Over all- I really liked it.

I know that in writing a review I put myself out on the line for others to review my views. But I will continue on anyhow.

After having diner with some of my close friends and wife we met up with some more friends at the theatre to watch The Nativity Story. We were thinking that the place would be filled up with people the way the Passion was so we ordered our tickets early that day to secure a seat. Our group was half of the veiwing population that night in our showing room. The one beside us was just as empty. I have comments on this but I will save them for whoever asks me. Just as it always happens, the ads looped over and over as we felt smart answering all the questions like we had just seen them for the first time, and then the lights began to fade and I began to get excited. “What will I experience tonight, will it change my life?”

As I watched the story of the birth of Christ unfold (according to this movie), I was greatly pleased with the fine details of the culture and behaviors. I must say that it helped me to re-examine some of my preconceived American interpretations of how things happened. I feel that the movie stayed true to the story* and where scripture is silent I think they inserted much liberty based off of the times, norms, and culture.

*Many scholars and nonscholars (me) believe that the Magi came later on after the night of Jesus’ birth. The movie portrays the popular view of the Magi showing up that night. Also we know there was three gifts, but we are not certain it was three wise men.

I put the picture of Joseph on this review because this movie reminded me of how much of a biblical model of manhood Joseph was. His place in scriptures is small in words but huge in character, faith, and boldness.

Well, I hope that my life has been changed by seeing this movie and thinking on scripture about Mary and Joseph and yes, JESUS. I hope that I will take this deeper understanding of God’s great plan to save the world by using a “nobody” family to play a part in bringing His Son into the world. I hope that I will be a better husband because of this. I hope that I will see the magisty in my humble KING. I hope that I will be filled with boldness to always step out in faith because of promises like Mary and Joseph did.

Go see it.

There are a few scenes in which small children may not need to view. I would also, with the rating people, rate it PG and not G, pg-13 or R.

Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.
Acts 7:39-41 (ESV)

The line in this passage that immediately captured my attention and convicted my heart says, “make for us gods who will go before us”. I know in Christian culture and teaching it is very “in” to talk about how we should not have idols. I have often taught about the Holiness of God and how the word holy means to be set apart completely; meaning that God is first and there is no second, third or fourth at all. But, as I read this passage it occurred to me how most Christians create a god to go before them rather than following the living God that is in them.

What I mean is that most Christians try to fit God into this little box and their “interpretation” of who God is just happens to be leading them exactly where they want to go, an amazing coincidence. I have yet to meet more than a handful of believers that really allow God to play the appropriate role in their lives. In fact, I often have trouble being one of those believers myself. But, I am convinced that God’s role in our lives is not to give us what we want, it is not to make us comfortable; His role is to rule. His role is to take us on the adventure of a lifetime that will have an impact on all eternity.

Sometimes He leads us from a pursuing army strait towards the sea, knowing full well that we have no boat. Then, at the last moment He saves us from that army, parts the sea like it’s child’s play, and asks us to walk across and trust Him. The problem is that most of us don’t.

Most Christians, deep in their heart, really don’t trust God. I know that’s a bold statement, but it’s true. Think about it.

Do you really think that God would bless Christians in America with the insane amount of wealth that we all enjoy (compared to 80% of the rest of the world) and ask us to stock pile all that money into savings accounts? Christians don’t completely trust God with their money, so they tend to hoard it. My guess is that when God blesses people, He intends for them to give a large portion of that money away, like the Church in Acts 2. (I’m not saying that savings accounts are bad, but there is a Biblical standard laid out in Acts to give as much as possible to the ministry for the furtherance of the Kingdom)

Do you really think that God would give Christians so much ability and not expect us to use that ability for His Kingdom? Every Christian has the ability to do ministry. There are complex ministries (like preaching) that many are called to but leave the call unanswered. Then, there are simple ministries like offering to pray for someone and actually doing it. But, sadly, even the simplest of ministries are often too much for many believers. They don’t trust God with their abilities and allow Him to use them for His glory.

Do you really think that God would place us on this earth as His creation and His image bearer and not expect more than mere religious practice?

What I am trying to point out is that we are called to more. We are called to follow the real, living God, not the “god-in-a-box” that leads us into comfortable places. We often fall short of this because we don’t really trust God, or His word, and because we are inherently selfish people. So, I leave you with one question:

What can we do about it?

Ok, I’m going to break from my normal topics and take a moment to talk about my latest technology obsession. For those of you that are not tech geeks I recommend that you stay tuned anyway, you will find that the subject of this post may very well improve the quality of your internet surfing experience and thus your life (ok a slight exaggeration).

Google Reader is an rss reader. Think of an rss reader like your own personal farmers market of information. A farmers market imports various goods from many different places and puts them in one location for consumers. An rss reader imports information (text and pictures) from many different websites (like news sites and blogs) and puts it in one location for consumers. So, in my Google rss reader I can read all the new posts on my favorite blogs, all the new news stories from Google News, CNN, Fox News, BBC, etc. and more.

Perhaps my favorite feature of this new rss reader, and the feature that benefits you (the reader), is the share feature. In Google reader I can click the little button marked “share” and that article is automatically generated on THIS WEB PAGE that all of you can access. What does that mean to you? Well, it means that if you are one of those people that are too busy to scour blogs and news sites for those rare nuggets of good reading you may use me as a filter. By reading my “shared” page you are getting the best of what that day has to offer. Also, as a part of this feature, my “shared” page publishes its own rss feed, is that cool or what?!?!

Here are a few of the headlines I have shared so far:

• Cloning without stem cells works

• Oh Youtube, sweet Youtube… you make me happy.

• Vintage Jesus

• Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s famous quote is rewritten – International Herald Tribune

• Skanky T-Shirt Alert

If you are interested in getting your own informational farmers market (rss reader) and want to read more about it let me recommend two links. First, check out my friend Eric’s post on this, and also check out the article on wikipedia.

Oh, and if you don’t have a Google account and need an invite, shoot me an email and I’ll hook you up…

I had lunch with an old friend yesterday and he shared some things with me that he has been thinking about. Of everything that we talked about the thing that as stuck with me was this question; “how can I follow a man that didn’t live the American dream?” I think this is a question worth exploring.

Think about it, Jesus didn’t live in the 21st century in the Midwest, He lived in the 1st century in the Middle East. His life was not fast paced like ours.

There was always more than enough time to sit down and have a long talk with a friend. My version of a long talk with a friend usually consists of a fifteen minute conversation over the cell phone on my way to work.

Jesus never worried about saving for retirement, instead any money given to Him went to serve His immediate needs (like food) and the rest went to ministry. How often I find myself worrying about saving, or even about buying myself or my family things that we want but don’t necessarily need.

Jesus never had to get a mortgage, or car loan, or finance some new fangled furniture from Rooms to Go. He simply trusted God to provide what He needed and went about His ministry. I’m thinking my life would definitely be better if credit had never been invented.

It seems to me that Jesus lived in a time when things were simpler. That is not to say that the lives of the people in the first century were easy or that Jesus’ life was easy; but, their lives were less complex. In 21st century America we have to worry about locking our doors, securing our borders, keeping our jobs, saving our money, maintaining our cars, building our credit, heating and cooling our homes, etc. These are things that Jesus would not have dealt with.

I’m pointing this out to raise this question: how can someone living in the fast paced, complex lifestyle of 21st century America identify with and follow a man (Jesus) that lived in the 1st century Middle East?

I think the answer to the question must be multifaceted, and must hinge on the pursuit of simplicity. This is one of the things that Jesus was pointing out when he told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor (Matthew 19:21). And, maybe this is why the early Church sold their possessions and gave to the poor (Acts 2:42-47).

I don’t have the answers, and maybe that’s a good thing. Like my friend pointed out yesterday; maybe we aren’t meant to live in the comfort of the answer, but in the uneasiness of the question.

Maybe life is like Morpheus (in the Matrix) said, “It’s the question that drives us.”

Right now, this question is driving me…

In an interview for a conference coming up Mark Driscoll said something that was very funny and very sad in addressing American Christians as he was sharing about church planting and assessment. Driscoll states,”60% of Christians are chicks and the 40% that are dudes are still sorta chicks, it’s.. just sad”. Adam hit on this in his post Does Biblical Manhood Still Exist? and I just wanted to recap on it. We must reach young men for Christ and train them in the Word as we encourage them to be men. I know that this topic can be somewhat vague when we talk about “manhood” but Driscoll makes some great points that I think are worth listening too. Is it true that most churches target 40 year old women? If so, why??!!?? Listen to his comments to better understand my question. If we reach the young men we will reach their families and their culture. I do not downplay the need to reach women and young women and their influence on others, by all means we need to reach and teach everyone, but listen to Driscoll’s thoughts on this and let us know what you think.

I am not an advocate of communism, let’s be clear on that before I begin. This is not a political statement or view. The focus is on how one vision and a few men can change the world. In 1956 Fidel Castro and Che Guevara launched a revolution to overthrow Fulgencio Batista, the dictator of Cuba at that time. Fidel, Che, and 80 Cuban exiles in Mexico boarded a 12 passenger yacht called “granma” and headed to Cuba overthrowing Batista a few years later. Fidel became the Marxist revolutionary and leader of Cuba. Wow! Right or Wrong there is something to learn from this in terms of vision and purpose.

Revolution: The overthrow of one government and its replacement with another.

Christians have been called to be revolutionaries in the name and power of Christ. The government that we are empowered to fight against is not of this world, it is the government of sin and darkness. Christ is our leader and victor. By the vision and purpose of God, Christ has defeated death. One man-and yes he was also God, has changed the world forever by leaving Heaven and coming to earth to be our leader and Savior. I want to be a part of seeing His revolution unfold among all nations. To see men and women made free from the power of sin by the undeserved grace of Jesus. The odds may seem to be tough at times in our eyes, but Christ will build His kingdom and His government will see no end. He does this now through His people. He started this great revolution with just 12 ordinary men who followed His example and discipled others who discipled others who discipled others….and here we are today called to do the same. If we do as Christ did, and teach a few by going deep, we will by His vision/plan in turn reach many, seeing the potency of His revolution. Jesus said, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd”(atalics mine). It is His revolution, what a joy it is to be a part of His drawing His sheep into His perfect God glorifying and sheep satisfyinig government.

Granma-the boat

I posted this as an article on my old blog in March of 2005 after a mission trip to Cuba.