Chlorine Preference

I love the ocean, well sort of anyway. A couple years ago, I was was enjoying thanksgiving with my wife's family in Myrtle Beach. I remember spending countless hours at night just sitting at the beach and watching the ocean move and breath. It was beautiful. There was just something about the night calmness and vast ocean, staring back at each other, in an unusual, but sweet fleeting moment, that created a feeling of smallness and awe within me.

My unusual relationship with the ocean starts and stops on these fleeting moments. The ocean is beautiful and I certainly have grown to appreciate this. However, the way I see it, the ocean is also dangerous, scary, and ambiguous enough that I rarely ever actually step foot in the water. And the times that I have actually waded through the ocean waters, I never have really enjoyed it. There is to much of an unknown for me to reap the joy of ocean time. The fact that I do not know what is lurking around in the ocean waters, prevent me from moving with any concept of freedom. The majesty and beauty of the ocean can only bring me so far before I meet my other friends, fear and ignorance. This is my complex relationship with the ocean.

I like to swim, but not in the ocean. I am more then satisfied with nice little chlorine pools in the back of hotels. Swimming pools are not as beautiful as oceans, and they hardly inspire me. But, I can swim with no fear. Where the swimming pools lack in beauty, they make up for it in the fact that I am swimming in transparency. I have a chlorine preference. I may not be proud if this, but it's true.

The more I think about it, my chlorine preference is my God preference. I love God, I really do. I stand from a distance time after time and I am mesmerized by His movements. I can recall fleeting moments where I have been taken in awe of God. He has been an inspiration to me over and over again. He is beyond big, and I feel beyond small in His presence...from a distance that is.

But, perhaps too often, I have been all to satisfied with this relationship. I have waded in the waters of distant appreciation rather then to fully embrace the unknown and wonder of deep faith. I am really starting to understand that I have a more then healthy fear of God. Sure He is awesome. But I too feel the danger when I get too close. When my feet get to close to the shores, God's spirit shakes me, and this is unsettling to me. I always retreat back to the comforts of small groups and singing nights at church. There is comfort and a shallow happiness that abides in nice little chlorine pools. But, I am beginning to want more. For every "abundant life" that God promises in the scriptures, there is also a "sell all of your possessions" passage that scares me.

Teach me Lord to no longer be satisfied with comfortable chlorine pools, and lead me to deep faith in Your bigness and danger. Forgive me for creating you in my image. Allow my ignorance to coexist within your truth and wisdom.

Amen

- Dan Jones

Book Recommendation; After You Believe by N. T. Wright

The premise of what N.T. Wright sets out to do in After You Believe is best summed up in the subtitle, “Why Christian Character Matters”. This is a fair and honest question that deserves the 280 pages that Wright dedicates in exploring this question. In a world of propositional faith within western Christianity, (Problem? Sin! Solution? Jesus!), this question seems to beg us for an answer. One may be surprised by the direction that Wright takes this premise. You will not find a list of do’s and don’ts. Instead, as a seasoned archaeologist uses the finest tools and due diligence to uncover an ancient civilization, Wright too uncovers the New Testament world in relation to Christian character.

Wright argues that Christian character is not something that can be accomplished in rules and laws. Yet, Christian character also cannot be accomplished by spontaneity of the heart either. (You may find forms of this ongoing/polarized conversation in many churches today). What Wright does propose is an active aligning of ourselves to the unfolding story in God’s kingdom. As we do so, our character, or virtue, will be shaped by our hope for a resurrection. Wright points to faith, hope, and love along with the fruit of the Spirit, to give a frame work that will allow “virtue” to flourish.

What do we do after we believe? If you are like me the pat answers to this question have never sufficed. Some say we should wait for heaven and bring as many people with us. But is there more? Are we just here for good behavior and a shared morality? If these questions resonate with you, then After You Believe is an excellent starting point for a proper framing of purpose within the context of virtue.

-Dan Jones

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the product mentioned above for free by The Ooze Viral Bloggers in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Addison Elizabeth Jones, a Big and Fancy Moment

This blog has been largely dedicated to seeing God in unusual places. For better or worse I have used peculiar life experiences to point to something larger. Sometimes these posts have worked, and more times then not, perhaps they just confused things. But the whole gist of these posts was to encourage our perceptions and train our eyes and hearts to seek God in areas we would never expect Him to show up.

But sometimes, every once in a while God shows up where we expect him. As in the fact that God shows up in little and unusual moments, He also shows up in our big and fancy moments. Addison Elizabeth Jones was born on December 13th 2009. It all happened real fast. We arrived at the hospital at 12:30 and she arrived around 1:30. It was all too much to process in such a short time. I was a daddy of one and now I am daddy of two, and a girl of all things! I would have never thought that I would be a father of a Girl. She is beautiful. It was a beautiful moment that will be etched in my memory for as long as I hope to live. (The same is true with my first born's birth.)

It's not that I felt God in any special way when Addie was born. He was there and present for sure. But that's not what leads me to write this post. I write this post out of gratitude. Big and fancy moments are gifts from our Creator as the small and unusual moments are. There is no need for any profound meaning to be extracted from something that may or may not be there, other then to take the obvious splendor of the moment and soak it in like a sponge. Thank you Addison Elizabeth Jones for reminding me to appreciate the moment as the moment it is and not just the moment it could be!

-Dan Jones

Thank you for all those who responded to the post!

Congratulations to Daniel Turner for Winning and Advanced Copy of The Bible As Improv, Seeing and Living the Script in New Ways, by Ron Martoia. Zondervan will be sending a copy your way shortly.

-Dan Jones

Win an Advanced Copy of Ron Martoia's New Book, Bible As Improv

Zondervan has offered to give away a free advanced copy of Ron Martoia's new book The Bible as Improv, Seeing and Living the Script in New Way on this very blog! This is well worth the read so I encourage you to enter to win.

If you haven't read my review of this book, please do by going here. Post any relevant reactions and thoughts along with your full name on this post, then email me you home address to danieljmjones@hotmail.com. I will select and announce a winner at random on December 18th at 1:00 pm, and Zondervan will send you the book, it is that simple! All entries must be received by Dec. 18th by 12:00 pm. Good Luck!

-Dan Jones

"The Bible as Improv", by Ron Martoia, An itch worth scratching

The nagging feeling of an itch, it just doesn't go away until you give into its urge. It demands our attention and response on a timely manner. But what if you are unable to locate this itch, let alone define it? You may be very aware that it is there, but what if you couldn't pin point it's exact location? Perhaps you can find it, but the scratching itself is not helping, but in fact, it is making it worse.

This is the best way I can describe the ways in which I engage the Bible. Hermeneutics (The way we apply the Bible) has always left me with a shallow feeling, an itch that has not been satisfied. I could never pin point the problem. Instead I was left scratching all over in hope for some relief. I was struggling to even identify the problem let alone work toward anything that resembled any solutions.

I received "The Bible as Improv; Seeing and Living the Script in New Ways", by Ron Martoia from Zondervan to review. I had high expectations after reading Martoia's last book Transformational Architecture. Not to long after beginning the book, I knew I was on to something special.

What Martoia does so well here is that he identifies the "itch". He sheds light on some of the ways that we have tried to engage the Bible, while also illuminating new ways to apply it. Martoia appreciates the grand narrative of God and his creation. He points to the problematic attempts to pull truths out of context only to really mess things up when we try to apply it to our lives. He reminds us that the Bible is a collection of a specific people within a specific history trying to make sense of what it means to be children of God. For us to neglect this when we read the Bible is tragic.

Luckily, Ron Martoia also points us in the direction for authentic engagement with the Bible. If the Bible points us to God's sweeping narrative, then Martoia proposes that we need to immerse ourselves with in "script-ure" and improv with in our own context what it means to follow Christ. Martoia makes some fantastic metaphors using the idea of musical and theatre improv. In both situations you must attempt to stay true to the structure of the musical piece or play, but still faithfully improv so that you are moving the song or story forward.

If you find yourselves with an "itch" when you engage the Bible, I would highly recommend this book. I have truly found hope within the possibility of faithful improv of "script-ure" within my community and in my context. My hope is that many more will read this book, embrace this new hope. "The Bible as Improv" is truly an itch worth scratching.

- Dan Jones

Drops Like Stars; Review of Rob Bell's New Book

I received my copy of Drops Like Stars by Rob Bell recently and I have finally had some time to sit down and read it all the way through. The thing about this book is that you find yourself tempted just to thumb through it, in part because of the artistic layout in the way of a coffee table book. (Perhaps this can be my excuse in not reading it thoroughly the first time around even though I have had ample opportunity to do so.) My thoughts on this book are three-fold;

1) Layout - Rob Bell deserves props for the courage to author this sort of book. If you have read Bell's previous books Velvet Elvis or even Jesus Wants to Save Christians; A Manifesto for the Church in Exile, this is a departure of sorts from these types of books. The book itself is physically imposing (shaped like a high school year book) and it includes stunning photography. Some pages have minimal wording on them. The layout is in the way of Rob Bell's video series Nooma. If you were to translate a Nooma video into words and pictures, I believe this is what it would look like. The most important aspect of the layout is that it works!

2) Dialogue - Books that move from being just a monologue by the author into being a dialogue proves to be difficult to find. However, Drops Like Stars proves to accomplish dialogue in ways that I never felt that a book could accomplish. This is the case in part because of the unique layout, and in part because of the personal stories that Bell weaves in throughout the book. With the photography and personal stories married together throughout, the reading of Drops Like Stars proves to be a very interactive experience.

3) Substance - With what seemingly appears to be little said in Drop Like Stars because of the fact that there are many pictures and less words written, "Stars" may surprise because it is very deep in substance. Bell explores the relationship of suffering with creativity. The question that Bell explores is not "why we suffer?", rather the question he asks is "what now?". Rob Bell writes in a way that allows the reader to listen, to talk back, and to explore. I believe that this style leads to a deeper learning experience.

In many ways this book invites further exploration and further questions. Pat answers will not be found, and the ending does not provide any resolve with any modernistic satisfaction. If you are looking for a typical book experience, this may not be the type of reading for you. However, if you want to interact with something that invites a deeper learning experience this may be something to look at, if for no other reason that it does look very nice on a coffee table.

-Dan Jones

Twirling Umbrellas In Our Own Little World

Fall in central Ohio means rain and lots of it. I own an umbrella that gets rarely used. For at least a year, my umbrella rested under my desk collecting dust. Sure, there were times I could have benefited from using it, but I only realized this when I needed it the most. And by that time, I could do nothing about it. Often, I would be kicking myself when I was in the middle of a down-pour, because I realized that the possibility existed of a wet-free scamper to indoors. This was a snapshot of my relationship with my umbrella, that is until recently.

I was at work, and it had been raining all day. I was about to go on my lunch as I glanced at the weather outside. I was in no mood to fight the elements just for a bite to eat. As I peered down at the floor below my desk, I was reintroduced to my umbrella-friend that was still neatly housed in a plastic sleeve. Perhaps one of the reason I never utilized the umbrella is the 6 inch blade on the end. (It is actually just a metal point, but I can just envision a run in with security guards about the potential "danger", especially in these times.) Either way I made the decision to utilize the umbrella for the first time.

I grabbed the umbrella and took off down stairs. As I reached the bottom of my building, I just realized that I had forgotten my badge, which serves as a clearance to renter the building from outside. Reluctantly, I decided it to be a good idea to go back to my desk on the 7th floor to retrieve my badge. Instead of taking the stairs back up 7 flights, (it is a lot easier to go down, then going back up), I decided to take advantage of the open elevator. As I entered the elevator with two other individuals, I have to admit, I was in my own little world. (In all reality, I was way to excited to actually use my new friend the umbrella.) I was in the front of the elevator looking down at the pointed end of the umbrella and I just twirled the end against the floor. As I was doing this, for some unexplained reason, I decided that the plastic sleeve that housed the umbrella needed to come off. Still in my own little world, I slowly lifted the end point on the umbrella and I placed my hand around the plastic sleeve and pulled it off revealing the full glory of the umbrella. (Dangerous point and all.)

To my surprise and humor, the other two individuals had been watching me the entire time. Actually, as I pulled the umbrella from the plastic sleeve, I am positive that they may have been thinking that I was going to attack them with the metal point. Their eyes were as wide as can be, and of course looking back, I can see their concern. I pulled that umbrella out they way you pull a knife or gun out of the holster. I started laughing as I realized how this might of looked to the other two individuals. I reassured them that as ominous as my pointy umbrella looked, I had no plans for any attack on them. Once we arrived at the fourth floor, the two individuals jetted out of there without looking back. (I admit that this made me laugh out loud as I reached my stop at the 7th floor.) It is amazing how when we get caught up in our own little world, we become very unaware of what is going on around us.

If we are not careful, followers of Christ can get caught up in the sub-culture of Christian religiosity. This sub culture is much bigger then we sometimes realize. When you have Christan music, Christian apparel, Christian bumper stickers, Christian talk-radio, Christian television, Christian News, and even Christian magazines, we can get swallowed up by our own little Christian world. This isn't even considering the fact that we have built Christian buildings, Christian Schools, and even Christian sports leagues. Is it no wonder that we can loose sight of what our mission can and should be within this world.

I remember in my short stint in youth ministry, there was a point where I felt very convicted about the fact that I did not have one meaningful relationship outside of church, not one! How is it that I can connect with God's mission to be a blessing to the world (Light on the hill) when I didn't even have one relationship with anyone out side of the church building. How many of us that follow Christ can be convicted in the same way?

In the same way that I got caught up twirling my umbrella in my own little world in the elevator that one day, I believe that the danger exists as Christ followers that we too can get caught up within our own sub-culture, to the point where we are in danger of becoming irrelevant to the world around us. It can be possible to be swallowed up completely in our own world that we may not have any meaningful connections in a postmodern culture that values authenticity. Maybe we need to infuse this culture in which we exist with the kingdom living that is "not of this world" but very much within this world.

-Dan Jones

Football for Dummies

Football seems to be a simple sport. You have a ball that is carried, thrown, kicked, or defended. Based on varying success in these areas, you may or may not win. But what if we were approached by someone that had never watched a football game? What if they wanted you to explain each portion of the game so that they fully understood it, at least to the degree that they would understand the game as they watched it? When you really sit down to analyze the game, the complexity of it is overwhelming. Let's just look at football terminology alone,

blitz; touchdown; touchback; punt; field-goal; zone; cover 2; cover 1; prevent; fumble; interception; safety; kick off; kick return; shotgun; sack; holding; passing interference; facemask; 2 point conversion; line of scrimmage; first, second, third, and fourth down; turnover

This is just to name a few of course. This also doesn't even touch on position names and the numerous rules and regulations. When just touching on these different complexities of the game, one would be able to see the difficulty in explaining the game to someone that is first introduced to it.

In attempting to teach the game we may even be tempted to do so on a very high level as to not confuse this person. Keeping the complexities at bay, and attempting to walk through the game in the way of "football for dummies", this may not be a bad direction to go. Yet, two things have to happen in order to succeed at even this. First, the person that is presenting the "high level" view of football would have to have extensive knowledge of the game even with all of its complexity. Second, the person with this extensive knowledge of the game would have to 'translate' the game in such a way to be understandable. (On a side note, it would not be be a bad idea to avoid sounding patronizing while doing so.) So even teaching the game like this involves great diligence and knowledge.

Jesus can be simple. Following in the way of Jesus at its core is simple. You love God, and you love others. But can we not get caught in the complexities to those looking on with a curious or skeptical eye. As we did with football, let's look just look a the terminology that exists in Christendom,

theology; doctrine; atonement; eschatology; repentance; baptism; rapture; discipleship; fellowship; Trinity; apostle; epistle; Pharisee; Sadducee; zealot; herodian; gentile; Sabbath; communion; worship; praise; Greek; Hebrew; omnipotent; omnipresent

As with the football terminology this represents the tip of the iceberg. This isn't even concerning the fact that the book that those that follow Christ refer to mostly is the Bible which is authored by many different personalities with various backgrounds in many different times. Those that follow Christ have an important consideration when talking to others about why we do what we do. Do we dive with in the depths of the complexity that exists within Christendom? Or do we present the biblical narrative at a very high level? These are questions we must embrace as those that follow Christ in a world that is becoming increasingly "post-Christian". We must realize that Christianity is no longer the culture norm/expectation. Our lingo is no longer easily recognized. Are we willing to address the fact that what we say may no longer be easily understood? (Not that certain aspects of the Christian message is ever easily understood.) And what should we do about it?

I remember when I was a child I knew nothing about football. I went to an Oklahoma Sooner game where I froze my butt off, and still knew nothing about what was going on. Today, I can watch football, and follow along like anyone else. How does one move from confusion to clarity? I think it can only come from overall experience. I have watched numerous football games over the past 20 years. I cannot remember having one moment where everything clicked. It just happened. I understand where I came from, and I know where I am today. Somewhere in the experience of watching football throughout the years I now know the game with some clarity. So instead of presenting the deeper complexities to someone that may not know the game, maybe we just invite this person to watch the games with us.

Is it that simple? Instead of defining all aspects of Christendom, do we simply invite others to experience it with us? Instead of handing a track that details doctrinal bullet points, do we just share a meal with someone? Often, I have been tempted to push Jesus on to those around me without considering other alternatives. I do believe that I am not the only one that has struggled with this. I am realizing that Jesus does not come with a bunch of man-made baggage. (He expects a high price of His own, without any additions from His followers.) I believe if we present Jesus with a living breathing doctrine, (How we live, breathe and act) then the rest will take care of itself. Somewhere between the time we are willing to create meaningful relationships with those that are around us to the present, we may look back and realize that we do not have to participate in a full theological-doctrinal exposition in order to share why we do what we do.

- Dan Jones

Pulling Perfectly Good Grass

Fatherhood has changed me. I am learning so much from my son Jake, and it is truly amazing to watch him as he continues to develop. A trend that I have recently noticed as of late is Jake wants to be like me. He repeats everything I say and do. (which can be scary more times then not!)

The other day, the family and I were doing some yard work at our new place that we just recently moved into. My wife decided that it would be a good idea to pull some weeds that the lawn mower could not get to. So as I bent down to begin pulling the weeds and then rake them to the end of the lawn, my wife pointed out Jake to me. He began pulling the weeds and walking the same path as me. He wanted to help. As little as he is, it is crazy to see that he values being valued.

This was pretty neat to watch for at least a little while. However, something began to happen. Jake ran out of weeds to pull so he began to pull the perfectly good grass. This is a tough spot to be in as a parent. On one hand, all Jake was trying to do is help out. At the same time, we didn't want him pulling perfectly good grass. We tried explaining to him that we no longer needed his help with pulling the weeds, but there are only so many words that you can offer to a 2 year old before just saying that dreaded word "NO!".

I am happy that I am one of the many that follow Jesus in this world. It is exciting to think that I am able to "co-mingle" with God and in his work today. I wonder if God looks at me with the same enthusiasm that I have when Jake tries to help out. How cool is is that God may be looking at me like a proud parent knowing that I am "helping out" in the only way his creation can. In this, I resonate with my 2 year old son. I want to think my intentions are good in my attempts to work with God in this world. This also makes me think that sometimes I (or "we" as the church) may be pulling perfectly good grass. We make decisions on who is "in" and who is "out", with many times not thinking twice about it. We make sweeping judgements about political parties and those that are in them. It is incredibly tempting to believe that God takes "sides" in our political arenas. (Can any man made party truly embody what it means to follow Christ?) I wonder how often we have good intentions, but fail to pull the weeds rather then the grass.

The possibility of pulling perfectly good grass exists as we attempt a faithful dialogue in religion, politics, or even everyday topics. This must enter in consideration in our attempts to boldly proclaim the good news and team with God in His work in this world. Otherwise, good intentions or not, we may be doing more harm then good.

Dan Jones

Book Review; Fearless by Max Lucado

As I was reading some of the 'Praises' for Fearless by Max Lucado, I noticed that Donald Miller provided some positive thoughts about Lucado's latest book. I decided that I would give it a try even though I wasn't overly impressed Lucado's work on For The Tough Times.


The nature and tone of this book seems very appropriate in today's culture which is largely driven by fear. I found myself nodding along as I progressed through the book, while at the same time not blown away. Something that Lucado does successfully is that you can't help but feel truly comforted as you embrace the words of Lucado as he speaks about our biggest fears including death, violence, parenting, and enduring just to name a few. Unfortunately, much like other books by Lucado you also are not covering much new ground with this book either. With that being said, I do believe the book succeeds in what it is trying to accomplish. Lucado doesn't offer pat answers and black and white clarity. What he does provide however are appropriate reflections on various passages that truly comforts. Fearless is worth a read with appropriate expectations of what it is and what it is not.


Dan Jones

Finding God in Unusual Places; Vacation Moment Number 2

Recently, the family and I went to vacation in North Carolina. We stayed with some great friends for the week, and we chose various activities to participate in. One of the activities that we picked out to participate in as a family was the Museum of Life and Science. We wanted to do some some things to incorporate our son into the vacation, since it was his vacation too. And we figured that a museum in which was very hands-on would entertain Jake to some degree. It was a fantastic experience and we all ended up having a blast. One of the more interesting moments was the butterfly house which was full of most beautiful and colorful creatures I have ever seen.


At the butterfly house there was a long walk way that went diagonally from one side to the other. As you inched along down this walkway you would progress closer and closer to the main entry to the butterfly house. Through the walkway, there were items strategically placed in order to catch your eye. There would be huge replicas of different butterflies that were nothing more then painted plastic, which still made them no less then beautiful. When you finally entered in the building you found yourself in a lobby type area where you are introduced to various interesting facts about butterflies. The lobby then narrows into a glorified hallway full of different butterflies that were once living, but preserved to the extent that if it were not for the fact these butterflies didn't move, they appeared to be just like an alive butterfly.


I'll never forget my son Jake as he walked though this room. His eyes were as wide as sky-scrappers are as tall. He would look at each butterfly preservation with such awe. At one point, in the only way Jake can do, he exclaimed "WHOAAaaaa". I shared his enthusiasm, I really did. Any parent knows when your child is so excited about something, no matter what it is, you can't help but be excited right along with him. And yet at the same time, I wanted to usher Jake along the hallway to let him see the real stuff. You see, at the end of the hall way you then could enter in the actual area where hundreds of alive and full colored butterflies would be showcased for our amusement.

As pleasurable and interesting the preserved butterflies were, I understood that this moment only served as a teaser, and that what we were observing would pale in comparison to what was to come. As I continued to usher Jake closer and closer to the entryway I noticed considerable hesitation on behalf of Jake. I didn't know if he was caught up in the moment or not. I do know that Jake probably had no idea of what was to come, and it was my job to usher in the new world to show him the greatness that was just steps away.

This all reminds me of Jesus when he says, "...but I came to give life—life in all its fullness." Sometimes religion seems satisfied with preservation rather then any alternative. Like Jake we are consumed by the moment, and as interesting and beautiful this moment may seem to be, we may find ourselves very much blind to the possibilities just a few more steps away. This 'full' life that Jesus offers is not just about about a very distant future that is full of bliss that happens after we take our last breath. There is something to be had with this moment and this life. Teaming up with God and his mission for this world is what Jesus invites us to participate in. Purposeful living invites a 'fullness' that only Jesus can offer.

Sometimes I think religion and church fakes us out by convincing us that we have captured this 'life to the full' by participating in good morality and going to organized church functions every chance we get. We are caught in the hallway of preservation, when the entryway to 'fullness' is just ahead of us. Are we willing to enter the 'butterfly house'? And what does it exactly mean to live life to the full? I may not know this yet, but I want to mention two ideas that I want all to embrace.

1. Let us be willing to not be satisfied with preservation alone. Sure, there are glimpses of beauty and accomplishment, but Jesus had promised us more if we just stop being satisfied with what what we have now.

2. Let us trust Jesus and His promise and began to walk toward the entryway into the life of 'fullness'.

-Dan Jones

Learning the Language of Your Daddy

Fatherhood has been a whirlwind. When I heard I was going to become a father, I was both frightened and excited. I was frightened because up to that point, I really didn't like kids, especially ankle bitters. I was excited because I realized that first, I was indeed able to pro-create, (There is a since of pride in this right?) and second, I was going to be a daddy!


This whole 'fatherhood' thing has been a steep learning curve for me. I had never been around babies, and the thought of changing diapers, and other maintenance work on Jacob gave me great apprehension. I remember I didn't even change one diaper in the first two months of Jacob's life. I remember one of my first experiences in changing Jacob's diaper, I encountered a problem. I placed the new diaper underneath the old diaper Jacob was still wearing. As I dismantled the flaps of the old diaper to engage the transition into the new one, the diaper flew wide open. No big deal right? Well, I guess the cool air hitting bare skin triggered a release of 'old faithful'. (I was impressed by the power behind...well never mind.) Instead of taking the new diaper and doing a quick cover, I stepped back, as to not get hit. My wife Meghan stepped forward and took over from there. Needless to say, I had a lot to learn.


One of the aspects of fatherhood that has been completely rewarding is watching Jacob go from an infant into a walking/talking toddler. It is happening so fast, and I am trying to soak as much of this as I can. Jacob first expressed himself through facial expressions and cooing. Now he is saying words and short sentences. Its amazing for me to think that some of his first words was 'daddy' and 'mommy'. Out of the words that he could have learned, he had chosen to learn these words first; 'daddy' and 'mommy'. I often wonder why he chose these words. Perhaps these words chose him, as he has probably heard these words over and over. I also wonder if these words mean anything to him. I would love to think that it does. In fact my wife just last night taught Jacob to say "Awesome Daddy". My heart was butter at that point.


Jacob still does a lot of "baby talk". It's funny listening to him sometimes. He might say something like this, "ahue jeuif huihhp watch Monstors" (Monster Inc, is his favorite movie right now.) I feel like there are moments where no matter how clear Jacob's language is or is not, Jacob and I are on the same page. I feel like that at moments, I fully understand the language Jacob speaks, even when it does not resemble anything that's English. There is a connection beyond logistical language. There is communication that goes beyond syllable pronunciation. Even when Jacob says "Awesome Daddy", its not exactly clear as day. This sort of dictation doesn't disappoint me though. In reality, experiencing my son's language, as he feels his new world out, is exhilarating. Any expression of affection through words directed to me, even if it is just a coo, melts me away.


Sometimes I wonder how much I don't understand God. Does God get upset with me if I tap my foot in worship? (Or even clap?) In my attempts to learn the nuances of God's language of doing things, do I upset Him when I don't get the pronunciation right? As I stumble to show my affection for God through the way I live, is He waiting for me to screw it up? The God that I knew did, to an extent anyway. I don't know if this was necessarily taught to me by anyone or any church, but He sure didn't care if my motivation was good or not. That is the way I knew Him anyway.

I wonder if I had it all wrong. I wonder if I still do, but what if God looks at me the way I look at Jacob as he stumbles toward affection? Jacob now says "Daddy Awesome" the best he knows how. And from everything I know about Jesus, he referred to the guy upstairs as "Abba, Father".

Father.

Wow... Father!

That's something to marinate in for a while.

-Dan Jones

"The Sacredness of Questioning Everything" Serves As An Invite to Another World

David Dark, author of "The Sacredness of Questioning Everything", extends an invitation, in a string of essays, to join him in a different sort of world. This world has its own language and tone that David Dark artfully introduces line by line. Dark coins a language that consists of distinct descriptive nouns such as "uncle Ben", "nobodaddy", "plain speak", "HERstory" and "sacred cows", just to name a few. There is not so much as an explanation to this language, but an expectation to join in. At first, I found myself asking questions on what this new language was speaking of. (Perhaps this is to be the intention; hence the title?) However, as I progressed through the pages, I found myself caught in the moment much like a movie where you begin in a new world, but by the end you feel like you belong in that world. ("Chronicles of Narnia" and "Lord of the Rings")

This new world and language points and directs to a new culture of exactly what the title implies. Dark argues that there is very much a "sacredness", something to be had, in the culture or art of "questioning everything". Dark certainly lives in this world and this becomes apparent in this book. Using a wide range of sources to exemplify and embody this new culture, Dark himself recognizes that "questioning" reflects how we see ourselves in relation to God and those around us. The book is broken into chapters, each chapter introducing a facet of life that deserves a discipline of questioning. These facets include everything from God, History, the future, and even our offendedness. With such compelling facets, it is only fair that Dark chose to use a pop sensibility to showcase what this may look like through the likes of U2, Arcade Fire to "the Office". It may seem that the use of such vehicles to illustrate a direction or point would be an attempt to "dumb down" something that is difficult to understand. There is no such attempt here. The ability of Dark to provide social commentary to further illustrate his direction is impressive.

These facets are further explored at the conclusion of each chapter through a set of....you guessed it, questions. I find this to be a completely appropriate way to conclude each facet, and also to encourage a dialogue to further explore the direction Dark takes with each chapter.

After reading the book, I found myself eager to begin to live in this world that Dark invites us into. I can see how the "sacredness of questioning" can lead to a proper posture in relation to God and others around us. The question I continue to ask myself is if I have the humility to embrace this culture of uncertainty? Perhaps this is an appropriate response to the reading of the "The Sacredness of Questioning Everything".

-Dan Jones

The Hole In Our Gospel; Inspirational and Challenging

Has the Gospel been limited by the way we present it? Is there more to the "the good news" then just a mere transaction? Is this life all about the life after or are we missing something? According to Richard Sterns, president of World Vision, there is much more. Richard Sterns sets to challenge and inspire readers in "The Hole In Our Gospel", by sharing his personal story in becoming the president of World Vision, and challenging the readers to join in the work of God in a world in need of a Gospel without a hole.

Richard Stern crafts a personal narrative that proves to be inspiring. As he walks through his personal road as a follower of Christ, you come away feeling that you have met Richard over coffee. His presentation of his story is a highlight in this book. As Richard Sterns is climbing the corporate latter, he finds himself interviewing for a presidential position at Wold Vision. With a spirit of reluctance, Richard Sterns decides to accept the position in World Vision and his life has never been the same.

Sterns also challenges his readers to get involved. As he presents some of the largest "life" issues in the world today, he carefully reminds his readers that there is a hope, and we can be involved in sharing that hope. Sterns shares some success stories to remind us that success is possible. At the same time there needs to be more done. Ultimately, Richard Sterns reminds us to not limit "gospel" to the afterlife. He reminds us that we have a message of hope for the right now. We do have the ability to share the Gospel without a hole in it. The question is are we willing to do this. If we are this book is a good starting point in this important conversation.

You can find Thomas Nelson's page for this item here.

-dj

Finding God in Unusual Places; Shakespeare in the Park

This time of year is wonderful! I personally love it when you can walk outside late at night or early in the morning, and not worry about freezing your toes off. There is just something about warm late nights that brings a certain satisfaction to me this time of year. I absolutely love it! I feel that there are many reasons that summer is the best season. You have baseball games, amusement parks, swimming, camping, and many other activities that open up in availability this time of year.

One of those activities that I have learned to love is something that happens this time of year locally. In German Village (Columbus, OH) you are able to see Shakespeare in the Park, performed by Actors Theater. (Although they are not limited to Shakespeare, they do many forms of theater.) My wife and I began going on the weekends of last year to watch these fantastic performances in the perfect setting, an outdoor theater in the park, surrounded by a historic part of town. To be honest I was unsure if I would like this or not. I have had some experience with theater overseas in England, but beyond that, my experience was limited to reading the plays for homework assignments in college.

I found myself very apprehensive the first time I experienced Shakespeare in the Park last year. I have always wanted to be "artsy" in someway. I actually remember looking through my wardrobe trying to find "artsy" clothing that would mesh in with the theater crowd. My apprehension came from the fact that I could be seen as an outsider. It was very possible that I would stick out like a sore thumb, and that people could tell that I do not belong with the theater crowd. (Is this pathetic?)

We arrived at German Village and found the best spot available for the show. As the wife and I unfolded our chairs, I scoped out the crowd. The crowd was as I expected. Diversity and an artistic spirit was very much present. I wondered if my plaid shirt, boot cut jeans, and sandals was enough to be considered apart of the scene. As I finally sat down, I took more time to really study the people there. There was a little girl (about the age of 9?) that had her own copy of "measure for measure". I could over hear her enthusiasm about the upcoming performance. The mother had mentioned to another person that she had most of the play memorized word for word! Are you kidding? This girl was for real. I felt that I was being shown up by a theater guru that wasn't even half my age.

I also noticed the blanket people. You see there are two tiers of the crowd. There was the chair people, which we were apart of. I was happy to be a chair person. But then there were the blanket people. There seemed to be a whole new level of "artsy-ness" to the blanket people. Many of them sat cross-legged and they had picnic baskets and wine with glasses and all. As I surveyed my new environment, I felt more an more out of my league. There was this nagging feeling that I didn't belong. I was certainly ready for the show to finally begin.

My apprehension soon fell to the way-side. The opening music came on, the actors began their first scene. All of the sudden it hit me. These guys were really good at what they do. Understand this, I have seen some of the most famous plays and performances in the most famous theaters in England. I certainly had something to compare the acting and the setting to. I was overwhelmed with the creativity and talent that I witnessed that night. It is like when you go to the movies and you go in thinking about life and all the problems that you are experiencing. But then the opening credits roll and you find yourself caught in the story, and all of those prior thoughts disappear with the opening sequence.

As intermission came, I leaned over to Meghan shared my thoughts on the experience. Meghan shared my enthusiasm about what we were apart of. We talked about how the acting was top-notch and how it was amazing that there were just a handful of actors and actresses playing all of the parts.

Here is the funny thing about that night. I went into the evening with heavy apprehension about a whole lot of silly things. But as the night progressed, as I witnessed great acting and narrative execution, I simply had forgotten about any apprehension that I might have had. I got caught up in the whole experience in itself.

Something occurred to me that night. You see, I felt very much on the "outside" of the theater crowd. I felt the need to bust out my most "artsy" clothing just to be seen as perhaps an "insider". I even felt uneasy about being a part of the chair crowd, and I allowed a 9 year old Shakespeare fanatic make me feel even more insecure. But after all said and done, these insecurities faded away as I experienced something special. When there is an outpouring of creativity and skill, does it not make everything else seem trivial. As the show ended, I realized that I came into the night very much insecure about where I was relative to the theater crowd.

But as we folded our chairs that night to pack up and head home, it occurred to me that I was leaving as someone that was part of the experience that night. I was wowed and amazed at the performance as anyone else was that night, including the fanatic 9 year old. I learned a great lesson that night. I walked away that evening feeling that it only takes a shared experience to level the playing field. What people do and how they do it carries the potential to allow anyone to join in a feel like they belong.

Isn't this the message of the first century church. Under that culture, diversity was something that was very prevalent. There were even different religions that came together to see what it meant to follow this Christ in their world. The meshing of all of the cultures, religions, and even genders really gives us a picture of what it would have meant to be a part of the first century church. But read these words as recorded in Acts 2:42-47;

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

I could just imagine the apprehension of an "outsider" coming into the picture in those days. Did you have to dress differently to feel that you were apart of what was happening? Did you have to memorize, word for word, the ancient scriptures to be included with this special experience? Would people look down on you if they felt that you didn't belong? Then I look at these verses and realize something. Shared experiences led to a level playing field then too. Any apprehensions disappeared in an experience of togetherness that one felt as you witnessed the works of the Spirit in peoples lives. I wonder how long it took for one's apprehensions to fade away. Was it after someone shared with you the teachings of the greatest commands? How about the third time you would share a meal together? Or perhaps it would be the time when you fell sick and others sold there possessions to make sure there were finances to take care of your needs? Either way, I feel that if you were an "outsider", It didn't take long for you to feel other wise.

May we begin to realize that church has something great to offer. As my experience with Shakespeare in the Park proved to be a lesson learned on what it means to "belong", let us look to the first century church to recapture what it means to to be a church in the 21st century, with an open invitation to belong.

-dj

Man-cation and Conversion

As I dropped off my family to the airport, I realized that my life for the next couple weeks would be interesting. Meghan and Jacob were going to spend the week with my in-laws in Mass. This left me two weeks to celebrate my Man-Cation (If you haven't figured it out that is "vacation" but since I am a Man...well hopefully you can connect the dots.)

I already had made a tentative schedule. My plan was to watch as much of the Bond films (including the extras) as I possibly could. My food situation was going to be fulfilling in not such a good way. My menu has shaped up to be fairly unhealthy. After two pizzas, several outing to McDonalds, soda, and a daily dose of cereal at awkward times, I am beginning to feel the results. That aside, it has been a week of a whole lot of nothing. On Friday night, I went to bed at 1:00 am, and woke up at 2:30 pm the next day! I have not slept that much since the good 'ol' days of college.

The house is a little crazy too! The dishes still need to be done, the bathroom needs cleaned. my laundry needs to be folded. Just last night, I realized I needed to do something soon to maintain a happy second week to this man-cation.

I have noticed something else very interesting. It seems that my behavior has slowly changed, as the days go by, since the man-cation started. If there were a couple more weeks of man-cation, I am convinced that I would turn into a bachelor in all its glory. (If you knew me in college, this is not a good thing.) I will leave the specific changes to the imagination. The point is that, for the good for my family, I need to change back into a responsible human being before the week is over.

It is amazing how change can creep in over time without one noticing any change at all. Being in the Christian heritage, we talk about this process a lot, especially in the context of sin. Casting Crowns penned the lyrics to "Slow Fade" which speaks about this;

"It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade"

It's so easy to see change as a painstakingly slow process in this context. Many times we do not just wake up in a lifestyle of sin. Rather is starts slowly and over time it overtakes our lifestyle. Even though many of us in our Christian heritage see this, is it possible we can see "conversion" in the same way?

In the modern world, conversion was the answer to a proposition. It was difficult to see that it may be more of a process. "Converts" were the result of good preaching, and a conviction by the modern standards. I am not suggesting that this does not happen today. This is not my point at all. What I am suggesting however, is that more and more people are skeptical of the modern way. Easy and and pat answers for life's toughest questions are becoming less relevant. Authenticity and purposeful living are becoming more and more convincing to the world around us. Conversion has been looked at in many ways as an event. Is is possible for this "changes" to creep in through the Holy Spirit as we choose to follow in the ways of Jesus? I do know this. Not all of us had the "Damascus" experience. It is only of late in my life that I am truly learning how to follow Jesus in today's world. And to be honest, I am a far cry away from a polished product, nor do I think I ever will be one. Yet, my "conversion" occurred over 13 years ago.

Invitation and alter calls were the way to go at one time. I do wonder how effective this will be in the future. My gut tells me that shared experiences and life with relevant purpose will allow others to join in and try this out. Through this process, perhaps conversion takes place.

This concept of slow change should not be foreign to us. As my man-cation experience shows, I believe we all have times where this makes sense. Casting Crowns shares this same process in "slow fade", and I think we can all agree that sin can creep into our lives over time and change our lifestyles. I am only asking that we may look at the conversion as something similar. Let us not limit the Spirit's work in hearts as just an event. I think it may be possible that we will see conversion as an ongoing process more and more as the world around us is drastically changing.

-dj

Thoughts on "Transformational Architecture" by Ron Martoia; Conclusion

This is my attempt in concluding the series of posts on my thoughts of Ron Martoia's book Transformational Architecture. I am going to be hitting the remaining book (which is a lot of book to cover) in 4 very high level points. I will purposely leave out some of meat in the remaining, not because it is unimportant to the book and its direction.

1. Little Gods

This chapter presents the idea that God has entrusted us to carry out his image to the world around us. In essence, he wants our flesh , our actions , and our words to represent God to a world that is looking for him. An interaction between Martoia and a student of his brings a nice summary of what this chapter entails;

"If we are little gods, so to speak---if we are the ones called to carry the look and feel and flavor of God in this world----then that’s a pretty cool place for the story to begin. That means the point of the whole story is quite different. Now it isn't about fixing something that’s screwed up; it's about fulfilling God's original reason for creating us and the world in the first place." (Page 108)

This is truly a different take on our purpose. But I do believe that Martoia is getting to something here. This is a message that I believe people are willing to align with. Instead of just sharing a proposition with someone, you invite them to be an ambassador for God and his presence to all those around us.

2. The Infectious Judger Gene

This is an interesting chapter on how sin creeps into God's story and how we play a role in it. Martoia connects the Genesis narrative to our tendency to carry judgment to those around us.

"Enter Mr. Serpent into the story. Adam and Eve decided the temptation to become like God was too great. In eating the fruit from this tree, they would have the ability to know good from evil---and they just couldn't stop themselves....Were they tempted by eating from the forbidden tree so that in addition to naming and separating they would also have the ability to know whether something was good or evil? It appears from the text that they would acquire the ability to make pronouncements, that only God... would be able to make." (Page 122-123)

Again, Martoia presents something that I have never really thought before. It does seem that we can trace our tendency to judge back to the garden. Is God the only one that decides on who is “in” and who is “out”? Martoia's presentation on this is convincing, and it does make sense to me. It’s something to be chewed on, that is for sure.

3. Yearning for Wholeness

Martoia explains that within all of us, we have inner cravings for connection. Specifically we have a desire to believe, to belong, and to become. Martoia explains that you will find these inner desires in all humanity.

In my experience these 3 desires seem to be true. Everyone wants to believe in something bigger then themselves, belong in relationships with those around them, and to have a hope for the becoming of something better for tomorrow. I think that Martoa wants us to be able to see these 3 desires in people. Allow those three desires to shape conversations and guide them in God's narrative.

4. Spiritual Cartography

This chapter presents the concept of that (in part) our job as followers, is to function as a sign for others to follow as we reconnect with our story that God has graciously invited us to be a part of.

"We need a spiritual cartography for the conversations we are in engaging in. We need to be incremental and directional, as we engage people in the story of their lives and its intersection with God's big story." (Page 205)

This can be tough! Church has told me for years that there are steps to "conversion". This goes far beyond steps. Martoia is presenting a process, as someone aligns there lives with God's desire for them. This is less of a "click of a switch" and more of a "road trip". This is very important to understand as we invite people to hear the story. It will take time. Our patience will be necessary. Our relationships with that person need not to be the victim if no clear indications of "conversion" is seen.

My hope for this review is that you will pick this book up and give it a chance. This has personally shaped the way I have interacted with those around me. This brought a new appreciation for the journeys that people are on, and where they are going. Martoia has really shaped conversations that need to be shared. So if you have the chance, and you are willing to rethink, pick this book up and really challenge yourself.

-dj

Thoughts on "Transformational Architecture" by Ron Martoia; "Imago Dei"

As I have written before, this book by Ron Martoia sets to explain how we can share our faith in this new postmodern context that we fund ourselves in. One of the "texts" that we mentioned earlier was the "biblical text". Martoia explains that we often share God's story starting at the fall of man in Genesis. However, Martoia argues that we need to start at the creation, or at the beginning of the story. And if we do not do this, we will miss something crucial.

" As we learn about seeing our lives in narrative, it may be an obvious observation that God made us this way and that he made us unique and special in comparison to all other created things. We are made in imago dei. This truth, as it grips a human spirit, has the power to transform. We may conclude that from the very beginning we have been made to be a part of a grand story, to gravitate toward compelling stories, and to be mesmerized by great story telling." (Page 92)

Martoia wants us to start to go back to the beginning of the beginning. And on a nice little side note, Martoia explains that he believes that the author of Genesis did not provide this account in order for us to explain all the questions concerning dinosaurs, age of earth, and evolution. This is crucial because many of our teaching on Genesis gets to far wrapped up in this sort of thinking, and this may not allow us to see how the story truly begins. Now that being said, how should we treat the creation text, and how should we put that into context within the grand narrative? Martoia rightly points out that God is not only creating, he is also separating.

"We must not miss something that is often overlooked: God has the ability through his speaking to do this separating work, and it is called good. God's wholeness, his completeness, his integrity, in the truest sense of the word, isn't jeopardized as he splits things into groups. As he judges one thing from another and puts one thing in once category and another thing in another category, it is all good, according to the author." (Page 94)

The fact that God is able to judge something as being "good" means that it may have been possible for God to judge creation as being bad or evil, and Martoia rightly emphasizes this very point. Martoia then moves to show us one of the key pieces in the creation account;

"Something unique happens in this part of the story. God marks man and woman as different from all over the other living creatures... Man and woman are made imago dei, in the image of God, and they are giving the authority to rule over the rest of creation." (Page 95)

Martoia suggests this very point in the story is where we should start when sharing this story with others. Instead of presenting the typical propositional narrative, we present this story, created humans having the "image of God". But what exactly is Martoia suggesting when he says that this is the starting point? And what does it mean exactly to be created in God's image?

"But most compelling to the biblical and cultural context is the fact that Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to benevolently and creatively serve/ rule the world, the birds, in the sky, and the fish in the sea.... Is it possible that this transfer of royal rule is, at least in Part, what it means to be made in the image of God?" (Page 96)

Martoia suggests that this could be the inner transformational architecture that humanity has within us. Our job, in part, would be as followers of Jesus, to point and guide others to listen to this transformational architecture. Where would Jesus fit into this new frame of God's story? Perhaps Jesus came to show us in its perfection, what this would look like in humanity.

Something interesting to note, Martoia suggests that this concept maybe important to understand idolatry. God wants us to be co-creators, partners with him, as we represent him to his creation. The problem with idolatry is that we choose something that is physical for God's representation, rather then allowing this "image" that is stamped on humanity, to represent His presence on this earth. Idolatry by nature is going against what God has designed for us.

This framing opens up responsibility to humanity to carry out the work of God and to allow God's Spirit to beam His presence to everyone we encounter on a daily basis. This is why Jesus is so important and essential. He is the very nature of God, and his the very nature of humanity that is stamped with this "Transformational Architecture". Without Jesus, we would have no clear direction or hope. He has shown as a new kind of humanity that has allowed us to plug into what it really means to live as God has intended us to live. If I were to recommend only one chapter to read from this book, it would be this one. Martoia does a nice job of framing this story as I believe it was intended to be framed. Martoia's presentation of this has given me fresh ideas on what it means to follow Christ, and share that with others.

I will be concluding the book review with one more post. I will be hitting the remaining book on a very high level, not because I feel its not important, but I feel that I will conclude the very essence of what it so very important in this book, while not recreating the full text myself. (This porbaly good news to readers out there.)

-dj

Finding God in Unusual Places; James Bond Films

I can remember watching my first bond film at the age of 13. I watched Sean Connery's Dr. No. I was simply mesmerized by 007. The charm, action, and witty dialogue captured my attention. I remember purchasing more Bond films and watching many of them. I could not get enough of them. I found it very interesting that there were so many bond films and actors. You can google "James Bond" and find every opinion on the best Bond actors or films. Sometime in that era in my life, I lost interest in the Bond films, as other priorities came to surface. However, my interest in the Bond franchise was renewed.


I was shopping and saw Casino Royale, the newest stab at a postmodern Bond flick. Daniel Craig replaced Pierce Brosnan as the new James Bond. This movie was different then all the previous Bonds. It was much darker and more edgier. The film seemed to be more realistic then the Brosnan films. I personally loved Daniel Craig's interpretation of Ian Flemming's' character. This film actually renewed a tired franchise. It also renewed my love for the Bond films for the first time since my teen years. I believe that the different interpretations of the character James Bond by the different actors who have portrayed him has allowed for this franchise to be one of the best.

We have seen the Cristian heritage catch up with the times through out history. At one time, it was thought to be heresy to believe that the earth was not the center of all things. I wonder as this world adapts to changes, if the Christian faith needs to evaluate our message in the context of our times. Now, I know that many say that it is the method that needs to keep up with the times, and not the message. I will argue that as we experience life in different stages, we will see new messages from the scriptures. Isn't this fact true with our experiences? Do we see aspects of life differently when are in a stage of depression in comparison to a joyous time?

This is why we should embrace the scriptures as a long journey. As we grow and change as a person through out the years, the message reveals more and more to us because of these changes. We certainly need to tweak our methods, but we also always need to evaluate our message as well. The Bond actors revealed a change in character as our our world has changed dramatically since the conception of the films.

Daniel Craig represents a bold new take on James Bond that has resonated with many new viewers of this franchise. (It is worth mentioning that there has been many traditional Bond fans that has resisted this new take. There can be a lot said on this as well, concerning how we do church, and how that effects those involved, but I will leave this alone for now.) May this new take on a traditional character symbolize the changes that we may need to embrace as the world around us has already changed dramatically within the last 40 years.

-dj