2009: A Thousand Questions

Okay, let's start the year off right. Some changes in the graphical elements of this blog, a new sub-section that brings all the Younger/Elder posts into one place for quick browsing, and one of the most powerful and inspiring videos I've seen in a long time.

Let the heart-cry and message of this video set the tone for 2009.HT to Willow Creek's video department for this one. Well done!

If Only...

I could be as talented, animated, and spry when I get to Abraham Laboriel's age (whatever it is, I'm younger).

I recognize Linda McCrary, whom I'm sure Bill Kinnon will remember from producing one of my favourite worship videos of 90's, Chris Falson & the Amazing Stories. But what really caught my eye was seeing former members of Koinonia (a Christian jazz-fusion band from the 80's), Justo Almario on sax, and particularly one of my bass gods, Mexico's Abraham Laboriel.

Unlike Bill, I don't know any of these people personally, aside from playing with, designing album artwork for, and once even writing the liner notes (which everyone assumed he'd written) for the writer of the song being sung, David Ruis. Six degrees of separation or something...

Anyway, pay special attention in the middle, when they let Abraham off his chain. Dang, not only does he raise the bar on technical skill, but can that guy move his feet.

Post-Charismatic Peretti

My son gave me a copy of Frank Peretti's The Visitation for Christmas, and I read it this past Sunday. Somehow, I missed this book completely when it first came out a few years ago, but really enjoyed it. In a strange way, if I were going to recommend a follow-up book to Post-Charismatic, it would be this work of fiction by Peretti.

Frank's intent in the book is not to completely address the "now what?" questions that many post-charismatics are wondering and wandering through, but the various characters in the book who represent the lunatic (and gullible) elements of charismania are so eerily accurate, you'd almost think Frank knew some of the same people we do/did.

The book is written in "first person" mode, and is from the vantage point of a burnt-out, detoxing-from-church-and-charismania-all-at-the-same-time former pastor. And in Travis' journey, I see a lot of parallels to my own story, and the stories of a number of post-charismatics I know personally.

And at the very least, it's a very engaging story -- the kind you could read in a single Sunday, if you had the time. :)

Celebration in Tijuana

Just before Christmas, our YWAM base here in Tijuana had a special time of celebration as we formally dedicated the property of our new facility.

Mexican staff, students, and local pastors led the procession of all the nations represented, from the front gates of the property to our "tent of meeting".

When most people in North America hear anything about Tijuana, it's usually something about the cartels and the violence -- and to be fair, there's been over 500 drug-related gang executions in the past year alone -- but there's also a lot of Jesus' followers here, who are believing and working towards seeing Tijuana change.

The unsung heroes: the Media Department (Wendy is second from right)

I was privileged to join the worship band during day two of the three-day event, and immediately following, was leading worship -- along with my son Caleb -- at the Mexican leaders conference for the next two days. There's nothing quite like leading worship with your son!

All of the staff from YWAM San Diego's four campuses: San Diego, Ensenada, Tecate, and Tijuana -- because the new base was built completely debt-free, we are free to pursue the outreaches and house-building among the poor without any worries about paying for the new facility.

We'll be moving into our new facilities permanently by the end of February, and a whole new season for YWAM Tijuana will begin.

Houses built 1991-2008: 2600 Goal for 2009: 250

Theologian of the Year

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
Linus Van Pelt

Coexist

Festive Candleholder Menorah Seasonal Fasting Ramadan Happy Holidays Tree Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Drive-By Character Assasination

I've heard it said that gossip is character assassination regardless of whether or not there's any truth to what is being passed on between prurient and voyeuristic interested and concerned parties. I'm inclined to agree -- it doesn't matter if it's true or not, gossip is destructive at best and diabolical at worst.

A drive-by, anonymous commenter has been making the rounds of greater blogdom with a copy-and-paste smear campaign on an author/blogger, and left a copy here on a post from almost a year ago. Don't waste your time looking -- it's been deleted (the comment, not the original post).

Generally, I don't like deleting comments -- it can smack of censorship or historical revisionism. However, there are times where I choose to delete comments. I don't have a hard-and-fast grid for deciding, but generally:

1. Vulgar references, or gratuitous and unnecessary profanity,
   
2. Malicious "baiting" that derails conversation into pointless rabbit trails,
   
3. Heresy-hunting trolls (see #2 above),
   
4. And most recently, drive-by, unsubstantiated character assassinations -- especially from anonymous commenters...

...will disappear into the ether as if they never existed.

Crank It Up

Music that keeps finding its way into my car and my iTunes very regularly:

	This came out late last year, but Bruce Springsteen's Magic is just a great album. I think it ranks up there with some of Bruce's classics, like Born To Run
	What will apparently be Coldplay's final album is also probably their best. If it indeed turns out to be their last, Vida La Vida means they're leaving at the top of their game.
	Chris Tomlin's songs are a staple in worship settings across the spectrum. And with good reason: he's a great songwriter. See The Morning (and its predecessor, Arriving) are great albums, and great worship.
	I just included this one because my son and I are learning Rush songs together; he's working on his lead technique, and also showing his old man how to read bass tablature. So, we're starting with Rush's Xanadu, Tom Sawyer, and YYZ. Piece o' cake (NOT!). But fun for me and my boy.

At The Crack O' Dawn

The environs were, in some ways, worlds apart from their usual and preferred meeting places, but then again, so was the time of day. They had barely sat down and ordered their food from the taciturn waitress when their usual lively dialogue began.

"You've got to be kidding," exclaimed the Younger, laughing, "it's 6:30 in the morning, and you're already talking theology?" The Elder paused in pouring a cup of coffee from the plastic carafe, eyebrows raised in feigned shock. "Why not? Are you suggesting you're a shallow thinker until sometime at mid-day?"

The Younger rolled his eyes in dramatic yet silent rebuke. "Well, at least until after I've had some decent coffee, anyway," he muttered darkly, "which doesn't seem likely at this fine culinary establishment."

"Oh, hush," chided the Elder as he filled his friend's mug. "Roadside diners are a taste of history."

The Younger leaned forward, "Yeah, but is the food equally a taste of history?" He leaned back in his duct-tape-dependent chair; "Okay, so what early morning doctrinal mayhem do you have in mind?"

The Elder smiled as he stirred the tepid liquid in his coffee cup. "Well, don't blame me -- you're the one who got the new job promotion with the crazy schedule. Being retired does give me a certain level of flexibilty, after all."

Shifting his weight in the ancient chair, as the skies hinted vaguely at the possibility of sunrise, he continued, "Well, since we're having such an early breakfast -- again, in deference to your new work schedule -- why don't we have a 'chicken and egg' discussion?"

"Which chicken and which egg?" countered the Younger, warming to the familiar rhythm of dialogue that they often enjoyed.

"Theo-chicken and theo-egg," replied the Elder, managing to keep a straight face, although a hint of a smile teased at one corner of his mouth. "Specifically, which comes first -- or dare I say, should come first -- the chicken: orthodoxy, or the egg: orthopraxy?"

"Nice try, my friend," replied the Younger, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "It's early but not that early. The chicken and egg should be in tandem, and if you'll pardon the alliteration, in tension. It's more like having two rails under the train, really, instead of a chicken/egg distinction. The two really can't -- or shouldn't be separated."

"True enough," conceded the Elder, nodding. The Younger was a little surprised at how quickly that had gone, until he realized it was only a momentary pause as their waitress, slightly more relaxed and smelling strongly of a recent cigarette break, arrived with their breakfast specials.

"But if you had to pick a starting point," continued the Elder, now all business as the Younger prodded the contents of his plate with a wary fork, "which would you choose? Knowing that they must be held in tension, still, is there a starting point?"

The Younger swallowed hard, whether from the slightly-congealed bit of bacon, or as a result of some quick deep reflection. "Well," he began slowly, "you're the one who is always on about the issues of justice and being an incarnational presence, so it seems odd that you'd want to pursue this line of thinking now. I mean, the lack of connection between orthodoxy and orthopraxy is one of your favourite pet peeves, isn't it?"

The Elder nodded, smiling in agreement as he vigorously stirred the various elements on his plate into a mash before taking a mouthful. "And you, being a proper postmodern-influenced thinker, are also wondering if I'm having a flashback into binary oppositions a la Derrida, and perhaps raising the dark spectre of foundationalism, as well. Well, Derrida isn't God, and foundationalism, for all its modernistic flaws, cannot truly be called 'a doctrine of demons', eh?"

As the Younger remained silent, the Elder continued, raising his fork as if it were a baton, and he were a conductor, "But if we truly believe that this is all about Jesus' story, and our part in it, doesn't it make sense that we have a proper understanding of His Story, before we attempt to find our place in it?"

The Younger frowned as he did battle with the bacon on his plate, using the opportunity to do some thinking. "Well, I suspect you're still going to insist on orthopraxy needing to be held as strongly as orthodoxy. And I guess if we are thinking chicken-and-egg, then starting with orthopraxy would mean that we were reinterpreting theology based on our actions."

"And in the extreme, we could run the risk of allowing our praxis to dictate what we believe more than theology or doctrine," the Younger concluded, finally putting down his fork, conceding defeat to the contents of his plate. "Honestly, I'm not sure that that's such a bad thing, in practice. Dry doctrinal theology doesn't do much for anyone, as far as I can see."

"Exactly, exactly!" exclaimed the Elder, punctuating his words with swift gestures of his fork. "And what keeps theology from becoming dry and doctrinal? Orthopraxy, plain and simple. Faith in action. St. James would be proud of us, eh?", he grinned. "And let's be honest, using or allowing orthopraxy to dictate what we will believe is what we old-timers used to call 'proof-texting' -- making up your mind first, and then finding or making Scripture back it up."

"But at the same time, how do we know what praxis, what actions are truly what Jesus would have us do as we participate in the advancing Kingdom of God?" Before the Younger could reply, the Elder answered his own question, "Theology Proper: the study of God. We need a 'chastened epistomology', yes -- I'd be the first to breathe a sigh of relief to see it -- but we still need epistomology. We need to know how and why we believe a thing to be true. And that means the theo-chicken of theology does come first. Our understanding of the Kingdom, our understanding of the words and works of Jesus, our understanding of our participation in His Mission -- all flows out of our theology. Our praxis-eggs are completely, absolutely necessary -- but I don't believe they come first. Not for a second."

The Elder suddenly glanced around, setting his fork-baton carefully back onto the table, realizing how animated he had become. "Guess I got carried away with the chicken and egg metaphor, didn't I?", he observed sheepishly, as several nearby diners subtly shifted their chairs to create some distance. "I'm tempted to make some kind of Dr. Seuss-inspired wisecrack right about now," smiled the Younger, "but I'd be afraid of mixing metaphors."

And then, as both noticed that the sun had risen and time had flown, they quickly settled the bill and prepared to leave. "One last thing," said the Younger, as he shrugged into his jacket, "next time, I'll pick the restaurant, agreed?"

The Elder spread his arms, nodding in acquiescence. "Can I pick the time?", he dead-panned as they headed into the street.

Dinner with Sam & Ella

Y'know, as someone who did not ever experiment with drugs, you'd think I would have no working knowledge of what hallucinations were. However, as I continue to recover from a whopping bout of salmonella these past two days, I think I can now relate to what people mean by "a bad trip"...

You see, I don't dream. Not at all. Or at least, it's extremely rare. As an adolescent, nightmares that would often turn into sci-fi short stories, but as an adult, I've only dreamt after taking Nyquil, which usually resulted in waking up with the feeling that I need demonic deliverance.

But after these past couple of days, I can attest to what a "bad trip" on hallucinogens must be like.

For the record, although I live in Mexico, the food that did me in was store-bought trail mix, which I purchased and ate in San Diego...

Sam and Ella will forever be unwelcome guests in my house.