Category Archives: Culture

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Holding Hands with God

Last night on Dateline NBC they spent an hour on the topic of “Social Conformity.” The program made the point that humans beings are “hard wired” to obey their parents. They said that humans have a childlike impulse to follow a group.  Doing so, they pointed out can lead to dangerous decisions.  One example they gave was the deadly Arizona sweat lodge incident from last year, where people remained in a dangerous situation just because everyone else was.

So Dateline trotted out some of their own social experiments. They showed how people in an elevator will turn toward the back if everyone else in the elevator does so first.  Then they showed how people undergoing a job interview stayed in a room filling with (harmless) smoke if everyone else did so.  Finally, they made up a new “reality” TV show where contestants were supposed to press a button to deliver an electric shock to someone in another room, if they couldn’t answer a question correctly.  Most of the contestants delivered far more severe “electric shocks” than they normally would have, because of the insistence of the “producer” who was sitting with them in the same room.

In the end, watching the episode made me say, “Duh.” Of course children are “hard wired” to obey their parents.  That response is as ancient as children.  St. Paul writes, “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15).  God has written his law upon human hearts.  Children are born that way, because that’s the way God created them.

But the episode reminded me of something even deeper than that. In his book Simply Christian, N.T. Wright says that the human need for relationships, for “social conformity,” is a reflection of the One who created relationships in the first place.  He argues that all people have a longing for human relationship because we hear in our minds and in our spirits the echo of a voice that desires relationship with us.

N.T. Wright:  “We can already tell enough about that voice that we would know its owner if we met it. Its owner would be one who was totally committed to relationships of every sort — with other human beings, with the Creator, with the natural world. And yet that owner would share the pain of the brokenness of each of these relationships. One of the central elements of the Christian story is the claim that the paradox of laughter and tears, woven as it is deep into the heart of all human experience, is woven also deep into the heart of God.”

The point is that we desire relationship because we are creations of a relational God. Part of human relationship is the desire for conformity.  And yet in order to restore relationship that had been destroyed by the sin of human beings, God sent His Son into the world to go against the norm, against “social conformity,” so much so that He would end up alone on a cross paying the price for the sins of the world.

Those who have been brought back into relationship with Him through forgiveness and faith, are also brought into “social conformity” with the Creator so that they desire more and more to obey not only their earthly parents, but even more so, their Heavenly Father.

What does “social conformity” look like to you?

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Corpus Electronici

I’ve been thinking a great deal lately about community. It started when Dr. John Oberdeck was a guest preacher for me a couple of weeks ago.  After the service, we both walked down the aisle, stood at the back, and greeted those who were filing out of church.  Suddenly there was a gap in the line.  We both looked back into the church and John said to me, “Now that’s community!”

We had to wait a while before we were able to greet the rest of the congregation. There they were, spread out all around the church in delightful small groups (not cliques!), talking to each other, hugging, laughing, listening, greeting, caring, and catching up.  We were happy to wait.

As I looked at that beautiful scene, I was proud of the way Mt. Calvary cares. I was thankful for the way Mt. Calvary welcomes.  I was awed by the way Mt. Calvary embraces diversity.  People have told me they feel welcome at our church.  I’m glad, because it’s something we intentionally build into our culture, and is something that no church ought to be without.

We’ve got a great start, but there’s still plenty of room to grow.

St. Paul compares the church with a body. In Latin, as you know, the word for body is corpus. We would love more people to enjoy the corpus at Mt. Calvary, so we are encouraging current members to use new and different ways to share the Word and draw people in.  I’m calling it Corpus Electronici.

I have been amazed at the way in which Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and other electronic media have brought me back into community with some, into new community with others, and make me encouraged that the corpus of Christ will be built up by these tools that are literally changing the world.

Here’s how Electronci has helped me:

  • I have reconnected with people from my class in high school whom I literally haven’t seen since we walked the stage at graduation.
  • I have been brought back into close contact with my cousins and other distant and not-so-distant family members; and our respective kids are getting to know each other, as well.
  • I have been able to learn much more about the Facebooker’s in my congregation, enabling me to serve them better and be a more astute preacher.
  • I follow people on Twitter that inspire me, encourage me, make me think, enhance my creativity, give me ideas, and give me new insights into the Word.
  • I have learned about things going on in the classrooms of our day school which I would have otherwise never known.
  • I have discovered blogs that have strengthened my faith, made me laugh, and got me to do some things I may have never tried.

The best thing about all of this is that, contrary to popular belief, this isn’t only relating to people in front of a screen. All of these tools have led to face to face, in the flesh, connecting, re-connecting, lunches, dinners, and conferences that have shown me personally the way in which electronici often leads to true corpus.

Now…to encourage the people of Mt. Calvary, and other churches, that these really are incredible tools in which God’s Word and relationships with others lead to community in Christ.

Have you discovered ways in which the Corpus Electronici has brought you into new or better relationships with others?  Please let me know how.  I’d love to share your ideas.

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Bulldogs and Butterflies

The day after Easter 2010, Coach Brad Stevens and the Butler Bulldogs almost won it all. In the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, they fell just short of a National Championship as they lost to perennial powerhouse Duke University.

But like the old camp song, “Bullfrogs and Butterflies,” the Bulldogs have been “born again.” They can teach a thing or two to small organizations, young people, and even small churches.

Butler’s coach, Brad Stevens, was the butt of many jokes during the final four weekend. People said he would be going out after the game with Justin Bieber; they said that he looked like he was twelve-years-old; they said that if he lost, he’d go running home to his mommy.  In the end, Stevens got the last laugh.  He did what many older, and more experienced coaches have never done before.  He took a team to the national championship game.  In actuality, Stevens is 33.  But his relative youth is an example to many of those who are young, or “young at heart.”

1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Hard work, determination, goal-setting, and creativity will get you a long way, no matter your age.  Stevens left a successful career as a marketing guy for the Eli Lilly Corporation to pursue a career as a basketball coach.  A gamble?  You bet.  But with his goal in mind he rose through the ranks of assistant coaches to become a head coach, and ultimately the coach of a team playing for the national championship.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. You set the example.  You set the goal.  You be the first to try the creative option.  You take the risk.  You do it with faith and character.  Young and old will look up to you.

Butler University is “born again” in the eyes of the nation because it is a small liberal arts school that has had a major impact. Butler University claims only about 4000 students.  It now has a basketball program that has defeated teams that come from schools double, triple, or quadruple that size.  You can bet that a great many basketball players and students will be taking a second look at Butler University because of the incredible run they had this March.

Butler is a school that has had an impact not only on the city of Indianapolis, or the state of Indiana, but on the entire United States through current students, alumni, family, friends, and those who root for the underdog. It just goes to show that it’s not the size of the organization (or church!) that matters.  When it seems as though the numbers put you up “against the odds,” relationships and heart matter.

Those who were related in some way, shape, or form to Butler showed their school pride. A small school did big things.  The Bulldogs used their underdog (pun intended) status to gain support.

How can you, or your organization, or your church use seeming weaknesses to garner renewal and support? At our church, Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Milwaukee, we encourage one another to be “pray-ers,” and “bring-ers,” and “tell-ers.”  Though we are a congregation of only 400 or so, we have an impact on an entire community through our school.  Though our Sunday School is made up of mostly very young children, they used their time to make cards that are distributed to members who are in the hospital.  Through a brand new program called “Mt. Calvary Home Makeover,” our small congregation will be having an impact on the lives of those who live in less than comfortable conditions.

This Easter, 2010, Bulldogs and Butterflies have both been “born again.”

What ideas do you have for small, young, or seemingly insignificant organizations to have a big impact in the community, the church, or society as a whole?

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King for a Day

I’m not at all ashamed to admit that my family and I love Disney World. We’ve been there a number of times, and we never tire of going back.  One of the reasons we love it so much is that Disney knows just how to make you feel special.  Whenever we go there, we are “guests,” and we are treated that way.

When you’re on Disney property you never know when it might be your turn to be treated royally. There was the time when Ben was about 5-years-old that a female member of the “American Experience” octet (in EPCOT) sang personally to him in front of a huge crowd:  “I’ll never find one cuter than you…skip to my lou my darlin’.” Sure he was embarrassed.  But he’ll never forget it.

There was the time Ashlyn got to pose with her favorite princesses, get their autographs, and capture a picture that would last forever.

There was the time the hotel maid gave my in-laws a special Disney music box on their 45th wedding anniversary.

Disney knows how to make you feel special. They know how to create an experience. They know that these kinds of memories create loyal “guests” who will come back again and again.

This spring we decided that the February-March time frame is awfully difficult for the teachers in our school. It’s been quite some time since Christmas break.  Winter is dragging on.  The kids are getting kind of “squirrelly.”  So we took a page out of Disney’s book and tried to create an experience that would make at least a day “special” for each of our teachers.

We solicited funds from members of our congregation. Collected enough to get $50 gift certificates for each of the teachers…each certificate chosen especially according to the interests of the specific teacher.  Then we had a couple of volunteers from our church burst into the classroom, place a crown on the teacher’s head, and proclaim him or her king or queen for the day: complete with confetti, cheering, a certificate, and a proclamation.

The students in each class loved the “intrusion,” and thought it was pretty special that their teacher was king or queen for the day. The teachers enjoyed the special attention…and the gifts.  And our congregation thought it was important enough to honor those who serve each day with such hard work and dedication.  It is our hope that these little experiences will make our teachers feel appreciated, and that they will respond with further loyalty and dedication.  We love our teachers and want to keep them around as long as we possibly can.

I’m reminded of Palm Sunday. Jesus is treated as a King for a day.  But it doesn’t last long, does it?!  Before you know it, he’s before Pilate, being whipped and beaten, and finally crucified on a cross.  But that’s where He truly becomes King of Creation. Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus is the King of all creation who rules not with an iron fist, but with His love and grace.

In Baptism, we become royal heirs. And when Jesus returns again, we will be treated like royalty not just for the day, but for an eternity.

Who can you make king or queen for the day today?  What ideas do you have to make someone feel honored, special, or loved?  Please share your comments.

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Shoeless Tom?

Apparently it’s the big thing to wear TOMS Shoes at Belmont University (and other fine collegiate institutions across the nation) where son, Ben, goes to school. TOMS Shoes are what every aspiring young artist or musician is wearing “this season.”

They’re a “different” looking kind of shoe because their design is based on Argentinian alpargata shoes which have been worn by Argentinian farmers for many years. Apparently the founder of the company, Blake Mycoskie, came up with the idea while vacationing in Argentina and decided to start a company whose mission would be to give a free pair of shoes to a child who really needs them with every pair of shoes purchased.

You can buy TOMS Shoes (great name…don’t you think?!) in every color and design imaginable. And for every pair that is bought, one free pair is given to someone — usually a child — in need of shoes.

I didn’t think much about this until we decided to give Ben a TOMS gift certificate for Christmas. It came along with a DVD showing how the shoes are given away, and to whom.  It was an incredibly enlightening, uplifting, and eye-opening video.  There are so many children in developing countries who literally have no shoes to wear.  Think of it:  NO SHOES!  And the joy on the faces of kids who had never had a pair of shoes before brought tears to my eyes.

Our school at Mt. Calvary isn’t exactly in the richest neighborhood, but at least all of our school children come to school everyday with shoes on.

A few weeks ago I looked at the TOMS Shoes web site and saw that they were promoting “One Day Without Shoes” on April 8th, 2010, to draw attention to the plight of children who have no shoes. It seemed like a great idea.  People did it last year, and it was a success in drawing attention to this world wide problem.

Now…you can ask my family…I am a person who NEVER goes barefoot or without shoes…not even in the summer. I can’t stand stepping on a stone, or hurting my foot, or cement that’s too hot.  I have tender feet.  But this year, on April 8th, I’m going to be going barefoot.  There are lots of kids who need shoes, and I want to draw attention to that.  I’m even trying to design my own T-shirt so that people know why I’m barefoot on April 8th.

Kids in developing countries need shoes because going barefoot is dangerous; it causes disease; it keeps them from going to school, because shoes are part of a proper school uniform; and it is a major cause of cuts, scrapes, and bruises that can lead to more serious health difficulties.  If these kids do it every day, I can certainly stand the discomfort for one day.

I might even buy a pair of TOMS Shoes, so that I can be “cool” like Ben and all his friends.

Will you be going barefoot with me on April 8th?  Please leave a comment if you plan on doing so.

P.S.  Check out this video that Ben and his friends put together about TOMS Shoes.