"All we need is Jesus" and a million dollars

I've been reading Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be) by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, mostly because I've become intrigued by the emergent movement in the church and its unfortunate ties to postmodernism. By ties I mean origins. In a nutshell, it is somewhat a backlash against the megachurch, Joel Ostein phase that is leaving many people jaded and empty. My understanding is that its big thing is that there is not really authority or absolute Truth, but that Christianity is grey, ambiguous, and mysterious (and that that is a good thing). This is not going to turn into a rant filled with Bible passages pointing out the absoluteness of our holy and righteous God, because that could get way too long. Instead, today I'm going to focus on a quote that I found particularly interesting to a broader scope than just the emergents.

"'All we need is Jesus,' many emerging Christians [and I'd say other modern groups as well] cry, 'not these fancy theologies and donctrinal formulations.' Thus Erwin McManus writes, 'The power of the gospel is the result of a person -- Jesus Christ -- not a message.' Granted, this sounds good, and McManus may mean something good by it. But the argument is overstated. How is the gospel event we proclaim different than a message? And how is a message about Jesus -- say, who He is and what He did on earth -- different than doctrine? We can tell people about Jesus every day until He returns again, but without some doctrinal content filling up what we mean by Jesus and why He matters, we are just shouting slogans, not proclaiming any kind of intelligible gospel" (108).

I think that this kind of thinking is not exclusive to the emergent church. A few times in college I attended what I'd consider a 'mega church' where the pastor's practical, almost self-help "sermons", the rock music, and the non-commital atmosphere drew in many of the cool kids of campus. In a sermon about love, the pastor labored the importance of action by saying (almost a direct quote), The doctrine of justification does not matter; what matters is that we love each other.......
.....Ali's jaw hits the floor.........
........You mean the reason I'm going to heaven doesn't matter?!?

My question is: Why is doctrine a bad word? The dictionary defines doctrine as a specific belief. So it's bad to believe something specific? Or is it just bad to know what you believe? I think this is the rub, because whenever one gets too specific about one's beliefs, there could be (gasp) a differing opinion. I've often heard "Doctrine divides," which is true, but so does Christ, and the Gospel, and I'll tend to side with the offensive Truth.

I've sadly seen way too many people who "are just shouting slogans, not proclaiming any kind of intelligible gospel" because they do not know wonderful, deep, enriching, and life-changing doctrine. They most likely have never been taught of the wonder and awe of studying Who God is and what He has done. The Lord spoiled me with parents who seek Him fervently, and I've never known anything different, and therefore people who claim to be Christians but seem comfortable with not really knowing what that means often frustrate me. People sing songs that have no meaning (7-11 songs - 7 word repeated 11 times), they say words that have no root in anything real ("I'm saved" From what? "uhhh?"), they go through actions motivated by who-knows-what-really; and why? because they do not seek to know Him and Him alone. Too many people focus on what Jesus can do for them and not Who He is.

It seems that every errant movement is really the same: it's all about me and what I want. Or is it just me?

Inquiry Journal

The homework for our Advanced Studies inservice meeting is to begin an inquiry journal where I investigate how I think and what about. Well, I think I've got a head start on this one, since that the primary purpose of this blog, but I'll give it a more stream-of-consciousness feel today.

The last few days I've been curious about my seeming intellectual backslide lately. As the temperature outside has been rising, my thinking trends have been lessening. I'm not sure if this data correlates, or if there are other factors weighing in, such as: exhaustion from the end of school (likely), distress of creating a summer school cirriculum about 5 days before classes begin, golf lessons, and tonight's dinner. Nevertheless, it seems that even though I (in theory) have more time now to spend reading and thinking deeply about important issues, I in reality am spending less. Thus, my quest for time begins. What is it that sucks all the minutes out of my day?

To be honest, time-stealers that can be removed are:
1. The Office - Chris and I have watched an episode (or four) per day lately, mostly just while doing dishes after dinner and starting whatever we're doing next (ie, facebook). I HATE getting sucked into shows! Solution: Take care of household tasks (laundry, cleaning, etc in order to kill two birds with one stone)
2. Facebook - though I'm not a junky like most, I do spend a few minutes too many creeping on the book. Solution: Get a life.
3. Working out - I need to find a more efficient way to keep myself a physical specimen. :) The solution I've already inacted is to read while engaging in cardio, which works out (unintended pun) splendidly. Another Solution: Don't eat so much ice cream, and then I won't have to work out so much.

What's weird is that I really don't do much else. I'm still sticking to my previous hypothesis - As the amount of time to spend increases, so does the amount of time wasted. So the question remains - Where does all the time go? And how do I get it back?

"You Got JELIED"

My first editing adventure, this video uncovers the behind the scenes on the greatest serial prank scheme in Campbell Middle School history. Ok, maybe that was a little over the top, but it was fun to do! This video is why I haven't posted anything profound lately... I guess the media/brain function ration is true! Anyway, check out the video, and post your comments! :)

The End is Near...

One (half) day remains of school. And that day is dedicated to the mass-chaos of yearbook signing. I am one school year wiser and exhausteder. [The mispelling accentuates the condition, for all you nonpoetical types out there]. The funny thing is that while most of my other comrades are more and more agitated with the youngsters' May-Fever, I actually am starting to really grow fond of them. Figures: I finally get the hang of it and it's over. Hopefully what that means is that next year I'll get the hang of things sooner and therefore can sit back and enjoy the young life more. [That was a mental note to self].

However, I'm one step ahead of somethings: today I bought a rubber stamp that has a saying I somewhat like, and so instead of wearing out my hand on yearbook day, it's WHAP with the stamp, sign "Mrs. Barnes." Lazy and Brilliant.

I've been reading John 12-13, and I'll have to write about what I've learned about Jesus' washing the disciples' feet. I think I'm going to save that for another post though, for the clock is striking 10:27. I've also been reading about the emergent movement in Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be). Pretty interesting stuff. More to come later. It might be much later, though, because I have to start reading and planning for Summer School (booooo, but good money, yaaaaaaaaaay).

Not too "level 6"ish today, but I've received too many complaints by haters of deep thoughts, so I thought I'd tone it down every once in a while for them...

One last note on Laz...

I meant to write this a while ago, but you know life - it just gets in the way of important things like blogging.

Probably the reason that the story of Jesus' resurrection of Lazarus is so dear to me is that it is this story that "saves" Raskonikov in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. The first time(s) I read this most masterful novel, I couldn't figure out why this murderer (Ras) becomes so obsessed with this section of scripture (that a girl-prostitute reads to him, but that's another matter) above all others. I think that Raskolnikov identifies with Lazarus because he knows that he's a dead-man walking due to his crime, and even more than that, he becomes increasingly guilt-stricken and tormented (hence, Punishment) because of his sin. What a solace for Rask to know that Christ raised a man completely and utterly dead, and therefore He could do the same with him.

Dostoevsky knew that this is the gospel incarnate (as so many of our modern-day emergents mis- and therefore over-use): Jesus, for His and the Father's glory, by His own will and strength, raises a dead man, who can do no good thing, to new life. Hallelujah!
When I studied the gospels and C & P more, I became more and more drawn to the parallels Dostoevsky creates between Rask and Laz, and I think, for me personally, greater familiarity with each has made the other more meaningful.

John 11 demonstrates God's sovereignty over death and salvation

Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is the last and greatest miracle John records before Jesus goes to Jerusalem to take on the sins of the world and become the sacrifice for many. He had already manifested His glory through displaying power over distance (heals noble man’s son without even seeing him), sickness (heals lame man at the pool), creation (feeds 5,000), nature (walks on water and calms storm), birth defects (heals man born blind). In John, chapter 11, Jesus displays the most important yet: His power over death itself.

There are a few things about this passage that I’d like to note that further display Who He is and why He performed this miracle. Jesus says Himself the purpose for this circumstance is “for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (v 4). Needless to say, Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, as He always does. The first thing that stood out to me is that Jesus waited two days after He’d heard Lazarus was sick before traveling to see Him, and He tells the disciples, “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe,” because He wants there to be no doubt that Lazarus is as dead as a doornail, and no tricks or gimmicks, but that he has been dead for so long that he “stinketh.” (v 15, 39).

I think it’s pretty clear that Jesus didn’t raise Lazarus for Lazarus’ own benefit, for, as one of my friends puts it, how awful would it be to be taken from heaven to have to live in this world again! Jesus raises Lazarus to physically demonstrate that He is “the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (v 26-26). This miracle is the picture of salvation, and it is important to understand it this way, because we learn so much from it.

It fits perfectly with Paul’s description of salvation in his letter to the Ephesians, when he says “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (2:1). One of the key elements in Lazarus’ resurrection and in Paul’s description is that Lazarus was dead. He had absolutely NO ability in himself to choose life. While this is blatantly obvious, it carries over into Paul’s description of the nonbeliever, who is likewise dead and unable to choose life. RC Sproul uses this concept to give a brilliant antidote to the whole “lifesaver” mentality toward evangelism (that the unbeliever is like a person drowning, the evangelist throws out the lifesaver, but it is up to the unbeliever to grab hold), when he says that this analogy is wrong in that the unbeliever is not drowning, but he is already drowned and has sunk to the bottom of the lake. What’s the point? The dead man is awakened BY Jesus’ voice when the Lord calls to him. The call of the Lord is effectual, and a person is raised out of their death by the work and word of Christ alone, “not by works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:9). Lazarus did not have the power to choose to live again; he simply could do no other than what Jesus gave him power to do. The same is true for salvation: Jesus calls us and resurrects us out of our death (sin) to life in the Light of Him.

Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead demonstrates His sovereignty over salvation beautifully. Thank you Lord!

Guitar Flipping-Amazing Hero Video

My hub's newest creation, featuring a few friends and ourselves. Check out the genius of the imaginative green screen. You can also check out this in higher quality or some of his other creations on youtube.com. His username is "barnezydotcom".

I'm not going to glorify this stuff by trying to add any "level 6 thoughts" - it is what it is... Rock on!

Jordan speaks against excuses

"Maybe it's my fault. Maybe I led you to believe it was easy, when it wasn't. Maybe I led you to believe that my highlights started on the freethrow line and not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game winner, that my game was built on flash and not fire. Maybe it's my fault that you didn't see that failure gave me strength, that my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God-given gift and not something I worked for... every single day of my life. Maybe I destroyed the game, or maybe you're just making excuses." ~MJ

This video with Michael Jordan is such a good message, especially for today's youth. So many of the kids I've seen and taught have big dreams but think that great things just get handed over, not worked for. The whole "self esteem" movement tells people that they deserve everything and that they can do anything regardless of, well, anything others do or say. Jordan speaks what is true for not just athletics: to be the best, one must devote everything and give his all, all the time.

I want my students to "celebrate the struggle" of progress, to live life with a passion that embraces victory and defeat with grace, to use every moment to better themselves, and ultimately, to know the One who makes all worthwhile and that much sweeter.

Notes on the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18)

1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
Jesus the Good Shepherd 7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

In this passage, Jesus presents a great paradoxical metaphor: that He is at the same time the Shepherd Who leads and also the door that He leads through. On top of the the physical impossibility for all finite things of being two things at once, the metaphor also shows Him to lead us to Himself. To those who hear his voice, He is the Shepherd who leads to pasture (heaven). He leads us to the door, which is Himself (vs 7). As the door, He is the Way through which we can enter heaven, but unless He calls us and leads us, we cannot get there of our own volition. He drew me to Himself, not because of anything I've done, but only because of His unwarrented mercy. Praise be to God!

The Gospel in 6 Minutes

Follow this link to watch a video called "The Gospel in 6 Minutes", where John Piper gives the simple, pure good news, conveys its relevance to all in every aspect of life, and pleas for its embrace.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/2389/Video/