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February 27, 2007
College Students and Vanity
Vanity on the rise among college students according to the results of this survey.
Interesting. Being a good student of Research Methodologies and Statistics I will have to hold off my judgment until I read the results of the survey, its methodology, etc. It seems that even the title of this test, "Narcissistic Personality Inventory" would lead a college student to some skewed or biased results.
But as someone who has worked with college students for the last nine years, both in ministry and the college campus setting, I believe that college students are some of the most self-sacrificing, humble and giving people that I know. I don't think this is only because I work with mainly Christian students in a ministry as well. I see college students all over the place giving back to their communities and serving others in ways and numbers that I often don't see in other populations.
I love college students and working with them gives me a bright hope for the future.
What is your experience with college students?
Posted by rhett at 08:32 PM | Comments (0)
February 23, 2007
Rob Bell and Donald Miller....asking the right questions
In my work with college students it has been interesting to see what type of "Christian" writers and thinkers influence them. Though the list of people vary, there are usually a couple that are really influential at certain times in a ministry.
Over the last couple of years two of those people have been Donald Miller and Rob Bell. Their writings and videos have been very influential in the lives of my students, as well as myself. There is something intangible (authenticity, honesty, vulnerability) in the way they communicate that college students are hungry for.
I know that both of these speakers can be controversial at times as well. But as others have noted in other blog posts, and as my students have noted, these guys are asking the right questions and are authentic in their wrestling with their faith. That is something fresh that a lot of college students often feel is lacking in many churches or generations.
We had the opportunity to bring in Donald Miller to speak to our group in October 2005. It was a packed out night and Miller did something different than we usually do. He did a book reading (couple of chapters) of his then to be published book, To Own A Dragon. After doing the reading which was great, he did a Q and A and stayed long after to talk with students. Though some of his answers and comments riled students up (i.e. views on politics mainly), all the students respected him, and appreciated having a speaker who could stir it up and get them to wrestle with some things they usually don't wrestle with.
Rob Bell is very much like this. And as I mentioned in the previous post we are going to be hosting The Sex God Tour on the campus of UCLA along with some other sponsors. My students and myself are excited about this on many levels. One, because there are many things that Bell has said or done that have influenced us. Second, we appreciate some of the controversy he brings because it always causes great discussion, and he gets them to think about things they usually don't think about. And honestly, most Christian authors, pastors, writers are not talking honestly about sex, and that is something that the college community is really wanting to talk about.
I'm a big fan of both of these guys. But I also want to share with you a couple of blog entries by Ben Witherington III. In these posts, Witherington dialogues about seeing Bell on the Sex God Tour, as well as talking about what he both appreciates about Bell, and what he wishes Bell would do differently.
"Velvet Elvis and the King"--Has he Left the Building?
Rob Bell hits Lexington and a Packed-Out House
Any thoughts?
Rob Bell, book, sex, Donald Miller
Posted by rhett at 12:44 PM | Comments (1)
February 22, 2007
Coming Soon: Rob Bell's Conversation on Sexuality and Spirituality
So time is ticking away and we are getting closer to the Rob Bell event at UCLA. On Thursday, March 8th, Bell will be speaking about his new book Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality and opening up the time for discussion. This event is one of six campuses that Bell will be speaking at during his Sex God Tour.
On top of speaking about the new book and talking with students he will also be showing one of his new NOOMA videos.
The event will be at the Ralph Freud Playhouse on the UCLA campus. Doors open at 7pm and the event begins at 8pm.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Posted by rhett at 12:01 AM | Comments (1)
February 21, 2007
Ash Wednesday: The Journey Begins
"Remember that you are dust, And unto dust you shall return."
Instead of writing something new, I am looking back at an old post, Ash Wednesday and the Beginning of a Journey, which reflects on the journey that begins at Ash Wednesday, and how I, an Evangelical Protestant began to see the importance of this day and the journey it leads one down to Easter.
Posted by rhett at 01:45 PM | Comments (0)
Is your view of women in ministry Biblical?
Scot McKnight always has some thoughtful and provocative posts on a variety of topics, especially of the issue of women in ministry. Here is a great post, Women in Ministry: Are you Biblical?, where he makes some great observations and ask some questions, leaving us to wrestle with them. Scot always seems to have a quickly filling comment section in his posts as well.
Posted by rhett at 01:16 PM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2007
Reading Donald Miller makes me laugh out loud!
It is almost always without fail that when reading Donald Miller I will laugh out loud through various parts of his book. Last night was one of those nights. Laying in bed late at night I tried hard not to wake my wife up as he was busting me up.
I came across this line and lost it:
In the end, women are really attracted to guys who have their crap together. I doubt there are many women enamored by the idea of living in a box under a bridge, sucking on a bouillon cube while her man reads Emerson." (pp. 111) To Own A Dragon: Reflections On Growing Up Without A Father
I still have those moments where I picture myself in some hut in the African wild while I journal away at night and read poetry. Then reality hits that I'm married and have our first child on the way in July. So maybe sitting in the hut in Africa while I read Neruda is out of the question for now.
Someday? Maybe.
Posted by rhett at 10:46 AM | Comments (0)
Vocation and Identity Sidetrack: Failure
The following post is a sidetrack from my ongoing reflection on the book Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer. To read earlier posts on the series you can click on the links below.
Vocation and Identity: Part 1--True Self
Vocation and Identity: Part 2--Birthright Gifts
Vocation and Identity: Part 3--Limitations and Possibilities
Vocation and Identity: Part 4--Perfect in Weakness
Vocation and Identity: Part 5--"Whose Am I?"
Over the course of this series on Vocation and Identity I have talked a little about our potential, our limits, our successes and our weaknesses. These things often shape and guide us along the right path and help us discern our vocation, identity and calling. Without them there is little that gives us as blatant cues about the path we are on. Except failure! I have written on failure in other areas of life, especially in writing which is sometimes a scary venture for me.
But I wonder how often we embrace failure in our lives and learn from it? Rather than seeing it as a bad and destructive thing, maybe it's important to view failure as a tool in guiding us in the right direction and more firmly shaping our vocation and identity, and giving us lessons for the future.
I have failed in a lot of areas in my life, but I have also realized how often I put myself in places and opportunties where the possibility of failure is limited. I mean, who wants to fail? We don't intentionally get into a job or a relationship or a venture hoping or knowing it will fail. Nor should we. But I hope that it is not failure that keeps us from attempting things and discovering more of who we are.
I have written before about my newfound and passionate interest in running. There is nothing like running which constantly puts me in a place of possible failure. Everytime I go out there is the possibility that I might fail. I might not be at the pace I need. I might not be able to ascend that mountain trail like I need to. I might not be able to do that extra two miles longer than I have ever run. This is what is so terrifying and absolutely enthralling about running.
I ran the Chicago Marathon this last October. It was my first marathon and I loved it. Everytime I went out and trained for the marathon I was running new distances I had never run before. About 4-5 miles was the most I had ever run, so when I went out for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 they were all new to me and I knew I could fail. And then lining up for the race I knew I had never run 26.2 before. That failure was a possibility.
I finished the race which was a victory for me. But I finished in 4:13 and not under 4:00 like I had wanted. That was failure for me. But I learned from the race, my successes, my limits, my failures and I feel that I have put myself in a better position for the LA Marathon which is coming up on March 4. My goal is to break 4:00 hours and I don't know if that will happen, but that's what makes running so exciting. The possibility to both succeed at one's goals and to fail at one's goals loom ahead.
This last Friday I went out for my last 20 mile run before the race and I totally bonked at mile 15. It was miserable and I almost gave up but knew if I didn't finish the last 5 miles it would destroy my confidence. I had failed that night to set my pacing goal, but I also learned a lesson. I learned that I can't run that far without eating better on that day. One meal and a couple of power bars don't cut it.
This is where failure is important and teaches us important lessons about future success. Failure can teach us more about who we are (identity) and about who are to become (vocation and calling). But the problem is, is that we often safeguard for failure rather than testing ourselves or trying new things. This is where we play it safe, rather than reach after our goals or passions.
So for me, running puts me in touch with this aspect of my life and teaches me important lessons about life.
What is it for you? Maybe it's music? Acting? Photography? Art? A new hobby? Public speaking?
vocation, identity, calling, books, LA Marathon
Posted by rhett at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2007
Vocation and Identity in Pop Culture
Speaking of vocation and identity, did anyone see LOST on Wednesday night. And by vocation I mean pushing a button. But that fits into the relational aspect of vocation and identity that I discuss below. Pushing the button, which seems trivial, only has a lot of meaning in the context of community. Crazy!
Posted by rhett at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)
Vocation and Identity: Part 5--"Whose am I?"
The following post is an ongoing reflection on the book Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer. To read earlier posts on the series you can click on the links below.
Vocation and Identity: Part 1--True Self
Vocation and Identity: Part 2--Birthright Gifts
Vocation and Identity: Part 3--Limitations and Possibilities
Vocation and Identity: Part 4--Perfect in Weakness
"The Quaker teacher Douglas Steere was fond of saying that the ancient human question 'Who am I?' leads inevitably to the equally important question, 'Whose am I?'--for there is no selfhood outside of relationship. We must ask the question of selfhood and answer it as honestly as we can, no matter where it takes us. Only as we do so can we discover the community of our lives.
As I learn more about the seed of true self that was planted when I was born, I also learn more about the ecosystem in which I was planted--the network of communal relationships in which I am called to live responsively, accountably and joyfully with beings of every sort. Only when I konw both seed and system, self and community, can I embody the great commandment to love both my neighbor and myself." (pp. 17)
I love this excerpt from the book. It really expands the whole concept of identity and vocation as being simply about "me", "I", et cetera and expands it to the community and the relationships that we have. It is one thing to ask questions about and wrestle with what I should do, but it's a completely different thing to ponder about whom I'm to live out my vocation before, and from whom am I to gain a sense of identity from. For Palmer and others, any sense of identity comes from the relationships that we are a part of, and outside of those relationship, we do not get a clear picture of our own identity.
Let's play this out:
--As Christians we gain our sense of identity in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Outside of this relationship with Jesus Christ our lives bear no meaning and our sense of calling, vocation and work is lost. Think about who you would be without your relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it Christ that helps give shape to your identity and meaning to your vocation and calling?
--In the first couple of chapters of Genesis something interesting is happening here as well in regards to relationship. Before Eve we see Adam as something entirely different. The Hebrew refers to him as more like an "earth creature" or that which comes from the ground. He is basically without identity or selfhood. And it is only when Eve comes that Adam moves from "earth creature" to Adam, or from "earth creature" to man. Without relationship Adam is simply without selfhood, with Eve, they become man and woman. This identity forms and gives shape to their life, selfhood and vocation.
--Or think of the theological term, perichoresis which is used to express the triune relationship between the members of the Godhead. It expresses their mutuality and reciprocity amongst each other as members of the Godhead in this beautiful triune relationship.
--At the baptism of Jesus, Mark 1:9-11, we see the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as Jesus is sent out into the wilderness to prepare for his vocation/ministry. His identity comes out of his relationship between the members of the Godhead.
Obviously, there is a lot to be said here and many have said these things better than me. But one of the things we must question and wrestle with when it comes to our vocation and identity is, "Whose am I?" Who are the people and the community that I belong to? Knowing this answer, or at least wrestling with the answer can often guide us in the right direction. We were not created to exist simply as individuals, so that we can do our own thing and act on our own whims. We have been created to exist in community and to live out our calling and vocation among others.
"Whose are you?" That is where much of the journey begins.
vocation, identity, calling, books
Posted by rhett at 07:59 AM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2007
Vocation and Identity: Part 4--Perfect in Weakness
The following post is an ongoing reflection on the book Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer. To read earlier posts on the series you can click on the links below.
Vocation and Identity: Part 1
Vocation and Identity: Part 2
Vocation and Identity: Part 3
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
In the previous post I discussed the issue of our limitations. That we live within the tension of facing both our potential and possibilities when it comes to career, calling, vocation, as well as facing our limitations and how that may shape, form or guide our direction.
We sometimes are trapped in language games and when we don't use the right word we can sometimes fail to really understand or grasp what we are talking about or the issue at hand.
Parker's use of the word limitations had me thinking about Paul's use of the word weakness. They are not the same word and do not have the same meaning, but they are both helpful. Why? Because as people we don't like to believe that we are weak. We don't like to believe that we have limits to what we can do. For Paul, we are not quite sure what this weakness was, though many have written on the topic. Most believe that it was more rooted in some physical weakness, either of body or mind. For Palmer, the use of the word limitation seems to imply a lack of a certain skill, or gift, or possibly a hindrance from others that may keep us from pursuing what we want, or believe we want.
However you want to dress up a word, or interchange it's meanings, the reality is, is that as humans we are filled with both limitations and weaknesses. Instead of seeing this as a bad thing, or as some impedement to our goals, this is actually a blessing. Acknowledging our limitations and weaknesses allow us to (even forces us to) rely on others for strength. As Christians, this acknowledgement is the gracious movement away from self-reliance towards reliance on Jesus Christ whose power rests on us.
How do you view limitations or weaknesses in your own life? As good or bad?
For myself, they have helped me understand better who I am, and have therefore allowed me to pursue the things that I believe God is truly calling me towards, rather than constantly banging my head against a wall to make other things happen with my own power.
vocation, identity, calling, books
Posted by rhett at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2007
Sex God Tour
I am pleased to announce that our college ministry, The Quest is helping host Rob Bell on the Sex God Tour of six university campuses.
I will write more about this event as it gets closer, but we have been excited for a while.
See you Thursday, March 8 at UCLA
Posted by rhett at 11:21 PM | Comments (0)
Vocation and Identity: Part 3--Limitations and Possibilites
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation is one of those books where if you are someone who underlines things when you read, well then you will have a very hard time deciding what not to underline. There are so many great sections in the book and it has been very impactful on my life as I have stated before.
One of the things that I love about the book the most is Parker's acknowledgement that we live within the tension of both our limitations and possibilities, our strengths and weaknesses. A lot of books on "calling" stress the idea or concept that we are able to do anything and everything we want to do, without recognizing the fact that we are sometimes limited. That sometimes our true self, in all its authenticness is limited in what it can do. We do not like to believe that I know. Some may find this very paralyzying, while others may find it freeing. I have fallen under both categories. I used to believe it a weakness that I could not do certain things, and instead I just tried harder and harder. But I have come to now believe that recognizing our limitations is a gift, and instead of closing doors on us, frees us up to move in the right direction.
Part of the battle in acknowledging our limitations is wrapped up in our identity. If we come to the place where we can't do certain things or we feel like the doors have shut that often most directly affects our identity and what we believe about ourselves. What we believe others think of us. What we believe God thinks about us. Our inability to live within the tension of both limitations and possibilities, strengths and weaknesses, is often our inability to believe that our identity rests in our relationship with Jesus Christ, rather than in the things we do.
I believe very strongly that we are most free when our identity rests in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and our vocation comes out of the knowledge of that relationship. Rather than the reversal that we often do. We do not have a vocation and then come to God and say, "This is who I am." Rather, we are who we are (Parker's true self) when we are in relationship with Jesus Christ.
Let me leave you with an extended quote from Palmer that I think speaks more succinctly to what I am trying to convey.
"Everything in the universe has a nature, which means limits as well as potentials, a truth well known by people who work daily with the things of the world. Making pottery, for example, involves more than telling the clay what to become. The clay presses back on the potter's hands, telling her what it can and cannot do--and if she fails to listen, the outcome will be both frail and ungainly. Engineering involves more than telling materials what they must do. If the engineer does not honor the nature of the steel or the wood or the stone, his failure will go beyond aesthetics: the bridge or the building will collapse and put human life in peril.
The human self also has a nature, limits as well as potentials. If you seek vocation without understanding the material you are working with, what you build with your life will be ungainly and may well put lives in peril, your own and some of those around you. "Faking it" in the service of high values is no virtue and has nothing to do with vocation. It is an ignorant, sometimes arrogant, attempt to override one's nature, and it will always fail.
Our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic selfhood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks--we will also find our path of authentic service in the world. True vocation joins self and service, as Frederick Buechner asserts when he defines vocation as 'the place where your deep gladness meets the world's deep need.'" (Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer, pp. 15-16)
vocation, identity, calling, books
Posted by rhett at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)
February 09, 2007
PYD: Positive Youth Development
Over the course of this last year I have become increasingly more interested in the topic of Positive Youth Development or PYD, both from a theoretical and practitioner standpoint. This concept can be found in many arenas of study, but I have been most exposed to it from a theological and psychological standpoint and I'm very attracted to it. The idea that in working with youth (i.e. youth ministry, community mental health, etc.) we emphasize the positive aspects of development, rather than focusing on youth and their problems is very appealing and helpful. We too often see the youth in this country and many cultures looked upon as having problems that need to be fixed, rather than encouraging positive developments and helping kids achieve.
I know that Fuller Theological Seminary has been on the forefront of much of this study in the theological and psychological fields. You can find this concept in the work of practitioners such as Chap Clark who is a very influential voice in youth ministry.
Yesterday in one of my classes we had a great lecture and conversation with Cynthia King-Guffey who is the Executive Director of Thrive Foundation for Youth. It was great to hear from her and the work that they are doing.
positive youth development, Thrive Foundation, PYD
Posted by rhett at 01:35 PM | Comments (0)
February 08, 2007
Vocation and Identity: Part 2--Birthright Gifts
"We arrive in this world with birthright gifts--then we spend the first half of our lives abandoning them or letting other disabuse us of them. As young people, we are surrounded by expectations that may have little to do with who we really are, expectations held by people who are not trying to discern our selfhood but to fit us into slots. In families, schools, workplaces, and religious communities, we are trained away from true self toward images of acceptability; under social pressures like racism and sexism our original shape is deformed beyond recognition; and we ourselves, driven by fear, too many often betray true self to gain the approval of others." (Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer, pp. 12)
As we continue to look at Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer, I was really struck by this quote of his. At the age of 32 I'm just now beginning to realize how much of what I do and have done is driven by the pressure to fit in. By the pressure to please others. By the pressure to perform. By the pressure to climb to the top. A lot of those expectations drove me to do some really great things, but as I reflect more on my life, those great things have not always been congruent with who I am, or what Parker would refer to as one's true self.
As the son of a pastor I was slotted early on to continue the vocation of ministry. Those were not the expectations of my father or probably most of my family, but there were expectations from those around me. I think that is what drove me early on to enter into ministry, but that is hopefully what no longer keeps me there. Confession: It is only after some extensive self-searching, work with my therapist, spiritual mentors, etc. have I come to embrace my "birthright gifts" and become less concerned with the expectations of others.
I have written on the topic of identity in other blog posts, and especially what Henri Nouwen has to say about it. But I'm continually struck by the scene in Mark 1:9-11, where the Spirit descends from heaven at the baptism of Jesus, and the voice of His Father, says, "You are my Son, with whom I am well pleased." What is striking about that scene? As Nouwen and others point out is that the Father was pleased with His Son before He performed any of the ministry that we know Him for and have shaped His identity around. Before any miracles, healings, casting out of demons, teachings, etc., the Father was well pleased with the Son.
As Christians we often find our worth and our identity based upon our performances or the things we have done. Think about what usually comes out of our mouth when someone asks about us: we give our names, what we do, etc. Nothing really about who we are. Our identity is most often not formed outside of or away from the things we do or the expectations around them.
Questions:
What would our lives look like if we knew that our heavenly Father was well pleased with who we are...even outside of anything we have done?
How often do we come to God wanting to gain our identity and acceptance by the things we do?
How often do we conform to the slots and expectations of others based on our performances, rather than finding our identity in our relationship with Jesus Christ?
vocation, identity, calling, books
Posted by rhett at 06:14 PM | Comments (2)
February 07, 2007
Tonight...LOST...FINALLY!
Posted by rhett at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)
Dan Kimball's new book...
Scot McKnight has a good blurb about Dan Kimball's new book They Like Jesus but Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations. Scot summarizes some of Dan's thoughts after Dan decided to get out of his office and stop hanging out with Christians all week. Here are some of his observations that he wrestles with in his new book:
1. The church is an organized religion with a political agenda.
2. The church is judgmental and negative.
3. The church is dominated by males and oppresses females.
4. The church is homophobic.
5. The church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong.
6. The church is full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally.
One of the things that I love most about college ministry is going to their campuses and hanging out with them at coffee or whatever. Students rarely, if ever come to hang out at church (especially since ours is off the beaten path) so it is necessary to go to their turf. There are things I learn that I would never have a clue about if I was hanging out with them in my office.
emerging church, books, missional,
Posted by rhett at 12:25 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2007
Vocation and Identity: Part 1--True Self
Yeah, I've been gone from blogging for a long time. Since January 17th. That is my longest break from blogging since I went away on my honeymoon. There were several reasons why I was away: 1) I was very, very sick and pretty much bedridden and out of it for over a week; 2) This is my second to last quarter of my MFT program and it has been absolutely crazy; 3) I had nothing to say 4) Blogging seemed forced, rather than the usual ease it typically was.
But what seemed really evident to me was that the longer I went without blogging the more difficult it was for me. I've learned to realize that a lot of my identity comes from my blogging. I know that sounds crazy, but it is true. My identity is shaped by other bloggers; by commenters; by affirmation, etc. Knowing this, it seemed really important that I actually not force blogging, but take the necessary time away from it.
And while I was away I have been reading and exploring the idea of identity and vocation more at length. One of my favorite books on this topic is Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer. I first read the book in 2002 when I was finishing up my M. Div. at Fuller at it greatly impacted me and some of my friends. I have since read it over a couple of times and I'm about to finish it again. It is very powerful.
What I want to do over the next month or so is interact with this book and explore some of his ideas regarding vocation (and I will back to my "normal" blogging as well). Why? Because vocation is such an important aspect of our lives, and most of us wrestle at length with what our "vocation" should be....or what our "calling" truly is. For many people this seems like a very easy choice. But as I explore more of this topic and the interweavings and connection between identity and vocation, I have come to belive that many of us find ourselves in places that aren't where we truly want to be, or what we want to do.
Parker Palmer makes the insightful comment that:
"True self (this is what Parker also refers to as the "imago dei" in us), when violated, will always resist us, sometimes at great cost, holding our lives in check until we honor its truth." (pp. 4)
As we find ourselves in very different places in life (graduating from college, looking for jobs, looking for second careers, stuck in a career, etc.) we may find that our identity is being violated. Palmer says:
"The deepest vocational question is not 'What ought I to do with my life?' It is the more elemental and demanding 'Who am I? What is my nature?'"
This is something I have been thinking about and hope to explore with you.
Question: How do we know when we are in the right vocation? When do we know we have found our calling?
vocation, identity, calling, books
Posted by rhett at 11:35 AM | Comments (3)
