Month: April 2009

Preach it…

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Not all that complicated, is it?  And yet, so very hard to do.

I read several blogs, and in my effort to “catch up” on them all, I plowed through a number of posts today.  One that caught my attention was one Christian leader denigrating another high profile Christian leader.  The “accuser” was quick to slap labels like “false teacher” or “heretic” on this brother.  I can not begin to understand how over-blown one’s ego must be to be so sure that another self-professed Christ follower is in the wrong.  There wasn’t a hint of charity or grace afforded this individual.

To justify his diatribe, he even marshaled over half a dozen verses to prove his point.  Who cares that none of the verses were actually relevant for the situation at hand?  Who cares that he drug this fellow brother’s name through the mud?  It would be one thing if he actually knew what he was talking about, but where true knowledge is lacking, ideology and dogma are more than sufficient for convincing ourselves of our own rightness.

I wish that this were an isolated instance within the family of God, but it seems to be that with most of the theological conversations I follow, there is always someone expressing how wrong another is.  And not just wrong, but dangerously wrong.  So wrong that one’s standing within the “family” might be called into question.

And yet, sadly, I know that I too am guilty of the very same sort of thing.  A more youthful, idealistic, theological self was quick to point out the errors of others.  At times, even delighting in pointing out how wrong they were.  So very sure that with Bible in hand, that it could (and should) be wielded as a club with which to beat others into doctrinal submission.

I’d like to think that I’m older and wiser now.  More forgiving.  More accepting.  More loving.  And yet, the vicious circle of finger pointing that I’m attempting to dismantle here so obviously includes me.  The very act of calling the “accuser” wrong, presumes that I am right.  Perhaps it is best to say nothing at all.

But, Jesus does in fact say something.

I give you a new commandment…

And lest you think I quote these words out of context, this is as universal a command as Jesus ever issued.  Meaning there is never a time when love, grace, and charity are not the right thing to extend towards each other.  Even to an “accusing” brother who lashes out in his own ignorance and brokenness.

God have mercy on us all.

Ok, so I realize the futility of trying to post a Top 5 of anything. The amount of subjectivity involved in the process naturally calls the resulting list into question. However, my friend over at Coffee Shop Soundtrack has thrown down the gauntlet, and the challenge will not go unheeded.

So, I took a gander at Rolling Stones Top 5:
1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
3. Revolver, The Beatles
4. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
5. Rubber Soul, The Beatles

Not really what I had in mind. So, like Taylor, I’ll opt for best albums in somewhat recent history.

– I agree with Taylor that Dave Matthews Band deserves to be somewhere on the list. My vote would probably be for Crash.

– Also ditto on Coldplay, and while I appreciate every album, I think their 2003 Live Album might be most quintessentially Coldplay.

– Now, with three left where to turn? Radiohead certainly deserves a nod. I am continually amazed at the number of musicians that without hesitation fall over themselves to acknowledge Thom and crew as a formative influence. Sort of like how actors are about Sean Penn. If one’s peers are any indication on who is great, Radiohead certainly is up there. I loved nearly every track on In Rainbows.

– Since we are moving more down the track of lifetime achievement awards, U2 has their place on the podium as well. Joshua Tree would be something of an instinctive choice, but I think it was Achtung Baby that turned me into a lifetime fan.

– Leaving only one spot left… doesn’t seem fair. So I think, I’ll go with Sufjan Stevens. Not necessarily because he is my very favorite, but because he represents the much larger indie genre that is my sweet spot these days. Illinois is the standard here.

Ok, so it wasn’t all that difficult. As far as the world of music is concerned, I would venture to guess that many would see these folks as among the most influential musical artists. Of course, entire genres were left out – Country (which may not even qualify as music), Rap (Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Tupac, Snoop all hold a special place in my heart), Pop (really? Miley Cyrus? I just can’t get there). I also recognize that my list is grossly male-centric. There are many women artists that I can appreciate, but they just didn’t make the Top 5 cut.

As for my list, the very act of typing their names creates a longing in me to go find some of their music to listen to. And in my opinion, that’s what the best of anything should do… leave you yearning for more.

Journey…

The uninformed may think that camp ends when the last student is picked-up in the parking lot, but insiders know that there is at least one grueling task remaining – the vans. Some ministries do the sensible thing and charter a bus to transport their group hither and thither. Not us though. No, our tribe knows that trips can be cheaper for everyone involved if we muster a fleet of vans and SUV’s to take us where we need to go.

Which, of course, seems like a great idea until the predictable break-down occurs. Or the occasional fender-bender.  Or having to put my beloved’s fears to rest.  These sorts of things are small potatoes though in comparison to the post-camp van clean-up.

Camp isn’t really over until the rental vans have been returned.  All vehicles involved have been filled with gas and cleaned inside and out.  Any damage inflicted is fixed.  And loaner vehicles are returned to their rightful owners.

For most camps, this process is relatively painless.  However, this time around, the righting of the vans was particularly arduous.  First, the rental van had to be de-junked before it could be returned.  That meant that the piles of garbage that had been left on the floor needed to be removed.  I would have taken a picture of this unsightly mess, but it might have induced uncontrollable vomiting.  As I reflected on what it would have taken to have trashed the van this much, I came to the conclusion that every beverage container, candy wrapper, or snack packaging purchased during the entire week long adventure was cast to the floor of this van with great intentionality.  Furthermore, for the filth levels to be what they were, not one item of trash could have been removed from the van at any point during the week long trek.  In short, every single item of trash from the entire week was lying on the floor of the van.  So after considerable purging, the van needed a little extra TLC and was vacuumed and washed before it was returned to the rental facility.

Another van, the one borrowed from our Fort Smith friends, had suffered a windshield crack during our time in Colorado, so it needed to spend a few hours at the ER to be mended.  It also needed a substantial amount of washing and vacuuming.  The remaining vehicles fared much better and only needed a standard visit to the local car wash.

However, the task of dealing with the vans was not quite done.  After the loaner van had been retrieved, it needed to find its way back it home in Fort Smith.  But before it could be driven home, it needed to visit the car wash for the second time in less than 24 hours, because the shiny clean van was seemingly an irresistible target for every bird in a three mile radius needing to relieve its bowels.

The actual return of the van required a coordinated effort since, on our way back up, I would be picking up the vehicle that created the need to procure said loaner.  A faithful soul embarked on the half day journey to and from, and finally after two long days, all the vans are finally restored to their owners and in a condition that approximates their pre-trip status.