coryonomics

Karl Marx wrote that "Religion is the opiate of the Masses". The critique, at least how this quote has been used, is that religion is an escapist drug that keeps people from dealing with reality. Religion is a drug that heightens our emotions but not our intellect or action. Now, I think that there are many arguments that could be made to the point that this is often how religion has been used, but is most assuredly not the intention of Christ to give birth to a movement of the disconnected. But before I get into that, the thing I wonder is if we realize how many other opiates there are in the world.
A friend of mine noted recently that (he being an avid watcher) ESPN was the opiate. I think there is some truth to this, I cannot say I am an EPSN consumer, but I do love entertainment. I, like many of my kind (extroverted, ADD, life lovers) have an inner Robin Williams that needs an occasional release. But how much entertainment do we need. The culture of entertainment (a huge part is people pleasing and a great theme summary is Singing in the Rain's Make'm Laugh segment) has drifted over into media and politics. I don't remember who said it, but some journalist said that our politicians demand to be treated like rock stars and our rock stars pretend to be politicians (as if I really want to get my news from Roving Reporter Sean, Please Take Me Seriously, Penn). All the while substance has drifted and turned into simply policy driven by emotionalism.
See, the world wants hope and purpose and when they can't find it they look for distraction, which soothes our fear. All the while those who seem to think they have the answer can't seem to get their solutions out so they make grand promises of hope with no substance. What they offer instead of hope is more entertainment. We find ourselves with a lack of real hope.
N.T. Wright wrote, "in the absence of real hope, all that is left is feelings. This brings me back to the original opiate. When the church ceases to exist on this plane, we cease to offer real hope. We have real hope in the incarnation of God, Jesus Christ, and in his resurrection. This doesn't mean that we sit around and wait for something to happen one day in some promise of a future "pie in the sky", but that we work in cooperation with Jesus Christ today. Too often the church tries to make our work either/or. But without the worship of God; the acknowledgment of his sovereignty, reality, and active presence in our lives today, we are left with social action alone, which can become a kind of idolatry. Likewise, if we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ without actually living the good news, we are living a lie. When life is lived out as Christ taught and with the power of his resurrection and gift of his Holy Spirit is no opiate, but a life of transformation that calls us to action today. When people see this life lived; one of caring for the weak, tending to the sick, blessing those who curse us, laying down our lives for those around us, standing and speaking for those with no voice, then it will be easier for the world around to see that there is real hope in the Kingdom of God. They might then trade in the opium and get on to the business of living.

I dream a lot. I remember my dreams and some are great and some not so great. I have woken myself up laughing, crying, and one time I woke everyone up yelling in terror at the top of my lungs (there was a giant cube floating over my bed). Well, recently I was having a discussion with my friends 7 year old and he was telling me about a nightmare he had and it reminded my of my favorite nightmare.
I was about 10 years old and at that time in my life I loved grapes and thought the commercial for the Fruit of the Loom underwear, you know the one where the fruit jumped out of the clothing, was very funny. Well, one particular night following a day I am sure that included playing guns, building a tree house, street football, swimming in the public pool, and closing the day with a little Atari 1600 Pitfall and Defender while listening to Van Halen's Jump over and over and over again, I finally drifted off to sleep. During the night of dream jumping I suddenly found myself in brief danger. The carefully embroidered fruit in my underwear inspected by #28 became animated, leaped from their Superman 2 like imprisonment and proceeded to chase me around the house. The Green Grape seemed to have a particular grudge against me and found the kitchen knives and tried to kill me. I woke up just in time. I only eat red grapes now.
So, share a bizarre dream you have had... please keep it clean.

check this link, its worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related

There is nothing that I can say that can add to this, but i will anyway. It is worth your time to watch this clip. Truly inspiring.

The season of Easter loves its symbolism. The universal understanding of the possibility of new life. But new life from what? The average "man on the street" picks up quickly the idea of spring from winter, of new life from the decay of the old. It inspires songs like "the circle of life", but is cyclical change really change? It may be change, but it is not new; it is simply a revolving pattern of an old life.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ breaks this pattern. It addresses the problem of death. Resurrection, which does not mean spirit only or resuscitation of, states that death no longer has the last word. The resurrection moves well beyond the common symbolism that we find in most thinking. The Resurrection invites invites real change, real hope, real living, for today as well as tomorrow. This requires a new reality for us to step into and it is this new reality I wish to briefly address.
I have a friend whose father recently passed away due to cancer. In the process of he and his family adjusting, first to the initial news and then eventually to his death, he responded to my question of how he was doing by saying, "we are learning how to live in the new normal" Instead of fighting a loosing battle of what was not, the 'if only's", he stepped into a new way of living. This, by the way, is a profoundly healthy way to live, it subverts denial and enables one to grieve well.
The "new normal" is what we are called to live into when we step into Christ's resurrection. It is this reality that the apostle Peter found with Jesus on the shore by the sea of Tiberias. N.T. Wright in his book Surprised By Hope referring to John 21 states that "Peter, famously, has denied Jesus. He has chosen to live within the normal world, where the tyrants win in the end and where it's better to dissociate yourself from people who get on the wrong side of them. But now, with Easter, peter is called to live in a new and different world. Where Thomas is called to a new kind of faith and Paul to a radically renewed hope, Peter is called to a new kind of love." (p 72) This love is more than a feeling, but connected with the resurrection is a new way of believing and living. Wright goes on to reflect on the question Jesus then asks Peter, the question of Peter's love for him. It is this question that opens up a profound new reality, a question that Wright says invites us to be remade.
Outside of the resurrection, Peter must remain the same and learn how to cope with his betrayal. He may find ways to give his lifestyle a new makeover, but the reality he is in is still limited by death which ultimately limits how we live out the rest of our breath. However, confronted with the resurrected Christ, Peter's reality has shifted and now in order to live in a world where death no longer wins, Peter must step into a place where he allows himself to no longer be ruled by the former reality, the ones of tyrants, power, manipulation, defensiveness, and fear to name a few. The resurrection moves his forgiveness into more than just the healing of a relationship based on a former world view reality; it moves him into a new reality, a new creation that enables him to live differently starting at that moment.
A very important element for us to see is that this new reality is not just a personal one, God has come to redeem all of creation which calls us to a new kind of living today. It requires us to live and work hand in hand with God in his redeeming work. To live life as one who believes in the resurrection, not only of Jesus' resurrection but our own in the future, means that we begin to live it out now in everything we do. This kind of living begins to look like what Jesus called to us to do, love one another as he loves us, to forgive as we are forgiven, to treat our enemies as he did with honesty, compassion, and concern.
We can live this life because in Christ's resurrection death was defeated and with the defeat of death comes the defeat of fear. I believe that it is death and fear that makes us act and react in all the unhealthy ways we do. They drive us to a perverted sense of self-preservation because we fear that when someone harms us that they have power over us. The new reality says that in Christ, even though others may harm us in temporal ways, we are not victims of their violence, be they words or weapons, because we have only one Lord who has the final say and that is the one who defeated death; Jesus Christ. Therefore, I can turn the other cheek, I can bless those who persecute me, I can live as Jesus lived, did as Jesus died, and rise as Jesus rose. This is the reality that gives me hope, strength, and vision for today here and now.

The Gospel according to Matthew 15:31-32 says, "So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.' Those who were crucified with him also reviled him." (ESV)

Through the eyes of mortality the priest's request is not a bad one. Why not come down off the cross? How many would have been convinced that Jesus was indeed the Messiah? Is it too much to ask for proof? Although the vitriol spewed on a dying man is disturbing, the request is understandable. After all, what is the cross? Undignified, shameful, weak, defeat, and death.

Through the eyes of eternity, though, the question is misguided. Which Messiah would they be believing? Would Jesus be the same Messiah if he came off of the cross? What would their "belief" represent and who would they really be following? "Jesus" they say, "we will believe you if you come down." Believe what?

The people did not crucify Jesus because they did not want a Messiah, they crucified him because he was not the Messiah they wanted. My main contention with many who claim to follow Christ, including myself, is that we tend not to want God, but a God talisman. The good news that is shared is "self-help"; if you want more and a better return on your life, come to Jesus. Instead of Jesus being our all in all we ask Jesus to make our all our all. We become like those standing around the cross and say, "if you are the messiah, then come down and meet my expectations".

I wonder if Jesus had come down, what their expectations would have been. Surely they would have been amazed. Surely Jesus would have increased his followers. But then what? What is the mission? What is the purpose of this Messiah off the cross? Bring world peace by taking over the government? Would that really bring peace? I believe our sin is caused by our need to control and by fear of losing that control. When that control is threatened we defend. While this is an admittedly simplified version of sin, the point I am making is that what can be accomplished from a Jesus who comes off the cross is limited. It is limited by one major controlling factor; death. With Jesus off the cross, death still wins. We all still die and experience its finality. We may have a one world government and great peace on earth, but then what? Death still wins. Peace cannot be sustained with death as the victor. Essentially, then, with a limited vision of God's work, the only reason to have Jesus come down off the cross and claim an earthly throne, is so that some can have power and live the life they want so that when they near death, they can say it was fun while it lasted... at least for me.
But this is a narrow view of Messiah. It is a mortal view. It is a view that Jesus did not share. The goal was not a temporal change of leadership, but an eternal transformation of life. Death was not the intent of God. It is not some "circle of life" that is to be celebrated, but it is an affront to God, the author of life. Death, sickness, the break down of the body, mind, and soul, is an enemy. God created life and it was good, we do not see "and God created death and it was good". What we see is that death and chaos are the ill effects of sin, or to define sin another way, a perversion of what is good.
God's answer is to defeat death. Why it was done in the manner it was I have no idea, but blood seems to be a rather sacred thing. Jesus, however, stays on the cross. He dies. He is resurrected. Death is defeated. Now, in Christ we are offered the same win. Death is still an enemy, but it is a defeated enemy. Through the cross all rules are changed, the choices broadened, the Kingdom offered (the kingdom of God begins now is fulfilled one day, we begin living under the rule of God now) and the Holy Spirit given. Now the call of God, to love him by loving one another can be lived because Jesus makes it possible through his Holy Spirit. We can now surrender to that love without fear, because if death is defeated we can live knowing that death is not the end and only temporary.
To come off the cross is the way and will of men. To die is the way of God. To kill death is the way of God. To resurrect is the way of God. The way of God is often mocked because it is misunderstood; it is seen through the eyes of mortality, brokenness, fear, and death. However, seen through the eyes of God, eternity, life, and hope, we see that God does not cause death, but says, "look how I can transform evil into Good". The reality is that to come off the cross is Undignified, shameful, weak, defeat, and death. To remain is Life.

The top right corner of my blog features my video/song of the week. Tom Waits takes the spotlight this week. I was fortunate enough to have roommates in college who had a broader and more flavorful collection than mine. Let's put it this way; my most embarrassing moment involved me thinking my rock-n-roll roommates were out of the house and me taking the liberty to blast... true confessions folks... Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation... there may have also been dancing. Anyway, it was these true friends who embraced me for the Amy Grant, Janet Jackson, C&C Music factory loving, infadel I was and introduced me to some truly heavenly sounds. If there were idols in this house on Ashworth Ave. in Nashville, they were U2, The Beatles, and one roommate had an unhealthy obsession with Lou Holtz and Notre Dame.
However, these blessed evangelists of sound moved me beyond the standards and into the beautiful absurdity of Tom Waits.
What I find absurd in Tom Waits is the beauty he portrays through his graveled windpipes. However, I do not write today to talk about Tom so much as to invite you to experience a bit of Tom's art. This song, "Come On Up To The House" is one of my favorites. It comes to mind this week in particular, as it is holy week. Now, I do not imagine many people think of Tom and Holy Week together, but this song is gospel. He invites, "when you're high on top of your mountain of woe, you gotta come on up to the house. well you know you should surrender, but you can't let go; you gotta come on up to the house".
I love that something so rough and worn creates such beauty. I hope you enjoy.

So this might not be the most insightful blog, but here goes. Having a 15 month old has changed our tv habits. For 1, at night we watch our shows with headphones on, my wife thinks we will wake Sydney otherwise... I'm not convinced. For 2, morning getting ready time is easier with Disney and PBS. All of this to say that I have been reunited with some childhood favorites. Sesame Street is one of those favorites.
Recently, though, I have come to a harsh realization. Ernie, who was my second favorite (Grover wins arms down), is an instigator and kind of inconsiderate. I used to view Burt (or is it Bert) as the snobby, uptight, one; but in reality he is simply trying to get some needed shut eye and work on his hobbies (pigeons and the letter 'W'). Ernie, who I saw as the free spirited one not confined to the social norms, is always playing pranks on Bert (or Burt), getting him to say "I '8' the sandbox", annoying Bert with his disguises while Burt attempts to read his book, asking Bert to get him a glass of water, and the list goes on. Watching this as an adult, I realized that Ernie is an instigator full of his own stuffing. To be honest, I was a little peeved at Ernie. He reminded me of someone. Who? He reminded me of... oh man, ME! Maybe he's not so bad after all.

Cyril of Jerusalem writes:

“Wherever Jesus appears, there also is salvation. If he sees a tax collector seated at the counter, he makes him an apostle and an evangelist; if he is buried among the dead, he raises them; he gives sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. When he walks around the pools, it is not to inspect the buildings but to heal the sick.” (Homily on the Paralytic by the Pool, translation by Edward Yarnold S.J.)

The nature of God is healing. The nature of God is reconciliation. The nature of God is wholeness. What else is holiness other than God being God? What else is our holiness called to be other than our true state, that of a relationship with God? Holiness is about living a sustainable relationship with the creator of life. In other words, it is living life the way life is meant to be. Jesus Christ is Gods answer to our severed relationship. Because God alone is whole, he alone can extend the invitation to reconciliation. His presence is reconciling; his presence is saving.

This Sunday 5 youth are being confirmed in our church. This is an incredible moment with the potential for powerful impact on their lives as well as those of the church. It is a moment when Jesus appears, when healing takes place, when lives are made new. It is a moment, I fear, we too often take for granted and lose sight of what God is doing.

Our history, which extends to the beginning of time, is immersed in baptismal theology. Our origin story is one that begins with God surveying chaos; troubled waters, troubled land. God speaks and his word penetrates confusion and brings order, light, and life. When the word of God appears, there is also salvation. It is through troubled waters that the old identity of brutality and brokenness are destroyed and a new image and purpose are created.

What I find incredibly amazing is that God uses that which was chaos to make beautiful order. In other words, one’s old self is not exiled but transformed. The Israelites were a people of slavery whose existence was guided by tyrants and were baptized through the sea of reeds and found themselves a free people on the other side. They were the same people with a new nature, a new purpose. They were a people called to live instead of die.

The Gospel of John records no new message and no new word, but a new form. John tells us that the “Word of God is Flesh”. The word appears and there is salvation. The word of God is Jesus Christ. What waters must we cross now? It is a living water that transforms our nature by reconciling us with truth, by healing us with the only reality; God is the only truth and his truth is love. His truth is relationship. We stand on one shore with chaos, brokenness, even in our presumed orderly lives. Our lives may be orderly, but so were the Hebrews when they were in slavery. But when Jesus appears, the waters before us call us to something dangerously wonderful. We are called to drown and in that drowning, be raised to a new life. We are the thief who is now an apostle, the dead who is now alive, the blind who sees, the deaf who hears. In our baptism we are made alive with a new reality: a reality of life, wholeness, and one of striving with God. In our baptism we are called to no longer live from a place of darkness and chaos, but God has hovered over our waters and penetrated us with his word and brought forth order, light, and life. Let us live from that into that relationship.

This is a video of a man named Taylor Mali. He is a slam poet. Why is it called slam poetry? I don't know. However he raises a great question and then makes a great point. Taylor addresses the issue of relativity in opinions. Why are we so afraid to speak emphatically?
In the so called name of inclusiveness, tolerance, and being "politically correct" we have become a people who no longer stand behind any opinion we might have because we are afraid of those who might label us. We end up being a people who almost say something important.
Can you imagine Dr. MLK saying, “I have a dream?” Without conviction and speaking with the authority that convictions bring, we would absolutely go nowhere and believe anything. Are we an open-minded society? Yes, but for some reason we never close our mind enough to have a personal set of values and convictions to speak with clarity or live intentionally.
The other thing that bothers me is the question of who gets to decide what is closed or open minded. If I am always ceding authority and conviction to someone else, I am essentially saying your opinions about things that affect me are more important than my own experiences. I am also turned off by the assumption that because I speak and act with conviction that this in someway diminishes the opinion of another if they happen to disagree.
However, and there is always a however, this does not mean that convictions mean bullying. As a matter of fact the more secure we are in our convictions the less likely we will be to use our opinions to wound others.
I might also argue that for many the lack of speaking with conviction can lead to more harm than good. Take the minister who never has a definitive word. His relativity leads to a relative truth that leads to a relative God. What kind of good news is that? How will people ever know where you stand? Oh, but what if I offend someone with my interpretation of the truth? Well, there is no insult like truth, but the truth sets us free, and as a minister my job is not about relativity but about declaration with a grand caveat… I am called to speak the truth in love. Jesus offended but he loved. Thank God he never said, “Love one another as I have loved you? Seek First the Kingdom of God? Take up your cross and follow me? Truly I will see you in paradise today?”

The Difficulty with starting a new blog or recreating an old one is that there needs to be a beginning. Where else would one start? But beginnings are difficult, as no one truly begins at the start of a thought. A new thought is simply a scion of an older thought. Those thoughts which inspire other thoughts are simply, or rather quite complexly, our processing of experience into order and vision. How we comprehend and order our vision has a great deal of impact on how we live our lives.
It is to this living that I hope to blog about in months and years to come. But this is no linear task, for linear thinking is (much to the chagrin of indoctrinated society) a grand mythology. Sure, we have story lines and structures that are ordered in "point 'a' to 'b'" format, and this is something that is necessary... sometimes, but the grand picture of life is a majestic weave of our experience of the seemingly random and providential minutia and milestones of our day to day living. When reflected upon we sometimes stumble into mosaic order.
Mosaic order may be the reason this blog exists. I will be reflecting on art, music, theology, comedy, dreams, junk, and basically the things we come into contact on our daily journey through life. Hopefully there will be the occasional thought provoking spark and glimps of order in the delightful world of the non-linear.
All of this to say is that this blog simply does not have a beginning, nor does is simply not have a beginning... it simply just might be what it is. One more blog in this blog eat blog world.