spiritual regurgitations - re/new

My new favorite blog - Guitar for Worship

 Guitar for Worship - The dude probably doesn't even know who "el kabong" is but it is amazing to me how much I am enjoying his blog.  The mysterious Karl on Guitar for Worship (I say mysterious because I can fine NO pic of him anywhere...not on his blog, church website, google search, nothing!).  The blog is not only informative but entertaining...unless of course, you are not a musician or guitar player...then it is simply mindless babble or dribble. 

Otherwise, Karl reviews equipment, makes pithy comments, responds to EVERY post that his readers place on the blog and generally does one thing - promote good tone and good musicianship - all for the glory of God. 

The only thing, and I say this with tongue in cheek, that I don't like is that he is causing me to look seriously at my credit card.  I try to avoid a growing relationship with my card...in fact, I stick my card in hidden places so that I am not tempted to get into a serious relationship with it.  But lately, thanks to Karl, my credit card is beckoning to me...it wants to be used and abused.  If it wasn't for the fact that I have to have serious accountability with my wife and son because I suffer from a serious psychological disorder called, "G.A.S." (gear aquisition syndome), I would be sunk.  I'd be dropping tons of bucks and my credit card would be warm with joy because of use.  So, musicians, be warned.

Old friend, John Fischer...with his take on missional living

Old friend, John Fischer...musician, poet, author, communicator, and friend for over 30 years...writes columns and articles for a number of publications and movements.  This article is from the Home Church/Simple Church network and explains well the lifestyle of a child of the Kingdom of God.  Enjoy!

Coming Alongside by John Fischer (more on the Fischtank)

I am normally not a fan of ten steps to this or five ways to do that. But for one of my recent talks I came up with these six things to remember about being around those who may not yet be Christians, and thought some of you might find it useful.

1) Assume everyone is searching for God. Why? Because everyone is. We were created this way. God has purposely frustrated humanity by creating us with eternity in our hearts, yet with an inability to fathom what that is or what it means (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11). He has done this so that we might reach out for him and find him though He is not far from any of us for in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:27-28).

Playing with Fire.org launches

Fire Eater Sets High ‘Tech Integrity’ Bar for Teens

Nationally recognized tech teacher by day, fire eater by night, takes on issues of technological integrity with his new resource Playin’ With Fire.org.  Fort Collins, CO - Fire-eating tech teacher Mark Schreiber has created a new resource, Playin' With Fire.org, to help parents and teens discuss issues of technological integrity.

Founded by nationally recognized Milken Educator Mark Schreiber, Playin’ With Fire strives to open up the discussion between teens, mentors, and parents on teen tech integrity issues with the use of vivid fiery images, video clips, and discussion-starting questions.  It’s Schreiber’s second resource on his quest to help digital natives, i.e. teens, and digital immigrants i.e. parents, see eye to eye. 

Schreiber has a two prong strategy, teach parents how to use teen technologies and teach teens how to use them wisely. “Teens and parents have a huge gap in their knowledge and use of technology.  Parents assume that their kids are being safe because they are so versed in technology or they over-react and try to take it all away. Neither way is good parenting.  They need to develop a trusting and open relationship and talk about the heart of these issues with their kids.” said Schreiber.  Even if they know 10 times the tech, teens still need the wisdom that their parents and mentors provide.

PlayinWithFire.org invites teens to take a step in that direction by watching the preview video, taking the challenge to act the same online and off, and then to signing the wall to say that they will live with integrity online and off.

“I’m not just talking about porn or online predators,” Schreiber says in his video clip, “I’m talking about who you are while you’re connected?  What flames are you flirting with in this area?”

The full 10 minute video, ‘Confessions of a Fireater’, is slated to come out this fall with enough fire eating, tech integrity talk, and burning computers,  to get teens engaged on this important topic.

About Mark Schreiber

Mark Schreiber (M.S. Colorado State University) is founder of Playin’ With Fire.org and No Parent Left Behind.net as well as a teacher/technology integrator at Frontier Academy in Greeley, CO.  He has received many prestigious education awards such as the ING Unsung Hero Award (08), as well as the Milken National Educator Award (05), which is often toted as the “Grammy of teaching awards”.  Mark Schreiber currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado and has been teaching technology and fire eating for over 10 years.

Contact:
Mark Schreiber
mark@playinwithfire.org <mailto:mark@playinwithfire.org>
www.playinwithfire.org <http://www.playinwithfire.org/>
970/443-3523

Just about ready to say "bye bye" birdie!

I was on Twitter again today...I had at least "ten" people who wanted to "follow" me.  At first, celebration...THEN, I checked out (very quickly I might add) who these people are...all were women "looking" for me to follow.  All of them had provocative photos and statements for me to "consider"...all of them had links for me to check out (which I did NOT) that would have ushered me into the porn world. 

Another indication of what's going on in culture?  Yes!  But more than that, it shows anyone how temptation lingers and is subversive in its desire to hook us in unsuspecting ways.  So, I'm praying through the day about whether to dump Twitter.  I've grown fond of Facebook because you can monitor those who join your relational circle.  You can do that with Twitter to a point...so "bye bye birdie"?  More to come....

Isn't it ironic...

Another interesting and ironic moment from yesterday, the day Michael Jackson died...wasn't our Prez supposed to have the spotlight all day? ABC had given the President and his administration unprecedented, free coverage for an all day Obama infomercial on the health care plan...but then MJ died.  All the evenings news was gobbled up by MJ news...even news anchors on cable channels had to deal with the reality of a cultural icon instead of focusing on truly important things.  I "feel" for the Prez though...getting bumped by MJ, that's had to be unnerving for the administration...poised and ready to go only to be trumped by another celebrity...oh what a culture we live in!

Seriously, as I emailed a friend today...this is another sign of our celebrity driven, narcissistic, consumeristic culture and the out of control idolatry that goes along with these realities.  These things are deadly friends...the only way to find your life is to lose it...wasn't that something Jesus said?  The tragedy of MJ's story is the how the supposed "limelight" of public adoration and adulation is really darkness that slowly encompasses and eventually destroys the person seeking it.  We've seen that in many so-called celebrities lives...it is tragically ironic - your 15 minutes of fame is going to cost you.  More than you are probably really willing to give. 

A confession and challenge for our time and our lives...

 I just finished reading a new confession - a Jesus Manifesto - penned by Frank Viola a.nd Len Sweet, it is unapologetically a sweeping statement of faith with a prime focus - Jesus.  I am encouraging you to read it and reflect on it.  That's all I have to say on the subject...these two brothers, leaders, thinkers, teachers have done the Body of Christ a service.  A Jesus Manifesto

Something I've never noticed before...

 I'm sitting at a convention of the denomination that I have recently started to partner with in Kingdom ministry...a fellow professor is teaching on 2 Corinthians.  He put up this famous 6th century icon of Jesus Christ Pantocrator.  He told an interesting story about the icon itself...apparently, when the artist unveiled the work, his fellow monks disputed the consistency of the depiction...they didn't like the fact that there was "something wrong with the face".  As they gazed upon the icon, the two sides of Jesus' face were unique/different/distinguishably peculiar.  They were about to tell the artist to go back to the drawing board when, according to the historical account, the artist said that he intended it that way.  He was attempting to depict the dual nature of Jesus - divine/human.  The monks then asked which one was which and the iconagrapher remarked, "I'm not going to tell you - that's for you to discern".  Well, I'm looking for some reference to unscore and validate this story - but I must tell you - I have looked at this icon many times...usually in smaller size.  I never noticed that before...now I do.  In fact, I can't keep my eyes off it.  Isn't that the way it is though...the more you know of Jesus, the more captivating He is?  You decide!

Mark Schreiber and the "Playing with Fire" website

Mark Schreiber is a brave man.  He actually wants to be able to teach children, families and students about the potential pitfalls and traps of Net-world.  The great thing is - Mark is a digital native...he gets it...this isn't a "head in the sand" approach...it is rather thoughtful, deep, responsive and rooted in a value system that will only benefit those who take advantage of his perspective and we desire to see students (googlies) navigate techo-waters with integrity.  Mark has a companion website, No Parent Left Behind.  It is dedicated to family's specifically.  But this new site (Playing with Fire) address natives in native language.  Check it out! 

Playin' With Fire Trailer from Mark Schreiber on Vimeo.

A great diddy, "White Man"

OK - so it has limitations.  As I quickly posted on Facebook, this video has some great images...good theology as it is!  It doesn't attempt to summarize the entire Christian story...of course, there are issues of fallenness, redemption, sanctification, justice, etc.  But no ONE song can summarize everything...no one piece of art can be a summa theologica (sorry, Thomas!).  All I have to say, in light of the plethora of music that is being promoted as "Christian" music that is, frankly, trite, individualistic, and theologically shallow, what's wrong with a diddy about God's love?  Take a listen/watch yourself!

Great quote from Luther - passed on by my pastor and friend, Tom

“This life is not godliness, but growth in godliness; not health, but healing; not being, but becoming; not rest, but exercise. We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way; the process is not yet finished, but it has begun; this is not the goal, but it is road; at present all does not gleam and glitter, but everything is being purified.”  Martin Luther