myopic pilgrim

Go to any city of significant size and you can easily find the shops and restaurants you already know and love. I know and love them too. I’m wearing an Old Navy sweatshirt right now and typing at a desk I bought at Target. If I’m away from home and in the mood for Italian food, you can bet I’m asking if there’s an Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill nearby. And chances are there will be one nearby. It may not be authentic, but it’s delicious and it’s right next to Gap.

And let me just say this: Starbucks.

We All Sing the Same Songs

Our cities are becoming more and more the similar across. The homogenization of America isn’t a bad thing except for shaving off the personality of your city. Regional flavor is getting diluted. Do you ever feel like that in church? I’m a worship leader, so I’m thinking of that in particular.

I can go to a church in another state and be pretty confident I’ll know most of the songs. Which is great because it means I can join in on my first day without being distracted by my lack of familiarity. The downside is the same as thinking of Red Robin instead of that little hole-in-the-wall when I want a hamburger. I’ll get a perfectly fine burger, but I won’t get that vibe and flavor that I can’t get anywhere else. Read the rest of this entry »

After all the discussion surrounding Preaching Through Vicarious Conversation, I don’t know why I didn’t realize I’ve listened to a pastor who did a Q&A after his sermon.

The Christian Post has a story about Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle doing a Q&A from questions texted during his sermon. He answers them after he’s done preaching. Read the rest of this entry »

I have this idea for alternative to the talking-head style of sermons: two people having a conversation about a passage of Scripture. One has to be knowledgeable about the text. This would normally be the preaching pastor. The other person acts as the congregation’s representative, making clarifications and asking follow-up questions.

It’d probably be most effective as an interview style as opposed to a debate. I can see that making people uncomfortable and unsettled.

What do you think?

I was thinking about how being married with kids limits your freedom and increases your responsibility. It’s clear to me that Paul the Apostle’s encouragement to not marry was to keep you nimble and single-minded. If it were just me, I could deprive—even abuse myself, but I must provide and protect my family. And not only that, but I have to look after myself for the sake of my family. I’m no good to them burnt out, weakened, or dead.

I realize I didn’t develop this thought very well. I just needed to get this exhortation down for me before I forgot. Part of my value is measured by how physically, spiritually, and emotionally able I am to care for my family. The damage I do to myself (actively or through inaction) does damage to my family.

I’m a little behind. I know.

I was going over “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” in my head last week. Just saying it again and again and it became increasingly dramatic. I might have moved into melodrama on this spoken word piece, but here it is. I hope it’s helpful.

a link to Why God mp3. You can download this for yourself by right-clicking the link and saving it to your computer.