Billy Graham is a genius in handling the public scrutiny of Christianity. This clip is obviously older and bit of a traditional apologetic feel, but I love how disarming his responses are– especially in the setting he’s in.
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Woody Allen & Billy Graham
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You can watch the whole thing (interesting), but the real interesting part in around the 1:11 remaining mark. Reminds me a bit of Isaiah 61 and that God is close to the broken-hearted.
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Bono, the Preacher
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I am slightly disturbed by the new CBS show, Kid Nation. The premise of 30-some kids living in an abandon western-style town for 40 days without adult leadership– well, it just bugs me.
I have watched 2 whole episodes now, and a few concerns have risen to the surface. I just don’t even really know how to process them.
Maybe the show will have some redeeming value. They did pull a PETA moment last night trying to save a ‘chicken‘ from being killed! A bigger question through it all might be: “If this is the next phase of reality television, what’s next?” Maybe we should allow people to be ruled by apes and see what happens. We could call the show Primetime Primates or Ape Ancestor-Idol.
I had a great time away in Pacific Grove at the Asilomar Conference Center. It was 
definitely a much needed moment for my soul… a high tide experience more or less. Craig Babb, a spiritual director with the Leadership Institute, shared many great bits of wisdom and insight. I think the real power of what was taught will come the more I meditate through it.
Big Valley Grace has such a great and healthy staff. We aren’t perfect by any means {we have our ‘quirks’}, but we have found safety in being who we truly are… plain and simple. Thanks for your prayers while we were away.
For a slideshow, click here.
This week I have felt dry. I think my schedule from June until now has caught up with me. It’s been busy, hectic, loaded, and at times stressful. In addition, my soul seems weary from spiritual battle. I feel a need for rest which is good since our church’s Pastor’s retreat is this week. I am longing for a big drink of some good water; living water actually.
I don’t mean to be pessimistic, I am just coming to grips with where I am (and my grumpiness is a strong indicator of my situation). I have been reading, and listening, and challenged, but I think more than anything I need to detach from the ‘norm’ and find rest.
Every once and a while when I feel this dry, it reminds me of a desert. I saw a picture of a cactus the other day that looked like a cross. It was interesting to me as I thought about that. Jesus embraced the cross and it hurt. Hugging a cactus would hurt. But even at Christ’s most painful moment, he was redeeming, rescuing and restoring us.
That got me thinking… what if I embraced the cross (not cactus) of surrender. What if I quit trying to solve my situation and just laid down on the ‘cross’. Something tells me I’d find restoration, rescue, and redemption all over again. So this week, I guess I’ll be hugging a cross cactus and drinking some good water.
He’s back in the news again. I definitely don’t understand this guy. He just seems to want to get caught. He is either the biggest narcissist ever or he is on a guilt wish to go to prison.
I also thought it might be a media ploy gone awry, but this is for sure– he’s a total mess!
Oddly enough, I posted a blog in the fall about O.J. {when he was in trouble then} and others as it pertains to fame. Click here to read.
Even if you hate football… you have to see these videos. I’m sure a few of them have been doctored at points, but either way they are pretty cool.
This last week was ‘one of those weeks‘ for me. Everyone has one so I’m not whining. However, I had a thought. I’ve decided to enlist some ‘mighty men’ (or women… check out her arm). Anyway, there is a great story in the book of 2 Samuel that’s worth a read.
Samuel is recounting the amazing feats of the David’s Mighty Men and a few lines stuck out to me. In a moment of weariness, David makes a comment that he’d like a drink of water from a well near the gate of Bethlehem. So his warriors break the enemy lines, risk their lives, and return with a cool refreshing drink of H20.
When I reread that, I thought, “Wow, now that’s support!” It seems to me that every Christian could use that kind of brother-{sister}-hood. In fact, shouldn’t this be one of the trademarks of Christian community. How much stronger would the body of Christ be, protected from inner temptations & fiery darts from without, if we choose to be mighty warriors for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Be a warrior today! It’ll be a blessing that will return one day– maybe even with a cup of water!
I had a few interesting thoughts about Christianity today. Faith is an organic experience with the Divine– it’s relational. Real life-giving faith can never be institutional. Nor can it be formulaic or even (to an extent) systematic.
No, Christian faith, a life-altering believe in Christ the Lord, is always a movement. And of all the societal groupings of the world, it’s the movement that receives the greatest persecution. When the first flames of Christianity spread through early A.D. Israel, it was on the heals of great persecution.
When Emperor Constantine established Christianity as the belief for Rome, he, without even realizing it, created an institutional convenience approach to the faith. When the Catholic church began to formalize the faith even more, it took Luther’s 95 thesis to swing it back to ‘movement‘ status.
In the early 1900s, the Salvation Army was one great movement for the Kingdom of Heaven. Now it’s a small store on a downtown street corner. In the late 1980s, the church growth movement gave way (in my opinion) to glorified business-style religious routine and check-the-box churches.
I wonder if we are due for another movement? I hope it’s a movement made up of this rising young adult generation. I hope it’s a movement that clings to Christ as Redeemer while fully embracing His teachings of the kingdom too. I hope it’s a movement that allows one to be the hands and feet of Christ; not just a biblical knowledge silo. I hope it’s a movement that turns the heads of the world and the church as well. I hope it’s a movement that truly causes us to de-’pew’ ourselves and make eternal investments in the lives of others (better stated here).
I don’t know about you… but I often grow tired of the Christian Castles. It’s then that I long to break down the door, meet up with Jesus at Matthew‘s house, and get caught in a movement. However, there is a WORD OF CAUTION. If it’s a movement you want, buckle up! “Even when the blind see, persecution there will be!” {Don’t believe me, read this! Just remember to rejoice in the fact that it’s Jesus who gave you sight.}
* P.S. - I think I’m in a movement right now… come join me.
Prayer is such an important part my walk with Christ. I have found myself interceding, pleading, and just enjoying divine conversation frequently this week. If you would like to join me in this noble quest, I promise you’ll be blessed. And if you need anything to pray about– I’m available for being lifted up.
Passages that have encouraged my prayer life lately:
What nation?, No rest for the watchmen
