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October 31, 2005
hilarious.....turn up your sound and watch
hilarious video going around the internet
Posted by rhett at 03:15 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Making a donation to the family of Kyle Lake
If you are interested in making a donation to the family of Kyle Lake (see post below), go here and read
Posted by rhett at 03:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Prayers and Thoughts.......
Kyle is on the left
Last night, one of my friends living in Waco, TX called me to tell me that he was on his way to a prayer service for pastor Kyle Lake who was electrocuted while getting ready to perform a baptism. Kyle was the pastor of UBC in Waco, which is the church that most of you know most likely, because the David Crowder Band leads worship there.
Brian McLaren reflects on the death of Kyle Lake.
Tony Jones has some thoughts on Kyle Lake.
Emergent asks that you keep these people in prayer
Please be in prayer for his wife and three kids, as well as his church body.
Posted by rhett at 09:55 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 28, 2005
I wish this was around when I was doing my M.Div.
amazing
Posted by rhett at 02:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Thoughts for the weekend, mainly regarding the trails that were blazed from our night with Donald Miller.....
Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell in his insightful book, The Tipping Point talks about three different types of people: connectors, mavens and salesmen. I tend to see myself, and my blog as performing more of the function of a connector at times, rather than anything else. My mind tends to be all over the place, and so I enjoy connecting you to many different things. Some bloggers love to stay on one topic for weeks, but I just can't do that. There are too many things that interest me, and that I am wrestling with at this point.
So as I leave you for the weekend, I want to connect you with some things. Interestingly enough, the things that I am going to connect you to, are things that were born out of this last Wednesday night, when we had Donald Miller with us.
Though he spent a lot of time reading from the soon to be published, To Own A Dragon:Rewriting the Legacy of an Invisible Father
it was probably during the Q and A time that shed the most light on who Donald Miller is, and where he stands on certain issues. This was also the time that probably caused the most uneasiness in some people, while some were more spurred on to want to actually make some changes in their own life, as well as in society, especially in how it relates to issues of social justice. Some of the questions ranged from his views on Christianity, to his own personal spiritual life, but the most often asked questions were in regards to his political views, and more accurately how it relates to Christianity and evangelicalism. The question that seemed to take him more passionately down this path was the following:
"What books are you reading, or who do you like to read?"
The book that seemed to be at the top of his list right now is:
Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism
by Cornel West.
This was the one book that Donald Miller came back to on several occassions, while at one time stating that Cornel West is a prophet. This book has definitely been impacting Donald's life as well as some other people that I know. I have also had some students ask me about the book, or tell me that that would be the next book they were going to read. I am pretty familiar with the work of Cornel West, but I have not read any of his books to this point.
And as my mind began to move in different directions, the issue of Cornel West led me to a blog that I read by Steve Bush because I know that Steve has been greatly impacted by Cornel West also. And as I got to Steve's blog, I came across this statement by Cornel West in regards to New Orleans.
So for those who were interested in what Donald Miller had to say, and who were interested in his plugging of Cornel's book, I hope you are supplied with some information.
And finally, Steve's blog led me to this post on the Emergent Church, which was taken from an article in First Things, and written by Richard John Neuhaus.
The article is a critique of the Emerging Church and I think Neuhaus tends to paint with some pretty broad brush strokes, and lumping everything together. And by that, I mean that he tends to throw the baby out with the bath water. There are definitely some things that have been lumped into the Emergent Movement, or conversation, or whatever you want to call it that are probably not worth keeping, while there are also some great things. I agree that some of the identification of emergent with what is cool, hip or trendy is a big problem, but I believe that some of their concerns regarding missional communities, social justice issues, etc. are worth reviewing, worth rethinking, etc.
Posted by rhett at 12:41 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
I want a radio show too.....
Looks like some people that you may know or read are possibly looking into doing a radio show.
Last Spring I had the privilege of sitting in the studio with Hugh Hewitt one day for about the first hour. Not as a guest, but simply watching, though he did talk to me for a couple of minutes. Not one of my better moments. Everything happened so fast, and I pretty much sounded...well, stupid. Nonetheless, I found the experience of watching a live radio show amazing.
Radio would be great....so if anyone is ready to start a show, let me know...haaa.
Posted by rhett at 07:47 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 27, 2005
Last night with Donald Miller.......
Last night was a great night. I invited Donald Miller into our group with the intention of stirring some things up. And by that, I mean getting people to think about some things that they normally don't think about. Getting people to ask some tough questions. Getting people to realize that their view of Christianity, may not be shared by other Christians. Getting people to realize for example, that there are Democrats who are Christians, not just Republicans. Getting people to realize that there are other important social issues such as poverty, AIDS, Debt Relief, fiscal responsibility...not just the issues of abortion and homosexuality, that we tend to think of. Etc., etc. And that he did. While many of my students left the church pretty fired up and ready to take on the world in a new way, a few guests didn't seemed to be as thrilled about some of the things Donald Miller had to say. Those people approached me with pretty quick, gut level reactions. Whether it was his statements on politics or the marketplace, or Christianity, there were definitely some things to think about. Like his books that I have read, he helped me look at things that I don't tend to look at, and to ask myself if I am missing the point at times. And if he did this for others, then I believe it was a successful night.
Donald Miller began the night with about a 30 minute reading of his new book, To Own A Dragon; then did Q and A with the audience; and then closed the night by reading the author's note from Through Painted Deserts. He was more than gracious, sticking around to sign books and talk with people until about 11pm.
I very much enjoyed my time with Donald Miller, and on our way from his hotel to church, I had an opportunity to do a very short and quick interview, picking his brain regarding some things that I have been wondering about. Nothing hard hitting, but just a few general questions that I was curious about.
The transcribed interview is below, and should be up on a Podcast, or downloadable audio file within the next day or so.
(to make the transcribed interview more legible from a reading standpoint, I have removed the "ums", hesitations, or mumblings, that came from either Donald or I. But the entire interview is intact)
Rhett Smith: Donald, I was wondering, what is the best thing about being an author, and a writer, and traveling around and speaking at conferences to people?
Donald Miller: That's really it. It's traveling around and speaking, getting to meet people that have read your books. It's really a great thing, because I can write a book, and the people that respond to it are usually people who are stimulated by the same ideas as me, or the same music, or the same books, or that sort of thing. So you tend to meet people who you just get along with pretty well. It's sort of like a classified ad, but, you know there's just thousands of them, so it works that way. Yeah, but its definitely...yeah, that just the thing. And being able to speak and have so many people listen, it's a real blessing.
Rhett Smith: Since you speak to a variety of different audiences, Christians, non-Christians, seekers, kind of all over the place. Is there one central theme, or message, or what is it you are trying to convey to them, or that you hope they walk away with?
Donald Miller: There's not. Every night is different, and some nights are just entertaining, and you are just trying to be funny, and that's it. Tonight is a night, not unlike that. The sort of hidden agenda, if there is a hidden agenda is to show Christians how to laugh at themselves, and to show people who aren't Christians that Christians can be normal, and entertaining, or whatever. Because I think, you know a lot of, a lot of sort of Christian attempts to reach out if you will, to people who aren't Christians, they make them feel creepy. You know, and it feels like an Amway pitch. And so just to try to reverse as much of that as possible is often, is often the main agenda. But there are different talks. There is an academic talk for an academic campus, or reformed. Church talks for churches. And book readings for more literary audiences. So it just depends.
Rhett Smith: And that last question, and I think you probably get this all the time, but I'm just wondering. Do you have any advice that you tell someone who is interested in writing, and kind of wants to write a book, and no matter what topic it is, what is one piece of advice you would give them?
Donald Miller: Okay, well. Buy these two books: On Writing Well, by Willam Zinsser, and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. After you finish memorizing those books, move onto The Writing Life by Annie Dillard, and she will get you in the mood to write. But those are the best things. As soon as you have a final manuscript, if you know someone in publishing, send the book to them, if you don't, attend a writer’s workshop where agents will be present. That is really important. So that's sort of practical advice on writing, but it's certainly a great life, and even if you never get published, it's worth articulating your thoughts on paper. It just helps you organize what you know, what you believe, what you lived. And those sorts of things.
Rhett Smith: Thanks a lot.
Donald Miller: Yeah.
Posted by rhett at 12:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 26, 2005
Donald Miller tonight....
Donald Miller is speaking to our college group tonight. Should be a great night.
I will be interviewing him this evening before he comes out and speaks to us, so look for the a transcribed interview, or dowloadable file, sometime tomorrow.
Posted by rhett at 02:41 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Some thoughts on last nights post....
I was hesitant to post the blog entry I did last night. For several reasons. 1) Is is approrpriate for my blog? 2) Am I not giving people enough credit for being discerning? 3) Etc., etc.
My main reason for posting the article was just to bring attention to people about what is going on in our churches. This probably wasn't surprising to most people, because we have either a) witnessed it ourselves, b) been a victim of the church "pick up", or 3) have tried to "pick up" people ourselves at church. And when I say "pick up" I don't mean sexually, though that may have been the intent, or is the intent of some of you.
But as the director of a college ministry, we have had to, on several occassions ask different people not to come back to our group, or have had to pull them aside becuase they were acting inappropriately...mainly being overly aggressive with the women in our ministry. Interestingly enough, we have not yet had to pull a college student aside, but rather, adults who have come intentionally into our group to "pick up" on women. Some of the instances have been more severe than others.
I believe that the women in our ministry are very wise and discerning people, and that we as a community do our best to make the church/worship environment a safe place for everyone.
So I posted the article as a reminder to our students that we need to continue, both men and women, to make this a safe environment for everyone. And to bring attention to those people who might be unaware of some of the more sly efforts of those who try to aggressively pursue our students in a threatening way.
Everyone is hoping to find someone at church that they can connect with, date, fall in love with, and eventually get married. Well, maybe not everyone, but a lot of us. After all, I met my wife at one of our young adult worship services. So that is not the issue. A lot of us are looking for Christian people to enter into a relationship with. I am just more concerned about those people with bad intentions, who actually use church, or the worship service as a time and place to scout and recruit after women.
And I might just be more sensitive to this issue, because this has been a big problem for us in our larger church body at times. Recently my friend just said to me that his buddies were commenting on how the 11am church service at Bel Air, is the hottest night club in town. So maybe I'm just really aware of some of the dynamics that go on during our worship services.
Ultimately....this is to be expected from Maxim. But maybe I would actually be more concerned about it if it was coming from Christianity Today or some Christian publication.
At any rate, this has turned down other directions from some other bloggers:
Check out Sycamore who posts about The Need for Protection in Church
Which is followed by a response from Cerulean Sanctum who has a different take than Brian.
Posted by rhett at 02:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 25, 2005
Scoring in Church...very disturbing article.
What's the difference with church, and the bar scene above? Apparently nothing. But maybe that's because I'm pretty cynical at times.....read on.
This is very disturbing as well, but not at all surprising. About a month and a half ago I was sitting in the jury waiting room of a court in downtown LA, waiting for selection to a jury. And I brought nothing to read. Stupid move. So as I was browsing over people's shoulders around me to see what they were reading, I came across the article below in Maxim magazine, whom the guy across the isle was reading. All I saw was the title, "How To: Score in Church" and at that point I needed to know nothing else. I had pretty much forgotten about it, until a college pastor friend of mine, Chris Gonzalez, pastor of Vital Impact College ministry in Tempe, AZ sent it to me today, saying it might make for good blogging material.
And he is right. Let's just say that when I Googled the article myself at church, my church filtered it out, so I am pasting the article in its entirety here; and I don't need to send you to the site anyways of Maxim magazine.
Read the article for yourself below. And if you are wondering why I am posting on this topic, well, consider it more of a public service announcement to the girls in my college group, so that they can be on the lookout for this. I already know that this is a huge issue in many churches, and it has continued to be an issue in our church, as well as the college group at various times.
You are not even safe in church it appears.....So read this at your own discretion, and I apologize for some of the context of the article. But I think people need to be aware that this happens a lot in church, and I think women need to especially take some pre-cautions.
How To: Score in Church
The pews are packed with heavenly bodies. God bless you.
Maxim, September 2005
1. Find Your Faith
Macking in a holy place is easier than almost anywhere else-the good girls never see it coming. Plus, "every girl wants to tell her father she met her boyfriend at church and not at a bar," says God-fearing cutie Erin Howard, 25. Look for progressive sanctuaries that offer "contemporary" services (to attract a younger, hipper crowd) and coffee hours (so you can actually talk, as opposed to just ogling from afar).
2. Enter the Kingdom
Scope out the finest churchgoer, then snag the pew in front of her. You won't appear too eager, yet you can make eye contact easily-and shake her hand if there's a "sharing of the peace." Avoid making moves mid-service. "You're in a place of bloody worship; you have to be respectful," notes Tracey Cox, author of Superdate. Instead, listen to the sermon, which'll give you plenty to talk about later.
3. Get Religion
Despite the communion wine, forget your sloppy bar tactics. After the service, just introduce yourself and act genuinely curious about the church. Say, "I'm new here. Are you a regular?" This'll transition to the coffee hour, where you can quiz her about the service and how she ended up there. If all else fails, say something about looking for a higher meaning in life. She may make it her goal to "convert" you.
4. Reach the Promised Land
At this point patience is key. "A lot of repressed religious girls are damn hot in bed," notes Cox. "But you're not getting a quick shag here." Provided she's sending positive signals (e.g., laughing, smiling, not making the sign of the cross), simply tell her you'd love to meet up, outside of church, and ask for her digits. And no matter where it goes from there, try to think like the Browns do: There's always next Sunday
Posted by rhett at 05:55 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
More thoughts on technology and morality and more, from some good bloggers...
Evangelical Outpost and In the Agora continue, and with more eloquence, this issue of technology, morality and more.
Very good reads, and interesting thoughts; ones that should cause us to slow down and reflect.
Posted by rhett at 03:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 24, 2005
Hmmmm.......Are you concerned?
One of my friends in ministry, Kristie Vosper just posted something fascintating, titled, My Space...and Unintentional Teenage Prostitution.
Like anything good, like internet technology, there is also a downside. And I think that sometimes, internet group sites can fall into either category. I have a lot of students on My Space, and I at one time had a slot on My Space as well. Why not? Seemed like a good way to connect with people and broaden my social circle, or sphere of influence. But I became overwhelmed with how much work it was to keep it up. And I was more concerned about who I was connecting myself with. I don't mind being connected to all kinds of different people, but it was becoming impossible to police. Someone could have gone to my space, and been a few clicks away from an almost pornographic photo that someone had linked to their site. And eventually, the downsides totally outweighed any benefit. I also found that it had a lot of other harmful and downsides to it that I won't go into further detail at all here. But I eventually pulled the plug.
I have plenty of other pastor friends who have a space now as well. And more often than not, I do now know of pastors who make it a priority everyday to go to some of their student's spaces to see what they are up to. Some come back impressed, others have left pretty disturbed at what they were reading and seeing, and wondering about the lack of congruence between someone, and how they present themselves online, versus how they present themselves in person. Is either one more real than the other? Are they two different sides to the same person? I also know of a few parents who came across the kid's space, eventually leading to a confrontation.
And now it seems that employers are visiting My Space sites to see just who is working for them. I was informed by one person who I believe knows what they are talking about, that in the near future, an employer will pull up a database that will show everything a person has done online, and will be able to make a decision to hire, or not hire, based upon that. Something to think about.
I have a lot of concerns about this lack of congruence between online and in person behavior and representation. But I can't go into it right now. But I am also someone who is reaping the benefits of online technology, and I hope to use it wisely, though I'm sure I have not always. And it doesn't stop with My Space, the list is endless, from Facebook, to Campus Hook. It used to be that parents had to wonder and speculate about their kids, not anymore. Just hop online, and you might find out more than you want to know.
Kristie is concerned about many other things, and I recommend you read her post. But I will say that some of these communities have definitely increased the sphere of sexual promiscuity. You no longer have to wonder if you can hook up with someone...all you need to do is go online, find them...and that's about it.
And the list is endless...from sexual promiscuity, claims such as Kristie's, to identity theft and fraud, there are a lot of things to be worried about, amidst the upsides.
Posted by rhett at 05:02 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Someone I admire....
Millard Fuller, the founder and former President of Habitat for Humanity preached at Bel Air Presbyterian Church yesterday. What an amazing man. What an amazing story.
I co-led a team of 17 people to Norther Ireland in the summer of 2003, to work with Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland. What an amazing trip. Protestants and Catholics, from Los Angeles, going over to Northern Ireland, to build a home together. What a statement that was as Protestants and Catholics from Los Angeles, working with Protestants and Catholics in their neighborhoods. Millard Fuller was able to find a way that brought people together, and glorified God, in something as simple as building a house.
It is great to hear someone preach, and to see the fruition of their decision to give everything over to God. Habitat seems to be a statement of this.
Posted by rhett at 04:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Being in the Church....
I have really enjoyed coming across some new blogs the last couple of weeks; at least they are new to me. And there is one blogger that I have been resonating with recently. Thy Grace Is Sufficient has been posting some great stuff. Today, he has another great post from Henri Nouwen. Go check out his post for today to read the entire thing, but my favorite part of the quote from Nouwen is this:
"Often we hear the remark that we have to live in the world without being of the world. But it may be more difficult to be in the Church without being of the Church......"
Whoa! I don't know how many people can resonate with that, but I sure can. As a pastor, I sometimes wonder which is more dangerous to my spiritual life. Being in the World, or being in the Church. If you do not read Nouwen, then you must. Any book by him is amazing, but I would start with "In The Name of Jesus" which I have linked in my left column. Unbelievable book. Nouwen seems to recognize, clarify, and bring to the light, so many things that we struggle with as Christians....with being human.
Thy Grace Is Sufficient has another stellar post, What If It's Not Like I Think It's Supposed To Be? Good question. What if what we think, or what we perceive, is not really as it is? This is not a statement asserting there is no Truth, or that anything goes, or that everything is relative. Rather, what if how you perceive or understand things isn't necessarily the right way? Steve deals with his own thoughts on Emergent, and what if they have some of the right perception on some issues.
I think we all need to wrestle with some of our questions, and understanding on things. That is the only way that we truly come to Truth. And as Steve has noted, Emergent transcends that 20-30 age demographic, with cool, tattoo wearing, hipsters. To me, that's just a classification that others have put upon them, because labeling and classifying is an easier way to get control of things. And when those who oppose you, don't understand you, labeling is then in order.
Posted by rhett at 04:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 22, 2005
Love of the Church.....
Thy Grace Is Sufficient has a great quote from Nouwen on the Church.
Our faith in God who sent his Son to become God-with-us and who, with his Son, sent his Spirit to become God-within-us cannot be real without our faith in the Church. The Church is that unlikely body of people through whom God chooses to reveal God's love for us. Just as it seems unlikely to us that God chose to become human in a young girl living in a small, not very respected town in the Middle East nearly two thousand years ago, it seems unlikely that God chose to continue his work of salvation in a community of people constantly torn apart by arguments, prejudices, authority conflicts, and power games. Still, believing in Jesus and believing in the Church are two sides of one faith. It is unlikely but divine!
Sometimes bloggers, and certain theological circles get the reputation of not always liking, or loving the Church. But I think that most live in that tension of not only loving the Church, but trying their best to also be a critic/reformer of the church, in hopes of bringing a sense of hope, and transformation to the Church Community.
This quote from Nouwen is a good reminder of the importance of the Church...the place that we we not only experience our lowest lows, but also our highest highs.
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October 21, 2005
We are equal opportunity around here....
the woman's version of the men's that I posted below
Posted by rhett at 02:07 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
I would like a grande, sugar free, vanilla latte, with skim milk, oh and can I get a "Purpose Driven Life" cup.....please!
Purpose Driven Life on Starbuck's Cups
Posted by rhett at 01:25 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Are Christians prepared for the Da Vinci code?
La Shawn Barber seems to be wondering if Christians are going to be knowledgeable enough about the innaccuracies in not only the book, but the upcoming movie.
Though many readers of the book even question its literary merit, La Shawn says this,
Commit to studying your Bible if you're not doing so already, read early church history (see articles) and articles on The Da Vinci Code written by other Christians, and start publicly defending what you believe. James White, my favorite Christian apologist, writes:
If you haven't read the book (unlike more than twenty million others), you may have only heard bits and pieces about its blatant attacks upon the Christian faith. I have had the opportunity of addressing the book in a number of contexts, and will continue doing so in an attempt to equip believers to respond to the onslaught. But I would like to document some of the major errors and the way in which they are presented by Dan Brown here on the blog. I encourage you to take this information and be prepared to use this opportunity to present a strong case for the Christian faith.
What do you think?
Posted by rhett at 01:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
What?
Apparently, this is not a joke, but rather the complete NT for Men.
I am speechless for the first time in my life. A case when the attempt to be relevant has gone too far.
Posted by rhett at 01:08 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Some other voices....
I have been finding that it is much easier at time to keep companies with those who think like me. Those who read the same books, think the same thoughts, like the same things. This is especially tempting when it comes to areas such as theology. And who doesn't like to hang out with those who have similar views, and there is nothing wrong with that. But sometimes I wonder if I do not allow myself to listen to the voices of others, their thoughts, opinions, etc. Why? Because they do not run or hang in the "same camp" that I occupy. But it seems to me that the blogosphere provides a great opportunity to listen, read, and hear other voices. Some may see this opportunity as a bad thing, and one that will lead undiscerning people astray, but I see it as a good thing, and I think we should give more credit to people than we sometimes do.
So today, I just want to give you a sample for the weekend, some other voices. Those that I disagree with. Those that challenge me. Those that think like me, etc.
The voices that I tend to hardly agree with, but whom I find myself visiting their sites to see what they have to say. And though we rarely, if ever, see eye to eye theologically, I respect and admire their passion and zeal for Jesus Christ.
Colossians Three Sixteen: This is a college buddy whom I know well. We hardly see eye to eye, and even in one of his latest posts he argues against two people that I love to read (Donald Miller and Rob Bell). Brent is thorough and passionate. And definitely Reformed.
PyroManiac: I love going to Phil's site because I'm just never sure what I am going to find. I usually find myself disagreeing, but Phil pretty much covers every topic you might expect, and that you wouldn't expect. And he's one of the best when it comes to design, look and graphics. Different theological views than mine, but a tireless blogger.
James White: He is a former college professor of mine, whom I took church history from. He probably does not know this, but it is while taking his class my senior year in 1997, that I decided to then enter seminary. He is an apologist, and writes a lot on Mormonism and Calvinism.
Hmmmm. Why do I tend to usually not agree with the Calvinists?
The voices that I am usually most challenged by, and who help me think outside the box, by posing tough questions, and helping me think critically about things that I usually don't think about.
Willzhead: Will is one of those bloggers whom I love to read because he brings up perspectives that are usually foreign to my context in ministry, training, or in life in general. I am most challenged by his political and economic views that he writes about and proposes, but I am also very challenged as I struggle to understand God's word from a context I had little interaction with. Thanks Will.
Ryan Bolger: Though I have many similar interests as Ryan, I am very challenged by his understanding of God's Word in light of his worldview that he teaches, talks about and lives out. I am also challenged with the ways he has begun to take his teaching, and seminary classes on line in the form of student and class blogs.
Awakening: Mike is someone who challenges me as a fellow pastor/director in church ministry. He has challenged me to think outside of the box, in how one is and does Church, and how community is formed. Most recently I have been challenged by his delvings into Jewish literature and thought, as well as his reflections on particular Biblical texts such as Judges.
The voices that are relatively new to me. New friends whom I am admiring as people, and as bloggers.
Foolish Blog: Different theological community, but someone (Scott) whom I met at GodBlogCon and whom I've had subsequent conversations with.
Mere Orthodoxy: Matthew Anderson is someone who is a new friend, whom I also met, and who actually coordinated GodBlogCon. I am looking forward to great things from him.
In the Agora: Joshua Claybourn blogs about things that I tend to not usually blog about, mainly politics. I enjoyed his workshop at GodBlogCon, and I am enjoying reading his blog.
The voice that seems to be everywhere. If it's politics, or technology, or theology, or music, or art, etc. This is the guy who I love to read, and who is challenging and encouraging on many fronts.
Tall Skinny Kiwi: Andrew Jones. No further words necessary.
Posted by rhett at 12:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 20, 2005
Beware of the ill effects of multi-tasking...
The Constructive Curmudgeon has a great post on how multi-tasking can be a real hazard to our health.
This is a great post and something that I have been thinking about for a long time. Not necessarily in the same terms as this post, but here are some things about myself and others that have begun to really irritate me. Mainly because it says to those around us, "You just aren't that important, even though I'm sitting right here with you."
1) Checking email, text messages, etc. on either a phone, or some type of gadget while you are with someone.
2) Talking on the phone when you are out with someone. It might be one thing to take a call because you are at a business meeting. But the comment that is made about someone talking on the phone while at dinner, and the other person is just sort of staring into space. Bugs.
3) Watching TV while someone is trying to talk to you, whether they are in person, or you are on the phone.
4) Talking to someone, and you notice that they keep looking over your head for that other person in the room. Either they just don't want to talk to you, or it could be an emergency. Who knows.
Interesting how all these are related to technology. Maybe it's just become intrusive to some degree. Who knows.
But I do think in our desire to become more efficient, and what we consider productive, we have often reduced relationships to the role of a task, or the ends to a mean. We seem to no longer have time to slow down and engage others in conversation, or to listen attentively.
Maybe I'm bugged by all of this because I find myself guilty of all these things, and I hate when I catch myself doing them. But then, I tend to make up the excuse, well, "Everyone else is doing it, so this person will understand."
Maybe I'm just more aware of the need for attentiveness, and particular attention to the fostering of relationships since I am working on my MFT.
Maybe it's because I just finished reading Eugene Peterson's, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places and it's making me think more critically about relationships, and the importance I give to efficiency over them. Jesus didn't seem to be too efficient. You never get the sense that he was not attentive to those he was with. You never get the sense that people didn't feel valued around Christ. This book is changing and shaping what I do, and how I think about ministry and relationships. Then again, Peterson's books are always kicking me where it hurts, and prodding me onto better things.
Maybe it's because I am married now, and I see the extra importance of being attentive to those you are in relationship with.
What do you think? Have we gone too far? Does multi-tasking have a dark side to it?
As a college student, have you sacrificed important relationships because you have had to many things going at once? School? Work? Volunteering? Ministry? Dating? Family? Entertainment? Free-time? Worship? Etc.?
In our desire to do it all, and to do it all now, what have we lost?
Posted by rhett at 04:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 19, 2005
i'm not the only one.....
apparently I'm not the only one thinking about these issues of blogging, and community, and the limits of technology.....
Posted by rhett at 04:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Necessity of Meeting Together....
Many are wondering why a bunch of bloggers got together at GodBlogCon over the weekend, and what exactly the purpose was.
I have been asking myself that question as well. And I am beginning ot have insight into why this gathering was so important.
Hebrews 10:25:
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I think that with computers, blogs, websites, etc., it has become very easy for us to substitute meeting together, for communication through technology. When this happens, I believe we begin to lose a core sense of our own humanity. We no longer know what it means to be in relationship with another person. We no longer know what it means to sacrifice, and work together.
If we were to stay behind our computers and blogs all day, week in and week out, I think that would do something devastating to us as a culture and as a community. As the author of Hebrews reminds us, we should not forsake meeting together. The author could hardly had envisioned a day and age when communication would take place across the world via the internet, but the words are now, more true than ever. The apostle Paul himself, though he wrote letters to churches, longed to be with them as well (Philippians).
As I was watching the movie I, Robot the other night, I was struck with how easy it can be to give our work, tasks, and lives, to robots, or to something that is more efficient. And computers and blogs are efficient. I get things done quickly, and I get the message out to a big audience. But in the process I have given up some of the relational aspect that is involved in being with people.
The most fascinating aspect about the conference was meeting people in person whom I had only "known" via their blog site and name. So when they would tell me their name, it was almost as if I had a hard time making that transition.
Naming signifies relationality and humanness, and it is one of the first tasks that God gives to Adam in the Garden (Genesis 2:19). And it is something that cannot be substituted for technology.
So though there are many benefits to computers, blogging and technology, it should never be a permanent substitute for the meeting together, in person, where we know people by their names.
I am looking forward to GodBlogCon II, and other conferences and meetings that come up, where we can get out from behind our computers, and where we can meet face to face.
Posted by rhett at 02:27 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 18, 2005
Thinking Outside of the Box When it Comes to our Quiet Times.....
This last Friday I took part in a day long retreat that I originally had not been looking forward to. Not because I didn't think it would be great, but rather because it was just a busy weekend for me, and the last thing I wanted to do was to go on another retreat. But what came out of the retreat has been revolutionary in my own thinking.
This retreat was a gathering of first year psychology students at Fuller Theological Seminary, and the purpose behind the whole retreat was to begin the process of integration for us as psychology students. But as part of this integration process, there were several things that Fuller felt important that we pay attention to as graduate students.
During one of these sessions, we took a closer look at quiet times and what that means to us, how we do it, etc. And when I sat down in this session and began to listen to the speaker I was completely glued to his words as I found myself resonating with what he was saying.
During this session, he asked us six basic questions (I have re-written/worded) that I felt very helpful. They are the following:
Questions:
1) What is the purpose, or what is it that you want to achieve through your quiet times?
2) How often do you do your quiet times? What length?
3) What do you do for your quiet time?
4) How do you feel during your quiet time? What do you experience? What emotions? What thoughts?
5) Does your quiet time achieve your desired purpose?
6) How do you feel when you go without a quiet time for a certain length? A season?
After I answered these questions I was pretty much dumbfounded at the fact that the way I go about doing my quiet times has no congruence with the purpose that I hoped to achieve, and what was the real outcome.
Let me give you an example of what answering these questions might look like, and what are some questions, or thoughts that may come out of it.
1) What is the purpose, or what is it that you want to achieve through your quiet times?
----To connect with God; discernment;
2) How often do you do your quiet times? What length?
----Every other day, for about a half hour.
3) What do you do for your quiet time?
----Read different passages of the Bible; pray
4) How do you feel during your quiet time? What do you experience? What emotions? What thoughts?
----I feel bored; disconnected; unfocused; apathetic
5) Does your quiet time achieve your desired purpose?
----No. I don't feel connected to God at all.
6) How do you feel when you go without a quiet time for a certain length? A season?
----Disonnected; guilty; ashamed; embarrassed
This is just an example that I have made up, but that I know a lot of us can relate to. But it raises several questions:
1) If what we do for quiet time does not achieve the results or the purpose we desire, then why do we continue to do it?
2) Is guilt, and shame, really the motivation that should be driving our quiet times; if in fact that is how we really feel when we miss our quiet times?
3) Should we reconsider what we do for our quiet times?
4) Are there seasons maybe, when no matter what we do, we don't feel connected to God, or we don't feel like our results are achieved.
I cannot really go into all the nuances of this session, but what I walked away with was the desire to re-think how I spend time with God. Maybe spending my quiet times, simply reading Scripture, isn't the only way to do a quiet time. Maybe going for a walk and watching and listening for God's voice is another way sometimes. Maybe reading a book on theology isn't always the way to connect with God. Maybe spending time in my garden, taking care of plants, is a reminder of John 15, and the parable of the vine and the branches, and a much better way for me to spend quiet time with God.
I have just come to believe that in most evangelical circles we have formulated only one way, or a very limited number of ways of what quiet times can consist of. And if anyone does not do these things, or does things outside of this formula, we tend to judge their spiritual life; or we tend to judge their relationship with God. Maybe the person that you see spending time in God's word everyday for 30 minutes in the morning, isn't anymore connected to God than the artist who spends some of their quiet time painting.
Am I saying you shouldn't spend time in God's Word? No. Am I saying that quiet times will always feel fruitful, and we will always feel like something great comes out of it? No.
But I think that we shouldn't prescribe one type of quiet time for every Christian. Quiet times will reflect our lives in many ways, and there will be different seasons where we do different things. And that is okay. I think as Christians, and especially those who have a direct impact on people in Christian community, such as pastors and directors…..we should encourage people to find various and different ways to connect with God. Different ways to do quiet time. I also think that as Christians, our motivating factor for our quiet times, should not be driven by a sense of guilt, because we have not done it. But rather, it should be driven by a sense of pleasure, which is most often found by connecting with God in ways that are more congruent with who we are as people.
For me, Scripture is something very important to our quiet times. But that doesn't mean it only involves sitting and reading in only one way. For me, it means sometimes, doing activities that give me better insight into the scriptures that I already know, such as planting a garden, or painting, or walking through a forest, or sitting on a beach.
People are not all the same, so why do we treat them as if they are?
Posted by rhett at 03:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 17, 2005
Great weekend....in two very different communities.
This last weekend was great on many different levels! It was one of those weekends that I have been excited about for a few months, but I had also been pretty stressed about as well. I did not do a really good job in planning for the weekend of October 14-16, as I had three different conferences and retreats overlapping with one another. But with the weekend behind me, and Monday upon me, I am looking back with great fondness with what took place.
Let me begin by saying thank you to Matthew Anderson who pretty much organized the whole weekend. He did a wonderful job of making sure things ran smoothly, and I appreciated his interest and personal attention to those around him. He could have easily been overwhelmed with everything this last weekend that he might not have wanted to take much time with people, but I appreciated the fact that when you were with him, you knew that he was interested in getting to know you, and in what you had to say. A great quality for anyone to have, especially for bloggers who spend a lot of time in impersonal modes of communication through technology. And I too related to Matt as well, in that we are both newlyweds and were also looking forward to getting back home to our wives after the weekend. Thanks Matt for all you did. Please visit his blog, as I know you will be hearing more from him in the future.
The conference also provided just a great opportunity for me to put some names to some faces, and to interact with those that I admire online. I very much enjoyed having some coffee Saturday morning, and interacting with Smart Christian who I continually go to for a diversity of thoughts and insights on his blog. It was fun to meet DJ Chuang who I think has some of the most amazing content, and who continually is on the cutting edge technologically. I also enjoyed conversation with Josh from In The Agora, who also did a wonderful presentation on Christian blogging and politics. Thanks Josh. You inspired me to think through some things that I don't typically blog about.
Last, I just want to thank Hugh Hewitt for taking the time to encourage me in many ways. Not only in blogging, but in pursuing some of my other interests. Everyone pretty much wants to talk to Hugh, or to get some advice, or to pass something off to him, like a book, or script, etc., but when you are with him, you feel as if you are the most important person at that moment, and that he is not being distracted by everything else. Thanks for the encouragement Hugh.
This weekend was very affirming in many ways, and for me it was insightful to see what is coming to fruition. There is a purpose behind blogging, and it is nice to be together in community with those people who are seriously thinking through the impact and direction that blogging is going to head in the 21st Century.
It was also nice for the media to notice what is going on as well:
After leaving GodBlogCon on Saturday afternoon, after presenting in my workshop, I headed straight to Big Bear, to be with my college students at our Fall retreat. I absolutely love working with college students, and espcially the ones that I am blessed to have in our ministry The Quest. One of the great things about working with college students is that the love to be empowered, and they love to take charge and serve. And because of that, I was able to send up our servant team and Bible study leaders, along with two interns, and they put on an amazing retreat. I showed up on Saturday afternoon, and I preached on Saturday night, and Sunday morning.
Our theme for the weekend was How to Live Missionally in Your Communities, and we used John 15 as our text. I won't get into much detail here, but my intern Lyndsey Waters preached on John 15:1-11 on Saturday morning, looking at what it means to abide in Christ. I preached on John 15:12-17 on Saturday night, and what it means to not only in abide in Christ, but then to move outward, and to love one another. And then we finished up on Sunday morning, where I preached on John 15:18-27, and what it means to testify to those around us, the works of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
I think the students really enjoyed their small group times after each talk, but one thing I believe was most transforming for all of us this weekend. After finishing up our text on Saturday night, I closed by talking about what it means to serve one another and to lay down our lives for one another, taking a look at how Jesus visually demonstrated it through the washing of the disciples feet in Chapter 13. As I was finishing up my talk, my intern began to bring chairs up front, followed by water buckets and towels. You should have seen the sheer confusion and anxiety in the faces of our group as this was taking place. But their reaction I believe, simply mirrored the reactions that the disciples had when Jesus begun to do the same thing. Washing feet catches one off guard.
Lyndsey and I asked that our servant team and Bible study leaders come forward first so that we could wash their feet, and in turn they could begin to wash the feet of everyone else in the group. This was not a mandatory demonstration, but it was simply amazing to watch the students serve one another, and then to be served. It seems that we have a harder time sometimes along others to serve us, rather than we do serving each other. This was one of the many comments from our students during our reflection time on Sunday morning, and great insight I believe into what the disciples were struggling with, such as Peter, when Jesus began to wash their feet.
I will not go into more detail, then to simply way, that I believe that act of service to one another, is a huge breakthrough in the barriers that we often erect in our faith. We know a lot about God, but we often don't know God. And when we begin to serve others, I believe those barriers begin to come down, and we begin to gain a more intimate knowledge of God, rather than simply knowing about Him.
Thank you students for allowing all of us to be a part of a truly transforming weekend. One in which cannot be planned by us, but is simply an outward demonstration of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
So all in all, it was a great weekend. I was encouraged by those in two very different and distinct communities. One community which I mostly know via the web and technology. And another community that I know very intimately, as we have walked through life together in the college ministry. God allows us the privilege and grace to be a part of many different communities and I am excited to see the many ways in which different communities use and express the gifts that God has given them.
Now I'm ready to take this blogging thing up another notch.......
thanks,
Rhett Smith
Posted by rhett at 02:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 15, 2005
Live Blogging from GodBlogCon....
So I'm sitting here next to Hugh Hewitt at GodBlogCon. And really, I owe him a lot for getting me more involved in blogging, and helping me understand what can be achieved through it.
I just finished an hour and half presentation on Blogging for College Students, which went pretty well. It was a pretty small group, but we had an interesting discussion on some of the things I presented. It was also great to have Hugh Hewitt sitting in my workshop, as we had a great opportunity to interact with him.
I will blog later on what I presented at this conference.......but below is a link to my outline for the session, which was really designed more or less as a tool to get us involved in discussion.
Posted by rhett at 10:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 12, 2005
Non-theological rant/pet-peeve: What is up with the encore?
What is up with all these planned, and rehearsed encores at rock concerts these days? I was at a show last night, and the band leaves the stage without playing their two most well-known songs. Duh! Like we don't know you are already planning to come back out. Like the grip on stage, re-arranging the microphones, and instruments wasn't a clue to that. But we clap anyways, louder than ever, hoping you will come back out and grace us once more with your presence and your music. What is up with that?
Maybe I'm way off, but I really feel like that when I was growing up and going to some concerts in high school and college, that there wasn't this pre-planned encore. I remember going to some shows where the band or artist leaves the stage and you are not expecting more. You want more, but the show was amazing, and they gave all that they could, and you are content with that. But then a growing sound begins to come from the audience, as they begin to chant and beg for more. And just as you are on your way out, you hear the loud cheer as the band comes back out. And they seemed surprised, and the audience seems surprised. They are caught off guard, as they discuss on stage what to play next. And they aren't playing their top hit for you, because they already left you the first time, already giving you all that they had. But what they do now play, is something extra special...something B side, or obscure, or a more raw or organic version of some song.
But these days. Give us like 70%-80%, go off stage, while everyone knows you haven't played your three top 40 hits yet. Like you weren't coming back out. I almost want no one to cheer, so that you don't come back out. I almost want your pre-planned encore to not come to fruition, because we really didn't ask you to come back out anyways.
I don't know if it's ego, or if it's the need for self-congratulation, or self-adulation, but somehow these bands are cool with giving you a show, knowing that they will come back out in some rehearsed encore, hoping that it looks real and sincere.
I'm just not buying it. I remember going to one show in high school, were I was witness to my first encore. The person came out, played like 4 more songs. Left. The crowd grew louder. They came out again. Played like 3 more songs. Crowd still grew louder. They came back out and played like 3 more songs. By this time, the artist (who had a huge play list anyways) had played almost 2 and half hours, and like 30 plus songs. That was an encore. Not this 10-12 songs in....and then save your best 2-3 for the encore that is really supposed to be a surpise, and really dictated by the audience's approval of what you have already given.
But obviously I don't have any thoughts on this topic.
Posted by rhett at 06:05 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 11, 2005
I will be speaking on Saturday about blogging for college students....
Blogging for College Students at GodBlogCon.
If you are a college student, or a college pastor, I would love to see you out at my workshop this Saturday. It's going to be a great opportunity for us to discuss blogging, and how it relates to ministry with college students. This will be a chance for both students and college pastors to get together and brainstorm regarding this issue. And I am hoping it will create an opporutnity for us to begin to network with one another, as we learn and grow in the area of blogging in the college community.
Posted by rhett at 04:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
new college magazine....
Relevant Magazine just shipped to my office, 500 copies of their new college edition print magazine. I haven't had much time, but to thumb through it. It looks pretty interesting, and I'm excited to read and see their "take" and messages to the college community. There isn't an online edition, but here is their basic mission for this publication.
For those writers in the college community, and for those who may have something to say, here is your chance to submit an article.
Posted by rhett at 03:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 10, 2005
College Ministry in the LA area....
I love what I do, and I am excited about another school year with some amazing students from UCLA, USC, LMU, Pepperdine, SMC, and many other schools....if you too are looking to be a part of a college ministry (assuming you aren't already plugged into somewhere else), we would love to meet you.
Posted by rhett at 11:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 09, 2005
thanks for your patience
Thanks for your patience as I have been a little slow in the blogging realm these last few weeks. These last two weeks have just been insane. With my grad school program and the college program returning to full force, as well as speaking at multiple retreats next weekend, blogging just hasn't had the attention I would like to give it.
Do you know when you beginning making plans with your calendar, and it seems all good and okay, as you look at empty white space, months away, and you think to yourself, "No problem. This will be great. Can't wait for that weekend." But somewhere along the way, more things are added, until you get to that once empty white space, and it is nothing but a sea of activity and events, and it almost makes you want to throw up. Yeah. You know what I'm talking about, and that's how I have been feeling.
It's one thing to schedule your time as a single guy, but to schedule it now as a married man, is completely different. So I am learning.
But during this time, I have learned a few things about boundaries; about saying "no", even to good things, and what things should be prioritized. I've also been learning what is really important in life, and in ministry, and how those things can easily get overlooked for things that consume our time, or give us the image of being busy, and attending to the things of God, when actually they are really distracting us from God. Over the course of the next week I will be reflecting on some of these things that I have been learning, as well as many other things.
And I'm hoping, that after the Oct. 14-16 weekend, comes and goes, you will see a little more daily activity on this blog.
Posted by rhett at 06:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 05, 2005
Ryan Bolger is giving us an insight into the future of education.....
44 New Blogs Added to the Blogosphere
and
Transforming Contemporary Cultures Class Blog
Posted by rhett at 04:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
An amazing story from Kierkegaard's childhood.....
Soren Kierkegaard has easily been one of the most influential thinkers in my life. Not only is he a fascinating person, and amazing thinker and writer, but his work, Purity of Heart, Is To Will One Thing was groundbreaking in my thinking upon the Christian life, and especially upon the single-mindedness of the disciple and discipleship.
Lately I have been thinking about him a lot. This is most likely due to the fact that I am in a graduate psychology program, and Kiekegaard seemed to understand the psychology of people, as well as integrating this into a more theological and philosophical framework.
In understanding the psychology of people, I think that gave him amazing insight into humanity, into life, and especially into the Christian life, though many Christians would probably balk at such an integration of psychology and theology.
As I have been thinking more about him and his writings, and thinking, I am reminded of one of my favorite stories of his childhood.
Soren was sent to Latin School with instructions from his father to bring home the third best grade.
It's easy for a genius to earn the best grade, but to get the third best, he must learn psychology. He must figure out who the second and fourth smartest boys are and place his own work between theirs.
Kierkegaard for Beginners, pp.6 And really, isn't everyone a beginner when it comes to Kierkegaard?
This story has me wondering about its implications in many areas of life. In leadership. In the church. In relationships. Not to tease out the story too much, but don't we all live life at times with a very single minded determination to fulfill our desires and wishes, and to be at the top? And in doing this, I wonder how we constantly ignore those around us on our way, failing to take into account relationships?
Maybe the goal is not always to be at the top, or at the front, but to have a better understanding of those around us. Though Kierkegaard's father had other implications for him doing this, I still wonder about the nature of the task, and what it involves, and what it could teach us.
Posted by rhett at 03:32 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 04, 2005
GodBlogCon....coming fast!
Come out and be a part of this awesome conference.
Posted by rhett at 11:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
