Ok, so there's a pastor here in KC who's using his pulpit, and getting on the news, to speak out against the evils of Harry Potter. He joins the Papacy in his diatribe. I really don't know what to say. The limitless ignorance of some people just baffles me.
Reading Stephen King, Watching Spongebob, and, apparently, going to Hell,
B
Friday, July 15, 2005
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
What's the Buzz?
Stephanie, my sister, and I went to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the Starlight theater last night. Still an amazing show, not the best production I've seen (it's hard to beat Broadway!), but still good. And it still makes me think...
The most poingant characters are Pilate, Judas, and Jesus. However, what struck me most was a line from Mary Magdelene in "I don't know how to love him". She's says, "He's just a man". Later, in one of the most stirring modern stage songs ever, in my humble opinion, Pilate says "He's too small, not a king at all". And, in the most powerful depiction of Jesus, i think, in all of entertainment history, Jesus in the Garden prays to let the cup pass from him. Prays passionately, violently.
With the help of Mel Gibson, post-modern Christians have turned the focus away from sacrifice and towards martyrdom. We tend to think that Jesus was a willing participant in the activities of the cross. Jesus, silently, took the pain of flogging and cruxifiction for the sake of his people. And he wouldn't have it any other way.
It makes people feel good to think about Jesus in this way. As the hero who runs into the path of an oncoming truck just before its barrels down on us, the kids chasing our ball, pushing us out of the way, and taking on the truck himself.
Gethsemenie (religion major, don't know how to spell that!) paints a different picture. Jesus very much did not want to die! He pleaded with God for any other way to get the message across. Prayed with such force that blood came from his pores to let the cup pass from him. JEUS DID NOT WANT THE CROSS!!!! Here is not a man who wants to die for his cause, but rather a man so devoted to his God, that he carries out God's will, even to the point of death. Maybe the language should change from Jesus died for us to Jesus was killed for us. Jesus is not a martyr; he was a man with a family and friends and who happened to love his life, but loved his God more.
I love my life; I wonder, if the chips were down, if I could love my God more.
b
The most poingant characters are Pilate, Judas, and Jesus. However, what struck me most was a line from Mary Magdelene in "I don't know how to love him". She's says, "He's just a man". Later, in one of the most stirring modern stage songs ever, in my humble opinion, Pilate says "He's too small, not a king at all". And, in the most powerful depiction of Jesus, i think, in all of entertainment history, Jesus in the Garden prays to let the cup pass from him. Prays passionately, violently.
With the help of Mel Gibson, post-modern Christians have turned the focus away from sacrifice and towards martyrdom. We tend to think that Jesus was a willing participant in the activities of the cross. Jesus, silently, took the pain of flogging and cruxifiction for the sake of his people. And he wouldn't have it any other way.
It makes people feel good to think about Jesus in this way. As the hero who runs into the path of an oncoming truck just before its barrels down on us, the kids chasing our ball, pushing us out of the way, and taking on the truck himself.
Gethsemenie (religion major, don't know how to spell that!) paints a different picture. Jesus very much did not want to die! He pleaded with God for any other way to get the message across. Prayed with such force that blood came from his pores to let the cup pass from him. JEUS DID NOT WANT THE CROSS!!!! Here is not a man who wants to die for his cause, but rather a man so devoted to his God, that he carries out God's will, even to the point of death. Maybe the language should change from Jesus died for us to Jesus was killed for us. Jesus is not a martyr; he was a man with a family and friends and who happened to love his life, but loved his God more.
I love my life; I wonder, if the chips were down, if I could love my God more.
b
Friday, July 08, 2005
Jealous Rantings
In my work, starting a young adult ministry at Central United Methodist Church, i'm doing a lot of reading and a lot of web searching. One of the examples for what I want to do is a church called Jacob's Well here in Kansas City. Now, I know nothing of the people there, I'm almost positive that they're all wonderful, but I've been thinking about the name. Jacob's Well, mentioned only once in scripture, is where Jesus meets the woman of Samaria and rest for a minute to have a drink. There seems to be something self-serving in naming your church after such a place. But, of course, Jacob's Well is already moving the direction that the whole church will soon move, and has active and successful ministries; thus, jealousy is at the heart of this rant. However, in my brousing of emergent church websites, such as theooze and emergentvillage, I found almost an overwhelming sense of introspective selfishness. One comment on the ooze message board said "I don't serve Jesus...He serves me...let Him" WHAT?!?!?! This wasn't the only thing that bothered me either. The articles on these websites are wonderful, spiritually and theologically, but read the message board sometime, read the graffiti wall. Some people still don't get this post-modern faith. It's easy to turn the emergent movement into "I don't like church, so let's make one that fits me". God, help us become your people again, your church again. Through your guidance and your strength, help us to serve you in this ever-changing world!
Da Da do do Da dum, Da Da do do Da dum
I have discovered the secret meanings and origins of this thing we call blog. If you sing the title to this entry with the Da's as Fa's and the dos as does, maybe you'll figure it out too!
First of all, I must admit my disappointment in my older and wiser brother who, with all his musical excellence and knowledge failed to recognize a line from quite possibly the best song ever written. "Bustle in your Hedgerow" is a lyric taken from "Stairway to Heaven" by, who else, Led Zepplin. 7 minutes of pure rock n roll genius. Andy, Bach, Strauss, Wagner, they're all great and we wouldn't have music today without them. However, to truly become musical afficinados, how about studying the great works of Zep, The Who, Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam. There has been music made in the last 200 years!
Second of all, scary news from London. Why London?!? What's London ever done to anyone? With all that the good ol' US of A is currently taking part in throughout our world, why London?
Thirdly, I've been doing some reading and web-grazing about Young Adults Ministries and I've found one interesting thing...no one tells you how to start from nothing. And here at CUMC i really am starting from nothing. We have a few younger folks in Sunday Worship, but no sunday school, no programs, no outside groups. If i am to be in charge of YAM, i have to first get some YAM's into the building! Oh well, in the words of the prophet (stephenking) there will be water if God wills it.
Well, I should get to work. Thanks for visiting.
have you figured out the song yet? Well, here you go. 80's and doctor. That's all I can give you.
b
First of all, I must admit my disappointment in my older and wiser brother who, with all his musical excellence and knowledge failed to recognize a line from quite possibly the best song ever written. "Bustle in your Hedgerow" is a lyric taken from "Stairway to Heaven" by, who else, Led Zepplin. 7 minutes of pure rock n roll genius. Andy, Bach, Strauss, Wagner, they're all great and we wouldn't have music today without them. However, to truly become musical afficinados, how about studying the great works of Zep, The Who, Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam. There has been music made in the last 200 years!
Second of all, scary news from London. Why London?!? What's London ever done to anyone? With all that the good ol' US of A is currently taking part in throughout our world, why London?
Thirdly, I've been doing some reading and web-grazing about Young Adults Ministries and I've found one interesting thing...no one tells you how to start from nothing. And here at CUMC i really am starting from nothing. We have a few younger folks in Sunday Worship, but no sunday school, no programs, no outside groups. If i am to be in charge of YAM, i have to first get some YAM's into the building! Oh well, in the words of the prophet (stephenking) there will be water if God wills it.
Well, I should get to work. Thanks for visiting.
have you figured out the song yet? Well, here you go. 80's and doctor. That's all I can give you.
b
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Better Late Than Never
Never one to pass up a good old-fashioned bandwagon, I have finally jumped aboard this train called Blog. Prompted by my brother Andy, entertherainbow.blogspot.com, and my good friend Meghann, sorry Mgnnnn, haven't been to yours yet, I have decided to display my inner most thought and feelings to a world wide audience of web-surfers (if you think there should be an s after thought, you're wrong, i only have one inner most thought).
So, where to begin? My life has just changed in almost every aspect. I have moved to Kansas City from the wonderful town of Fayette, MO, 25 miles northwest of Columbia. There are about 2,000 people in Fayette on a good day, when CMU, my alma mater, is in session and it's not hunting season. So, my lifestyle has changed. I also moved from two small rural African American churches into a relatively large membership mostly white congregation. So, my professional (and spiritual) life has changed. I've moved away from my parents, really for the first time, and many very special friends. So, my social life has changed. And in the fall, I start at St. Paul School of Theology here in KC. So, my mental life has changed.
Other than that, not much going on....
Love Grace Peace,
Brad
So, where to begin? My life has just changed in almost every aspect. I have moved to Kansas City from the wonderful town of Fayette, MO, 25 miles northwest of Columbia. There are about 2,000 people in Fayette on a good day, when CMU, my alma mater, is in session and it's not hunting season. So, my lifestyle has changed. I also moved from two small rural African American churches into a relatively large membership mostly white congregation. So, my professional (and spiritual) life has changed. I've moved away from my parents, really for the first time, and many very special friends. So, my social life has changed. And in the fall, I start at St. Paul School of Theology here in KC. So, my mental life has changed.
Other than that, not much going on....
Love Grace Peace,
Brad
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