What A Whore!!!!

Wow…that word makes me shudder. I think I like prostitute better. With that, I can put the object of the title somewhere in a dark alley in a city that I may never see with a heroin habit that is the root of her street walking. I like things that way because it makes me feel safer as look out my window at the golf course below. I try to avoid things that make me that uncomfortable. Yeah, no doubt, I like prostitute better. Or maybe even “loose living.” That is a better way.

But not whore. It is too dirty even for the streets, much less for my mind. The only people who use this word today are morons that you might see on an old Springer re-run or currently on any “who’s the daddy” episode of Maury (you would think we could expect more from Connie Chung’s other half). I am not sure where they even get these people, although I thought I have recognized them from time to time (maybe from family reunions…hope I didn’t hit on any of them).

But back on point, I don’t think that I am the only person that would quickly grab a thesaurus to find an alternative for “whore.” I don’t think that it would ever cross my mind to ever say it even if it was true.

This is how I usually think.

But something is different right now in my head. Sometime recently, this word began to mean something to me. When I look at it or say it, quietly, to myself, I feel something else. I am still uncomfortable with it, but I feel like it is more about me. It is like an identity that I don’t want to have or an identity that I don’t want others to know about me, but, it just feels right. Honestly, I sell myself a lot. Whoever and whatever will love me, pleasure me or satisfy me for a moment will get my attention. I have this feeling that I have been a whore for a long time and that maybe I am just realizing how dirty I really am.

For some time now, I have been enamored by a story in the Bible. It is about a guy named Hosea. God told Hosea to do something that seems really awkward at best. God told Hosea to marry a whore, love her no matter how much of a whore she is and then have a little whore family with her and spend their little whore lives together. And the crazy thing was, God wanted him to do this because He wanted Hosea to know what it was like to love someone who cheated on him all the time.

As I read this, I see me in the lines. I am a cheater. I cheat on God a lot. I am turned around and turned on by the things that promise much but pay little. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Why is it that we are satisfied by too little?

“When infinite joy is offered us, [we are] like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slums because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." – C.S. Lewis

It Starts At 9:30

A few weeks back, on a Friday morning at 8:00, I got a call from a parent of a student. This makes me nervous because it usually involves a critique of plans and questions about how I plan to continue to raise their kids from the perspective of a thriving youth ministry. This one was different. This mom was just checking in on the activities of the day for the students. Then she mentioned something that she was encouraged about. Her daughter asked her if she could go to Mass on Sunday at First Baptist. In case you are not sure about this, Mass is a predominant catholic phrase that you don’t hear in protestant churches. As she said this, the same thing came to my mind that always does… “sorry lady, its worship service or gathering…not Mass.”
Let me interpret. I would like to think that I am don’t major on the minors but I still do. Just like this situation, I am 28. I think of myself as a part of the rebellion against ridiculous traditionalism and pharisaical ideology. Yet, to a degree, I still think like a Bible-belt fundamentalist. So when this woman, from her own tradition calls our worship service “Mass” then my first thought is, “sorry ma’am.”
But today, I see it differently. So here is my schedule for this week: Tuesday Night – Mars Hill High School; Wednesday Night – Mars Hill Middle School…

And Mass starts at 9:30...

That Florida Rain...

Tonight I am listening to a thunderstorm in the distance and soft raindrops on my window. I know that tomorrow, I will wake to the usual sunny skies and 90% humidity, but for now, I will take the soggy weather. It makes me feel like something new is happening.
This morning, I had the chance to teach (many call preach) at our gathering at First Baptist. I love it when pastor throws me a bone. I am the youth guy so most people view what I say through that lens. That means that I get away with things that most “pastors” would not. The feel of the talk was about JUSTIFICATION. That is a big word that basically means that somehow, through this thing called faith, God declares us not guilty in spite of all of our sinful rebellion. That is something that I have thought a lot about over the past few years. I am not sure what “system” of thought and theology that I fit in now. But I am really pumped about 2 Corinthians 5:21 – For God made Christ who knew no sin, to become sin for us, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God. Basically, Christ gets my rebellious sin and I get all his righteousness and that is the basis for God accepting me. There is more…let me know if you are interested.

It was good seeing my brother this week. He is starting law school at Samford (Cumberland) this week. I think that he is going to make us all proud.

I hope things get back to normal in a few days. Summers as a youth guy are going to kill me.

A Terrible Game

Yesterday, I went with Brian Haring, Dwayne Mellor, Steve Saliba and a couple of other folks to Biddy Early (a brit pub/restaurant) to watch the US and Ghana play in their last game of the first round of the World Cup. Mind you, I have never really liked soccer except when I was in college and would go to the games at the University of Mobile. It was fun when I followed it all the time and I knew the people playing.

Over the past few weeks during the World Cup, I have watched a bit more now that ever. I love sports so it would be fun to see the international competition. But I was wrong.
After watching 2 games that the US played, I realizd that there was way too much hype about this team and the time is no where near soon when they will be able to compete on an international level. Not that they are totally terrible...they just have a few things against them. I will mention a few of my observations. Remember, as you read this, I do not claim to know hardly anything about the game.

First, they do not seem to be as athletic (faster to the ball) or aggressive about their play. This might be because the teams that they play are in danger of losing their lives if they lose the game. For America, a loss just means that they go home, for Ghana...they might be shot. Second, they cannot finish when they get in the box. Landon Donovan is supposed to the the great white hope and he hasn't scored in almost 20 games. That wouldn't be so bad in a game like soccer...unless that is what your position on the field required. Third, America gets up after a tackle. Unless they are truly injured, they will get back up. I saw 4 guys from Ghana being taken off of the field on stretchers. The problem was, 2 of them were never touched...they were just stopping play as time was running so that they could get the win.

I can deal with the low scoring...I can deal with the fact that that it seems impossible to move the ball and that there seems to be little strategy in the game that actually happens on the field during live ball action. What I cannot deal with is the fact that the game is so corrupt that what is happening on the field doesn't matter. I don't think that the US got a fair shake...but to some degree, I expect it. Yesterday, I didn't see a game of talent. I saw a game of whining, taking dives, crying, and a penalty shot that took a team out of a match.

Bottom line...it is a terrible game and I cannot believe that I spent 90 precious minutes to watch it. I can't wait till college football begins.

What I am trying NOT to be...

The caption to this picture in the SBC LIFE, is, "SBC president, Bobby Welch recreates the tortured scream from the rich man in hell as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16."

Do you really have to be a cynic (like myself) to see that out of all the things that could have been printed with pictures, this get's front page?

In the article, he is quoted as saying, "(the current evangelism campaign) represent my heart's desire and soul-deep conviction that Southern Baptists everywhere, not only in North Carolina, must awaken to the Kingdom priorities of sharing the Gospel and baptizing believers as members of local Southern Baptist churches."

Isn't that called "landmarkism"?

Synopsis: a wealthy, white, megachurch pastor uses dramatic visual arts (wearing a great suit by the way) in his sermon that somehow must resemble hell and makes landmark staments that are loaded with "better-than-you" words and somehow...he is a hero to all conservative.

I don't know Bobby Welch. I am sure that he is a great guy. I don't understand how you can be so tied to a specific denomination that you equate "kingdom work" with ONLY Southern Baptist work. I might disagree with my methodist/presbyterian/etc friends on a few issues, but I constantly see these groups participate in kingdom work.

just my humble opinion though...

brad

P.S. For those of you that read this in its original form, I apologize for sounding so bitter.

Small Town vs South Florida

I remember when I lived in a small town and always complained that nothing ever happened and it was boring. Now I wake every morning and turn on the national news and hear stories like THIS on a daily basis. Welcome to South Florida...

Apparently, the guy has been going around posing as a doctor and gives "free breast exams" to women. After he tried to give a little more to one of the women, she thought, "this guy might be lying." I don't know what would make her think that though. I mean, if this guy came to my house and wanted to know if he could give me a free prostate exam, I would let him.

Note to all my female friends. I will NOT feel sorry for you if you fall for this.

I don't know who is more of a moron...the guy or the 3 women.

brad

Finished

This morning, we finished our Discipleship weekend with our students at FBC. We had 81 middle school and high school students that spent the weekend with us. They spent several hours in teaching and conversation about what God requires from His people when it comes to social action and justice in light of the gospel.

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, Sam Davidson was the speaker and he was a phenom. He is one of those guys who really understands the language gap between the traditional evangelical church, the emerging church and the culture in which we are called to exist and love. I appreciate his heart and it was good for me to be able to ask questions and learn.

I think that this was one of the best events that we have done in a while and I really did see that our students learned some truths that will be with them for a long time.

I recommend Sam for any event in which the focus is to educate people to the injustice and oppression around the world and what we are to do about it.

brad

Old People

Today I was talking with a couple of people about the phenom of old people in South Florida in the winter. This is really amazing. I mean that average age skyrockets in November and then plummets in the spring.

I do have to be careful though. I already had one episode this winter when an old man got out of his car and was yelling in my window...to which I got out and whipped his....kidding, I just got out and started calling him a crazy old man (which meant nothing because he only spoke Italian). Yesterday, I was at the gas pump and had walked away from a pump as it was running (I set that little lever that lets you pump without having to hold it...I hate it when pumps don't have that little thing). As I am on the phone, some old guy starts honking at me to tell me to move. I politely walked back to his car to let him know that I was making use of the handy little lever and was waiting on my tank to fill. At that point, he locked his car...real bold dude...honk and then lock your door so you don't have to actually deal with confrontation (or have me de-spiral that comb-over that you have spun on your melon). Anyway, I will be glad when he and his buddies go back to Pennsylvania/New York/Quebec/some other state that isn't good enough for them half of the year.

I think I might start a ministry to lovingly tell the combover guys that...well...we know... and so does Jesus and he loves them no matter what...

I am going to bed before I begin to sound bitter.

brad

Losing my mind......

The truth is, I might be accused of this several times before this weekend is over. It isn't the first time, but this is a little more dramatic.

As a pastor to students, I am always walking the fine line between programming for the traditional evangelical church and the calling that I have to be somewhat of a prophet in a culture that God has called me to minister within. The people pleaser in me wants to do things all nice and neat, but the progressive in me wants to push things over the edge. Of course, the latter wins out most of the time and I find myself in a place where I cannot compare what we do to anything else because it hasn't been done before...at least not successful enough to write a Christian bestseller about.

So I am 2 days away from the weirdest discipleship weekend that has ever been done in the history of a Southern Baptist Church. It is a weekend that will focus on God's calling for His people to care about social injustice and oppression....I mean real widows and orphans kind of stuff. Through small group and large groups sessions, we are going to study the ancient scriptures to see what it is that we are missing and what God calls us toward in action and love.

My leaders are shaken up, my kids do not have a clue, and I think that my new friend (and speaker for the weekend) Sam Davidson is a bit excited about the craziness of it all. We might crash and burn over this, but I have an idea that this is the type of "revival" that churches like ours have been looking for all this time. I am expecting HUGE things.

I will give updates on what happens.

Brad

Dog vs Porcupine

I mean for real...this is the most painful thing that I have ever seen...

Stupid dog...