Friday, July 21, 2006
Completely Amazing
This video is completely amazing. According to the story, the DPS trooper was shot 23 times and survived. Click here to see the report.
Remember What I Said About Christian Community?
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a friend's decision to walk away from our little, cloistered faith community and pursue a possibly destructive relationship. There's been an update to the story. A few nights ago, she came back.
Unfortunately for her, when she left, she did a lot of things that were hurtful to the very people who had been so supportive over the last year. But, instead of being scorned or chastised, she received the same love that she had been accustomed to before she left.
I have no idea what went on in her head while she was gone or on the night she returned. I'm sure she had already thought about what she might need to say or do to make things right with everyone - much like the prodigal son in Jesus' New Testament parable. I guess the best part is that she didn't have to or wasn't expected to. That's not to say it was easy to receive her back again. I'm sure it wasn't. Still it was the right thing to do.
As difficult as it is to forgive, it is what Christians are called to do - right out of the box. It's the willingness to forgive that sets Christian Community apart in this world. It's what people crave - to be forgiven when they mess things up. It's the kind of thing that might bring a prodigal back home - to stay.
Unfortunately for her, when she left, she did a lot of things that were hurtful to the very people who had been so supportive over the last year. But, instead of being scorned or chastised, she received the same love that she had been accustomed to before she left.
I have no idea what went on in her head while she was gone or on the night she returned. I'm sure she had already thought about what she might need to say or do to make things right with everyone - much like the prodigal son in Jesus' New Testament parable. I guess the best part is that she didn't have to or wasn't expected to. That's not to say it was easy to receive her back again. I'm sure it wasn't. Still it was the right thing to do.
As difficult as it is to forgive, it is what Christians are called to do - right out of the box. It's the willingness to forgive that sets Christian Community apart in this world. It's what people crave - to be forgiven when they mess things up. It's the kind of thing that might bring a prodigal back home - to stay.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
I'm Feeling Pretty Stupid Right About Now
In my previous post, I wrote about the eye-opening blog that I discovered, thanks to my co-worker - one cube over. I got all wrapped up in the story and told each of my two blog readers about it as well as my wife early this morning. It now appears that it's all a hoax, part of a clever marketing campaign for a billboard sign company.
I'll admit that I'm the gullible sort. I take things at face value - which can leave me open to the occasional kick in the gut, pants or wherever. In this case it's almost disappointing. I guess I was hoping it would be real instead of the TV reality that most of us have become accustomed to. Had I not discovered the revelation this morning, I probably would have been suprised by the video posted today on the blog. I'm supposed to believe the video to be the work of a private investigator. If that's the case, shouldn't he be a little farther away. At least they are on TV. I'd like to think I would notice a guy with a video camera right across the table or up the sidewalk from me. Then again, I don't know what I'd do.
If this is in fact a hoax, I have only one question...where in the hell can I sign up for a job like that? Getting paid for making up a storyline like this one? I'll bet people would be standing in line. Wouldn't you?
I'll admit that I'm the gullible sort. I take things at face value - which can leave me open to the occasional kick in the gut, pants or wherever. In this case it's almost disappointing. I guess I was hoping it would be real instead of the TV reality that most of us have become accustomed to. Had I not discovered the revelation this morning, I probably would have been suprised by the video posted today on the blog. I'm supposed to believe the video to be the work of a private investigator. If that's the case, shouldn't he be a little farther away. At least they are on TV. I'd like to think I would notice a guy with a video camera right across the table or up the sidewalk from me. Then again, I don't know what I'd do.
If this is in fact a hoax, I have only one question...where in the hell can I sign up for a job like that? Getting paid for making up a storyline like this one? I'll bet people would be standing in line. Wouldn't you?
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Now, For Something Completely Different
Reader Caution: The links below contain some graphic language at times. Reader discretion strongly advised.
For those of you who get your news via the world-wide-web, you may have seen this today. Whether you have - or haven't - it's still worth a second look. A coworker sent me the link for the blog That Girl Emily. It's a blog about a woman, her self- discovery and the subsequent disclosure of her husband's affair with her best friend, Laura. Frightenly fresh, Emily's account covers barely 18 days leading up to her heartbreaking discovery - just days ago. No story here. This is real life. (Eat your heart out reality TV)
As the old saying goes, "hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn," or in this case, a woman scorned. Take a look at her plan to unleash 14 Days of Wrath on her unfaithful husband. Not to be outdone, day 2 is simply another magnificent reprisal. One can only imagine what the next 12 days hold for Steven. I say "you go, girl!"
As I read this account, I could only laugh. Had this story taken place in another part of New Jersey or a different family, Emily's brother probably would have gotten together with some of his buddies and taken Steven out in the woods. No one would have heard from him again - ever. That is if Emily hadn't already shot him first.
Of course now, in this post-modern, hi-tech information age, possibly half the world knows the mischief that Steven's been up to, as well as his shortcomings.
No pun intended.
For those of you who get your news via the world-wide-web, you may have seen this today. Whether you have - or haven't - it's still worth a second look. A coworker sent me the link for the blog That Girl Emily. It's a blog about a woman, her self- discovery and the subsequent disclosure of her husband's affair with her best friend, Laura. Frightenly fresh, Emily's account covers barely 18 days leading up to her heartbreaking discovery - just days ago. No story here. This is real life. (Eat your heart out reality TV)
As the old saying goes, "hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn," or in this case, a woman scorned. Take a look at her plan to unleash 14 Days of Wrath on her unfaithful husband. Not to be outdone, day 2 is simply another magnificent reprisal. One can only imagine what the next 12 days hold for Steven. I say "you go, girl!"
As I read this account, I could only laugh. Had this story taken place in another part of New Jersey or a different family, Emily's brother probably would have gotten together with some of his buddies and taken Steven out in the woods. No one would have heard from him again - ever. That is if Emily hadn't already shot him first.
Of course now, in this post-modern, hi-tech information age, possibly half the world knows the mischief that Steven's been up to, as well as his shortcomings.
No pun intended.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
How Valuable Is Christian Community?
A friend told me today that a mutual friend had decided to leave our church community to pursue a likely destructive relationship with someone she met not long ago. This girl came to us in a broken state and we've all witnessed her healing and transformation as a person. To hear now that she decided to leave the community who loves her to venture out on her own is heartbreaking.
A little over 5 years ago, my family embarqued on an adventure with several friends who wanted to see a new church in the city of Conroe, Texas. Many of us were from the mother church, the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Spring. We were joined by others from the surrounding area around Conroe. Within no time - it seems anyway - we were a thriving church. Five years later I pause to look back and I'm amazed by what we've seen together. In telling our story to people outside of our church, many have made the comment "it sounds like you've joined a cult."
One of the biggest lessons I've learned while being yoked with this group of people has been the value of Christian Community. I've been in the church my entire life. I've seen the good, bad and ugly that church life can afford. Over the last year or so, I've even seen a lot of ugly within my own life and within my family. Still somehow, I find myself hanging around, wanting to be part of this thing. It's so strange. It's possibly the only thing that made me want to hang on when things seemed their worst. I know I've not experienced the same bond in other circles that I've been part of.
From the beginning of our experiment (as I like to call it), our pastor talked about the necessity of community. It's been the emphasis of our parent organization, the Vineyard Association of Churches for nearly as long as our church has existed. In today's world, people are looking to be connected to someone or something that is bigger than themselves. Whether it's an extended family, membership in some sort of organization or club - or even a gang - people want to belong somewhere. Now, after hearing this message for the last 5 years, I think it's finally taken hold. I can't imagine my life outside of our church. The rest of my family feels the same. We've shared a lot with this group of people. Like most things, the shared experiences serve to bind everyone even closer together.
Many of us live down the street and around the corner from each other. As I understand, we have some 30 or so families within 5 miles of our church. That's pretty close by anyone's standards. Of course, building such a tight-knit community means people get to know each others' secrets, weaknesses and very often failures too. At times, such a thing can be over- whelming. We all want our space and our privacy. The trouble is that we can waste away in secrecy. Community, in its truest sense, doesn't seek to exploit weakness but protect it and apply healing there. The skeptic might not believe that he can be healed by such an ordinary instrument as the community around him. As one who's been wounded and is now on the mend, it's simply a wonder to behold.
Now that I'm on my way to the "other side" from the "being healed" to joining the ranks of the "wounded healers," my mind continually goes to my friend. She is dearly loved and will be truly missed within our community. What can we do for her now? What are we supposed to do? You see, it's not about laying blame or giving correction anymore. No. It's about rescuing one of our own. It's doing something that Jesus did and would do. Community isn't just a cup of coffee, as we've often said around our church. This is where the rubber meets the road. Community is like an extended family and family doesn't give up on each other.
So, how valuable is community? Or what is community worth? It's invaluable in my estimation. In times like these, we can show how valuable it is for the benefit of everyone else.
A little over 5 years ago, my family embarqued on an adventure with several friends who wanted to see a new church in the city of Conroe, Texas. Many of us were from the mother church, the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Spring. We were joined by others from the surrounding area around Conroe. Within no time - it seems anyway - we were a thriving church. Five years later I pause to look back and I'm amazed by what we've seen together. In telling our story to people outside of our church, many have made the comment "it sounds like you've joined a cult."
One of the biggest lessons I've learned while being yoked with this group of people has been the value of Christian Community. I've been in the church my entire life. I've seen the good, bad and ugly that church life can afford. Over the last year or so, I've even seen a lot of ugly within my own life and within my family. Still somehow, I find myself hanging around, wanting to be part of this thing. It's so strange. It's possibly the only thing that made me want to hang on when things seemed their worst. I know I've not experienced the same bond in other circles that I've been part of.
From the beginning of our experiment (as I like to call it), our pastor talked about the necessity of community. It's been the emphasis of our parent organization, the Vineyard Association of Churches for nearly as long as our church has existed. In today's world, people are looking to be connected to someone or something that is bigger than themselves. Whether it's an extended family, membership in some sort of organization or club - or even a gang - people want to belong somewhere. Now, after hearing this message for the last 5 years, I think it's finally taken hold. I can't imagine my life outside of our church. The rest of my family feels the same. We've shared a lot with this group of people. Like most things, the shared experiences serve to bind everyone even closer together.
Many of us live down the street and around the corner from each other. As I understand, we have some 30 or so families within 5 miles of our church. That's pretty close by anyone's standards. Of course, building such a tight-knit community means people get to know each others' secrets, weaknesses and very often failures too. At times, such a thing can be over- whelming. We all want our space and our privacy. The trouble is that we can waste away in secrecy. Community, in its truest sense, doesn't seek to exploit weakness but protect it and apply healing there. The skeptic might not believe that he can be healed by such an ordinary instrument as the community around him. As one who's been wounded and is now on the mend, it's simply a wonder to behold.
Now that I'm on my way to the "other side" from the "being healed" to joining the ranks of the "wounded healers," my mind continually goes to my friend. She is dearly loved and will be truly missed within our community. What can we do for her now? What are we supposed to do? You see, it's not about laying blame or giving correction anymore. No. It's about rescuing one of our own. It's doing something that Jesus did and would do. Community isn't just a cup of coffee, as we've often said around our church. This is where the rubber meets the road. Community is like an extended family and family doesn't give up on each other.
So, how valuable is community? Or what is community worth? It's invaluable in my estimation. In times like these, we can show how valuable it is for the benefit of everyone else.
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