family became destitute, his parents took the kids back to their home area, far away from Nairobi. In the busy street market of this distant city, the father sent the kids on errands to get a few small things. While the kids were busy and dispersed, he pushed their mother onto a bus and left them all behind. (Matayo learned this part of the story many years later when he was able to locate his mom & his still very drunken father. He says their life is terrible & he would not want to have to live with them. He has pity on them & has forgiven them for what they did. He also took his youngest sister from them because she was not getting educated & was mistreated.) When they were abandoned the kids were very young (ages 3-14 years old). They thought their parents accidentally got separated from them and must surely be searching for them. Fearful and without resources, the kids searched the town in vain. Thus began their struggle to survive. The oldest brother died not long after their abandonment, leaving them grief-stricken & less protected. Eventually, they begged their way back to Nairobi, the only place they knew to look for their parents. Since they found no trace of their parents, they lived in the streets of the slums, begging, eating trash & scattering to survive however they could. Eventually, one brother got a small job delivering cans of water. He was given a little food & a corner where he could sleep. Since he was no longer transient, he became their point of connection, a place to check-in and hear news about one another.
Matayo’s path of survival led to joining a street gang. He doesn’t talk much about the gang but he says, “You would never want to be near such things. We were terrible.” During his time on the streets, he earned the nickname, Tati, which means boxer or fighter. Eventually, Matayo heard the gospel through missionaries. He was taken in by them and he began to have a better life & education & worked his way up in their ministry program. But like the seeds in the parable that fell among thorns, the gospel message was choked in him & he was persuaded by his gang brothers to betray the trust of the missionaries & return to gang life. Accused of being an accessory to crimes the gang perpetrated, Matayo spent time in prison. His time in prison brought home to him how much he needed God. He repented & sought forgiveness putting his hope again in Christ. When he was released He praised God for working on his behalf but still his walk of faith was sporadic and disjointed with much contradiction remaining in his life. Through the help of different missionaries he was given a second chance & was able to gain entrance into college. On campus, he came into contact with a group of sincere Christians. He grew greatly in the Lord through his friendship with them & their Bible studies. As he got into deeper friendship with these believers & grew spiritually, he became involved with New City Fellowship church. Now he helps with their youth and soccer programs. As his faith has grown his burden to help his family has also grown. Most of Matayo’s siblings suffer deeply from mental illness & addiction. Some are incarcerated for stealing & prostitution. He has only two brothers who are able to work & who take care of their families. Matayo now helps his nearest brother care for the teenage sister he brought away from his parents’ farm. They had her attending school until she became pregnant last year. Now she & her baby live with the brother’s family. Matayo also helps them support & educate the abandoned kids of another brother who is abusive, mentally ill & addicted. Matayo is thankful to be able to rescue them so they won’t go through what he faced on the streets. He sees this as part of God’s blessing of his life. Whether sharing a new bit of understanding about a passage of scripture or dividing his meager funds to provide for someone else’s tuition or shoes, everything Matayo gains he passes on to his family members. He has also become an eager volunteer helping with orphanage & school projects funded by members of The Crossing.
Matayo is a growing follower of Christ. His family experienced much trauma during the recent post election violence. During the riots, Matayo’s brother was badly injured in a machete attack while defending his family & preventing them from being burned alive inside their slum dwelling. Matayo got a call about their peril & walked far from his small college room, around the violence in downtown to reach his suffering family members. Then, he carried the small children as the family carefully made their way back through the violence convulsed city to his place. All in all, 12 of them stayed in his small place for several weeks. They did not have adequate water or toilets for so many but at least his place was in a safer neighborhood near campus and they all survived. Matayo was able to help his family because he has been helped by members of The Crossing. Matayo lives sacrificially so he can share with his family and keep the young ones in school. He does this because he knows he’s been brought up from the lowest place by the love & grace of the Lord. He readily confesses it is not because he is worthy that God has shown him grace.
Matayo in his own words from recent emails:
Early January (2008): “Over here it has not been a happy new year for Kenyans. Things have been so bad there has been blood shed everywhere. One of my brothers had been cut on the head several times, but he is doing fine. I had to go and get the rest of my family from [the slum] and bring them to my place. They called me and told me that they were surrounded by a mob that was burning houses in the slums. It was a very horrible experience for them, were it not for my injured brother they would have been burnt in the house. But I thank God for protecting them. I went and took all of them out. They are at my place at the moment. It is safe there compared to [the slums.] Now I have 12 people in that small house of mine. We hope and pray that things will become calm. The past 5 days have been so terrible for everyone here. Please pray for Kenya that God’s will prevails.”
Middle January: “Over here things are a little bit tense at the moment. I have been struggling the past few weeks trying to maintain a big family at my house. I thank God that somehow I managed and also I thank God for [missionary friends] who were there for me. They really helped me through prayer and everything else. It was a very difficult and trying moment for us here, things are turning back to normal and we are praying that God will see Kenya through these trying moments. We have already opened College but I have not yet reported back, as I am very down at the moment in every way. I have also found a new school for my sister she will be joining soon and continue with where she left before she got pregnant. This has also exhausted every penny I had.”
Early February: “It is good to know that God is taking care of me because sometimes things seem to be very difficult, especially when almost everyone in my family looks at me in times of trouble. These past few days have been so hard but it is good to trust in God. I am still learning how faithful God is every passing day. My family went back to my brother's place and I have already resumed back to college. My brother is getting well, the wounds are drying and he can work. Their place is peaceful at the moment but there is still some tension and people are yet to recover from the trauma. [A member of The Crossing] has passed on some cash to help us live this month, I am so thankful and may God bless you all in every way. I sincerely don’t know how to express my joy. I am also very happy that some of the cash I have been saving has helped me put my sister back to school. These are miracles that God is doing to me. My sister has been doing well & her baby is also fine. She is 4months old now... God bless you so much and may he keep you well.”
Matayo’s (Kenyan translation of Matthew) comes from one of many broken families in Kenya. His father became an alcoholic after loosing a good government job as an accountant. Matayo’s father was blamed for the embezzlement done by more powerful men from a more favored tribe. This is a common tale especially among less favored tribal groups who suffer accusations & suspicion due to Kenya’s lingering tribalism. When Matayo’s family became destitute, his parents took the kids back to their home area, far away from Nairobi. In the busy street market of this distant city, the father sent the kids on errands to get a few small things. While the kids were busy and dispersed, he pushed their mother onto a bus and left them all behind. (Matayo learned this part of the story many years later when he was able to locate his mom & his still very drunken father. He says their life is terrible & he would not want to have to live with them. He has pity on them & has forgiven them for what they did. He also took his youngest sister from them because she was not getting educated & was mistreated.) When they were abandoned the kids were very young (ages 3-14 years old). They thought their parents accidentally got separated from them and must surely be searching for them. Fearful and without resources, the kids searched the town in vain. Thus began their struggle to survive. The oldest brother died not long after their abandonment, leaving them grief-stricken & less protected. Eventually, they begged their way back to Nairobi, the only place they knew to look for their parents. Since they found no trace of their parents, they lived in the streets of the slums, begging, eating trash & scattering to survive however they could. Eventually, one brother got a small job delivering cans of water. He was given a little food & a corner where he could sleep. Since he was no longer transient, he became their point of connection, a place to check-in and hear news about one another.
Matayo’s path of survival led to joining a street gang. He doesn’t talk much about the gang but he says, “You would never want to be near such things. We were terrible.” During his time on the streets, he earned the nickname, Tati, which means boxer or fighter. Eventually, Matayo heard the gospel through missionaries. He was taken in by them and he began to have a better life & education & worked his way up in their ministry program. But like the seeds in the parable that fell among thorns, the gospel message was choked in him & he was persuaded by his gang brothers to betray the trust of the missionaries & return to gang life. Accused of being an accessory to crimes the gang perpetrated, Matayo spent time in prison. His time in prison brought home to him how much he needed God. He repented & sought forgiveness putting his hope again in Christ. When he was released He praised God for working on his behalf but still his walk of faith was sporadic and disjointed with much contradiction remaining in his life. Through the help of different missionaries he was given a second chance & was able to gain entrance into college. On campus, he came into contact with a group of sincere Christians. He grew greatly in the Lord through his friendship with them & their Bible studies. As he got into deeper friendship with these believers & grew spiritually, he became involved with New City Fellowship church. Now he helps with their youth and soccer programs. As his faith has grown his burden to help his family has also grown. Most of Matayo’s siblings suffer deeply from mental illness & addiction. Some are incarcerated for stealing & prostitution. He has only two brothers who are able to work & who take care of their families. Matayo now helps his nearest brother care for the teenage sister he brought away from his parents’ farm. They had her attending school until she became pregnant last year. Now she & her baby live with the brother’s family. Matayo also helps them support & educate the abandoned kids of another brother who is abusive, mentally ill & addicted. Matayo is thankful to be able to rescue them so they won’t go through what he faced on the streets. He sees this as part of God’s blessing of his life. Whether sharing a new bit of understanding about a passage of scripture or dividing his meager funds to provide for someone else’s tuition or shoes, everything Matayo gains he passes on to his family members. He has also become an eager volunteer helping with orphanage & school projects funded by members of The Crossing.
Matayo is a growing follower of Christ. His family experienced much trauma during the recent post election violence. During the riots, Matayo’s brother was badly injured in a machete attack while defending his family & preventing them from being burned alive inside their slum dwelling. Matayo got a call about their peril & walked far from his small college room, around the violence in downtown to reach his suffering family members. Then, he carried the small children as the family carefully made their way back through the violence convulsed city to his place. All in all, 12 of them stayed in his small place for several weeks. They did not have adequate water or toilets for so many but at least his place was in a safer neighborhood near campus and they all survived. Matayo was able to help his family because he has been helped by members of The Crossing. Matayo lives sacrificially so he can share with his family and keep the young ones in school. He does this because he knows he’s been brought up from the lowest place by the love & grace of the Lord. He readily confesses it is not because he is worthy that God has shown him grace.
Matayo in his own words from recent emails:
Early January (2008): “Over here it has not been a happy new year for Kenyans. Things have been so bad there has been blood shed everywhere. One of my brothers had been cut on the head several times, but he is doing fine. I had to go and get the rest of my family from [the slum] and bring them to my place. They called me and told me that they were surrounded by a mob that was burning houses in the slums. It was a very horrible experience for them, were it not for my injured brother they would have been burnt in the house. But I thank God for protecting them. I went and took all of them out. They are at my place at the moment. It is safe there compared to [the slums.] Now I have 12 people in that small house of mine. We hope and pray that things will become calm. The past 5 days have been so terrible for everyone here. Please pray for Kenya that God’s will prevails.”
Middle January: “Over here things are a little bit tense at the moment. I have been struggling the past few weeks trying to maintain a big family at my house. I thank God that somehow I managed and also I thank God for [missionary friends] who were there for me. They really helped me through prayer and everything else. It was a very difficult and trying moment for us here, things are turning back to normal and we are praying that God will see Kenya through these trying moments. We have already opened College but I have not yet reported back, as I am very down at the moment in every way. I have also found a new school for my sister she will be joining soon and continue with where she left before she got pregnant. This has also exhausted every penny I had.”
Early February: “It is good to know that God is taking care of me because sometimes things seem to be very difficult, especially when almost everyone in my family looks at me in times of trouble. These past few days have been so hard but it is good to trust in God. I am still learning how faithful God is every passing day. My family went back to my brother's place and I have already resumed back to college. My brother is getting well, the wounds are drying and he can work. Their place is peaceful at the moment but there is still some tension and people are yet to recover from the trauma. [A member of The Crossing] has passed on some cash to help us live this month, I am so thankful and may God bless you all in every way. I sincerely don’t know how to express my joy. I am also very happy that some of the cash I have been saving has helped me put my sister back to school. These are miracles that God is doing to me. My sister has been doing well & her baby is also fine. She is 4months old now... God bless you so much and may he keep you well.”
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Global Mind: Friends in Kenya (2)
Thanks to Luke Miedema for the following:
"Most of you are probably aware of the tribal conflict, violence, and political instability that has consumed Kenya in the past month and a half. My guess, however, is that fewer of you are familiar with the partnerships The Crossing has with a number of ministries working and living in this East African country.
Instead of explaining the details of the conflict here, I want to use this space to inform you of the direct affect the violence and instability has had on just a couple of our partner ministries in Kenya. (There are many good summaries of the overall situation elsewhere. See the links at the bottom of the page.)
One ministry we have been supporting for more than two years is the Pamoja Hope Orphanage in Ijogi, Kenya. Paul and Martha began inviting 40-50 orphans from their community into their home offering them one solid meal a day (which they paid for out of their own pocket). The majority of the kids suffer from AIDS passed on from their moms in childbirth. Martha currently houses 55 kids in the orphanage building The Crossing funded, runs a pre-school out of the building for more than 100 kids, provides tuition for some older kids to attend primary and secondary school, and takes any sick ones to the hospital for medicine and care.
I received this email from Martha just a few days after the violence began in the country:
“Thanks for your prayers, we really needed that. Yes, there was some bit of rioting in our area especially targeted to us because we don’t come from Meru. About 30 youths came at around midnight and started shouting and throwing stones towards the dormitory. They destroyed five windows and the children got really scared.
At around 3am, I gathered courage and I went to talk to them. God gave me favor, they stopped shouting and we even prepared them some coffee. That’s the worse it got.
Everything is now back in order and I know that Kenyans are peace loving people and its my honest prayer that something like this may never happen again."
New York Times - Kenya 1
New York Times - Kenya 2
BBC - "600,000 Displaced in Kenya"
Reuters - "Election Disputed"
"Most of you are probably aware of the tribal conflict, violence, and political instability that has consumed Kenya in the past month and a half. My guess, however, is that fewer of you are familiar with the partnerships The Crossing has with a number of ministries working and living in this East African country.
Instead of explaining the details of the conflict here, I want to use this space to inform you of the direct affect the violence and instability has had on just a couple of our partner ministries in Kenya. (There are many good summaries of the overall situation elsewhere. See the links at the bottom of the page.)
One ministry we have been supporting for more than two years is the Pamoja Hope Orphanage in Ijogi, Kenya. Paul and Martha began inviting 40-50 orphans from their community into their home offering them one solid meal a day (which they paid for out of their own pocket). The majority of the kids suffer from AIDS passed on from their moms in childbirth. Martha currently houses 55 kids in the orphanage building The Crossing funded, runs a pre-school out of the building for more than 100 kids, provides tuition for some older kids to attend primary and secondary school, and takes any sick ones to the hospital for medicine and care.I received this email from Martha just a few days after the violence began in the country:
“Thanks for your prayers, we really needed that. Yes, there was some bit of rioting in our area especially targeted to us because we don’t come from Meru. About 30 youths came at around midnight and started shouting and throwing stones towards the dormitory. They destroyed five windows and the children got really scared.
At around 3am, I gathered courage and I went to talk to them. God gave me favor, they stopped shouting and we even prepared them some coffee. That’s the worse it got.
Everything is now back in order and I know that Kenyans are peace loving people and its my honest prayer that something like this may never happen again."
New York Times - Kenya 1
New York Times - Kenya 2
BBC - "600,000 Displaced in Kenya"
Reuters - "Election Disputed"
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Global Mind: Friends in Kenya
I asked Cami Wheeler, a member of the Crossing who has lived in Kenya for the past two years, to tell the story of a few people God is using in remarkable ways in Kenya.
Here is Erick's story:
"Erick is the oldest of 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. They live in a slum called Kawangware in Nairobi, Kenya. They were orphaned when Erick was in his early teens and Joshua, the youngest, was just an infant. Initially, they were given into the
care of a distant uncle. This man sold their farm for his own profit, deprived them of education and forced them to work as house and farm slaves. They endured much abuse while living with him. Erick, being the oldest, knew it was up to him to find a better life for their family. He fled and made his way from their rural area to the capital city, Nairobi. He hoped to find work so he could rescue the others. But work is hard to find and like so many others who come to Nairobi full of hope Erick ended up disappointed and destitute. He became a street-boy in Kibera, the largest slum in sub-Saharan Africa. He was deeply depressed and suffering more abusive treatment in the slum. He determined to end his life and secured poison to accomplish his goal. 
The day he was planning to take the poison a friend of his father found him in Kibera and shared the hope of the gospel with him. This man had been searching throughout Kibera and other slums in Nairobi for many months in hopes of rescuing Erick and sharing the love of Christ with him. God’s timing brought him to Erick at just the right time. Upon hearing the gospel Erick was immediately filled with the hope and gave his life over to the Lordship of Christ. He says grace found him and brought him back from the brink of death. Now Erick has finished high school and is in his early-mid twenties. He has rescued his siblings from their uncle and he raises them himself. Life in their slum is often hard but they are thankful and happy to be together. The second brother, Ezekiel, is in a carpentry apprenticeship in Western Kenya thanks to missionary support Erick raised for him. Their sister, Dorothy, has a seizure disorder & is mentally handicapped. She has been through many difficulties. Last year she was raped and conceived a baby
that she carried to term despite many people pressuring the family to get her an abortion. Thankfully their commitment to the Lord kept them strong. And the support provided by The Crossing and other ministries helped to pay Dorothy’s hospital fees. Baby Mary is now awaiting adoption in an orphanage in Nairobi because their family just does not have the resources to raise her. After much searching and prayer Dorothy has been accepted into a wonderful school for the mentally handicapped and is safe and thriving. Effi and Joshua are the youngest. They attend grade school in Nairobi and are doing pretty well. Erick is in a Microsoft Computer Technician training program and hopes to complete it in the next year if he is able to get support for his tuition and testing fees. He wants to eventually go on to get a university degree in computer science. But raising his siblings and providing for their education is his highest priority. So he hopes to find a job that will allow him to continue in school while providing income for the family. For now Erick and his family members are dependent on the support of friends and churches like The Crossing who help with tuition and living expenses while he is in school.
Erick in his own words:
"It is really tough for me to be the mom and dad at the same time, and sometimes I do have questions in my heart and even complaints, but pray that the Lord will teach me how to focus on him alone. I pray that I will be strong in all this. Life has not been easy at all, but I am rejoicing in the Lord for how good he has been to me and my family. I am lifting his name high and I want my heart to bless him, I was reading Psalm 103 this morning and I almost cried. 'Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless his Holy name.’ He has done great things in my life and I want to live praising him. Help me pray that I will be always reminded that this world is not my home and that I am just passing by. The world has taught me a lot and I can not wait for the joy that is waiting for me in heaven, I am even glad that if I die now, I will be rising up with Jesus when he comes."
In the recent post-election violence in Kenya these words and the faith behind them have been put into practice. When the violence broke out Erick endangered himself by caring for his neighbors who were victims of greater violence because of their tribe. He continued to do so until because of his action on his neighbors behalf it became to dangerous for him to remain and he was forced to flee his home. Erick and his family are currently safe, but surrounded by ongoing violence.
Please pray for Kenya and Erick and his family. If you want to know more about the Crossing's ties to people in Kenya or how to help Erick and his family email Patton.andy@gmail.com
Here is Erick's story:
"Erick is the oldest of 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. They live in a slum called Kawangware in Nairobi, Kenya. They were orphaned when Erick was in his early teens and Joshua, the youngest, was just an infant. Initially, they were given into the
care of a distant uncle. This man sold their farm for his own profit, deprived them of education and forced them to work as house and farm slaves. They endured much abuse while living with him. Erick, being the oldest, knew it was up to him to find a better life for their family. He fled and made his way from their rural area to the capital city, Nairobi. He hoped to find work so he could rescue the others. But work is hard to find and like so many others who come to Nairobi full of hope Erick ended up disappointed and destitute. He became a street-boy in Kibera, the largest slum in sub-Saharan Africa. He was deeply depressed and suffering more abusive treatment in the slum. He determined to end his life and secured poison to accomplish his goal. 
The day he was planning to take the poison a friend of his father found him in Kibera and shared the hope of the gospel with him. This man had been searching throughout Kibera and other slums in Nairobi for many months in hopes of rescuing Erick and sharing the love of Christ with him. God’s timing brought him to Erick at just the right time. Upon hearing the gospel Erick was immediately filled with the hope and gave his life over to the Lordship of Christ. He says grace found him and brought him back from the brink of death. Now Erick has finished high school and is in his early-mid twenties. He has rescued his siblings from their uncle and he raises them himself. Life in their slum is often hard but they are thankful and happy to be together. The second brother, Ezekiel, is in a carpentry apprenticeship in Western Kenya thanks to missionary support Erick raised for him. Their sister, Dorothy, has a seizure disorder & is mentally handicapped. She has been through many difficulties. Last year she was raped and conceived a baby
that she carried to term despite many people pressuring the family to get her an abortion. Thankfully their commitment to the Lord kept them strong. And the support provided by The Crossing and other ministries helped to pay Dorothy’s hospital fees. Baby Mary is now awaiting adoption in an orphanage in Nairobi because their family just does not have the resources to raise her. After much searching and prayer Dorothy has been accepted into a wonderful school for the mentally handicapped and is safe and thriving. Effi and Joshua are the youngest. They attend grade school in Nairobi and are doing pretty well. Erick is in a Microsoft Computer Technician training program and hopes to complete it in the next year if he is able to get support for his tuition and testing fees. He wants to eventually go on to get a university degree in computer science. But raising his siblings and providing for their education is his highest priority. So he hopes to find a job that will allow him to continue in school while providing income for the family. For now Erick and his family members are dependent on the support of friends and churches like The Crossing who help with tuition and living expenses while he is in school.Erick in his own words:
"It is really tough for me to be the mom and dad at the same time, and sometimes I do have questions in my heart and even complaints, but pray that the Lord will teach me how to focus on him alone. I pray that I will be strong in all this. Life has not been easy at all, but I am rejoicing in the Lord for how good he has been to me and my family. I am lifting his name high and I want my heart to bless him, I was reading Psalm 103 this morning and I almost cried. 'Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless his Holy name.’ He has done great things in my life and I want to live praising him. Help me pray that I will be always reminded that this world is not my home and that I am just passing by. The world has taught me a lot and I can not wait for the joy that is waiting for me in heaven, I am even glad that if I die now, I will be rising up with Jesus when he comes."
In the recent post-election violence in Kenya these words and the faith behind them have been put into practice. When the violence broke out Erick endangered himself by caring for his neighbors who were victims of greater violence because of their tribe. He continued to do so until because of his action on his neighbors behalf it became to dangerous for him to remain and he was forced to flee his home. Erick and his family are currently safe, but surrounded by ongoing violence.
Please pray for Kenya and Erick and his family. If you want to know more about the Crossing's ties to people in Kenya or how to help Erick and his family email Patton.andy@gmail.com
Sunday, February 10, 2008
True/False Film Festival in Columbia
My thanks to Jeremy Brown for writing up the following thoughts regarding Columbia's upcoming True/False Film Festival:
An infamous Roman governor once asked, "Truth? What is truth?"
The question continues to be asked both by Christians and the culture around us. But the answer is not always obvious. Even so, the ambiguities in our world don't make us less interested in deeper questions. They make us all the more curious about what is true and what is not. As people who find our identity in the very person who claimed to be the truth, we should always be concerned about what is real and with the big ideas that drive our culture. And the good thing about these kinds of questions is that Christians aren't the only ones asking them. In fact, often the best questioners in our culture are people who have other religious identities—or none at all. What is true about the world? What does the culture around us believe to be true, and why? What place does God have in human experience? Digging into these questions can be messy, but ultimately, it remains a rewarding task…and one we’re called to pursue.
The True/False Film Festival, coming to downtown Columbia over "Leap Day Weekend" (Feb 28-Mar 2) is perhaps one of the most creative and enjoyable ways of delving into our shared questions through the medium of film. It's an opportunity not only to view the newest, most innovative non-fiction films in the world, but also offer a humble, thoughtful Christian voice to the conversations taking place within our own community and larger culture. And at the center of everything is the heartbeat of the Fest: walking the sometimes fuzzy line between what is true, what is not, and considering what difference it actually might make.
Arguably Columbia's most important cultural event, The True/False Film Festival offers four days packed with excellent documentaries, live music, and opportunities to find fresh glimpses into the truth of pressing social issues, the human condition, and the mixed bag of wonder and tragedy we find in the world around us. The best way to experience the Festival is to purchase a pass (starting at $55), but tickets to individual films are also available. Pass holder reservations begin on Monday, February 11. For a list of films and events, ticketing information, and a complete program, visit www.truefalse.org.
Note: Some of the films (but by no means a majority) shown at True/False may contain offensive subject matter (not to be confused with a challenging perspective). Discernment and a healthy dose of common sense are helpful guides when deciding which films you choose to view.
An infamous Roman governor once asked, "Truth? What is truth?"
The question continues to be asked both by Christians and the culture around us. But the answer is not always obvious. Even so, the ambiguities in our world don't make us less interested in deeper questions. They make us all the more curious about what is true and what is not. As people who find our identity in the very person who claimed to be the truth, we should always be concerned about what is real and with the big ideas that drive our culture. And the good thing about these kinds of questions is that Christians aren't the only ones asking them. In fact, often the best questioners in our culture are people who have other religious identities—or none at all. What is true about the world? What does the culture around us believe to be true, and why? What place does God have in human experience? Digging into these questions can be messy, but ultimately, it remains a rewarding task…and one we’re called to pursue.
The True/False Film Festival, coming to downtown Columbia over "Leap Day Weekend" (Feb 28-Mar 2) is perhaps one of the most creative and enjoyable ways of delving into our shared questions through the medium of film. It's an opportunity not only to view the newest, most innovative non-fiction films in the world, but also offer a humble, thoughtful Christian voice to the conversations taking place within our own community and larger culture. And at the center of everything is the heartbeat of the Fest: walking the sometimes fuzzy line between what is true, what is not, and considering what difference it actually might make.
Arguably Columbia's most important cultural event, The True/False Film Festival offers four days packed with excellent documentaries, live music, and opportunities to find fresh glimpses into the truth of pressing social issues, the human condition, and the mixed bag of wonder and tragedy we find in the world around us. The best way to experience the Festival is to purchase a pass (starting at $55), but tickets to individual films are also available. Pass holder reservations begin on Monday, February 11. For a list of films and events, ticketing information, and a complete program, visit www.truefalse.org.
Note: Some of the films (but by no means a majority) shown at True/False may contain offensive subject matter (not to be confused with a challenging perspective). Discernment and a healthy dose of common sense are helpful guides when deciding which films you choose to view.
Friday, February 8, 2008
6 Days until "The Reason for God".
Tim Keller's new book "The Reason for God" comes out February 14th. You can order on amazon.com. This is one of the books I am most excited for this year. Keller's thoughts on how to respond to the doubts/questions our culture has about Christianity have come out of 20 years of ministering to real people in NYC. Isn't this the best way to do our theology? Not as a mere intellectual challenge, but growing out of the things re
al people are wrestling with deeply. It seems like this produces a more humane, usable, humble theology, which is exactly what theology should be.
Redeemer Presbyterian has released a some sermons of Keller preaching on things he writes about in the book. If you can't wait until the 14th you might check these out.
Sermons:
Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion?
Suffering: If God is good, how can there be so much evil in the world?
Absolutism: Don't we all have to find the truth or ourselves?
Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression?
Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity and angry judge?
Doubt: What should I do with my doubt?
Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?
al people are wrestling with deeply. It seems like this produces a more humane, usable, humble theology, which is exactly what theology should be.
Redeemer Presbyterian has released a some sermons of Keller preaching on things he writes about in the book. If you can't wait until the 14th you might check these out.
Sermons:
Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion?
Suffering: If God is good, how can there be so much evil in the world?
Absolutism: Don't we all have to find the truth or ourselves?
Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression?
Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity and angry judge?
Doubt: What should I do with my doubt?
Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
An Inteview with Makoto Fujimura
Tim Challies posted an interview with Makoto Fujimura about the ways that his faith as a Christian and his work as an artist interact. This interview is a good example from someone who has obviously thought deeply about how the gospel is not just for the "spiritual" parts of our lives, but all of life, as well as how something so "secular" as art can be a tool of God.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Feature: Granny's House
"Preach the gospel everywhere you go; when necessary, use words..." -- St. Augustine.
Granny's House is a children's outreach ministry located in Columbia's inner city, whose vision is to reach kids in a "window of opportunity" to make a real change in their lives. It provides things a grandmother might provide: an after-school meal/snack, a place to do homework, read a book in someone's lap, or throw the football back and forth. They also offer programs (bible studies) every day of the week, from Princess Jewels (younger girls) all the way up to Sons of the King (high school guys). Volunteers spend much of their time with students even outside of Granny's House and might go to their games or school plays. The difference that Granny's House has made is incredible--it reaches so many kids in Columbia and has provided a "bridge" between the Christian community and the residents of public housing. (www.grannyshouse.org)
One thing that is so unique about Granny's House is that fact that it has partnerships with so many churches and ministries in Columbia, like K-Life and the Crossing. Recently, the Crossing raised enough money to purchase a van for Granny's House, and it has been so cool to see how much use it's getting. On any Sunday, you'll see the van pull up into the parking lot at church and see droves of kids spill out, ready to go to their classes and say hey to everyone they know in the lobby.
If you're interested in hanging out and loving on these kids, mentors are always needed, especially for the older guys. You would basically hang out during your free time and after school, going to basketball games or step performances, living your life with these kids in it, knowing they are consistently being pursued and built up. Also, small groups will sometimes plan one-time activities to do with the kids, like decorate cookies or make a craft.
To volunteer, mentor a student, or get more information, contact Angie Azzanni at angie@grannyhouse.org. Angie is the Programs Coordinator and has a heart for these kids; she spends one-on-one time with them as well as coordinates the volunteers and works closely with families. Also, check out the website at www.grannyshouse.org.
If you're interested in hanging out and loving on these kids, mentors are always needed, especially for the older guys. You would basically hang out during your free time and after school, going to basketball games or step performances, living your life with these kids in it, knowing they are consistently being pursued and built up. Also, small groups will sometimes plan one-time activities to do with the kids, like decorate cookies or make a craft.
To volunteer, mentor a student, or get more information, contact Angie Azzanni at angie@grannyhouse.org. Angie is the Programs Coordinator and has a heart for these kids; she spends one-on-one time with them as well as coordinates the volunteers and works closely with families. Also, check out the website at www.grannyshouse.org.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Sundance Films
At Sundance, I saw five films and a collection of short films (that I won't comment on). For the few who will be interested in my uneducated review of these films, I decided to make a post.
Pretty Bird (starring Billy Crudup and Paul Giammatti)
This was the first film I saw at the Festival and made me question why I had decided to come to the film festival. It was awful. That's hard for me to say about something people put a lot of hard work and energy into. The true story the movie was very loosely based on seemed to be actually an interesting story. It was about three guys involved in building a rocket belt (a jet pack that allows you to fly for about 20 seconds). Greed comes into the picture and leads people to awful choices. The movie just seemed thrown together without intention. The director doesn't make a point very well. I not only didn't care about the characters, I found them annoying. Perhaps, the movie does offer warning to greed, but it's really tough to come away warned at all. All in all, I wouldn't recommend anybody to see this film.
The Last Word (starring Wes Bentley, Winona Ryder, and Ray Ramano)
This was my favorite movie I saw while I was there. The subject matter couldn't have been much darker: a guy who writes suicide notes for people committing suicide falls in love with one of his client's sisters. However, the movie was quite funny while still giving enough weight to the topic it was covering. The point of the movie is also redemptive as well. The movie was well-directed and well-acted. It wasn't a pefect movie (Winona Ryder's character seemed a little unbelievable). However, the movie was enjoyable and gave us something to talk about afterwards. This would be the movie I would most recommend to keep an eye out for.
The Escapist (starring Brian Cox)
This movie was a close second to the Last Word. It's a prison break movie that takes place in Britain. The style, directing, editing, and acting in the film are all excellent. The only problem of the movie is that with there being so many other prison break movies and now a several season running TV show, many characters and plot points will seem familiar. For those who don't like prison break movies and get squeamish at the rough life within the prison walls, you won't like this movie. Without giving too much away, there is an interesting plot point that does lift the movie out of the typical formula and begs some thoughtful spiritual and philosophical discussion. With the above caution, I recommend this film as well.
Sugar (from the directors of Half Nelson)
Sugar is an engrossing cross-cultural experience of America through the eyes of a young Domincan baseball player trying to make it in the majors. I thought the movie was going to be a "baseball movie." If that is what you expect when going to see this film, you will be disappointed. It's a side of baseball that I haven't been exposed to. But, baseball is not what drives the movie. Instead, it deals with the hopes, pressures, and challenges someone from a developing country has in coming to America. The most interesting part of the movie is when he is playing in a minor league club and living with a older couple in rural Iowa. The older couple's granddaughter even invites the main character to her youth group. The scene shows the willingness to sometimes include and invite outsiders in evangelicals have, but their failure to really listen to and accomodate to outsiders. It was a great side point. While I came in with different expectations of what the movie was going to be about, I thought the movie was complex and thought-provoking. And, perhaps most importantly, the movie moved me to understand and have more compassion for those internationals living in America.
Be Kind Rewind (starring Jack Black and Mos Def; directed by Michael Gondry)
This was the movie I most wanted to see at the festival. The film is a celebration of the power of filmmaking to bring people together. The plot rests on a bizarre premise: all the films in a movie store get erased and people begin to film their own versions of the movie. That doesn't seem nearly as bizarre as how it actually all happens in the film. Jack Black provides some very humorous moments. There is something noteworthy about the point of the film as well. It invites people to create something together rather than what our plastic, serialized culture gives us. With all that going for it, the film just didn't work that well. I'm not completely sure why either. My best shot at it was that the movie was more about making the point then it was about characters or plot. As a result, the movie just wasn't that interesting. That's hard for me to say because it was the movie I was most looking forward to. It's a movie I think you could pass on, but many will go to see Jack Black and come away a little disappointed.
Sundance & The Celebrity Culture
I'm a huge movie fan. I love watching films. You can guess how I excited I was to find out that I had the opportunity to go this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. There's no greater showcase of independent moviemaking than this festival which has impacted in profound ways the film business in America. Plus, I got a chance to ski the absolutely beautiful mountains there. In my next post, I'll give a brief review of the six films I saw at the Festival. But, I wanted to write a blog about one aspect of my experience there: the celebrity hype.
Coming out of the restroom at a ski lodge, I noticed someone who looked like Kevin Bacon walking in. Yet, I wasn't quite sure if it was truly him. So, despite the appearance of being a stalker, I walked back into the restroom and rewashed my hands in order to get a second look. I still wasn't sure. So, I sat down at the bench right outside the bathroom and unbuckled my boots, so that I could rebuckle them again and look like I had a reason for sitting there- other than being a stalker. Sure enough, it was Kevin Bacon. I told my wife and the other six people with us found out, and all pseudo-secretly went to see him as well. I wondered if I would see any celebrities there. I walked past Luke Wilson, George Lopez, and Morgan Spurlock (Super-Size Me). I got to hear Ray Romano, Brian Cox, Paul Giammati, and Billy Crudup get up and speak after I saw the movies they starred in. As a movie fan, it was really fun to see people whose movies I have enjoyed.
The weird part of it was how big a deal it was to everyone down there to see celebrities. I even surprised myself with my bizarre behavior to see if it really was Kevin Bacon I saw. I think part of our desire to see, meet, and maybe even know celebrities might be a desire to feel special. We derive something from being in contact with great people. We get some of their glory from just knowing them. There's something not so wrong or bad about that. When it becomes dark is when it gets out of proportion. When you see the desperation some people have to meet the celebrities and the amount of significance they attach to it, it's actually quite sad. One reason is that when you see the celebrities, you realize they are just people. Kevin Bacon in a black one-piece snowsuit with a ski helmet looks just as awkward and silly as anyone does. You also realize from the perspective of the celebrities why all this attention stinks. They are not the people their fans think they are. They are not that great and glorious that they deserve that attention.
The issue at the base of all of this, is that we are lacking in greatness. We are lacking glory. We are incapable of getting back the glory we were meant to have. It's why it is so sad to see us derive so much glory from meeting other messed up human beings. For celebrities, even the glory they have is a pseudo-glory- short-lived and not based in reality. This idea, though, of deriving glory from knowing someone is a profoundly biblical idea. It's knowing the right person who is truly glorious, nothing but glorious. His greatness is immeasurable. This is where our significance should derive from: knowing the creator and redeemer of the universe, God himself.
As a fan, I am thankful for the opportunity to see in person, fellow human beings whose gifts I truly respect and admire. Yet, I recognize even more how much I need to redirect my heart to the truly glorious One.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
5 Books I Want to Read in 2008
The Reason for God: Tim Keller
Coming out Feb 2008
"I've been working for some time on a book for the ordinary (which means very sharp) spiritually skeptical New Yorker. Ever since I got to New York nearly two decades ago I've wished I had a volume to give people that not only answered objections to Christianity (what has been called 'apologetics') but also positively presented the basics of the gospel in an accessible yet substantial way... Today
there are deep disagreements over how we know things and how certain we can be about anything. Most of the older books presenting Christianity now are only persuasive and even comprehensible to a very narrow range of people. All this means that there is a great need for new literature that speaks to our time and says, "Christianity makes sense." -Tim Keller
Vintage Jesus: Mark Driscoll
Coming out March 2008
Vintage Jesus: Mark Driscoll
Coming out March 2008
In Vintage Jesus, one of America's most influential young pastors teams up with a seasoned theologian to lead you on a hilarious theological journey chasing Jesus through Scripture and pop culture. The authors provide timeless answers to twelve timely questions about the most important man who has ever lived. Each chapter concludes with answers to common questions about each subject.
Searching for a Better God: Wade Bradshaw
Coming out in March 2008
Coming out in March 2008
"The questions about God that used to center around his existence are now aimed at his morality the God who permits
diseases and natural disasters that kill innocent people; the God that allows brutal dictators to rule
with an iron fist. At best this God is aloof and uncaring; at worst he is primitive and cruel. Many of the contemporary generation have concluded, through what is called common sense theology, that we are actually morally superior to God and he is less than inadequate... Wade Bradshaw shows us that the caricatures many have drawn of God are not accurate and God, as described in the Bible, is misunderstood. Ideas about God that at first consideration seem unethical are precisely how we need God to be. He gives us ways to talk to those who doubt Gods character. By thoroughly explaining and examining this contemporary, common sense theology, Bradshaw brings us back to confident hope in God, the perfect and moral God of the Bible." Quoted from Amazon.com
Being Human: Jerram Barrs
The theme of this book is that understanding the nature of spiritual experience is the key to restoring our true humanness. For the writers of Scripture, to be human is to be in the image of God. Taking this as their organizing principle, Ranald Macaulay and Jerram Barrs discuss the nature of spiritual experience. As the pursuit of true spirituality takes us away from sinfulness, it moves us closer to what God intended us to be. When we are truly spiritual, we are fully human -- like Jesus Christ, the God-Man. Macauley and Barrs begin by underscoring that the process of sanctification -- of becoming more holy, more like God -- should be seen as a "life-affirming" activity. They then contrast the Biblical framework for understanding the Christian life with two alternatives: the materialistic view and the Platonic view. In doing so, they counter much of the false teaching about spirituality that has become so popular today -- both inside and outside of Christian circles." -Quoted from Amazon.com
Heart of Prayer: What Jesus Teaches Us
By: Jerram Barrs
Coming out in Feb 2008
Jerram Barrs writes about prayer in a book coming out this month and takes a look at Jesus's prayers and his teaching on how to pray. Watch for it on Amazon.com
Heart of Prayer: What Jesus Teaches Us
By: Jerram Barrs
Coming out in Feb 2008
Jerram Barrs writes about prayer in a book coming out this month and takes a look at Jesus's prayers and his teaching on how to pray. Watch for it on Amazon.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
