Orienteering

You Know You're Special When . . .

2008-09-01T23:54:45Z

According to the policeman that showed up (a church member, no less), three trees went down in Hattiesburg during Hurricane Gustav.

One of them landed in my yard. Nice.

If anyone needs pine straw, let me know.

What a Story. . .

2008-08-20T04:21:33Z

Never heard of this young man, but let me know if you don't cry when you watch this.

Creepy, Weird, and . . .

2008-08-18T12:30:13Z

A friend called me this week, because we share the same favorite hymn - "Be thou My Vision."

It's a hymn that's not even known to all Christians (unfortunately). But, it's been discovered by the creators of Saw V.

I'm not going to see this movie. I don't do blood and gore. Tell me what you think of the merger of the hymn and this trailer.

A Preacher Gets a Shoe Deal . . . And It Wasn't Me.

2008-08-16T15:33:03Z

I've always said that I wanted a shoe deal. Maybe Nike or Cole Haan. Maybe even Birkenstock. I wear a wide array of shoe brands. I figure if Kobe Bryant can sell shoes, so can I. Though my market would be a bit smaller. At first.

Looks like I won't be the trail blazer on this one.

Check out the video on Jay Bakker (yes, he's Jim and Tammy Fay's son) who got a Kenneth Cole shoe contract. http://www.kennethcole.com/content/index.jsp?page=advertising/bio2.aspx&h=550&w=898

Something Fun For Thursday

2008-08-14T17:00:22Z

Over the past couple of months, I've really enjoyed the Pandora music player. Haven't heard about it?

It's a web-based application that'll work on your computer or iPhone. Here's what it does: you give it the name of a band or a song you like and it comes up with a list of songs/bands you like that are like that one. So, if you're a big Flock of Seagulls fan or if Cowboy Mouth really works for you, then this is definitely the site for you.

How does it do it? No idea. But it's amazing.

You can set up lots of channels. Then if a song/band comes on that you don't like in the list you just hit the thumbs down sign.

Best part? It's free. Just sign up at www.pandora.com. Tell 'em Eddie sent you.

Enjoy!

Miracle Max and This Sunday

2008-08-13T04:06:28Z

One of my wife's favorite movies (definitely not mine!) is The Princess Bride. It is the story of True Love. This is the best scene in the whole movie, with Miracle Max, played by Billy Crystal.

Why do I offer this to you? Because you can find anything on YouTube? Partially. But really it's because it highlights what we'll be talking about this week.

]]> This Sunday, we're going to talk about the symbol that identifies follwers of Jesus. For those that weren't listening this past Sunday, I'll tell you what it is:

Love.

Plain and simple. But is there any word more misused in our day? A word less understood? Everyone knows what love is. It's that warm and fuzzy feeling you get for that special someone. Or your children. Or your dog.

But actually living that out in such a way that is healthy and whole is tough.

So, we'll tackle that this Sunday.

A Great Olympian

2008-08-11T16:57:08Z

More than the actual events, I like to see stories about athletes. Michael Phelps is getting all the press in swimming (and rightfully so--he's scary good), but I've been very impressed with Cullen Jones. From almost drowning at age 5 to winning a gold medal. Here he talks about the devotion of his parents and other issues.

This is one guy I'd like to meet. He's always smiling, has a great perspective on things, and seems like he'd be an awesome person to get to know.

Coming This Sunday: Hospitality

2008-08-06T05:54:33Z

Everyone knows what good hospitality feels like. Those are the restaurants, hotels, stadiums we go back to. Bad hospitality? Well lets just say that people only get one chance to make a great first impression.

This week we continue our conversation around Life's Primary Element focusing on the first habit of community: hospitality. We'll look at how we're supposed to life with people we don't know, don't trust, maybe even with those we don't like.

]]> Our scripture for the week is from Hebrews 13.1-3, 15-16:

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

We'll be looking at what it means for us to live hospitable lives individually and collectively as the Body of Christ.

And, I'll explain why people are walking around Parkway Heights in Aprons on Sunday mornings now.

Another Movie/Book/Possibility

2008-08-04T12:45:11Z

While I'm on the topic of documentaries, I came across this one in Relevant Magazine (www.relevantmagazine.com), a GREAT magazine about faith, culture, and life. Dan Merchant has written a book and created a documentary that is causing quite a stir. The name of the documentary (and book)?

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers. That's right. Immediately I liked it. Even though I hadn't seen it. As a pastor I love Jesus and I love followers of Jesus. But sometimes I cringe at the way we present the gospel. I cringe at the way we allow ourselves to be perceived by de-churched, non-churched people. I argue that most of the hate we receive is well-deserved.

But back to the documentary . . .

]]> Dan Merchants documentary has been featured on the Today Show and USA Today. Here's a bit of the synopsis from Merchant's website (go check it out: www.lordsaveusthemovie.com):

Lord, Save Us From Your Followers is the energetic, accessible documentary that explores the collision of faith and culture in America. Fed up with the angry, strident language filling the airwaves that has come to represent the Christian faith, director (and follower) Dan Merchant set out to discover why the Gospel of Love is dividing America. Utilizing a broad array of expert interviews, man-on-the-street bits, hilarious animations and “I’ve never seen that before” stunts, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers brings everyone into the conversation that this country is aching to have.

Here's what I want you to do. Go to the website. Check it out and then let me know if you want me to bring the movie to Parkway Heights. I really want to but would prefer to have others go down in flames with me. At the very least, I'm buying the book and getting some folks together to read it.

A Movie

2008-08-03T15:16:41Z

I'm not a big fan of independent documentaries (I haven't even seen "Inconvenient Truth). But this one really caught my eye.

]]>

The problem is that it's not going to play in Hattiesburg. Or Mississippi. Or anywhere in the south. Anyone want to fly me to New York to see it? Or you could buy it for me for Christmas.

Life's Primary Element

2008-08-02T18:12:47Z

There are things in life that we know we need: food, shelter, clothing.

Scripture shows us that finding authentic community and friendships is just as vital to a full life as anything else. Through the month of August, we're going to talk about Community. We've forogtten what that word means in our culture. Community for us involves email and text messaging, friends on Facebook. Finding old pals through websites. But the truth is that we're woeful at actually creating and sustaining deep relationships. One theological claims that we're suffering "Social Malnourishment."

]]> Why do you think we have such a tough time? We move more. We feel less safe. We have less job security. The list is long.

What role do you think the church could play in reversing the social malnourishment?

Let me know.

When a Story is not just a Story

2008-07-09T20:08:47Z

Jesus liked to tell stories. In fact, the core of his teaching is tied up in his stories. But they were much more than just stories. They hold truths that point us toward real life.

Last week we talked about the story of the wheat and the tares, in which Jesus teaches us that we're not to be judges, juries, or the final say on people and situations. That's God's responsibility. Pretty challenging. We don't every get to say someone is finished, done, or worthless.

This week, he meddles some more with us.

]]> Our scripture is Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52.

Here it is:

Matthew 13.31-32, 44-52

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’
Three Parables

44 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Treasures New and Old

51 ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ 52And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’

So, what do you think? What is Jesus saying about our life in the Kingdom of Heaven?

That's what we'll be talking about this week in worship.

Happy Independence Day

2008-07-04T15:03:51Z

Last year I was vacationing with the family on the 4th. This year they're vacationing and I'm working on a few projects. I thought I'd bring back a post from last year's 4th. It explains a little bit of my love for country and my love for God and the relationship between the two.

The relationship between faith and patriotism is complex. Much more so than most Christians will admit. So, here's my stab at an understanding . . . .

]]> The family and I are in Memphis, gathered with members of my extended family to celebrate the 4th. Tonight we'll attend a Redbirds game which will followed by fireworks and ooohs and aaahs. My observant six year old started the morning at breakfast by asking, "Do Christians celebrate the 4th of July?"

Great question. Which requires an answer.

The straight-forward answer is yes. Christians can and should celebrate the fourth of July. We are blessed to live in a country where we can worship free from government coercion. Our country's economic and political strength gives us a unique position in the world. We are truly blessed so that we can be a blessing.

But, as we celebrate the birth of our nation and our citizenship, we need to also pause to remember that no matter how proud we are of our citizenship here; no matter how patriotic we feel, our ultimate citizenship is always somewhere else.

Paul says in Philippians 3.20, "But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Paul doesn't say, "one day our citizenship will be in heaven." He uses the present tense. Now. Right now, we are citizens of heaven. So, we hold dual citizenship. But, when push comes to shove and we have to decide between the two (and there are times when we must), we are called to choose the values of heaven. That is our primary citizenship.

People ask me from time to time why we don't display the flag in our sanctuary. My response is that we do display it at appropriate times of year (Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving), when we are honoring and celebrating our citizenship in specific ways. But the rest of the year we gather to worship remembering that our citizenship is in heaven. And the symbols we have in worship are from that Kingdom and that Kingdom alone. What are those symbols? The cross, the dove, and other symbols that remind us of our God and his son Jesus Christ.

So, do we celebrate the 4th? Absolutely. I will be tonight. I will sing the anthem, and share stories of our country with my children.

But when we gather on Sunday, I will sing the songs of that Kingdom and make sure my children know the stories of that Kingdom, too.

Have a great 4th of July. Stay safe. I'll see you Sunday.

Coming this week and next: The Job Description

2008-07-02T14:51:57Z

We all alike to have a general idea of what we're supposed to be doing when we go to work in the morning. It's good for morale. It's good for job performance and satisfaction. As we think about being followers of Christ, what's in the job description? How do we know what we're supposed to be about? Jesus told parables about the Kingdom of God. And in those parables, he reveals tidbits of what we're to be and do.

]]> This Sunday and next, we'll look at parables that help us think through what we're called to be and do as disciples. This week, we begin with what's not in the job description. Our scripture is from Matthew 13.24-30: [Jesus] put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” 29But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ A couple of questions to consider as we get to Sunday: 1. What is this Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus talks so much about for the rest of Matthew? This is actually the first time he uses the phrase in the book. What's he trying to get at here? 2. If we're not supposed to pull up the bad weeds, what are we supposed to do? Ignore them? I always like exploring the parables. I'd love to hear what you have to say about this one.

Song of the Week

2008-06-30T20:04:05Z

I heard this when I watched The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, but just listened to it the other day. I really, really like it. Maybe you'll hear it at PHUMC sometime . . .

It's Switchfoot (great, great band) singing This is Home