make here.

The new project, Make Here, from Highland Park’s own Stanhope is by far their best effort to date. The four high school juniors have written, both musically and lyrically, an EP to be proud of. Make Here is pregnant with lyrical reflections and musical melodies far beyond what one would expect from such a young band. The album conveys a meaning that, while often times we can get caught longing for tomorrow or sometimes a completely different reality, here is where we are and here is where we must live and act. Expect to discover themes of honesty, regret, purpose, and hope  as well as explosions of sounds that will only leave you wanting to roll down your windows and drive literally nowhere. Go buy it on iTunes. It’s only $4.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=334494915&s=143441

foolishness skate project.

tribulation.

My own experience is something like this. I am progressing along the path of life in my ordinary contentedly fallen and godless condition, absorbed in a merry meeting with my friends for the morrow or a bit of work that tickles my vanity today, a holiday or a new book, when suddenly a stab of abdominal pain that threatens serious disease, or a headline in the newspapers that threatens us all with destruction, sends this whole pack of cards tumbling down. At first I am overwhelmed, and all my happinesses look like broken toys. Then, slowly and reluctantly, bit by bit, I try to bring myself into the frame of mind that I should be in at all times. I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world and my only real treasure is Christ. And perhaps, by God’s grace, I succeed, and for a day or two become a creature consciously dependent on God and drawing its strength from the right sources. But the moment the threat is withdrawn, my whole nature leaps back to the toys: I am even anxious, God forgive me, to banish from my mind the only thing that supported me under the threat because it is now associated with the mystery of those few days. Thus the terrible necessity of tribulation is only too clear. God has had me for but forty-eight hours and then only by dint of taking everything else away from me. Let Him but sheathe that sword for a moment and I behave like a puppy when the hated bath is over – I shake myself as dry as I can and race off to reacquire my comfortable dirtiness, if not in the nearest manure heap, at least in the nearest flower bed. And that is why tribulations cannot cease until God either sees us remade or sees that our remaking is now hopeless.

csLEWIS

The Problem of Pain

fear.

Last week I went to The Rocketboys concert (their new album 20,000 Ghosts is out and is incredible).

The Rocketboys (formerly Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys) are near to my heart. Listening to their music ushers into my mind the memories of first moving to Texas, staying up late writing papers after working all day, sitting outside on the porch building fires, and drinking lots and lots of coffee. Actually, not much has changed in the last couple of years – but their sounds mark the beginning of a two year friendship I have with this city. They will always be one of my favorite bands, if only for the mere companionship and nostalgia they offer me.

I noticed a couple behind us at the show that simply seemed to be in their own world. When the bands were playing they had created a miniature circle pit of sorts and when they weren’t mosh pitting they were dancing to the dj’s beats. It was both refreshing and mildly terrifying. But, mostly terrifying.

I remember thinking to myself, “they aren’t even good at dancing.” As if dancing was meant to be something certain people were good at rather than an expression of personal feeling and emotion. I doubt the creators of SYTYCD would agree, but I don’t really care, some of those judges are just really mean and need to calm down and find a job actually contributing to society. oops. I digress.

So, there I was caught up in the middle of feeling weird because of their free expression while still slightly enjoying it. Well, not really enjoying it, more like the idea of it.

I started thinking about fear. I thought of the power fear really has over the human condition. It’s strength rests in it’s subtlety. We hardly know it’s there, yet it’s presence so overwhelms us so as to keep us from truly being the people we are. Or the people we actually want to become.

*Sidenote. For those of you reading this wanting to immediately encourage this notion of fear as something good because we must have the “fear of the Lord!” Stop it. You are obnoxious. I am not talking about that. What I am drawing a picture of here is really  insecurity which manifests itself as fear.*

I kept thinking how incredibly dangerous this wave of fear is. It can be devastating from two different perspectives. First, fear does not allow you to be [or become] the person you were created to be. Rather, you find yourself trapped in a narrative even you hate reading. Instead of taking risks, being vulnerable and transparent, experiencing true humility, feeling shame in sin, or truly loving another person – all things constricted by fear – one becomes isolated, proud, self-righteous, and selfish.  Second, fear does not allow you to fully accept the humanity of others, particularly those who do not experience fear at the same level you do. Fear will always feel threatened by others. When met with courage or identity, fear is immediately proven to be inauthentic. In turn inauthenticity breeds defensive and hostile natures. The vicious cycle will continue unless we can somehow grasp our identity in light of the grand creation narrative and the miracle of the incarnation.

When we let fear control our lives, our stories, we let it dictate what it means to be human and how we relate to the rest of the imago dei. It’s high time we let God whisper into our souls who we are – creatures not to be held back from fear but set free to love.

presence.

The notion of presence has kept my mind busy lately. It circulates around each part of my life. It impacts the way I relate to God, my students, my girlfriend, my best friends, my family, etc.

What does it mean to relate to a God who is wholly other, but has manifested himself present in the logos made flesh?

What impact does my mere presence have on my students?

Is there a qualitative aspect to how I am present with my girlfriend? Or does it only matter that I am with her?

Do my friends care what we are doing together, or is it simple enough that we are hanging out together?

A professor of mine recently shattered some perceptions I have carried about time vs. quality time.

He said the distinction does not exist.

Especially to kids. He said his children couldn’t distinguish between quality time and time, they simply wanted time with their father. In the same manner  his wife was not concerned with what they spent their time doing but was satisfied they were just spending it together.

I think there is some validity to his assertions. I am sure there are exceptions to the rule as there are times we remember more than others in our lifetime as being of a higher quality. However, I don’t think that fact alone presupposes the notion that all time spent must be of a certain quality to communicate the idea of a presence that makes a difference. Some of my fondest memories of childhood involve just hanging out with my dad. It’s not that we always did awesome things. I mean sometimes, he would hangout with me while I played with my army men. Actually, sometimes, he would steal my soldiers and start building a base that was by far more superior to mine. Perhaps the notion of presence in interpersonal relationships between spouses or dating relationships simply means communicating you care for one another enough to just be there.  To find time to be present in each others lives.

This is certainly true for the closest of friendships. Especially in times of suffering. The only thing I really remember experiencing, besides grief, when a dear friend of mine died were the people who were present with me. I don’t remember what they said. I just remember they were there.

I wonder what this means for how I involve myself in the lives of students. I often wonder, “what difference am I making in this student’s life by just hanging out with him/her?” Does my presence alone speak volumes of the love of Christ?

I am finding more and more that being there, being present, with people through suffering, joy, pain, heartbreak, and loss is the ultimate display of the incarnation.

John 1.14 – the word became flesh – brings hope as God breaks into our world through the person of Christ. He is the manifestation of God-with-us [presence]. As we seek to be more like him we might do well to pay attention to the kind of impact our presence alone can have on the people we love and serve.

the person of Christ.

Only if I know who does the work can I have access to the work of Christ. Here everything depends upon knowing the person in order to recognize the work. If he was an idealistic founder of a religion, I can be elevated by his work and stimulated to follow his example. But my sin is not forgiven, God remains angry, and I am still in the power of death. Then the work of Jesus drives me to despair about myself, because I cannot follow his example. But if Jesus is the Christ, the Word of God, then I am not primarily called to do the things that he does; I am met in his work as one who cannot possibly do the work he does. My sin is forgiven, I am no longer in death, but in life. All this depends upon the person of Christ, whether his work perishes in the world of death or abides in a new world of life.

dietrichBONHOEFFER

A Testament to Freedom, 114

ecclesiology pt. 1

During my time in church camp college. A professor assigned us the task of determining the reasons we would attend and participate in a particular church community. I think this was and is a worth while endeavor. I certainly don’t remember what my reasons were as a college student, but it is a process I revisit often as I attempt to hammer out my own theology of the church.

It has been on my mind most recently in the past couple of years in my transition from Dayton to Dallas. The house church community I was apart of in Dayton and the presbyterian community I currently participate in, at first glance, stand as polar opposites. The former was structured much more loosely around a strong emphasis on community and relationships whereas the latter is structured around liturgy and tradition. But these are merely the outer shells of something much deeper. In fact, it would seem that the two have much more in common than might appear at first glance. Even though the services might look very different and even though both might have slightly different doctrinal considerations both are interested in discipleship, community outreach, missional living, and loving our neighbors.

What I am suggesting is that the structure of our church should not condition the manner in which we participate or contribute to the community of believers present there. It seems as if each day I have a new conversation about church life with peers or strangers that inevitably comes back to some form of consumerism. Whether you are apart of a house church, a mega church, a mainline denominational church, a small community church, etc…there are still plenty of opportunities to merely consume the product rather than contribute to the community of believers.

I just feel like we need to get over this. I am even a little bit frustrated with myself for even writing about it. I have read too much about it, listened to sermon upon sermon about it, and bashed my head against the wall over it for far too long. Why are we still treating church as a service (whether in a house, cathedral, or a cool gutted strip mall), a sermon, a worship band (albeit trendy and full of telecasters), or a setting for the social who’s who of a particular city or community? It is in this setting that we lose entirely the idea of doing life together. It is within this structure we champion hanging out with people just like us. It is within this structure we often venture outside of our communities to attend a church that fits our own needs rather than joining and helping the dying church down the block.

What do you look for in a church community?

to be continued.

yes, instead of no.

He exists neither next to man nor merely above him, but rather with him, by him and, most important of all, for him. He is man’s God not only as Lord but also as father, brother, friend; and this relationship implies neither a diminution nor in any way a denial, but, instead, a confirmation and display of his divine essence itself. “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit…” (Isaiah 57.15). This he does in the history of his deeds. A God who confronted man simply as exalted, distant, and strange, that is, a divinity without humanity, could only be God of a dysangelion, of a “bad news” instead of the “good news.” He would be the God of a scornful, judging, deadly No.      

karlBARTH        

evangelical theology, 11                      

hurley skate team signing.

 

 

The Hurley Skate team, comprised of the legendary Bob Burnquist, Diego Bucchieri, Andre Genovesi, and Dyson Ramones, will be at Zumiez in the Colin Creek Mall (Plano, TX) FRIDAY MAY 22nd from 6-8pm!

Come check it out if you are in the area!

billy marks.

Pro Skateboarder Billy Marks is incredible with a ping pong ball. Enjoy.