Twilight

Twilight. For those of you who are Twilight junkies, this is not a review of the book. Ok, I admit it is a pretty sweet photo though. I know how you adamantly demand your fix of popular vampire romance. I give up on the dialog of meritorious literature, the whole issue of vampiring, etc. I leave that to you to decide. But, twilight is ,nevertheless, a mysterious time of transition. The element of the unknown is unnerving and ever so fascinating. Thus it is a fitting title for the book series and this posting.

Twilight, is the weird land of half-in and half-out. The pause of gray that separates black and white. It is a zone of indecision where we travel through to be where we belong.
Here lies the trouble with life on this planet. This existence is like an extended tour of duty on Planet Twilight. The place between creation and the completion that is to come.
For all of us left in the in-between there is hope. Christ knew his followers would be left in this gray space and he had words to comfort them.
John 14:1-6

When they peered ahead at the future without him, they could not imagine the images that lay before them. Life as they knew it would change forever. That part they got. What Jesus knew was that they needed to remember that He knew who they were. He knew they were hungry. He knew they were tired. He got the whole needy thing about being alive. Been there done that revelation. God had always known, and that is one of the messages Jesus came to communicate.
If they never made the transition between distant God and personal Saviour, they would stay stuck in that fearful twilight. God had a new image in their minds. He was no longer that scary guy.

Christ came to reveal who God is in His person. He is God and therefore mankind got a first hand view of what they had only heard through stories and scrolls. While living in the twilight Jesus brought the fire to warm them and illuminate the future with Him. With Him in the circle there was more of a warm red glow than a gray pallor. This twilight thing is more doable when we trust Him with it. Can you trust Him with it? I return to thoughts on Twilight, the novel.

If we can view a man with fangs as a safe place, surely we can see Jesus as trustworthy with our real life. In the book series, it is all about taking risks for the ones you love. Isn't that what Jesus championed for us all?

Think about it.

Icons of our Age

One of my fascinations with church history is built around the Christian culture that gave us the concepts of icons and relics. Odd little words that are seldom used today. Icons are defined as, a representation of someone or something sacred, like a saint or martyr. We use this word now to describe a tool on our computer screens. Now, I like my computer world, but I doubt there is anything saintly about it. The concept of sacred seems mystical and abstract to me. If you stopped the average man or woman on the street and said "Hey what is sacred to you?" you would probably get very little response. There would be a lot of extended pause time, baffled looks, heads cocked, and mouths open. Some might say, their ipod or car keys, but most would just be stumped and sent to the back of the line. Good question, is it not?
Throughout church history believers held the cross as sacred. It was a symbol of something sacred, something sobering, something personal in connection. That has changed to more of a fashion piece or wall adornment in real time. Collections of carved crosses and plastic kitsch flowers were all the rage a few years ago, displayed as little shrines to a different way of life south of our borders. I am not passing judgment on this decorative moment, I am asking the question, "What is sacred to you?"
In all honesty, I am struggling to find the answer to that myself. Sacred is defined, to be devoted or dedicated to a deity. Simple enough to say, but much more challenging to do. That means my life is sacred. Emphasis comes on the word, my. It is my life that is sacred to God.
It puts a new urgency into the purpose of purity and excellence and even that big stretch, holiness.
Oddly enough, it is not really my life at all. I didn't make or initiate my life. All I can do is return it to my creator in response to the cross. The cross is an icon of much a deeper act of devotion. It symbolizes the devotion of God to me.
If I wear it around my neck, or display it on my wall, it won't change the world. If I chose it for my heart, is changes everything.

The Message that points to Christ on the cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. I Corinthians 1:17

Don't Mess With Shakespeare

Table talk for our family usually involves at least one conflict over the misuse of a word.
My children think I am slightly daft. I can live with that. I have a little of a Shakespearean complex that leads me to believe that I too can validate new words. I make them up "on the fly," with great degrees of self-satisfaction. The horror of a wounded word is not to be tolerated in my home. There are cries of foul play and penalty, but I hold my Shakespearean head high and grin maliciously. I also mix my Spanish and French into my own little language, but that flaw will be saved for another post. I have created communication mayhem with these skills on more than one continent.

For now, I will simply share with you my favorite real words. All of these can be found in a dictionary, and I hope they will eek their way into your conversation this year.
Give a new word a chance.

Words that inspire me:
catalyst, portal, possibility, gracious, achievable, gratitude, eternity, excellent, promise

Great mean words:
loathe, repel, despise,vex, malicious, malevolent, vendetta, Machiavellian (this one was to impress you). Note the repeated use of V. What is that about?

Happy words that need more use:
whimsical, radiate, embrace, kite, delicious, cocoon, savor, curious, bliss, release

Four letter words to try:
love, hope, help.

How about you? Have any swell words to share?
Share them with me. I am blissfully curious to savor your gracious contributions.

Where Faith Meets Reality

This new year affords me the opportunity to reevaluate so much more than my weight, taxes, or even those ever obligatory lists of blah, blah resolutions. It is a time of introspection and a fresh start. That is something I can embrace. No regretful “What ifs”, but more a “How about?” approach.

This year I am digging into some theology issues. Let me preface this with the fact that I usually run the opposite way of serious talk along these lines. I am not uninformed or devoid of analytical brain space, but I am aware of my attention span. It is probably similar to a gnat’s. Well, maybe more like a squirrel’s. I know that good ideas require a lot of time to discuss, entertain, chase around, and digest. Then, they require devotion to actually let them invade your world and change the way you live.

Nevertheless, all small mammals aside, I have been drawn into the web of the emerging church conversation. To some, you will wonder where I have been for the last 10 years, others will have no idea what I am talking about.

Here is a quick primer: This “movement” description is mine. The typical leader would tell you it is not possible to define this conversation. It is an emerging pattern of Christian fellowship that typically desires the following:
authentic community life, missional living, intervention for the poor or those living in injustice, and a new relevance in worship. .

The reason this intrigues me is that it has stirred up some big questions and challenges. I sort of hear ancient melodies of The Jesus Movement of the late 1970s. It was a time when many young believers were thinking about changing their world with the Gospel. It was a very culturally connected way of thinking with concepts of social revolution, fueled by righteous living and benevolent giving. Blue jeans, long hair, and sandals made their first appearance inside the walls of a church. That is wrong. I think sandals were probably pretty common in the 1^st Century world. Guitar driven music and beach baptisms were all the rage.

Out of that time came what we know as the Christian publishing industry, Christian music industry, and many nondenominational churches up and down the coasts and across America. The charismatic movement shook things up quite a bit and the churches born out of it, continue to increase throughout the world.

It opened up the Protestant Church to thinking about a little more cultural liberty in the name of witnessing to the lost. Actually, the concept of coffee shop evangelism started from this movement. There are similarities and there are certainly differences to what the emerging church is addressing today.

I see a real desire to claim the arts as God’s ground, communicate something real and holistic, and certainly reach out to the community around them. The internet has opened-up eyes to suffering and pain outside of our borders. The tremendous growth of the Church throughout the East and Africa, in particular, is living out of an emerging church mindset. The church is becoming more connected to the world at large, not less.

The tremor in my spirit: however, comes from the decentralization of the priesthood, as it is described. In a nutshell, the concept of each believer taking their role in the Kingdom as pastoral, is the most challenging aspect to this movement. No more centralized one-man-show. No more, just take them to church kind of evangelism. It is an own it mentality. Be the church. Do the work of the church, alongside your brothers and sisters. Share the good fruit of life together. Pray, eat, laugh and dance together. Create means to communicate Christ’s sacrifice to your community through visuals and media and song. Be engaged in the culture. Be like Jesus. Make a difference.

I have lived through both of these moments in church history. I am a child of the Jesus Movement. What was once a burning force somehow was dampened and weakened by life, the IRS, and SUV living. I am so thankful to have another opportunity to follow the Spirit in this new century and stay in the stream of His consciousness.

As for me, I think this year I’ll be reaching out to the stranger on the street corner a bit more. Maybe I’ll get really edgy and join a life group in my area. Seriously, time has come to open my pocketbook to the poor. Hopefully, this world will change as we His people change. So the concept is, " How about if this year I actually live like I believe?"

The Art of Epiphany

At 8 I realized that my favorite cousin was not going to grow up. I had danced freely with him to our first rock and roll records, played childrens games, giggled over silly jokes, but I was changing now. Along with my newly forming adolescence, the idea was dawning that my cousin would never grow old like me. He was mentally challenged in a way that would keep him childlike for his whole life.

The gravity of this moment in retrospect is bittersweet. I see now that he just might have had some advantage over me. His heart would remain in that childlike faith that we struggle so much to hold onto. But, the dawning of those quickenings are so significant. There have been many other epiphany-like moments in my life. Most that touched and melted me. Most changed my life. Sort of like the moment you realize that there really, really is an eternity.

Tonight, at my church, I was inspired to seek after an epiphany, or possibly a few this year. As the candles flamed and the music played I was drawn to consider that ever present voice of God.
Three profoundly simple concepts: every epiphany begins with a quest, all successful quests travel through the scriptures, and all true epiphanies end in worship. were my pathway. It doesn't take much to connect this story to the wisemen and their journey to see King Jesus,

As they arrived with gifts in hand, I remember that I too have gifts to offer. I too have knees to kneel before Him and leave my questions and burdens at his side. With the high and the humble, in the glory of God, we all find ourselves at the beginning and the end of our journey with Him. Let this be a season of truth and fresh understanding of His eternal purpose through us all.

Speaking of Babies

My good friend is having a baby. I should add he is having 2 babies. Not literally, but certainly figuratively. He is planting a new church, baby #1. He is also expecting his first baby boy. Big story there, but it is his to share. It is all too wild to see the parallel growth going on. God 's timing on this one is pretty amazing. Ask me about who, if you haven't already guessed.
I have a pretty special delivery coming myself. Don't drop your Starbucks, it is not a baby, silly. My crib is full. I have a project I have titled The Miracle Tour. It was written over the last few months to meet a need I saw in the 15-20 year olds I have been living life amongst for the last few years. I see so much hope with an added side of anxiety in their lives. They are desiring to know where their life will be taking them. Questions, without answers, or answers without the right questions riddle their lives. "Riddle me this" is so not funny at this age.
Imagine if they could actually see themselves through the eyes of a 1st Century disciple hitting the Miracle Tour road for the very first time. Ok, I know that would be a stretch, so there is a parallel plot of a contemporary band hitting the tour trail for the first time. Between the 2 themes it becomes pretty transparent that God is in both tours and God is the plug-in for all the power and direction you need. The rest I will leave up to your imagination.
My writing partner, Karen and I, are starting the search for a publisher. If you know any that want to see this generation get caught-up in their own Miracle Tour with Jesus, let me know. I'm pretty sure we have something to offer. More on this soon. Thanks for your prayers and support. I will happily post that publishing birth announcement for you to see. Thank goodness we won't have to play any of those silly baby shower games.

The Miracle Tour: Intro
This is a story about bread. Not the kind you savor with dense, creamy butter or seasoned olive oil at a trendy restaurant during a prom date. You know the kind the waiter brings to help keep you patient while he holds your meal hostage in the kitchen. You use it to fill in those awkward moments of silence as you struggle for some sort of interesting something to say as you straighten your ridiculous bow-tie and check out the rest of the room. This is a simple bread. It is the kind of bread that gets used.

Being used has gotten a bad rap over the years. Some people will spend their whole life avoiding it. There are entire books written about how not to get used,. But this is a story about allowing yourself to be used. Along the way you will also learn a little about bread.

Bread doesn’t sound very miraculous does it? When I think about a Miracle Tour, I certainly don’t associate bread at all. Because I am a well seasoned music follower, I naturally think psychedelic painted buses in the 60’s with large banners announcing some British music tour. There is a crowd of young women screaming and running after the bus, long hair trailing in the wind, and some of their dignity too.

Ok, this story does have crowds and women, but no woman would have been seen running after a bus, even if there had been buses. The 60’s were the era of the miniskirt and these first century, bread baking ladies would have definitely been in a maxi-caftan. Not real practical for chasing anything, but possibly small minded, slow traveling goats.

This is about a culture that had no tour buses, traveled by foot, and ate a lot of bread. Probably at this point you are wondering where the excitement kicks in. This miracle tour description wouldn’t inspire a Podcast or even a post on someone’s wall today. Who cares about bread anyway, unless of course it is whole grain.

The Miracle Tour concept was a random revelation. In our world of instant fame and celebrity culture, it occurs to me that the first band of early disciples had their own, Miracle Tour. Kind of a virgin tour that eventually led them into superstardom. Yes, their fame now eclipses the Beatles and every other musician before and after them. Maybe superstar wasn’t what they were going for, but their influence has certainly made a difference in this world, a big difference. Not bad for a bunch of newbies at spiritual life.

Working with teen culture has taught me a few things. First, I clearly get that I am a relic from a past civilization, like anyone else over 30. Second, stay open to crazy new ideas. Third, I now invest heavily in gas cards. I need them. Nothing warms the heart of teenager better than a gas card. Ok, pizza comes in a close second. There is that bread thing again.

As I observe this next generation beginning their life journey into adulthood, I see one overwhelming characteristic. They are hungry. They are hungry to succeed , hungry to know, hungry to make a difference in the world they have inherited. Maybe that is why God speaks of bread so much in His word. Hunger is universal. So is God

The similarities are obvious. If you are under 20 or relatively new at following Christ , there are some great examples of what to do and what not to do in the Bible. So, for every modern day disciple this book is for you. Time to pack for your Miracle Tour.

Packing Away Christmas

My family all joyfully participates, mostly, in decking the halls pre-Christmas. We light the fire, even in 70 degree weather, drink hot chocolate, and argue over our Christmas playlist. I have a few traditionalists in the family, but frankly I enjoy a good remix. It is just perfect.
Scattered over the next few weeks are Tacky Christmas parties, cookie decorating parties, Christmas video marathon parties, and events without end. Usually things screech to a halt on the 24th and everyone gathers with extended family in scratchy new sweaters and snowman socks to sing, feast, and tear into gifts. We squeeze in a candlelight service and usually our own Nativity set-up and Bible reading ritual.
So, why is that on the day of eliminating Christmas clutter there is not an elf to be found?
As a mom, this means a day of boxing and sorting and deep cleaning for next year. For our girls, it just means work. I lovingly wrap and package the decorations that I have collected with purpose for so many years now. Each one represents a memory, mostly good, but sometimes mixed.
I have a box devoted to our Barbie tree that has been untouched for years. It was retired so Dad could get a break and have some testosterone back in his Christmas. Our current tree is a Looney Tunes/cartoon creation, sparkling with giant snowflakes. I am not sure that spells testosterone, but he seems happy with it.
There are various displays of snowmen and snowflake paraphernalia, that remind us of the few snowy Christmases we enjoyed in Nashville. It actually snowed here in our Texas town the night we visited to determine whether we would move permanently or not. Let it be said, that was the only time in TX history that this ever has occurred. Something about that cosmic coincidence just got our attention in a way that nothing else could. I am still waiting for my magical TX snowy Christmas. I am also a blonde.
There are sweet handmade ornaments from each child's mothers-day out adventures and special field trips with friends. These I will never part with. They are priceless in every way, even though most are covered with icing or glue. I need to address the mold issue.
But, packing away Christmas is a little painful. I know that for a few weeks during the year, we all really worked at bringing grace and hope into our world. We need a lot of that to go around, not only in our family, but everywhere you look. Trouble is sometime around February, if we are not mindful, we will slip back into our numbness until Lent wakes us into fresh spirituality.
So, the challenge this year is to pack Christmas away, but store it safely...in our hearts. There it won't need any bubble-wrap or a giant plastic tub. It just needs us to be willing.