Recently, I was teaching my daughter about music. She wanted to know where I thought Michael Jackson would rank in the history of music. Then, I began to tell her the difference between artists who are major successful and artists that are brilliant. My own thought was that there are some who do the best they can, with the gifts they can and somehow become wildly famous. Then, there are some who simply have the gift to change how everyone else hears, and how other musicians play/write and perform music…those are the brilliant ones.
As a matter of perspective, I watched the HBO Film series “John Adams” this week. He was a brilliant man, haunted by his own vanity and insecurities. Perhaps the driving force behind the adoption of our Declaration of Independence. Yet, it is only recently that America has really began to fully appreciate his influence on our history. Did you know that it was his idea to call the President, “Commander in Chief” rather than just “Mr President?” (something George Washington was against by the way). This man was surrounded by brilliant men, including a close friend of Benjamin Franklin. Another one of President Adams’ close friends (other than the few years that he was ticked off at him) was Thomas Jefferson. The portrayal of Jefferson in this movie was played by the renowned actor, Stephen Dilane. Just how brilliant was Jefferson? When President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”
In our world of theology, there have been brilliant men and women who’ve changed the way we see God. Most of them, in their time (and currently) were persecuted for their beliefs because they represented a sweeping change. Yet, the question I have today is, who are the brilliant men and women that are truly changing theology and belief? There are people of influence who many people listen to, and yet they really aren’t saying anything new about God, just re-enforcing old ideas. There are amazing teachers out there who are quietly changing the minds of younger generations, and thereby changing how these future leaders will see God. But really, who are the brilliant men and women of God thirsting for renewal, revival, reformation in how the Church exists, how it sees God and how it behaves in a 21st century world? So there, I pose you that question. Who do you believe is changing things today? Not who sells the most books (necessarily) or who is the loudest voice, or the coolest speaker/teacher you know…but really who’s a game-changer? I have some in mind (surprisingly small number), but I want to hear from you.
Today, I was officially ordained an elder in the Reformed Church in America at Fifth Reformed Church. It was such an honor to share the stage with some pretty great people. I was totally blown away by the numbers of other elders and deacons who had also served before who cam forward to pray for me and the others. On top of it, my friend Brian and his family from Wayland came to give part of the message! What a time!
Then, this after noon, I drove over to Lansing where I went to a baptism service at the VandenBosch’s place. A great and meaningful time as always. Got some pics (actually, Molly took most of them).
After, I drove over to my moms house and fixed her computer and tried (didn’t work) to hook up my old apple extreme for a wifi connection. I’ll try again later.
Looks like the folks at Microsoft are making steps in the right direction (did I just say that?). This complete motion control helps people take the step from passive to interactive in a far greater way than Nintendo has done with the Wii mote.
Now, who else thinks that Sony will get ticked off about their new project named “Milo” ? – me too. (for those who don’t remember, and that’s probably all of you – sony tried to market an internet communications device awhile ago in the US named “milo” or “my life online” which failed miserably. not because it wasn’t cool, but because wifi wasn’t widely used enough at the time)
Dear church, if you don’t quickly realize this reality shift, you will be left in the dust. People are craving to participate, to add, to produce ideas, dreams, changes, solutions….not just be consumers. If we don’t shift our orientation towards our information, beliefs, practices people will continue to look elsewhere for their own “mouse” where they can input. This is the real power of simple church. The power of collective wisdom, collective ideas, collective message and collective change.
You can go here and download and listen to a recent presentation at George Fox put on by Frank Viola, Dan Kimball, Alan Hirsch, Len Sweet and MaryKate Morse.
It is 5:30 am Sunday, May 31st 2009. I’m up early for what I can only imagine is a result from the new duregisic patch that I’m trying. No, I’m not quitting smoking, it is a pain patch. I tried them a few years ago, but found that they made me itch everywhere. However, my sister Tami has started using them lately with good results and discovered if you put them on your back, they don’t itch. Well, I up and wide awake, and am starting to itch.
This ends my week “off” from school, and for the most part it’s been pretty fun. While it’s been an “off” week, somehow, I have four papers to write and their all due early this week. So, I basically wrote all but one of them this week. I also used the free time to read a book that is coming out for the Ooze.com. It’s a book called “Christ in Ya’ll” and is about living out a missional way. It’s a decent book but you can really see the writers history through it. He’s a southern Reformed pastor who graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary. He draws a lot from Frank Viola and seems to “get it.” Next time I’m down in Tennessee to see my dad and step-mom, I would like to set up a time to get together with the guy. I love his basic idea that we must see Christ in each person and the priesthood of all believers.
Anyway, I’m off to get ready. I’m driving over to Fifth Reformed this morning. We have a meeting at 9am to talk about the weekly sports camp that starts this Tuesday night. It is a kick-off event at our Greenhouse Church site that seeks to bless a local neighborhood. I’m pretty excited about it!
Ok, so a wild few days. Tuesday was the kids last day of school, and their annual talent show. They both did a great job! Molly sang David Archuella’s “Crush” and Kailey sang, “Love Story” by Taylor Swift and they both nailed it! Kailey also did a cheerleading style dance w/ her friend Virginia that she learned the night before. Great!!
Then the school handed out the awards and certificates. Molly was voted “The Best Behaved Girl” in her room, and Kailey is in the “Honor Roll – all A’s and B’s”
The next morning we packed up and drove two hours to Frankenmuth. At the last minute, we found out that our dear friends Leanna and her two kids could come to the trip so they met us at the hotel. We drove down to Bavarian Inn and enjoyed an early dinner (got the big family style Chicken dinner!!). Then went shopping downstairs in the toy shop. The rest of the night was pretty much them in the waterpark, and me writing a paper for class. We grabbed some Little Ceasers for dinner in our rooms.
This morning we got packed up and headed next door to Bronner’s (the year round Christmas store – aka Mel’s Mecca). After a little bit, I got the call that my best friend Jim was coming through on his way up to Saginaw so we sat in front of Bronner’s and just talked for awhile (those are the moments). After, we went into Starbucks at Birch Run and bumped into our cousin Nathan Acker who’s a manager at that shop. So, we got in and to our surprise he gave us all coffee for free (hot cocoa for the kiddos)! Thanks Nate!!
A brief shopping trip to the outlet mall, then we went to Tony’s I-75 for ginormous food. Even though I warned her, Leanna ordered the BLT! If you don’t know, Tony’s BLT’s are the stuff of legend. They put 1 POUND of bacon, 1 sliced tomato and half a head of lettuce on a huge Italian roll. No kidding. So, we poured our heavily carbed butts into the Subaru and came home! Thus, the summer begins.
Mel’s backto work tomorrow, which means it is day 1 of Chad’s summer w/ kids! My bud Craig P has just made it a bit easier by meeting me for lunch tomorrow so I get an hour respit from the crazies. So, that’s the update.
It’s been difficult to think of what to post here lately. As you can tell, I’ve been wading deep into music lately trying to float through this tidal wave I’ve been on. I feel a bit like a grape that’s been in the sun too long and getting squeezed into wine.
Only three weeks or so since Jer died. We’ve lost a couple others since him, but haven’t truly found my center again since Jer passed. It’s been good to be in contact with Leanna and the kids so much. We’re planning a trip together (one that Jer and I had begun to plan a few days before his death) that we will all take together in the fall.
School has been going good. Still don’t feel like I’m “in the groove” right now, but it’s a needed distraction if nothing else. I’m beginning to feel like a bit of an anchor on my cohort friends as almost each post in my spiritual formation class goes back to loss and pain. My therapist has been great, but there’s still no answers to be found, nor do I believe there will ever be. So, I am finding solace in my family, friends and in music again…which has always been a place where I can find a soothing peace. So, thanks to the artists that have given me peace. Thanks to Dave Matthews and band, thanks to Derek Webb, Jackson Browne, Bob Marley and Metallica. Thanks to Eva Cassidy, Indigo Girls, U2 and REM. Thanks to Dave Crowder, Ray LaMontaine and John Mayer. Thanks to Steven Curtis, Iz and Boston….
