Huge fan of "the church" being involved in culture... Love that through all forms of media the idea, the concept of Christ is promoted... The world does not appreciate being beat over the head with a Bible. Time for some fresh ideas.
We've discussed music's "Spiritual Lens"... and movies like Tolkien's Lord of the Ring Trilogy and/or CS Lewis' Narnia films of course bring that Christ-figure to the forefront. There is a downside, though, to allowing culture to use the "Spiritual Lens".
If you're not careful, the allegorical Christ-figure, Aslan, will wind up peddling taquitos through some cheap parody of the Taco Bell Chihuahua.
Of course, since I am easily swayed in my faith, seeing the allegorical Christ-figure tell me "You want taquitos" only made me... well... want taquitos. Oh yeah, I keep forgetting, people have a hard time reading sarcasm in my blog. THAT WAS SARCASTIC!
Not sure what exactly is going on in Eastern Europe these days, but at the "Luxury Show 2008" held in Bucharest, Romania these glamorous, expensive Gas Masks debuted. Evidently a company called Diddo Velema released these gas masks allowing you to face the apocalypse in style. Or buy milk at the corner store in your war-torn province...
Moving away from political commentaries...
Does anyone else think it's weird that a cross would be found on a Gucci-esque gas mask? Nevermind the fact it's a diamond-studded cross on the gas mask...
In our spiritually saturated society, is it possible that the definition, the symbolism, the meaning behind the cross is lost? Is it bad that we have become comfortable with the symbol, therefore not giving it the dignity and respect due it?
Nickleback has been on my iPod since my KTCU days... they have been one of my favorite "secular" (I hate that word) bands since college.
So I was quite surprised to see one of their music video, "Savin' Me", being shown @ CFPB this past week... I found it interesting and appropriate to be hearing Rick teach a lesson on the world needing to be saved, and then to watch a music video from a group of guys that do not know Christ singing a song calling out for someone to save them...
A couple weeks ago I posted a video clip of Tony Campolo's interview on the Colbert Report. Funny stuff.
Before Tony, Rick Warren was interviewed on the Colbert Report... I missed that one too... check out the video.
I'd love to know what Colbert really believes... when he's off the camera. God is not some "vengeful monkey throwing barrels at Super Mario". The interview is a series of softballs lobbed up at Warren, helping Rick define God not as a vengeful, hateful being... but a friendly, personal, loving "Daddy".
After all, "God gets enjoyment out of watching you be you."
Not sure how I missed this the first time around, but Tony Campolo was on the Colbert Report promoting his new book, Red Letter Christians earlier this month... just happened to catch a repeat of the show Monday...
Campolo: The truth is marriage is in trouble in this country. The heterosexuals are getting divorces. The gays... they want to get married.
Colbert: So they can get divorced too? They're jealous... they're jealous of our divorces.
Ironically I just brought Red Letter Christians home from the bookstore today and put it on my pile of books to read... or at least start...
40% of Miami-Dade's Registered Christian Voters are registered Democrats. That is a higher percentage than what Tony referenced in his interview (he said 30% nationwide). Interesting concept, and should be an interesting book. More to come, I'm sure...
I had a hellacious Tuesday and an even worse Wednesday... meeting after meeting after meeting... I was so busy over the past couple days I didn't even prepare for small group (which met several hours ago). Small group started at 6:45. I sat down at 6:00 this evening to look over the material, hoping to cram in a couple minutes of prep.
To my (unfortunate) surprise, the topic this week was "Being Still".
God, really... don't try to be subtle or anything. Don't hold back. If you want to say something, just come out and say it.
It's a needed lesson for me, and was extremely refreshing to hear from the rest of the group that, yeah, life is chaotic. Oh, and evidently the iPhone is the tool of the devil. Who knew. Although secretly I had suspicions that Steve Jobs was, in fact, the Antichrist.
The whole lesson reminded me of an Eagle's song. Yes, those Eagles. No, I wasn't alive when they were together the first time... On their reunion CD Hell Freezes Over they recorded a new track called "Learn To Be Still"... (YouTube video below).
We are like sheep without a shepherd
We dont know how to be alone
So we wander round this desert
And wind up following the wrong gods home
There are so many contridictions
In all these messages we send
(we keep asking)
How do I get out of here
Where do I fit in?
Though the world is torn and shaken
Even if your heart is breakin
Its waiting for you to awaken
And someday you will-
Learn to be still
Learn to be still
I find it interesting how even the Eagles see that idols and temptations will drive us away and keep us busy, but "[our heart] is waiting for you to awaken."
Biblically, we know that the Holy Spirit is here to be that resource for us, but sometimes we need to stop to hear where the Spirit is leading.
Take it from an expert. I hate stopping. I have to much to do and for me to stop means that 30 things will not get done, I will miss deadlines, and I'll probably get yelled at (and since I'm my own boss most of the time, the fact that I would yell at myself is even more ironic).
In 21Century America I think that being busy is an unfortunate fact of life. However, it's also shows a lack of faith. Being Still allows us to put our faith in God, that He will provide. By stopping, we are making God a bigger priority than our actions, and our lack of actions is showing God our faith in his abilities to provide for our needs.
So, instead of RUNwithGOD.com, maybe I should be STOPwithGOD or WAITwithGOD or WAITforGOD.com...
Eh, maybe not.
God, continually help me to put my faith in you. Teach me to be still.
Since we just explored Arcade Fire's Intervention (once, twice) I thought I'd start looking at non-Christian (some would call Secular) artists and their view of God...
First up, Dave Matthews Band. I am a huge fan of DMBand from my high school days (before Dave was a household name). I've seen two of his shows live. First one, back in 1998, left me with the following impression: "wow, I don't think I've seen this much pot in one place in my entire life." I saw the second Dave Matthews concert last year (for my birthday) which left me with the following impression: "wow, I haven't seen this much pot since the last Dave Matthews concert..."
Sorry, getting back. Making his directorial debut with the help of co-director Fenton Williams, below is Dave's new music video, Eh Hee.
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Praise God who has many names
The devil have many more
With the love that my mother gave me
I’m gonna drop the devil to the floor
I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees
I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees
Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it’s greatest achievement
We’re barely, we’re just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves
Hello God I’m avoiding the truth
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Dave has never been afraid to sing about God, however, I would say his theology leans more towards the agnostic that feels abandoned by God. (Examples, see You Never Know (Video, Lyrics) and Raven (Video, Lyrics), both found on the Busted Stuff Album).
Is this a fundamental shift for DMBand? Where's he going with this? Are we as Christians comfortable with artists like Dave Matthews grappling with spiritual issues in such a public way? What's your take?
Thanks to Terry Storch for starting the conversation.
Working for the church
While your family dies
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home
Hear the solider groan, "We'll cry alone"
It's a very moving, powerful, haunting song. High church organ playing in the background, yet the lyrics hold much hatred for the entity of the church body. In the blog, I asked what you thought. Several readers have commented or e-mailed responses: Anti-war, Anti-Bush, Anti-Communism... reading the comments I felt like I was back in college working on my Literature Minor. Props to those who did research.
My wife, however, gets the prize. Rather than exploring the one song, I need to dive into the entire album (Neon Bible) and explore that. Stupid iTunes... $0.99 tracks are the death of Album enjoyment... Sorry, I'm back now.
Reading the album lyrics, and listening to the music, I discovered that much of the album is written in a first person narrative describing a person who's father was working for the church, and while doing that evidently didn't do a good job doing the family thing. I'm the first to say there's two sides to the story, and while I'm sure daddy did everything possible, evidently it was so scarring that Arcade Fire felt like they had to devote a good part of an album ripping their family life.
RUNwithGOD has been experimenting experiencing huge traffic numbers, almost 10 times usual numbers. Why? People Googling, searching for answers to the Juanita Bynum issue, or the Paula White situation. Rarely will the world praise us for our successes, but they're always on hand to spectate our failures.
I can see it in my own life. Serving God requires you to have a different set of priorities. In our Media Small Group this past week we talked about aligning our will to God's instead of standing on our own. Well, what if that alignment doesn't match up with your family's desires? The best we can do is pray for the family to stay focused on it, but realistically it doesn't always happen that way...
So, here I am. Striving to work towards a goal of serving God through employment at a church, realizing that if I am not careful, if my family does not learn to align as well, my family can suffer. Not much comfort there. Ask Haggard. Ask Bynum. Ask White. Things can get out of control. I can see it. I believe it. Working for the church may, in fact, kill your family. But, it doesn't have to. And so I do what I can... I pray.
God, help me to radiate the goodness of who you are.
However, you can get the point from the chorus below...
Working for the church
While your family dies
You take what they give you
And you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love
Will die without a home
Hear the solider groan, "We'll cry alone"
Note: Arcade Fire is not a Christian group... but I find their lyrics eerie. Reading the entire song, I'm not totally sure what this song is about... I'm still working through it... Any ideas? I'll probably revisit this at some point...
Note2: I do not, in any way, feel like this song. I do not think that while working for the church my family has died.
Note3: Somebody created a music video to Intervention by editing one of my favorite 1920's Russian Films, Battleship Potempkin. This film was shot in Odessa, Ukraine... at some point you'll see people running up and down a series of stairs... I've been there! Anyway, watch the film below:
Of course, since I am easily swayed in my faith, seeing the allegorical Christ-figure tell me "You want taquitos" only made me... well... want taquitos. Oh yeah, I keep forgetting, people have a hard time reading sarcasm in my blog. THAT WAS SARCASTIC!
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