like a fire

I am more and more seeing a trend that started a long time ago in churches. It all started when I used to go out after youth group with those who were there. We would go to Shoney’s or some other low budget place and crash through there with all the energy we had pent up listening to the pastor teach us the fundamentals of the faith. I thought it was awesome to take over a place and act goofy.

Later, as a youth pastor, I saw another side of this. It was a tradition for the youth ministry to go to a restaurant after our meeting, and if they had some type of free food, that was even better. We were asked to leave one place after another. Sometimes it was how loud we were, but many times it was from people taking advantage of the free food (free chips at Moe’s, etc.) These weren’t poor kids by the way, they were mid to high socio-economic kids. I was very worried about how our behavior affected what people thought of Christianity.

Now, I am at Panera with no less than three full on Bible studies going on. One is a men’s group of about 7, they are pretty tame. Another is a small group of three guys with their very LARGE study Bibles. But right next to me, just moved in, is a group of third grade girls (8 girls and the leader). Loud isn’t even close to describing it. The leader is actually having a conversation with someone in another part of the building. That’s right, she’s yelling halfway across the restaurant. She also took all the chairs from around my table (while smiling at me, of course). She is talking about lice to illustrate the gospel and trying somewhat successfully to capture the attention of these very awake third grade girls. She has just started telling them that God’s plan for them is to share the”good news” with everyone they see. I suggest starting with being a bit more considerate.

When did Christianity become so annoying? Maybe annoying isn’t really even the word for it. Maybe it is just inconsiderate mob behavior. I know we are all fallen and have the problem of sin, but this seems to be an epidemic. No wonder people are so unfriendly to Christians.

Oh wow, while I am writing, I was listening to a question one of the girls asked. “My aunt is Jewish, kind of, she doesn’t really go to synagogue often, is she saved?” The leaders response, “Oh, sure, sweety, she believes in God.”

I need to find another place to eat.

I have just stumbled upon a new site and group that I am really loving called - Deadly Viper. It takes a bit to capture my attention but they definitely have. How is the best part of it.

1. Their site looks amazing. I know all the common wisdom about judging a book by its cover, but I just disagree. Good design equals confidence, and these guys get that.

2. They are committed to radical grace and radical integrity. Enough said.

3. They are … quirky… and that is enough to make them remarkable (thanks Seth Godin).

Nest week they start a series on the S word. I can’t wait to hear how they tackle it. I highly recommend it.

I came across this picture through Make Magazine’s blog. I have been thinking of various uses for it, then wondered what kind of captions I could get from the blog. No prizes for the winner of the caption, just some street cred.

My favorite so far? A phone in sheep’s clothing.

This week I am hanging out with the Yamia team. Yamia (pronunciation unsure, might be Y? Amia?, or yummy-uh) is the team of people who direct the youth ministry for the Anglican Mission in the Americas. It sounds a bit prestigious when said that way, but it is really just some people who want to change the way youth ministry is done in the Anglican church.

Why change? Well that is a long journey through a minefield, but that never stops me. Basically we want to see ministry change from a numbers-centered, event driven, game playing marathon of Mountain Dew and Twinkies, to a more transformation driven, presence driven, disciplines driven pilgrimage of sustained effort. Did I miss offending anyone? It really isn’t that simple, but that is a general idea.

I will post some of our highlights, but it will likely be developing more of the previous.

I was emailed a link to this (thanks Brian) earlier in the week and skimmed the highlights of the Evangelical Manifesto. My gut reaction was that I wished they hadn’t used the word Evangelical. I understand that the word Christian is so misused that it is almost pointless to use that title for followers of Christ, but the word Evangelical isn’t much better. Also, I just can’t join the Hybels camp and call myself a Christ-follower. It just seems too long and too trendy.

My second reaction was “Why?” I don’t question the need to clarify what we believe and understand to be they way, but aren’t there already a bunch of creeds and confessions out there that do that? I wonder if we need another. I certainly applaud the effort and would probably agree with what it declares. I probably won’t bother to sign it though. It doesn’t really mean that much to me to align myself with it. I know who I am and what I believe and I am pretty sure of those around me. So I don’t know if I will go beyond skimming it.

Two parting thoughts though.

1. Why weren’t there any emergent people included?
2. Why not create a new word that helps understand who we are that isn’t so loaded with meaning already?