robbymac

Ink Blots

2008-05-10T16:40:00.003-07:00

The Younger threw back his head and drank in a deep lungful of the fragrant spring air. "Ah, do you ever get tired of that 'it's spring and everything's gonna be all right' kind of feeling?" he asked his walking companion. The trees, freshly green and bursting with new blossoms, seemed to wave in agreement in the warm breeze.

The Elder chuckled as he adjusted his cap. "No, it's an irrepressible feeling of youthfulness and joy that even the most depressing of winters cannot oppose," he replied, "although I must make brief mention of the wind, which seems determined to make me part ways with my Mariners' headwear."

The Younger turned to give the Elder an appreciative look as they ambled along the ocean-side boardwalk. "Wow, before the Mariners bit, you were sounding pretty poetic, even deep," he teased his friend.

They shared a laugh, the kind born of a long and comfortable friendship. The Elder paused mid-step suddenly, and with a sly look, remarked, "I suppose that's why I still have some hope for the state of the church these days – no matter how depressing the winter of transition has been, I still have hope that spring will inevitably return."

The Younger stopped and turned back to face his friend, with a thoughtful tilt of his head, "Are we going to develop a weather-based metaphor for our ecclesial ponderings, then?"

The Elder shrugged, "That would be an interesting exercise, now that you mention it. In fact, I was hoping that we could explore the use of metaphors in our spiritual journey when we met today. Maybe this could serve as a good segue?"

As they resumed their relaxed pace, the Younger conceded, "Sure, I guess developing new metaphors would be a good starting point, as long as," and his glance was as slyly conspiratorial as the Elder's had just been, "it doesn't become our new foundationalism, eh?"

The Elder rolled his eyes and chose not to be baited into that direction. "Well, let's just have a quick look at the various metaphors that are already in the Bible, then. Which metaphors do you think of first?"

They came to a park bench overlooking the bay, and after quickly dusting off the sun-dried evidence of recent bird migrations, sat down. "Well, the most common ones that I seem to hear," began the Younger, "would be the Body, the Kingdom, family – like children, sons, daughters, and so on – temple, citizens of heaven…"

"Don't forget Isaiah using agrarian language like 'planting of the Lord', a kind of garden metaphor," suggested the Elder, "even if it's not clearly called that."

"And the many different metaphors Jesus used to describe the Kingdom," the Younger chimed in enthusiastically, "like a treasure in a field."

"And St. Paul's use of military metaphors in Ephesians," suggested the Elder with equal enthusiasm.

The sudden silence that followed his last statement accentuated the sound of the breeze teasing the small sailboats across the water in front of them. "What? Did I say something wrong? Heretical? Unbiblical?" asked the Elder, looking genuinely puzzled.

The Younger shifted uncomfortably on the bench. "Well," he reluctantly began, "I've never been much of a fan of military language when talking about the Kingdom or the people of the Kingdom."

His eyes searched the now-expressionless face of his older friend. "I think you'll find that many, if not most, in my generation don't respond well to army metaphors."

"Hmm," replied the Elder, nodding as he studiously contemplated the few clouds dotting the blue sky above the wind-swept waters. "Well, I can understand your reticence to embrace that as a metaphor, but it is in the Book," he finally said, glancing at his young friend, who was likewise casting a brooding stare at the waves and tiny boats scurrying past.

After a longer pause, the Elder finally broke the silence. "Do you recall, from your college days, the Rorschach test?"

"Wasn't that the ink blot guy?" asked the Younger, remembering. "He would show people ink blots and they would tell him what they thought the blots signified. Wasn't that supposed to 'reveal' more about the person than the ink blot itself?"

The Elder nodded, "Something like that. Sort of like the old joke about the person taking the test seeing 'sex' in everything and accuses the guy giving the test of drawing dirty pictures... But getting back to metaphors of the Kingdom," he continued, "would it be safe to say that Jesus in particular used various metaphors in order to bring an expanded understanding of the Kingdom to His listeners?"

"Yeah, that was sort of the opposite of His parables, in a way," replied the Younger. "Parables to hide truth and make people work to figure it out, but metaphors of what the Kingdom is like in order to bring greater illumination. Although even then, some of Jesus' parables – like the sower and the seed, for example – were supposed to bring clarity about the Kingdom, yet only for those willing to do the hard work of being those with 'eyes to see and ears to hear'."

"Jesus sure breaks all the rules of clear and concise communication, doesn’t He?" laughed the Elder. "Not to mention all the church marketing guru-speak."

"Don't get me started on church marketing!" warned the Younger, his mood lightening and his countenance darkening at the same time as he laughed and waved an accusing finger in the direction of the Elder.

"Okay, back to metaphors," said the Elder, pausing briefly before continuing. "Let's cut to the chase and say, number one:" and he began counting on his fingertips, "that it's plausible – and likely probable – that all the metaphors in the Bible are simultaneously true about the Kingdom. Second, as metaphors, they're intended to bring clarity to our understanding of the Kingdom. Even when we sometimes have to do the hard work of figuring out what Jesus is trying to communicate through some of the parables."

As the Younger nodded, the Elder continued. "Third – and this is where we need to tread a little more carefully – the Kingdom is so multi-faceted, like a finely-cut diamond, that we dare not isolate the various biblical metaphors from each other, or we run the risk of developing a lop-sided, simplistic, or at best inadequate understanding of the Kingdom and our role within it."

The Elder slowed down his speech and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared over the bay. "And fourth, in some way, our preference of metaphors for the Kingdom – like a spiritual ink blot test – may say more about us than it does about the Kingdom."

He leaned back and looked at his friend. "Maybe the things we want to exaggerate out of proportion – say, gardening metaphors -- says something more about what makes the Kingdom comfortable for us. And de-emphasizing metaphors that make us uncomfortable – military ones like "army" – may say something equally revealing about us. Something disturbing, to be honest."

The Younger never let his gaze stray from his friend’s eyes, even as he shrugged as if to say, "Disturbing? How so?"

The Elder turned toward the Younger and leaned in as he said, "Maybe, just like the ink blots, our preference or avoidance of biblical metaphors of the Kingdom is just revealing that we're still trying to control the Kingdom, and make it about us, instead of about Him. What if, when we say 'I'm not comfortable with that metaphor', we're really simply choosing to ignore Kingdom reality that makes us uncomfortable?"

The Younger nodded slowly, mulling over the implications. "Or when we say, 'I prefer this metaphor'," he suggested, "we're really saying that we're enamored with one aspect of the Kingdom – why? Because it makes us feel good? Because it doesn't challenge our status quo or demand anything sacrificial of us?" He frowned, shaking his head. "This isn't how I would have expected a discussion on metaphors to go, to be honest!"

The Elder suddenly laughed out loud, breaking the tension and sending nearby scavenging birds screaming into the air in shock. "Then I guess what we're really saying is:

The one metaphor we should NEVER use about the Kingdom is smorgasbord, eh?"

And he laughed again, as the Younger shook his head and ruefully let out a long-suffering sigh.

April Showers Bring...

2008-05-03T10:30:00.002-07:00

New music! Well, not entirely new, but here's a few choice items that regularly grace our car's CD player with their jovial presence:

	Canadian rocker Kim Mitchell is back with Ain't Life Amazing, and Sir Kim rocks every bit as much now as he did with Max Webster and his earlier solo career. A great highway roll-down-your-windows and rock out treat!
	I've discovered that my favourite Bruce Springsteen albums are the ones that include the E Street Band. They help shape the sound, and Bruce's material is even better for it. Magic is just a great album -- catchy, thoughtful, and the opening track Radio Nowhere is my new anthem for the state of CCM and worship music alike.
	Todd Agnew's Better Questions is one of those rare Christian albums that I really like (a little jaded with ccm, to be honest). Todd is best known for penning Grace Like Rain, and here he travels adeptly through all kinds of musical styles, but his story-telling and refreshing lyrical transparency is what really got my attention.

Stay tuned -- I'm still working through my thoughts on the Kingdom of God in a charismissional paradigm, and I believe the Younger & the Elder are lurking about with some new conversations as well.

Truth Be Told

2008-04-26T09:45:00.010-07:00

Regular blogging here since the beginning of 2008 has proven to be an elusive goal. By saying even that, I am probably engaging in what could properly be considered a textbook definition of the word "understatement".

"DANG straight," some may now be exclaiming, "you've practically been AWOL for four months -- you usually create more posts in a single month that all of 2008 -- and inquiring minds want to know: what's the deal with that?"

Well, it really boils down to this:

1. I was in Mexico for all of January and February, leading a DTS Outreach (but still managed the occasional post)

2. Our YWAM base has been going through some... interesting changes, so we've been chilling in the aftermath.

As further proof of God's sense of humour and comedic timing, things at our base were brought into the light on the day before Post-Charismatic? was published in the U.K., and our decision-point about our future in YWAM came the day after the book's release.

For perspective, it's important to know that YWAM is a very large and very doctrinally diverse organization. While there are commonly held values for every base in YWAM, there is also a great deal of latitude when it comes to doctrinal emphases and practices. And each YWAM base has a great deal of autonomy and freedom to develop in its own way, depending on the leadership team, and ultimately the base directors.

To make a long story short, the YWAM base that Wendy and I have been at for the past couple of years has chosen to emphasize the teachings of a local Dominionist church (link provided for the morbidly curious), which includes a heavy dose of hyper-Prosperity (Health & Wealth) teachings, and also the authoritarianism of "never question your leaders" (especially if they call themselves "Apostle").

In short, pretty much everything that I wrote against in my book. Hence the recognition of God's comedic sense of timing as all this was brought into the light.

To anticipate the questions that we have been asked by local friends and family:

Wendy and I are doing just fine! For us, the "bringing it into the light" represented an answer to prayer in a big way. We had sensed something was afoot after returning from Mexico, and had been praying that God would make things really obvious so that we could see where things were going, and make decisions accordingly.
Leaving a specific YWAM base is NOT synonymous with leaving YWAM.
No, we don't know what God has for us next... yet.
Yes, we have every confidence that if He could so clearly answer our prayers as to revealing what was brewing at our (now former) YWAM base, He will also be clear in leading us into what's next, and where, and when, and how.

"Why?" might not be one of those questions that we get an answer to, but we're okay with that. Sometimes, that's what "trust" looks like.

Post-Charismatic Officially Released

2008-04-12T14:52:00.007-07:00

This coming Monday, I should have a small box with copies of Post-Charismatic showing up on my doorstep.

After all this time of editing and proofing, it seems very surreal to think "over in the United Kingdom, in faith I believe that a book I wrote has been published".

What makes it surreal is that I haven't actually held a copy in my own hands, nor is it released in North America, although the day for both is approaching quickly as well. So, while I mentally understand that Post-Charismatic has been officially released, the geography involved makes it almost seem unreal.

Finding an online bookstore in the U.K. that carries the book helped with that strange sense of unreality. As soon as it's available in North America, I'll be sure to let y'all know!

Blurb from the back cover:

'Charismatic' is a loaded word. For some it's old-hat, for others it's unknown, and for still others it's dangerous. But for a growing number, it's a bad dream they want to forget.

Rob McAlpine writes for all these, but especially for the last category – those who embraced charismatic renewal with hope and excitement, only to be found picking themselves up off the floor after years of disappointment, disillusionment and even spiritual abuse.

Rob deals with facts before venturing an opinion. Carefully he steers us through the relevant history, looking in depth at the 'Latter Rain' movement, teaching on 'shepherding', and the prosperity 'gospel' that ultimately brought pain and disillusionment to so many. Then, aware that it's often easier to criticize than to construct, he explores possible ways forward to a more mature expression of spirituality and a shared life together as disciples of Christ today.

"Rob McAlpine writes with a positive and constructive voice. He shows us that the answer to misuse or excess concerning the Holy Spirit is not 'no use' but right use. For burned-out and hurt former charismatics, Post-Charismatic? leads the way forward toward a mature and sane re-engagement with the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Post-charismatic is not post-Holy Spirit, it is a call for post-weirdness."

Todd Hunter
National Director - Alpha USA
Former National Director Vineyard Churches USA

These next few months should be interesting!

One Last Time

2008-04-05T23:11:00.005-07:00

Okay, I hear you saying, enough with the ancient concert videos.

You're in your 40's. Your hairline has betrayed you. Get over it.

Ah, but I just can't resist. Just one more, okay?

You can't tell in the video, but my guitar strap sports these three buttons on it -- each shows the logo of various youth ministries I had led in different cities across Canada, before returning to my musical roots in the mid-90's.

Video Notes: That white puff of smoke at the very end, coupled with the loud electric shorting-out sound that obliterates even the drummer... was the sight, sound, and smell of my amplifier head experiencing its last throes as it fused itself solid in a white-flamed meltdown, never to rise again. Heck of a way to get a new paperweight. But at least I wasn't electrocuted in the process.

At Long Last!!

2008-04-01T08:28:00.002-07:00

Regular blogging has been somewhat sporadic here recently, and for that I truly apologize. We've been very busy since returning from Mexico, and there's been a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes that we couldn't talk about. But now, we have reached a point where we can make this exciting announcement:

Brother Maynard and his incredible family, along with the Clan McAlpine, will be joining forces once again, neither in Winnipeg nor Kelowna, but (insert drum roll here) -- Medicine Hat, Alberta!

Bro. Maynard and I have been talking and dreaming for months about the possibility of planting a missional community, and the timing seems right, and the location also seems to be a diamond in the rough.

Medicine Hat is a small city of just under 60,000 people about 3 hours southeast of Calgary. It has a surprisingly active arts community for a city its size - Medicine Hat Folk Club and the Medicine Hat JazzFest are two of their music festivals, and they also have a one-act play festival annually in June and a musical theatre each November.

This was critical in our selection of locations, as was a good relationship with the local churches. So far, St. Barnabas Anglican has offered space if we need it, and we have been welcomed to become involved in the drama program at River Park Church (EMCC). Both understand our missional aims and that we are not intending to become part of their communities, but to plant a missional community of our own. We're still looking to connect with some of the other churches in the area before we launch.

The community will be in a neo-monastic vein centered around a missional order. Since the cost of housing in Alberta is quite significant, we are initially looking for a large home that could house two or three families living communally in an older/established neighbourhood. It remains to be seen if we'll stick with that since it's such a big adjustment for all of us, but it's a good way for us to be able to focus all of our resources as we start out. Each of us will be working part-time and giving ourselves to missional endeavours the rest of the time.

We are excited to be able to announce that we've found a couple of investors who will be funding our setup of a coffee house, which has some significant startup costs; their investment should cover the startup and first year until it becomes self-sustaining.

St. Barnabas has offered space if we can't find anything right away, but we'll probably want to secure a lease someplace and get it going there rather than having to move it later. This is a big deal for us, because the investors understand what we're about and are putting up the money at very lenient terms... no interest for five years, and partly forgivable if it flops! I can't disclose who the investors are of course, but this is obviously pretty huge.

At the moment we're hoping to find two more couples who would be able to pitch in with us at the outset, and are planning to be established there five months from today, on September 1st. After living in larger cities for so long, it's going to be a delight to settle into the slower pace of a small-ish city and make our homes there.

If you are interested in exploring this adventure with us (hint, hint, Grace), feel free to email me or Brother Maynard. We'd love to dream with you!

Update: After Noon...

What Matters Most

2008-03-23T21:54:00.001-07:00

Blast from (my) Past

2008-03-23T01:47:00.002-07:00

Yep, that's me on the far right, with my trusty five-string bass. I know it really looks like I'm having some kind of cyclical convulsions, but actually, I believed I was dancing. My daughter Jo, who is a Dance Major in university, has her own opinion on the subject.

But I'm having fun. And there are times when I really miss those days, even though it's been less than four years since this video was taken. Good times, good times!

Review: The End of Religion

2008-03-19T09:33:00.006-07:00

"Bruxy Cavey is a dynamic and creative thinker. He understands the ways in which the radical and liberating message of Jesus addresses the matrix of postmodern society and the deeper needs of its citizens..." -- (Dr. James Beverley, professor of Christian thought & ethics, Tyndale College & Seminary)

Reading Dr. Beverley's praise on the inside cover of this new book by Bruxy Cavey, The End of Religion, brought back a few memories.

Like taking a Philosophy of Religion class with Dr. Beverley, when I was a student at Toronto's Tyndale Seminary, back in the day when Miami Vice was still current. And, in that class, getting to know a guy with the improbable name of Bruxy Cavey.

Bruxy initially joined my friend Al and I in our little corner of exile because we were the only other people at the Seminary with crazy hairstyles and piercings of any kind. And we quickly found Bruxy to be a deep thinker, with a great sense of humour (rare combination in seminary, sometimes!), and a gift at communicating complex things in "normal-speak" (also rare in seminary).

So, it was a treat to read a book by somebody that I know. And also a treat to see that Bruxy -- the church-planting leader of The Meeting House -- continues to be a thinker with a sense of humour, and also a gifted communicator. I'm putting this book on my "loan to as many friends as will read it" short-list.

If I had to try and limit myself to just one short, pithy phrase, I would describe it as a brilliant piece of Christological apologetics. Yes, the title seems to indicate something else, but Bruxy's theme throughout this writing is that Jesus' teachings and example is actually anti-religion, and that we must leave our attempts at creating a religion in Jesus' name behind if we truly want to follow Him.

One of my favourite metaphors in the book is this: "Picture a thirsty person holding a cup of water. Now picture that person licking the outside of the cup in an attempt to quench his thirst. That is a picture of religion... They were licking the cup."

A few other gems:

"At the same time, Jesus never taught that people could experience true spirituality simply by stopping those same religious rituals. Please understand -- and this is important -- becoming a religion drop-out does not by itself make you more spiritual... (Jesus) didn't just want people to stop licking the cup -- he wanted them to drink!"
"So when someone says to me, 'I'm spiritual but not religious', I imagine Jesus sighing with relief."
"This is, by the way, why I strongly believe in sticking closely to what the Bible teachings -- not to be an oppressive legalist, but to avoid oppressive legalism. Remember that in Christian circles, legalism is usually the result of human tradition being added to the Bible and passed off as Scriptural teaching."
"So offering forgiveness to sinners directly was, in a way, both a creative and destructive gesture. Creative for the human spirit; destructive for the religious system. At the same moment he was building people up, Jesus was also tearing religion down."

Bruxy also takes an honest look at some of the biggest stumbling blocks many people have about Christianity: the Crusades, the Inquisition, witch hunts, etc., as well as contrasting what he calls "the subversive spirituality of Jesus" with Islam, Buddism, and even the Jehovah's Witnesses that he enjoys conversing with.

The End of Religion is immensely readable -- Bruxy is an excellent communicator and it shows in his writing as well. It's theologically and pragmatically deep, but not a dry and heavy read.

Who would I recommend this book to? Well, just about anyone, follower of Jesus or open-minded explorer. It's a very needed book because it takes some deep theological truths about the Person and work of Jesus, and places them into our current context in a way that is refreshing, accessible, and -- if you take Bruxy's challenge to stop licking the cup and take a good, long drink of the contents -- a healthy challenge to our ingrained tendencies to make religious systems that often end up occluding the Reality of Whom we are supposed to be following/imitating.

Highly recommended.

Folk Wisdom

2008-03-19T09:04:00.003-07:00

Yoda has always been my favourite little green figure, and if the Pope can arbitrarily move St. Patrick's Day, I figure I can invoke a blessing from something other than a leprechaun.

Brother Maynard is fond of saying this. He's usually referring to immutable forces like death, taxes, weird ecclesial patterns and traditions, and why the Toronto Maple Leafs will never win the Stanley Cup ever again.

Good advice that is never taken seriously by people who should, quite frankly, know better. Especially those who are clever enough to discern that when I say "tribble", I really mean "self-proclaimed apostolic wanna-be".

Postmodern deliverance ministry re-imagined. Supplies are limited. Operators are standing by...

Keepin' Busy

2008-03-10T23:10:00.002-07:00

So far, the beginning of 2008 has been very busy, to say the least. New leadership team at our YWAM base, got recruited to staff the next CDTS (starting in just one week), and just finished the final -- yes, really and truly the final -- proofs for the publishing of Post-Charismatic, which will be out in the UK in a month or so, with an early summer release date for North America.

And of course, the first two months were spent leading an outreach with a bunch of DTS students in Mexico. It was a lot of work, and a lot of fun. And I saw each of the students -- each in his or her own way -- grow during that time; you never get tired of seeing people stretched out of their comfort zones and discovering that God can and does work through each of them.

I'll be writing more on the Kingdom of God in the coming days and weeks, as well as catching up on some book reviews. But for now, enjoy the video -- in so many ways, it barely scratches the surface of a two-month journey, but hopefully it earns me a wee bit of grace for the lack of regular blogging since New Year's...

Enjoy!

Larry Norman: No longer visiting this planet

2008-02-27T10:14:00.010-08:00

When I had just begun my spiritual journey with Jesus in earnest (sort of a Saul-knocked-off-his-donkey event), most of my earliest mentors were musicians, whose music spoke to my heart and challenged my beliefs and lifestyle. Among the most impacting was Larry Norman. Although I only saw him from a distance at several concerts or festivals, his music was a major voice in my life.

Larry passed away a couple of days ago. I just returned from Mexico this morning to get an email from my fellow Norman-phile, Brother Maynard, alerting me to Larry's death.

Here is Larry's final communique, dictated from what would be his deathbed, just a day before he died:

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I won't be here much longer. I can't do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.
— Larry

Goodbye, Larry. The world is poorer for your passing. Someday, I'll get to thank you in person. But for now, we rejoice with you, that you no longer see through a glass darkly, but face to Face.

Concentric Circles & the Kingdom of God

2008-02-17T12:20:00.005-08:00

	Christians love diagrams with concentric circles. Whether it's the counseling circles of Larry Crabb's early work, or Rick Warren's purpose-driven diagrams, Christians just love pix of circles. I'm not saying we should avoid circles, but that we perhaps rethink them.
	Because while circles make sense mentally, they often functionally feel more like this. And I'd like to suggest that the reason for that is wrapped up in *which direction* we attempt to order the circles -- from the outside in, or the inside out.

In Crabb's counseling model, the inner-most circle is the "personal" circle. It's the least accessible to most people, and only the trusted few enter it. For the purpose-driven crew, the inner circle is the "core", and in similar fashion to the counseling model presented by Crabb, people have to start with the outermost circle and gradually work their way in to the more rarefied "core" (beyond even being "committed").

I would like to suggest that Jesus turns this idea completely on its head. And why not? The majority of Jesus' most radical teachings, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), turn everything we thought upside-down already. Why stop now?

Jesus starts by challenging our view of what His Kingdom is and how it functions. And since His Kingdom is available to anyone who surrenders to Him, then the "core" is the starting place, not the outer circle.

The book that got me thinking about this was the old classic from John Wimber, Power Evangelism. While the latest cover art seems really bland, the content of this book is anything but. The choice of the title sounds really 80's, when everything was "power this" and "power that" (like the late 90's when everything was "postmodern" or "pomo"), but again, the content...

But it was this quote that reminded me that everything we deconstruct, reconstruct, or whatever has to have as its basis the Kingdom of God:

"This means that the church witnesses to the kingdom but does not have authority in herself to build the kingdom; only God has that authority. When "church" is confused with "kingdom", leaders assume that God's authority resides in their office, that they are the rule of God. Authoritarianism -- even cultishness -- can be an unfortunate result of this kind of thinking. When pastoral leaders understand that their authority is derived from the kingdom of God, and that rule is not equated with office, they are restrained from leading in their own authority." (pg. 21, emphasis added)

Unlike our personal circles or church growth diagrams (which aren't necessarily inaccurate), the Kingdom starts with the innermost parts. That's why people call it the "upside-down" Kingdom. It works on a completely different paradigm than we are normally wired for. And church structure, leadership styles, or whatever have to be based in an understanding on what the Kingdom is, its purposes, and the wishes of its Founder and Instigator.

Stay tuned...

Random Crossings (or not)

2008-02-09T09:57:00.000-08:00

Archival story:

We met the two teenagers sitting on a bench in Tecate, Mexico. They had heard our music in the downtown square and had come to check out what the crazy foreigners were on about.

They not only sat through the whole performance, they also hung around to talk to us afterwards. And before we knew it, both of them were praying to become followers of Jesus, and eagerly taking the Spanish New Testaments that we had with us.

Then they did something I'll never forget: they asked for one additional prayer from us. Tonight was the night that they were determined to get across the heavily guarded border, hoping for a new life in America. Runaways from southern Mexico, they had been living on the streets in Tecate for several days, trying to figure out the best way to get across the border undetected.

Each cross represents someone killed in the attempt.

We didn't pray that they would make it, nor that they would change their minds. We prayed for God to watch over these young people, and keep them safe wherever they ended up. We came away thrilled that they had responded to Jesus, but deeply disturbed by the reality of their life in Mexico (and now maybe the USA).

I'm hoping to meet them again someday. I wonder if they'll tell stories about how, on the eve of their attempt to gain illegal access to America, they met these crazy missionaries in the border town of Tecate, and how that was the start of a new journey with Jesus. That's the story I'm hoping to hear, either now or perhaps in the afterlife.

I'm hoping that this was not just a random crossing of paths.

Hockey Fights & the Institutional Church

2008-01-28T08:37:00.000-08:00

If I may be permitted a truly Canadian moment here, I just want to ponder that timeless question:

Why is the dirty scrapper on the other team called a "goon" whom we loathe and despise...

When the dirty scrapper on OUR team is the "enforcer" whom we all love and applaud?

What is it that makes us genuinely feel anger and offense when the "goon" beats up on one of our guys, yet we leap to our feet -- even in the non-combat zone known as "the living room" -- to triumphantly cheer when our "enforcer" gives one of the bad guys a bloody nose?

If bloody noses are being meted out in the publishing world, on what criteria are we judging who the "goons" are, and who are the "enforcers"?

Is it based on whether or not we like the one getting the bloody nose?

Just wonderin'...

Prophetic Word for 2008

2008-01-28T07:55:00.000-08:00

Kingdom (formerly emerging) Grace has delivered a collection of prophetic words that get my vote. Have a look at The Prophetic Word for 2008 -- you don't have to be charismatic, non-charismatic, ex-charismatic or post-charismatic to be encouraged, challenged, or simply find yourself nodding in agreement.

Thanks for posting this, Grace!

Frank's World

2008-01-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

Frank Viola's Pagan Christianity? is making the rounds of the blogosphere these past few weeks, and since I was one of those who dared to request a copy to review, I now offer the following:

I've read Frank's original copy of the same title, sans Barna lending his name, (although it's nice to see that the original exclamation points after every second sentence have been thinned out). I've also read Frank's Who Is Your Covering? and Straight Talk to Elders, and have noted the same pattern emerging in each of these books. Frank has some good ideas, and some of his biblical exposition is great, but then...

It looks sort of like this:

People hear tales of a new book coming out that will address issues surrounding church structure and leadership, and they imagine a rescue mission coming their way...

...only to realize that the focus of the mission was neither medicinal nor rescue, but "search and destroy" -- and everyone not currently living in Frank's World is in the crosshairs.

Many people were expecting something resembling a converation, an exchange of insights and ideas, a springboard for discussion and mutual learning...

...only to find themselves on the unexpected receiving end of a licking that left everyone not currently living in Frank's World unable to sit for a week.

And you'd think that when someone relentlessly and mercilessly comes at you with one of these...

...it would be strange to be labelled "pagan" for feeling the need to respond with a couple of of these.

And in Frank's World, church history -- as it relates to church structure and leadership -- looks like this:

The book is so over-hysterical in its assertion that absolutely everything in church history is a compromise with pagan culture, that many of Frank's insights -- which could have been helpful -- get lost in the hyperbole and selective use (or ignoring) of Scripture and church history.

One example: Frank claims that the Reformers are guilty of foisting sermons on the Body of Christ, and that the early church knew nothing of one speaker doing most or all of the talking. This would be a shocking revelation to those who heard Moses deliver the entire book of Deuteronomy (do we really believe that Moses photocopied it for distribution?), or Nehemiah reading the law to the entire population of Jerusalem, or those who sat listening to Jesus preaching the Sermon on the Mount, Peter preaching at Pentecost (we only have a record of part of Peter's whole sermon), Stephen's long speech just before being martyred, or Paul preaching so long that Eutychus fell asleep and was briefly dead, before Paul resusitated him and kept right on preaching. (Bob Hyatt has a great chapter-by-chapter series going, and the iMonk is clever and pointed when he feels the need.)

The most provocative -- and hilariously silly -- line that everyone has been jumping on has to be "The church in its contemporary, institutional form neither has a biblical nor a historical right to exist." Even though they're amending it say "...nor a historical right to function as it does", and despite Frank's claim that he's not against culture, you can't escape one very real conclusion: Frank's World is the only true Biblical way for the church to meet or organize, and anyone who disagrees is obviously hopelessly blinded by, enslaved to, and probably getting a paycheque from the Pagans.

Frank is obvious on a crusade, and is zealous for everyone to buy into his worldview, but honestly, his not-even-thinly-disguised and shrill agenda drowns out what could have been a thought-provoking discussion-starter (see Darryl Dash's Next-Wave book review for a better way to ask the same questions).

Familiarity, Contempt & the Way of the Barkeep

2008-01-13T14:16:00.005-08:00

"I've missed this place!" exclaimed the Younger, as they doffed their coats and shook the snow from their shoes. "Not that the Rusty Parrot wasn’t, uh, an interesting place to hang out, but this place is still my favourite."

The Elder sighed contentedly as they settled into the welcoming booth by the window. "Yes, although I must say that I prefer the outdoor patio. Not that I'm suggesting that we go there now," he quickly amended, as the snow swirled by the windows, "but I've always enjoyed the outside setting the most."

The Younger glanced at the outdoor patio area, remembering the many times spent there the previous summer, and noting the now-barren trees and gathering drifts. "Yeah, I guess no matter how many other places we've been, this will always be my 'home pub' – after all," and his voice took on a mock radio announcer's tone, "this is our historic and traditional meeting place for all things theological and ale-related!"

The Barkeep stopped by their table at that precisely appropriate moment, delivering their usual choices without them even having to order. "Home is where they know ye," he quipped in his thick Irish brogue, almost under his breath, as if he were talking to himself, before retreating back to the bustling bar.

The Elder laughed, as they both took appreciative sips of their favourite brews. "There is something to be said for the familiar and traditional, isn't there?"

Noting a subtle change in the Elder’s tone, the Younger fixed a more studious gaze on his friend. "Why do I get the idea that you're not just talking about getting our beers hand-delivered by our crusty Irish Barkeep?"

"Because you're observant and discerning," the Elder replied, raising his glass in tribute, "or possibly I'm pathetically transparent and clumsy when it comes to subtle segues." Taking another sip, he continued, "But now that we've crossed that line, let's just dive in, eh?"

The Younger nodded, glancing briefly at the Barkeep as he continued serving those lining up at the bar. "So, let's not just dive in, let's dive deep, whaddaya say?"

The Elder paused, drink half-way to his lips, "Oh, so now who's lacking a certain sense of subtleness?"

"I want to hear more about your views on the five-fold gifts in Ephesians 4," blurted the Younger, leaning forward with elbows on the table, suddenly all business and seriousness. "You've mentioned that too many people 'air-lift' that passage to suit their own agendas, without taking the broader Scriptural context into consideration. You've got to admit, that’s a provocative statement."

The Elder took another sip, collecting his thoughts. "Well, let's just say that too many people look to that passage almost in isolation, and build scenarios that – even if unintentional – are power-based and hierarchical, which in my opinion does violence to what was intended."

"Violence?" The Younger drew the single word out slowly, eyebrows raised.

"What if we took Philippians 2 as a thesis statement on, say, apostolic ministry," the Elder continued, hearing but not acknowledging his friend's comment. "You know, that famously quoted section about having the same attitude as Jesus, the Servant? The Servant who gave up His power and position in order to do His Father's will. Would you say that is only about His life, or is it a pattern for us to follow?"

The Younger was ready for this question, "Well, didn't Paul start by saying that we were supposed to follow His example?" He paused for a moment, frowning into his pint, before continuing, "But wouldn't that mean that apostolic leaders were serving by just being apostles?"

The Elder beckoned to the Barkeep, "My good man, I think we should order some food – this is likely to be one of those nights." The Barkeep wiped his hands on a towel as he replied, "Two curry fries, coming up."

The Elder turned his attention again to their conversation. "Yes, you could say that apostles were serving just by acting as apostles, but you'd still have to define what 'serving' as an apostle would look like. Why would we assume that their service meant having a ruling function? Too many people want to define 'apostle' as a position of power and recognition. What if we look to the words of the Master and the original disciples – who of course would later become 'sent ones' or 'apostles'?"

The Younger caught on instantly. "Ah yes, your favourite leadership passage in Matthew, right? The one that says the rulers of the Gentiles 'lord it over' others but that disciples of Jesus must never imitate that?"

The Elder nodded with a smile. "Do I repeat myself that often? Well, some things are worth saying as often as it takes, I guess. I’d like to suggest that real 'apostles' don't need to trumpet their status or try to get people to agree to be 'under' their authority. They just serve and people recognize their authority based on character and not on their need to have people 'submit' to them. But if you want another potentially provocative statement, try this:

"Genuinely apostolic people might actually be held in contempt by those whose mindset is caught in an authority-based understanding and agenda."

The Barkeep suddenly materialized at their table, two aromatic plates of curry fries in his hands. "Hey y'go, gents," he said, placing the enticing dishes in front of each of them. "Curry fries like they serve in the Old Country. More ale?"

As they immediately nodded in affirmative, the Barkeep headed back to his bar to draw the ales. "Now, consider the ways of the Barkeep," intoned the Elder, imitating his friend's earlier approximation of a radio announcer. "He never asks or requires that we recognize his authority or that we 'submit' to his position. Yet would anybody in this place doubt – even for the briefest of seconds – that he is fully in charge of this bar, and rightfully so?"

The Younger watched as the ales swirled in their glasses. "No, I don't think anybody could miss the King of Crusty", he laughed, "but I don't think I follow you."

The Elder chewed reflectively on his helping of curry fries. "Well, does the Barkeep serve everyone? Does he come alongside and find out what would best aid his patrons in 'succeeding', and then give them what they need?" Receiving an affirmative nod from the Younger, he continued, "The Barkeep works hard to serve his patrons – his 'flock', if you will – and without his expertise and sense of business and social savvy, this place would utterly fail."

The Younger concurred, chasing curry around his plate with the last of his fries. "I'd say that the food just wouldn't be the same. Man, I love pub grub! But how does what you're saying fit with not recognizing or appreciating genuine apostolic ministry?"

The Elder now leaned forward, adding emphasis to his words and tone. "So we agree that the Barkeep is the authority in this place, who serves the people who come in here. Yet how many people would consider the Barkeep 'beneath' them socially, as if him being their servant puts him farther down the scale of worth?"

"Would their familiarity with him and his work actually breed a certain level of contempt for his position of servant-hood? How many people do you think would clamor for a leadership position that might result in being taken for granted, or worse, held in contempt? And yet they would be missing true servant leadership completely."

The Younger drew a deep breath, shaking his head with a smile. "Wow – you've just created a new metaphor for leadership: the Way of the Barkeep. What will that lead to, do you think?"

"A decent tip, maybe," suggested the Barkeep, once again materializing out of nowhere, their second round of ale now ready.

"But that's just me thinkin' out loud," he added over his shoulder, as he threaded his way back to the bar. The place was getting quite full, and there was a great deal of serving that needed to be done.

2008

2008-01-01T22:20:00.000-08:00

A big thank-you to all those who visit my little corner of greater blogdom -- over 350,000 visits last year (I don't trust the "hits" because out of the 2.9 million I got, there's no way of telling how many were spambots -- probably too many!).

Happy New Year's to everyone, and I hope all y'all enjoy the "new and improved" design of this here blog.

Butterfly in Brazil: Book Review

2007-12-30T18:32:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-27T14:00:00.000-08:00

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:

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.
"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.
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

2007-12-25T01:01:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-24T12:46:00.001-08:00

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

2007-12-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

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.