Wondering about that Jesus character…

All this business about discipleship as apprenticeship to Jesus has caused me to wonder what it really means to follow Jesus in 21st century America (specifically Cincinnati).  I mean he lived 2000 years back, in a vastly different world/context.  So when we read the things he said and did and what he called folks to do as they followed him then I’d say we have a good bit of translation work if we are going to apply that to ourselves.  That much, I suspect, is obvious to most.

It is his talk of the Kingdom of God that fascinates me.  When I read the Gospels now it just leaps out at me, but when I was in high school starting to read the Bible for the first time (seriously, not just as “children’s stories” for Sunday School) I never noticed the Kingdom.  So, how do I translate this Kingdom stuff to 21C Cincinnati?  Well, how do WE translate Jesus’s message about the Kingdom to 21C Cincinnati?  Great question…. let’s live the answer!

The INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati

So… hum…. I wrote this post in August, but forgot to publish it.  Oops.  The INTERalliance camp (mentioned below) was great.  Cloey’s 3 year old angst has abated some and she’s made a good adjustment to Big Sisterhood.  She’s also started preschool, which she loves, but does obliterate nap time (not good).  We’re headed down to Stamping Ground, Kentucky today to visit a new nephew born to Sarah’s brother.  Here’s the post that didn’t get published:

The INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati - I’m off to go to this today.  8:00-5:00 each day – it will be Sarah’s first week solo with both kids.  Pray for her!  Call her if you are so inclined!  The big adjustment to having a brother is fully upon our dear Cloanna – we’ve had some exciting moments of 3 year old angst.  We’ll survive, but it doesn’t make it any easier in the moment of a tantrum.  Cloey is a great kid and I know she’ll be fine.

I’m also pretty excited about this – http://www.christianaudio.com – Jeana Clark hooked me up with a link and I’m pretty impressed with the selection and diversity (not to mention the “free-ness” of much of their stuff).  As school gets ready to get underway (and my 30 minute each way commute) I am looking forward to listening to some good stuff.  My commute has really become a little study cell on wheels this past year.  I ended last school year listening to a New Testament history course from Covenant Seminary (I actually have a couple lectures left to hear).  I’ve listened to D.A. Carson, Dallas Willard, N.T. Wright, Todd Hunter, Brian McLaren, Richard Mouw, Erwin McManus, even Marshall McLuhan and a whole host of podcasts, sermons, lectures, interviews, and the like.  If I’m not listening to that (or music) then I’m talking to DG Hollums or Neil Tibbott and others about church planting, life, ministry, family, education, etc…  Strangely enough, I’m actually looking forward to being back into it (the commute, the listening, and most importantly the LEARNING)!

Speaking of learning I have 5 more course in my Fuller Seminary degree … if anyone is so inclined to contribute to the “Pay for Aaron’s Schooling” fund – feel free!

Us versus Who?

I’ve been reflecting lately on the idea of competition.  Particularly in the arena of church planting.  In the modern marketplace we have enshrined the act of competing.  It is what fuels our economy – from dish soap to cars to sports to education.  Unfortunately it is what also seems to fuel our ecclesial life.  I wonder if perhaps the impetus to birth new churches is too often found in what we don’t like or disagree with another church.  I know that when I begin to think of what this emerging community of faith will be like I find that my internal dialog is us versus them (“them” being this church or that).  I find that when I start trying to describe what this new church plant I default in how we won’t be like ________ or we will be like _______ in this way or that.  This, I do not like. 

It is not that I am anti-competition.  Far from it.  I enjoy sport and the motivation to excell.  I actually think there is a place for competition in the body of Christ – just not between the body of Christ!  My goal is to describe who and what we are in ways that are not divisive – for the Body.  So we may be communal versus individualistic (or endeavoring to be so), but not because we’re better than another church.  No, I want my internal dialog to focus on how we are different from the destructive, fragmented, broken, lost, dying world.  Wasn’t it Paul who said something about not being against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities?  I don’t mind competition – as long as who I’m competing against is not on the same team.