Shawn Stutz

Jesus told the disciples that he “appointed them to bear fruit.”

Click to read an article I’ve contributed to a fellow blogger’s site, Intentional-Christian.org.

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This is a great video that demonstrates our need for recovery.

Every person alive, at one time or another, finds a way to satisfy their cravings absent of Christ. I just heard the Lord saying, “Is this one of those times right now for you?”

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During this Easter season, this is a great message from Tony Campolo to listen to on this ‘waiting point’ Saturday. Click here to listen (or click here for another listening option).

Here are some follow-up thoughts based on Tony’s talk.

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I remember being eleven {although it’s slowly slipping my mind}. There was Back to the Future on VHS, actual glass Star Wars collectors cups from Burger King, and kickball was king at school. My fifth and sixth grade experience was so tame compared to most students today. Kissing a girl was a distant thought in relationship to what was for lunch.

Cool breezy Sprummer (the overlap of Spring and Summer for those in West Central Missouri) nights were highlighted with taking the Wiffle Ball bat to lightening bugs and watching them shooting star across the yard. My mode of transportation was bike (ironic enough) and the dessert of choice was Creamy Freeze soft serve. Eleven was filled with imagination and wonder, peace and unbridled optimism. It’s fun remembering 1987; along with Sean and Gus.

It’s funny how life changes though. Somewhere I grabbed a piece of pessimism, a huge dose of real life, and an occasional broken heart. Life looks different now; not all bad, just different.

I heard a story this weekend of an 11-year old piano student diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She has experienced quite a bit of discomfort already and occasionally misses school in dealing with this new challenge. And yet, even on the days of missed school, this girl’s mother is sure to take her to piano lessons. And rightly so. Why skip that which you love even during seasons of sadness.

I was struck with the fact that one day this girl won’t be able to play a piano due to arthritis and yet the lessons continue. She hasn’t given up on her discipline of beauty just because the fog of physical decay is beginning to set in. The power of this truth really had me metaphorically bugged (in a good way). And then it hit me… that’s my life.

The foggy decay of sin has crept into my life and will continue to creep until it fully takes its course and I am no more in death. But until that day comes, I will discipline myself to declare the beauty of the Lord. The notes of my life lessons might not always be in key, but may I never give up. May my life be an 11-year old piano lesson of God’s grace, glory, and transformation even with a fog rolling in.

thank you Lord.

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I just finished the book titled The Shack by William P. Young. I bought it yesterday afternoon around 2:30 and couldn’t put it down; powerful page turner to say the least.

The book is a wild ride of fictional life and progressive theology. The best way I can describe it is Systematic Theology & New Kind of Christian meet Providence and Prayer with doses of The Matrix and Five People You Meet in Heaven.

It’s a definitely must read! Buy it now by clicking on the photo. I’d love to have a conversation when you’re done reading it!

* I know a friend of mine is not a fan of disclaimers, but this book might need one.  It’s not a traditional approach to thinking about things… including the trinity and afterlife. 

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I don’t even know how to respond to this… wow!

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Don’t read too much into the global conclusions that generalize this argument, but do you think this post and its conclusions might be a just a bit behind the times.  God love them for thoughtful processing though…

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For the record, this post will be extremely steeped in satire.

A while ago, I read a post about how the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was struck by lightning. I have actually walked the steps to the statue overlooking Sugar Loaf mountain and the Rio shoreline. It’s break-taking and beautiful.

And yet, there is an overwhelming sense of tourism that has invaded this hillside (much like that in Jesus’ actual hillside days). People are selling little Christ statues and there are Catholic trinkets in little shops alongside the path. Fellow travelers were purchasing Cokes and candles on their journey to Jesus.

And the steps! There are quite a few steps. It’s funny the symbolism of climbing steps to see a fake Jesus. Sounds a lot like religion itself to me. Many ways have been created for people to ascend steps in order to reach the summit of what– something empty and fake. The steps have the religious form and structure, but they lack the power and the life (and you lack a lot of power and life once you arrive… ugh, ugh {just 2 more}… somewhat Rocky-esque with Jesus holding his hands up instead of you).

And then to think this statue of Jesus got struck by lightning. We joke that God might strike us we say something awful. Did the statue speak? Was he fussing at the birds littering their worm-dinner leftovers? Did he mess with a tourist? Was there anger over yet another spilled Coke and camera flash –then BAM– a big heavenly camera lit up the place? No! It’s a statue! And that’s my point.

Statues don’t do anything, but remain perfectly still while slowly decaying. There’s no life, there’s no breathe, there’s no joy, adventure, love, movement, heights or depths. It’s just an inanimate block fashioned by the hands of men. The fake Jesus of Rio is stone– nothing more!

And if I remember correctly, the scriptures clearly state that we aren’t to make idols that we honor or revere. How is it that just because the statue is of Jesus, that makes commandment number 2 null and void? The fact is that the statue of fake Jesus doesn’t set up proper worship of real Jesus– so why do it?

And that spills into pictures and paintings.  “I know, I know,” but I can’t help but wonder if we weren’t meant to paint a picture for people. Maybe our limited-view captured on canvas will in the long run limit people’s ability to connect with real Jesus. And over time, encounters with fake Jesus will cause one to never truly embrace real Jesus.

Well, if you read this whole post you deserve a Kit Kat, so go and get one. Then, I’d be curious of your thoughts. Comment away…

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This article is great. Who is the He that is lifted up most…

How redundant is your church? Is your church a cult of personality?

So asks Dan Edelen in a post about pastors and “redundancy” in church leadership. Dan’s not asking if your pastor is a cackling, scheming cult leader who wields total control over his brainwashed congregation (although if that describes your church, you may have a problem). He’s suggesting that American churches tend to gravitate around a key pastor or leader, and are easily thrown into chaos when that person leaves the church because nobody else can step forward and take his/her place…

Read the full article here.

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You may have read the title and said, “What in the world! Shawn’s taking about aliens now.” No, Aliens were yesterday.

But, this is an interview with Bishop Tom Wright under ABCNews Video online and posted by ThinkChristian.net.

I must warn you though… this is not the mainline traditional view of things so buckle up! I would love to hear your thoughts on the video for sure!

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