In the Flesh

So ya thought ya might like to go to the show. To feel the warm thrill of confusion; that space cadet glow. Tell me is something eluding you, sunshine? Is this not what you expected to see? If you wanna find out what's behind these cold eyes, you'll just have to claw your way through this disguise.

Amazing Grace

I am not a fan of films that have Christian followings. This one looks a bit different, however. We are on a mailing list for Worshiptogether.com. They sent us a trailer for the upcoming film, "Amazing Grace". It is the story behind the most famous and the most powerful song in all of history. They had Chris Tomlin, an excellent worship leader and writer, help with the soundtrack and even add an extra bridge to the song itself. The film looks amazing. It is Christian, but it is also cutting edge in its social justice message and how the grace God truly sets all people free. Click on the title of this post for the trailer. I'm thinking maybe we should all get together and see it when it comes out.

Mean People Suck

I work for a social service organization outside of my duties as the lead pastor of Adullam. I have worked in a number of social service situations in the past, and I have learned that all of them have one thing in common: DRAMA.

There has been all this chaos at work, and I have suddenly ended up in the middle of it all. I wrote a report about my department, summarizing a meeting we had, at the request of my supervisor. I was frustrated, and the report was not a positive one. It was confidential, however. That was back in October. This past Friday, one of the employees in that department quit, citing my report as the reason. When I say "citing", I mean he sent a message via email to every employee in the place. He also wrote a 10 page manifesto that included a copy of my confidential report and put the manifesto on every person's desk. No idea how he got a copy of my report.

So, then all of these other people at work started thinking that I caused this guy to quit. Then, another employee from the same department left today. Now all of these people at work think that I am this evil plotter, and many have conspiracy theories about me and management and how we are all in this secret group looking to fire everyone else. They see me in my friend Bill's office, whispering all the time, so we must be planning to fire more people. WOW. I wrote a report. IN OCTOBER! The guy who quit told me he was looking for a new job back in August. His manifesto was just a parting shot at me on his way out. I have been meeting secretly with management, because I am trying to start a new program to help people and compliment the work of the business. We can't really talk about it or take company time on it, until we have some important pieces in place. Bill and I whisper, because most of our jokes are inappropriate. All of the people who have left or been fired have multiple reasons, none of which have anything to do with me.

It seems to me that reality is much less interesting than fantasy. People who take the time to create and promote drama need more work to do. I try to come in, do my job, help as many people as possible and go home. I don't have a stomach for the drama. I want to yell at all of the gossips, busybodies, and drama queens to shut up, return to their cubicles, and work.

I think what pisses me off most is me. I want all of them to like me, and this upsets me because of my people pleasing crap. I want to be one of these narcissistic people who can just shrug off all negativity. This is where my Christianity is really challenged, with people who are remarkably non-Christian. I have some really good people at work, but it is the few that really make it hard to show up some days.

Wookin Pa Nub

"Jesusland" by Ben Folds
from the CD - Songs For Silverman

Take a walk
out the gate you go and never stop
past dollar stores and wig shops
quarter in a cup for every quaff
and watch the buildings grow
smaller as you go

Down the tracks
beautiful McMansions on a hill
that overlook a highway
There's riverboat casinos and you still
have yet to see a soul

Jesusland
Jesusland

Town to town
broadcast to each house, they drop your name
but no one knows your face
Billboards quoting things you'd never say
you hang your head and pray

for Jesusland
Jesusland

Miles and miles
and the sun's goin' down
Pulses glow
from their homes
You're not alone
Lights come on
as you lay your weary head on their lawn

Parking lots
cracked and growing grass you see it all
from offices to farms
crosses flying high above the malls
Along the walk

through Jesusland
Jesusland


What a great song. I think a lot of people would hear these lyrics and say, "But, Ben Folds isn't Christian! I have even heard him say swear words in his songs!"

This is the difficulty with labels. Labelling something "Christian" or "Secular" limits our accessibility to the little bits of ultimate reality present in those things. When Switchfoot, a band that traditionally was considered contemporary Christian, released an album in the secular market, most Christian radio stations took a break from playing their music. Evanescence, one of the best bands in music today, came out as a "Christian Band", but when one of the bad members was heard saying a naughty word, their music was pulled from the shelves of Christian stores across the country.

What makes me sad about this, is that Christians close themselves off from some statements that really touch on ultimate reality. The song above by Ben Folds really rings true. Read it. Test it, just like Scripture tells us to. Ben Folds professes a life committed relationship with Jesus Christ. He is much more effective telling stories in his songs that are true. Stuff doesn't always have to be wrapped, packaged, and marketed as part of the "Christian Marketing Machine" in order to be true. In fact, one could argue that such packaging may interfere with the truth. Just some food for thought.