The Institute (協会)

The Ugliest Dog In the World

Go here to see the ugliest dog in the world. The dog was too ugly to put on my site.

Humanflz offers more interesting insight (for a problem [masturbation] that guys don't like to talk about or think about in terms of motivation)

Ok, this guy says he's not a Christian but there are some interesting words on the topic of masturbation. Humanflyz offers some food for thought to teach about on that issue.

Book Notes: "Emerging Churches: creating christian community in postmodern cultures," by Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger

Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger have put together the best book out on emerging churches. What I like the most about the book is that it does committ the error of association Brian McClaren with all that is emerging. It's much, much broader than "Emergent" stuff. What I've read so far has been amazing.

From the publisher: "This book informs the uninitiated while also helping overeager planters understand that these unique communities, as their name implies, emerge gradually, many times without the help of the institutional church. Fuller Seminary researchers Gibbs and Bolger spent five years collecting data in both the U.S. and U.K. and interviewing 50 leaders—most under the age of 40—to uncover important patterns among emerging churches. They emphasize the life of faith as Jesus demonstrated, employ a "going out" attitude toward the world rather than expecting people to "come to" their communities and consider all of life sacred. Also, these communities prefer relationships to meetings, so there may be no set worship gathering time or, indeed, no fixed place to meet. The authors paint emerging churches as attractive, hopeful and ever-evolving, populated by some of the most vibrant, open-minded and service-oriented young Christians. Readers who are attached to "church business as usual" will be shaken up by this book, while those ready for a change will find it energizing."

Single Guys (18 and older) Go Forth And Missionary Date (With Caution): Dating Non-Christian Girls Is Not Sinful Nor Always The Best

Christian Answers.net offers some crazy advice about "dating" non-Christians prompted by a girl who's dating a JW.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. You are not the same as those who do not believe. So do not join yourselves to them. Good and bad do not belong together. Light and darkness cannot share together" (2 Corinthians 6:14).

If you know someone is not a Christian, you should not date him. You already understand that, but you're concerned about this guy's relationship with God. And I commend you for being so concerned.

But you must be careful with the temptation to want to be involved with this guy so you can lead him to Christ. Missionary dating seldom works.

This is a crappy explanation and has nothing to do with "dating".

(1) This Corinthians passage is taken SO FAR out of context that I almost punched my computer. This passage has absolutely NOTHING to do with "dating."

(1.5) Fellas, I would like to apologize, on behalf any biblically literate person throughout the ages, for the gross MIS-APPLICATION of this passage as it relates to "dating."

(1.75) Fellas, "yoking" and "dating" have NOTHING to do with each other. Nothing. "Yoking" here would be more applicable to marriage and sex. Within the context of the highly sexualized Corinth, you may apply the word "yoked" to forbid marrying an unbeliever NOT "dating" one.

(1.78) Fellas, when hearing people that use this verse to stop you from dating an unbeliever, or to guilt you into dumping the girl you're with, you are justified in questioning and/or ignoring such a ridiculous misuse of God's word. Misuses like this makes one understand why the Catholic church feared "private interpretation."

(2) Does God forbid marrying a non-Christian? Yes. Does God forbid "dating" one? NO. Dating isn't biblical anyway (meaning it's not a model found in Scripture at all) so hanging out with a non-Christian girl is not the problem.

(3) Is it ok to be involved with someone to lead them to Christ? YES!! Why not? That's a very good reason. Leading people to Jesus is always good. Although it may not be the best way and may have difficult emotional issues and confusion.

A story: I have a friend who was dating a non-Christian girl and it got to a point where he said, "Listen, I like you a lot but we can't go any further because you're not a Christian." She said, "ok, then tell me about it." He shared the Gospel with her and told her that if she was serious to go read the New Testament.

She did it, accepted Jesus, joined a church, got discipled by some other Christians, and they got engaged soon thereafter (this took several months, by the way). They were married a couple of months ago. Awesome. I have another friend who's in college doing that right now. I hope it works out for him too.

Here are some silly concerns about dating non-Christians:

(1) It will lead to sexual sin. P--LEASE, America. If you think dating a non-Christian is going to be more sexually tempting than dating a Christian you may be on crack and you're definitely naive and dishonest about what Christians in America really do when they date.

For example, most Christian couples I know say, "yeah, we struggle physically sometimes." Translation: we do naked stuff together, maybe even oral sex occasionally, we touch things that only married people are supposed to touch, and we do a lot of stuff we have to repent of later.

Christian couple: Nathan says (just moments after having "messing up"), "Crap, we have to stop doing this. I feel so guilty. This is sin. I'm sick of asking God to forgive us. We have to stop doing this!! It will affect our marriage." Sarah says, "yeah, this was definitely the last time. You're a poor leader. Why didn't you stop us? We can't do this anymore. THREE DAYS later: the same thing happens again. Just being honest here fellas. Some of you have been saying the same about porn now for months ("that was the last time").

Christian Dude/Non-Christian Girl: Tom says, "Crap, we have to stop doing this. It's wrong and dishonoring to you and to God." Amanda says, "What? We love each other, what's wrong with expressing that love?" Tom says, "God does not want me to do this unless we're married. It's sin." Amanda says, "Wow, I've never dated anyone like you before. I'll do whatever." Tom feels like crap but three days later finds himself giving the same speech.

Fellas (and this will offend some) it's understandable why you may find yourself actually drawn to non-Christians girls. (1) They are actually feminine and celebrate the fact that they are feminine by the way they dress, sit, smell, etc. and haven't taken the "modesty" stuff too far. You actually want to be with a girl who doesn't look androgynous and distinguishes herself, clearly, from men. (of course there are exceptions as you will see posted in the comment section below) (2) You may know some home-schooled girls that scare you a little. You noticed there's something not quite right but can't put your finger on it. Something like, "Man, I thought Little House on the Prairie was fictional. Like, you really don't have to keep your wrists and ankles covered."(of course there are exceptions because they will post comments below) (3) Other women, who on the second "date" thinks that you intend to marry her. (4) She's secretly controlling as opposed to just be out with it and honest about it. (5) She's brutally honest and will tell you to stop being an idiot when necessary. (6) She's actually challenging intellectually and has broader interests other than minivans, housing square-footage, and getting to the burbs ASAP.

Fellas, can we just be honest here? Some of you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. How many times have you said to you're girlfriend (or the girl you hook-up with a lot) at 3:00 o'clock in the morning "ok, this is the last time" only to find yourself in the same spot a few days later?

Fellas, as some of you know, you're sexual fidelity to God's design has nothing to do with the spiritual maturity of your girl and everything to do with your pursuit of Jesus.

Any guy who says, "yeah, my girlfriend keeps us in check physically" is a loser and should be dumped by his girlfriend until he gets his heart connected to Jesus. Any guy that needs his girlfriend to take the lead on the physical side of "dating" doesn't need to be dating anyone until his heart is committed to passionately pursuing righteousness to the point of death, if necessary.

(2) It's wrong for someone to accept Jesus just so they can be with you. Really? Proof-text that. Seems like the best thing you can tell a girl, fellas, is that she must get intimate with Jesus before your relationship can really go anywhere.

(3) High school. "Dating" in high school is stupid anyway unless you're serious about getting married--so there's no worries here. Any parent who thinks it's a good idea to let your kids date in high school is sadly naïve and sold out to the American dream. It's so dumb and makes no sense unless marriage is a real possibility. Any high school kid who's "dating" and it's not directed toward the real actualization of marriage, either in high school or soon thereafter, and is "dating" just to date has sold-out to deception and is thinking like "the world."

Blah, blah, here it comes: “I dated a lot in high school and I’m fine.” Riiiiight, as if you can just parcel out your heart with no long-term effects. Believe what you want to if it helps you sleep better.

(4) Courting. P--LEASE, this too is unbiblical (has no real model in Scripture) and is nothing more than the dating ways of previous unbelieving people groups esp. in Asia, Africa, and Western Europe. Find the verse that describes the details of Victorian European, Asian, or African "courting" rituals and I’ll support it. Otherwise stop deceiving people.

Fellas, if anyone tries to sell you the silly idea that "dating" is cultural and "courting" is biblical, please try not to laugh out loud because they might get offended. Simply ask them proof-text the description of "courting" as they describe it and let the silence speak for itself.

So fellas, if you're hanging out with a girl who's not a Christian don't dump her just because she's not a Jesus follower. Your sexual purity standards stand regardless of her closeness to Jesus. There should be no difference in the way you physically relate to any girl you're dating where she's close to Jesus or not.

Be aware that it can only go so far and if she's willing to follow Jesus, send her to some other Christians (at your church or college group) for discipleship and if she follows Jesus keep her by all means (pursue marriage with Christian girls), if she doesn't want to follow Jesus after being presented with the Truth dump her and move on. But there's nothing wrong with hanging out "one on one" with a non-Christian girl for an extended period of time. You must be prepared to dump her though if you're thinking about marriage.

Major Qualification: "Dating" a non-Christian is not ideal. It shouldn't be your first option. But if you find yourself dating one you are not sinning at all. This is an issue of prudence, wisdom, and discernment until marriage is a real possibility. Just because somethig is unwise does not mean it's sinful.

For the record, I am not dating a non-Christian.

The State of Black America: Natural White Racism

At every major family gathering for my family, on both sides,(Christmas dinner, thanksgiving dinner, family reunions, etc.) the top two issues are always the following:

(1) How good the food is, and
(2) How racist white people are by nature

So the older members of my family (baby-boomers and older) who grew up in the segregated South and the North begin to share their past and current experiences of white people as racists. Then, the younger generations (GenXers and younger) share their endless accounts of experiencing racism by white people--the people who always believe they are genetically superior to all other races.

So I sit there in silence (as a PCA member, working for Acton, having white friends, etc.) usually listening, wondering if this will ever NOT be THE topic of every family gathering. Understandable and amazing. Whew. . .

So Tavis Smiley, Cornell West, Micheal Eric Dyson, and other black scholars, politicians and leveraged others, have a running conference pictured above on the state of black America (you can get it on C-Span). Guess what issue dominates: dealing with the variations and consequences of white racism.

Emerging Churches: creating christian community in postmodern cultures

Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger have put together the best book out on emerging churches. What I like the most about the book is that it does committ the error of association Brian McClaren with all that is emerging. It's much, much broader than "Emergent" stuff. What I've read so far has been amazing.

From Amazon: "This book informs the uninitiated while also helping overeager planters understand that these unique communities, as their name implies, emerge gradually, many times without the help of the institutional church. Fuller Seminary researchers Gibbs and Bolger spent five years collecting data in both the U.S. and U.K. and interviewing 50 leaders—most under the age of 40—to uncover important patterns among emerging churches. They emphasize the life of faith as Jesus demonstrated, employ a "going out" attitude toward the world rather than expecting people to "come to" their communities and consider all of life sacred. Also, these communities prefer relationships to meetings, so there may be no set worship gathering time or, indeed, no fixed place to meet. The authors paint emerging churches as attractive, hopeful and ever-evolving, populated by some of the most vibrant, open-minded and service-oriented young Christians. Readers who are attached to "church business as usual" will be shaken up by this book, while those ready for a change will find it energizing."

HELP!!! Explain Why I Can't Sleep

Some of you know that I've been having problems sleeping (and having weird dreams when I do).

Here's the deal. When I'm at my parent's house (the house I grew up in) I sleep 7-8 hours. When I'm at my house I only sleep 5-6 hours. Why is this?

Why do I sleep more at the house I grew up in vs. my place in St. Louis? Why?

Toilet Paper Over or Under: OVER!!

Pictured above is THE correct way of hanging toilet paper (it's somewhere in the Bible). Does any one really hang it using the "under" method? Really? Who would actually do that. Over is methodologically better for tearing. What is pictured below should be illegal.

The wrong method:

Hooked on Law and Order

This weekend my father and realized that we're both hooked on re-runs on the NBC's Law and Order. I watch it at least 1-2 hours night when I'm at home (which is rare, by the way).

Happy Thanksgiving!! Tell Us What Your Family Is Doing (Did)

Thread's open. Please post any stories (good, bad, crazy, etc.) about your family's thanksgiving happenings, your favorite or worse Thanksgiving meal, etc. Or, simply tell us what you're eating or what you're looking forward to eating, what you ate, etc. Post away. . .(see ya Monday)!

Personally, I'm looking forward to the stuffing and gravy. Ummm.

Icons, Eastern Orthodoxy--Windows to Heaven

Elizabeth Zelensky and Lela Gilbert have written a wonderful book introducing icons and Eastern Orthodoxy to both Protestants and Catholics. This is what they say regarding why we should pray to Mary, the mother of Jesus:

The Virgin Mary's ultimate function is that of intercessor for the human race before the throne of the Almighty. She is one of us, of the same substance as the rest of humanity, Yet the all-powerful love felt by her Son, Jesus Christ, puts Mary into an absolutely privileged position as intercessor. She has become. . .a living bridge between heaven and earth. . .

[Praying to Mary is like having] a friend or loved one who prays for us, someone we can count on to intercede for us when troubles arise or decisions must be made. (67)

Hmm. . .ahhh, anybody see any possible problems with this?

The New Porsche Cayman S: WOW!!

Ok, bruthas, when takin' your honey to Mare (see below) in north Boston enjoy the ride in this:

The specs:

Horsepower 295 @ 6,250 rpm

Performance Top track speed 171 mph, 0-60 mph 5.1

MSRP $ 58,900-62,100 (USA)

The new 2006 Porsche Cayman S. This is, my friends, what is meant by "subdue and cultivate." From dirt and wood to this!!

Mare: Boston's Coolest New Restaurant

Mare, in Boston's North end is one of Details Magazine's (Nov. 2005) best new restaurants for 2005. This storefront Italian venue appearantly has great Italian seafood dishes set in an eating space of minimalist design with a wall of changing colored light. Antipasti range from crudi (raw seafood) to creme brulee and if you love seafood the main courses will not disappoint.

And, of course, what's most appealing is that all the food is organic!

Mare
135 Richmond Street
617-723-6273

What's Your Story? Brandon T., 19, tells of healing father wounds, being called a fag, past girlfriends, marriage, and fighting

"My relationship with my dad has its scars from my childhood but I've been able to identify them"--Brandon T.

"They called me gay, fag, homo. . . Even the kids in my youth group played along."--Brandon T.

I long for a wife. . . I want someone to love and to hold.--Brandon T.

"Passivity is not an option," says Brandon, as he talks about being a God-made man. This guy's amazing. If Brandon is an example of the type of men emerging in our culture, in terms of men understanding themselves as men, the world will soon be a radically different and better place. Brandon's story tells of deep wounds, longings, redemption, and joy. Bruthas, if any of you have college-age sisters, well, just read below. . .

Oh yeah, Brandon has a blog and I've blog-rolled the brutha, and his is a most authentic display of a real man living the reality of the Christian journey. Brandon T. is the real deal. Here's his story:

"I'm 19 years old and attend Central Christian College of Kansas where I am a Resident Assistant. I'm currently a sophomore majoring in General Ministry. I was born in Abilene, Kansas, home of Dwight D. Eisenhower for those of you that say nothing good comes from Kansas. I've got a dead prez buried in my town, for real! I've had a blessed family life as far as them staying together.

My mom and I are somewhat close while my dad and I are pretty distant, but since college began I've grown closer to both my mom and my dad. I've always been a pretty distant and solitary person so the bonds I have with my parents reflect that. My relationship with my dad has its scars from my childhood but I've been able to identify them in recent years and release the anger that I've held onto for so many years.

He was mentally absent for most of my life, but recently God's really been working on him a few years after my youngest brother was born.

[read the rest of Brandon's story below]

Dad Hugging, A New Thing
He's grown in his faith and has been spending a lot of time with my little bro. Surprisingly I have not bitterness about that but I am stoked that my brother is able to have a better father than I. My dad and I don't hug at all, but when I went home for Fall Break he walked up to me and hugged me first thing. It was amazing! I have two brothers one who is 22 and another who is 10.

On Being Introverted
I'm introverted and don’t like to talk a whole lot. I enjoy silence and sometimes that bothers people. I love to watch people and see how they interact with others. I’ve learned a lot about people by doing that. It takes awhile for me to start conversations with random people but once the ice is broken I can listen and talk for hours. To my friends I’m loyal and empathetic. I love listening to people and their problems. I have a dry humor and am extremely laid back. I love deep conversations and despise small talk. I’m hard to read and I don’t share my feelings with hardly anyone. I’m pretty closed up in dealing with my feelings and emotions.

Jesus Perseveres Me Through Depression and Struggle
The best thing that has ever happened isn’t one moment. In fact I’m still living this best thing. As cheesy and corny as it sounds, like I care how it sounds, my relationship with Christ is/was/ and ever shall be the best thing that happens to me. Sometimes my life sucks and I wake up hating myself and the life that I live but through the struggles, the loneliness, the depression my Abba Father is always giving me the hope that I need to make it. He has taught me so much and has loved me so much more. I hate when I struggle but I always know that He will pull me through and teach me more about whom He is and who He wants me to become. The sanctifying transformation in my life is freakin’ exciting. In my dry times I am able to remind myself of all the good God has provided for me and I can know the Truth that He is and will always be my best thing.

Middle School Hell: Physical Attack and Piercing Words
I look back to my greatest wound and right now middle school seems to have left the deepest scar on my life. I grew up having a lot of girl friends and only a few guy friends. I was always able to identify and relate to girls better. I was also the good Christian kid throughout middle school and because of this I was tormented by a lot of people. They called me gay, fag, homo, you name it as far as sexuality is concerned and they called me it. Even the kids in my youth group played along. They physically hit me as well but it was their words which left a bigger wound.

I only had one girlfriend in middle school and I only “went out” with her because it meant that I’d get a girlfriend and maybe the guys would get off my back. Because of their words I began questioning my manhood and whether or not I was gay. I knew I didn’t have homosexual feelings and I knew that I was attracted to girls, but their repetitive words seemed to have poisoned my soul. I questioned whether they were speaking lies or truth.

I stuffed my emotions and my hurt and so it just built up. It almost camouflaged itself in my heart until the summer of my senior year in high school was the first time since then that I was able to grieve the pain they caused me and actually deal with it. Even today every time I hear the word gay or fag my heart aches as I remember the agony. The words are used with such flippant disregard these days. It reminds me more and more the power of words and how the Devil can deceive anyone who is not ready to stand on the Truth. God has taught me so much through this wound in my life. He’s shown me how my tongue can kill or nourish life. He showed me that I was a man and he affirmed who I was in Him and His continual outpouring of love and grace is always sufficient for me.

Looking Forward To A Wife, Sex, Kids, Ministry
I can’t wait for God to show me my wife, the woman who I’ve been waiting for ever so impatiently. I can’t wait to lose myself in her beauty. Sex, well that’s pretty self-explanatory. I have the desire, I have the parts and I want to worship God with what He has given me…..enough said.(or maybe too much) There is nothing in the entire world that will compare with becoming one with my wife. I love kids. I grew up with my mom being a daycare provider. They were always around and I helped out a lot around the house. I’ve changed diapers, been puked on, slobbered on and I love it! I can’t wait to hold my children and love them and raise them up in the way of Christ. I get all excited just thinking about it.

I can’t wait to see what ministry specifically God has for me. As of right now I know that God has called me into ministry and that has been affirmed through many different avenues but I just don’t know specifics yet. Partnering with my wife in ministry is going to be a joy as well, joining her gifts with mine. I long for a wife. It’s simple. I want someone to love and to hold. Someone I can share my heart with and know that I will not be rejected.

I’ve been such a lonely person for so long and I don’t like it. It’s the hardest thing to wait for because so many times I’m tempted to compromise but I know she’s out there waiting for me, so I’ll wait. I refuse to spoil my heart anymore. I haven’t had a relationship in five years and it’s hard, but like I said why settle for less than what God has? I know that when I delight myself in God He will give me the desires of my heart.

What Makes A Man
A true man is Christ fleshed out. A man is vulnerable and open. He lays his heart out for others to see and he lays down his weaknesses so that others might be drawn to his authenticity. He asks for help.

His life is a transparent window into the heart of Christ. Passivity is not an option and lives a life of passion and value. He cries with the hurting and rebukes the wrongdoer. A man weeps even when people are looking. He stands up for injustice no matter the price. A man embraces the bums, the whores, the homosexuals of this world and loves them unconditionally. He leads not by force but by serving. A man wraps a towel around his waist and washes the feet of the man who hurts him the most.

The true man seeks out the heart of God and listens. He sheds the distractions and lives humbly and with Christ-like simplicity. He loves his life as Christ loves the Church even before he knows her name. He fights for the purity of his sisters in Christ and loves his brothers by telling them the truth. A true man is a lot of things, but simply a true man is Christ. I’m am not this man, but I fight and long to be him. Only by God's grace will I ever be anything."--Brandon, 19, Central Christian College.

Millennials, Today's High School and College Kids: The Medicated Generation, Ritalin, Zoloft, etc.

Bakari Kitwana, writes in his book, Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop, that middle-class angst and the growing signs of middle-class life failing to bring what parents thought is evident by the stark rise in anxiety and depression among youth.

To cope with the failings of middle-class life parents drugged their children to deal with family brokenness, depression, withdrawal, etc., Kitwana says.

"The number of children being treated with psychiatric drugs tripled between 1987 and 1996" (25).

"In 1990, 900,000 children were using Ritalin and by 2000 that number was up to 5 million" (25).

For all of you who were drugged by your parents to help you cope with your family's brokenness (divorce, no parents at home, etc.), the empty promises of materialism, being driven beyond reasonableness in sports, being expected to make straight As not matter what, being more busy than the President, coping with your then unknown sexual abuse, being verbally and or emotionally abused by your parents, living in isolation from other families, being quarantined to youth culture, being raised by the television instead of people, those who were given food instead of personal time, those who were led to believe that they sucked, those who only wanted to hear their father's say, "son, I'm so proud of you! You're "da man" I'm so glad you're my son, I love you," those daughters who were never told that they were beautiful and had anything to offer. . .

OR for those who had no emotional connections with anyone, including your parents, for those who unfortunately understood EXACTLY what Kurt Cobain sang about, for those who smoked pot just to check out of the suburban craziness, who those who related exactly to the pain and frustration with society expressed in rap, for those who have always felt at the margins of family, church, friends, school, and society, to those who were love at church but simply given rules to follow so you wouldn't embarrass your parent(s); and those were fed a fake Christianity not of Jesus following but of avoiding sex, drugs, alcohol, smoking, long hair, piercings, and anything else that would make your folks look bad. . . I apologize.

I'm sorry that this is the generation that was drugged instead of loved by people at home, school, church, etc. where people actually took a minute to think about the fact that your ADD or your ADHD, etc. maybe related to your parent's divorce or that fact that you grew up inoculated by the television, or that you were sexually abused, or that you're just stressed out from having to be "perfect" all the time.

How's this for a new slogan: Don't drug your kids love your kids. What that be over the top?

PBS's Frontline ran a special on parent's drugging this generation.

Don't hear what I'm NOT saying. (1)I'm not saying that some people didn't need it. I know some people really do have chemical imbalances--remember Gen. 3. (2) I know that some parents simply didn't know what else to do. (3) I know that it has helped a lot of kids. But there a many high school and college students walking around having be medicated to deal with behavior and they've NEVER really had the deeper issues dealt with that may be related to their ADD and ADHD diagnosis. We call this "baggage" or "junk". (4) I'm NOT saying that if you love your kids you won't give them drugs for ADD and ADHD because for kids loving them is giving them what they need to focus and concentrate in school and at home. However, more and more practicioners and explaining how loving kids well with more time spent (and loving kids well) can actually counteract many of the things that lead to anxiety and depression diagnosis.

There is no drug that can end emotional pain and hurt. No not even one. Haven't you noticed that pot, alcohol, sex, endorphines from sports, etc. that it doesn't work. At the end of the day you still have deep questions, deep wounds, deep sin that those things can't fix.

Emergence: A Huge Hit At ETS

Friends, the discussion of emerging churches was, in fact, very well attended. When it was time to give my paper we actually had to switch rooms. . .there were about 130-150 people there. That's HUGE for a paper reading at a conference like this were there's often 10 people in a room.

In my paper, I talked a lot about the emerging churches, continuity and discontinuity with the early church, and the connection to hip-hop. The paper after mine was excellent as well.

Next year in Wash. D.C., the emerging church discussion is going to be even larger. We're hoping to get guys like Mark Driscoll, Brian McClaren, Michael Horton, Tim Keller, Tony Jones, etc. in the same room together for a roundtable discussion--in addition to several paper presentations.

This was amazing. I was shocked at the reception and the interest. There was much more openness to doing an honest critique than I expected.

White Kids Love Black Youth Culture, Unlike Their Boomer Parents

You MUST read this book Why White Kids Love Hip Hop by Bakari Kitwana!!! (I will be posting a lot from this book).

The politics of race has totally changed in America and baby boomers seem unaware of the fact, according to Kitwana, that the racial politics they grew up with no longer exist-- the "white vs. black" racial category is oh so dead in the hip-hop world (for people age 12 to 40ish). Kitwana says:

To be "black" is to be "cool" and this something that white American baby boomers like O'Reily won't [admit]--that despite the ways African American men have been vilified during this younger generation's life time, more and more young whites are abandoning old apprehensions about young Blacks and openly embracing black youth culture.

Yes, a white kid engaging in the predominantly Black medium of hip-hop is going to be deemed cool by his peers--if he can pull it off, especially in a climate where hip-hop is mainstream youth culture.

White rappers like The Dyslexics (pictured above) are Exhibit A (please watch their videos).

I know, now some boomers are going to write "hey, I listened to Motown and R&B growing up. This isn't new." Riiiiight. Kitwana is not just talking about listening to hip-hop he's talking about becoming hip-hop. You may have listened to Motown but you weren't dating interracially (you weren't bringing your black, Latino, or Asian boyfriend home to meet your dad), you weren't trying to dress like what you thought was "black," you weren't "rebelling" against your parents by immersing yourself in black youth cultural icons, etc. You weren't trying to talk like what you thought was cool black youth speech. You weren't wearing cornrows and wave caps. You didn't have posters of black men hanging on the walls in your bedrooms. You had no Eminem. Boomers, never embraced black youth culture like white kids today are doing.

Forbes magazine reported in Febrary 2004 that 80% of audience purchasing hip-hop (ages 13 to 34) was white. Today's white kids have an affection for black culture that no generation born before 1965 ever had. Why?

Who would have thought that mainstream youth culture in America would be defined by black youth culture (hip-hop) instead of rock? But this is the case. Even MTV is mostly hip-hop oriented today (more to come on this. . .).

Emergent vs. Emerging

Can anyone explain the difference between the emergent church vs. the emerging church. I hear there's a difference but i can't seem to find anyone who's actually explains it ("gent" vs. "ging"--what gives?).

Evangelical Theological Society Meets The Emergent Church

I just arrived at my hotel for the 57th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), Nov. 16-18, just west of Philadelphia. On Thursday, I'm presenting a paper, latent with Mark Driscoll, Robert Webber, Rob Bell, and Bakari Kitwana on connections between the "Emergent(emerging) Church" and the Ancient Church.

But I'm not alone. There's a whole section on the "Emergent Church" where I am presenting a paper titled, "The Emergent Church: Ancient Roots of a Modern Movement, Yeah Right?" I hope to show that while there is some discontinuity ("Yeah Right?") there is also much continuity ("Yeah Right!!").

Ken MacGillivary, of Hopevale Church, is presenting a paper titled "A Case for Community" and John S. Hammett, of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, will his paper titled, "An Ecclesiological Assessment of the Emerging Church Movement."

Sounds like fun!!

"Contemporary Worship" The Way of the Pragmatic/Boomer Church

Mark Driscoll and Robert Webber are brilliant. Sunday, I actually witnessed a real, live pragmatic church ( evangelical churches started between 1975-2000, according the Robert Webber's analysis in The Younger Evangelicals). It was exactly how he described baby boomer evangelicals--lots of "contemporary music" in a church with a TON of "ministries" (gag). This church actually said it's a "full-service" ministry with a diversity of "specialized ministries." Full-service?

"Contemporary worship" Really? Friends, any time you see a church advertising "contemporary" this is what it means: "our church is stuck and limited to the Reagan era."

These pragmatistic (how ya like that for a new word?), boomer-type churches are ruled by programs. Lots of programs. Boomers seem to like those. The program does NOT have to be authentic, engaging, invitational, culturally transforming, addressing real issues, sacrificial, missional, and so on, they just need to exist.

This is the church as mall. Parents focus on outsourcing the raising of their kids to "youth pastors"--where is this job in the Bible, by the way? You can ministry shop here at the pragmatic church. Lots of "ministries" of "excellence."

Mark Driscoll writes that these pragmatic Christians "expect God and his church to play their game by assessing their felt needs, marketing to them with a good pitch from a winsome salesman, and providing spiritual goods and services that beat the competition down the street, whether it's a self-help guru or another religion or church. Churches that buy into this worship of humanity are prone to fashion their churches after malls, complete with departments or ministries for each family member in an effort to keep the shoppers happy (Radical Reformission, 171).

Selah

"A full-service" ministry with "contemporary" music. Wow, Webber and Driscoll nail it. If you were born AFTER 1965, and are in a boomer/pragmatic church very frustrated and you don't know why, read Drisoll's and Webber's book to see what changes need to happen at your church or to see if it would be best to leave to get out of the Reagan Era (by the way, he was a good president).

What is needed are churches that deal with what our communities need to live in a relationally broken, evil world not the human-oriented "felt needs" of the "programs/ministries" they want to "service."

Reggaeton: Selling Out With Crossover Artists?

(Daddy Yankee pictured here de Puerto Rico!)

Angie Romero writes in the November Issue of Vibe Magazine a feature story about Reggaeton artists flirting with "selling out" by singing in English just to make money. In case you're unaware Reggaeton, says Russell Simmons, is "gonna be the most dominant culture in America." And I think he's right. With roots in salsa, merengue, latin pop, and tejano this music form is corssing over into the hip hop world and club scene internationally. Once this crossover is secured reggaeton will change popular music. Reggaeton is played in Miami, Bogata, Beirut, and more.

This music will crossover because it takes NO skill to dance to it (unlike salsa). More importantly, it's amazing how this music brings together so many international musical forms and affinities. Outside of the Latin world it fits musically quite well in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. So, any music form that captures Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East will be the dominant music form in America and the rest of the world since people of color dominate the world's population.

Lyrically it can be as sick as much rap but also can have political/social commentary--depending on the artist. What's so amazing is how fearful Latinos and blacks are about "selling out."

"Selling out" seems to be the cardinal sin. It's the worst thing a person of color can do--mainstream himself by making millions of dollars off of "gringos," anglos, and/or "white" people.

Daddy Yankee says that you have to "maintain your essence in Spanish" but not limit your audience. Latino artists must trancsend barriers "without being a sellout," he says. Wow. Wouldn't it be better to view "crossing" over as a way to popularize the music form (in its best form) and secure an ever-increasing marketshare?

Angie Romero's article is titled: "Tego & Daddy Yankee: Reggaeton's Saviors or Sellouts" (119-124). So a church doing really "cutting edge" "ministry" is probably a church seeking to bring the Gospel to the reggaeton listeners. Imagine the possibilities if these major artists and listeners were being transformed by Jesus Christ!

Wrath May Come If You Don't Support Intelligent Design: Pat Robertson Strikes Again

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city," Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, "The 700 Club."

Brutha, Pat said this yesterday because all eight Dover, Pennsylvania, school board members up for re-election lost their seats after trying to introduce "intelligent design" to high school science students as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

If you don't support ID wrath may come. Really?

What's your story? Eddie J., 25, On The Pain Of Losing A Father To Cancer, Techno Music, And A Pastoral Call

"It was hard taking care of my dad, seeing him in pain (he had kidney and prostate cancer, which had metastasized into his entire skeleton), and simply withering away like that. He died in only a few months"--Eddie J.

"Well, if you know the Myers-Briggs tests, I'm an ESTJ. I think that description fits me perfectly."--Eddie J.

"Ever since college I've been hooked on techno."--Eddie J.

Friends, I'm a huge fan of Eddie J. not only because he's an expert on techno music but his story is an amazing display of strength and perseverance. He knows who he is and what he's made for. That's rare these days. The future of the Kingdom is dependent on God setting strong men like Eddie loose to do what He made them to do. This Biola University grad, now at Westminster in Cali has a blog and tells his story below:

"Well, I am 25 years old, and grew up in Northern California, in a commuter/military town called Fairfield. My parents had lived there for several years before I was born, and it wasn't until this year that nobody from my family is living there anymore. My mother was a Christian and a housewife, (who also worked for a while as a TA when my brother and I got older), but my dad was only a Christian by title, a self employed real estate agent, and a very active Mason and Shriner. So you could consider it a Christian home because of my mom, my brother and myself.

I grew up playing all kinds of sports, soccer, football, bowling, but my favorite of them all was baseball, which I played for 9 years. I still love to go to the batting cages whenever I can, even to this day.

Family Life
I had a good family upbringing. Both of my parents were very moral folks, and my mom always went out of her way to make sure my brother and I did what was right. While we did have our ups and downs, my parents always stuck together, for which I am eternally grateful. My only brother, who is 13 months younger than me, and growing up we basically did everything together.

We were best friends all the way up until about Jr High, where we really began to become our own people and make different friends. We've become much closer since getting out of High School though, especially through the hard events we've had to endure together.

Launching Away From The PCUSA
In about 2nd grade, my teachers noticed that I was getting my homework down quickly (and correctly), and had me take an IQ test. The next year I was admitted into the G.A.T.E. program (gifted and talented education), where I would stay up all through High School. This meant I would have to attend different schools however than the kids in my neighborhood and the ones I grew up with to that point. Fast forward to High school and I was still taking Honors and AP classes, but my true love was art. I loved to draw, I loved cartoons, and I loved color and design. Unfortunately, I was not very good at drawing people, and given the emphasis my teacher put upon it in AP Art class, I decided that God wanted something else for me.

During this time I had become more active in my church and began co-teaching/leading the Christians on Campus club at my school. I found that I really loved teaching people about God's Word, even if my lessons were more game oriented, and not very educational. I also found myself getting very interested in other worldly religions because of the discussion I would have with my friends (I always went to public schools). Out of the blue one day, I was contacted by someone in my Presbytery about going to something the PCUSA was starting, called the Triennium. Well, I was glad to go, and so I was flown out to Slippery Rock Pennsylvania to be trained as a future leader of the church. Little did I know where this would take me.

While I was there, I learned how the General Assembly operated (we had a mock one, where all the delegates voted and debated) and also learned some more things about the faith itself. Upon returning, my church went through some strife and we needed a new pastor. Wanting to be connected to the youth in our church, they chose me to be on the Pastor Nominating Committee.

I would be on this committee all the way until I had to be let go to attend college. It was at this point that I was pretty convinced that God wanted me to go into the ministry. I applied to several Christian colleges at this time and made it into all of them.

While I was on that committee, it came to my attention that I was being nominated to be the Youth Advisory Delegate for my Presbytery to the 98 PCUSA General Assembly. I was afraid that I wouldn't make it, being in a very liberal presbytery (Presbytery of the Redwoods), but I was elected to go and I was now all but fully convinced God was calling me into the ministry. I was also chosen at this time to be on the Overtures committee, and had the opportunity to help organize and set up the entire General Assembly! Unfortunately, I would have to fly out several days early, so before my grad night had ended, I jumped in a car with my parents to make it to the airport, to fly out to North Carolina in the early morning.

While I was there I got to see the inner workings of the General Assembly, and met a lot of friends too. I had the opportunity of sitting in the front row as well for the entire Assembly and I was able to observe everything. However, many of the theological stances, demonstrations, and "educational events for the YADs" really made me want to get out of the PCUSA. This is when I started looking for more, for a Church that held to the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture.

From Biola to Westminster Theology
For college, I ended up going to Biola University because of their emphasis on studying the Bible, it's similar student population to my high school, and rather selfishly, it was in a nice part of California. I decided while I was there to get my degree in Biblical Studies, so I would be prepared for the ministry. I also avoided the honors program there (called Torrey, and also my AP tests in High School) because I wanted to be in touch with the rest of the students. I didn't want to repeat what had happened in my elementary, Jr and Sr High experience. I also made sure to live in the dorms, so I could get the full experience.

One summer while I was there, my home church with our new pastor invited me back home. I was given the opportunity to be an "associate pastor" of sorts, and even preach a sermon. Needless to say, I loved every minute of it. Even my sermon, which I look back upon as being very lacking, was just one more confirmation that God had made me for the ministry. There is no way to describe how I felt seeing people's eyes light up with God's truth. All I can say is that any doubt whatsoever that I might have had about being a pastor evaporated at that moment after giving my sermon and heading back to school.

While I was there, I became convinced that Calvinism was correct from reading Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology for class. At the time however, I was not Reformed, simply a Calvinistic Evangelical. So I started to attend a local CRC in Bellflower to learn more about being Reformed, and what it looked like. It was a breath of fresh air to say the least, and the ministry work I did there was more than rewarding. The Church was doctrinally sound, clearly conservative in its theology, and also worshipped in a way that I felt refreshed and ready to face the week. This prompted me to find a Reformed Seminary in which I could learn "from the source" what those who were Calvinists believed. I didn't want to simply hear it all second hand from my profs at Talbot and Biola.

While I was at a Talbot chapel, to just learn more than I could at Biola chapels, I heard the President of Westminster Seminary California speak. He caught me off guard when he opened by mentioning how trusting Talbot was to let him speak on any topic he wanted. Once I found out that he was not Dispensational, I immediately wanted to know more. It turned out that he was Reformed, and that the seminary was here in California... I was immediately interested. So I checked out the campus, fell in love with it, and decided that Westminster Seminary California was the place for me if I wanted to become a pastor while learning what other Calvinists believed.

Which brings me to today, a current 4th year student at WSC, and a member of the PCA, looking to minister in that denomination. My seminary career however has not been an easy one, where within one year I lost my last grandparent as well as my father, both to cancer. However, during these times I have grown in ways that have prepared me for the ministry all the more. If these events had not happened when they did, I am fairly sure I would not be as nearly as spiritually mature as I am now.

A Proud ESTJ
Well, if you know the Myers-Briggs tests, I'm an ESTJ. I think that description fits me perfectly. I'm upbeat, extroverted, and tend not to be very emotional. I'm very approachable and friendly, and I've never had a problem helping new people get plugged into the community itself. I'm pretty energetic as well, as I love to still play sports, but a mental challenge is always welcome as well.

The Best and Worst Things That Have Happened
This question is easy, my Salvation. =^) However, the 2nd best/worst thing I would have to say is losing my father.

Caring for and Losing My Father
I would have to say it was the loss of my Dad. I took time off of Seminary in order to help my mom take care of him at home. It was emotionally draining, and very testing as well, but there was never any doubt in my mind that I was doing the right thing. It was hard taking care of my dad, seeing him in pain (he had kidney and prostrate cancer, which had metastasized into his entire skeleton), and simply withering away like that. He died in only a few months, and it was a hard few months.

It wasn't the death of my Dad that was hard though, he did end up accepting Christ before he died. It was the whole process of taking care of him that I mourned for him. Death was coming, there was no doubt, so I had a lot of time to prepare for it ahead of time. It was during this time however that God really helped me to grow leaps and bounds spiritually, as well as the rest of my family. So I would have to say that it was this suffering that was both the hardest, and best, thing in my life so far.

Called To Pastor
I look forward to serving God in a church as its pastor. It's my calling, and I know God has been training me and raising me to do just that. There is nothing in the world that I'd rather do. I pray that God will use me wherever He wants me, and I want to do as much for His kingdom that I can while I'm there. It's a long road, but I look forward to every bit of it.

Yes, hard times will come, but God's prepared me for them, and my eyes are open to it. I still want it with every inch of my being.

Hooked On Techno
I don't really have a favorite "band" so to speak. Ever since college I've been hooked on techno. In High school, I listened to a lot of pop music, and that simply naturally led me into the "more pure" stuff of techno (specifically trance, progressive, and break beat). If I had to list my favorite Dj's however, the top of the list would be one called Sasha. He is able to make songs mix together in such a way, that it is like watching the sky change colors at sunset. Granted, most of his songs don't have words, but that makes it great music to dance or study too!

On Being A Man
I believe that God has made us to become men, which means being a husband (not good to be alone). This entails having children (populating the earth, having a "full quiver") and raising them in a covenant family, as all the patriarchs did. HOWEVER, this does not mean that the gift of celibacy should be looked down upon at all. There are some people who God has specially gifted to be single all their lives, but they become men via a special gift of God, not through the normal means the rest of us must go through. God has given them something the rest of us could not attain on our own.

Nor does this mean that a man who gets married and divorced, or widowed, suddenly is no longer a man. He has advanced into manhood, and fulfilled what God has created men to be. He may get married again down the line if he feels the need as well, but he'll still be a man.

If we wish to know what it is to be a man (as opposed to a woman), we must look at creation and what the sexes were intended for, as opposed to what stereotypical characteristics we may find in our culture today. By being a good husband, by becoming a man, one is required to have all the characteristics that we may generally label as being "male" (responsible, providing for family, spiritual leader, etc.).

It's like being a soldier. Most sign up to enter, but you can only be a soldier by entering the military. Some however, become soldiers through extraordinary means (being drafted) and are still soldiers like the rest. Some soldiers may be better at their job than others. Some may stick at it longer than others, and have more success. However, they all were soldiers.

So too is it with being a man. We become men through different means, and we have different successes, but to be a man means becoming a husband."

Tiger Got $83 Million In Sports Endorsements Last Year

Details Magazine (Nov. 2005) lists the 50 most powerful men 39 and under. Not only did Details fail to list me this year I noticed that No. 9, Tiger Woods, is now sports top earner racking up nearly $83 million just on endorsements and advertising. Wow.

No. 1--The Dead Soldier, average age 27
N0. 2--Maddox Jolie, age 4.
No. 3--Sergey Brin & Larry Page, 31 and 32, the Google Cofounders
No. 4--Ken Mehlman, 39, chairman on the RNC
No. 5--Jonathan Ive, 38, Senior VP @ Apple

Sexual Addiction: Sean, 20, a college-student in Boston Talks About His Struggle

"Is Sexual Addiction A Myth?" reads the feature article by Benoit Denizet-Lewis in the November Issue of Details Magazine (pgs. 92-96).

Sean, a 20-year-old college student, withdrew $400 one day from his savings account to binge on porn and "escorts." He confided in his roomate after his first meeting of Sex and Love Addicts Annoymous that we was struggling as his roommate said, "We're guys. We're in college. We're all addicted to sex." The article tells his story:

"Since the age of 12, [Sean] had spent 1 to 5 hours most nights looking at Internet pornography, talking in sex-chat rooms, and later, cruising escort Web sites. The son of an alcohlic, emotionally abusive mother, Sean says that going to on the Internet made him feel 'safe, comfortable, and kind of happy. It put me in this trance, and all my problems went away."

"Sean" is in everyone's youth group, college and career group, church, college campus ministry. How would your church love him? Details Magazine ran a great story and they have nothing to offer those who need help.

Sex addicts, according to the article, come in 3-types (these are NOT only 3): (1) those who use sex to alleviate negative feelings, anxiety, and stress, (2) those who pursue the "thrill and excitement" of having sex with different people--the enjoy the hunt, and (3) those who are "relationally obsessed" using sex in hopes of finding the right person who will fulfill all their dreams and make everything ok.

Helping guys like Sean is multi-layered. Of course he needs to stop the actions but he also needs his woundedness addressed. His struggle is related to his responding to the wounds inflicted by his parents more than he may realize. He can be helped, healed, and set free by embracing the healing and redemption offered in union with the One deeply wounded and tempted with everything; and with the help of people who are willing do deal with his pain--to bear his burdens with him.

Fellas, if you're struggling there're ways to get help. Here's SLAA's website: http://open-mind.org/Sex-Love.htm.

Also there's sexual addiction and porn help at Desert Stream Ministries. It's a good place to start. But whatever you do you can't do it alone freedom begins by telling someone you trust. I know this is risky (James 5:16, 19-20). There is no other way.

Sean's sad ending is that he is now "dating" one of his escorts and neither his wounds, sin, or pain are being dealt with.

What's sucks about sexual addiction is that it never delivers what it promises. Porn, masturbation, prostitutes, hooking-up with girls, oral-sex, etc. will never, ever fill the voids. That's why they keep going back thinking "well maybe next time I'll feel good. And it's not working for you is it. It doesn't make the pain go away does it?

It doesn't really make you feel like a man does it? You still feel like a loser when you're done.

The fact remains that the way to have the best sex ever is to explore it exactly how God designed it. Doing it his way will rock your world.

Have A Turducken For Thanksgiving!!

A Turducken is a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken and stuffing.

The Novemeber issue of National Geographic magazine has a short story about Maurice, LA where this thing originated in 1985 and is now the craze. Yummy?

Ah, those cajuns! What will they come up with next?

Putting A Whole In Your Head: Suicide, The Voices, And Wounded Warriors

A Gallup Youth Survey conducted in 2003 on teens (ages 13-17) reveals that 25 percent of teens thought or talked about committing suicide, while 9 percent came close to committing suicide and 7 percent actually tried.

Suicide seems like a really good option when things really suck and there seems to be no way out. At the time suicide seems like the best option. It really does. Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Mostly men, teens and pastors, have just thrown in the towel and I totally understand. And some people ask "why"? "Why would somebody do that?" It's a good question but sadly naive.

Given how jacked-up our world is, even for Christians, the real question is "why aren't more people committing suicide?" I've recently heard some well-meaning pastors say some pretty dumb things. One pastor told a bunch a kids at a funeral "not to be quitters." As if that was the problem. I heard another guy say that a guy he knew committed suicide because he didn't "understand" the gospel. Riiiight, he just needed more information and understanding.

What is really needed is get our bruthas who have been mortally wounded to follow the wounded healer Jesus who fought and won the battle on our behalf and transforms them into wounded warriors.

When I hear "quitter", "knowledge" from church leaders I think one thing: these men are clueless about despair, depression, real pain, isolation, and the voices. And it's the voices that really matter. How does one quiet the voices? Where do they come from?

The voices loudly proclaim that "you suck", "you're alone", "it can't get better", "nobody cares," "you won't be missed," "dying is better than living," "life sucks, I suck, everybody sucks," "I'm a mistake," "nobody loves you," "you're such a loser."

And these voices come from the Enemy, the father of lies (John 10:10). People who commit suicide are truly victims. They were attacked for months or even years, and lost the battle. The lies, at the time, seem so true given the circumstances. These guys aren't quitters nor lack knowledge, they were mortally wounded. For many there's even a chemical imbalance of some sort.

The ancient serpent deceives and people that should "know" better sometimes fall. Eve fell. Adam fell. Teenagers lose the battle. Many were (are) fighting alone. Fighting the Enemy alone is futile.

All the pastors I knew who committed suicide were lonely men. All the teens I know of were victims of divorced, broken homes, hiding their pain, and alone. Some people never should have married.

Christian teens, victimized by relational brokenness in their "Christian" homes, have been given a b$llsh%t Christianity where "everything works out" as the short response given to people's pain. Everything does not work out in this life. That's the truth. The reality of the Christian story is, in fact, that life really, really does suck at times for a lot of people. Even though the "Mr. Rogers" pastors fake like it doesn't with their khaki pants and blue blazers, (and guilt you by comparing you to Paul or Peter saying "Stop you're complaining, you were never stoned") but the fact remains.

I know lots of kids who would rather have been stoned to death than experience their parent's divorce or their childhood sexual abuse. The wounds of rocks go away the wounds and scars of divorce, sexual abuse, other deep emotional wounds don't.

Why don't hurting kids go to adults? Adults seem to have nothing to offer but the scripted, quick answers that don't really address the issue. "It's sin." "Don't be a quitter." "Read a Max Lucado book." "All things work out." Kids are screaming, "I'm hurting, does my pain matter to you?"

So "checking out" does make sense. The despair of wounds and living a life where nothing seems to work is actually part of the story. It's the right response because heaven is not here yet. It reveals the Truth. Living the Christian story is not avoiding the messiness and despair of living in a jacked-up world but choosing to suffer through it, on purpose, rightly longing for what God longs for. Choosing to stay to be a person cosmically transformed and armed to ally with God in the Great Batlle against the Liar as a wounded warrior.

It might sound something like this, "Although I want to check out, I choose to stay and fight for His world." My suicidal bruthas really understand the Great Battle in a hightened, more profound way. We who regularly despair at the seeming uselessness our own existence look to the cross and realize that being alive is such more than just my story, my existence, my life. Living is more than "me."

Jesus invites those who despair to let Truth trump lies. To choose truth even though it feels wrong and makes no sense. Hope trumps despair. Future trumps present. Real community trumps family brokenness.

For some, this life may always suck. The dark voices will be loud and may even get louder. Truth will wisper and clinging close to Jesus means that although this life may suck royally right now, Jesus invites you into a journey of healing that will fully be realized soon. A journey where you, in the midst of intense suffering, will be used to fight against the work of the very one trying to destory the world.

If I didn't know I was called to fight for my wounded bruthas helping them become wounded warriors I would have been gone a few years ago. The true story helps me not listen to the voices that discourage me from keeping my car on the road. Or voices that discourage me from remaining on the curb as that bus, going about 40mph, passes by. (at times I've wondered if I was actually being pushed. It kind'a felt like it. Very weird.).

You, my wounded brutha following Jesus, are so much more than your pain. This life is not about comfort and ease like Rev. Captian Kangaroo or Bishop Penny-Loafer says, even though we do experience it and there is much here to enjoy. Expecting paradise in this life is fantasy. What Christians must do is incarnate into other people's pain, sit with people in it, stop trying to make people "feel better" because sometimes you just won't, be honest about the fact that this life sucks, stop sugar coating the truth, and suffer with people bringing redeeming healing that comes through an encounter with the one who knows what it's really like to despair in isolation.

The Christian story is a story of longing: longing to know, longing to love, longing for freedom, longing for healing, longing for love, longing for heaven. Many of these won't be realized now so we keep longing empowered by God to persevere until Heaven. Longing for better is good. Longing brings life.

No easy answers. No trite sayings. No feel-good conclusions. Just the facts: we're in a battle, you're under attack, Jesus is the only way to fight, and your story is not over. It's not over. It's not over yet no matter what the Enemy says. Following Jesus means you ahave role to play in God bringing everything into His judgment (Eccl. 12:14) and Jesus desires to bind your broken heart, heal you, in order to set you free (Isaiah 61).

If Jesus is the wounded healer/redeemer, my hurting brothers who follow are his wounded warriors called to engage until the end.

Esquire Magazine: Tom Junod On Why Intelligent Design Makes A Mockery Out of God in "The Case For Intelligent Design"--Jesus Is God Saying "Sorry" For Messing-Up

God has limits to his power says a new article.Tom Junod, writing in the Nov. issue of Esquire Magazine, believes that Intelligent Design (ID) does damage to Christianity because God's existence depends on humans and science needs no belief by people. Junod believes the fact of Dinosaurs trumps ID exposing ID as a pseudo-science being subverted into public schools by fundamentalist (he has a vaild point about how ID shouldn't be forced into public schools).

Junod's perspective follows because he starts off thinking about God in way that Jesus never taught. Hence, an off-base conclusion.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth the only way he could, the only way he knew how. He was really, really smart but there were limits to his smarts, as there were limits to his power. To make creation work. . .he had to incarnate forces that poor befuddled human beings would come to regard as evil. . .He evolved as we evolved, as the universe evolved. Hey, he needed us--he needed us to humanize him, he needed us to be human. . .He apologized. And that was Jesus--God's apology. His apology for making us the way he did. . .His apology for evolution." (Esquire Magazine, November 2005, 218, italics his)

What's unfortunate is that what Junod describes is neither the God of the Christian story or the Christian story itself. In centuries past he would have been burned for saying this.

Junod was supposedly providing a "Christian" response to Pierce's article calling Christians "idiots" for believing in ID but Junod describes a religion divorced of Jesus' actual teachings about himself or God, the father. Junod's piece, well intended, mis-communicates the real Christian story actually making it a story about man rather than a story about God and what He has planned.

Jessica Biel, The Sexiest Woman Alive? Really?

The November issue of Esquire Magazine names Jessica Biel the sexiest woman alive for 2005? How is that possible?

First, why do magazines feel the need to "rate" women? Second, the most beautiful woman alive must at least always be Puerto Rican (haha) or at least close to looking like Vanessa Williams:

What's Your Story? Paul C. Talks About Being A 2nd Generation Korean In A White Middle-Class World

Asians were supposed to be unathletic, clumsy, math nerds. So I wanted to prove that Asians could be good at sports.--Paul C.

My dad made my brothers and I wake up at 5:30 am in the morning each day during the summer to study.--Paul C.

I hated being stereotyped a certain way just because of the way I looked.--Paul C.

[Friends, Paul's journey is one of the most moving things you'll read this year. Seriously. This brutha almost died (story at the very bottom)!! What you'll read below continues to be a refreshing display of authenticity and I man brave enough to be real!!]-Anthony B.

Paul has a blog and here's his story:

"I am 22 years old and attended Wheaton College with a degree in Sociology. I was born in Oakland, California but was raised in Naperville, IL. My parents immigrated here from South Korea, so I am a 2nd generation Korean American. Naperville is a predominantly white middle-upper class town, so I struggled a lot with identity issues growing up.

I remember being embarrassed to bring my friends to my house because they would tease me about the way my parents talked, the food we ate, or the way my house smelled. It was pretty terrible. On top of that, my parents were incredibly strict, and placed great emphasis on education. Growing up, I was not allowed to hang out with my friends, watch television, have video games, it was pretty awful. My dad made my brothers and I wake up at 5:30 am in the morning each day during the summer to study.

[the story continues below]

Parents Non-Supportive
I think the hardest part for me though was that my parents were not supportive of me playing sports. They actually discouraged it, and my father would only let me play sports if I got straight A's. I only remember him coming to one of my games. I loved sports more than anything in the world though. But to them, education was the most important, and I know they pushed me so hard in that direction because they loved me, but I do wish…I wish they could've been there at those games.

But through it all, I love my family very much. I have three older brothers and I consider them three of my greatest friends. We have been through a lot together. And I know that they love me, despite myself, they love me and will always stand by my side.

Personality Plus
Other than being tall, dark and handsome? =P Honestly though, I think I almost have two sides of me. One side that most people see - usually when I'm in big groups - is more goofy and laid back. I love to laugh and have a good time and I love being around people. I love going out, experiencing new things, traveling (I got to visit Korea for the first time in my life this past summer!), things like that. But there's definitely another side of me that is pretty serious and introspective.

While I love joking around with people and goofing off, there is nothing better to me than engaging in a deep, genuine conversation with another person. I mean, everyone comes from different perspectives and experiences…and I love that. I know its cliché, but you really can't judge a book by its cover. Like for me, I absolutely love sports, but I also love going to musicals and orchestra concerts. You would never know that about me unless you really got to know me. Especially as a minority though, I hated being stereotyped a certain way just because of the way I looked. So I truly cherish the moments where I can really connect with a person on a deeper spiritual, emotional, intellectual level, and really get to know them beyond the surface.

My Brother Prayed And It Rained, He Stopped And The Rain Stopped
I remember the summer before my junior year in high school I was really struggling with depression and began questioning my faith in God. I had grown up in a Christian home, so my parents had many rules, which they mostly took from the Bible. I hated these rules. I started thinking in the back of my head, if I wasn't a Christian, these rules would no longer apply to me. I mean, why did I even believe in this God anyway? If He was real, why was there so much suffering in this world? Why would he allow my own brother even, to fall away from the faith in college? Didn't God know how hard we prayed for Him? Didn't he listen? And didn't he know how lonely I was, how depressed? Didn't He care? Did anyone care?

One of my brothers was a youth pastor at the time, so I was telling him about these struggles. And I remember at the end of that time, he asked me if we could pray together. So I said sure, why not, it couldn't hurt. I'll never forget what happened next. The second he began to pray, it began to rain. Dead middle of the summer. It just started pouring rain. And the second he stopped praying, the rain stopped. It was crazy! I couldn't believe what just happened…happened!

Then for some reason right after that-and I don't even know why I said this, I think it was out of nervousness- but I joked to my brother, "wouldn't it be crazy if the second I start praying, it started raining again?" But my brother just looked at me dead serious and said, lets pray for it. So he prayed real quick that God would send rain when I prayed. And so I prayed. And the second I started praying, it started pouring rain. The second I stopped praying, the rain stopped. Again.

And I remember the most amazing feeling swept over me because for the first time in my life I truly knew that God was there, looking out for me. And I felt special. And I felt loved. And that for me, was and is the best thing in the world to really know. (side note - I want to add that my brother who I mentioned fell away from the faith in college came back to the faith a few years ago… after 12 years of prayer!!

I Look Forward To Fully Living And To Love
There are two things that I most look forward to in the future. The first is the ability of every person in this world to do extraordinary things. I truly believe that it only takes one person to change the world. One person with the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Just look at Martin Luther King Jr. or Gahndi. I have many fears and insecurities, shortcomings and faults, but what I know is this. I want to do something great in this lifetime for my Lord and King, Jesus Christ. I pray, "Lord, help me to live my life to its fullest potential." Because I don't want to leave this earth never reaching the fullest potential of the gifts and blessings that God in His grace has lavished upon me.

However, one thing that God has been teaching me is that if we can't manage the little things in our lives, how then can we expect to manage the bigger things in this world? He gives more responsibility to those who are accountable with the little things. In my life, there have been many times where I have been all about myself, my dreams, me, me, me… but God has been showing me that the greatest way to live is for Him, and I believe the best way to do that is by loving people. I look forward to the future because it is an opportunity to love others, to make an impact. It is, truly, an opportunity to do extraordinary things. And I'm excited to see what the future holds. . .

Also, I look forward to falling in love. Falling in love with someone who I can spend the rest of my life with. And laugh and smile and watch Moulin Rouge with. Having little rugrats running around.

Basketball, Sports, and Asians
I'm tempted to say baseball right now because the White Sox are about to win the World Series and well, it's just ridiculous… but in the end, I've got to go with basketball. Why? For one. I just love basketball. I still remember the first basket I ever made. It was a granny shot on this rickety, too short hoop that we put up in the driveway. I remember it like it was yesterday. I wanted to be just like Michael Jordan. I think I even stuck my tongue out afterwards. Basketball to me was a source of inspiration. It gave me a dream. (Which at the time, was to make the NBA). But it also became a proving ground. I wanted to be known. To be recognized. To break stereotypes.

Where I'm from, Asians were not known for being very athletic. In fact, it was the exact opposite. Asians were supposed to be unathletic, clumsy, math nerds. So I wanted to prove that Asians could be good at sports. It meant a lot to me. My father never supported my sports playing either, so I wanted to prove to him that I could excel at sports and that it could even open up opportunities for me in the future. That really drove me. But more than that, I just loved playing. It made me really happy. And it was pure. Thing just made sense when I was playing. I spent so many hours in my driveway, at the YMCA, at the nearest court, practicing. When things in life would get too crazy, I just went outside and shot some hoops. It was kind of my sanctuary growing up.

Basketball also taught me a lot about life. About how to compete. How to excel. How to devote yourself to the perfection of something, and the joy that comes from that, even the pain. Looking back, I ran so many suicides, practicing the same drills over and over again, but in the end, it made me that much of a better player. What's more, basketball taught me about teamwork, about how to play in the framework of a team. It showed me the importance of selflessness and the importance of different roles within a team. Then there is the creativity and excitement of the game. I could go on forever. But in the end, basketball has and always will be a big part of me, and that is why it is my favorite sport.

On Being A Man
To be a man of integrity. Somebody who keeps his word and his word means something to those around him. He is respected. He is secure and sure of himself. He knows who he is, where he has come from, and where he is going. He protects those he loves. He is loyal. If somebody threatens those he loves, he steps up and does not back down to those who are threatening them.

He accepts responsibility and is constantly challenging himself. He isn't afraid to fail. He listens and considers others before himself. He is decisive. He is generous and giving. He knows the meaning of hard work and isn't complainer. He is an example. He is humble and approachable. He is a passionate lover of Jesus. He spends quality time with his family. He points those around him to Jesus and surrounds himself with people who will point him to Jesus even more. He is obedient to God and follows hard after Him. And…He loves football, girls and red meat(hehe)!!

This is what I strive for.

Bonus Story: A Pulmonary Embolism Almost Killed Me, God Taught Me More
I had a near death experience beginning of my senior year in high school, when I got the pulmonary embolism. At first, I remember I felt this pain in my chest, but didn't think anything of it. I mostly just coughed a lot, which lasted over a month. But then I had to miss the first football game of the season because I got sick and my doctor had told me to sit out. I finally got to play the second game, but that's when I started coughing up blood. The next day, I went to go see the doctor and he told me I probably had pneumonia, so they gave me medicine. The thing is, after a couple days, it got worse and worse. It got so bad, every time I breathed it felt like knives were digging into my chest, it hurt so bad. I was so confused...all my life, I had lived for this moment, to play varsity football at my high school, it was my dream....and it was being taken away from me. I missed the next game. The pain grew and grew, I remember one night I was just begging God, "please, Please God, take this pain away...make me better...PLease God...all I want is to play"

But it just got worse, I couldnt sleep, I couldnt think, I could barely breathe...so that night, I just started crying, and I barely ever cry, but I cried...and my mom came and tried to comfort me, but the pain was too much. It wasn't just the physical pain, it was the fact that all my life, my dreams were always crashing to my feet. No matter how many times I cried out to God, it seemed, things never changed. I cried out to him to heal my family problems, but they never got better, I cried out to him to bring my brother back to the faith, but he was still lost, All my life...I just couldn't take the pain anymore. The pneumonia should've been gone in a week, but it didn't, so the doctor put me in the hospital and ran all these tests on me. All day, they would stick needles into my arms, my stomach, my hands....they took all these xrays on me...the worst one was the angiogram, where they stuck a needle right under my pelvis, only they missed the vein about 4 or 5 times, and I could feel the blood trickling down my leg.

Man, it was hell, I missed another football game, and I was trapped in this room. But then they found out it was a pulmonary embolism, multiple blood clots in the lung…Basically, if any of them broke off, I would get either a heart attack or a brain hemmorage, and that's when the doctor told me, something really serious could happen. I got up to go to the bathroom, and the nurse ran in "What are you doing? Stay in your bed! Don't u realize how serious your condition is? You could die!" That night, I just lay there in my room, scared to death. I was only 17. It was just me and God...and I started looking back at my life, realizing just how stupid all the things I was living for really was..all I cared about was acceptance, about making a name for myself...

I was such a hypocrite, I was one way at church and another at school. Man, regret is one of the worst feelings in the world, but feeling regret with the prospect of death right in front of you..once again I just cried out to God....but this time, it was a cry of repentance...I didn't care anymore whether or not I was "popular" at school, or whether or not people thought I was cool, at that moment, if I had died, I would've been embarrassed at the way I was living. I think that's what it took for me to put things into perspective, to realize what was truly important in life. This world is so temporary, but Heaven is eternal, nothing matters in light of that.

I begged God to give me another chance, I wanted to do things differently. So that night, it was just me and God...Before, I always thought I had the rest of my life to make things right, to live for God, but I found out how frail life really is... I know now, our life is just a mist...I mean, my best friend growing up, I knew him since 3rd grade, passed away last winter...life is short...people forget...We never think it will be us, but when I was in that position, in the hospital, people would come to visit, maybe write a card, but afterwards, they would just go home, and do their homework...

Life goes on, I mean I was so mad sometimes, because people would come by to visit and have this attitude like, "you should thank me that I came," as if they were doing me some favor by coming to visit me...and all the time, in my head, I'm like, man I could die, and that's all you care about. But that's the human condition, most people can't feel what your going through, because they've never been there, and most of them don't want to, because they just want to continue to live in their safe, imaginary world, where yeah, bad things happen in this world, but hey, they don't happen to me. Everyday, someone gets hit by a drunk driver, someone dies of cancer, AIDs, the list goes on and on, and all the while the rest of the world goes on, never thinking something like that could happen to them...

During that time, I found out who my real friends were, and I will never ever forget them...but my life changed after that, God healed me, I had another chance, and my life turned around...hardships didn't go away, but I started to see how God was using them to shape me, in everyway, I saw how he was really answering my prayers...I had always prayed for God to free me from the bondage my friends, my need for acceptance, had on me...so many times I felt so trapped, but after that, I just wanted to please God, and God brought new brothers and sisters in my life who encouraged me, and challenged me...The past years have probably been some of the hardest in my life, but I've also grown the most I ever have in my life, tasted more of God's goodness than I ever have, and met some of the greatest friends I will ever have.

Looking back, I wouldn't change those events for anything, God loves me, he has a plan for me, and He's in control. When I'm unfaithful, He is faithful, when I fall down, He picks me up, When I am lost, He takes me by the hand and leads the way...So many times I forget...it's crazy how many times we do...But thank You Father, for giving me a purpose to live, for loving me, loving me no matter what... thank you for everything."

Remembering Kyle Lake, 33, Pastor of University Baptist Church, Waco, TX

"Kyle Lake’s legacy is courage."--Adam E.

"I don’t mean that when I needed someone—God gave me someone. No, I mean that when I needed to meet Kyle Lake, I met Kyle Lake."--Adam E.

Kyle Lake, 33, tragically died last Sunday during a baptism accident. Rev. Kyle Lake stepped into a tank on the stage to baptize a new member as a packed room of more than 800 people watched. The accident occurred at University Baptist Church in Waco when he grabbed a microphone while partially submerged, a worker at the church said. Kyle is survived by his wife Jennifer, their daughter Avery (Aug 2000) and twin boys Sutton and Jude (July 2002).

Adam Eitel, a Covenant Seminary student who was personally discipled by Kyle, reflects on their time together:

For the sake of brevity, I won’t explain how I wound up at Baylor University. Let’s just say I did. Let’s also just say that studying at the crown jewel of the Baptist church—a carousel of religious thought—isn’t the best place for a jaded 18 year-old. Let’s just say that half-way through my freshmen year I was closer than ever to rejecting the whole idea. Let’s just say I was lost.

[the rest of Adam's story is below]

"I met Kyle Lake when I needed to. Here’s what I don’t mean by that: (1) I don’t mean that I met him on my own terms—but that God introduced us in my time of need. (2) I don’t mean that when I needed someone—God gave me someone. No; I mean that when I needed to meet Kyle Lake, I met Kyle Lake.

At the time, I was desperate for answers. Desperate for a system of doctrine I could call my own. To my imagination, the knowledge of God had mostly to do with what I could predicate about him. And that’s why I had to meet Kyle. Kyle wouldn’t let you fool yourself like that. He knew that the knowledge of God couldn’t be reduced to a set of incontrovertible propositions. He knew that to know someone, God or otherwise, you had to enter into their story . . . and you had to let them enter yours.

And that’s what Kyle did. He invited you into his story and he let you enter his.

And he also let you leave, if that’s what you had to do. That’s what I did. To my regret, I left his story about 4 years ago.

I won’t explain why I left. Let’s just say I did. Let’s just say I’m a slow learner. Let’s just say that after nearly a year of his discipleship, I couldn’t cope with the whole “story” language any longer. “Everything is post-this and post-that,” I thought, “Can’t he just call a spade a spade?”

I see now that Kyle was protecting me. He knew the truth was not something we have—but that its something we’re had by.

And that’s what Kyle did. He let the truth have him.

I wish I could tell him I finally understand that. I wish I had not left his story.

When someone like Kyle passes away, his or her death comes with a certain amount of responsibility. I’m not sure what that means yet for me. But I can say this much: Kyle Lake’s legacy is courage. What he was doing for the Body wasn’t a gimmick. The Emerging church isn’t just a hip new way of doing things. Kyle loved Jesus and he reached people. He helped to reach me.

That man believed in what he did—and he let it have him. Literally."

--Adam Eitel, is a Masters Student in Exegetical Theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

"Just Say NO" To Marriage! What does Matt 19:11-12 Mean? Any thoughts?

The context here is Jesus concluding some teachings on divorce in Matthew 19.

(11)Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

(12) For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

Friends what does vs. 12 mean? Specifically, "renounce marriage." I can do that? We can "just say no" to marriage for the sake of the kingdom? Really?

If this is ok, shouldn't churches be encouraging people to renounce marriage for the sake of the kingdom. I really do need some input here before I start drawing conclusions and making decisions about the "renouncing marriag movement" that may need to be started.

Techno Music, Christianity, Raves

Ever been to rave? people on why they go. When I was in LA last week I was with a couple of really cool guys who listen to techno all the time. One night after eating fish and chips at an English pub, we went back to my friend's apartment listened to techno, had a few "beverages," and talked about a lot of stuff (women, music, death, women, speed reading, women, the techno/rave scene, women, the emasculated/feminized evangelical church, evil, and just a little more on the subject of women).

I'm listening to some techno right now and I'm wondering who's reaching the ravers? It's a huge international scene. I think reaching ravers may be my theme for 2006. If any of you guys are techno DJs drop me a line (abradley@acton.org).

It's so huge I'll say this: expanding the Kingdom in the West, or Western-loving parts of Asia and Latin America will not happen unless the church reaches those listening to techno music as well as those going to raves (which of course is not necessarily one-in-the-same).

Estacy, oxycotin, alcohol abuse, techno music. . .hmm, seems like a perfect place to be salt and light. If any one knows of any church reaching your typical "raver" PLEASE list the church or ministry here. I'm on the hunt to interview ravers for the blog. . .more to come.

Ideas, thoughts, on hanging out with "ravers"?