In his book, The Prodigal God, Timothy Keller discusses the parable of the lost son, and more specifically he details the state of heart of the “Elder Brother” in that parable.  Here is an excerpt:  ”Elder brothers base their self-images on being hardworking, or moral, or members of an elite clan, or extremely smart and savvy.  This inevitably leads to feeling superior to those who don’t have those same qualities.  In fact, competitive comparison is the main way elder brothers achieve a sense of their own significance.  Racism and classism are just different versions of this form of the self-salvation project.  This dynamic becomes exceptionally intense when elder brothers pride themselves above all for their right religion.  If a group believes God favors them because of their particularly true doctrine, ways of worship, and ethical behavior, their attitude toward those without these things can be hostile.  Their self-righteousness hides under the claim that they are only opposing the enemies of God.  When you look at the world through those lenses, it becomes easy to justify hate and oppression, all in the name of truth.  As Richard Lovelace has written:

‘[People] who are no longer sure that God loves and accepts them in Jesus, apart from their present spiritual achievements, are subconsciously radically insecure persons…Their insecurity shows itself in pride, a fierce, defensive assertion of their own righteousness, and defensive criticism of others.  They come naturally to hate other cultural styles and other races in order to bolster their own security and discharge their suppressed anger.’

Elder brother self-righteousness not only creates racism and classism, but at the personal level creates an unforgiving, judgmental spirit.  This elder brother cannot pardon his younger brother for the way he has weakened the family’s place in society, disgraced their name, and diminished their wealth.  He highlights the fact that the younger brother has been with prostitutes, while he has been living a chaste life at home.  ’I would never do anything as bad as that!’ he is saying in his heart.  Because he does not see himself as being part of a common community of sinners, he is trapped by his own bitterness.  It is impossible to forgive someone if you feel superior to him or her.

If you can’t control your temper, and you see someone else losing theirs in exactly the same way that you do, you tend to forgive them, because you know you are no better a person than they.  How can I hold this against them when I am just as bad? you think.  However, because elder brothers’ sin and antipathy to God is hidden deep beneath layers of self-control and moral behavior, they have no trouble feeling superior to just about anyone.  If they see people who lie, or cheat on their wives, or don’t pray to God–they look down on them.  If such people wrong them, elder brothers feel their spotless record gives them the right to be highly offended and to perpetually remind the wrongdoer of his or her failure.”

Keller goes on, “If the elder brother had known his own heart, he would have said, ‘I am just as self-centered and a grief to my father in my own way as my brother is in his.  I have no right to feel superior.’  Then he would have had the freedom to give his brother the same forgiveness that his father did.  But elder brothers do not see themselves this way.  Their anger is a prison of their own making.”

“Prayer to me is far more than just a monologue with God.  It’s breathing…it’s being.”

Triibe is a group of guys, that primarily go to Believers Church, that are exploring news ways of communicating and praying with God through drums.

You can check out a short video about Triibe here.

Recently, the Triibe guys went down to an area in Tulsa called Brookside to have a time of prayer whilst beating on drums late on a Thursday night.  Several of the guys play percussion while others will get on the mic and intercede with the rhythm.  This was a small, closed session in an abandoned retail store, until the room began to get stuffy and someone opened the front door to let some air in.  The room started to fill with patrons from the surrounding restaurants and bars on Brookside.  This was exciting.  Then it started to get a little more exciting when the people coming in from off of the streets began to pray on the microphones.  A closed prayer session started finding itself gaining momentum in a hurry.

One of the people from off the street began praying on the mic in a very bizarre way.  He was swearing at God.  His prayers were full of anger and the cuss words were flying.  Adam, one of the Triibe guys, went over to ask him what was going on.  He responded, “I hate God.  I hate the Church.”  Adam said, “I’m sorry to hear that.”  The guy, still full of anger, continued on about how destructive the Church has been to him.  Adam replied again, “I’m sorry to hear that.  We care about you, man.”  Then the guy inquired, “How much do you guys rent this space for?”  Adam said, “He didn’t know.  He was just down here to pray, but he could find out.”  After that, the guy remarked, “Because I would like to pay for the next three months rent for you guys to be down here.”

In a matter of five minutes, this guy went from swearing at God on the microphone, to offering to pay for the rent so Triibe could continue to pray in that space.  The living God is at work in our cities.  May we be open to His rhythms.

Our Junior High group recently went on a local missions trip called Tulsa Missions over spring break.  The students got the opportunity to serve local organizations in our city and bring hope to many.  At the end of the week, we asked our students what they had learned, and here are a few of the responses:

“I learned that God gave some of us blessings and resources and others not as much.  We should use the things that God gave us to help others.  That is why God gave us things.  Most people who are wealthy and have resources don’t worry about the people who aren’t doing so well, and I think we should.  We need to reach out and help people.”–Jordan R.

“This week when I went to CARA I met a boy named Keith–he was deaf–and I felt really bad for him, but I was so happy to see him having the time of his life playing football, basketball and breakdancing.  I also met a 20 year-old guy named Kerry, who had down syndrome, we built his family a wheelchair ramp.  There is a ton more about the homeless shelter; like it really touched my heart when I saw how fortunate I am to have a bed, house, car, food, water, and a loving family.”– Alexandra S.

“I learned that God can be everywhere, especially where you don’t expect it.  Also that even if you have almost nothing that you can still be happy and can laugh and smile no matter what your situation.  We have so much and we still want more, and 10 miles down the road there are people that can’t afford a tube of toothpaste.  We need to reach out and touch people all we can.”–Sam K.

Beautiful stuff from 7th and 8th grade students.

Lawrence Kushner writes in God was in the Place & I, i did not know, “Ego is not thinking you’re a talented or good person.  This is only self-confidence, or, in extreme cases, ordinary conceit.  Ego is arrogance.  It is thinking that you are better than someone else.  It is making yourself big in the presence and at the expensive, of someone else.  A hermit cannot be arrogant.  An ego needs someone else, another person, one you believe to be inferior to you, in front of whom you can preen, raise your chin, and stretch your beautiful neck.”

Kushner goes on, “There is more to humility than merely how you view yourself or your ego.  Humility is a function of how you view others.  Your attention is directed outward.  Arrogance is making yourself great in the presence and at the expense of another; humility is realizing that, whatever your greatness, power, knowledge, grace, or even kindness, you are never greater than another.

Humility is built around the notion that each person is unique and, therefore, precious.  In each person there is a priceless treasure that is in no other.  Therefore, one shall honor each person for the hidden value that only this person and no one else has.  Humility is not being in the presence of people who are better than we are, but simply being in the presence of people, any people, for they are all as unique as we are.  Humility commences with the realization that no one is inferior or superior to anyone else.  This fundamental egalitarianism then matures into a willingness to give of oneself to another.  Until, finally, true humility generates a love for all creatures.

In Judaism, the most elegant and commonly practiced method for subduing the ego is a loose catalog of acts called gemilut hasidim, usually translated as deeds of loving kindness.  Acts of gemilut hasidim customarily include leaving unharvested produce in the corners of the field for the poor and the stranger, extending hospitality to wayfarers, visiting the sick, ransoming those held captive, providing clothing for the naked, feeding the hungry, dowering the impoverished bride, attending the dead to the grave, comforting mourners, showing deference to the aged.”

Kushner seems to have an unbelievable understanding of how our identity is to be firmly rooted in being an image bearer of God (Genesis 1:26-28).  Each one of us is uniquely designed and wired with specific giftings and skill-sets, which means in every one of us “is a priceless treasure that is in no other.”   This concept of being an image bearer is how we are to find our identity.  But what I would like us to focus on, is once we understand our identity as an image bearer, what that means for how we view others.

Do we also view others as image bearers?  Do we view everyone as equal solely because they are a human being, an image bearer too?  It is only when we do, that we can begin to let go of our egos (our egos that keep us thinking that we are superior to someone else) to leave a corner of unharvested produce in the field for the poor and the stranger.  It is in these ways that our egos are directly connected to our heart for justice.

I find it very hard to act normal when I am around famous people.  I get smitten.  Some people have the ability to play it cool when they encounter celebrities, but I am not one of those people.  I try to play it cool for a little while, but inevitably I get star-struck.  I can’t stop starring and that usually leads to me having to ask for an autograph or asking them a ridiculous line of questions that is embarrassing for everybody involved.

Once I was at a Presbyterian Church in California when I saw Judge Reinhold.  Now Judge Reinhold is not a real judge but he is the actor who plays Billy Rosewood in the movie, Beverly Hills Cop III.  During praise and worship a friend taps me on the shoulder and says, “Hey isn’t that the guy who was in that Eddie Murphy movie?”  And immediately I start humming the Axel Foley theme song.  It takes us a while to come up with his name, but when it comes to us I start to get smitten.  I try to listen to the message, but for some reason I keep looking over in his direction thinking about how he shot that rocket launcher backwards in Beverly Hills Cop III (all the while I am still humming the theme song in my head).

After church is over, we make our way over to Judge, just to makes sure it’s really him.  It becomes clear to me that I am standing only a couple of feet from a movie star.  I am not exactly sure if he is considered a star or not but I am star-struck nonetheless.  We go over to talk to him, and I ask him a couple of incoherent questions about what new movies Eddie Murphy coming out or something like that.  But I couldn’t stop thinking to myself I am in the presence of someone famous.  I talked about that story for the rest of the day or maybe even the rest of the week.

Before I tell a friend about my encounter with Judge Reinhold, I usually first have to describe who he is to them.  I have to explain what he looks like and also refer them to his great acting abilities in Beverly Hills Cop III and his role as the close-talker on Seinfeld in order for them to truly understand the magnitude of my brush with fame.

In Matthew 16, Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “But what about you?  Who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answers, “You are Christ the Son of the living God.”  This is how Peter is describing who Jesus is to other people.  In order for people to understand our encounters with Jesus we have to describe who Jesus is to them.  We have to depict his goodness, mercy, justice, faithfulness, and love to them so they can have a better understanding of how we encounter the Son of the living God.

“Who do you say I am?”  This question is central to the foundation of Christianity.  Who do you say Jesus is?  How do you describe Jesus to other people?  Most people don’t know Judge Reinhold, so I have to go into impressive details about who he is in order for people to understand our encounter.

Similarly, most people know about Jesus but they don’t actually know who he is, so they need the impressive details.  We need to explain who Jesus is in order for people to truly understand the magnitude of His fame.  In Psalms 8 it says, “Brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.”   Jesus is the most famous One of all.  It’s an amazing thought to me that the most famous One of all is concerned with you and me!

The 00’s came to a close, so I decided to make a media decade in review list. Here we are with the last category of the decade in review: books. This category was great because it helped me to take inventory on the books that have made a big impact on my life over the last 10 years.  Here we go with my favorite books of the last decade.

Honorable Mention
Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning (2002)
Jesus and Empire by Richard Horsley (2002)
Waking the Dead by John Eldredge (2003)
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman (2004)
Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller (2005)
Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss (2006)
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne (2006)
The Year of Biblical Living by AJ Jacobs (2007)
Fidelity of Betrayal by Peter Rollins (2008)
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (2009)

10–Red Moon Rising by Pete Greig (2003)
9–Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (2001)
8–I Am America and So Can You by Stephen Colbert (2007)
7–Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller (2004)
6–Sex God by Rob Bell (2008)
5–Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2004)
4–Great Emergence by Phyllis Tickle (2008)
3–Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps (2009)
2–Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell (2005)
1–Life Of Pi by Yan Martel (2003)

Various systems or worldviews fight for power and authority.  Yet Christianity offers a radically different approach.  Christ opens up the idea of a system that seeks always to find those who are excluded from the system that is in power.  The Christian “worldview” is thus manifested as always seeking out those who have been rejected from the worldviews that have authority.  The way this works itself out in practice is that whatever political or religious idea is dominating the society at any given time, Christianity seeks out those who are excluded by it, the one sheep who is not in the pen, the one coin not in the purse, those who have not been invited to the party, the nobodies, the nothings.  The Christian “system” can thus never take power for, by definition, it is always that which stands against power, seeking to identify with the powerless and the voiceless.  It is a system in the sense that it systematically seeks out those who do not fit into the system offered by the currently prevailing political and religious authorities.

What we see being worked out within Christianity can thus be said to be a prejudice toward those who are excluded and marginalized, those who are oppressed by our religious and political systems.  This means that every time a “Christian” system is created, the Christian is the one who seeks out those who are excluded from it.  Christianity affirms a system that undermines every system of power by seeking those who are oppressed.  The Christian critique is not then directed at the people in power so much as at the place of power itself.  When a system of thought, however great, is given authority over all, it becomes oppressive and undermines its own liberative elements.  The point then is not to find the “right” way of thinking and then give it a place of power and influence, but rather to question the place of power and influence itself.

–Peter Rollins; an excerpt from The Fidelity of Betrayal

The 00’s came to a close, so I decided to make a media decade in review list. Here we go with the TV shows of the decade list. This is my weakest of all of the categories, as I don’t care about television all that much. Shows that I’ve heard I should be watching but I don’t include: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mad Men, The Wire, Dexter and The Sopranos. So maybe those could have made this list. My least favorites would have to include: American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. I apologize to all you that I just offended with that last sentence. On to the best television of the last decade.

10–The Office UK
9–Planet Earth
8–Pardon The Interruption
7–The Colbert Report
6–30 Rock
5–Lost
4–House
3–Survivor
2–The Office
1–Arrested Development

“My back hurts.”

We had just spent a night on the floor of a basketball court during an in town missions trip.  One of the guys I was with chimed in again, “My back really hurts.  But why do I feel more connected to Jesus because my back hurts from sleeping on the hardwood last night?  Like I am suffering for Jesus or something.”  This was a fascinating question.  Why did a tweaked back make him (us) feel more connected to Jesus?

During this trip, we had been serving the homeless at a downtown shelter run by the beautiful folks at Trinity Episcopal Church.  People would come in off of the streets for a hot meal, and we had the privilege to hang out with them and serve them breakfast.  I believe that my friend having an ailing back connected him (us) to Jesus by helping him to identify with the homeless people that we were serving.  Sleeping on the hardwood floors somehow helped him (us) to understand and be able to relate to those who had to sleep on the pavement the night before.  In a very small way, we could identify with the pain of being homeless, and that helped us to connect with the folks we were serving.  In do so, it also connected us with the person of Jesus.

I once heard Tony Campolo say, “We can’t just look at the Bible through middle-class American eyes, and try to fit it into our lives.  We have to identify with the poor in order to understand the message of the Bible.”

We need to identify and relate with the poor and the hurting.  We need to begin to put a face to pain–a face to suffering–a face to a statistic.  In doing so, does it also help us to better understand the gospel message of Jesus Christ?

“Compassion grows with the inner recognition that your neighbor shares your humanity with you.  This partnership cuts through all walls, which might have kept you separate.  Across all barriers of land and language, wealth and poverty, knowledge and ignorance, we are one, created from the same dust, subject to the same laws, and destined for the same end.  With this compassion you can say, ‘In the face of the oppressed I recognized my own face and in the hands of the oppressor I recognize my own hand.  Their flesh is my flesh, their blood is my blood, their pain is my pain, and their smile is my smile.  Their ability to torture is in me, too; their capacity to forgive I find also in myself.  There is nothing in me that does not belong to them too; nothing in them that does not belong to me’…In the depths of my being, I meet my fellow humans with whom I share love and have life and death.”  Henri Nouwen; With Open Hands

The 00’s came to a close, so I decided to make a media decade in review list. Here we go with the movies of the decade list. My criteria for this list is less about the technical aspect of the movie and more about the story (which I realize the irony of that statement by placing Avatar and on my 2009 list, so no need to point it out). Did the story tap into some deeper truth about how our world works? Did the story help me realize something about myself or the about our culture? So, this is my personal top ten movies list, not necessarily the movies that I think should be up for the Academy Awards of the decade.

Honorable Mention
Castaway (2000)
The Incredibles (2004)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Once (2007)
Up (2009)

10–Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
9–Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
8–Children of Men (2006)
7–The Dark Knight (2008)
6–Royal Tennebaums (2001)
5–Reign Over Me (2007)
4–About A Boy (2002)
3–Wall-e (2008)
2–Memento (2000)
1–Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)