C-Span and the Iowa Caucuses

I wrote a post a year ago about loving C-Span.

Tonight, I reiterate my appreciation for The Span.

Love The Span.

Right now, the Iowa Caucuses are taking place to begin the process of determining the candidates for the US Presidential race for 2008. Instead of watching the Spin on the network TVs, I'm watching The Span of Precinct 53 in Des Moines, IA.

It's hand counts and winter coats. It is bumbling, honest, reasonable, and technically incompetent.

I love it.

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May Your Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven...

Laurel and I are looking forward to the new year by taking joy in the hope and peace that come from Jesus. Personally, I'm thankful to God for the Bible - because the Scriptures *alone* inform me that this hope and peace is a real option.

Why do I say that?

Just now, I clicked onto a particular Newspaper and saw the following six headlines (There were no others. These were the only headlines on the page!)

Father Murders Daughter.
61 Year Old hacked to death.
Punched and robbed for his mobile.
Pilot fears runway falls short.
Israeli embassy evacuated.
Victim's family grieve over hit and run.

Hooley Dooley.

'Happy New Year' seems pretty glib in the face of that news.

Maranatha seems far more appropriate, don't you think?

(At least the cricket is going well... unless you are from India.)

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Pic on Flickr by ie-fotografie.

LOL

Click for Facebook for Seniors.

H/T Hamish M

...read, mark, learn and inwardly digest...

A Prayer for the Second Sunday in Advent:

Blessed Lord, you have caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning, grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, so that, encouraged and supported by your holy Word, we may embrace and always hold fast the joyful hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

(BCP, Advent 2)

We'll be praying that prayer tomorrow at Church. But, secretly, I'm hoping, as a prayer, that it carries through for a lifetime.

Do you have any set prayers that you hold close to your heart? Perhaps from the Bible, or from a book of common prayer.

Justin.


PS I asked The Little Man tonight: "Why did Jesus die?" And he answered: "Um. Because the leaders didn't want Lazarus to be King."

Close, Boy, but no donut.

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Pic on Flickr by YanivG

The phone rings. It’s the cops.

UPDATE:

I have taken down this post. People keep doing Google and other searches for 'Bruce and Ida Albert' and keep finding this Blog. I don't want this to be of concern to anyone.

Please email me and let me know if there is any problem here. jmoff/hotmail/com

Regards, Justin.

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Pic on Flickr by Rob Mutch

On Careerism (Link to David Lapp)

David Lapp is a student and a member of our church. He has become a friend of ours, along with many of the students at Christ Church NYC. David is a gentleman and a scholar, as they say. But more important, he is a servant of Jesus.

I encourage you to click HERE to his latest post about Careerism. The post is called: "Career is overrated", in which I quote:

Career is not so important as attention to the really human things of life: loving, creating, caring, giving. Attention to the Good, the True, and the Beautiful is infinitely more important than scoring that great job. Jobs are good; but being human is even more important. So here’s a wild idea: perhaps loving your roommate, next-door neighbor, coworker, boss, sibling, parent, friend, spouse is more important than getting a great job.

And he concludes:

Career is overrated. Faithfulness is what matters. Love God, love people. In all your typing, reading, writing, teaching, playing, eating, talking, producing, serving--in all these things, pay attention to the important things of life.

The writer of Ecclesiastes, should he be alive today, would be making comments on David's Blog about some similar thoughts that he gained in his grand project to find something of substance in a world that feels so transient and unpredictable and uncontrollable. 'Find satisfaction in your job' (if you can), he'd say, and 'enjoy life with your wife' (if you have one). This is good, he'd comment, but when all is said and done, he has got one simple refection: 'Fear God, and keep his commands.' For, he would say, 'this is the whole duty of man'.

Head on over to his Blog and make a comment (he'd like that).

And also - can you pray for our students at Christ Church? There are about 50 students connected or committed to our ministry. And most are doing Finals right now...

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Pic on Flickr by prettyscary.

1967 looking into the future...

This is the first time I've seen this. Snopes tells me that this video is true, not fake. It was filmed in 1967. It anticipates shopping from a home computer, online bill paying and e-mail. Snopes points out something else obvious, but worth saying:

The video exemplifies the common flaw of anticipating technological changes but not societal changes -- the daily life it depicts is firmly rooted in the mid-20th century American model of women as stay-at-home child rearers and shoppers, and men as breadwinners and heads of household. Apparently women in 1999 still wouldn't be up to handling tasks such as banking, bill-paying and tax preparation, even with the help of electronic devices.

Thoughts?

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On Hillsong, Discernment and Bribery in the Police Force

Here's a thought.

Everyone who has heard of Hillsong Church in Sydney has an opinion of them. Even Americans do. Maybe that will always be the case. They have grand plans, and anyone with grand plans must allow for rigorous and public scrutiny. The Sydney Anglican Diocese certainly cops it. And perhaps this is a good thing.

Let me say upfront: I certainly have problems with the Hillsong movement. I always have. This is not new or a surprise to those who have known me. I used to be militant in my critique of them. I have mellowed a little over the years, thinking soberly of Paul's comment in 1 Corinthians 3 that 'God judges each person's work', and 'the day bringing it to light.' I also found helpful Jeremiah 23:28-29:

Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD. "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

But at the same time, I've been realizing that many people I know have recently been giving Hillsong a free pass . And that's partly because they simply love the music. And they are tired of the critique. And they are willing to forgive a whole lot for the wonder of the 'worship experience'.

So what is my problem with Hillsong?

It isn't that they are always doctrinally incorrect (They aren't, and I have heard a sermon from the youth team that was a good and valid exegesis of Romans 7). It isn't just the money and prosperity stuff (although there are major major issues here.) It isn't that they aren't passionate and it isn't that there aren't great people there (there are many many wonderful people serving there). And it certainly isn't that 'they' don't believe in the Gospel (the ones I know who go there do.)

Here is my biggest problem:

Lack of discernment.

I've been a few times. I've got great friends who are or who have been there. I've read lots, and listened to their messages. I may be wrong, and am happy to be corrected, but one week you'll receive something good; the next, something weird. At one conference, you'll get a good speaker; then next up someone odd. One week, you'll get the promises about prosperity, with verses (used spuriously) to introduce a giving time; the next nothing on the topic. One week will be about Jesus' death, then next will be all about You.

I think that this accounts for some of the confusion we have. It is also a reason many are giving them a free pass. You'll hear people say that it was good when they visited Hillsong, and that they heard nothing inappropriate. And then someone else will go another week, and they will recount some theological and pastoral horror story. You'll go to the conference and hear relatively orthodox speakers like Bill Hybels, and then you'll get TD Jakes! You'll get some music that has little substance, and then some that elevates Christ and his blood shed on the Cross. You'll get great work with the poor, and then news of an investment scandal.

I had some correspondence recently with a friend who is very sympathetic to Hillsong who said that they have heard 4 Hillsong sermons, of which 3 were good, and one dismal. (And by dismal, I don't mean boring).

Now, I don't think that our meetings are always theological and pastorally good. Not at all. I know profoundly how much we get it wrong, and it pains me when we do. But if discernment goes out the door -- in favor of passion and music and the elation -- then the game is over.

Here is the thing: To me, lack of discernment in a church is like bribery in the police force. If you tolerate it at any level, the whole organization becomes tainted. Even the good parts. And that makes me more sad than it does mad.

Hopefully every movement's excesses will be curbed by increasing accountability.

Happy to be challenged on this. (But no anonymous comments allowed on this one)

In line...

Hmmm. There is an election on today in Australia. Personally, I like how the Prime Minister has to get in line to vote like everyone else (He's the dude the the tie on, with the Liberal Party How-to-Vote Card in his hand).

My wife and I voted on Monday on 42nd St in Manhattan with our friend Rhys Bezzant. This was Laurel's first vote as a dual citizen of the USA and Australia. We had a meal afterwards at Pershing Square at Grand Central. Seriously good burgers.

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Great Quote

I ended ENGAGE '07 with this quote. It's a beauty:

"God give me a deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love and single eye, and then let men or devils do their worst."

George Whitfield

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How do you answer this?

I'm changing The Boy's name on the Blog. From now on, he shall be called "The Little Man". And the Girl shall be called: "The Little Lady".

Quote The Little Man:

“I don’t know how to be angry (Shrugs Shoulders, arms out). Daddy could you teach me how to be angry?"

How do you answer a question like this?

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Movies about Grace? I count three.

I do not think that it is an overstatement for me to type that most movies are, in the end, really just about Christianity: They usually trace the main motifs that belong to the God and Father of Jesus Christ: love, justice, redemption, hope, fidelity. Even if these sweet intangibles are portrayed negatively, I find that the plot and themes of most movies are still, as they say during election times, 'on message'.

However, there are only three movies that I can recall where the dominant motif is 'Grace':

1. Babette's Feast. (A Danish film)
2. The Widow of Saint Pierre. (A French Canadian Film)
3. The Lives of Others. (A German Film)

The Lives of Others is a subtitled film set in East Germany in 1984. I just finished it now, and I am in tears. Maybe it's the Jet-Lag. Maybe it's because Grace is life to the body and soul.

The Apostle John says: (John 1)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Incidentally, on Rotten Tomatoes, these three films are reviewed as 100%, 90% and 93% repectively. I wonder if Grace is what our universe needs most. And in particular, the Grace of God.

Have I missed another 'Grace' film?
Is my observation correct?

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Cures for Jet Lag??

What are the cures for Jet-Lag?

We've had a great time in Sydney. I came out for the Engage conference, and then had a great time with family and friends. We are flying out and, God willing, will be in NYC on Saturday. We are itching to see everyone at church on Sunday.

But, how to get over Jet-Lag?

I have the ONLY cure.

See the comments.

In the meantime, a pictorial memoir...

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"Jesus made me into a Puzzle"

OK. Get this:

Mom:
Who made you?
The Boy:
Jesus made me. Yes. Jesus made me into a puzzle and broke me into pieces and then put me back together in pieces that belong to Jesus.

Hmmm.

People say that kids only parrot what their parents say. But I can tell you right now, we have never said that to him. But the Bible says something like it:

Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

I'm glad he was baptized.

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In Transit

This YouTube is interesting.

What happens if the government puts a curfew on flight paths? Let's say... nothing before 6AM and nothing after 11PM? The answer is that all the world's airlines travelling to that city have to time their flights to land on or after 6AM.

In a few hours, we'll be sitting on that Qantas flight coming from LA.



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'How to destroy a church.'

I'm still taking a break, but I can let you know what's happening on Sunday, right?

I'vejust realized that I'm speaking on 'How to destroy a church' from 1 Corinthians 3.

I've don't think that I've ever done that before.

I hope no one takes my advice.

:)

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When suffering knocks at your door...

I'm still taking a break, but I can offer you a quote, right?

When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.

Chinua Achebe -- Nigerian poet.

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Pic by Sizima.

Four Studies on Deuteronomy 5-8

I'm still taking a break, but I can upload, right?

Would you like a set of Bible Studies for your Home Group? Four Studies on Deuteronomy 5-8? They are not the 'ask 10 questions' kind of Bible Studies. And some of it may need explaining. So feel free to contact me if you have any questions...

Deuteronomy5-8_Studies.pdf
(Let me know if it doesn't open, I can email it to you.)

There is one sermon that goes with it on Deuteronomy 6 that you can download HERE.

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Pic by maruchan313

Amusing Ourselves on Sunday...

I'm still taking a break from Blogging, but I can cut'n'paste, can't I?

I'm preaching on Sunday at Church on 1 Corinthians 3. In that Chapter, Paul warns those who like to pursue preachers for their sophistry and wise-sounding words:

V18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.

I wonder whether our 'age' is not about sounding 'wise' but it is about being entertaining and 'holding attention' (maybe we aren't into sophistry) . If that were the case -- and I don't yet assume it is -- could we rephrase V18 thus? --

V18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is entertaining by the standards of this age, he should become "un-entertaining" so that he may become compelling.

I wonder if this is a possible application. And I wonder how we would actually do it (some of us wouldn't have to try too hard). I wonder how Paul expected leaders in Corinth to become a 'fool' (which is as odd as my rephrasing, let's face it).

All this comes because I read both Chapter 3 at the same time as THIS helpful article from CT. The writer assumes that Narrative (the narrative of the Gospel) is the antidote to preaching in an age of entertainment. Here is a quote:

To be sure, the church ministers in the entertainment culture, so it must find ways of arresting attention, engaging, inspiring, and motivating audiences immersed in this culture. It must also resist the insidious nature of entertainment discourse, which demands fragmentation, while having confidence that it offers something more engaging than entertainment: narrative. (...)

Let's not fill the church with collaborators. Let's join the resistance, a resistance that, if successful, will allow people to cohere and flourish in ways our culture can hardly imagine.

Do you wish to join the resistance?

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A Break from Blogging.

Just to give you the heads up: I probably won't be posting for a while. Maybe the odd thing or two. I have just got too much to do before we leave for our antipodean trip in a few weeks. Pray for me, if you can. And pray for the Engage conference in Katoomba-- 4 weeks to go.

In the meantime, I leave you with the movie quote that inspired the name of this Blog:

"I guess that's the way the whole durned human comedy keeps perpetuatin' it-self, down through the generations, westward the wagons, across the sands a time until-- aw, look at me, I'm ramblin' again. Wel, uh hope you folks enjoyed yourselves."

Don't forget me, when I come back postin'.