Shawn Stutz

Yes, I am quitting the blog world. I have encountered some truths about the rhythm and discipline of my life that need change. Therefore, I am going blog-less until the end of November. It’s not that blogging has reached the ranks of evil or that I have lost the luster of live-journal writing. I just want to be less attached or even concerned with this cultural medium for a time.

So… my bloglines will be lonely. My posts will look the same for a while. Any major news updates or spiritual thoughts in the blogs of others will be the infamous inside joke to me. Yes, I am going blog-less.

It’s my hope that this single step of experiential simplicity will allow me to focus on my I truly value most. While loosening my media connection for a time, I am hoping to find myself bound all the more to the scriptures. Not to mention that there is a deepening sense in my heart that the discipline of intercession needs a revisiting in my life. I need to make room greater room for Life. And for Him, choices must be made; choices to loosen and let go as well as to bind and cling.

Balance is out there, and I truly believe it will be found… one simple step at a time.

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ThinkChristian has summarized a recent study/article from Christianity Today magazine about ‘Christians‘ in general. The study has categorized believers into five groups. Click here for the summary.

What are your thoughts about the categories– to broad, to narrow, to crazy? What category are you in? One, many?

I am a:  Active, Liturgical, Cultural

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This video will definitely give you a laugh or a good idea on how to be a one hit wonder!  Thanks Matt!

“… request to turn back time!”

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Yeah, the Bills won! It’s always a good day when Buffalo wins!

Check out some not so ‘rookie’ running right here!

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Early this week during morning prayer we read a portion from Luke 13. In this passage, Jesus addressed what the Kingdom of Heaven was like. His first analogy is that of a mustard seed. Which I found interesting since the mustard seed is insanely small, but grows full and thick.

But then Jesus compares the Kingdom to yeast that works its way throughout the dough. I don’t know what it is about this that stuck out more than previous readings, but did you catch that He’s talking about yeast. Yes, yeast helps bread ‘grow’, but this is bigger than that.

I find it interesting that Jesus compared this new, rising Kingdom of Heaven to yeast since the sacred bread of the time was unleavened. I addition to that, yeast is actually a living organism.

Maybe what Christ is trying to clue us into is that this new kingdom is different than the sacred institutional religion everyone was so acquainted with.  This great faith is not the work of repetitive rituals, but instead it is a living relationship with God and the community of those that surround themselves with the teachings of Jesus (a common unity).

I’m one to believe that the Lord never wasted a word, and I have to think that His chose of ‘yeast’ has some significance.  Let that work throughout the dough of the cranium and give me your thoughts…

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For proper understanding of what you are about to read, click here.

Well, Wednesday was Reformation Day! I know that many get their knickers in a twist about it being the horrid Halloween holiday. But on the flip-side, I never hear anyone celebrating the beginning of all that is Protestant. Then again, if we did we’d make it some sub-culture crazed awkward moment. There would be kids dressed up like Luther or the Pope collecting different colored copies of the 95 theses while shouting “Predestined to Treat!” at 1517 Wittenburg Way.

This catholic* (*universal church sub-culture) event could’ve been the smash hit of the fall season; like turning over a new leaf. And maybe with such fame, we’d no longer have to rescue the world from a historically pagan Irish harvest festival. In fact, we could even wait until the day after that dreaded day and buy discount candy tulips. With bargain sugar indulgences in hand, we could even celebrate what churches centuries before us remembered through liturgy and reflection, All Saints Day (nothing football related… sorry).

n fact, with such enlightened thoughts flowing through us, other secular festival days could disappear too. For example, Christmas. Christmas (or Christ’s mass) was a rescued/diversion from other “god-celebrated” holidays. Jesus was not actually born on December 25th, ’00. Some Middle Ages believers argued against celebrating the birth of Christ on a single day because Jesus ought to be incarnationally involved in our lives daily. You say symantics, I say semantics. Either way, “Let’s call the whole thing off…” “No wait, let’s not! Ugh… I’m confused now! Am I still getting presents from Jesus, Satan, Santa?”

Well maybe I should recant some. Maybe enjoying holidays isn’t that bad after all. Maybe what we make of a day, both positively and negatively, is what truly determines whether or not it’s a ‘holy-day‘ (I know, very sub-culture bumper-sticker of me). It might actually be our lives that counter the cultural status quo. And maybe the really scary costume is what we secretly wear all year, but show off the most when the world needs a real day hope and love from the church (people).

Just a thought, but I might reform my opinions next year.  I couldn’t resist… (okay, I’ll persevere stop)

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