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10 signs you are becoming ‘normal’….

September 14, 2010 in Bible, church, God, Jesus, supersimbo, thoughts with 5 Comments

Jesus wasn’t normal…He didn’t fit into the religious system of the day.

Neither did Paul…

Neither did ANYONE He has ever used.

So…how do we NOT become “normal” – here are 10 signs to look for…

#1 – you begin to take less risks, saying there is too much at stake now, thus the need to “play it safe.” (God has not called His church to play prevent defense but rather RUN UP THE FREAKIN SCORE!)
#2 – You let the voices of the critics become louder than the voice of God, thus giving them (not Him) control of your life and ministry. (You will ALWAYS have critics as long as your are attempting to do significant things for Jesus.)
#3 – You begin making excuses as to why things are the way they are instead of addressing the problem head on.
#4 – You seek out other complacent people and together you guys fire shots at those you perceive to be successful.
#5 – You talk about what you used to do way more than you talk about what you want to do.
#6 – You seek consensus in every decision that you make.
#7 – You refuse to have anyone around you that will speak the truth.
#8 – You care way more about your paycheck than you do your calling; therefore you refuse to “rock the boat” by saying/doing what you feel God has clearly called you to do.
#9 – Your biggest desire in life is to keep everyone happy rather than calling them to a higher level of commitment.
#10 – You seek the position of leadership rather than simply being a person that people actually want to follow.

source – Perry Noble

I don’t want to build a museum…

September 9, 2010 in Bible, church, God, Jesus, supersimbo, thoughts with 6 Comments

“Church Planter” by Darrin Patrick from Crossway on Vimeo.
H/T Gary Boal

I have to say this – Darrin Patrick’s point toward the end of this clip about ‘following’ the example of Godly men?

Thats a huge challenge to me – its not found in attending lots of services, going to hear the latest groovy hip speaker who happens to be in town and its not found in setting up new ideas and ministries that will attract men………that stuff makes me stubborn and angry! Get a lot of “Christian” men in a room together and call it a ministry  and how else do you think they will act other than “Christian” and on their best behaviour!!

Can we look at the day to day existence of other men and watch how they conduct themselves in their marriages, their careers, their sports team and in their Church? Are they leading by example or just telling us what the rules are and how we need to buck up our ideas? Is their example inspiring us to care about the generation that will follow us? Is it inspiring us to open God’s word and live from it?

And if its not evident – are us guys in our 20′s & 30′s looking for that Godly example? Or have we stopped caring about the influence of others because we think we are smarter and can get along just fine with the influence of some popular book writing pastor from the other side of the Atlantic?

I can’t help but wonder if they are genuinely going to impact our lives or maybe we just need to pack our bags and go join their Church?

Or maybe we need to start right here – with how we will deal with the next awkward phone call or how we deal with the next person who pisses us off at work/Church/in starbucks or in traffic………..imagine that………..setting an example that young men can follow! Both practically and spiritually!

Not because of what books you read, or what conferences you attend but because of who and how you are.

Otherwise we might be building a museum!

Harder to do something?

September 7, 2010 in church, God, Jesus, thoughts with 2 Comments

Cherith sent me a link to this article earlier – should I be deeply offended, is she trying to tell me something?

I think not – we have talked about the issue of “adultescence” on many occasions – I think John Piper coined that expression? This post has nothing to do with that though…….

I really don’t want to get into the argument about “guys in Church” and whether they suck or not because its the “current hot topic” – or at least it appears that I keep hearing it – and whilst some of you have deep concerns about it, I don’t know that I’ve anything constructive to add right now.

I need to point out the best thing Driscoll says in the article though….

“It’s a lot harder to do something than it is to complain about those who are doing something. The notorious sin of Christian guys is complaining about guys who are doing something rather than doing something.”

Could this be one the biggest single issues that we all struggle with?

I have been trying my very best to avoid conversations about “worship in the Church” and styles of music in worship for some time now. Why? Because I am not prepared to and do not feel called to place myself in the music ministry in my Church or any other ministry right now. In this case for me, it really is “harder to do something than it is to complain about those who are doing something.”

We probably all have multiple things we complain about both in and outside of the Church, but is it easier for you to complain than it is to do something about it?

I think we know the answer……..

The Shackles of Hip part 3

September 6, 2010 in art, God, Jesus, thoughts with 6 Comments


Cartoon from “toothpaste for dinner”

“People committed to being cool do not trust each other. They’re cynical, skeptical and suspicious of one another. Cool people tend to look at each other with derision and worry that someone else might soon assume the crown of cool. Thus, a definite sense of withdrawal and removal goes along with hipster relationships; they only let so many people in and those who do get in are allowed only limited access. Cool people tightly guard the inner sanctum of their hip cachet. All of this bodes ill for Christians who are called to put away all malice, deceit and envy and rather be  ’harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit’ (1Peter 2;1; 3;8).”

The above quote from Hipster Christianity came to mind yesterday in Church when we read & heard a sermon on James Ch 2.

“For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing……..”

………..and, like always its the done thing to say ‘good sermon’ or ‘that was powerful.’ It really was though!

The sin of partiality – as dealt with in James Ch2 – whether in the name of what’s ‘hip & cool’ or in the name of good old ‘twisted judgmentalism’ is a vile trap we all manage to fall into often enough. I need to work on it – so do you!

Thinking I am better than, cooler than, smarter than, Holier than, wealthier than etc. We all do it!

“It’s hard to deny yourself or take up any cross daily when you’re chained to the shackles of hip”

The Shackles of Hip part 2

August 31, 2010 in church, God, Jesus, thoughts with 8 Comments

“Christian hipsters cringe at mega churches, altar calls and door-to-door evangelism. They don’t really like John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart or youth pastors who talk too much about Braveheart. In general, they tend not to like Mel Gibson and have come to really dislike The Passion for being overly bloody and maybe a little sadistic. They don’t like people like Pat Robertson, who on The 700 Club famously said that America should “take Hugo Chavez out.” And for that matter, they don’t particularly like The 700 Club either, except to make fun of it. They don’t like evangelical leaders who get too involved in politics, such as James Dobson or Jerry Falwell, who once said of terrorists  that America should “blow them all away in the name of the Lord.” They don’t like TBN, PAX or Joel Osteen. They do have a wry fondness for Benny Hinn, however.

Christian hipsters tend not to like contemporary Christian music (CCM) or Christian films (except ironically), or any non-book item sold at Family Christian Stores. They hate warehouse churches or churches with American flags on stage, or churches with any flag on stage, really. They prefer the term “Christ follower” to “Christian” and can’t stand the phrases “soul winning” or “non-denominational.” The could do without the weird and awkward evangelistic methods including (but not limited to): sock puppets, ventriloquism, mimes, sign language, beach evangelism and modern dance. Surprisingly, they don’t really have that big of a problem with old-school evangelists like Billy Graham and Billy Sunday and they kind of love the really wild ones like Aimee Semple McPherson.”

from Hipster Christianity by Brett McCracken

Ahem! Guilty as charged on most of the aforementioned….

I wonder do I have actual opinions about the things I “tend to not like” or “cringe” at? Perhaps there is an inbuilt device in me that knows its not cool – like gaydar or a kind of kitsch detecting prophetic gift?

Maybe its just a bad attitude or an ill informed lemming-like response to peer pressure?

“It’s hard to deny yourself or take up any cross daily when you’re chained to the shackles of hip”

Read Part 1

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