Butterfly in Brazil: Book Review

Part of having a few days off at Christmas means I can begin catching up on some book reviews that have been accumulating. The first one I'd like to dive into is Butterfly In Brazil: How Your Life Can Make A World Of Difference by Glenn Packiam.

Glenn Packiam is worship pastor at a mega-church that has, in the past two years, suffered a great deal of trauma. Last year, their senior pastor (the notorious "Ted" of meth & massages fame) was in the news for all the wrong reasons, and just a few short weeks ago, the same gunman who murdered YWAM staff in Denver opened fire there as well -- killing two and seriously injuring others.

Butterfly In Brazil covers none of these events, of course. In all likelihood -- since I'm now very aware of how slowly the wheels of publication turn -- this book was finished even before Ted fell. I think it would be interesting to talk to Glenn about his book today, after having to face such difficult circumstances in his church.

Glenn's writings strike me as a good antidote to the overly-prevalent attitude that many of us develop as Christians over the years: specifically, we begin to treat prayer and the Christian life like a fast-food drive-thru. We're impatient for results, whether personally or in our "ministry", and if we don't see immediate answers, we move on quickly. Glenn is advocating for the "long obedience in the same direction", where the small things that we choose to NOT neglect eventually become a cascade of impact, personally and in the lives of those around us.

This is generally an encouraging book; I really like his metaphor of our free will and God's sovereignty being like a movie production. Glenn suggests that God is the Master Producer of the movie, and no matter what, He will get to the end that He has planned to get to. At the same time, the actors (us) have room for improv and experimentation within the script, but ultimately, the Producer achieves His plan and purpose.

Glenn refers to the life of Nehemiah repeatedly throughout the book, reminding us that many of the tasks involved in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem would have looked: mundane, repetitious, unglamorous, and -- dangit -- just hard work! Yet the result was spectacular, and ushered in a new era of worshipping Yahweh. One of my favourite quotes:

"This arresting combination of the unmistakenly supernatural and the unremarkably ordinary is the surest mark of God's activity."

At the same time, there were a few sections that bothered me. One was his assumption that anyone who was disillusioned with church needed to just get over themselves and quit being cynical. I agree that cynicism is deadly to a life of faith, but I was disturbed to see him refer to wounded dreamers who blog as being lazy, self-centred and immature quitters.

John Wimber was fond of saying, "Never trust a leader who doesn't walk with a limp." As I read these (small) sections of Glenn's book, it struck me that he writes as an encourager, a thoughtful student of Scripture, but he also writes like somebody who doesn't limp... at least, not yet. He is a pastor of a mega-church, leader of a ministry school, worship leader of a band that is selling CD's and getting invited to lead big-venue conferences, and now has a book deal. That's why I think it would be interesting to talk to him now, after the events of the past year or so in his ministry world.

I also found it quite interesing (in light of the mini-rant I posted a couple of days ago) to hear his take on church buildings that are NOT state-of-the-art, as he mocked multi-purpose "cafetoriums":

"Multi-purpose halls are good for so many things and yet great for nothing in particular. They're an economical choice that satisfies multiple needs with equal mediocrity."

Glenn uses these multi-purpose buildings as a metaphor for what he believes are half-hearted and tentative Christians who lack a sharply-defined focus:

"We've become walking cafetoriums, as if having our hands in several different pursuits is better than excelling at one... We carefully guard against complete failure in one area by half-heartedly failing in several."

While his larger point is that we need to have a certain degree of "stick-to-it-ness" rather than a fast-food drive-thru mentality -- which I would agree with -- it reads a bit like someone who has "not gotten his limp yet".

Glenn wraps the book up with the story of Jim Elliot, including one of his famous quotes: "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." And then follows with a modern-day story of a missionary martyr from Glenn's church, which is equally tragic yet also just as inspiring as the Jim Elliot story.

Glenn's summation? "Be faithful with the small things. Act where you are. Stay over the long haul." Good advice, and done in an upbeat and encouraging way.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would, even with the concerns mentioned above. Glenn is a good writer, with an easy-going style of communicating and integrating Biblical teaching with the stories of everyday people who have made a big difference by just doing the small and mundane, people as diverse as Martin Luther and Rosa Parks. Glenn is obviously someone with a heart to encourage and inspire others, and as he gets his limp, his writing will only get better.

Boxing Day Mini-Rant

On Boxing Day, I was catching up on some books that I am supposed to be reviewing, while the TV droned on in the next room. When I mentally surfaced for a break, I saw that an MTV program was playing.

I seldom watch MTV or Canada's clone MuchMusic; I find most music videos to be boring, artistically uncreative, and usually pandering to a lowest common denominator of exploitive sexuality that may titillate fourteen-year-olds, but only serves to perpetuate and reinforce sexual stereotypes against women.

But that's not the rant. Stay with me.

The show playing was a segment called "Me To We" (based on the best-selling book of the same title) which is part of Free The Children. The show was focued on building schools and making a difference in the nation of Congo. They had an impassioned 'sermon' from a teenaged survivor of some of the horrors happening in the Congo, pleas for involvement from teenaged celebrities (mostly from Degrassi: The Next Generation), and cause-rallying songs by none other than Hanson.

It looked and sounded a lot like some of the missions conferences for young people that I'd seen in Christian circles for the past 20+ years.

Now, here's the mini-rant:

1. This MTV show was calling young people to deny themselves and make a difference outside of their comfortable North American lifestyle.

   Pet peeve about recent youth ministry models: They're shallow and developed by leaders whose mindset is one of creating pre-fabricated "experiences" for the emerging generations, and yet calling them to nothing that would demand anything sacrificial from them.

   
   
2. "Me To We" was calling young people to stop being so individualistic and selfish, and to give up something in order to come together in communitas (although they didn't call it that) and make a difference cross-culturally.

   In recent months, the whole concept of "short term missions" -- which is predominantly focused on and fueled by young people -- has been questioned, decried, or outright dismissed by some voices in the emerging/missional movement.

   
   
3. Twenty+ years ago, Live Aid came to prominence in African famine relief...

   And many Christians poo-poo'ed it because it was only focused on temporal concerns, and also because "worldly" rock musicians were behind it...

   ...and here once again, we have people in the world mobilizing the younger generations to care for the poor and seek justice cross-culturally.

   ...and it's equally likely that Christians will once again either (A) poo-poo it because it's "secular", or (B) embrace it only because at least it's "non-colonial" (meaning that Jesus won't be mentioned because it's offensive to some sensibilities -- least of whom are probably the Congolese).

Let me be clear: I'm NOT in any way offended by the "Me To We" campaign, or any of those seeking to make a difference in our world alongside them. I salute them and wish them great success in their venture.

I said it before when Live Aid first occurred, and I'll say it again here: when North American Christians pour literally millions of dollars into unnecessary and grandiose church edifices, or pour millions of dollars into the "ministries" of greedy charlatans televangelists, or fight over establishing arrogant and hierarchical power structures (whether pastor-as-CEO or New Apostolic models), it shouldn't surprise us in the slightest when God bypasses us and raises up people who don't acknowledge His Name to do what we should have been doing in the first place.

Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." (Romans 10:19)

End of mini-rant.

Christmas Circle

O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope -- the weary world rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born O night divine! O night, O night divine! Truly He taught us love for one another His law is love and His gospel is peace Chains shall He break, the slave is now our brother And in His name all oppression shall cease Bold hymns of joy we raise in grateful chorus With all our hearts we praise His holy name Christ is the Lord! Oh, praise His name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim! O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Early Christmas Present

At long last, I've been advised of the projected publication date for the book verion of Post-Charismatic.

Barring any unforeseen difficulties, Kingsway Communications informs me that the book will be released in April 2008 in the United Kingdom, with a late spring (probably May or June) release in North America.

The senior editor -- hopefully straight-faced at the time -- asked me "do you have 'April Fool's Day' in Canada"?

Yup, target release date is 1 April 2008!

I'm just excited that it's almost done!

Forgiveness As Grace

There is little doubt that some of the questions surrounding the recent shootings at YWAM Denver will never be answered. Sometimes, it's less important that we find answers, than it is that we find the grace to offer forgiveness. YWAM Denver director Peter Warren modeled this radical forgiveness in this interview with Christianity Today.

There have also been media stories out of Denver detailing that the parents of both the shooter and the victims -- all Christians -- met together after the memorial service for the slain YWAM'ers, and spent time together mourning, forgiving, and weeping over their children. You don't get that kind of heart unless you've been significantly touched by Grace.

Youth With A Mission has its share of detractors, critics, and nay-sayers (some of it deserved, depending on the particular YWAM base being critiqued). New Life Church has certainly become famous/infamous in recent years. And the family of the shooter has already come under scrutiny and finger-pointing for their alleged involvement with anal-retentive parenting guru Bill Gothard.

Regardless of the frailties and failings of a mission, a church, or a family's child-rearing practices, it's still a testimony to an Amazing Grace when the parents of a murderer weep and pray with the parents of the murdered.

On The Edge

It seemed so strange, that the glimpse of the eerily-reflective water in the causeway should remind him of another moonlit night, so many years ago. When he had stood on a very different edge, surveying a very different panorama, and thinking very different thoughts.

As the mist drifted languidly across the water, illuminated by the ghostly lamp-posts lining the causeway, he absent-mindedly rubbed the ancient scar on his left wrist; over the years, it had faded quite a bit, and now was rarely noticed by even the sharpest observer. But he knew exactly where it was, even without so much as a glance, while his fingers instinctively knew where that old desperate line existed.

And what it had almost become.

He remembered that night, the knife sharp and glinting in the semi-darkness of the kitchen, backlit by the intrustion of the lights from the hall. Without realizing it, he winced as he had that night, when he had begun the little "practice cuts", working up the nerve to plunge the blade into his arm.

If they hadn't come home at just that moment...

His memory shifted abruptly to the other edge from his past: the cliff overlooking the freeway, the lights of the city spreading out before him, the water of the lake a distant and dark blur in the night. Unlike tonight, there was no starlit tranquility, no mist curling around glowing lampposts -- just a cold, biting wind and the resolve that he had felt as he tried to nerve himself to step off the edge and plunge to the busy highway below.

How many times had he stood there, berating himself inwardly for not having the courage to jump? How many times had he angrily stamped back down the hill, furious at himself for lacking the wherewithal to put an end to his own miserable existence?

He was abruptly jolted out of his reverie by the appearance of a shadowy figure across the water, striding to a pre-selected point on another edge. The figure carried something bulky, fiddling with it, until suddenly a mournful drone called across the water to him.

He couldn't help but shake his head, smiling slightly; what was it about misty nights and waterfronts that attracted bagpipers? It was almost a cliché, right down to... ah, there it was: the easily-recognizable strains of "Amazing Grace". There must be an unwritten rule, somewhere, that demands all pipers stand on waterfronts and play that song.

His smile faded and his countenance became more thoughtful as the long-memorized words of the song sprang to the forefront of his mind. "Amazing grace... a wretch like me... grace will lead me home..."

He turned away from the causeway's edge, just as he had turned away more than once on that cliff, so many years ago. But there was no anger, no recriminations, no loathing. In its place was a deep sense of wonder -- that grace had found him, so long ago. Of marvel -- at what might have been if grace hadn't found him (this caused an involuntary shudder). Of thanksgiving.

Grace, he mused. It really is just... amazing.

It's been just over a week since the gunshots rang out at YWAM Denver. The back-story of the shooter is sad and disturbing. Yet, having been a youth pastor for two decades, I have also heard my share of stories that started badly and ended with Amazing Grace. The story above, while told anonymously, is true. Struggling people are still finding Amazing Grace through Jesus. When I hear stories like this, in spite of recent events in Colorado, I find a sense of peace, hope, and resolve.

Faith Shouldn't Be Ominous

I think God loves it when we "experiment" (take risks) in faith. As John Wimber used to say, "Faith is spelt 'R-I-S-K.'"

But we need not worry that God will be disturbed by our faith-risks.

Mourning for YWAM Denver

There's something about putting faces to a tragedy that brings it home all the more forcibly. I was deeply disturbed to hear and read about the killings at the YWAM Denver base yesterday. But seeing faces put to the names of the deceased made it even more grievous in some way. When I saw their pictures, what hit me first was how young they looked, and also how incredibly inhumane their manner of passing, as they simply served as staff at a YWAM base.

	Tiffany Johnson, a 26-year-old staff member from Minnesota, was one of the two YWAM'ers murdered yesterday. One of her fellow staff members has written a brief post about Tiffany and her incredible character and servant's heart.
	Phil Crouse, a 24-year-old hailing from Alaska, was another hard-working and gifted young man, with dreams and visions of a future doing work in Central Asia. Another staff member has written a brief biography about Phil.

To compound matters, although neither Tiffany nor Phil (or the other two victims) knew their assailant, it turns out that he had once begun (but not completed) a Discipleship Training School (DTS) at the very base where the murders took place. What drove him to attack staff members he had never met before is a question that may go unanswered.

What has been answered, so far, is that the shooter was the same one who showed up at New Life Church in Colorado Springs later the same day, where he shot and killed two sisters (ages 16 and 18), who had also been involved in a YWAM summer project in co-operation with New Life Church. And, of course, that the shooter has also been killed, by a security guard at the church.

Today, at our own YWAM base, we all grappled together with the senseless violence and tragic losses of these two incidents.

During the all-base worship time, we were led through portions of St. Patrick's Breastplate, as a way of interceding for the families of the deceased, and the staff & students at YWAM Denver as they embrace the grieving and mourning of yesterday's events.

We ended our time of worship and prayer with an old Canadian worship song:

He said peace
Peace be with you
His gentle voice brings calm in troubled times
He said peace
Peace be with you
There is rest, and refuge in His arms

Please continue to pray!

YWAM Denver Shootings

I just got word about the senseless shootings at YWAM Denver earlier today, where two two staff members were killed, and two others wounded, one of them critically. YWAM International has released a formal statement on their website.

Please pray for the families of the victims, as well as the other YWAM staff and students at YWAM Denver.

Wasted Weekend

Food poisoning sucks. Not recommended for recreational use.

Digital Pity Party

Mitchell For President

I've been hearing and reading bits and pieces about the dearth of credible candidates in the upcoming election year for our neighbours South Of The 49th Parallel, and I thought I'd toss in my Canuckian two cents (which are finally worth two cents in the USofA as well):

Elect a Canadian to the Presidency of the United States!

And I have just the candidate: Canadian rock icon and certifiable nutcase Kim Mitchell.