ReFrame Media Feeds

Groundwork::How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:40 +0000

Christians agree that the Bible is by far the most important book for our faith and life. In fact, that's what the word means. “Bible” comes from the Greek word for “book;” and as far as Christians are concerned, it is the Book. But we don't always agree on what the Bible teaches, or how to interpret it. So if you've got some questions about how to read and understand the Bible, join the conversation.

Think Christianegypt-a-year-later::Egypt: A year later

Chris Meehan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:00:19 +0000

Posted on 01/27/12

Thousands of Egyptians filled Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, this week to mark the one-year anniversary of the Egyptian revolution that broke out last January and eventually drove long-time Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak from office. Where has the turmoil left the country’s Christians?

“It has been quite a year in Egypt, full of many bad things and good things,” said Anne Zaki, who lives in Egypt and is coordinator of the Middle East Ministry for the Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Social Justice. “But I think this next year will be even more important. It will be huge.”

A newly elected parliament has just taken office and Zaki is hopeful that Christians, as they become more and more engaged in the public arena, will benefit from greater freedom.

A portion of those marking the anniversary in Tahrir Square, where the revolution began, are celebrating the political changes that have brought a fledgling democracy to the country.

But another portion, said Zaki, believe the political changes have been minimal and have come at a terrible cost. Hundreds of Egyptians who were seeking change were killed and thousands injured.

Last September, Zaki and her husband, Naji Umran, moved with their four children to Zaki’s homeland of Egypt. She teaches at a seminary in Cairo and speaks regularly to churches, explaining why she and her family have returned and calling on Christians to be aware of and to participate in the new political process.

Her husband attends a university where he is studying both classical Arabic and how to help create dialogue between Christians and Muslims. He also is preaching at churches. Together, they hold a Bible study, work with refugees and counsel with couples.

The couple feels called to be in Egypt as God opens people’s hearts and minds, making them more receptive to hear the Christian faith’s message of hope, reconciliation and salvation.

[[pullquote]]

Although no one knows for sure, Zaki said there are rough estimates that Christians make up about 10 to 12 percent of Egypt’s 85 million people.

About 30 percent of those just elected to the new Egyptian parliament are liberals and moderate Muslims, while the rest belong to the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis, an ultra-conservative Muslim group.

“We have great hope for the 30 percent,” that they will help bring about “freedom, human dignity and social justice, the three primary demands of the revolution,” said Zaki.

Zaki explained that the revolution provided an opening for the rise of the Salafis, who have been very vocal in the last year, demanding that the country become a strict Islamic state. But there are many other Muslims who are more moderate and do not agree that Egypt should move in this direction.

Members of churches and mosques have, in fact, begun to build bridges between one another. Muslims have attended meetings at Christian churches to discuss the basics of democracy in a nation where many people, especially Christians, have had no real voice over their own affairs.

Even more striking: Muslims helped to protect a large group of Christians from threats of violence while Christians had gathered for a service of prayer and worship in Tahrir Square on New Year’s Eve.

Zaki said she appreciates seeing the work Christians and Muslims have done together. This has helped to further relations between members of the two faiths.

At the same time, she said, she is hopeful Christians will increasingly be able to share “a message that is much bigger and much more hopeful” than that of any other religion.

“We as Christians have a true chance to be the salt and light like we were intended to be,” she said.

(Image courtesy of iStockphoto.)

Today::SELF-CONTROL

Peter Hoytema — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:5-11
You … are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.
Romans 8:9

These days we are bombarded with advertisements about improving the self. The multibillion dollar self-improvement industry consists of a seemingly endless supply of cosmetics, fitness equipment, strategies to boost self-esteem, and weight-loss programs.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to become more healthy or improving the way you look. But as we have been noticing this month, human nature is in need of much more than mere improvement. Nothing short of total recreation is needed, and no person has the resources to accomplish that. As sinful people, we do not simply have a deficient self that needs to be improved. We have a rebellious self that needs to be controlled. For this, only a mighty power from a source beyond ourselves will do.

No branch can improve itself. The quality of its fruit depends entirely on the vine to which it is attached.

When the Holy Spirit produces self-control in us, he exerts the power of God that liberates us from the tyranny of our sinful nature. This work of regeneration goes much deeper than behavior modification or an external quick fix. A rebellious self is transformed into an obedient self. As Paul states in Colossians 3:10, we are given a “new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Who would settle for self-improvement when the self-control of the Spirit gives so much more?

Prayer:

Help me, Lord, to surrender totally to you. Fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Think Christianwhats-a-top-comment-anyway::What’s a Top Comment anyway?

Josh Larsen — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:18:06 +0000

Posted on 01/26/12

How much do we value your participation at Think Christian? Enough to build a unique feature specifically tailored to sharing your contributions.

We're calling it Top Comments, and it's a new way to highlight the good conversation that takes place among readers and contributors. We'll be selecting what we feel are the best comments made on our articles, according to our Discussion Guidelines. These Top Comments will appear in various places across Think Christian. On the home page, we'll feature a handful that are drawn from all our current articles. In addition, each category home page - listing all the articles in Business & Economics, for instance - will list the Top Comments made in that category.

How do you submit a Top Comment? Simply comment on any article on the site. If we feel it adds something especially unique and valuable to the topic at hand - even if it's in opposition to the viewpoint of the article itself - we'll feature it as Top Comment right alongside the article and in the other areas of the site already mentioned.

Because of our transition to the new site, all previous Think Christian commenters will need to confirm their existing account. An e-mail should have been sent to you with instructions for doing that, but if you didn't receive it, you can also confirm your account here. First-time commenters can register below or at the bottom of any article.

As a bonus, those readers whose contributions are selected as a Top Comment will be eligible for a drawing to win a Think Christian t-shirt or other prize. So make your next comment a Top one.

Think Christianwelcome-to-think-christian::Welcome to Think Christian

Josh Larsen — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:17:21 +0000

Posted on 01/26/12

As you poke around the new Think Christian, you'll notice many changes. Most of these have been made to do two basic things: better display the breadth of content we have to offer and more strongly emphasize your participation in what we're now calling a collaborative digital magazine.

To the first point, you'll notice a menu bar at the top of each page listing the various topics Think Christian covers (News & Politics, Home & Family, etc.) Click on any one and you'll see all the latest stories in each category.

As for the participation part, our new Top Comment feature hopes to highlight the good conversation that takes place among readers and contributors. We'll be selecting what we feel are the best comments made on our articles, according to our Discussion Guidelines, then displaying them in various places across Think Christian. Those readers whose contributions are selected as a Top Comment will be eligible for a drawing to win a Think Christian t-shirt or other prize.

Speaking of comments, if you already have a Think Christian account via Disqus, our old commenting system, you'll need to update your account. An e-mail should have been sent to you with instructions for doing that, but if you didn't receive it, you can also update your account here. First-time commenters can register below or at the bottom of any article.

So it's pretty simple, really, although months of hard work on the part of my colleagues at ReFrame Media and our partners at Five Q and Agathon Group have gone into it. We hope you enjoy the new look. And, of course, we'd love to hear what you think.

Walk The Way::Plant

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:58:23 +0000

Have an idea for ministry, but think it's too small to matter? Plant it, because you never know what will grow.

Today::CHOOSING GENTLENESS

Peter Hoytema — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
Be completely humble and gentle …
Ephesians 4:2

In the Bible the word for “gentle” is sometimes translated as “meek.” Being meek is probably not something most people aspire to. In our way of thinking, meekness not only sounds like weakness; the two words mean virtually the same thing. But true gentleness resembles strength more than weakness.

Gentle people have the potential to be rude or proud, but they have deliberately decided not to behave that way. They have intentionally chosen gentleness. That actually takes more strength than it does to treat others harshly. Unleashing our anger is usually easier than restraining ourselves. So meekness is hardly weakness. A decision not to retaliate may look like inaction, but it’s actually humility at work. What appears to be a lack of assertiveness is robust spiritual action.

In his book Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado offers a pledge that we could all make our own: “Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”

Those words convey how demanding it can be to choose gentleness. But we can do that because we have experienced the Lord’s tender love. We can trust that he will abundantly provide the strength we need to be gentle. His meekness is greater than our weakness.

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for being a gentle shepherd who tenderly cares for his sheep. Help us to be gentle with others, just as you have been gentle with us. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Think Christiansledding-crow::Sledding crows and our anthropomorphizing God

John Van Sloten — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:45:39 +0000

Posted on 01/25/12

It's hard not to smile when you watch the viral video, posted below, of a sledding crow. The crow seems to be playing, snowboarding down a sloped roof on a jar lid! The giggling delight of the children and their parents, overheard as they record the video, is contagious. Surely God was laughing at this little avian exhibition as well.

But do crows really play? Or was this crow just engaging in a creative way of dislodging some food from the lid of that jar? Often we human beings anthropomorphize animal behaviors; we read ourselves into a cat's attitude, a dog's begging or a crow's amazing downhill run. But is a crow really capable of the advanced thought and behavior of play? I'm not sure we can ever know for sure.

Still, why wouldn't a crow play? In a crowish way, of course, even as bear cubs play in a bearish way and trees rejoice and clap their hands in a treeish way? God seems to have no problem anthropomorphizing creation. In the book of Job, God talks with Leviathan. A few chapters earlier, lightning bolts say to God, "here we are" and stars sing at creation's advent. (These references can all be found in "Engaging God's World" by Neal Plantinga.)

In Job, God seems to have an intimate and almost playful relationship with His creation. Why wouldn't all things in the cosmos play back; in a way that is in accordance with their kind? If all things were created through and for Christ, then surely all things are meant to bring Him glory. Everything in their own way.

And maybe our anthropomorphizing is just our way of apprehending the playful worship that's happening all around us. By empathetically incarnating, we enter into the world of other created beings. For all we know, the crow could be doing the same thing back toward us.

As I think about how I engage God's world, I anthropomorphize all the time. All week long snowflakes have been dancing outside my living room window. Wintering sparrows have been singing songs to each other to keep each other warm. Arctic winds have been howling and the night planets - Saturn, Venus and Jupiter - are silently voicing their orbital truths.

I am made in the image of an incarnating, anthropomorphizing God. When I delight in what He's created, I co-delight with Him and experience His smiling presence.

And as for that sledding crow? There's only one who really knows what he's thinking, which was God's whole point when He answered Job's existential questions with the mysteries of creation.

Maybe our anthropomorphizing is a way to help us appreciate and love creation as much as God does. And maybe a sledding crow is just a beautiful gift from God; a playful creative display for a couple of kids and their parents (and millions of Internet viewers). An anthropomorphized parable of joy.

Walk The Way::Looking Out

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:29:29 +0000

Can walking the way of Jesus be as simple as just looking out for someone else? Who are you looking out for?

Today::GENTLENESS

Peter Hoytema — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:25-30
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest …”
Matthew 11:29

The yoke Jesus refers to in this Scripture reading has a lot to teach us about how the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of gentleness within us.

A yoke was a heavy wooden bar that a farmer would place across the necks of two oxen so that they were forced to work together. The purpose was not just to get twice as much work done; more than anything, the yoke was a training device.

When an ox reached the point when it could begin plowing, a farmer would team it up with an older, more experienced animal. In this way the younger, more stubborn ox would be forced to walk in step with the stronger animal who led the way.

This is not a very flattering description of a disciple. But it is a wonderful picture of our Lord. The sinless Son of God wants to be yoked with rebellious people so that they can learn from him.

Jesus doesn’t force his yoke on us; he humbly offers it.

Have you taken it? If you have, you know how easy a burden it really is.

We don’t need to worry about producing the fruit of gentleness ourselves. All we need to do is keep in step with the Savior. And his gentleness will soon become ours.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, there is so much I need to learn from you. Help me to walk beside you, to listen to your teaching, and to enjoy the rest that only you can give. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Think Christianstate-of-the-union::Jobs, Steve Jobs and the State of the Union

Jordan J. Ballor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:49:59 +0000

Posted on 01/24/12

President Obama’s State of the Union speech focused in large part on the troubled global economy and the way forward for America. His emphasis was on the continued maintenance of the “American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college and put a little away for retirement.”

President Obama decried corporations who outsource jobs to other countries and the countries that welcome those jobs as two of the biggest threats to the continued viability of the American dream. First, the president promised to make it more costly for companies to move “jobs and profits overseas” by adjusting the tax code. Second, the president vowed to form a Trade Enforcement Unit “that will be charged with investigating unfair trade practices in countries like China.” The president’s faith in the American worker was clear: “Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you – America will always win.”

But in casting global trade in terms of a simple win/lose proposition, the president missed a wonderful opportunity to show that Americans need not be made better off at the expense of other countries. During the speech, Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of former Apple executive Steve Jobs, sat as a guest of the First Lady. And as it turns out, there are some important lessons for us to take to heart from Steve Jobs’ success as an innovator and technology magnate. Few would argue with the fact that Apple products have made the lives of millions of Americans more productive and enjoyable. But Jobs’ own insights belie the president’s mandate for American business leaders, which amounts to: “Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to your country.”

As the New York Times reported earlier this week, early last year the president inquired of Steve Jobs why over 150 million iPads, iPhones and other products sold by Apple last year were made in other countries. “Those jobs aren’t coming back,” Jobs reportedly said. The president’s State of the Union speech made it seem as if the lower costs of labor and tax avoidance strategies are the only reasons that firms send jobs offshore. But according to the Times, “It isn’t just that workers are cheaper abroad. Rather, Apple’s executives believe the vast scale of overseas factories as well as the flexibility, diligence and industrial skills of foreign workers have so outpaced their American counterparts that ‘Made in the U.S.A.’ is no longer a viable option for most Apple products.” The reality is that a complex of factors, including the cost of living in America, worker expectations, collective-bargaining realities and educational shortfalls have combined to put America, at least in some cases, at a competitive disadvantage. This is a disadvantage that has nothing to do with getting “tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas.”

[[pullquote]]

It is a disadvantage that goes to the heart of what makes companies like Apple successful. As “a current Apple executive" said in the Times story, “We don’t have an obligation to solve America’s problems. Our only obligation is making the best product possible.” If American workers can help companies provide the best services and products, then companies will come here and hire them without presidential prompting. But if workers in China or India can help these companies fulfill their purpose, then those companies will create jobs in China or India. The only way to truly promote global development is to allow companies to determine what is best for their own products and customers.

This is a critical issue for Christians seeking to live justly in a global society. The president’s basic message advocated forms of protectionism, seeking to favor American companies at the expense of workers in other nations. The president wants to see “millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia and South Korea.” But if Americans want other nations to be free to buy their products, the basic morality of the Golden Rule (as well as economic common sense) holds that Americans should likewise be free to buy products made in other nations. And as the success of the iPhone in America shows - and as Apple executives put it - “it is a mistake to measure a company’s contribution simply by tallying its employees.”

This is the real lesson that Steve Jobs teaches us about jobs and our true state of the union.

(Photo of President Obama with director of speechwriting Jon Favreau courtesy of Pete Souza/Whitehouse.gov.)

Walk The Way::Notice

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:58:44 +0000

Is there anyone that you pass by every day that God wants you to notice? What would happen if you took the time to do it?

Think Christiangritty-beauty-remembering-etta-and-otis::Gritty beauty: Remembering Etta and Otis

John J. Thompson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:44:49 +0000

Posted on 01/24/12

Two legendary musical figures with intertwined legacies passed away last week. Johnny Otis and Etta James, two of the most iconoclastic personalities in all of 20th-century music, were instrumental in the comingling of African-American and Caucasian styles that would eventually lead to modern American rock and roll, pop and rhythm and blues.

Otis was a white man who loved and promoted the music of the black community, while James was a light-skinned black singer with dyed blonde hair who charmed audiences of all colors with her sonorous voice and gracefully soulful pop ballads before settling in as a tough, sometimes cantankerous belter. They both had close relationships with the church and very public dalliances with the world. Their paths, both fraught with struggle, were inextricably linked once Otis heard the then 14-year-old James sometime around 1951 and added her to his band.

Otis was the son of Greek immigrants. He fell in love with the music of the African-American community and dedicated his life to writing, performing and promoting it. He called himself “black by persuasion.” He produced the original recording of “Hound Dog,” which, of course, was heard by Elvis. Otis was dubbed the “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues” for his work as a record executive, radio host, concert promoter, songwriter and producer. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

[[pullquote]]

Etta James, most famous for her stunning version of “At Last,” was born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1938 to an unwed 14-year-old mother who struggled with addiction and problems with the law her whole life. Johnny Otis discovered Jamesetta, changed her first name around to create “Etta James” and single handedly launched her professional career. James was a natural; equally comfortable singing pop, rock and roll, jazz, R&B, blues and gospel. After spending the 1980s in addiction-fueled obscurity, she re-emerged in 1990, releasing some of her most powerful work over the last 20 years.

Like many gospel and soul artists since, both Otis and James were just as comfortable singing about sin and debauchery as forgiveness and righteousness. Otis spent time as a pastor in the 1960s and attempted a career in politics that was driven by his passionate belief in civil rights for African Americans. James started to include gospel material into her repertoire as far back as the early ’60s. Both artists, however, crossed content and language lines at will, creating bodies of work that were both sacred and suggestive. Otis returned to the ministry in the 1990s and invested considerable time and energy in traditional gospel music. James’ inclusion of inspirational and gospel material increased later in life as well.

Johnny Otis died on Jan. 17 at his home outside of Los Angeles. Etta James, his one-time protege and possibly his greatest individual discovery, passed only days later. Some people have said that rock and roll is the devil’s music. Hogwash. Rock and roll is the fabulous and dangerous result of mixing the music of two disparate cultures that, just a few decades ago, could not find any other way to get along. The result was physical, sensual and, yes, spiritual. Sure, it can be used for ignominious purposes, but so can religion.

Otis and James knew the inspirational power of the new musical style they helped to invent. As artists they bridged the gap between black and white; sin and redemption; the temporal and the eternal. In the process they blessed us all with volumes of gritty beauty. Here’s hoping they found the peace and rest that seemed to evade them for much of their lives on this side of the veil.

John's playlist of music by Etta James and Johnny Otis can be found on Spotify.

Think Christianonline-echo-chambers::Breaking out of online echo chambers

Stephen Hale — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:07:27 +0000

Posted on 01/24/12

A recent study by Facebook shows that its users are still in contact with those they disagree with! This is somewhat surprising news, because many have been concerned that social networking would lead to people isolating themselves in ideologically self-reinforcing communities, cut off from intelligent disagreement. This could lead to further polarization in discussions of all sorts of important issues. Luckily, apparently this phenomena, dubbed echo chambers, is not as widespread as some had feared.

That's an encouraging trend, one that is hopefully also taking place in Christian circles. Echo chambers are a serious concern for Christians because intellectual diversity challenges our frail human ideas. Because we are a people peculiarly concerned with truth and aware of our own frailty, it is crucial we are in situations which can challenge our assumptions. As famed New Testament scholar N.T. Wright has noted, we are probably wrong about a third of the things we believe. Unfortunately, we don’t know which third of our beliefs are wrong.

We need each other. We need people who disagree with us, to challenge our ideas so we can allow the chaff to fall. We like to think we have each come to our conclusions about hotly debated topics through careful consideration and weighing the evidence, but of course this is not always true. In fact, many of our ideas have been inherited from our community, or we’ve heard half of a debate and seen the wisdom in one position without deeply hearing the other side. We all do this. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but it is something to be struggled against.

Recently I was in a service where German theologian Jürgen Moltmann was mentioned. Moltmann was first in a group of theologians known as the Theologians of Hope. He holds a few ideas a conservative evangelical might disagree with, so it is understandable that the minister would disagree with Moltmann. However, the pastor did this by connecting Moltmann, the Theologian of Hope, to “a certain politician we all know.” All the minister needed was to connect Moltmann’s nickname to a rhetorical term used by a despised politician, and everyone knew we weren’t supposed to like him. Unfortunately, this rhetoric led us towards despising hope, one of the three highest values in our faith. This didn’t clarify what the pastor dislikes about Barack Obama, the politician in question. Further, the actual areas in which the minister disagrees with Moltmann, none of which are related to his nickname, were obscured in the process. The congregation was actually more ignorant after these comments than before them.

[[pullquote]]

We can begin fighting echo chambers by guarding our too-hard hearts from ourselves. Too often those we disagree with (the Left, the Right) become a faceless other, a moron to be dismissed at every opportunity. We respond with slogans designed to silence. We become like the minister discussing Obama. We can’t continue to disregard people and ideas with scare-words. We exaggerate difference, minimize similarity and in so doing turn neighbors into enemies. We need to see that our rhetoric divides us from people who are not all that different.
In acting this way we deny our own frailty, our own ignorance.

While we would be quick to insist we don’t know everything, too often our actions call us a liar. Too often we act like people who know what is best and have nothing to learn from those we disagree with. When we act as if we already believe the best ideas, we assume the ignorance of the Other. In assuming their ignorance, we deny that they too are made in the image of God with wisdom and intelligence.

In the end, it is inevitable we will disagree with some of those we dialogue with, but genuine listening will probably surprise us with unpredicted areas of commonality, or even ideas superior to those we held at the beginning of a conversation. Some recoil at this suggestion, afraid it will devolve into an “I’m OK, you’re OK” denial of disagreement. That is not what I’m suggesting. Too often we allow this bogeyman to prevent us from meeting with the Other at all. We must be aware of what we believe, yet respectful enough of others to risk being deeply challenged. In any conversation, we might be unchanged. On the other hand, we might be better.

Today::AN AUDIENCE OF ONE

Peter Hoytema — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1-8
You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ …
Colossians 1:7

D. A. Carson wrote a book called Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor. Much of it consists of journal entries that Carson’s father, who was also a pastor, wrote over the course of his ministry. The name D. A. Carson is well known in evangelical Christianity, but until he published his father’s memoirs, the name Tom Carson was much less well known.

The book is a testimony to the beauty of ordinary ministry. Tom Carson never served a big congregation that swelled with new converts. He never wrote a book or held denominational leadership positions. Much of his ministry seemed to be characterized by discouragement. Many of his journal entries were accompanied with tears.

Much of ordinary ministry could also be called faithful ministry, and it’s not restricted to the work of pastors. The word for “minister” in Colossians 1:7 is most often translated as “servant” in the New Testament. Servants do ordinary ministry, like visiting the sick, befriending the lonely, and welcoming the stranger. This is not glamorous work, and it may not seem to produce much spiritual fruit, in our opinion.

But let’s beware of exchanging what God calls faithfulness for what the world calls success. The acclaim of multitudes is nothing compared to the approval of God.

Paul called Epaphras a faithful servant of Christ. Could any better compliment be given?

Prayer:

Forgive us, Lord, if we are more concerned with popularity than faithfulness. Help us to serve only you. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Walk The Way::Ministry or Relationship?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:39:10 +0000

Can real ministry happen without relationship? How much can our words, actions and outreach mean if we don't know people first?

Today::FAITHFULNESS

Peter Hoytema — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3

In our reflections on the fruit of the Spirit, we have seen how these virtues are rooted in the character of God. This is incredibly good news, because it assures us that producing this fruit is ultimately God’s work. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, sinful people are increasingly transformed to become like Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

When we consider faithfulness, we can see that this is especially anchored in God’s character. The Old Testament of the Bible resounds with examples of God’s faithfulness. God is faithful and keeps his promises, despite his people’s unfaithfulness to him. And in the New Testament the Greek word for “faithfulness” points to being full of faith. That says something about a person’s dedication as well as their reliability. A faithful person not only has strong faith; that person is someone in whom others have faith. A faithful believer not only trusts wholeheartedly in God; that person is someone others know they can trust.

We see the connection most clearly between our faith and the Lord’s faithfulness. The Lord has pledged always to love us, despite our unfaithfulness to him. And the Lord is faithful. God’s covenant faithfulness is the sure foundation on which all our faith securely rests.

Prayer:

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father”! How comforting it is to know that my faith rests on the solid ground of your promises. Help me to grow in my faithfulness to you. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Think Christianadoration-and-descent-at-downton-abbey::Adoration and descent at ‘Downton Abbey’

Adele Konyndyk — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:43 +0000

Posted on 01/22/12

I am a “Downton Abbey” adorer. And judging by my social-media feeds, its fan base has exploded since its recent second-season PBS premiere. Everyone, it seems, loves to follow the Edwardian-era lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants as they together inhabit a magnificent manor home.

So what is the allure of “Downton,” anyway?

True confession: for me, the pretty clothes and men with dashing accents do have something to do with it. The elegant cinematography also helps. And who can resist a script that allows actress Maggie Smith hilariously brusque zingers. (I'm determined to talk broadly to keep this piece spoiler-free, but you can safely watch a Maggie Smith dialogue snippet online.)

Screenwriter Julian Fellows (of "Gosford Park" fame) is in top form, steering a polished, original, wise and genre-defying series.

I suppose that of all I adore in the series I most adore the plot. As the story unfolds it bitingly exposes the timeless, cross-cultural notion of human adoration. Every episode asks: What do these characters worship? What do they want? And how do they going about getting it?

It’s helpful, here, to parse out the customs and expectations prized by the separate societies - the “upstairs” and “downstairs” characters, as fans and critics call them.

Much is revealed by the very way those upstairs prepare to enter a room. The Crawley family adores being adorned. In shot after shot, servants carefully apply necklaces, hairpieces and hats to Countess Crawley and her three twentysomething daughters. Earl Crawley has cufflinks to suit every occasion. After all, they all must fit the rooms they’re walking into, where intricate wall tapestries grace walls and diamonds decorate every plate.

Upstairs, propriety is power and beauty is etiquette.

Downstairs, servants thrum about at a frenetic pace - bustling about with dustbins and high tea trays and ornate napkins. Scene after scene they stop just before ascending the stairs or entering a dining room to talk over the duties ahead, to remind each other to attend to their masters and mistresses with grace and calm.[[pullquote]]

These are men and women questing for dignity, forced by class into near servitude who long for their talents to be recognized and rewarded.

This situation could be tiresomely moralistic and simplistic, with those upstairs drawing contempt from the viewer for their snobbish, materialistic ways and those downstairs ennobled and admired for their service.

Thankfully, however, those below the great halls and ballrooms don’t get the posture of humble adoration right all of the time. They, too, have misplaced and selfish desires. They are felled by pride-driven decisions similar to those made by their masters.

And similar gestures of generosity and compassion redeem those on either level. The upstairs tenants are not so spoiled that they are without their moments of sacrifice and selflessness, especially when acting in the interest of a family member’s happiness.

Even a broad sweep of the story lines reveals the symmetry of vice and virtue in the manor's inhabitants. I think of Mary, the eldest Crawley daughter, whose longing for approval threatens her chance at true, life-giving and other-serving love. I think of lady maid O’Brien, who acts as a cantankerous crow to those under her authority but who is loyal - even tender - to Countess Grantham. These are dimensional characters, both spiteful and kind.

All of the characters suffer when they forget that the "etiquette" of true adoration is not elevation or even elegance - it is descent. A readiness to stoop for love. A recognition that, as T.S. Eliot said, “the way up is the way down.”

I see in “Downton” the struggle to live as Isaiah 57:15 would have us live: “in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed.” This struggle does more than allure us, but allows so many of us to relate. Its best scenes explore the subtle incarnations of this low-high tension in simple gestures between master and servant, from the buttoning of a jacket to a laugh shared. And with the second season starting off just as World War I begins, it's plain the whole household will have new and painful lessons to learn about honor, sacrifice and descent.

While I watch “Downton Abbey” for pleasure and entertainment, I am grateful for its call to humble oneself for the sake of others. It reminds me that we serve a God who became a servant for us, who was both mocked and praised, powerful and meek. And who is without question worthy of our absolute, faithful adoration.

(Photo courtesy of PBS.)

Today::FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE

Peter Hoytema — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:1-14
Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness …).
Ephesians 5:8-9

An old poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson says, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” There’s a lot of wisdom in those words. They teach us that choices have consequences.

That’s certainly true when it comes to practicing goodness. People who want to grow in goodness try to obey the command in today’s Scripture to “find out what pleases the Lord.” And, as we can see, that command has both a positive and a negative application. Living as children of light means both doing what is good and not doing what is evil.

Good and evil actions are radically different from each other, as much as light is different from darkness. But there is one thing they have in common: the more we practice them, the more skilled we become at doing them. That’s because the things we do shape the kind of people we are. Choices develop character.

When you tell a lie, for example, you not only say something untrue; you become a liar. This explains why honest people don’t cheat. They know that only cheaters do that, and that is not the kind of person they want to become.

Place a high premium on the fruit of goodness! You’ll discover that the bigger it gets, the sweeter it tastes.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive us for all we do wrong. Help us to live in the light of your goodness and grace so that everyone will know we belong to you. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Under the Radar::Q&A with Andrew Peterson

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:57:12 +0000

We are so happy to have Andrew Peterson as our special guest on Episode #167. He has been a great encouragement and support to what UTR is doing. He’s one of my personal favorite singer-songwriters, and an always intriguing person to interview. Here’s a peek at some of our most recent conversation: DT: Do you feel like your most recent CD (Counting Stars) is a bit peek at your more mellow side? Andrew: Yeah, I guess it’s different. I always think of my music as being pretty laid back. There’s no big orchestra on this record, some of my albums do that thing. It’s funny because people have mentioned more than once that it feels a little bit more mellow. I just say, “Alright, I guess so.” Part of it may be that Ben and Andy have been working for years to get me to sing my songs in a lower key. I grew up in the 80’s and in that era your coolness was in direct proportion to how high you could sing. So, I was always trying to write my songs too high, and my voice would get kind-of nasally. But the older I’m getting I’m believing them more and more. They would just make me lower the capo two or four frets. My voice is a little warmer in that register, so that may be part of it. DT: Most people still recognize you because of the breakout hit “Dancing In The Minefields.” What was it like to make your first career music video for that song? Andrew: Boy, I never thought that would ever happen. Ben [Shive] bought me this obscure band’s record for my birthday, and it was really cool music. I went to the band’s website and the first thing I wanted to do was click on their video. I was thinking, “I wonder what these guys look like – I wonder what their video would be like,” and that’s what I checked out. And it hit me; we live in an entirely different world than when I started playing music ten or twelve years ago. It used to be, if you made a music video, where was it going to get played, on ZTV or the Trinity Broadcasting Network late at night? I don’t know how that works. But I knew that I wasn’t ever watching Christian music videos. But now with YouTube, the Internet, and blogging and stuff, I was like, “Hey, maybe we should try doing this thing.” I asked my manager if she thought it would be a good idea and she said it was. So, we ended up deciding in a meeting in about five minutes let’s make a video for “Dancing in the Minefields.” We’ll get some old couples in our lives who represent this beautiful, lasting marriage idea and get them to dance, because I knew there was no way in the world I was going to dance. DT: If you had to pick one, what Counting Stars song are you excited to play live for people? Andrew: If I had to pick a song that turned out the way I wanted it to turn out, I would say it’s “The Reckoning,” the last song on the album. I could barely make it through it when we were singing it in the studio. It was a pretty new song – I had written it and sung it for the guys before we went in the studio – but the day we had recorded all the tracks on it I was in there in the dark with my headphones on singing, and that was the first time I really experience what it was that I was saying. The song is my voicing of my own frustrations with God’s tarrying. I found myself ending a lot of prayers lately with, “Jesus, please hurry back,” even on good days. I believe in bones that even our best days here are just a glimpse of what will be. I’m watching my children grow up, so I’m watching the leaves turn in my little boy’s heart. As he goes from this “edenic” childhood, where he doesn’t know about the dangers of the Internet yet, and he’s never had his heart broken by somebody. I’m watching this little boy grow up and it’s breaking my heart to know what’s in store for him. It makes me long even more for the day when the earth will be restored and renewed – when there will be justice – where there won’t be this color of longing and sadness at the edges of our hearts. The end of the song says, I know I don’t know what I’m asking, but Lord, I long to look you full in the face. I think that’s probably the most succinct summary of how my heart has felt for the last couple years. DT: Can you reflect on the making of my personal favorite A.P. project, The Far Country? Andrew: Yeah, I remember when we were making The Far Country. Each album reflects whatever it is that’s going on in my heart for the previous couple of years. The Lord of the Rings movies were still being made when I was writing the songs for The Far Country and I had a re-awakening of my love for C.S. Lewis and his ministry. Some of the songs, you’re right - I don’t know if esoteric is the word - but you have to think about it, you have to use your imagination. I remember saying several times before we ever went into the studio that I felt this was an album about the Gospel. I wasn’t going to try to make the songs artsy just for the sake of being artsy. I was going to try and tell the truth the best I knew how. Make sure to check out this week's UTR to enjoy music and conversation with Andrew Peterson. He talked about "The Reckoning" and you can watch a live performance of that song in the UTR Studios. Also feel free to browse his name on our site to find a bunch of interviews and exclusive videos.

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/158.MP3::Dare Ya!

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:00:36 +0000

Liz, Spike, and Morrie don't want to look like fools to their classmates so they give in to Skink's challenge-and end up having a close call with a train on abridge over a river.

Today::GOODNESS

Peter Hoytema — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:1-4
[We have] everything we need … through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3

At first glance, we might think Paul didn’t need to include goodness in his description of the fruit of the Spirit. Goodness can seem to be a catch-all that absorbs every other virtue into itself. Kindness is good, patience is good, love is good. What is it about goodness that distinguishes it from any other virtues?

Notice how often we hear the word “good.” People talk about having a good day, reading a good book, or eating a good meal. Sometimes, the word good is even used to describe things that are not good for you. A man talks about smoking a good cigar, and hockey players who pummel each other with their fists talk about having a good fight.

What one person considers good, someone else may think is hardly good at all. That’s because our concept of goodness is corrupted by sin. We are not always able to recognize true goodness when we see it. It also means we are victimized by the craftiness of the evil one more often than we realize, since he revels in giving something sinful the appearance of something good (see 2 Corinthians 11:14).

Only the glory of God can help us. God’s glory illuminates foolish minds and enlightens hearts darkened by sin. If true goodness is what you desire, “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8).

Prayer:

Lord, the power of your goodness helps us know the difference between right and wrong. Continue to give us that power, and fill us with your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Walk The Way::The “Gender” Issue

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:38:31 +0000

How can the church lead the way in our celebration of male and female?

Groundwork::Love

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:00:46 +0000

Turn on almost any music radio station and there’s a good chance you’ll hear a song about love within a matter of minutes – but open the newspaper or read your favorite online news site and it’s likely to take you a few pages of stories before you read about love. So how much is love really reflected in our culture? Is it the same love the Bible describes?

Under the Radar::Episode #167 - Special Guest: Andrew Peterson

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:49:56 +0000

Our VIP Guest all hour is the creative and talented Andrew Peterson. We'll talk about his songwriting and enjoy several tracks. Plus we'll play a half dozen listener requests.

Today::CLOTHED WITH KINDNESS

Peter Hoytema — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-14
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with … kindness …
Colossians 3:12

Gary Chapman is a Christian marriage counselor whose ministry has been a blessing to many people. At one point in his book Hope for the Separated, he touches on the subject of kindness. He tells the story of a woman who wanted to divorce her husband and to hurt him as much as possible in the process.

The marriage counselor she consulted was not a Christian. He told her that the best way to inflict pain on her husband would be to compliment him profusely. By showering him with affection, she would assure him of her devotion and set him up for a crushing fall when divorce proceedings began.

The woman took the counselor’s advice. When she returned to see the counselor two months later, he presumed it was because she was set to divorce her husband. To his surprise, the woman reported that she had fallen in love with her husband all over again! Divorcing him was now the furthest thing from her mind. It seems the affection she showed her husband made him feel so loved that he started to respond to her in kind. Even though her kindness started out as cruelty in disguise, it grew to become genuine.

That’s the power of kindness in repairing broken relationships. Acts of kindness not only bless other people. Like beautiful articles of clothing, they adorn our lives as well.

Lord, help us each day

Prayer:

to dress in clothes of kindness so that others will experience your love through us. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Walk The Way::What’s The Point?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:38:49 +0000

Is there any value in just having the discipline of going to church? Is it worth going, even when you feel like you're just going through the motions?

Think Christianchristian-wisdom-and-navigating-sopa-pipas-muddy-waters::Christian wisdom and navigating SOPA/PIPA’s muddy waters

Ben Bartlett — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:45:17 +0000

Posted on 01/19/12

By now you’ve heard about yesterday's blackout. Some of the biggest websites on the Internet blacked themselves out (to varying degrees) to raise awareness about the SOPA and PIPA bills being debated in Congress. These bills seem, at face value, to protect intellectual property by granting the government sweeping powers to block sites that benefit from pirated or stolen material. However, as is so often the case, the devil is in the details.

The problem is that the bills were written by some combination of lawmakers (who don’t have the technical knowledge to frame the problem correctly) and entertainment company lobbyists (who have a particular incentive to make the law as sweeping as possible). The resulting material clashes with other laws, demands a threshold of compliance so high that no social media company can reasonably attain it and perhaps even violates constitutional free speech principles.

Of course, we shouldn’t kid ourselves into believing the blackout signifies corporate America (even the Silicon Valley version) taking a stand against Big Brother. They are simply avoiding any danger and liability that might come back to bite them should anyone use their sites to host pirated material. Free speech is just one small plank in the platform that companies like Google, Wikipedia and Reddit are standing on.

For the Christian, then, we are presented with an interesting dilemma. We desire justice, and this bill seems to promote justice by punishing those who would steal. Yet we also desire freedom and oppose giving unreasonable levels of control to the government, and this bill seems to take freedom away. We desire a healthy business environment for Internet companies, and opposing the bill seems to help in protecting that. Yet we also desire a fair business environment for artists and writers in the entertainment industry, and opposing the bill can seem to challenge that.

Situations like these highlight two things Christians claim to hold dearly, but too often forget. First, they highlight the need for ethics. Though the Bible teaches excellent standards of right and wrong, our modern-day situations are complex enough to sometimes enter gray and uncertain territory. In those moments, the ability to be clear and prepared in choosing right from wrong is essential. Life will not always present easy choices. Instead, many of the choices we face are gray area vs. gray area, so when we do find a moment of clarity our ethics had better be at the ready.

Second, they display our need for wisdom. Consider the story of Solomon and the two mothers. When he suggested cutting the baby in half, it was more than a clever trick. His deep knowledge of human tendencies allowed him to expose the charlatan and name the true mother. His pursuit of truth, coupled with his understanding of right and wrong, allowed him to make the right choice in his role as king.

You and I will face many, many complicated issues in our lives. As citizens, part of our calling on this earth is to participate in upholding good and helpful laws, laws undergirded by a healthy ethical system and wise knowledge of truth. My hope is that in carrying out that calling, our good judgment and desire for truth will help point the world back to Christ, around whom ethics are centered. When you decide which side of an issue like SOPA/PIPA to stand on with all the wisdom you can muster, remember that it is one small act of worship to your true King.

Think Christianwar-horse-and-returning-soldiers::‘War Horse’ and returning soldiers

Josh Larsen — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:00:15 +0000

Posted on 01/19/12

I have my problems with Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" (the first third in particular, which has way too much inspirational plowing). Yet in its consideration of the brutalities of war and the scars left on home-bound soldiers, the movie is of vital, timely importance - for the United States as a whole and Gospel-following Christians in particular.

The story is told mostly through the eyes of Joey, a horse that is drafted into the English cavalry in World War I and spends that conflict passing through the hands of various owners, eventually ending up in the hellish trenches of France. In the way it views humanity's folly through the eyes of an animal, "War Horse" recounts one of the great films of all time: "Au Hasard Balthazar." Yet it's also very much of today. Released in the same month that the last American soldiers left Iraq, "War Horse" is about the life-defining experience of leaving young innocence behind to engage in senseless violence, to survive out of sheer luck and then come home again - alive, but deeply changed.

We usually don't like to talk about such experiences. Indeed, when Think Christian ran an article last month by a former armed forces chaplain about the ways churches should receive returning soldiers, the story had far-below-average page views and not a single comment. This, along with America's history of ignoring (if not villifying) returning soldiers, left me dispirited. Jesus welcomed the weary and burdened; shouldn't we count returning soldiers among them?

Perhaps a major movie being sniffed by Oscar will help to force this conversation. Which brings me back to what I do appreciate about "War Horse." The picture is at its most artful in its darkest moments: a military execution, partly obscured by the mercifully sweeping arm of a windmill; a cavalry of horses jerking their heads up in unison at the sound of a single, lethal shot; a climactic reunion in silhouette, in which the ostentatiously red sunset isn't there to warm our hearts, but to remind us that this has been a tale of both balm and blood.[[pullquote]]

In other words, "War Horse" is honest, not sentimental, about the cost of armed conflict. As honest, in fact, as was another veteran of World War I's trenches, C.S. Lewis. In a letter, Lewis wrote this about his war experience:

My memories of the last war haunted my dreams for years. Military service, to be plain, includes the threat of every temporal evil; pain and death, which is what we fear from sickness; isolation from those we love, which is what we fear from exile; toil under arbitrary masters, which is what we fear from slavery: hunger, thirst, and exposure which is what we fear from poverty. I'm not a pacifist. If it's got to be it's got to be. But the flesh is weak and selfish, and I think death would be much better than to live through another war.

Even worse? Living through one, coming home and not having your weariness and burdens shared by Christians who care.

(Image courtesy of DreamWorks.)

Today::KINDNESS

Peter Hoytema — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1-8
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us …
Titus 3:4-5

The Greek word that is translated as “kindness” in Galatians 5:22 sounds similar to the Greek word for “Christ.” In the days of the early church, that sometimes led to confusion among unbelievers. They weren’t always sure if Christians actually believed in a person called Christ, or if they practiced a religion that focused on kindness.

When you think about it, that confusion was actually quite a compliment to the first Christians! How wonderful it would be if kindness stood out in the impression that we Christians gave to unbelievers today. Unfortunately, kindness may not always be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Christians and the church.

This is why we must be diligent in our prayers that the Holy Spirit produce the fruit of kindness in us. As Paul writes in today’s Scripture reading, the kindness of God was the only thing strong enough to conquer our foolishness, disobedience, and bondage to sin.

We must pray that the power of God’s kindness that saved us will also be the power that continually transforms our character.

This is what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about. He wants to make kindness flourish in our lives so that when others notice it they will naturally think of Christ.

Prayer:

Thank you, heavenly Father, for treating us kindly in Christ. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that others will see Jesus living in us. We pray in his name. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Under the Radar::Griffin House - “When The Time Is Right”

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:51:03 +0000

Griffin House performs his song "When The Time Is Right" off of his 2007 album "Flying Upside Down" live at S.P.A.C.E. in Evanston, IL on 1/13/12.

Under the Radar::Concert Review: Griffin House in Evanston, IL

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:43:42 +0000

This last Friday night, Griffin House performed a concert at S.P.A.C.E. in Evanston, Illinois – and UTR was on hand for the fun. UTR host Dave Trout along with his friend, Griffin House enthusiast, and UTR listener Gail Hafar (and their spouses) not only enjoyed a terrific night of music, but they compared notes and reactions to the event. Here’s their overall review of the concert: What were your feelings and expectations before the concert began? Gail: This was the first chance I had to see him sing since becoming a big fan of his music. While in line for will-call, I commented about how I haven’t been this excited to see someone perform since the New Kids on the Block when I was in grade school. Obviously, my taste in music has matured. Dave: This was also my first time seeing Griffin perform, and I was only familiar with a handful of his songs beforehand. I was actually nervous that I might not like him live. One thing that added to the anticipation was that this was all of our first time seeing a show at S.P.A.C.E., & it was sold out. How would you describe his performance? Did he pass the test? Gail: The entirety of his performance could have itself been given the title of his latest album, “The Learner” – even though surprisingly he only played one song off that CD. The songs he performed lamented lost love, celebrated the complexities of love, and longed for peace and truth in the face of depravity. Dave: He more than passed the test in my eyes. It was just a mic, a guitar, & a harmonica – and yet he commanded every second of the sold-out crowd’s attention. What was the biggest highlights of the concert? Gail: His hope-filled presentation. Griffin conveyed the truth of his life - pain, loss, love, joy, confusion, rage, competition, longing, frustration, a hunger for wholeness, and a desperation to move closer to the One who set it all into motion... to the One who will redeem every last bit of it… every last bit of us. Dave: Several things. I was also so encouraged by how Griffin is shining the light of his faith to people who probably have no interest in visiting a local church. I also loved some of the sing-along songs, like “The Way I Was Made” and Jonny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Another surprise was that he talked a little bit about his life, but didn’t share any stories about the songs, which is different than what I’m used to with singer-songwriters. This showcased the quality of his songwriting and the trust he has in the songs standing on their own. How were you feeling as you left the event? Gail: I remain a very big fan of Griffin House. New Kids ain’t got nothin’ on this dude! Dave: He has won me over. I bought his entire discography at the concert. I can’t wait to dig deeper into his music, and already look forward to the next time he performs in my area. GRIFFIN HOUSE’S SET LIST ON 1/13/12 1. Better Than Love 2. I Remember (It’s Happening Again) 3. Waiting for the Rain to Come 4. Standing at the Station 5. I Wanna Go Down 6. Man In the Long Black Coat 7. ‘Cause I Miss You 8. I Will Follow 9. Let Me In 10. Never Again 11. Judas 12. Ring of Fire 13. Volkswagon 14. The Guy That Says Goodbye to You is Out of His Mind 15. The Way I Was Made 16. Waterfall 17. When the Time is Right 18. Only Love Remains Take a look at our photo gallery of Griffin’s concert, and watch a video of a live performance.

Walk The Way::Crazy Things

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:37:09 +0000

God does crazy things for us, because He's crazy about us. He wants us to depend on Him in all things--even the small things.

Under the Radar::Griffin House Concert Pics 2012

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:34:39 +0000

Here's concert photos of Griffin House live at S.P.A.C.E. in Evanston, IL on 1/13/12.

Think Christianyes-levi-christianity-is-a-religion::Yes, Levi, Christianity is a religion

Karen Swallow Prior — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:00:56 +0000

Posted on 01/18/12

A teenager e-mailed me recently asking my opinion about a spoken word video that’s gone viral: Jefferson Bethke's “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.”

I’ll admit all the hubbub didn’t draw my interest. After all, the video’s title tells pretty much the whole story, as do the titles of the countless responses to the video and the responses to the responses. It’s been a veritable social network version of the Reformation and the Counter Reformation in miniature.

Besides, the Christian’s first obligation in responding to the works of others - whether sermons, songs, novels, paintings, videos or blog posts - is charitableness. And a charitable interpretation of the video, while perhaps acknowledging an unclear or incorrect definition of “religion,” can’t take much issue with the spirit of the video’s message, which is a heartfelt rejection of Pharisaical, legalistic institutionalism in favor of a living, vibrant relationship with Christ.

But then my young friend approached me, seeking my opinion on the matter.

Dr. Prior,

Lately there's been a lot of discussion about whether Christianity is a religion or not. I want to be able to have an intelligible conversation if someone asks me about it, so what do you think about the issue? Would you agree with me that Christianity is, in fact, a religion, and that making it sound nicer doesn't change what it actually is?

- Levi

The e-mail included a link to the video. Now, like it or not, I needed to give the matter some thought. I responded:

Yes, Levi, Christianity is a religion.

The problem is that many people don’t know how to express the idea that Christianity is the one true religion or that it is more than a religion, so they express it in this simple way. They also feel like they should be ashamed or embarrassed about Christianity being a religion so they distance themselves from it. That’s like distancing yourself from your whole family because you have an uncle who’s a little strange sometimes. That is not only silly, but wrong.

My concern is not with the video, but rather with the larger issue of religion’s poor reputation these days. Let’s face it: religion has a bad rap. With all the god-is-not-great and delusion talk of the so-called New Atheists and the jihadists blowing things up and the political incorrectness of Western civilization in general, let’s just say religion - including Christianity - probably does need to powder her nose.

Even the framing of my friend Levi’s question - isn’t Christianity a religion and stating otherwise merely “making it sound nicer?” - presupposes that religion is a negative concept. Indeed, those of us who grew up in the anti-traditionalism of contemporary evangelicalism were indoctrinated with the mantra, “It’s not a religion; it’s a relationship.”

And it is a relationship. But to claim Christ yet deny that Christianity is my religion is to keep the baby while throwing out the baptismal waters.[[pullquote]]

For in one moment, the “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” debate was something I just wanted to ignore. But quick as an e-mail, it became something I needed to attend to because someone - my friend’s son, my student’s brother, a fellow sojourner in my religious faith, my brother in Christ - needed me to pay attention.

And this is the point of religion, a word whose root means to bind together. The notion that Christianity is just about “me and Jesus” is insufficient. Because while the church is the body, religion is the family. And a body is given life and lives most abundantly within the traditions, practices and relationships that set one family apart from another family, that make my family my family. Funny uncle and all.

(Photo courtesy of Cikproductions.)

Today::THANK YOU FOR WAITING

Peter Hoytema — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: James 5:7-11
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.
James 5:7

When our daughter turned sixteen, like many young people that age, she couldn’t wait to get her driver’s license. So we took her to get her learner’s permit. When we first arrived at the government agency, someone behind a desk gave us a slip of paper with a number on it. She told us to have a seat and wait for our number to be called.

The room was full of people, so we knew we would have to wait a while. We were there for nearly three hours! At one point, I noticed that the words “Thank you for waiting” appeared at the bottom of the slip of paper. I found it odd that someone I didn’t know was thanking me for patience I didn’t have!

Like many virtues, patience is best cultivated in situations where it is most required. Just as physical therapists teach people to do exercises that strengthen certain muscles, God gives us experiences that can enhance specific spiritual qualities. If you want (and need) to become more patient, don’t be surprised if God puts you in situations where patience is needed. That’s exactly how patience is practiced.

Times of prolonged waiting may not be fun. But the next time you have to wait, don’t focus on the inconvenience. Thank the Lord for giving you a vigorous spiritual workout session!

Prayer:

Lord, how hard it is to be patient! Help me to take advantage of the opportunities you provide to become a stronger Christian. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Walk The Way::First Fruits

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:36:26 +0000

God asks for our first fruits. Is that what you're offering? Or are you leaving Him with your leftovers?

Think Christianchildhood-obesity-systemic-sin::Childhood obesity and systemic sin

Bethany Keeley-Jonker — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:59:07 +0000

Posted on 01/17/12

A pediatric hospital in my home state of Georgia has been running an advertising campaign about childhood obesity which has ignited some controversy.

This NPR story summarizes both arguments: the ad producers point out that Georgia has the second-highest rate of childhood obesity and argue that the harsh tone is necessary for parents who are in denial about their kids' weight and its potential health effects. Others believe the tone of the ads might hurt kids who are already stigmatized for their weight. I’ve written before about what I make of the health-communication research about scare tactics in these types of ads. This controversy raises that and other issues, many of which are important for Christians.

Of course Christians should be concerned about what experts have called a health crisis. When Paul wrote, “Don’t you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” he wasn’t addressing obesity, but it seems to apply. We should care for our bodies because they are given to us by God. We should be concerned with helping others to stay healthy as well.

We must also be careful, though, to not make people who are already alienated by society feel worse. We should also avoid emphasizing thinness as the only sign of healthfulness, which can encourage eating disorders and exercise disorders or just too much focus on our own and others' appearance. TC contributor Caryn Rivadeniera wrote about that very issue last year at Her.meneutics. We need to be careful to balance helping people feel they can take control of their weight by changing their habits and not making people feel ashamed about their bodies. I worry these Georgia ads lean too hard on making kids and parents feel ashamed.

Additionally, when a problem like childhood obesity grows at the rate it has in contemporary America, it's necessary to think about whether our societal sins contribute more than individual choices. It's unlikely that so many people have just gotten lazier or more indulgent; at least some of the problem is likely a result of culture or environment.

The website associated with this campaign points to some of the usual suspects (junk food, screen time replacing physical activity), but ignores some of the potential causes at a social level (fewer green spaces, loss of recess and PE time in public schools, parents working too many hours to prepare healthy meals and snacks). Individual solutions are easier to implement, but I think we have a temptation to assume thin people are more virtuous, when the biology and sociology of the situation is a lot more complicated.[[pullquote]]

As Christians, we have a lot of theological concepts that help us hold these two issues in tension with each other. A systemic view of sin helps us get beyond the complex question of fault. If we think of our entire world as broken by sin, then obesity is a combination of the specific consequences of individual sin and the general consequences of living in an imperfect world. We can understand it as just another problem we must address with the grace and mercy that God extends to all of us, in our communal and individual sinfulness. This doesn't mean we can't help people live healthier lives, but it also means we must approach obesity like any other problem - with humility, empathy and love before judgment.

The even tougher question is: how does that look? What should the church do to love and help its own members and others who are overweight or obese?

(Image courtesy of Strong4Life.)

Today::PATIENCE, FORBEARANCE

Peter Hoytema — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience …
1 Timothy 1:16

When we hear the word patience, we probably think of the virtue that enables us to wait. That’s one way of looking at it, but Spirit-led patience is also much more. Patience is longsuffering. It involves more than passive waiting; it is active forbearance. It is a deliberate willingness to put up with disagreeable things in pursuit of higher goals.

The best example of patience in the Bible is God himself. A number of times, God is described as being “slow to anger” (see Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8). This phrase captures what true patience is. Patient people do more than just wait. They actively restrain their rightful anger and frustration. For a higher purpose, they put up with things that they know are wrong.

This is the attitude our longsuffering God has toward sinful people. For Paul, the “immense patience” of Jesus meant that God put up with all his wickedness for a long time before showing mercy to him. Paul calls himself “the worst of sinners,” reflecting back on the time of his life when he persecuted Christians (see Acts 7:54-8:3). But God had other plans for Paul (Acts 9:1-31; 13:1-28:31). That could easily be the testimony of every believer.

How wonderful that God’s love rests on his own capacity for goodness, and not our own!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for being patient with us. Forgive us for all we do wrong, and help us to be living testimonies of your mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Walk The Way::Like A Child

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:35:43 +0000

"Unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." What do you think Jesus meant by that? How can we all become a bit more like little children?

Think Christianmlk-and-defying-the-most-segregated-hour::MLK and defying ‘the most segregated hour’

Kimberly Davis — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:09:12 +0000

Posted on 01/16/12

Two Athens, Ga., churches - one black, one white - came together yesterday morning to celebrate the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and Milledge Avenue Baptist Church combined for a Sunday-morning service and luncheon as a way to celebrate the federal holiday that honors the pastor and Civil Rights hero.

About 600 people packed the sanctuary at Mount Pleasant, filling the balcony and causing the ushers to bring out extra chairs. This effort to “desegregate” what King called the most segregated hour came about through conversations between the two pastors, Rev. Edward Bolen, pastor of Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, and Rev. Abraham Mosley, pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.

Athens, a city with a long history of race-related struggles that continue in varying forms today, is an ideal place for such an experiment. Mosley said he and Bolen had sought ways for the two churches - and two communities - to come together. Bolen pitched the idea of swapping pulpits and choirs. Mosley said that wasn't enough.

“We need to interact with each other and meet and greet one another,” Mosley recalled saying. “There are a lot of white people in this community who are afraid of black people and there are a lot of black people in this community who are afraid of white people.”

Mosley said one way to get over that fear - rooted in the past - was one word: unity, which was the theme of the Sunday service. “After all,” Mosley said, “we have the same message, same heaven, same God.”

Then came the idea of a Sunday afternoon special service. But that wasn't enough, either.

It was Bolen who said that Milledge Avenue wanted to close their doors on Sunday and combine with Mount Pleasant to worship and fellowship on Sunday and serve the city of Athens on Monday, the official Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The vote by the church’s governing board was unanimous.

“If this is really real and really important to overcome some of these barriers, let’s come together and come out of our comfort zones,” Bolen said.

When Sunday morning came, the worshipers came, too. The mood was celebratory and reverent, members of both congregations made a conscious effort to sit in an unfamiliar place next to an unfamiliar face to worship a very familiar God.

The unity began in earnest with the opening praise team of members from both congregations. Throughout the service, speakers made considerable efforts to acknowledge the bumpy road of the past and present and honestly engage the present and future about how to overcome barriers to unity.

The blended worship styles were on full display, as the choir from Milledge Avenue sang the Negro spiritual, “My Lord What a Morning.”

Rev. Claude McBride, pastor emeritus of Milledge Avenue, set the tone with a challenge for the congregations to have a “mountaintop experience.” Mount Pleasant member Derica Laramore, a senior at Emory University, performed a monologue that echoed Dr. King's most famous speech. She asked the congregants to accept applause for living out Dr. King’s dream that - on this day - saw “the sons of slaves and the sons of former slave owners to come together” for Sunday morning worship.

Deacon Willie Hull of Mount Pleasant put the day in perspective after congregants from both churches had dined together. “We accomplished what we set out to accomplish,” he said. “We lived the dream.”

“Today is one of the greatest days in our history,” said Mary Louise Hill, a deacon at Milledge Avenue. “Today will become an historic day depending on what we do after today.”

Mosley said perhaps next year, Mount Pleasant will close its doors and worship at Milledge Avenue. This is just the beginning. Both pastors said the same thing when asked what Dr. King would say about the Sunday service: “It's about time.”

(Photo courtesy of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.)

Today::CHANNELS OF PEACE

Peter Hoytema — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Colossians 3:15

Are you familiar with the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi? It begins with the words “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” Then it describes some ways we can spread God’s peace around us: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”

This beautiful prayer reminds us of the role we have as Christians. Like all of God’s blessings, the gift of peace is not intended to be something we keep to ourselves. God, who has made peace with a rebellious creation through the death of Jesus (see Colossians 1:19-20), calls us to be peacemakers in his world.

This is a striking testimony to God’s willingness to stoop down to our level. Cosmic peace has been secured by God in Christ, yet God tells us to “let the peace of Christ rule.” How incredibly humble of God to place the advancement of his peace in our hands.

Of course, God doesn’t require our help to do his work in the world. But he wants us to participate in the glory of Christ’s rule over creation. He wants us to live up to the high calling of peacemaking.

Is there someone God is waiting for you to make peace with?

Prayer:

Lord, the only peace we can share with others is the peace you have first given us. Increase our desire to see your peace flow out of us to bless a hurting world. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Today::PEACE

Peter Hoytema — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:4-7
The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

Philippians is sometimes called one of Paul’s “prison letters.” That’s because Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned, probably in Rome (see Philippians 1:12-14). While the details of Paul’s imprisonment are sketchy, it probably was similar to what we would call “house arrest” today. Acts 28:16-31 describes the situation. Despite being bound with chains, Paul was able to share the gospel during his two-year imprisonment in Rome.

Even though Paul enjoyed some freedom while living under house arrest, he was carefully guarded by a Roman soldier. Paul was probably chained to whoever was responsible for guarding him. That’s helpful to know, because when Paul writes about the peace of God that “guards” our hearts, he uses a word that was common in military jargon. Paul may have been chained to a soldier, but he was also connected to a much higher authority. Paul belonged to God and was protected by the peace of God.

God gives his people that same peace to today. That’s why so many believers feel protected and at ease in situations that would otherwise make them feel worried and discouraged.

Are you feeling anxious and afraid today? The peace of Jesus is available to help (see John 14:27). He cares for you and wants you to have peace.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, grant us your peace. Thank you for providing it. We surely need it. Keep us close to you so that we will always feel protected by the power of your love. Amen.

Peter Hoytema

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/120.MP3::The Scales of a Cheat

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:00:46 +0000

Liz has a major problem. Should he cheat to get the “A” he wants so much? Help Liz decide on this week’s Kids Corner.

Today::THE SECRET TO JOYFULNESS

Peter Hoytema — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
Rejoice always.
1 Thessalonians 5:16

Our verse for today is one of the shortest in the Bible. But what a big message these two words convey!

This verse is a command, which means joy is not optional for Christians. Joyless Christians are disobedient Christians. Not only that, this verse tells us to rejoice always. But how can we possibly do that?

The main thing to consider is the source of our joy. Sometimes we’re tempted to think that the level of our joy is directly related to the situation we are in. The more pleasant our environment, the greater our joy will be. The problem with that way of thinking is that we can’t always choose or control our circumstances. Our health may decline; we may lose our job; a loved one may pass away. What’s more, there’s no guarantee that a happy environment will always produce a happy heart. The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said there are two sources of unhappiness in life: the first is not getting what you want, and the second is getting it.

The only reliable source of joy is Jesus Christ. The external realities of our lives will change, but the internal reality of having Jesus dwell in our hearts never changes.

If we stay connected to Jesus, the command to be joyful takes care of itself.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to see our relationship with you as the most important part of our lives, and to find joy in you despite difficult circumstances. Thank you for your faithful love. In your name, Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Walk The Way::Just Be there

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:34:25 +0000

If we want to reach the world for Christ, it begins simply: with being a trustworthy friend for those who need it most. Who can you do that for?

Groundwork::Hope

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:00:53 +0000

Hope is in short supply today. The world is unstable, with terrorism and war looming large. If that isn’t enough to chill your hope, consider the current state of the economy. Or look at the smaller world of your own life: family problems, health problems, money problems; suffering in mind, body and spirit. And if things are going pretty well for you at the moment, just remember: none of us is getting out of this alive. Does it make sense to have hope in a world like ours? Can we have any kind of real personal hope even in the face of inevitable death?

Think Christianexperiencing-gods-creation-with-whatever-hes-given-us::Experiencing God’s creation with whatever He’s given us

Tracy Kiel — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:36:43 +0000

Posted on 01/13/12

I remember one day in my high-school psychology class, during a unit on sensory perception, my teacher asked the class a question: “If you had to make a choice between being blind or being deaf, what would you choose?”

The question held little interest for me, but I was intrigued by the responses. Along with two others, I chose blindness. The rest of the class said they would prefer to be deaf. The three of us who chose blindness were all active musicians and participated in band and choir.

I suppose now, if someone asked me what sense is most important to me, I would initially be tempted to choose hearing. Not only do I enjoy music as entertainment, but I am also a music therapist. I utilize music to help people reach non-musical goals and objectives. I help people with dementia reminisce and socialize with each other using music. I have created musical mnemonics for high-school students with cognitive impairments to help them learn to tell time by using lyric rewrites of ‘N Sync and Britney Spears songs. I have helped people with Parkinson’s disease maintain their level of independence by improving their gait patterns utilizing strategically placed sounds and beats. Music is not just a diversion for me; I have witnessed the differences it can make in people’s lives.

Not being able to hear would be devastating to me. I would not only miss the tones in music, but I would miss the tone in a friend’s voice, a tone that conveys an emotion that one can sometimes hide on a face. I would miss the sound of a baby’s laugh, the rush of the wind in the Colorado Rockies, the blast of a horn when the Vikings score a touchdown, the sound of shifting sheets of ice on a Minnesota lake in the winter or the call of the loon on the same lake in the summer. I can’t imagine what it would be like not to hear.

However, upon further reflection, I cannot imagine being without any of the senses I have. I wouldn’t want to lack the sense of smell: the smell of Dutch apple pie in the oven, burgers on the grill, fresh cut grass, the air before it rains or the scent of an old book. I cannot imagine being without the sense of taste: the taste of juicy steak, a sip of single-barrel Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey or the first sip of morning coffee. I cannot imagine lacking my sense of touch: a back rub, a passionate kiss, an empathetic hug from a friend, the softness of a puppy or the sifting sand on a beach. Indeed, I would have a difficult time if I lost any of my senses. I truly cannot choose one of greater importance over the others.

I can, however, choose one I could live without. My choice remains the same as my answer in high school. I can easily live without sight, as I have been totally blind my entire life. People often ask me things like, “Don’t you wish you could see?” or, “Wasn’t it hard growing up and being blind?” My answer is, “No.” I often have a difficult time conveying the fact that I honestly, genuinely, really don’t care that I can’t see, and it doesn’t bother me as I know no other way. An astronaut could just as well ask me, “What’s it like for you never to have walked on the moon? Was it hard for you as a child, knowing others had walked on the moon and you couldn’t? If you could pay a million dollars some day, would you consider a space voyage if there was a 50-percent chance you could walk on the moon … or a 90-percent chance?”

The reality is that it’s hard to miss things when we haven’t experienced them in the first place. Perhaps other blind people feel differently. Perhaps I would feel differently if I had my sight, then lost it. I can only speak from my own personal perspective. I write as I know and from what I perceive, and I perceive through the senses I possess — not just the four I mentioned, but others as well, like balance, pain, temperature and pressure.

I believe God gave us the senses we need to perceive the world he created, to increase our knowledge of Him and to glorify Him. That is the beauty of the senses: we get to use them to experience God and His creation, and God equips us individually with what He knows we need.

(Photo courtesy of iStockphoto.)

Under the Radar::Episode #166 - Best Gourmet Songs of 2011 - Part 2

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:30:51 +0000

Enjoy more Critics' Picks of the most creative and compelling songs over the last 12 months.

Today::JOY

Peter Hoytema — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-6
You welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 1:6

In his book Loving God Up Close, Calvin Miller admits that there have been times when he has gone to church with a critical spirit. On those Sunday mornings, nothing seems right. There are spelling mistakes in the bulletin. Singers in the choir hit wrong notes. The minister makes too many grammatical errors and should have spent more time in study before preaching his sermon.

Are you honest enough to admit that sometimes you have gone to church in that kind of mood—“snarling and growling” in the presence of God, as Miller describes it? If so, you know how important it is to have the Holy Spirit produce joy in your heart. Paul noticed that the believers in Thessalonica had the joy given by the Holy Spirit. This kind of joy touches our hearts in places that disappointment cannot reach. If this deep joy was more powerful than the severe suffering the Thessalonians experienced, it’s certainly strong enough to conquer our minor complaints and crankiness.

That’s what Miller says happens whenever he goes to church in the wrong frame of mind. The worship service gets better as it moves along—not because it’s being improved but because he is. That’s how God has designed worship to work. As we give God glory, God gives us joy.

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, for giving us joy. Help us to submit more and more to you so that the Holy Spirit will increase our joy in you. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Peter Hoytema

Under the Radar::UTR Sponsoring a Hymns Tour

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:00:22 +0000

We think hymns are really important, and their messages should be carried on for generations. That's one reason why we produce episodes a couple times per year featuring updated renderings of classic hymns. We're taking it up a notch by sponsoring The Angel Band Tour - a celebration of hymns both old and new. Nashville indie artist Andrew Greer will be releasing his sophomore CD on 1/31/12 called Angel Band: The Hymn Sessions. We talked last summer about sponsoring a hymn-themed tour which would include his friend (and another gourmet indie artist) Julie Lee. A 3rd backing musician will tag along too -- so it'll be a multi-instrument musical smorgasbord! The main stretch of the tour will be a Chicago-area trip, March 9-18. Over the next 2 weeks, we are filling in the calendar with concerts in churches, retirement homes, living rooms, and businesses. If you are near the CHI, and are interested in hosting The Angel Band Tour, write an email directly to me: Dave@radarradio.net - and I'll fill you in on the details. UTR is sponsoring more than just the Chicago trip. In fact, if your church or group would be interested in hosting some down-home remakes of hymns, spirituals, and some original songs - email me where you are located and some info about your venue and how many people you think would attend. There are costs involved with every concert, but UTR is covering a chunk of them - so it's definitely less expensive than if you were trying to organize this on your own. We'll be filling in spot dates across the country in February, March, & April. We're hoping to lock in the calendar in the next 2 weeks, so if you're interested or want more info, get in touch on the quick side of things.

Walk The Way::Accountable

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:33:34 +0000

We all have flaws, secrets, sins--a dark side that we try to hide from the world. As you start the new year, who can you go to to find some accountability?

Think Christiana-heavenly-first-computer::A heavenly first computer

Laura Muresan — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Posted on 01/12/12

As I successfully Google obscurities such as "How to make soap from raccoon fat" or soak up rare video footage of Fritz Wunderlich (my favorite classical singer, dead 50 years), I marvel at the Internet. Submitting to its many charms, I feign productivity, wishing I inclined as naturally to stewardship of hours and minutes as I do to dollars and cents.

While others debate the relative merits of iPhones versus Androids, I have barely an inkling what they do. A Blackberry, to me, ripens mid-June, along a forest's southern faces, waiting to be plucked into my upcycled tin bucket. Among the rapidly dwindling 10 percent of Americans lacking a mobile phone, I cling to a bare-bones AT&T landline. Call me and - without the benefit of voicemail or call waiting - you may hear an anachronistic busy signal or endless ringing. I resisted home Internet access until my online business, Laura's Last Ditch, outgrew the public library's computer lab.

My Grandma, too, resisted the digital age. On Thanksgiving Day, she scarcely noticed the oversized computer monitor atop her vintage metal desk (Grandma's parties are BYOT, with 'T' signifying Technology). My mom, well aware of Grandma's technophobic tendencies, lured her into the office, ostensibly to see my blog. She spurned the computer, though, until a mere touch to the prominently placed 'plus' icon enlarged the print to a manageable size. No ordinary machine, the AARP magazine advertised this WOW! computer for seniors new to Web navigation. Realizing it belonged to her - a surprise gift - my Grandma said, "I'm just not sure about this. I try to be a good steward of my time."

Nevertheless, the family gathered, sharing favorite YouTube videos: Susan Boyle's stunning TV debut; Danny Macaskill's acrobatic bike stunts, Paul Potts singing opera. We Googled Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a malady afflicting an honorary grandchild. Growing interested, yet not fully convinced, we signed her up for Facebook. She beheld endearing photos of great-grandchildren in fleeting stages of babyhood and clips of a just-celebrated Thanksgiving dinner at the in-laws' - a virtual family reunion. Won over, my Grandmother exclaimed, "Wow! So this is what I've been missing!"

While pondering the Internet's magnificence, I consider how, some day, when we see Heaven, we likewise will exclaim, "So this is what we've been missing!" We will see not only the dearly departed, but our Savior, Jesus Christ - no longer through a glass, darkly, but face to face. (Take that, Facebook!)

Though I enjoy the Internet, perhaps a little too much, I recall my wise Grandmother's admonition about stewardship of time, knowing I must answer to the same Jesus for how I've spent mine. I resolve to do better, yet fail miserably. Thank God, the same Jesus, who could condemn us, owns a love more personal than Facebook, wiser than Wikipedia and vaster than Google.

WOW!

(Photo courtesy of iStockphoto.)

Walk The Way::Alone

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:33:50 +0000

Loneliness is a difficult and often destructive emotion. If you're feeling alone, take comfort in this: Christ has been where you are, and He is with you now.

Walk The Way::Who’s Your Family?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:32:12 +0000

We all experience righteous anger when someone in our family is wronged. But that begs the question: who is your family?

Under the Radar::Andrew Peterson - “The Reckoning”

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:25:10 +0000

Andrew Peterson (and the Captains Courageous) perform his 2010 song "The Reckoning (How Long)" from his critically-acclaimed album "Counting Stars" at a private event at the UTR Studios in Palos Heights, IL on 10/7/10.

Walk The Way::Look The Other Way

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:31:25 +0000

Has God put anything in front of you that He wants you to engage? As this new year dawns, choose to stop looking the other way.

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/172.MP3::Attitude of Gratitude

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:00:58 +0000

Lucille islooking for an idea for her next article for the Terrene Gazette.

Walk The Way::A Story of Hope

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:30:58 +0000

Gabrielle Giffords' story is one of tragedy and sadness, but ultimately, one of hope. So is God's story. This year, will you live your life in the power, courage, and strength of the hope of the Gospel?

Groundwork::Faith

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:00:12 +0000

“Have Faith.” “Don’t lose faith.” We use phrases like these to comfort and encourage each other all the time. As Christians, faith is a huge part of our religion. But what exactly IS faith and how do we get it?

Under the Radar::Episode #165 - Best Gourmet Songs of 2011 - Part 1

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:30:02 +0000

Hear some of our Top Gourmet Songs of 2011, a few bands that made the list are The City Harmonic, Gungor and Switchfoot.

Under the Radar::Critics Picks - Best Gourmet Songs of 2011

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:29:38 +0000

We've had a record-breaking response and great interaction about last week's release of UTR's Top 11 Gourmet Albums of 2011. We also asked our panel of critics to choose their individual Top 6 Gourmet Songs of 2011. These are purely subjective choices on what was the most artistic, meaningful, & poignant tracks from last year -- even if not the most "popular." Since individual choices vary wider, we are listing all the choices instead of one collaborative list. Without further ado, here are the Top Gourmet Songs of 2011. [Song qualifies for consideration if from a Christian songwriter/artist and was released between 11/30/10-11/30/11.] DAVE TROUT "Farther Along" - Josh Garrels "Where I Belong" - Switchfoot "I Will Find A Way" - Jason Gray "Song For the Suburbs" - Ben Rector "On The Alter of Love" - Downhere "Faint Not" - Jenny & Tyler AMBER BOLTON "Let Me Feel You Shine" - David Crowder Band "Intermission" - Sleeping At Last "Seen A Darkness" - John Mark McMillan "Keep Your Eyes Open" - Needtobreathe "Remind Me Who I Am" - Jason Gray "All The Poor and Powerless" - All Sons and Daughters ANDREW GREER "Mystery" - Sara Groves "Only God Can Save Us Now" - Over the Rhine "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" - Cindy Morgan "Lay My Burden Down" - Alison Krauss & Union Station "Why" - The Isaacs "The Song" - Ginny Owens JEN ROSE "Nothing Is Wasted" - Jason Gray "Farther Along" - Josh Garrels "All My Favorite People" - Over the Rhine "Listen!" - Ben Shive "Love You Swore" - John Mark McMillan "Where I Belong" - Switchfoot JEREMY GUDAUSKAS "Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars "Faint Not" - Jenny and Tyler "Dark Horses" - Switchfoot "Fire and Dynamite" - Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors "Rave On" - Over the Rhine "Birthright" - Sleeping At Last KEVIN DAVIS "How Emptiness Sings" - Christa Wells "Obsolete" - Sara Groves "Down Here" - Shaun Groves "Spirit Speaks" - Know Hope Collective/All Sons & Daughters "Drive All Night" - Needtobreathe "Ready to Save" - Satellites & Sirens RUSS BREIMEIER "Blessings" - Laura Story "Do Everything" - Steven Curtis Chapman "Restless" - Switchfoot "Spark" - The City Harmonic "Eyes on the Prize" - Sara Groves "Remind Me Who I Am" - Jason Gray DAVE WONDERS "Farther Along" - Josh Garrels "Ezekiel" - Gungor "Daylight" - John Mark McMillan "All the Poor and Powerless" - Sons and Daughters "Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars "Slumber" - Needtobreathe RACHEL BUCHANAN "Sheet of Night" - John Mark McMillan "God is Still God" - Heather Williams "Radiant Sun" - Brandon Bee "I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)" - The City Harmonic "Running Back to You" - Matt Wertz "Remind Me Who I Am" - Jason Gray JJ THOMPSON "All My Favorite People Are Broken" - Over the Rhine "Cardboard Box" - Glenn Kaiser "My Only Love" - Matt Maher "Goodnight Old World" - Emmylou Harris "Devil's Been Talkin" - Needtobreathe "All Over the Earth" - Leeland Are your top picks for the best songs of 2011 reflected on this list? What would you add to these selections? If you like cherry-picking some of the best songs off of iTunes, now you have a helpful guide of over 50 incredible songs to consider. Also, make sure to listen to UTR episodes #165 & #166 as we spotlight many of these Top Gourmet Songs of the Year.

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/176.MP3::Be Content

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:00:16 +0000

What exactly does the command to “Be Content” mean? Join Liz and his friends as they present two plays on how to be content on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundwork::The Christian Virtues

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:09 +0000

What makes a good person? Not quite the same as asking what makes a person good. A person becomes good by doing good things, but a good person is someone who has mastered the art of living well and has learned what it means to be a proper human being. What qualifications do we use to decide whether a person is“good”? Let’s talk about virtues.

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/Christmas.MP3::Mary’s Miracle

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:00:03 +0000

Have you ever wondered what Mary thought about the very first Christmas? Was she scared? Excited? Happy? Listen to Mary’s Miracle on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundwork::Facts & the First Christmas, part 2

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:00:05 +0000

Historian Dr. Paul Maier and Dave Bast continue their exploration of the story of the first Christmas, discussing the places where tradition stays true to or diverged from the biblical account.

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/273.MP3::Beyond Belief

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 11:00:26 +0000

What if you had been there the night Jesus was born? Join Liz on the road to Bethlehem on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundwork::Facts & the First Christmas, part 1

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:00:15 +0000

Historian Dr. Paul Maier joins Dave Bast to separate fact from fantasy as we explore the story of the first Christmas.

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/216.MP3::Merry X-Monsters

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:00:17 +0000

What’s the true meaning of Christmas? Help Liz figure out how to celebrate the birth of our Savior on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundwork::You Asked! (Part 2)

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:00:29 +0000

We are thankful for the listeners who write letters, post questions on our Facebook page, and email us. On this week’s program we’ll dig into scripture together to answer some of the questions you’ve asked Groundwork.

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/215.MP3::The Knights Before Christmas

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:00:23 +0000

Are we really supposed to help everyone? Even if they are not Christians? Check out who deserves our help on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundwork::You Asked! (Part 1)

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:00:11 +0000

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/179.MP3::It’s A Givin’ Thing

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:00:19 +0000

What is the best gift to give to a special friend? Help Liz discover the perfect gift on this week’s Kids Corner.

Groundwork::The New Creation

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:00:07 +0000

The Christian promise of heaven has been criticized as "pie-in-the-sky" escapism used to justify the status quo. Talk to more than one Christian and you might even get different understandings of what Heaven really is. So how does the Bible describe heaven? Is there a difference between what heaven is now and what heaven will be when Christ returns? Special Guest: Nathan L.K. Bierma, author

http://kidscorner.net/podcasts/134.MP3::God Prints

feeds@reframe-media.com — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:00:31 +0000

Strange things are happening at Liz’s Detective Agency. Help Liz solve these perplexing mysteries on this week’s Kids Corner.