Teen Mania (Literally?)

Once again it has been some time since I last made my contribution to the blogosphere. No real reason for the delays, partially that life has been full of normalcy which has been nice after the couple weeks of spring break and visitors. The other part is that I haven’t been feeling particularly eloquent with anything to write about. There have been some really great things going on with both Liz and I in the arena of our growth in the Lord but not exactly stuff that I am going to be laying out for all to see. If you are really interested you know how to reach me and we would be more than happy to share in person.

Something that caught my eye this week elsewhere in blog-land was a link to this article, “Teenage Holy War” in Rolling Stone of all places. It is looking at the Battle Cry events put on by Teen Mania Ministries and Ron Luce. These events are particularly concerned with the intersection of teens and culture and their perception is that culture is ruining teens. Particular targets include Internet gambling/porn/hate, sexualized television, sexual/foul music etc. I have to agree that these issues are something to be concerned with but I take exception to the method that Luce and the Battle Cry take to do so.

Understandably, I know that Rolling Stone has a different perspective and a distinct agenda about how they report on these events and their bias is visible from a mile away but Luce’s words speak for themselves. The language is about a battle against the culture and putting teens at odds against the culture and even their peers. It is frustrating to read statements about Jesus being angry about the state of culture today. I rather think that he is heartbroken, that those he came to save and died for, worship at other altars, and the church that he commissioned to redeemed them in many ways looks the same.

Loved this:

Jesus didn’t come here, giving up His rightful place on the throne of Heaven and
the active praise of creatures which will make you cry out in fear because they
are flames of fire, and die on a cross so we can have a global America. Middle
Class American culture is not the reason the Son of God spilled His own blood.
He did not walk out of the tomb to hand you the keys to a new SUV or a house
with a nice, flat sod yard. Jesus came to die for sinners, and it wasn’t
because He was angry but because of Love.

Frank Turk

Jesus had a way of turning everything upside-down from what people thought should happen. When he was realized as the messiah he was expected to wrest control from Rome with force, instead he gave up his life to establish a different type of kingdom. The kingdom where the least are the greatest and if you want to live life, give yours away. Jesus was never at odds with those who had no knowledge of God and felt far from him, he sought them out and gently returned them to the fold. He saved his harshness for those who claimed to be religious but used their status to marginalize others and condemn them.

I don’t disagree that there is a problem of culture today; too much sex, commercialization, isolation, and general hopelessness but I doubt the solution is to condemn that culture and those who are wrapped up with it. Rather, why not love those who have no knowledge of God and his love for them and redeem them from the culture in to the Kingdom that is counter-cultural since it’s beginning.

Crazy People in Michigan

So this article is the leading story on CNN.com at the moment… Just another reminder that the crazies are all around us.. Not to often that they actually come out of the woodwork in Northern Michigan, usually they just stay in their wooded cabins.

iPhone at Last

I just finished reading the transcript of the MacWorld Keynote address by Steve Jobs. The hilight was the announcement of the pending release of the iPhone. This may very well be the greatest thing since sliced bread… An awesomely integrated combination between an iPod, cell phone, PDA, touchscreen computer and video player… The folks at Apple are geniuses!! Downsides in my opinion, Cingular is the only carrier to get it at first, and it costs $499 for a 4gb model w/ a 2 year contract…. ouch! Well, this may delay my investment in a smart phone for a while if only to see how they actually work… Shippin begins in June, happy market share grabbing to Apple Inc.

Holidays and Giving

During the holiday season I know it is traditional for many people to be a bit more generous than they usually are. This is something that in the past I would have applauded and thought of as a great act of charity and blessing. Now don’t get me wrong, I think giving in any scale is better than not giving at all but in the past few weeks there have been a number of things that have caught my attention and made me think about giving.

The first was an airing of 20/20 where Jon Stossel looked at people who give in various income brackets as well as how the US stacks up against other nations in terms of giving. To read the stories check out the links. The second was this past weekend’s message at Mars Hill. Rob continued the series “Calling All Peacemakers” by looking at the cost of war and the enormity of wealth that is concentrated in America compared to the relative costs of some basic needs around the world such as clean water, basic education, hunger, and consumption. It was staggering to hear the depth of Americas spending not only on war and defense but for things like Christmas. One thing that almost disturbed me was this; the estimated cost of providing basic water and sanitation needs for everyone on the planet that is in need is around $9 billion.. which is the same amount of money that people in the US spent shopping on Black Friday (the day after thanksgiving). Coincidently, there was an article today about Malaria deaths in Africa today on CNN that went fittingly with the message.
I bring these things up not because I am free from responsibility in my consumerist lifestyle because I like “stuff” as much as anyone else but because it is important that things like this are brought to light. The challenge in knowing things like this is that if we want to take Jesus seriously than we need to not only know what is happening but also do something about it. So let the spirt of holiday generosity stir in us long after the decorations are packed away so that we may do our part to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide shelter for the homeless, and bring justice to the oppressed.