main cow pic

07.30.10

Anne Rice has quit being a Christian

Filed under: books,God's movement — 7:18 pm

I’m reading a bold new book called “Mere Churchianity” by Michael Spencer. He believes that in many cases “the church has overadvertised something it has lost”, and tells story after story of people who need to leave church in order to find Jesus.  Fascinating stuff.  And it seems that Anne Rice (bestselling novelist who’s been very outspoken about her faith) agrees with him.  Here are her two latest facebook posts:

Anne Rice

“Today I quit being a Christian.  I’m out.  I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity.  It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputation, and deservedly infamous group.  For ten years, I’ve tried.  I’ve failed.  I’m an outsider.  My conscience will allow nothing else.”

“In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay.  I refuse to be anti-feminist.  I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control.  I refuse to be anti-Democrat.  I refuse to be anti-secular humanism.  I refuse to be anti-science.  I refuse to be anti-life.  In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian.  Amen.”

Wow.  This inspires me!  Not that I want every Christian to quit being a Christian, but I respect anyone who wrestles with their faith to the point of deep conviction…and then lives by it.  And more than that, I admire anyone who chooses to follow Christ above all else.  It would have been easy for her to throw out the baby Jesus with the bathwater, but perhaps she’s found a way to love the Essence without choking on the packaging.

For a couple great responses to Rice’s announcement, check out Doug Pagitt’s thoughts and Michael Rowe’s article.  You can also follow her on twitter at annericeauthor.

What do you think?  Do you believe that Christianity is helpful in following Christ?  Hurtful?  Necessary?  How have you wrestled with this in your life?

07.29.10

I love pranks…

Filed under: life — 9:37 pm


Pilot Pretends To Faint – Watch more Funny Videos

And I also love stupid bets.

Last week, this small bet lead to my favorite moment of the summer…possibly of my whole life…

Speaking of bets, have you seen THIS? Dares with a social conscience? Brilliant! And ridiculous….

07.27.10

TED talk: The Politics of Fiction

Filed under: creativity,leadership — 7:38 pm

This brilliant talk was both deeply challenging AND profoundly inspiring.  After watching it this afternoon, I immediately started it again…trying to soak in the fire hose of insight.  Two of her key thoughts:

ONE: “If you want to destroy something in this life, all you need to do is to surround it with thick walls.  It will dry up inside… If we have no connection whatsoever with the worlds beyond the one we take for granted, then…our imagination might shrink. Our hearts might dwindle. And our humanness might wither if we stay for too long inside our cultural cocoons.”

TWO: “Chekhov said, The solution to a problem and the correct way of posing the question are two completely separate things.  And only the latter is an artist’s responsibility.  Identity politics divides us.  Fiction (or any true art) connects.  One is interested in sweeping generalizations.  The other, in nuances. One draws boundaries. The other recognizes no frontiers.  Identity politics is made of solid bricks.  True art is flowing water.”  (Elif Shafak)

07.26.10

three reasons you need to know Ian Morgan Cron

Filed under: books — 1:03 pm

(1) He wrote “Chasing Francis” – a phenomenal book that weaves the true story of St Francis with the fictional story of a pastor trying to re-find his faith.  I expected to learn a lot about Francis (which I did), but didn’t expect to get so wrapped up in the story.  There were a number of very moving moments and ideas that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.  It’s also quite funny.  Ian is a great writer with a ton to say…

(2) He just launched a website:  iancron.com.  It’s definitely worth checking out.

(3) He is the real deal.  Last January, I got to spend ten days traveling in the middle east with Ian and a number of fellow pilgrims…and he and I became friends.  He’s a fascinating combination of crazy smart, irreverently funny, deeply spiritual…and even a phenomenal musician.   What CAN’T this guy do?  (The middle picture is of him and I at the Dead Sea Scrolls.)

Chasing Francis

deep in conversation (I'm trying to keep up!)

at the Dome

07.25.10

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Filed under: Palestine / Israel — 7:42 pm

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” is the most moving film I’ve ever seen about the non-violent peace movement in the middle east.  Award-winning filmmakers follow three men with radically different backgrounds (a Palestinian, an Israeli fighter pilot, and a kid growing up in a refugee camp) to share their stories as they wrestle with choosing peace in a land of so much violence.  The film helped me grasp an overview of this messy conflict…but more importantly, it gave me names and faces of people who are actually living through it.  I hope everyone I know watches it.

But here’s the really exciting part.  This September, they are doing a 21 college tour to screen this film, and the three featured men will be at many of the sites.  If you are in the Chicago area, please join us at DePaul University on September 27th.  (If you live somewhere else, click here.)  You don’t have to be an expert on the middle east…in fact, this is a great first step in learning!

Until then, check out littletownofbethlehem.org.   They have plenty of info about the film, screenings, director’s commentary videos, info about the conflict, and much more.   I really hope to see you on the 27th.   And let me know what you think!

07.20.10

donald miller

Filed under: books,creativity — 12:08 pm

It’s fun to see someone of GREAT talent not take themselves too seriously.  This is a one minute video from Donald Miller…  Message from Don

And if you don’t already follow his blog, make sure to check it out.

07.18.10

the greatest showman on earth

Filed under: creativity,music — 9:33 am

Jay Z’s transformation from Hip Hop star to greatest showman on earth has been in full swing for the last couple years. In my opinion, it culminated in his epic blow-the-roof-off-the-dump SNL performance this spring. (If you missed it, drop everything and WATCH!)  But yesterday, I came across his 2008 Glastonbury performance, which feels to me like the brilliant missing link between the old and new.

What I love about this performance (and am trying to learn):

(1) He knows his audience and builds a bridge. How does this American rapper start his headlining set at Britain’s biggest festival? By opening with one of the biggest British songs of all time and leading a huge, campfire sing-a-long. Jay Z has never been short on self-confidence, but this performance humility was genius. (As a performer and worship leader, how do I build a bridge to the audience and invite them in from moment one? Or better yet, instead of demanding that everyone joins my thing and speaks my language…how do I join them and speak theirs?)

(2) He’s more concerned with the group experience than his performance. Jay Z is a terrible, terrible singer…but it doesn’t matter because he’s not the lead singer of this moment. 180000 excited Brits are. And they do quite well with “Wonderwall”, thank you very much. (How do I get out of the way, take myself way less seriously, and let the audience take their place as the CENTER of the action?)

(3) He fuses two genres into something new and fresh. After “Wonderwall”, “99 problems” is somehow a heavy rock tune AND completely hip hop…which breathes new life and possibility into two genres that often feel one-dimensional. The sum is better than either part. Wyclef (and others) have been doing this for years, but Jay Z takes the fusion to new heights. (My genre – worship music – is possibly the most tired genre of all! How can I move beyond “cliche’ lyrics set to 1990s U2 music” into something with new life, depth, and grit?)

(4) He’s having a ton of fun. That huge grin on his face says it all.  (The spirit of what we’re doing is often more influential than the substance.  Joy and excitement are contagious. How can I let what’s really going on inside me drive the experience?  Or should I?)

07.17.10

it’s official

Filed under: books,creativity,life — 9:26 am

Bittersweet

Good news!

Shauna’s book “Bittersweet” began shipping from Amazon this week.  We couldn’t be more excited.  Initial feedback has been fantastic, but don’t take our word for it…order it today HERE.  Can’t wait to hear what you think!

And starting in September, Shauna will be starting a book tour…sharing stories, readings, and some music (from either Kendall Payne or Becky Johnson).  You can check out the preliminary details HERE.

Thanks for indulging my proudest-husband-in-the-world excitement…

07.12.10

Yosemitebear Mountain Crying-over-a-rainbow Guy

Filed under: creativity,God's movement,life — 7:09 pm

Many people have been passing this video around, mocking this man for making a fool of himself over a double rainbow.  And I get it.  He is a grown man weeping over a rainbow.  However, about half way through the video, something strange turned inside me and I wanted to cry also.  But not tears of pity for him…tears of jealousy of him.  I wish I were more like Yosemitebear Mountain Crying-over-a-rainbow Guy.

When is the last time I wept over something beautiful?  When is the last time I let down my guard and got swept up in the moment?  Would I trade my cool cynicism for his embarrassing joy?  Hell yes.  In a second.

Maybe this is what it means to be truly free.  Maybe this is what it means to “become like a child and enter the Kingdom” (Matt 18:3).  Maybe this is what it means to be fully human.  Regardless, I think this guy is much, much happier than me, and that is worth noting.  And lamenting.

You can read more about my journey as a recovering cynic HERE, but Yosemitebear Mountain Crying-over-a-rainbow Guy has reminded me of how far I still need to go.  I’m pretty sure that he’s not the fool.

And so, even though this is a bit cheesy, here is my low-tech video response…

07.11.10

Live as if you…

Filed under: life,quotes — 11:10 am

“Live as if you were living already for the second time, and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now.”

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

07.09.10

Grey is out. Gloom is gone. It’s time to live our lives in colour.

Filed under: creativity — 11:06 am

I love this.  Love it!  The Let’s Colour Project is a worldwide movement that transforms grey spaces with colorful paint.  They are working together with local communities across the globe to paint streets, houses, schools and squares…literally spreading color all over the world.  And it doesn’t hurt that they’re using Jonsi‘s music to share their story…

Maybe one of us could be a part of helping The Colour Project make it’s way to America….Anyone?

07.08.10

Church in the Inventive Age

Filed under: books,creativity,God's movement — 8:28 am

Yesterday I read Doug Pagitt’s fascinating book “Church in the Inventive Age”.  (pre-order here)  In relatively few pages – all killer, no filler – Doug tracks the church’s journey through the last four eras of culture:  from the Agrarian Age (when the rural communities depended on each other for survival) to the Industrial Age (when the cities rose up to dominate and build things) to the Information Age (when the suburbs boomed and information ruled) to this present “Inventive Age”…

Pagitt

The Inventive Age: where inclusion, participation, collaboration, organic growth, user-friendliness, and beauty are the essential values.  It is marked by the drive to create, the search for meaning, the sense of ownership, and the open-source mentality.

This deeply, deeply connects with me.  What about you?

Doug spends the rest of the book offering suggestions, sharing stories, and raising questions about how the church can “live faithfully in the time and place we now live.”  There are way too many insights and provocative ideas for me to summarize, but get ready for your head spin.

Books (and authors) that are this smart, forward-looking, and brave often get weighed down in their condescending distain for “the old”, and the truth of their ideas fail to connect because the energy powering them is ugly (to quote Ronald Rolheiser).  But instead, “Church of the Inventive Age” spends all it’s energy on what is possible.  As a recovering cynic, I need this desperately.  And this book helped me feel MORE hopeful for what the church can someday be and more excited to be a part of it.  I still can’t really see the path from here to there, but as long as people like Doug keep inviting us forward, by God’s mercy and imagination, we can get there.

07.02.10

Church Marketing (part 3)

Filed under: God's movement,leadership — 5:52 pm

Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this conversation!  Your thoughts, questions, and insights have challenged me in a number of ways…hopefully it’s been helpful for you too.  A few new thoughts…

Maybe “marketing” is a neutral word – even in the church.  If marketing = defining, explaining, and making people aware, then I’m cautiously okay with that.  To help people know when our church gathers, how we’re trying to serve the world, and how they can help seems to be a useful service to the community.  And like Amanda commented, “if you love something, you want to share it with others.”  It is not innately more authentic just because it’s unknown.  (Like I’ve said about snobby indie music:  anyone can create music that no one listens to.)

However, when marketing tips over into convincing, pressuring, or incentivising…I’m out!  And sad.  And mad.  Letting people know about our worship gathering may be helpful, but offering a free iPad drawing if you come to our worship gathering is sick.  (At least to me.)

Clearly inviting people to join us?  Yes!

Using a gimmick or carrot to entice people to join us?  NO!

I may have found my line.  What do you think?

07.01.10

so proud of my wife!

Filed under: books,life — 7:17 pm

Bittersweet cover

For a thousand reasons, I’m the luckiest husband of all time.  But yesterday Shauna received some amazing news that I have to tell you about.  Her new book Bittersweet – which will be released this summer – just earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly.  This is a big deal and we’re really excited!  Here’s the review:

“Niequist (Cold Tangerines) returns with an often humorous and always contemplative series of personal essays on bittersweet experiences, illustrating through her own life that “rejoicing is no less rich even when it contains a splinter of sadness.” Spiritually, the book bravely sets out to decipher the paradoxically co-dependent nature of happiness and grief. But Niequist’s title should not be seen as simply a convenient theological metaphor; it is also a literary device. Impressively, many of Niequist’s perfectly concocted chapters weave in culinary themes, evoking the sensory, physical experience of the bittersweet along with the spiritual sense of it. When writing of deep friendship and the loss that sometimes accompanies it, her narrative often revolves around a dinner table, a cooking club, or a farmer’s market. Niequist’s ability to describe the sensation of eating a peppery arugula salad punctuated with sweet blueberries is just as evocative as her ability to express the intricacies of love, loss, hope, and doubt. Readers of all faiths will find this book courageous, sincere, poetic, and profound. There’s nothing bitter in this sweet treat of a spiritual memoir. (July)”