Lately, I have been reflecting on how I have grownup in a box. Not a bubble, but a box. A fairly typical box, if I do say so myself. The sides of my box were not rough or imposing, but solid. My box was not very strong or well built, yet it had the power to keep me encased. In really it limited a lot of development.
Within the box was little space to move around and wiggle. From the inside I could see others outside. As much as I bumped up against the sides of my box and wished I could escape it, I kind of liked it. I did find it offered security and restraint. I learned to live and function within its boundaries for decades not even knowing it existed.
What got me thinking about my box was a book. Not a book I have read, but one I happen to have in our house. The author of this book is creative and gifted. So, I started thinking about other creative, gifted and innovative people I have heard of or know.
I have always admired artist, writers and geniuses, so I began thinking, “What makes them creative?” “How did they think up their ground-breaking ideas?” “Where did this capacity come from?”
Now, I tell myself I am not very creative. I think I am more left-brained and analytical than not. But, I want to be creative, refreshing and a visionary. This is what got me thinking about my box.
My box is a list of boundaries keeping my ideas and my views, thus me, contained. Here is a short list:
§ What if I fail?
§ What will people think?
§ I have a need to likeg.
§ How did the person before me do it?
§ What seemed to work for other people?
§ Am I smart enough?
§ How can I impress people?
All of these and others create a box that holds me, keeps me safe and stunts my growth.
Knowing this is step #1 in getting outside my box. This is the fish noticing the water in its bowl. Step #2 would be to stop telling myself I am not innovative or imaginative. Step #3 requires I put myself in positions where I have to think outside my box. This in turns leads to step #4: finding my own voice.
In the past I have leaned on others to force me outside the walls of my box or to expand my mental horizons. Now, I just need to kick them down myself.
In conjunction with finding my voice it was crucial to develop a “B.S. Meter.” This is the instinctive feeling I get when I think I have crawled outside my box only to find I have never really left. This alarm sounds telling me I am not being true to who I am. This meter registers a high B.S. count most often used when I write. I feel it when I try too hard to be provocative, sound intelligent or be profound.
I believe it is when I am true to my voice, my perspective on life and to my ideas that I am at my most creative, most original and most prophetic. It is when I trust my instinct, allowing it to breath its first breath that I feel honest and comfortable in my own skin.
Some may not like my voice. Some may not appreciate my vision. Some may not understand my views, but others will.
Creative genius was not always seen as brilliance. At one point it was insanity, absurdity and ridiculous. It is only when others in the world feel a draw or a resonance with a crazy thought, expression or dream that it becomes innovative. It is when a prophet's voice speaks the words thought by 10,000 minds that it crosses from marginal to mainstream.
But how will others hear my voice, understand my thoughts or see my visions? I must live outside of my box, tearing down its walls and give birth to that which grows inside me, not matter the pain involved.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Disturbing Stat #2
Jeremiah 20:9
9But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!
1 Corinthians 9:16
16Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
I have several concerns with the static posted below:
1. That Pastors and church leaders have such a low view of themselves they feel they can’t do anything else.
2. A underlining belief that pastoring is so easy a person who can’t do anything else can at least can be a Pastor.
3. The thought that Pastors have so specialized themselves they fit into a unique category or class of people so out of the norm they are no earthly good.
4. The belief that the skills and knowledge needed to be a Pastor or leader in a church are not transferable to any other situation or circumstance in life.
5. A “call” to ministry is not what it used to be.
A quote usually attributed to Spurgeon goes something like this, “If you can do anything other than preach, do it.”
Here is my advice to preachers who want to leave ministry, “Get out!” Make room for those with a passion for the ministry. Stop lying to your church, to God and to yourself about what you are doing. Really, if you want out, you are not fooling anyone. Your church, God and you know you want out and it is only a matter of time until you are moved out under some not so pretty circumstances.
Stop thinking the “problem” is with your particular portion of the church community, because it is not. The problem is with you! And remember you will also be part of the next church community you get a job at (yes, a job, just a paycheck, a means to an end). Ministry is not a more important passion, calling or endeavor than a stay-at-home-mom or a business executive or bridge operator, but it does require those who fulfill the roles of ministry leadership are lead by God to do so.
Don’t get me wrong, pastors who are tired, burned out or have made a poor decision to enter into ministry are valuable to God and to the larger community. Life can still be lived to the fullest just maybe not how you planned. Take the clues you are sending yourself and find peace, security and hope for the future somewhere outside vocational ministry. If you have backed yourself into a place where you need to “re-tool” then do it. Find what you are passionate about and find a place to live that out.
This statistic makes me feel said and bit angry.
9But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!
1 Corinthians 9:16
16Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!
I have several concerns with the static posted below:
1. That Pastors and church leaders have such a low view of themselves they feel they can’t do anything else.
2. A underlining belief that pastoring is so easy a person who can’t do anything else can at least can be a Pastor.
3. The thought that Pastors have so specialized themselves they fit into a unique category or class of people so out of the norm they are no earthly good.
4. The belief that the skills and knowledge needed to be a Pastor or leader in a church are not transferable to any other situation or circumstance in life.
5. A “call” to ministry is not what it used to be.
A quote usually attributed to Spurgeon goes something like this, “If you can do anything other than preach, do it.”
Here is my advice to preachers who want to leave ministry, “Get out!” Make room for those with a passion for the ministry. Stop lying to your church, to God and to yourself about what you are doing. Really, if you want out, you are not fooling anyone. Your church, God and you know you want out and it is only a matter of time until you are moved out under some not so pretty circumstances.
Stop thinking the “problem” is with your particular portion of the church community, because it is not. The problem is with you! And remember you will also be part of the next church community you get a job at (yes, a job, just a paycheck, a means to an end). Ministry is not a more important passion, calling or endeavor than a stay-at-home-mom or a business executive or bridge operator, but it does require those who fulfill the roles of ministry leadership are lead by God to do so.
Don’t get me wrong, pastors who are tired, burned out or have made a poor decision to enter into ministry are valuable to God and to the larger community. Life can still be lived to the fullest just maybe not how you planned. Take the clues you are sending yourself and find peace, security and hope for the future somewhere outside vocational ministry. If you have backed yourself into a place where you need to “re-tool” then do it. Find what you are passionate about and find a place to live that out.
This statistic makes me feel said and bit angry.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Disturbing Stat
I heard a statistic yesterday that says, "50% of church leaders would quit ministry, but feel unqualified to do anything else."
This is troubling to me.
More later...
This is troubling to me.
More later...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The Best of Christian Sub-culture
In an effort to capitalize on the popularity of a iconic logo some Christians thought it would be a good idea to offer this shirt as a tool for evangelism.
Something wrong here....
Something wrong here....
The truth is...
For the past two weeks I have been reading some literary criticism and philosophy of language with a smattering of theology thrown in for taste, as preparation for a an up coming class.
Some deep stuff...that's why it has taken two week to read one article.
The article basically asks the question, where does truth lie in a statement. More particularity where does truth lie in a written statement. We wonder about this question because it has resounding implications for how we read, interpret and thus apply Scripture, especially in the creation and delivery of sermons.
The article looks at statements, propositions and assertions to find truth. Does truth reside in the words of a sentence, in the meaning of a sentence (distinguished from a sentences' words, called a proposition), or does it only exist in assertions that can be true or false.
Understanding this will set the structure for how we interpret the Bible:
-If truth is found in the words of a sentence, what does it do to truth to have the words translated, paraphrased or substituted?
-If truth is found in the proposition (something propounded for consideration) of a sentence then the words don’t matter, but the meaning behind the words is critical.
-If truth is found only in assertions that can be proved true or false (e.g. “I am 6 feet 2 inches tall” and not “Johnny, please go clean your room.”) how much of the Bible is truth?
Again, this is some deep stuff at will probably make you head hurt like it does mine.
So, here is my question, is it really this hard to find the truth of Scripture? Joe and Jane SixPack are not going to be asking any of these questions. They are not going to approach the Bible wondering about the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture if one takes a sentence-propositional distinction view of Scripture.
Honestly, they are going to be asking, “Who is Jesus and what did he teach?” They are going to be seeking hope and rescue. They are longing for redemption and restoration with God.
Yes, thoughts about the nature of language and communication are interesting and needed at some level, but are they necessary to understand the will and character of God? Or what Jesus has done for humanity? Or that sin can be forgiven?
What if Joe SixPack never understands what a proposition is or never thinks about the truth of an assertion? What if he just takes the entire Bible to be true, is he naive or missing out on a greater understanding of the holy writ reserved for those with intellectual bandwidth to think on a deeper level?
I believe Scripture was written by simple people for simple people. There were a few heady standouts like Paul and Apollos, but for the most part Scripture was written by and for the average Joe and Jane Wineskin.
Truth can be discovered by simple (even simplistic) people, simply by read Scripture. This was God’s intention in sending Jesus in the flesh, gathering a band of misfits blue color workers and recording his revelation in the common language of the day.
Truth is accessible….
Jesus is accessible
God is accessible…
Forgiveness is accessible…to all.
This class should be interesting.
Some deep stuff...that's why it has taken two week to read one article.
The article basically asks the question, where does truth lie in a statement. More particularity where does truth lie in a written statement. We wonder about this question because it has resounding implications for how we read, interpret and thus apply Scripture, especially in the creation and delivery of sermons.
The article looks at statements, propositions and assertions to find truth. Does truth reside in the words of a sentence, in the meaning of a sentence (distinguished from a sentences' words, called a proposition), or does it only exist in assertions that can be true or false.
Understanding this will set the structure for how we interpret the Bible:
-If truth is found in the words of a sentence, what does it do to truth to have the words translated, paraphrased or substituted?
-If truth is found in the proposition (something propounded for consideration) of a sentence then the words don’t matter, but the meaning behind the words is critical.
-If truth is found only in assertions that can be proved true or false (e.g. “I am 6 feet 2 inches tall” and not “Johnny, please go clean your room.”) how much of the Bible is truth?
Again, this is some deep stuff at will probably make you head hurt like it does mine.
So, here is my question, is it really this hard to find the truth of Scripture? Joe and Jane SixPack are not going to be asking any of these questions. They are not going to approach the Bible wondering about the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture if one takes a sentence-propositional distinction view of Scripture.
Honestly, they are going to be asking, “Who is Jesus and what did he teach?” They are going to be seeking hope and rescue. They are longing for redemption and restoration with God.
Yes, thoughts about the nature of language and communication are interesting and needed at some level, but are they necessary to understand the will and character of God? Or what Jesus has done for humanity? Or that sin can be forgiven?
What if Joe SixPack never understands what a proposition is or never thinks about the truth of an assertion? What if he just takes the entire Bible to be true, is he naive or missing out on a greater understanding of the holy writ reserved for those with intellectual bandwidth to think on a deeper level?
I believe Scripture was written by simple people for simple people. There were a few heady standouts like Paul and Apollos, but for the most part Scripture was written by and for the average Joe and Jane Wineskin.
Truth can be discovered by simple (even simplistic) people, simply by read Scripture. This was God’s intention in sending Jesus in the flesh, gathering a band of misfits blue color workers and recording his revelation in the common language of the day.
Truth is accessible….
Jesus is accessible
God is accessible…
Forgiveness is accessible…to all.
This class should be interesting.
Thought of the day...
"There is no such things as "religious language" as such; poetry and science are two artificial perfections of ordinary language."
-Kevin Vanhoozer in "The Semantics of Biblical Literature: Truth and Scripture's Diverse Literary Forms."
-Kevin Vanhoozer in "The Semantics of Biblical Literature: Truth and Scripture's Diverse Literary Forms."
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Camping
Here are a few things I learned about the people I camped this weekend...
-Jeremy got a Business Minor for basically taking a 1 credit class.
-Kevin plays on 2 dodge ball teams.
-Bob's middle name is Westley.
-Karli's real name is not "Karli" or "Stacy," but "Roxy."
-Gregory has a degree in Physics!
-Scott D. will do just about anything for a good log. Even carry one on his bike for 2 miles.
-Brian and Danny are into Cross Fit training.
-Jeremy got a Business Minor for basically taking a 1 credit class.
-Kevin plays on 2 dodge ball teams.
-Bob's middle name is Westley.
-Karli's real name is not "Karli" or "Stacy," but "Roxy."
-Gregory has a degree in Physics!
-Scott D. will do just about anything for a good log. Even carry one on his bike for 2 miles.
-Brian and Danny are into Cross Fit training.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Question of the day???????
"Are propositions semi-Platonic entities continuously hovering in an autonomous realm until they are expressed in sentences?"
-Kevin Vanhoozer in "The Semantics of Biblical Literature: Truth and Scripture's Diverse Literary Forms."
-Kevin Vanhoozer in "The Semantics of Biblical Literature: Truth and Scripture's Diverse Literary Forms."
Monday, September 1, 2008
Tattoos
I guess it is the rebel and the chicken in me, but for a guy who has no tattoos I must admit I am fascinated by them. I find myself staring at people's tattoos. I feel kind of weird about it, then figure if they placed it on a body part that is regularity seen in public, then staring is fair play.
I like looking at tats on the internet and have found some amazing work.
Just about every time I good into a bookstore I find the magazines and look through tattoo magazines to see if I find anything to stands out to me or gives me any ideas.
I have a lot of friends with ink and even a family member. I have taken an informal poll about where to get a tattoo if one were to decide such a thing. So far Pussycat Tattoo in Milwalkie (OR)and Atlas Tattoo in PDX are the front runners. People have even told were NOT to get a tat. I will avoid that last like the plague.
As weird as this may sound, I know what tattoo I want and where it would go if I got one. I have just not gone and done it. I am told that tattoo are like Lays Potato Chips, you can't have just one. Hmmm, what would my second be?
I am long over the "biblical" reason for not get inked, but I do struggle with what do I tell the boys or even worse how do I explain it to my Mom without her thinking I have sold my soul to Satan? I guess I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it (if I get to it).
Anyway, for now I will keep being at voyeur, admiring the good and bad tattoos that I see.
I like looking at tats on the internet and have found some amazing work.
Just about every time I good into a bookstore I find the magazines and look through tattoo magazines to see if I find anything to stands out to me or gives me any ideas.
I have a lot of friends with ink and even a family member. I have taken an informal poll about where to get a tattoo if one were to decide such a thing. So far Pussycat Tattoo in Milwalkie (OR)and Atlas Tattoo in PDX are the front runners. People have even told were NOT to get a tat. I will avoid that last like the plague.
As weird as this may sound, I know what tattoo I want and where it would go if I got one. I have just not gone and done it. I am told that tattoo are like Lays Potato Chips, you can't have just one. Hmmm, what would my second be?
I am long over the "biblical" reason for not get inked, but I do struggle with what do I tell the boys or even worse how do I explain it to my Mom without her thinking I have sold my soul to Satan? I guess I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it (if I get to it).
Anyway, for now I will keep being at voyeur, admiring the good and bad tattoos that I see.
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