Is Christianity the end of Consumerism? (Part 2)

I have been pondering the idea of the fall of humanity lately found in the first part of Genesis. I am compelled by the complexity and simplicity of the narrative.

Here's my brief take on the fall of humanty:
God was in relationship with Adam and Eve. Adam was in relationship with God. Eve was in relationship with God. Adam was in relationship with Eve. Eve was in relationship with Adam. There was relationship and connection with the creation and the creator... (note: was)

The relationships broke apart in a selfish act of possession by Adam and Eve. Consumerism is an act of possession rooted in the idea that I want what I don't have...

The beauty of the story is that we still fall under the same temptation to define ourselves by what we possess.

For Adam and Eve the selfless-ness of relationship was trumped by the selfish act of possessing the forbidden fruit in order to have something other than relationships define them.

The basic value of our consumer culture is possession.

Here's the way I see it: I don't have what I want, therefore I don't know who I am, maybe if I had another 'possession' I would know who I am? Adam and Eve reached out to be identified by something other than relationship... the object became the focus, not the relationship (with one another or with God). We seek (and continue to seek) posessions in our culture to define us. The questions becomes, what possesses what? or who possesses whom? Love is not possession...

I believe Jesus came to abolish our Identity based on possession and re-established relationship (us with God and one another).

You (nor I) will ever be defined by what we possess, ever. God's love for us is not possession, it's freedom from possession.

Christianity is the end to capitalism (and any other 'ism', Brien) Thanks be to God...

Is Christianity the end of Consumerism? (Part 1)

I just got back from a 10 day intensive face to face experience with my fellow students in the Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation and Leadership through George Fox Seminary and my head is absolutely swimming.

The content of my classes shared a focus on how our consumerism is an addiction in our culture and is utterly opposed to Jesus' teaching and purpose.

The system of capitalism is dying (or at least stalled). We can observe the breakdown of our economic system and infrastructure. Our economic system is based on consumption.

The fall of humanity found in Genesis is an act of objectification and consumption. According to the narrative, Adam and Eve objectified the fruit on the tree, consumed what they were forbidden to eat and suffered the breaking of relationship (trust, hope, union).

Jesus came to turn the systems of oppression upside-down. The sermon on the mount is a testament to the way the "Kingdom Economy" works. The least of these are the ones in control.

Jesus came to establish a new kingdom, here and now, based on everyone (all humanity) having their basic needs met.

I'm not sure how it all is going to work, but it seems to me that our system (capitallism) based consumerism and consumption must die if we are to follow Jesus.

I became aware of how much time energy and effort I make to buy things I don't need. My consumption deters what God wants to do in me, though me and with me in the world.

I am not what I buy or consume. I am responsible to be salt and light in the world. I am to value Kingdom Economy of Justice. I believe that the values of consumerism cannot stand for justice and that the our system rooted in consumerism is inherently unjust.

So what do we do in light of our consumeristic values that collide with Jesus mandate to care for the poor and oppressed? I think awareness of our own addiction to 'stuff' is a good beginning. The affect of our consumerism is rampant.

Will you join me in repentance? Are you aware of your consumption? Can we live in a "kingdom economy" and participate in an inherently unjust system of oppression? Why are we so attached to things? What values must change?

Song #2 Always Love by Nada Surf

Theology of Lyric Song #2
Always Love by Nada Surf off the record The Weight is a Gift

To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me
Always love Hate will get you every time
Always love Don't wait til the finish line

Slow demands come 'round
Squeeze the air and keep the rest out
It helps to write it down
Even when you then cross it out

But Always Love Hate will get you every time
Always Love even when you wanna fight

Self-directed lives
I want to know what it'd be like to
Aim so high above
Any card that you get dealt you

Always Love
Hate will get you every time
Always love
Hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah. You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah. You said to me quietly on the stairs.
You said
Hey, you good ones.
Hey, you good ones.

To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me
Always love hate will get you every time
Always love hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah, You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah, You said to me quietly on the stairs
You said..
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones

I like this song a lot... the idea that we are made to love, but 'hate will get you every time.' This song allows the freedom to make the choice to love, even though hate is easier...

I'm prone to make mountains out of my life, in essence, I choose to make things bigger than they are (more daunting and scary).

I (we) must choose to love, even when I'm (we're) held back by: expectations, pride, despair hopelessness, apathy, isolation, desolation, conclusions, etc.

Always Love!

Hate will get you every time!

Theology of Music

I'm going to attempt to write about the most theologically influential songs that have impacted the way I think about God, life, and church.
I encourage you to listen to the song and make your own conclusions. I also encourage you to think about the most influential songs you have heard and why they are important to you?

Background: I like good lyrics even if the music leaves something to be desired. So, I guess I'm not a purist when it comes to the actual sound... I really like the poetry of lyric and how it moves me to see God in a new light.

The first song I want to focus on is:
BAD by U2 on the album: Wide Awake In America:

If you twist and turn away
If you tear yourself in two again
If I could, yes I would
If I could, I would
Let it go
Surrender
Dislocate
If I could throw this
Lifeless lifeline to the wind
Leave this heart of clay
See you walk, walk away
Into the night
And through the rain
Into the half-light
And through the flame

If I could through myself
Set your spirit free
I'd lead your heart away
See you break, break away
Into the light
And to the day

Oooh oooh, oooh oooh, oooh oooh oooh...

To let it go! And so fade away
To let it go!
And so fade away
I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping, oh no, no, no

If you should ask then maybe they'd
Tell you what I would say
True colors fly in blue and black
Blue silken sky and burning flag
Colors crash, collide in blood shot eyes

Oooh oooh, oooh oooh, oooh oooh oooh...

If I could, you know I would
If I could, I would
Let it go

This desparation
Dislocation
Separation
Condemnation
Revelation
In temptation
Isolation
Desolation

Let it go
And so fade away
To let it go, oh yeah
And so fade away
To let it go, oh No
And so fade away
I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping oh no no

The idea behind the song for me is my role as a pastor. The decision that we make is what we are going to hold onto to define us. To be alive is to be awake... If I could answer all the questions people have, I would refuse, if I could make it all go away (especially the pain in your lives, i would refuse...

Each of us must choose what we are going to hold onto... we must also choose what we are going to let go of... the pain each of us experiences is palpable... the question is wether we are going to let it define us, or if we are going to let it go...

We are invited to let go of what we cling to to define us, and cling to love that will define us.

I have chosen to let go of the pain of the past in order to experience freedom and I believe that happens only through Jesus who is the Christ...

What is God calling you to let go of?

What defines you?
This desparation
Dislocation
Separation
Condemnation
Revelation
In temptation
Isolation
Desolation?

Could it be that Love defines you?

rock on
cv

Life too short = not paying attention

So I had a friend of mine send me a message on on my 39th birthday (yesterday) saying that she thinks 39 is old. Well, that caused me to ponder a bit about the question of life being short? and if I believed "life was flying by?"

In some ways my memory deceives me a bit into thinking that time has "flown." Reality, however is that a lot of experiences and life has happened in my lifetime. Events, celebrations, grief, pain, joy, commitment, faith, blood, sweat, tears, hopes and dreams all have been a part of those experiences.

When I think about all the places I've been, the things I've seen, and the number of people I have had the honor to meet I am amazed I haven't needed more time.

I guess life is all about perspective, maybe time flies when we aren't paying attention?

Nostalgia is not what is seems to be...

I've read and seen the movie 'the watchmen.' Throughout the book an ad campaign called "Nostalgia" is seen everywhere. On billboards, TV, in newspapers... everywhere.

Stacy and I just got back from OKC yesterday for her 20 year high school reunion. It was interesting to be an outside observer of nostalgia in action. The strange thing is that most everyone there had this past relationship in HS, but life moved forward and all that is left are nostalgic memories of the past.

In 'Watchmen' 'Nostalgia' is a fragrance. My experience of the reunion was like observing people with different fragrances of nostalgia... some people had too much on, others, not enough.

My point is that nostalgia defines the past the way you want it to be... and keeps one from being present in the now.

Maybe the point of watchmen is that we glorify the past, therefore we cant see the present.

Note: High School reunions are a bit painful to observe... I can't wait for mine!

Noela Drive - Ka Lani Lua

So today marks the end of my 9 day stint in Hawaii overlooking Waikiki. I have been the 'house-sitter' for my father-in-law. He is the property manager for the house.

The house sits up on diamond-head overlooking a huge park (Kapiolani) and all the hotels of Waikiki. I have surfed everyday, in board shorts (not a 5 ml wetsuit). Stacy came in over the weekend and we had a great time hanging out together. I miss her and will get to see her soon... I have enjoyed being away. But I'm glad to be coming back to what I know and to people who know me.

I used to go on vacation and think, 'I want to live here.' Like, as if life would be better if I'm on vacation all the time. This trip was different, although I was able to hang out and surf, I still had responsibilities. I had tasks that I had to be responsible for, things that needed to get done. That responsibility was/is a great gift.

Ususally, on a vacation, I think only about what's next on the agenda not about the plants that have yet to be watered or the pool that needs more chlorine. On vacation I think, ' that pool looks fun to swim in,' not, 'I think the tiles need some scrubbing.'

Anywhoo, it's been a much different trip... I'll write more later...

I was given a taste of what life would be like, if by chance, we were to move here.