ReFrame Media Feeds

Groundworki-am-the-way-the-truth-and-the-life::I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:09 +0000

What's the most outrageous thing Jesus ever said, the most over-the-top claim he ever made about himself? How about this one: “No one can come to God except through Me.” This statement is found in John 14 and often leads to accusations of intolerance. Let's discuss the significance of Christ's claim and what it means for our relationships with fellow Christians and non-Christians.

Todaychanged-focus-2012-05-18::CHANGED FOCUS

Bill Sytsma — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
—Matt. 14:29-30

I always feel bad for Peter when I read the story of his water-walking adventure. After seeing Jesus on the water, Peter proceeded to do something that most people would never dream possible. He walked on water! But when the wind distracted him, Peter got nervous and started sinking.

Did Peter do anything bad? In similar circumstances, I would be afraid too. I think Peter had a great deal of faith to merely step out of the boat. The other disciples did not venture out, and yet they were not scolded. Peter, however, was scolded for having “little faith.”

But Jesus was scolding Peter mainly for letting himself get distracted. Peter had a moment of extreme trust, but he forgot about Christ’s power as he noticed other forces surrounding him. He didn’t realize that the Lord who could empower him to walk on water could also keep him above water as the stormy wind and waves churned around him.

Peter had the faith to get out of the boat, but it was “little faith”—too easily distracted.

Walking with God means not only that we will trust him to do amazing things through us but also that we will maintain our focus on him when distractions rise up around us.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am easily distracted and often worried by circumstances in my life. Help me to remember and trust in your power to sustain and rescue me. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christianthe-uneasy-alliances-of-syrian-christians::The uneasy alliances of Syrian Christians

Stephen Starr and S. Akminas — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:58 +0000

Posted on 05/18/12

Hani Sarhan is a Christian in Syria who says none of his relatives works with Syrian president Bashar Assad's regime or have anything to do with it.

"But what we heard from (the protesters) at the beginning of this revolution saying, 'Christians to Beirut, Alawites to the coffin,' started us thinking about the real aim of this revolution," he said. "So from this point of view, fearing for my life, I declared my support for President Assad."

Muslims dominate this nation of 22 million people, but Christians can be found at all levels of Syrian government, business and military. The 2 million Christians here trace their roots to ancient communities and have survived under many rulers even as Christian enclaves in other Arab nations, such as Saudi Arabia, have withered.

The rebellion of hundreds of thousands of Muslims against Assad that began in March 2011 has not seen Christians abandon their support for the Alawites, the Muslim sect to which Assad belongs and that has controlled Syria for decades. Christians have largely remained quiet as Assad's forces pummeled rebel cities and towns with artillery, killing close to 10,000 people, according to the United Nations.

Many of Syria's Christians continue to stand by the regime not out of support for Assad, but out of fear of a civil war resulting in an Islamist government that's hostile to religious minorities.

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Qatana, a town 20 miles southwest of Damascus, is home to a Christian community of several hundred families. Protests here against the Assad regime have prompted military incursions and clashes between renegade soldiers and the regular army. At checkpoints surrounding the town, some Christians chat to Alawite security officers. Others offer water and whiskey.

Christians firmly believe that the Alawite regime will keep them safe. With the town's two churches located in Sunni Muslim neighborhoods, for months many families were too fearful to attend service, Christians here said. But a teacher at a Christian school said life is better now than before.

"The crisis is almost over," she said, asking her name be withheld because she feared retribution. "Our church was full on Easter Sunday; last year, it was practically empty. We were allowed to parade around the town, when last year we could only go in the street outside the church."

Yet Christian communities elsewhere have seen trouble.

In March, a Middle East leader for Think Christian's parent ministry reported violence against Syrian Christians in Hama and Homs.

"A predominately Christian neighborhood of west Hama, named Mahrada, was overrun by Islamist armed men," he said. "They forced families to flee and occupied homes.Three men were shot dead before their families. In Homs a similar incident occurred on a larger scale in the predominately Christian neighborhood of Hamidiyah. There dozens of men were killed and 23 women were kidnapped and raped before being freed when the Syrian army regained control."

Many Christians simply do not want to upset their way of living in a country where their fate will always be decided by Muslims, according to Syria experts. Christian doctors, lawyers and dentists have established successful and stable careers. Others occupy leading positions in the Syrian army, though a new constitution mandates the head of state must be Muslim.

"They do support (Assad) and are feeling quite anxious," said Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and a Syria expert. "Even so, there are plenty of Christians (in Syria) who believe that democracy in the long run is the best protection for Christians."

Walk The Way::Settle

Thu, 17 May 2012 19:53:04 +0000

Where do you need to stop settling?

Todayopening-our-eyes-2012-05-17::OPENING OUR EYES

Bill Sytsma — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-11
He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
—Acts 1:9

Forty days after Jesus rose from the grave, he left his disciples and ascended into heaven. Since that day, we no longer have the physical presence of God with us on earth. That does not mean God is not with us, but it is easier for us to ignore him, because he is hidden from our sight.

Even in the Old Testament, God seemed to know that his people would be apt to ignore him. To combat this, God developed a series of patterns and habits for the people of Israel. Whenever they put on clothes, prepared food, entered their house, or groomed their hair, they were reminded of God’s presence in their midst (for example, see Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Although they were not able to actually see God, their eyes were opened to the reality of his presence, as they learned to exercise his will in every area of their lives.

After Christ ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit taught his followers that the dietary restrictions, clothing regulations, and even the sign of circumcision were no longer necessary, but it was still important to be aware of his work in their lives, even though Jesus was taken from their sight. (See Acts 2:1-4; 42-47; 15:1-31.)

In the practice of spiritual disciplines, we develop an awareness of his work and presence as we strive to walk with him.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we praise you as you reign on high, and we ask that you will make us aware of your presence through your Spirit, even though we cannot see you. In your name we pray. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christiancareful-cultural-engagement::Careful cultural engagement

Monica Selby — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:27:44 +0000

Posted on 05/17/12

Last year my husband and I joined our friends in a 200-seat theater to hear a relatively unknown band called The Civil Wars. This was before the Grammys and before their collaboration with Taylor Swift for the Hunger Games soundtrack. I hadn’t heard much about the duo before this show was scheduled, but all of our friends were over-the-top excited, so we joined in the date-night fun. That show turned us into big fans. Even our children now know the songs on Barton Hollow.

Perhaps six months later The Civil Wars returned to the city to play a sold-out show at a big theater. We weren’t able to go, but when I asked one of the formerly over-the-top excited friends if she was going, she made a face. “Nah. I mean, what have they done lately?”

It was less than a year since their first release and only a few months since we had seen them with so much fan excitement. Her response made me think about the current state of Christian cultural engagement.

A few years ago, Christians knowledgeable about the latest music, television, movies and books would have been seen as worldly. In a lot of churches now, it’s almost a requirement. To the extent that it brings us out of our self-imposed ghettos and back in touch with the mainstream human experience, engaging culture is both healthy and glorifying to God.

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In a recent Think Christian piece, Josh Larsen argued that “clumsy cultural engagement by believers” is better than none at all. He’s right, because when we close ourselves off to culture as a whole, we begin to ignore the rest of the world, making it hard to truly show Jesus to anyone.

There’s an opposite danger, though, and one that the conversation with my friend about The Civil Wars brought to mind. What if we become too savvy, too well-versed in popular culture? What if we begin to look at the world first as 21^st-century Americans, and only second as followers of Christ? When we become as consumer-minded (or, worse, more) as the non-believers among us, we actually risk losing the ability to see God in anything.

Andy Crouch, in his book Culture Making, argues that there are four ways in which we can engage culture. We can consume it, copy it, critique it and condemn it. Each approach is valid and appropriate at different times, though all have their dangers. Crouch’s example for healthy consumption is a loaf of bread and a cup of tea. We can’t critique the Christ-likeness of it, we can’t make it “more Christian” and only a fool would condemn tea and bread. We consume it. However, when we begin to talk about the more complex question of popular culture, consumption is not the best default.

In our honest efforts to “engage” the culture around us, seeking to change people’s lives by the power of Christ, we can quickly slide into merely consuming. After all, in this millennium, information and trends move so fast, the minute you conquer one, there’s a new one right behind it. We can spend our days keeping up with the latest fashions, bands and hip places to eat and drink. Before we know it, we’ve put all our time and efforts into keeping up with culture, and when someone asks us for the hope we have in us (which they won’t, unless they see it), we won’t have an answer.

This is not a blatant condemnation of popular culture, of course. Rather, we need to develop a lens through which to judge a given cultural artifact for ourselves and for our families. Perhaps Philippians is a good place to start:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

This is the beginning of healthy engagement. When we start here, we loosen culture’s grip a little and put ourselves, with the power of Holy Spirit, back in control.

What Do You Think?

How do you define healthy cultural engagement?
What guidelines can Christians keep in mind as they partake of mainstream culture?

Walk The Way::Questions

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:48:06 +0000

What would change about our witness to the world if we asked more questions instead of giving more answers?

Think Christianwhat-books-should-every-christian-read::What books should every Christian read?

John Pattison — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:19:40 +0000

Posted on 05/16/12

When I co-wrote Besides the Bible, a collection of essays about books my co-authors and I think every Christian should read, our hopes for the project were modest. We wanted to encourage followers of Jesus to talk about books, especially the really good books.

“This is not a list of the most important books in Christendom,” we say in the introduction. “It is not a comprehensive catalog of the history of the Christian church. It is a list of 100 books, culled from the vast library of the written word, we believe our siblings in Christ will be stronger for having read.”

Since Besides the Bible was released we’ve been criticized for some of the books we included (The Last Temptation of Christ, Left Behind and books by prominent atheists). We’ve also been criticized for some of the books we excluded. For example, we made the decision early on that we would only allow one book per author. C.S. Lewis was one of the few exceptions. We included guest essays on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and A Grief Observed, but Mere Christianity did not make the final cut. The absence of certain books and authors makes our list immediately suspect for some people. But part of the fun of putting together a recommended reading list is the conversation that develops about the strengths and weaknesses of the list itself.

Here are a few other books that Jordan Green, Dan Gibson and I wrote about:

Strength to Love, by Martin Luther King, Jr.: Most of the sermons in this collection would have ended with an altar call. If the altar calls didn’t make the text, we still reach a moment of decision. The question King asked explicitly four years later in a different book is the same facing every Christian who has an authentic encounter with Dr. King: Where do we go from here?

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard: In a virtual reality culture of blogs, status updates, tweets and memes, The Pilgrim at Tinker Creek displays an attentiveness to the natural world that has become increasingly difficult, even as it becomes more and more essential.

Anarchy and Christianity, by Jacques Ellul: Conservatives may have appreciated his Reformed theology and participation in the French Resistance, but they bristled at his affection for Marx. Liberals liked his rebukes of theocracy, but they winced when he blasted the impotence of government. In the end, like many prophets, Ellul was ignored.

Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock, by Andrew Beaujon: The music Christian culture produces is a continuing influence internally, but it’s a confusing transmission to those exclusively in the secular world. Body Piercing Saved My Life might be the best record of what it all means.

We recommended our books. Through a now-dormant blog - and especially through the 30 guest essays in the book itself - we had books recommended to us. It was thrilling for us to read David Dark on J.D. Salinger: “Franny and Zooey situates salvation and the just life lived by faith squarely within the here and now, remaining alive to the possibility, for instance, of consecrated cups of chicken soup passed between people.”

And Phyllis Tickle on poetry: “[The] best companion to the Bible, at least for folks like me, is The Norton Anthology of Poetry, that treasure trove of what we have been and that record in pathos and glory of what we, under God, are becoming.”

Now we’d like to add your voice to the conversation. Which books do you think every Christian should read?

Todayconfession-2012-05-16::CONFESSION

Bill Sytsma — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:5-10
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
—1 John 1:9

One of the classic spiritual disciplines is confession. We usually use that word to mean we admit our sinfulness.

In my life, the practice of confession has often been reduced to a cover-all phrase like this in my prayers: “Forgive me of my many sins.” It is a handy phrase, because it allows me to sanitize and distance myself from the evil that has been evident in my actions. Rather than recall my struggles with greed, lust, envy, and materialism; I can just acknowledge that I have committed “many sins.”

But when we make a blanket statement about our sinfulness, we have not really advanced our conversation with God; nor have we really taken an assessment of our personal integrity. God is willing to hear us speak about the reality of our actions. He loves us enough to allow us the space to recall the ways we offend him, and he responds by reminding us that he loves us.

The practice of confession is counter-intuitive. We naturally believe that if we start to name all of our offenses, we will fall into a pit of self-loathing as we recall how badly we have behaved. The intent of confession, however, is to help us realize that no matter how often or how badly we have violated God’s standards, every time we name our sin, we can be assured that God’s grace extends to cover our faults.

Prayer:

Lord, I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. Fill me with your forgiving grace, that I may know your love. And help me turn from my sinful ways, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Walk The Way::A Broken Place

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:48:35 +0000

The world's a broken place. All around us, people need the reconciling power of Jesus. What part will you play in making that happen?

Todayputting-on-a-show-2012-05-15::PUTTING ON A SHOW

Bill Sytsma — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do … .”
—Matthew 6:16

Jerry made a commitment to get physically fit, and everyone could tell. He had purchased everything that he thought would be necessary: new shoes, fitness apparel, workout videos, a gym membership, and a notebook to help him track his progress. He regularly made a scene as he left work to go to the gym for a workout during his lunch break.

Though everyone noticed a change in Jerry’s routine, no one was able to discern a change in his fitness level. Even though his friends noticed his gym bag and different schedule, his body had not changed.

None of Jerry’s friends realized that when he went to the gym, he gave a half-hearted effort to lift a few weights, read a magazine while walking slowly on the treadmill, and enjoy twenty minutes in the hot tub before showering and returning to work.

Jesus warned his disciples about half-hearted efforts to grow nearer to God. In those days, many people approached spiritual growth in a way like Jerry approached physical fitness. The Pharisees would make a tremendous show about fasting, but they were more interested in showing their piety to others than in growing nearer to God.

If our spiritual habits are just shallow attempts to impress others, we will probably have no more than a shallow walk with God.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to avoid the temptation to appear holier than I am. Work in me to make me new. In Jesus, Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christianfrank-langella-and-fame::Frank Langella and fame

Vincent Bacote — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:44:23 +0000

Posted on 05/15/12

I recently came across two interviews with Frank Langella discussing his memoir Dropped Names: Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them. I first saw Langella on the Tavis Smiley Show and then Charlie Rose the next night. Both times I watched with great fascination as Langella talked as much or more about what he learned as a result of writing the book as the famous figures (all deceased) in the text.

In the midst of discussing Rita Hayworth with Smiley, Langella stated that after writing the book he became aware of how many famous people weren’t well parented. By this he meant that no imprimatur (in the sense of approval) was given to them and the result was great damage to their identity. He added that while many famous people went into show business or similar careers as a means to address the damage, what actually happened is that the trappings, perks and rewards of fame covered up the deep damage. He noted that many of these people succumbed later in life to the damage, especially after the spotlight had moved on. In a similar vein, Langella told Rose that “Fame is corrosive.” The reason for this is that the “toys” and other products/elements of fame (power, one’s name, wealth, sex appeal, etc.) create a distance between the person and their deepest self, keeping them from addressing the most fundamental things in their lives, which does not serve them well as they get older.

Langella did not put himself forward as a saint (indeed far from it), but as more of a survivor who is also a damaged person but who has gotten to a place where fame is not something he needs to protect himself from the shifting winds life brings. As I watched these interviews a few times, I pondered why it is that so many of us are seduced by the what Lady Gaga aptly titled “The Fame Monster.” (I’m not much of a fan, but she got that one right.)

When I was growing up, people who graced the television and movie screen were a rare breed who occupied a special place in the universe off limits to mere mortals. I wondered how anyone could actually cross paths with famous actors and actresses, stars of the music world, great athletes and even those on local and national news broadcasts. These were people who had a level of public recognition and approval that many dreamed of but few could ever attain; I’m not sure as a child that I believed they were human like the rest of us.

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Things have changed a lot since then. There’s still a rarefied world occupied by celebrities, but the possibility of orchestrating one’s own fame is now available via the world of social media. If you make the right kind of YouTube video or find a niche in certain domains of the blogosphere, you might have a shot at getting at least five minutes of fame, if not the full Warhol 15. But why do we want it? And why is this as seductive for Christians as much as anyone else? What do we believe will happen to us and for us if we arrive at stardom (whether hard fought or sudden)? What does this mean about the way that our faith penetrates to the core of our identity and how we address our brokenness?

My sense is that what happens with many people is that they see the serial carnage of lives that succumbed to internal dysfunction or fame’s corrosion, yet they say “I’ll get it right. I’ll be careful and I won’t be one of the statistics.” But what often happens is that fame monster consumes them as well.

I don’t think public recognition is toxic by definition, nor do I believe that we should run from affirmation. Indeed, affirmation is important, but are we aware of the difference between healthy affirmation and addictive, heroin- or crack-like approval that keeps us from learning how to travel through this often disappointing life until the eschaton comes?

What Do You Think?

What aspect of our brokenness does fame seem able to heal?
Is public recognition something Christians should avoid at all costs?
What are examples of people who have best handled fame?

Walk The Way::A Place for Kids?

Mon, 14 May 2012 15:54:52 +0000

If you were asked to name some places parents should never bring their children, would the church be on your list?

Todaysuper-spirituality-2012-05-14::SUPER-SPIRITUALITY?

Bill Sytsma — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14
“I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
—Luke 18:12

When you hear the phrase spiritual disciplines, you might think of missionaries who travel to foreign countries or people who have taken vows of poverty. You might think spiritual disciplines are reserved for eccentric or unique individuals who love the Lord—and you might not consider yourself a person like that.

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees defined their spiritual stature by their disciplines. They believed they were superior because of their spiritual habits, such as fasting. That kind of mindset leads lots of people to believe that spiritual disciplines are only for the “spiritual elite.”

But when Jesus tells his followers the traits he is looking for, he does not mention disciplines such as prayer, fasting, or confession. He indicates that he is looking for lives that have been transformed. He wants to see followers who feed the hungry, visit the imprisoned, and clothe the naked (see Matthew 25). The purpose of disciplines is not to show our holiness. They are exercises that help us grow nearer to God.

Spiritual disciplines do not earn us favor with God, but they can help us grow. Even if you have never thought about practicing spiritual disciplines, you probably already have some habits that help you grow nearer to God. Whenever you pray, attend worship, read the Bible, or do daily devotions, you are setting aside time to develop a habit to help you know God more fully.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, may the habits of faithful living draw me nearer to you. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Todaypracticing-self-denial-2012-05-13::PRACTICING SELF-DENIAL

Bill Sytsma — Sun, 13 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Mark 8:31-38
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
—Mark 8:34

Have you ever practiced the discipline of fasting? Although most followers of Christ agree that prayer is a valuable practice, there is some debate about the discipline of fasting. Fasting is the practice of refraining from normal activities to focus our attention on Christ. Most commonly, fasting is about avoiding food for a certain period of time.

In today’s verse, Jesus tells his disciples that following him will require self-denial and sacrifice.

We might be able to intellectually understand and agree with the call to self-denial. We might see the benefit of obeying Christ, even when it contradicts our desires. We might even sincerely pray that we would have the strength to obey him. However, when the time comes to lay aside our desires and obey God’s commands, we falter.

It is not easy to say no to our own desires, especially when we have the means to satisfy our whims. The discipline of fasting helps us practice saying no to ourselves.

We do not gain virtue points by saying no to eating a hot dog or not eating chocolate during the season of Lent, but we do learn the habit of setting aside our desires to make room for pursuing God’s will.

Prayer:

I confess, O Lord, that I often avoid doing the good I would like to do. I also admit that I regularly violate your commands, in spite of my best intentions. Make me new, so that I am able to obey your will. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christianjourney-and-the-value-of-companionship::Journey and the value of companionship

Drew Dixon — Sun, 13 May 2012 06:58:43 +0000

Posted on 05/13/12

When I first saw a figure in the distance, I was unsure how I should react. I wanted to yell - I had been walking alone for what seemed like miles and I wasn’t entirely sure where I was. However, I didn’t know this person. How could I know that I could trust her? I didn’t speak. I simply walked toward her, she acknowledged me and turned and began walking toward the looming mountain in the horizon. I followed.

We walked silently together. At first I followed, but we soon reversed roles and I began leading the way. At some point suspicion of my companion gave way to trust. When we arrived at the caves in the foothills of the mountain and I slipped and fell, my companion helped me up. When I lost my way in the dark, she would come near and lead the way. I soon found myself helping her when she fell and signaling to her when she turned the wrong way. She became to me a guide and a friend. It was still my journey, but I no longer wanted to be alone.

Somewhere near the mountain’s peak, I lost sight of my friend. I retraced my steps, looked in every direction, but she was nowhere to be found. I waited for her at the summit. Time slowed and after what seemed like an eternity, I continued on, climbed up the peak and stepped into glory.

I suppose Journey could be interpreted in many ways as it presents us with a stunning but desolate world and charges us with a simple task: collect bits of an old scarf as you make your way toward the mountain and eventually to its summit. The world of Journey is plagued with uncertainty. There is no prologue and there are no written or spoken words throughout. Its lack of stated goals and its mysteriously quiet world will make you question yourself. There is an intentional lack of guidance from the game itself.

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You enter Journey alone but it’s up to you to determine whether you will remain that way. When you happen upon another traveler – representing a real flesh-and-blood person randomly placed into your game, just as you are randomly placed into theirs - you cannot speak, you can only produce a small beacon to inform them of your location. There are no extra points scored for traveling together or special locations reachable only by teamwork. Traveling together is entirely up to you and whoever you happen upon.

Journey is perhaps the most meaningful game experience I have ever had. To me it was a metaphor for my own personal journey as a Christian - the journey toward eternal glory with the Father, the journey made possible for me by Christ. I was traversing sparse landscapes, foreboding caverns and strange ruins, but always moving upward toward the peak of the glorious mountain. Every misstep was a trial or temptation seeking to defer my gaze from my goal and every step toward the mountain was a reminder of the promise of eternal reward.

Like many of That Game Company’s games, Journey makes a strong case for the aesthetic value and emotional potential of video games as a medium. It’s a game about progress and yet it has the potential to be much more. For many, it’s a game about the value of human interaction, trust and companionship. I doubt that my companion internalized her experience in Journey the same way that I did, but I am glad that she was there. Perhaps I would have made it without her. I cannot be sure, but I know that she helped me reach my goal. I could have made my pilgrimage alone, but if Journey taught me anything about myself, it taught me that I didn’t want to.

What Do You Think?

Have you played Journey? How would you describe the experience?
What other metaphors does the game bring to mind?
What role does companionship play in our faith journeys?

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/161.MP3::Homework Alert

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:00:34 +0000

What scares you the most? What do you do when you are afraid? See how Liz deals with his greatest fear on this week’s Kids Corner.

Todaygratitude-2012-05-12::GRATITUDE

Bill Sytsma — Sat, 12 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-19
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
—Luke 17:15

While I was in high school, one of the teachers from the business department taught us skills for pursuing a job. While helping us practice for interviews, she emphasized that the interview was not over until you wrote a thank-you note.

At first, I thought of the thank-you note as nothing more than an appendix to the interview. It was one more opportunity to make myself look good. As we practiced interviewing, I discovered that the intention to write a thank-you note changed the way I approached the interview. While answering questions and learning more about the potential job, I made mental notes of items to include in my thank-you note. The intention to express thanks made me more aware of the interviewer’s concerns. I don’t know if the thank-you notes changed or enhanced my image in the eyes of the interviewers, but I know it changed my awareness of the interview process.

We may realize that prayer is an important part of thankfulness, but do we realize how closely prayer and gratitude are tied together? We might be inclined to believe that prayer is the appendix to a good day or a successful endeavor—it is good to include, but it doesn’t add much to the substance of what has happened. But prayer does more than punctuate God’s blessings. It helps us become more aware of God’s goodness and contributes to a growing sense of gratitude toward God.

Prayer:

Dear God, may my life of prayer with you give me an ever-growing sense of gratitude. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Walk The Way::Garbage Day

Fri, 11 May 2012 15:58:57 +0000

It doesn't take much--just going to coffee with a friend, giving someone a ride, or helping a neighbor clean up a tipped-over garbage can. How can you love those around you in the name of Jesus?

Groundworki-am-the-resurrection-the-life::I AM the Resurrection & the Life

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:46 +0000

Death is not a popular conversational topic. We don’t like to think about dying. It’s so final. But in the gospel of John, Jesus calls himself the Resurrection and the Life. How does Jesus’ encounter with the death of Lazarus give us hope?

Think Christianthe-missed-opportunity-of-the-freedom-tower::The missed opportunity of the Freedom Tower

David Greusel — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:52:39 +0000

Posted on 05/11/12

The Empire State Building has once again lost its claim to being New York City’s tallest tower (having been eclipsed several times in the “world’s tallest” category). With 100 floors complete and counting, the Freedom Tower, aka 1 World Trade Center, has passed the venerable Art Deco landmark recently and isn’t looking back.

This event, though greeted with press releases and mild fanfare, left me more sad than satisfied. For one thing, the so-called Freedom Tower owes its very existence to the horrific attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, an event I experienced from the seat of a commercial airliner and an unplanned stay in Salt Lake City, Utah. Without 9/11, after all, there is no need for a Freedom Tower.

Its origin is sad enough in itself, but the story of the tower’s design is even sadder. Building anything in Manhattan is famously difficult, but the Freedom Tower’s story is more fraught than most. The commission to design the tower (and its name) originally belonged to Daniel Libeskind, an engaging architect whose work mostly leaves me cold, but whose inspiring back story made his proposed Freedom Tower a worthy successor to the World Trade Center’s twin towers.

Libeskind’s design, which clocked in at an unsubtle 1,776 feet, was an office tower whose twisting form and upraised mast was a subtle, abstracted salute to the Statue of Liberty, symbol of American freedom. Not a replica, but an homage, it was, in my opinion, well done (this from a less than tepid fan of most of Libeskind’s work). It was a heartfelt, bracing, uplifting proposal for a tragic site.

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But among other problems, Libeskind could never be sure who his client was: Silverstein Properties, the real estate company that owned the World Trade Center; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who owned the site; or the commission appointed to oversee the rebuilding of the site and buildings destroyed in the 9/11 attack. The resulting process - a torturous web of panels, commissions, bosses, landlords and behind-the-scenes posturing - resulted in a new architect and a new plan that eviscerated Libeskind’s evocative design.

Fast forward through several years of politics, panels and backstage maneuverings, and the design work ended up going to David Childs, the blue-chip design head of a blue-chip corporate design firm, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, which counts Lever House, the John Hancock Center and the (formerly) Sears Tower among its past commissions. Child’s take on Libeskind’s design is plainer (Hancock Center plain) and less sculptural, with a mast that looks more like a TV antenna (which it is) than an upraised arm. Though still 1,776 feet tall, all the allusion has been drained from Libeskind’s idea, along with the elegance. The new Freedom Tower sits on a 200-foot-tall concrete base meant to render it impervious to ground-level explosions. And the Titanic was unsinkable, right?

Christians should, I suppose, be cheered by the valiant attempt of those involved to redeem the tragedy of 9/11 through the reconstruction of the site (though of course the actual site of the Twin Towers is now a commemorative park, previously discussed on Think Christian). But the process of arriving at this point - the incredibly Byzantine path to Childs’ redesign of Libeskind’s tower and the resultant building - is truly the proverbial camel, a horse designed by a committee. Instead of redemption, mostly what I see is ego, posturing, hubris and the raw exercise of political power in a city where the latter, more than the dollar, is the true coin of the realm. Redemption? Not so much.

What Do You Think?

What is your impression of the Freedom Tower?
How could a skyscraper best capture the theme of restoration?
What notable skyscrapers resonate with you and why?

Todayrecognizing-god-2012-05-11::RECOGNIZING GOD

Bill Sytsma — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Psalm 40:1-8
Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.
—Psalm 40:3

Who taught you how to pray?

When I was a child, we often had dinner with my grandparents on Sunday evenings. My grandfather almost always began his prayer with these words: “Our heavenly Father, we come nigh unto thee in the evening hour of this Sabbath Day.” His prayers were eloquent, had deeply meaningful key phrases, and a predictable cadence. I wish I could hear him pray again.

Many of us develop patterns to our prayers. We bow our heads and close our eyes, use respectful terms to address God, express gratitude for his grace, ask for his intervention in our concerns, and end with the word “Amen.” Sometimes we hear prayers that cause our hearts to be awakened by God’s majesty and mercy. Upon hearing such wonderful prayers, we may desire to pray with the same eloquence.

The goal of prayer, however, is not to become better at praying. The goal of prayer is to make us more aware of God’s presence and power in our lives. Praying well is not an end, but a means to become more attuned to God’s work. If we think prayer must be confined to a pattern of bowing our heads, uttering standard phrases, and ending with “Amen,” the power of prayer will be limited in our lives. Prayer allows us to recognize God, grow in our awareness of his work, and enjoy the wonder of his love.

Prayer:

Open my eyes, Lord, so that I may see you working in this world, and so that my heart may swell with gratitude. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Todayasking-for-a-blessing-2012-05-10::ASKING FOR A BLESSING

Bill Sytsma — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:22-32
The man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
—Genesis 32:26

If you created a list of items you should pray about, you might include asking God to heal the sick and relieve those who suffer from injustice. You might pray that people who are far from God might have their hearts transformed. Your list might ask God to bless world leaders, victims of crime, and friends and family members who are enduring personal struggles. As you made your list, you might start to think that with all of the suffering in your world, it can seem a little petty and selfish to ask God to bless you.

Praying for others is good for our walk with God. It can soften our hearts to concerns outside of ourselves. But we are never told in the Bible that our prayers should be limited to the concerns of others. Asking for God’s blessing for ourselves should also be a significant part of our prayer lives.

First, when we ask God for a blessing, we admit that we need his blessing, and we confront the fact that we are not able to do everything we want to. We show that we need God’s grace.

Second, when we ask for a blessing, we intentionally present our deepest concerns to God. This allows us to grow nearer to him, as we recognize that God really does care about us. We do not need to hide our personal concerns or desires from him.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, lead me into a closer walk with you through the gift of prayer. Grant me your blessing, and help me to recognize the blessings you have already given me. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christianwhat-science-cannot-say-about-morality::What science cannot say about morality

Jason E. Summers — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:29:40 +0000

Posted on 05/10/12

Editor's note: Agendas Aside, a Think Christian series on homosexuality and the church, also includes pieces by Neil de Koning, Joshua Walters and Glenn Goodfellow.

“Black people are worth less than white people,” my 11-year-old African-American mentee matter-of-factly informed me as we were working on his science-fair project. As we talked about this it became clear that he had somehow collapsed the value of human beings into a conflation of lifetime income and economic productivity such that he was certain the “worth” of an individual could be determined by imagining the cash ransom they would command if abducted. I was worth more than a black person, he assured me, but - somewhat incongruously - less than a basketball star.

Putting aside the conversation that followed - in which I labored to explain that the value of all human beings comes from their having been created in the image of God - if we were to instead accept my mentee's false definition of human value, we could easily determine that the economic and sociological data broadly confirm his hypothesis. However, in truth, those data do not and cannot reveal anything about the value of human beings.

It's particularly appropriate that my mentee and I had our conversation in the context of completing his science-fair project, because it is science that people most often turn to when attempting to make moral claims based on what is observed in the world. In no case is this truer than when trying to answer questions about the moral status of homosexuality.

It is commonly accepted that the outcome of the debate over the moral status of homosexuality hangs on the scientific question of whether homosexuality is a choice. As such, groups in favor of normalization of homosexuality in society and broader legal recognition of gay and lesbian relationships champion findings that tie homosexuality to genetic factors or neurobiology. In contrast, groups that disapprove of homosexuality and wish to prevent public legal recognition of gay and lesbian relationships dispute such findings. But, as Professor Alice Dreger reviews in her recent article in the Atlantic, the current status of scientific knowledge on the matter outlines a much more complex landscape of questions and does little to deliver a smoking gun that would serve either set of partisan ends.

As a scientist, I'm encouraged to see public interest in scientific findings, but as a Christian with an avocational interest in ethics, I find appeals to science in search of answers to moral questions troubling. Looking for scientific evidence that individuals are (or are not) born with a particular sexual identity does not and cannot address questions about the moral status of a particular sexual identity.

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As moral philosopher David Hume famously observed, what is does not determine what ought to be. And, more than that, Christians - who affirm that the world was created by God and that God has ordained the right ordering of things - know that, despite the ongoing effects of sin that ensure that what we observe is not what ought to be, the deepest truth of things remains not what we observe them to be, but what they are created to be. Though we may not see it now, we believe in hope that all things are being brought to perfection through Christ.

Christian ethics is teleological in this sense: it recognizes as good that which moves the created order closer toward the ends for which it was created. We misrepresent the moral vision of our faith when we reduce it to a question of whether people are free to choose to obey a particular rule - with both sides arguing whether people are “born this way” or not. It is a flawed line of reasoning (due primarily to Kant) that elevates individual choice while diminishing the power of God.

In real life, there is not such a clear distinction between what is determined and what is chosen, just as the findings described by Dreger, writing in the Atlantic, reflect. Choices are never fully free, nor fully constrained; neither purely a matter of our personality (disposition) nor our circumstances (situation). As I have previously written, “Jesus' parable of the talents advocates a richer view: we are accountable for our choices and actions (disposition), but in accordance with what we are given (situation).” What we are accountable for is becoming ever more fully what we are created to be, which is something we can never discern from our status at birth, but only our nature as children of God.

Christians must root their moral questions here, beginning with the understanding that all people are created in the image of God and seeking to understand how all of us are to work, together with Christ, towards the fulfillment and consummation of creation.

What Do You Think?

Will scientifically determining whether or not homosexuality is a choice also determine the moral aspect of the debate?
What does it mean to become what God created us to be?
In what ways has sin led you to fall short of God's original, creative intention?

Think Christianwhy-maurice-sendak-should-be-next-to-your-kids-story-bible::Why Maurice Sendak should be next to your kids’ story Bible

Caryn Rivadeneira — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:05:48 +0000

Posted on 05/09/12

Every Sunday I read the announcement - the one about the book drive to stock the kids’ library at my church with classic children’s books. Every Sunday, I think, I’ve got so many books. I have to go through them and donate. And then every Sunday I come back from church, look at the stacks and rows of books on our bookshelves and wonder which books I should donate. So far, every Sunday I’ve walked away from my shelves without pulling any books out. Without giving a one.

The problem is not my greed. It’s not any hoarding compulsion. The problem is: one day one of these authors will die. And my kids will read the story and gasp or sigh and their minds will wander back to the huge influence, the wonderful impact the author had on their lives and they will call me up and ask if I still have that book. And I’d hate to say I didn’t.

I realize this sounds extreme. But yesterday, when I read the news that Maurice Sendak had died, after I gasped and sighed, my mind went to the books, the ones my mother had saved for me. The ones I had read to my own kids a million times. I ran up the stairs, knelt in front of the white book shelf outside the kids’ rooms and ran my fingers along the spines, looking for Sendak.

As I did, my brain went further back - to the times I’d searched the spines for Sendak as a child. The times I’d longed to return to Where the Wild Things Are, when I wanted to imagine Alligators All Around or to learn more about that Rosie - who’d sung on TV about being a “great big deal.” Words I desperately want to believe about myself. In fact, each of the books I returned to (of Sendak’s and others) either said something about or fed something in me. They were key elements in my growing up, in my forming.

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I suppose this is why - even though I’ve yet to donate a one - I’m thrilled to belong to a church willing to gather and display and offer these classic and wonderful stories for our children. That I worship in a place that believes un-officially inspired-by-God books can inspire nevertheless. That these books deserve a hallowed place on our shelves - right next to the children’s Bibles and Bible stories.

Because these books can and do help us train up children. They trained me up when I struggled to make sense of myself, my circumstances, my very life. The great books made me feel less alone or misfit; they offered glimpses of a bigger picture and a bigger story and just where I might fit in it.

They do this for my kids too, which is why I’m nervous to give any away. Because I’m not exactly sure which books, which words, which writers my own kids are holding near and dear, which lyrics or turns of phrase they’ve tucked deep into their hearts, which stories they know themselves better because of.

And I’m not exactly sure which stories have stirred up their imaginations so much that they begin to see God at work in the stories, the illustrations, in the humor and in the sad bits. But I know some do. And I know they help kids imagine their own place in God’s story. Because it’s in these great books that - if we look and imagine - that we see stories of disobedience and consequence, of bravado and loneliness and longing for home, of redemption and grace. When our faith is indeed childlike, we see the Gospel played out where wild things are.

What Do You Think?

Does Sendak's work have a special meaning for you?
Can classic children's books, despite being irreligious, aid in spiritual formation?

Todaypraying-for-the-kingdom-2012-05-09::PRAYING FOR THE KINGDOM

Bill Sytsma — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:5-15
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
—Matthew 6:10

I was never able to understand the attraction of big cities. Traffic jams, aggressive drivers, and congestion have always been enough to keep me away from areas of high population.

A few years ago, my wife took me into the heart of Chicago. As we drove into the city, I felt anxiety rising within me as my shoulders became tense and my stomach felt queasy. After walking around for a while, we went to a building called the John Hancock Center, a 95-story skyscraper, the fourth tallest building in Chicago. From the observation deck of the Hancock Center, the city of Chicago looks completely different. The streets seem to make sense, the traffic flow seems peaceful -rather than chaotic, and the view of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, and other attractions helped me appreciate the city in a new way. I still think driving on the streets seems chaotic, but I now understand that there is some kind of order that I can’t see at the street level.

Often, our prayers can be focused on the chaos of the “street level” of our lives. We are concerned about health, finances, relationships, and decisions. Jesus does not deny the chaotic troubles of this world, but he invites us to see the world also from God’s perspective as he teaches us to pray that God’s kingdom will come, and that God’s will may be accomplished.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to know you so that my desires may change. Shape my interests and pursuits so that I genuinely want to see your kingdom come. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christianlistening-to-edvard-munchs-scream::Listening to Edvard Munch’s Scream

Chris Cuthill — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:49:06 +0000

Posted on 05/09/12

Last week, Edvard Munch's 1895 pastel version of The Scream went under the gavel at Sotheby’s to set a new record as the most expensive piece of art ever sold at auction. One of our culture’s most recognizable and reproduced images, it rivals even the Mona Lisa for the irreverent parodies it has inspired. Yet despite its proliferation as an overused trope, there is something about Munch’s work that remains enduringly fascinating once we begin to peel back the layers of pastiche.

Munch created four versions of his fin de siècle masterpiece, and though they differ slightly in color and composition, all are painted with those broad and undulating bands of garish and exaggerated colors that amplify and give visual form to the cry of a skeletal figure in throes of desperation. The figure, while autobiographical, is not a portrait, but fear personified. As it sways, the world around it is distorted. Sky, harbor and sea bend and contort as if they are echoes of the scream. The image is potent visual shorthand for something most of us have experienced: a sense of helplessly corybantic anxiety.

Munch was inspired by a sunset stroll along a path running over an Oslo fjord where he could hear howls emanating from both the asylum where his sister was incarcerated and an abattoir where animals were being slaughtered. In that moment, he recounted, “I stood there trembling with anxiety - and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature."

Anxiety, defined in medical terms, describes an inner state of inquietude that usually manifests itself through a series of external disorders and phobias. All of us have felt anxious at one time or another, but often that is linked to some kind of empirical threat. Students may feel anxious about final exams or a business owner anxious at the state of the economy. To understand the type of anxiety Munch was trying to describe we need to use another word: angst. Angst is a Norwegian word that entered the lexicon through the writings of the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard to describe a feeling of deep-seated spiritual isolation in which existence seems to have no overriding meaning or order.

For this reason, The Scream has been widely interpreted as representing the universal anxiety of the human condition in a post-Nietzschian world where God has been declared dead, followed by the terrible realization that we have nothing to replace Him with. Munch was born and raised under the stern tutelage of his pietistic father, a poor army doctor whose hellfire and brimstone version of Christianity planted the seeds of his spiritual dread. Later, he would abandon the beliefs that had shaped his childhood. For Munch, The Scream represented his final breaking point from a judgmental God distorted by the lens of wrath.

I wonder if this helps to explain our cultural fascination with the image? As Kierkegaard pointed out, angst attends the life lived without God, and as Munch himself pointed out, the image was designed as a type of icon “for the godless age." Perhaps it remains an icon for us because it captures the religious disillusionment of our age as well.

For Kierkegaard, however, angst was not the end of the story. It was not a disorder, he argued, but God’s way of calling us to commitment. It is only when we get to the place of complete and utter helplessness, so vividly represented in The Scream, that we can take a leap of faith into the waiting arms of God. It is grace, in the end, that remains the sole exception to our psycho-spiritual tragedy.

What Do You Think?

Does The Scream still affect you or have the countless reproductions caused the painting to lose its power?
Does understanding Munch’s journey away from God (and his purpose to create a godless icon) make his Scream more or less appealing to you?
What other art has captured this sort of severe spiritual angst?

Under the Radareric-peters-son-of-laughter::Eric Peters - “Son of Laughter”

Tue, 08 May 2012 23:01:35 +0000

Todaybe-specific-2012-05-08::BE SPECIFIC

Bill Sytsma — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak … I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.
—Ephesians 6:19

When I first started praying in a group, large or small, I felt the need to pray for everything. At mealtimes, I would ask for forgiveness, offer thanks for food, request healing for the sick, praise God for salvation, ask him to bless missionaries, and express appreciation for living in a free country.

When we pray in vague terms, we often miss the working of God’s hand. While it’s not wrong to pray for “those who are sick,” we should be mindful to pray also for people we know who are sick—and we’ll be able to see how God answers (according to his will). If I ask God to forgive me for the sin of envying my cousin’s business success, I gain a different understanding of my sin and God’s grace than if my prayer asked God to “forgive my many sins.”

In our verse for today, Paul makes a very specific request: that his words may be effective in presenting the gospel. Even though he mentions some general concerns for prayer, he also has one request that he wants others to remember.

When we bring specific requests to God in prayer, we consider our words carefully. That helps us avoid having our prayers become a mere listing of items that we repeat, often without thinking. And when we pray specifically, we grow to care more about our concerns (especially people!) as we grow closer to the God who hears us.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, shape my prayer life so that I may see your work and grow nearer to you. In your name, Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christiando-women-really-want-50-shades-of-grey::Do women really want 50 Shades of Grey?

Julia Stronks — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:38:41 +0000

Posted on 05/08/12

I recently watched the “Saturday Night Live” spoof of 50 Shades of Grey, the E.L. James book that millions of women all over the world are claiming has rejuvenated their sex lives. The spoof made me laugh, but it also made me sad.

Because I teach a course on gender to hundreds of Christian college students, I pay attention to cultural phenomena like the Twilight series and other novels that shape many female fantasies of love and sexuality. Generally, my students are disdainful of romance novels, but the 50 Shades discussion is unique in the way it has captured our culture’s attention. “Ellen,” “Dr. Oz,” “SNL” and nearly every talk show on TV references women’s obsession with these novels, and they also talk about the number of married men who are looking to these books to determine the answer to the age-old question, “What do women want?” This is a frightening thing.

Some argue, “It’s only fantasy. Lighten up. If it sparks the sex life of married couples what harm can it do?” Others point out that the subtext of the books, often referred to as “mommy porn,” can be dangerous.

Should Christians read these books? I think Christians who choose to read the books should start talking openly about their responses to 50 Shades. If we believe that Christ’s redemption shapes our response to culture, we cannot be afraid of what our culture is talking about.

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When students ask me questions about sexuality I emphasize to them that sex, like everything else in our world, was created by God as a gift, but then was subject to the Fall. Through Christ’s sacrifice, though, we live in the knowledge that our sexuality has been redeemed, and we are free to explore it within the bounds of what God intends for human creatures. Within this framework, there are three things that should trouble us about these books.

First, the woman in the story agrees to the man’s rules of dominance in the relationship in part because she believes she will eventually be able to reach him and heal his troubled psyche. Friends who have suffered in abusive relationships tell me that this fantasy - that with sufficient love one can heal the abuser - is more damaging than we know. It shields abusers and keeps the abused in a bad situation.

Second, the story depicts sex as something that men do to women: real men dominate and women crave it. Christians who believe that males and females both reflect God’s image have to talk more openly about what God’s design for sexual partnership might look like. Sadly, there are few scholars that have taken up this topic well, but I think Lewis Smedes’ Sex for Christians remains one of the most thoughtful commentaries available. Students tell me that his theological discussion prepares them for engaging culture better than anything else out there.

Third, the dominance fantasy is dangerous when we only understand part of the picture. A fantasy can be benign - it is not reality. But if people are reading these books to determine what women want then we have a serious problem. The submissive character in the book consents to the treatment she receives, but historically and legally the nature of consent has always been a complicated issue. When government statistics tell us that one in five American women has been or will be sexually assaulted, we do ourselves no favor by insisting that dominance fantasy and violence have no relationship to each other. We must at least explore the possibility.

Sex can be complicated. We owe it to men and women to be more honest about sexuality, desire, the nature of the Fall and the blessing of God’s redemptive power. Christians should be leading the way on this discussion, not shying away from it.

What Do You Think?

Is 50 Shades of Grey harmless fantasy or something more problematic?
Should Christians spend more time discussing how sexuality relates to faith?
How do you understand the Fall’s effect on human sexuality?

Think Christianhypocritical-humanism-in-the-avengers::Hypocritical humanism in The Avengers

Josh Larsen — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:17:14 +0000

Posted on 05/07/12

The big surprise of Marvel’s The Avengers – a culmination of at least five previous superhero movies – is that it isn’t Iron Man or Thor or Captain America or even The Hulk who proves to be the most interesting character. It’s the villain Loki, largely unknown outside of comic-book circles.

An alien who has lost a power struggle on his own planet, Loki has come to earth wielding an army and advanced technology. Played by Tom Hiddleston with amusing petulance, Loki expects this outgunned civilization to be an easy conquest. When he’s told that humans have no quarrel with him, he shrugs in agreement and says, “An ant has no quarrel with a boot.”

Loki enjoys squashing. Later in the film, he stands before a crowd of cowering victims and commands them to kneel. “You crave subjugation,” he says. “It’s the unspoken need of humanity.” Everyone obeys except for a single older man, who looks at Loki and tells him he refuses to bow “to men like you.”

The Avengers wants to side with that lone man. Though populated by aliens, super-powered scientists and others who have astonishing mental and physical skills, the movie does its best to put on a humanist face. The defense of humanity – the protection of its dignity – is the rallying cry that brings this superhero team together. What’s more, writer-director Joss Whedon is adept at emphasizing the personalities and relationships of his characters, so that we learn their insecurities and foibles. We’re meant to cheer for the heroes precisely because they’re fallibly human (well, most of them anyway) going up against inhuman odds.

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Yet at its heart, the movie yearns to kneel. Agog at the powers its characters wield, The Avengers can’t resist becoming a dazzling showcase for how far they can leap, how hard they can punch, how clever they can be. The camerawork itself is a giveaway. More than once, we look up at a looming superhero from the vantage point of their boot. An ant’s-eye-view if I’ve ever seen one.

In the way that its faith in humanity leads to the creation of pop gods, The Avengers echoes the tension that can be felt by Christian humanism. At its best, Christian humanism is a blending of respect for imago dei with reverence for the Almighty. The Avengers, by the very nature of its narrative, forgets the Almighty part, of course. But how often do we? To what extent do we marvel at our “gods” – our athletes, our rock stars, Steve Jobs - before we find ourselves coming close to kneeling? At what point do we forget to say, “Not to men like you?” The Avengers is a reminder of humanism’s ugly side, the one that yearns to not simply venerate, but to elevate.

Perhaps this is why superhero myths have always had a hold on our collective consciousness. We hold others up for adoration out of a misguided sense of humanism, yes, but also because, deep within us, is the desire to worship. Could it be that Loki was right? “You were made to be ruled,” he sneers to that cowering crowd. Christians would agree.

What Do You Think?

What themes resonated for you in The Avengers?
What do you think the movie emphasized: its characters' humanity or their godlike abilities?
How would you define Christian humanism?

Todaythe-primary-habit-2012-05-07::THE PRIMARY HABIT

Bill Sytsma — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
Pray continually …
—1 Thessalonians 5:17

Throughout history, Christians have developed practices that help them grow in their walk with God. These have often been called “spiritual disciplines.” A general list of spiritual disciplines would include worship, prayer, tithing, meditation, fasting, study, memorization, and confession. The list of potential disciplines could grow to a point where we might feel we could never do enough.

The purpose of developing spiritual disciplines is not to add accomplishments to our spiritual resumes. If we believe that we somehow might earn credit in God’s eyes by mastering a list of spiritual disciplines, we misunderstand how these practices are beneficial. They are not ends in themselves but simply a means to help us grow nearer to God.

In our text for today, the Bible calls us to “pray continually.” This statement teaches us that prayer is the primary habit that we seek to develop in order to grow nearer to God.

Some of the people I admire for their spiritual maturity have never fasted. Some are not good at memorizing Scripture passages. Yet every person I think of as a mentor in my walk with God has developed the practice of seeking God in prayer. Spiritual disciplines make us aware of God’s presence, and there is probably no clearer way to acknowledge his presence than to approach God in prayer.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, please help me to know the wonder of dwelling in your presence through a life of prayer. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Todayhabits-for-holiness-2012-05-06::HABITS FOR HOLINESS

Bill Sytsma — Sun, 06 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:8-9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
—Philippians 4:9

For many people, the word “discipline” has a negative connotation. We tend to associate the word “discipline” with the idea of punishment.

But discipline is not the same as punishment. To discipline someone is to train them to develop a pattern of behavior or shape their character. It often happens by developing habits so that doing a task becomes a regular part of our life, something we do almost without effort.

Many people today learn how to type at a computer keyboard. At first, the practice of making the smallest finger on your left hand move from the q to the z on a keyboard seems awkward and difficult. But the more you practice, the more natural it becomes. If you work at a computer keyboard often, you probably don’t even think about the movement of that finger anymore. The skill of typing has been produced in you through disciplined practice.

In our text for today, Paul instructs the Christians in Philippi to practice habits that will help them experience God’s peace. He asks them to learn to seek God through disciplines such as prayer, worship, and the study of all that is true and right. They are to develop habits that may initially seem awkward and difficult but will help train them so that they may develop the character that God intends for them.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, grant me the discipline to develop good habits for shaping my character. Make me more like Christ each day. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christiannarnia-or-neverland-what-fantasy-land-would-you-visit::Narnia or Neverland: what fantasy land would you visit?

Daniel Burke — Sun, 06 May 2012 06:34:57 +0000

Posted on 05/06/12

Evangelicals prefer Narnia, Catholics have a wanderlust for Wonderland and mainline Protestants are split between hitching a ride to Hogwarts, Narnia or Neverland.

Those are the results from a unique poll by the television show "60 Minutes" and Vanity Fair magazine. The survey asked 1,000 Americans what fantasy land they'd most like to visit (Washington, D.C., excluded).

Evangelicals showed a clear preference for Narnia, the fantastical world of talking beasts entered through an enchanted wardrobe in C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series.

Lewis, an Anglican, topped the list for 28 percent of evangelicals. Both his fiction - commonly interpreted as Christian allegories - and also his nonfiction have become touchstones in contemporary evangelicalism.

Just 8 percent of evangelicals said they would like to visit Hogwarts, the school of witchcraft and wizardry from the Harry Potter series.

Alice's Wonderland was many Catholics' cup of tea, with 21 percent saying they'd like to take a trip down the rabbit hole. Peter Pan's Neverland (18 percent), Hogwarts (18 percent) and J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth (16 percent) weren't far behind.

Mainline Protestants were similarly split between Neverland (19 percent), Narnia (18 percent) and Hogwarts (18 percent).

Among those listed as "other" religions, Hogwarts was the clear favorite (31 percent). And Middle Earth led the way for those who professed no religious affiliation (23 percent). The survey, conducted in late 2010 and recently highlighted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, includes a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

What Do You Think?

What fantasy land would you most like to visit?
How do you account for the preferences among different sets of Christians?
Why did those with no religious affiliation prefer The Lord of the Rings’ Middle Earth?

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/286.MP3::Love Always

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 05 May 2012 11:00:57 +0000

Liz’s band is going to play for Youth Fest unless all the arguing among the band members destroys the band first! Join the band as they figure out how to get along on this week’s Kids Corner.

Todaybecoming-holy-2012-05-05::BECOMING HOLY

Bill Sytsma — Sat, 05 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Leviticus 20:22-26
“You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart … to be my own.”
—Leviticus 20:26

Have you ever tried to define the word holy? Most people have an idea that this word tells us something about God. If you look up the word holy in a dictionary, you will find other words like sacred, divine, and righteous in the definition, but that doesn’t make the meaning much clearer.

Whatever we imagine when we hear the word “holy,” we are probably not bold enough to proclaim that we consider ourselves holy. We know our own flaws and pettiness too well to try to argue that holiness is a description of ourselves.

If we look at holiness as a requirement for being with God, it can seem overwhelming and unattainable. But if we read God’s message in this passage, we find that holiness is not so much a requirement but the final goal. God had already delivered his people (from slavery—see Exodus 1-15) and had called them apart to give them a great inheritance. To be holy actually means to be “set apart to God.” This doesn’t mean separating from other people but becoming dedicated to God to serve him in this world.

God’s call to holiness tells us that when we follow Christ, our lives will be changed. The habits and patterns we develop in order to honor him are not mere tokens that we add to our daily routines, but practices that will work to transform us. God loves us, and he wants to transform our lives to make us holy.

Prayer:

Father, give me strength to become holy. Guide my steps so that I may become what you intend me to be. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christianthe-kentucky-derby-and-glimpses-of-god::The Kentucky Derby and glimpses of God

Timothy Hendrickson — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:51:32 +0000

Posted on 05/04/12

Whenever I teach an introductory course in literature, I try to reserve the last two weeks for a text my students will almost certainly be unfamiliar with. I choose a work that they will find difficult, one that will anger them and often one that will offend them.

This term I chose Sherman Alexie's Indian Killer, a text full of anger, violence, moral ambiguity and confusion. As a result, some of the class discussion centered around how we, as Christians, can find value in works that are clearly not motivated by faith. One student in particular expressed skepticism towards the idea that God works through the beautiful, regardless of whether or not a work of art is meant to reflect the divine. In response - and with this weekend's Kentucky Derby in mind - I directed her to a YouTube video of the 1973 Belmont Stakes, a grainy piece of sports history that always reminds me of the power of God.

Already victorious in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Secretariat was attempting to become the first horse since Citation in 1948 to win the Triple Crown. What spectators witnessed is probably the most dominant performance in the history of American horse racing. Secretariat covered the 1.5 miles that day a full two seconds quicker than the second-fastest Belmont winner of the modern era, Easy Goer. To put this in perspective, Easy Goer would still be almost 110 feet from the finish line if he were forced to stop after running for the same amount of time in which Secretariat finished. Simply put, Secretariat's performance in the 1973 Belmont is both something that had never happened before and that will probably never happen again. It was, and still is, greatness incarnate.

Contemporary references to Secretariat are rife with allusions to God. In ESPN's celebrated SportsCentury series, Pat Lynch, a former vice president of the New York Racing Association, describes Secretariat's appearance as “how God intended to make a horse.” Jerry Izenberg of the Newark Star-Ledger went even further, stating, “You can't anticipate greatness, you can't really even define it, I suppose. It's something that God every once in a while sticks inside somebody and, because it comes from God, the gift can't be ignored.” “Oh Happy Day” makes several appearances, in both hymn and non-hymn forms, in Disney's Secretariat, a 2008 biopic that tells the story of both the horse and his owner. In the movie, Diane Lane even recites Job as Secretariat rounds the final turn in the Belmont.

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What all of these references to God miss, though, is how race horses can be a metaphor for the redemptive power of Christ. Think of the seedy images that horse racing brings to mind. As someone who visits the track from time to time, I am familiar with the smell of stale booze, old cigars and dirty clothes that hangs like a haze over the sport. There is a specter of grime throughout the horse-racing industry, regardless of the shine NBC will give Churchill Downs this weekend. Horses break down and die on the track, jockeys purge to make weight and the entire industry relies on taking money from people who may not be able to afford to lose it. And if this were not enough, the survival of horse racing in this country is increasingly a function of equipping facilities with slot machines.

And yet, into the midst of all of this stride the horses, some of which are so gifted as to make us forget, if only for a few moments, the nastier aspects of the sport. Horse racing presents us the opportunity of seeing some of God's most beautiful creatures operate in less than beautiful circumstances, and there is even the chance, however slim, that we will see something so majestic as to remind us of God's awesome power. Secretariat was one of those majesties, and I watch hopefully, waiting for something as special to happen again.

What Do You Think?

Does the beauty of a racing horse offset the grimier aspects of the sport?
In what unexpected places have you found glimpses of God?

Groundworki-am-the-good-shepherd1::I AM the Good Shepherd

Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:29 +0000

Religious art often depicts Jesus holding a little lamb and surrounded by children. It's a gentle image implying comfort and tenderness. It's a picture that Jesus himself gave us in John 10: The picture of himself as a shepherd, a good shepherd. But the original purpose for this gentle picture was to confront the religious leadership of the day. Let's talk about what Jesus said with that picture long ago and what it means today.

Under the Radarepisode-182-special-guest-eric-peters::Episode #182 - Special Guest: Eric Peters

Fri, 04 May 2012 08:00:17 +0000

Hear Eric Peters talk with us about the inspiration behind his new album, Birds of Relocation.

Todaygetting-saved-2012-05-04::GETTING SAVED

Bill Sytsma — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:12-18
Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
—Philippians 2:12

You would think that winning the lottery would be a dream come true for most people.

Can you imagine the change that would happen in your life if your bank account suddenly grew by millions of dollars? You would probably look forward to long vacations, nice cars, and a life of relative ease.

But if you study the lives of lottery winners, you discover the sad reality that many of them flounder within ten years of winning a large sum of money. They receive the gift, but they don’t know how to use it. Their prize ends up being useless.

It is easy to view the gift of salvation like a tremendous inheritance or a sudden infusion of wealth. When we put our trust in Christ, our sins are forgiven and our eternal future is secure. Without doing anything to earn it, followers of Jesus receive a truly great gift. It is indescribably amazing (see 2 Corinthians 9:15)!

Today’s verse invites us to put the gift of Christ’s grace to good use. With God working in us, we are urged to “work out” our salvation.

Salvation is not something we receive and then take for granted. If we are to experience the joy and benefit that God has in store for us, the gift of salvation should be not only received but also used well.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, help me to realize the full value of Christ’s gift for me, and allow that gift to be worked out in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bill Sytsma

Think Christianthe-broadening-agenda-of-young-christians::The broadening agenda of young Christians

Jonathan Merritt — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:22:15 +0000

Posted on 05/03/12

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from Jonathan Merritt’s new book, A Faith of Our Own.

Some of today’s leading Christian entities and voices show new life as they support a broadening agenda. Still socially conservative on many issues, they feel called to attend to issues that most Christians haven’t championed in the past.

For example, the great majority of young Christians still believe that abortion should be illegal in most or all cases. At the same time, interest in social justice issues is growing among all Christians (especially young people). According to in-depth research by LifeWay, 66 percent of young churchgoers claim that “social action is an extremely important part of their lives.” Yet, few believe they will see “a significant contribution” from current Christian leadership in addressing these issues.

So some are taking matters into their own hands through broader advocacy efforts. A great example is my friend Tyler Wigg-Stevenson. Tyler believes that “God abhors the shedding of innocent blood,” and he recognizes that nuclear weapons are unique vehicles for indiscriminate killing. If they are ever used in any circumstances, they will lead to massive loss of innocent life. Tyler believes Christians who value life and desire to follow a risen Jesus must oppose the existence of such weapons.

In 2009, he formed the Two Futures Project, a Christian organization fighting for the reduction and, ultimately, the abolition of nuclear weapons. And he is not a pie‑in‑the-sky dreamer on the margins. Tyler has gained support from Christian leaders, including the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, Leith Anderson, megachurch icons Bill and Lynne Hybels and the editor in chief of Christianity Today, David Neff. What was viewed as a fringe “liberal” issue a generation ago is now finding traction among a diverse body of mainstream Christians.

This broadening agenda goes well beyond nuclear weapons. Bethany Hoang serves as director of the IJM Institute for International Justice Mission. IJM is a “human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.” Bethany believes her faith and the witness of Jesus Christ compel her to engage this work.

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She writes, “This is witness. This is mission. Not merely to tell people that they can be raised from death to life, but to go to the places where death rules the day and let God use us to bring life, to show that Jesus has conquered all death.”

Organizations like Food for the Poor, World Vision, Compassion International and adoption groups like Bethany Christian Services are flourishing. Established organizations like the National Association of Evangelicals and publications like Christianity Today now address issues ranging from the sanctity of life to global poverty to environmental stewardship - issues that should transcend party politics.

The church is waking up to the inadequacies of a public witness where a few issues get all the attention and the others fall by the wayside. Should the church fight for the lives of the unborn? Absolutely. But can Christians afford to ignore the 3 million already-living who will die from preventable, water-related diseases this year? What of the tens of millions of orphans crying out from filthy beds in musty orphanages? How do we plan to address the plight of the poor in America’s inner cities and the systemic injustices of our education system? Does an embrace of the full Biblical witness lead us to a myopic agenda that pays these issues little more than lip service?

Today’s Christians know we can do better on a whole range of issues.

What Do You Think?

Have Christians begun to pursue a broader social agenda in recent years?
What social issues should transcend party politics?
What issues are most important to you as a Christian? Why?

Think Christianthe-gothic-hue-of-jack-whites-blunderbuss::The gothic hue of Jack White’s Blunderbuss

John J. Thompson — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:32:19 +0000

Posted on 05/02/12

It’s hard to believe it’s taken Jack White, the modern conscience of American rock and roll, 15 years to “go solo.”

In many ways all of the bands he has fronted - The White Stripes, Raconteurs and The Dead Weather - and all of the projects he has produced or appeared on have felt like Jack White solo projects when you get right down to it. His is the kind of presence that has a way of taking over a room whether he means to or not. But now, with Blunderbuss in hand, it’s clear that White has been studying, learning, experimenting and woodshedding. Like Clapton in the ’60s he picks up elements here and there, forces himself to create in community instead of in a bubble, and then boldly goes wherever the heck he wants.

It’s perfect that he decided to name his record after a short-barrel, muzzle-loaded, 18^th-century shotgun that pirates used to spray bits of scrap metal, pebbles, lead and glass all over their enemies. White has always been a bit of a pirate and he makes no bones about his penchant for recycling blues, gospel, country and rock bits into his own brand of musical shrapnel. Elements of everything he has dabbled in are represented. The White Stripes’ bombast, the Raconteurs’ discipline and the pervasive darkness of The Dead Weather are all present, along with ideas that probably came to him while working with Loretta Lynn or Wanda Jackson. He stuffs it all in the barrel, adds some lighthearted goofiness and then takes very loose aim at the Grim Reaper and pulls the trigger.

Bam!

From the crows all over the artwork to the thinly veiled lyrical references, it’s clear that this is a record about death: the death of relationships; the death of self; the death of vision; and the death of the body. With intermittent snarls, quips, winks and deadpan stares, White is not afraid to tackle the big subjects in his own way. His Catholic background tints his explorations with a gothic Christian hue as he obliquely explores the darkness in his own heart, the hypocrisy he sees in others and the persistent belief that there must be somewhere better than here.

[[pullquote]]

Not that his take on God is always positive. On “Sixteen Saltines” - a notably cryptic rant - he spits out a confused meditation on a girl (or something she represents) by finding the very darkest part of the Noah story: “Lord knows there’s a method to her madness, but the Lord’s joke is a boat on a sea of sadness.” His brutal proficiency with a blues riff and his theatrical delivery often overshadow his true brilliance and diversity as a lyricist, but for those with ears to hear this Blunderbuss is ready to blow.

One gets the feeling that White rarely says exactly what he means. From his wonderfully cryptic persona to this latest batch of songs, White is always a bit of an actor. Not altogether unlike Bob Dylan’s white-faced Rolling Thunder Revue carnival barker or Dr. John’s voodoo priest, White is conjuring here for certain. He manages to craft an album of songs that at once sounds thrown together and meticulously designed and executed. His sonic palette includes piano - electric and acoustic - as well as complicated rhythms, Americana strings, strange backing vocals and his own razor-wire guitar chops. The recording sounds completely analog and the whole thing feels like it could have been made in a haunted house falling apart right next door to a church cemetery. Somehow, as with just about everything he has set his hand to since The White Stripes’ Get Behind Me Satan, it feels fun, spooky and important at the same time.

It is said that White was accepted to seminary out of high school and that he seriously considered becoming a priest. Supposedly he had just gotten a new amplifier and didn’t think they’d let him bring it to school. My guess is that Jack White is what you get when a religiously minded Generation X kid studies at the altar of rock and roll. Fascinating stuff here, and he seems to just be getting started.

What Do You Think?

Have you heard Blunderbuss? What did you make of it?
What is Jack White trying to communicate with his musical/theatrical personas?
Do you find resonance in the "gothic Christian hue" with which Jack White paints?

Under the Radarcd-review-birds-of-relocation-by-eric-peters::CD Review: “Birds of Relocation” by Eric Peters

Tue, 01 May 2012 21:56:49 +0000

This is the CD release day of Eric Peter’s 9th project, Birds of Relocation, which was released in digital-only format 5 weeks ago. We don’t write a lot of album reviews, but this one is so special, it would almost seem wrong to not highlight it.

I met Eric’s music and Eric the person in 2009. I have come to deeply appreciate his art, but I even more so admire the man – an honest, vulnerable person who allows the Gospel to meet him in his brokenness. I met him when he was in a valley. 2009 was a very dark year for him, and Chrome appropriately spoke on some of those fears, doubts, and grave disappointments. But Eric will openly tell you that he is in a different place – a healthier place now.

Here’s how Eric described the project to me in a recent interview: “I feel like there are a few themes going on but the main one is coming out of darkness back into light; which is sort of my experience over the past couple years, especially since the release of Chrome in 2009. I always write about hope, that’s sort of a lifelong theme of mine, this time talking about being lost and found again and an old year versus a new year. The main umbrella is coming out of darkness and seeing light again.”

Birds of Relocation is more than just a collection of songs. This is an amazing chapter in the book of Eric Peters. The listener is invited to hear from the heart of someone currently tasting new hope. This is the realization of the longing for reclamation found in Chrome.

Recommending this album is the biggest no brainer on Earth! Eric is one of the most underrated songwriters today, and his well-crafted lyrics shine through on all 11 tracks. For those who take the time to actively listen and digest each song, you will be treated to a feast for your heart, mind, and soul.

Allow me to pull back the curtain a bit. I sent Eric a private email last month, after my first full listen to Birds. I had no intention on sharing this publicly, but I think it’s worth seeing my response as a friend… and not as a “critic.” So…

Here were my my top 5 BOR impressions – Casey Kasem style, exactly as sent to Eric.

5. The last 0:48 of "Where Would I Go" -- Did you dream up all that production? It's crazy. Crazy good! From the electric guitars, doo wop BGV, horn section, bells, the "ooo Ooooo's"... just tremendous, and more "fun" than I've ever heard in an EP song before!

4. "No Stone Unturned" -- Didn't see it coming. One of your most worshipful and spiritually overt songs. But not a single second that is contrived or cliche. A powerful surprise!

3. The final 1:10 of "New Year" is so beautifully put together. The "Whoa ohhh's" and guitar solo and echo create this amazing vibe. Love!

2. Having heard "Today Dream" live around 20 times -- it's great to hear the produced version. And it's got that perfect trippy "Pet Sounds" vibe going -- really nice. [Way to go Ben!]

1. "Voices" -- I hate to pick just one, but probably my favorite song on the album -- at least lyrically. For some reason I'm not a huge fan of the piano ballad thing, but it works here. Also this one lacks some of the production flair of other songs... but with lyrics like "In the silence/ When we lean into the silence/ We choose the thing that hates us most/ And rest upon its lies" -- dang, boy -- that's some big league chew. And in the arrangement, I absolutely love the very subtle slide guitar or dobro-ish sound. Doesn't trump "Reality" as your best... but in your top tier of songwriting!

Buy MP3s or hard-copy CD of Birds of Relocation at The Rabbit Room
Enter to win (thru 5/15/12) an Eric Peters’ autographed 4-pack of CDs

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Don’t just take my word for it. Here are a few other reviews of Birds of Relocation:

“One of the best records I’ve ever heard. Seriously, maybe top 20 all-time… I think if Rich Mullins had been given more time here, and if God had blessed his life with love and a wife, if he had the chance to see as much of the relational beauty as he saw of the natural beauty, I think he might have written some songs like the ones we find on Birds of Relocation. And you know that’s about the highest praise I can give someone. You will not find a combination of more beautiful poetry, raw honesty, and gorgeous melodies for a long time.” – Todd Agnew, Fair Trade Services recording artist

"Birds of Relocation is a soul awakening, triumphant, honest survey of a year of life and loss. Eric's tell-it-like-it-is voice combined with these aching melodies come together to pronounce both heartache and hope, bringing these two opposite sides of the same coin into view simultaneously. This musical offering is a needed spark of inspiration in a cultural moment heavy with cynicism. These songs speak. They lift. They comfort. Eric skillfully blends melancholy with sunshine. And the end result is magnetic." - Sandra McCracken, singer-songwriter

“Eric Peters has crafted his greatest album to date. The story Eric tells on Birds of Relocation is his own escape story. It’s the airborne travelogue of a grateful, singed survivor, the record of one songbird whose shining eyes are turned suddenly skyward.” – S.D. Smith, writer

“The more I hear Eric’s music, the more aware I am of how generous he is, always giving away every bit of hope for the journey as he finds it. When I buy an Eric Peter’s record, I’m not just adding to my music library, I’m participating in his artistry and making space in the world for songs that bleed life, truth, hope, and beauty.” –Jason Gray, Centricity Music recording artist

Under the Radarepisode-181-bonus-pocast-listener-requests::Episode #181 - Bonus Pocast: Listener Requests

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:08:30 +0000

Jadon Lavik, Downhere, Andrew Peterson, and many more listener requests are filling this mid-week bonus podcast.

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/159.MP3::Need A Hand?

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:00:18 +0000

Have you ever been too proud to ask for help? Liz and his new friend Matthew are finding it challenging to know how and when to ask for someone to help them. Help Liz figure out both giving and getting help on this week’s Kids Corner.

Under the Radarfan-reviews-josh-garrels-waterdeep-live::Fan Reviews - Josh Garrels & Waterdeep Live

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:33:34 +0000

This last Sunday (4/22/12), UTR hosted our biggest event to date, as over 820 people from 16 different states and 1 Canadian province gathered at Parkview Christian Church in a Chicago suburb for a night of music that was called "legendary." Josh Garrels headlined the night, and the uber-talented duo Waterdeep set the table. It was a thrill for us to be a part of such a meaningful night of ministry, and we had a wonderful opportunity to introduce what we do at UTR to lots of new friends. It's hard for us to wrap our own words around it - so we invited some attendees to give us their mini reviews of the event.

Cheryl S. - Lake Geneva, WI
I was honored and blessed to be able to attend the Josh Garrels/Waterdeep concert on Sunday night. I didn’t know a lot of Waterdeep’s music - but they were such a joy to listen to. I was touched by the poem that Don Chaffer shared before their last song (a tune I remember hearing on one of my favorite UTR episodes from June 2011). I’m a little bit more familiar with Josh Garrels. It was absolutely wonderful to see him in person. He shared himself as he told stories behind the songs he wrote and sang. I appreciate an artist who is real and doesn’t cover up the times they have messed up. My son and I really like the song “ Farther Along”. It was a special time to be able to sit side by side and mouth the words as Josh sang them. The way the evening ended was also special. To see the audience rise up and sing the “oh-oh” part of “The Resistance” is a sight I will not soon forget.

Chris G. - Age 16 - Wood Dale, IL
I had such a wonderful time watching Josh Garrels and Waterdeep on Sunday. I recently had refound my faith in God and have been trying to find more Christian music, but with more of an alternative style, and listening to Josh's music and the words moves and inspires me. His music has made me realize the importance of keeping a strong faith and the importance of God in my life. With every word Josh said and every lyric sung, it was obvious he not only connected with me, but he was connecting with the whole crowd. Josh Garrels is an amazing guy and he puts on a beautiful show. Being someone who just recently refound his faith, I'm not as faithful to Josh's music or Christian music in general, but because of the concert i attended on Sunday, all i listen to is Josh, Josh, and more Josh! Thank you Under the Radar, Waterdeep, and especially Josh Garrels!

Miranda O. - Minneapolis, MN
My boyfriend is a die-hard Josh Garrels fan and desperately wants to go see him perform live in Chicago. He made a fan out of me too and now I can't fall asleep without his music playing. The thing is, we live in Minnesota near Minneapolis, and being poor college students still living with our parents, we can't afford a plane ticket or 2 hotel rooms. I love road trips, but I don't want to waste 16 hours of round-trip driving for a 2 hour concert, so we make time to see the city as well. Then we get to Parkview Church in Orland Park and hear the amazing sounds of the opening band Waterdeep, that we didn't put too much time into looking up beforehand, which I now regret. I instantly fall in love with their voices and how crystal they are, how playful and meaningful the lyrics, how humble. My ears cannot get enough. Their stories and humor and cuteness are just delicious cherries on top. Then comes Josh. Just as Don from Waterdeep predicted: Mind=blown. Of course I know some of the songs and lyrics and how profound they are, but only through my computer speakers. Josh Garrels has an ability that cannot be contained and converted into some electronic file. It is ridiculous to think about, but how else is he going to get the message out to the world? There is a difference between a talent and a gift. A talent can be learned. A gift is given by God. Garrels is a gifted man. I thank the Lord for giving him this gift and guiding him in how he uses it. He his truly inspiring. I LOVED the simplicity of this concert. Just some people with guitars and microphones and a message. I didn't need to see a city, which was built by man, in order to make our trip worth it. Thank you, Under The Radar, for bringing these musicians to the Midwest to share their gifts with us.

Simon L. - New Lenox, IL
Anointed. I don’t throw a word like this around very often but it’s the word that emerged as I reflected on what I experienced with Josh Garrels’ set at his show with Waterdeep on Sunday. Waterdeep was an appetizer fit to be a main course. Having not heard them before, my soul was satisfied by their strong musicality, their soothing harmonies, and their quirky, upbeat personalities. But what I witnessed in Josh’s performance was truly anointed. In fact, when Josh walked onto the stage, you wouldn’t have guessed that anything special was going to happen. He rather mundanely strolled out, stepped over some equipment, pulled a water bottle out of his satchel, drank from it, plugged in his guitar, and finally fumbled and bumbled around with a mic on a defective boomstand. Then came the music and all was forgetten. Yes, there was some worship with abandon as the audience (including me!) joined Josh in exuberant release singing the chorus of “Farther Along.” And yes, Don Chaffer of Waterdeep was prophetic when he quipped before Josh’s set that “Minds will be blown! Hearts will melt!” The one thing that stood out was TRUTH. Everything… the mind-blowing musical talent, the pulsing hip-hop finale "The Resistance," the dry/self-deprecating/warm humor, the authentic but profound theological insight, and even the voice (that beautiful voice)…all simply pointed to the gospel. Often times I see high quality art steal the glory and tragically elevate the created. In this case, the art instead glorified the Creator, showing God for who He is and His grace showered children for who they are. When the truth of this gospel stands out, you know the Holy Spirit is moving. That’s what you call…anointed. God bless as you continue to draw attention to such wonderful artists. Truly UTR helps these artists minister to more people, allowing them to share their passion for Christ through their music.

Thanks for these terrific responses. We are seeing ministry fruit still blooming from the event, and it's more meaningful than you know to hear each individual story. If you were in attendance, please feel free to share your story below. You can also view a video performance of Josh Garrels from our April 22 event.

Under the Radarjosh-garrels-restless-ones::Josh Garrels - “Restless Ones”

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:03:13 +0000

Groundworki-am-the-gate-for-the-sheep::I AM the Gate for the Sheep

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:00:10 +0000

Many of the things Jesus said are difficult - either difficult to understand or difficult to accept. To put it another way: Jesus uttered many ""hard sayings;"" but some of them are hard because we don't understand them, while others are hard because we understand them only too well. Today on Groundwork, let’s dig into an example of one of these hard sayings and what it means for us when he calls himself “the gate”.

Under the Radarepisode-180-all-listener-requests::Episode #180: All Listener Requests

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:28 +0000

Requested by our community of thoughtful listeners come tracks by Over the Rhine, The Vespers, Tyrone Wells and more.

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/157.MP3::Obedience Class

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:00:30 +0000

Liz has a choice to make. Should he obey his mom or not? Check out Liz’s decision and the consequences on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundworki-am-the-light-of-the-world::I Am the Light of the World

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:00:25 +0000

Light is one of those mysterious things science can’t fully explain. Is it a wave? Is it a particle? From what little I recall of High school physics, I think the answer is “Yes.” But the symbolism of light is also mysterious - and compelling. Why did Jesus call himself the “Light of the world”? What did he mean?

Under the Radarepisode-179-needtobreathe-the-civil-wars-sara-groves::Episode #179 - Needtobreathe, The Civil Wars, Sara Groves

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:00:26 +0000

Prime picking this week from co-host Kelly Van Engen featuring her personal favorites from Under the Radar's archives.

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/148.MP3::Three on Responsibility

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:00:34 +0000

If it isn’t Liz’s fault, then whose fault is it? What’s going on? Find out on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundworki-am-the-bread-of-life::I Am the Bread of Life

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:00:40 +0000

Bread is a symbol of nutritional sustenance and satisfaction. So when Jesus calls himself the Bread of Life, he lets us know that he can satisfy all our needs; but do we even know what our needs really are? What does it mean for Jesus to be the bread of your life?

Under the Radarepisode-178-special-guest-steve-taylor1::Episode #178 - Special Guest: Steve Taylor

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:56:45 +0000

Steve Taylor, singer-songwriter of the past and movie producer of the present, joins us to talk about his music and newest movie release, Blue Like Jazz.

Under the Radarqa-with-steve-taylor::Q&A With Steve Taylor

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:29:29 +0000

In the midst of its national release, we are excited to give support to the new film Blue Like Jazz, one of this year's most important media projects. Just like the book, the film breaks so many molds: it doesn't star Kirk Cameron, a huge chunk of the production was funded by thousands of patrons, it's a story that's accessible to people at all different points on their spiritual journey, and the closing credits won't be selling you small group booklets. I had the privilege of interviewing Steve Taylor, the film's director, to talk about how how this project came to be and the hurdles his team had to overcome to get to this release date.

DT: When did you first become interested in making the movie Blue Like Jazz?

ST: I first read the book a little over five years ago; I thought it was well written and I was struck by the honesty of communication. I loved this setting, in this case, of Don [Miller] auditing classes in the “other world” of Reed College. Frankly, it reminded me a lot of growing up as the son of a Baptist pastor and going off to college at Colorado University in Boulder. The sense of displacement that I felt and yet, still believing that Christianity was true, left me wondering why there was such a gulf between the two. I thought it would make an interesting movie with a universal theme – the sense of being a fish out of water. Pondering the question "How do you make your way in a world you feel you don’t belong in?” in the film seemed like something people would respond to in a way similar to how they’ve responded to the book.

DT: I've heard more than a few people say, "I can't imagine that book being a movie." What are your thoughts in response to that?

ST: We talked about that a lot because you don’t put the book down and think, “Oh, I see this movie in my head.” I think that’s a good thing for us. If you read Harry Potter, you have that movie in your head and you’re going to see if what’s in your head matches up with what’s on screen. But you don’t put down Blue Like Jazz and see it all laid out in your head. So the hope is that people go in with a little bit more of an open mind as to what this is going to be; hopefully, we won’t disappoint them.

DT: Why do you think the project almost fell apart?

ST: Well, we worked for nine months and put together what we thought was a really strong screen play. And I just thought it was going to be easy to find funding for this project. The book was really popular, I thought the screenplay was strong, and I thought it was a story that needed to be told. I just assumed there would be enough people who agreed with me to find funding relatively easily. But it just didn’t happen. Unfortunately, we’re in this strange age where faith-based film making is supposedly synonymous with family-friendly. I’m all in favor of family-friendly movies, but I don’t sit down and read my thirteen-year-old the Song of Solomon either. The thought that those two are synonymous is bad and wrong. I thought that if any book would have a chance to be outside of that current framework, Blue Like Jazz would be it--it’s well known and well loved. The movie would have the chance to tell a story that needed to be told, would do it in a way that was entertaining, and hopefully, would set a course for a what people think of when they think of films that include faith as part of the story.

DT: So what happened September 15, 2010?

ST: Frankly, without sounding too whiney, it’s hard working with other people trying to help you raise money because in their mind it’s like, “What’s the rush? Why does it have to be done next fall? Just relax; it will happen when it happens.” But no, that’s not how movies get made, somebody has to be there pushing, saying, “It has to be now.” Otherwise, movies just don’t get made. So after three years, I finally said, “Look, September 15th is the day, it has to be there or we’re done. I can’t keep doing this.” So we pushed really hard, kind of cobbled the money together, and then right before the deadline one of our backers for a-quarter-of-a-million dollars backed out. I thought that was the end of it. I called Don and he was depressed. He blogged about it, apologizing to his readership that it wasn’t going to happen. And that’s when fans of the project, people who wanted to see it happen, started writing back to him saying “You can’t let this die. I’d give you twenty bucks to make it; there has to be other people who feel the same way.”

DT: Tell us about how fundraising occured from that point on.

ST: Two young men in Franklin, TN, loved the project and particularly loved Don’s book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, which is about the writing of the screen play for Blue Like Jazz. They were like, “Let us help you. We’ve never done this before, but let us help you find this money and let's use this crowd sourcing site called Kickstarter.com. We think we can make this happen.” And honestly, if it hadn’t been for them, I wouldn’t be sitting here telling you this story. They pulled it off. They raised $350,000 in thirty days with 4,500 people giving five, ten, or twenty-five bucks!

DT: What do you hope viewers take away from Blue Like Jazz?

ST: I think one of the reasons that book speaks to us is it brings us back to Jesus and reminds us that a lot of these trappings we think of as Christianity really aren’t Christianity at all. They’re more of an American culture version of what Christianity has become almost by default. This book gave people a different language to discuss faith, and more than anything, it gave an easier avenue to explain what our faith is. It’s a good conversation starter. The goal has always been that the movie would make you feel what the book made you feel when you finished it. In the same way, we hope the movie will be a really good conversation starter.

Just like indie music needs our support and patronage, so does a labor of love like the movie Blue Like Jazz. This is not the film you want to wait to see until it's released on Netflix or Redbox. Let's go out and support this thoughtful, well-executed piece of art! Also tune in to UTR #178 where Steve Taylor will be our guest all hour. You can also read a review of Blue Like Jazz by our sister ministry, Think Christian.

And here's the movie trailer to whet your appetite!

Walk The Way::Give Us Yourself

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:58:40 +0000

I wonder if anything we could ever ask of God could be summed up as this: Lord, please give Yourself.

Walk The Way::Spiritual Fitness

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:56:20 +0000

It's spring. We've just celebrated Easter. What better time to examine your spiritual fitness?

Groundworkon-the-road::On the Road

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:00:52 +0000

Alleluia! He is Risen! Even amidst our Easter celebrations, we can experience moments of desperation and despair - just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. When your fondest hope gets dashed, when a dream has apparently died, when the bottom drops out on your life, where do you go? Is it possible that we’ll find Jesus even there?

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/Easter.MP3::The Miracle of Easter

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:00:50 +0000

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to meet Jesus? Or to be in Jerusalem the very week Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead? You’re invited to explore the miracle of Easter on this week’s Kids Corner.

Walk The Way::A Level Playing Field

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:54:52 +0000

"For all have sinned and fall short of God's glory." This Holy Week, be reminded that at the food of the cross, the ground is level.

Walk The Way::Non-Essentials

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:50:04 +0000

When people look at your life, do they see Christ? Or is He lost in a bunch of non-essentials?

Walk The Way::Written Off

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:02:42 +0000

Like Jeremy Lin, many of us have been written off. But God often uses the most unexpected people. How much more powerful does that make the Gospel message?

Walk The Way::A Significant Journey

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:04:29 +0000

Holy Week marks the significant journey Christ took towards the cross. This week, will you take that journey with your community of faith?

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/155.MP3::Loaves and Fishes

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:00:45 +0000

Liz is desperate to do something great for God, but he’s failing at everything he tries. Help Liz figure out how to honor God on this week’s Kids Corner.

Walk The Way::Our Best Behavior

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:06:49 +0000

When you have guests, you probably change your behavior. Shouldn't God's presence impact your life just as much, or more?

Groundworkat-golgotha::At Golgotha

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:00:25 +0000

On the Friday we call “Good,” the sun was blotted out at noon. Darkness descended over everything, as thought creation itself didn't want to see what was happening on Golgotha. Sometimes darkness seems to fill our lives too, and we can't see any light, any way forward. How can you go on when it seems like there's nothing left to live for?

Walk The Way::Analysts

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:07:46 +0000

Are you carrying out God's mission? Or just analyzing those who do?

Walk The Way::A Cosmic Job

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:13:31 +0000

When we share the gospel with our lives, we are literally defeating evil in a realm beyond this earth. How's that for motivation?

Walk The Way::Scripture Comes Alive

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:12:16 +0000

When seen in the right context, and at the right time, even the most familiar parts of Scripture can come alive like never before.

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/154.MP3::God of Wonders

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:00:51 +0000

What can nature teach us about God? Explore with Liz how the wonders of nature point us to the God of wonder on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundworkin-the-garden::In the Garden

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:00:04 +0000

How do you behave when life’s walls seem to be closing in on you? How do you pray? Jesus knows how this feels. It’s the same situation our Lord Jesus Christ experienced on the night before his crucifixion as he endured dark hours in the Garden of Gethsemane. His words and actions in the Garden teach usabout not only his work of salvation, but also about our lives as we follow him as disciples today.

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/152.MP3::Secret Mission: Friendship

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:00:44 +0000

What makes a good friend? Find out how to make and to keep a good friendship on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundworkin-the-upper-room::In the Upper Room

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:47 +0000

If the words “The Upper Room” conjure up an image for you of Jesus and his disciples, then you are probably a Christian. In fact, you've probably been a Christian for a long time. But what happened in that room between Jesus and his followers on the last night of Jesus' life on earth has been important to all Christians for even longer. What do we learn from the Upper Room?

http://www.kidscorner.net//podcasts/165.MP3::Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:00:30 +0000

Yikes! What happens when Liz and Lucille try to return a lunch box that belongs to someone in the weirdest family in town? Find out on this week’s episode of Kids Corner.