The Blue Parakeet

The book is nether liberal nor conservative put provides the third option that so many hungry young Christians crave. Scot McKnight, in his book The Blue Parakeet, holds great insights on how Christians selectively interpret the Bible. And by saying selectively, I mean: there are parts of the Bible we choose to obey and there are other parts we choose to ignore…we select which part of the Bible we want to follow.

Some examples of selective interpretations would be:

• “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:11) I have never known a single Christian to take this commandment literally. How did we come to firm understanding that the Sabbath (as described in the Bible not by modern man) is no longer needed?

• “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them has done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” (Lev. 20:13). It is safe to say that modern Christians that fall in the conservative an traditional camps would say that homosexual intercourse is “detestable” yet none would attempt to kill someone for doing so. So why would they believe in just of half of the verse and disregard the rest.

• Jesus said, “…any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33) There are many wealthy Christians but no one is suggesting they give everything up. No house. No bank accounts. Nothing. We have taken a direct teaching from Jesus and come to the conclusion we do not need to follow this teaching. How did we come to this conclusion?

The Blue Parakeet forces you to rethink how you read, thus teach, thus live out your Bible. I frenquely talk about change in the church. I think this book holds great insight on how we need to change the way we talk about about our Bibles. Also, once again the great Protestant phrase Sola scriptur, Scriputur Sola (Latin for only Scripture and Scripture only) is in fact impossible to live out.

I think the first half of the book would be great for a Sunday School class or small group to read together. The last half however, though I found it to be excellent, will be too controversial for conservative and traditional leaders to place in the hands of the “flock.” McKnight uses the issue of woman in ministry as a detailed example to support the front half of his book. By the way, he makes some great points (using the Bible mind you) why gifted woman should be able to hold positions in ministry.

Satan Sex Ed

Driscoll

Theology In the Church

Conservative's Lack of Humility

After watching Matt Lauer’s interview with Ann Coulter, I am reminded once again of the fundamental flaw of those that like their politics conservative…a lack of humility.

I consider myself conservative when it comes to politics. I like my government small and pay fewer taxes. I voted for McCain in ‘08, not that he is conservative, but because he is more conservative than Barack Obama. I listen to Rush Limbaugh on the AM dial as often as I can. I think he has many great things to say. I think he is by-in-large right about the political atmosphere in the U.S. I think Ann Coulter is right on many issues. However, simply because one is right does not provide one the license to be a rude and arrogant. How can you not watch this video and think, “What a b*&!#h?”

Obama may have won the election on the platform of “change” but I think he won because of humility. Young people are drawn to humility. I am drawn to humility. Thus, the lack of Conservative humility pushed many to vote the other way. Conservatives lost because they appear to be angry, judgmental, arrogant people.

Until the Convective voice learns to humble itself, it will be a long time until they regain any political power.

A Little Sad

An important piece of Indiana history went down.

What is Missional?

This is one of the better definitions of the "missional church."



(ht Out of Ur)

Study Break

I'm working on an application paper for my business class, which I am getting really tired of (both the paper and the class), and I stop to take a quick "blog reading" break. I found this...



That's great! What a chump.

(ht-ysMarko)

Like, You Know?

(ht ysmarko)

I Miss Youth Ministry

(ht ysMarko)

From the Naked Pastor

Good Stuff

College Pics

My college roomate David Karel (aka Polish Dave) post some pictures on facebook. He enjoyed caving and I was lucky enough to go with him on a few trips.

I looked at that pic and though "I need to loss weight."





Thanks Dave.

Contemporary Worship at Its Best (Part II)

A few hours after my last post, I watched David Crowder perform the same song.



That's funny.

(ht Marko)

Contemporary Worship at It's Best

The best line "He will zap you any way He can...zap!" (ht The Anonymous Human

From Rob Bell

"If Church isn’t the place above any other place where you can be honest and raw about the actual junk in your life then I don’t want anything to do with "Church.” If church doesn’t lead the way in being the kind of place where you can be transparent and honest about your struggles then it isn’t church."

9/14/08 From a sermon given at Mars Hill.

Conservative Double Talk

Politically speaking, I consider myself conservative but his clip is great. (ht Angie)

Personal Update

Class starts this week. With a touch of anxiety and excitement, I am ready to get this thing started. When my class schedule came in mail last month I felt like an 18 year kid. My classes are all introductory courses and at the age of 31 is seems I should be past such things. It may sound silly but I look forward the 80 plus mile round trip commute that I will be making twice a week. Why? To resume my pod cast listening. I miss it.

I still plan to work general construction as I study. I’ve been learning a lot. We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel, a project I have never participated before. I have learned how to “fur” walls, do some electrical work, and some framing...stuff I will use sometime in the future.

Emily started her volleyball season this past week. They won twice and lost once. The team is muched improved from last year's team. I have resumed my reasonability to keep the score book, a task I enjoy thoroughly.

Today we visited a church that showed promise of our future involvement. (See HERE) We have visited many churches, and I have enjoyed each of their services, but few have shown ligament potential. I hope to continue visit other churches, maybe even as far as Lafayette. The search continues.

The closing ceremonies are concluding the Olympics as I type. I have enjoyed this games and am disappointed to see them go.

A Daily Show Game

Here's a fun game for youth groups all over our land.

Weekly Update

A new week is about to start. Thought I would jot down a few things that have been going on in my little world.

1. School starts in about a month. I’m really looking forward to throw myself into something other than ministry. There were things that I absolutely loved about church work but there were other thing that simply drove me completely insane. Even as I work on a hot roof, I still think about the nutty things that went along with ministry. It will good to get my mind thinking about something other than church work.

2. I hate the term “church shopping” simply because of the consumerist overtones it takes on..which is one things I dislike about the modern church. But the realty is, my family has been shopping for a new church. Thus far we have visited three churches in the area and I visited one by myself. All have been very friendly and welcoming. I have about four more churches in our area that I would like to visit. I have really enjoyed visiting other churches. Finding a new church family takes time and there is a strong possibility that we will never find one in or around Francesville.

3. My sister Angie burnt me an audio CD for my birthday. The band is Fleet Foxes and she tells me they are blowing up in the local scene Seattle. I just got around listening to it. Sounds like good “chill” music.

4. I started a book by Scot McKnight called A Community Called Atonement. The premise of the book is to explore the variety of layers of the theological theories of the atonement. I know...sounds boring but it find McKnight’s writing very practical for today’s church. Here are few quotes that I have underlined.

o“...the atonement is only understood when it is understood as the restoration of humans – in all directions – so they form a society (the church) wherein God’s will is lived out and given freedom to transform all of life.”

o“Any atonement theory that thinks exclusively of earth is inadequate, just as any theory that shifts too much of eternity is also inadequate.”

o“Atonement is not just something done to us and for us, it is something we participate in – in this world, in the here and now.”

Keep growing. Peace.