Monthly Archives: October 2005

Life in the human lane!

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Friday I sat with one of our church composer – Wayne Gibson.  He works for the local newspaper and is a true wordsmith.

He played through 10 compositions.  This was my first chance to hear a number of the pieces.  We are considering putting together a CD.  You’ll want to line up for this!

Wayne can take poetry and, with the twist of a phrase, make you see things in a totally new perspective.  He remembers at one point writing his first song that was “full of words”.   Current wisdom is to use few words – as though the listeners can’t remember anything more! 

I’m glad Wayne has gone the wordy way!  If we want to expand our musical and verbal horizons, its time the “Wayne Gibson’s” of the world stand up.!

Keep tuned.  I’ll let you know when, where and how you can pick your CD up (or download it, or rip it, or MP3 it, or whatever!)

Hockey strike retrospective

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Here are snatches of a piece I wrote April 6, 2005.  It’s probably overstated (that’s an understatement!).

Canada, revival and history..

The conversation at the table turned to the local hockey team and how well attended the games were. . . better attended than at any time in their history. With the professionals stuck in naval-gazing, worried about larger salaries and generally lacking any concern for the game itself. . . the amateurs were finding their place in the sun. And hockey (the real game) and ordinary people, were the beneficiaries.

The NHL season was finally cancelled in February of this year.

But who cared? We were tired of the wrangling, tired of the overgrown sports egos who cared only for the almighty dollar. This is the way institutions go – in the end, they forget the purpose for which they were founded, the passion for the game. They become focused on their own survival.

Sound familiar? Large churches all over the country require huge incomes to maintain their buildings and programs, while Lazarus lies at the door. We have always been quick to spend money on ourselves, slow to spend it on those Jesus cares about. Ministry has been about success, large budgets, well trained ministers and an impressive theatre.

But these paradigms aren’t playing so well anymore.

To follow the analogy – it’s all about the game (read “church”). What are we willing to give for the survival of the game? What are we really passionate about?

The game won’t survive because the professionals want it to survive.. it will survive when ordinary people grasp a vision for something larger and more transcendent. And the game will survive even when the coliseums are empty – in fact, the game will be stronger than ever.

If the church is to experience a true revival in Canada, it won’t happen because church leaders want it to happen. It won’t be generated by revival crusades and big name preachers. It won’t be helped by more books and seminars. It won’t have anything to do with large buildings.

Revival won’t come from the top down this time around, because then it will only last as long as charismatic leaders continue to hype it along. And then it wouldn’t be real revival anyway.

No, if Canada is going to experience revival it will come because we rediscover our love for God and His kingdom. It will come because we start to spend our money on the needs we see around us in real time. It will come because we cry out to the Lord with His compassion for His mercy on the world. It will come because we care more about His glory than our own success. It will come in spite of the professionals and the fallen institution because the Lord of History invests His authority in amateurs.

Velvet Elvis

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Reading a new book by Rob Bell called Velvet Elvis.  I’d put the link to amazon.com down, but I found it for really cheap at our local Christian Bookstore.  One of those, “We’ll print millions of copies, the first week will go for $20.00.  Next week its already old news – $10.00”.

Rob is a pastor in the States, with Old Testament studies under his belt.  He is the “star” of Nooma videos, a great set of short 10-12 minute clips on basic biblical principles.  So I expected this would be a good read.

And it is!  I’m into the third chapter.  He’s already covered the place of doctrine (what we believe and how flexible it should be) and hermeneutics (the matter of interpreting the Bible).  And never once mentioned that polysyllabic words.

He’s a great writer.  If you want an approach to the “emerging church”, here is a good explanation.  Of course, because emerging church is a new term no one really knows what it means.  The definition is still emerging.  Rob Bell’s approach will definitely give some good thoughts to chew on, from a biblical scholar who delights in context, the visual and the twist of a phrase.

Need some new bed time reading?  Have I got a deal for you!!

Unplugged!

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Cable is gone – for the moment.

My wife is at her neice’s wedding.  I’m batching, and I haven’t missed a meal yet!  Of course, she (Jill) left enough food to feed an army, and I just brought ham and buns from our church potluck.

I’m finding that when you are by yourself, the easiest thing is to do the easiest thing!  So, after hours of TV watching yesterday (my day off), I unplugged my cable connection.

I’m enjoying it!

A few years ago there was an “Unplugged” movement in the music world.  Something about getting back to the simple things of life – like just a guitar and a voice! 

I’m ready to push us into “Unplugged 2”. 

Get rid of TV “broadcasting” (we must almost be up to 1,000 channels by now!!) and move to “narrowcasting” (just a few stations).  Since I live in rural Saskatchewan, I think I’ll call it  “farmer vision”!