the drum|rob fairbanks

Revelation and the Violent “Prize Fighting” Jesus

"In an interview several years ago for Relevant Magazine, Mark Driscoll (well known pastor
of Mars Hill in Seattle) said,

“In Revelation, Jesus is a prize-fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed. That is the guy I can worship. I cannot worship the hippie, diaper, halo Christ because I cannot worship a guy I can beat up.” (You can find the original interview here). 

I frankly have trouble understanding how a follower of Jesus could find himself unable to worship a guy he could “beat up” when he already crucified him"

via www.gregboyd.org

The like above is an interesting blog by author and friend, Greg Boyd. Greg is currently writing a book on nonviolent interpretations of Old Testament literature. He tackles the idea of whether we can interpret the book of Revelation in on violent way. He suggests that it is not only possible, but necessary.

This blog from Greg is well worth reading. Clip the link to read the rest of Greg's thoughts.  Let me know what you think.

Some Help for a Case of Anxiety

I took a bit of a retreat this last week – two and a half days. To be honest with you, I have been seriously stressed out lately.  I have concerns about my family, concerns about my travel schedule, and concerns about the organization that I run. I even have concerns about my concerns!!!  To say that I have been a little uptight would be a colossal understatement. 

There are two things I need to let you in on: one is that I love baths. The bathtub at my house is quite small so I rarely take baths, but I love them.  I love sautéing!  The place I stayed on my short retreat, however, had an amazing, extra large, “my size” tub. You know, the kind that you can get your whole body under water in (I hate the kind you have to keep flipping around in to stay warm enough)?  I think I took like five baths during three days. Perhaps it was a bit of an overkill, but it was luxurious. Secondly, I try to make a habit of listening to a prayer service off the Web called “Pray-as-you-go.”  You should check it out!

While I was away, I tried to combine both of those. In other words, I would take a bath and listen to “pray-as-you-go.”

On the Monday installment, the Scripture that was read was taken from Luke 10. It's the story of Mary and Martha.

“Now as they were traveling along, he entered a village; and woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to his word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came to him and said, ‘Lord, do not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”

When the reader (who happened to have a Scottish brogue that sounded just like Sean Connery – which seriously helps Scripture sound more authoritative) read the line, “... you are worried and bothered about so many things...” I had one of those moments that I sensed that it was directly to me. If you're an introspective person, often times the pressures of the world and even life itself becomes quite onerous. I must admit being a "card carrying" member of Club Martha. Worried and bothered by so many things!  I should know better!

Another passage that came to my mind was from Philippians 4. These are Paul's words:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The challenging point for me in this is when Paul says, “…the Lord is near.” When I am bound up, worried and bothered by many things, it is as if I am acting like I don’t believe all this Jesus stuff. I don't really trust that the Lord is close, or present. If I really believed that he was present, in his power, in his grace, and in his mercy, would I actually be living in anxiety? It seems to me, that I would be able to garner hope even in the most distressing situations.  Not fake or plastic hope, but a hope that buoys and fashions a passageway through.

The answer that Paul gives to this mystery is that I/we are to petition or pray coupled with thanksgiving and the upshot is this: we'll have peace that doesn't even make sense! Peace that is literally a sentry for our souls.

What types of things are you worried about? What are the burdens? What types of things bring you anxiety? Do we have, do I have faith to pray with gratitude about these things and live into the reality that God is not distant but near bringing needed shalom to my frayed context?

Essential theology books of the past 25 years | The Christian Century

via www.christiancentury.org

I thought this was an interesting piece entitled, "Essential theology books of the past 25 years," from The Christian Century.

If you were to give your top 3-5 theological books, what would they be?  Take a look at the ones suggested here and then share your top ones!

A Response to Hate?

My area (Spokane, WA, U.S.) has the grand privilege of hosting the rancorous and outright hateful Westboro Baptist folk in a few weeks.  You know about them – the group with the website www.godhatesfags.com

They really are a sad group. There are counter protests being formed across our city.  I am certain that there will be hundreds, if not thousands out to meet them, with varied approaches.  In one way, the counter protest is perfect for them - they get more attention. I honestly think they are the enemy of love and Jesus told us what to do with our enemies...right? I don't know what that looks like exactly, but I do know that Paul said we were to overcome evil with good.

So, how can we live into what we believe, instead of being sucked into the emotions of a group that grows strong on reaction?

"For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement." James 2:13

 

Ten greatest challenges of planting in Urban America - Dan Steigerwald

For over two decades now, I’ve had the privilege of being involved in church planting and pioneering leadership (both directly and/or walking alongside as a coach to such leadership). Realizing that contextual realities make this ridiculous to apply generically across the board, here’s some of what I’ve seen as the greatest challenges to successful church planting. Two things I’ll mention up front: 1) Spiritual warfare isn’t on the list, it’s just assumed at every level; and, 2) the order below does not represent any ranking by importance, just my outpouring of thoughts. I do invite feedback, as I know my list will be found to leave out other critical challenges my mind isn’t grabbing at the moment. NOTE: I’m still using the word “planting” because it’s easier to get around with that descriptor when talking about forming new churches (though “birthing” is maybe more accurate as a term for describing the process of starting missional incarnational churches).

via dansteigerwald4ca.wordpress.com

From my now, very prolific traveling buddy and blogger friend, Dan Steigerwald. Fantastic thoughts Dan!!!

Incarnating the Gospel - The Importance of Friendship

 Here is a great blog from Matt Daniels (also posted on Christian Associates' site}.  Matt, and his wonderful wife Toni, are two of CA's missionaries in Uruguay.  He leads an amazing project called El Living.  He pretty much captures the essence of what we are talking about when we use the terms "incarnational ministry."

All the categories have changed for me in 12 years of being a missionary. "Mission agency." "Sending country." "Host culture." "The nationals"… Honestly sometimes I think that last one comes out just as pedantic as "the natives," only it sounds much more educated among missiological circles. But perhaps years of plowing dry, crusted soil under the hot sun have fried my brains. I don't seem to know many nationals, but over time, I have made some friends. They seem to be people that get what I am about, and who bring me a glass of water when I fall in a heap.

They used to call Uruguay "the graveyard of missions." I think they should have called it "the graveyard of paradigms." The Lord knows, all mine are long dead.  Some days I barely remember their names.

My wife Toni and I came here more than ten years ago for the first time to focus on initiating Christ-communities among what Patrick Johnstone called, "the least-reached group of people in any one place in Latin America." 90% ethnically European, 110% philosophically French Enlightenment, Uruguayans enjoy one of Latin America's largest middle classes. These are the same people that make it so hard for so many. The ones who tell me, "It is not in our genes to believe."

Over the years, my plans and programs have been shredded time and again. The tri-fold sniper fire of culture shock, spiritual warfare, and personal-baggage-denied have taken a dozen or so of my close friends and colleagues, and still leave me limping quite regularly. If it weren't for my friends, maybe I'd be gone too.

God has brought me friends.  Some of them knew Him already. Some of them have come to know him. Some are on their way, and some, sadly, never will.  Along the way, with all my slick plans blown away and my seminary notebooks fertilizing the weeds in the local dump, I have learned a bit about listening. I have learned a bit about nurturing hope when I see it. About praying. About touching. About following.

Only now, twelve years after we first came, do we feel like we are finding water, like we grew a long taproot. I am walking in close friendships with people who sneer if I call myself "gringo" and laugh at me if I call them a "national."

We are just brothers. And sisters. And friends. We meet in small groups. In big groups. One-on-one. We run citywide service initiatives. We are opening a missional training house and want to open a coffee shop, when we get a little extra change and the right people to step into the friendship. And perhaps that, in the end, is what we do best. Friendship.

That's just about the only category I have left in my great adventure in Uruguay. And then, I guess it's the only one I need.

CA missionary, Phil Graf on the trans-cultural Missional Life

via www.youtube.com

Some wise thoughts on the trans-cultural missionary life from my CA colleague and buddy, Phil Graf. The clip was done by OC leader, Dave DeVries. Phil explains the tensions that he has experienced living outside of his host culture. Good stuff Phil (and thanks Dave)!

Missional Church in Europe

 

"The local church in much of Europe is like a crippled man.  We must not turn in disgust and abandon this hurting man.  We also must not criticize him for how he got himself in this position, or walk around him to get our task done.  We must come alongside him and help him to walk straight and powerfully.  Indeed, this man could bring great hope to his people if first healed and directed onward!"

- Robert Calvert

A Deep Deep Faith - There is Something Powerful about Food?!?!

 Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell says she tried "every other kind of religion," including witchcraft and Buddhism but became a Christian because of her love of Italian food.

via religion.blogs.cnn.com

This is hilarious. I have no idea where her actual faith is, but I had to post this just because. I could say, "God works in mysterious ways," or that people are just religiously weird in the U.S.