This year we found out about a big event hosted at a high school in one of the small rural communities just outside of our city. It was quite fantastic. There were jumpy castles, clowns, entertainment and more. Our kids had a blast. They were even serving a pizza/hot dog lunch in the cafeteria for a ridiculously low price. (this is starting to sound like an infomercial)

Around the school that day there were several local community groups helping out. One of the groups helping to serve the lunch was from a local church which I think is fantastic. What I found interesting was the t shirts the church group were wearing. They were very bright yellow and said

“Church Name (changed to protect the innocent) community outreach…..We Show Up!

While eating, my wife and I had a conversation about the “We Show Up” tag line on the shirts. To be honest I’m not sure what to think of it. I don’t mean to be hard on the group of people who were there on their holiday, giving up their time  serving my family lunch but I don’t understand the intent of the we show up. That’s why I’m writing this post. I need some help and want some outsiders opinion.

Were they trying to draw attention to the fact they were doing this good deed? Were they trying to draw attention to the fact other churches weren’t involved. Were they trying to state that “Hey we’re here for you, our community please count on us”?

I guess trying to guess their intention isn’t really possible (or fair) but I don’t understand what they would be trying to communicate with it, or to be honest how I feel about it. If you have any thoughts please comment them.

I know I am painting with a very broad brush here but it seems like a large majority of the time I hear believers talking about risks  and the need to take them it’s usually in the context of a short term missions trip or looking at financing a building project.

Not that there is anything wrong with those two things but we have a faith based on a God who sent His son to earth to die on a cross. He then rose from the dead so that we could be reconciled with God and live life to the full.  We then usually live safe little lives where we take very few risks. We sit nicely in our pews then go out into the world and blend right in. Large groups of us may raise our voice to complain about something we’re unhappy about (usually the government) but won’t allow God to speak into our lives beyond dealing with some surface level sin.

A lot of these thoughts come from my reaction to an interaction I had earlier today.  It was with a leader in a local church and there was just no excitement. There was no willingness to change anything from the status quo. There was no willingness to risk anything.  Everything is just fine the way it is and there is no reason to look at anything other than what they’re currently doing and how they’re doing it.

I’m not a fan of change for change sake but I believe we need to be open to God’s calling whenever it comes.  We need to be creative in our thinking as we seek to share the gospel.  We should be full of a holy mischief. We should make people a little uncomfortable because we live as people who have a hope. A hope that is worth dedicating our lives to and giving up everything for.

Again I know I’m painting with a very broad brush. I know there are people of faith who are taking huge risks for the kingdom of God.  I know there are believers who are creating beautiful art and others who are thinking and wrestling with the realities of living a life a faith. So I ask for your forgiveness as I gripe about the way we as Christians often settle for a bland way of living.

I’m posting this from my phone. I’ve never done this before so I’m hoping this works and is viewable.

I’m out doing some song writing and came across two fantastic definitions for the word “guide” that I wanted to share.

Guide
1) implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all it’s difficulties and dangers

2) to put or lead on a course or into the way to be followed

They’re nothing profound but I was really struck with the beautiful picture of God as our true guide. That in the struggles and realities of life He alone has an intimate knowledge of the way to be followed.

May God guide you!

Here is a clip of an interview he did with Dag Soderberg who published a new version of the bible. It’s called “The Book; The Bible Illuminated”.  Again here is a link to the clip.

I’m not going to comment too much on the book because I haven’t seen or read it but some of the statements that were made really grabbed my attention and resonated with me.  Mr. Soderberg said that the bible was the “most referenced yet least read book. ” That his organization’s goal is to bring about discussion and bring the bible “from the book shelf to the coffee table. ”

I’m totally into their goals for the bible, but I don’t want to get to excited because I don’t know too much about this version.  Like I said I resonate with all of their goals and want to see Christians engage the world but I want them to engage the world with Jesus.  Are the pictures and things they’ve added going to help engage the world with Christ and His message or are they a cool way to sell books and going to be a distraction from the message?

Again I haven’t seen the book so I’m not going to give my opinion on it. I just want to be careful before I get to excited about it. I did a very quick google search and didn’t see any rage over the book but nothing that seemed to rant and rave over it (other than the publishers homepage). I’ll probably order a copy because I’d love to see it and know if it could be a useful ministry tool and when I do I’ll write a review.

Has anyone seen the book or any thorough reviews? Anyone have any thoughts on what their trying to do?