Now isn’t the time for me to recall the River Monsters marathon that I watched before leaving for Haiti.

We haven’t even pushed off from shore as the weight of the seven of us on the boat reveals that this boat wasn’t built for stability. Not like the chrome-laden watercrafts that I’m used to from back home. Rather it’s a patchwork of sticks and boards pulled together to fulfill the minimum requirements for floating on water…

at least temporarily.

As we begin to paddle out, it’s not long before our ‘driver’ instructs us in Creole (which none of us understand) that we should grab the plastic containers and start bailing out the boat due to the water that’s beginning to leak in.

Now wondering if we’ll make it across the lake, I reach for a large (Big Gulp-like) plastic cup and begin to toss the water back out of the boat 32 ounces at a time. Meanwhile, the Haitian man who I’m entrusting my life with now is watching me with all the confidence of the ship captain of the Titanic.

Part of me is praying for God to protect me from sinking and being eaten by a giant catfish, the other part of me is trying to figure out how we can get these guys into a Donzi or Wellcraft. Because that’s what we do…

Oftentimes, we wealthy Americans think that we can fix the problems of poverty by building a better boat and shipping them off to places like this. We think that our fancy technology and comforts will make it all better.

But that’s not the solution, is it?

As I think about the boat, there are three things I see that could make all the difference in the world:

1. Access to raw materials. There are people willing to build the boat, but too often have to settle for the pieces that they can find. Little access to quality raw materials will lead to a lower-quality (and less effective) end product.
2. Better education. How the  boat is built is limited by the knowledge of the boat builder. Teaching equals empowerment. Help them learn the concepts and techniques related to boat building, and they will rise up and use that knowledge to build a better boat.
3. Support and encouragement. Our boat’s driver/captain probably felt shame when he saw the fear in our eyes. Our lack of trust can tear people down, but our support and encouragement can bring hope and confidence. They don’t need our judgement; only our love.

I don’t know how to build boats, but this is what keeps me going back. As I return to Haiti in a couple of days, I want to be a better boat-builder. And with each visit I believe that I’ll see improvements in the boats that I encounter.

Lord, I pray that you help our team be the kind of support that our brothers and sisters in Haiti need. This trip that we’re about to embark on isn’t about making our presence known, but making your Presence known and standing alongside your beautiful children. May they be encouraged and blessed through the work of our team with them! Amen.

A few years ago, I led worship on a retreat for a room full of seminary wives and students. Even though we were from all over the world, we had Jesus in common. We also had a need for rest and refreshment.

My Northern Irish friend shipped her mom across the pond as our keynote speaker. She was wise, funny, caring, and also a Well-Known-Pastor’s Wife.

In all her talks, the one that I’ve never been able to get away from was her permission to enjoy non-Christian art. This five-minute divergence from her main message marked one of the most pivotal moments in my journey as an artist. What changed me? Since God is creative, and He made us in His image, then all creativity stems from Him and all creative people are acting out the Imago Dei in their lives. She showed us that creativity is a direct reflection of The Creator, not just its creator. She also shared how she enjoys a variety of art, even the kind that doesn’t come out of the Church.

Gasp.

Could we really find glory and God in non-Christian Art?

Once I let her words slide down into my soul, they changed my perspective on Art (Let’s capitalize it, since it’s sacred). They also changed my perspective on my own Art. (See? Capitalized again.)

And she was right. Art has a way of revealing the Creator like nothing else.

Last week I sat on the third row of a concert hall, with The Civil Wars just a few yards away. I’ve admired this band since their “Sorry, our Eddie’s Attic demo is the only music we have to offer right now” days.

I could see sweat beads on John Paul’s face and the dimples on Joy’s. And when I felt the tears well-up during the bridge of their first song, I thought, “Oh no. This isn’t church. This shouldn’t move me so much.”

And then those beautiful Irish words came flooding over me and I told myself that God created them and they were about to show off for Him and I gave way to the moment. I gave way to Art. I gave way to the Imago Dei in them. And I listened close to their song about prayer. And I let it be my own prayer as well.

It was beyond me. It was larger-than-life. It was transcendant.

Am I the only one who’s experienced this? I mean, I’ve heard about people having a “religious experience” at a U2 concert, but have any of you had a similar experience? I would love to know!

It’s Saturday morning, and I’m taking care of the kids. Not just my nine year-old son and nine month-old daughter, but two of my nephews had just spent the night too.

They all just finished breakfast and the boys were looking for something to do.

“Hey Uncle Dan. Can Samuel watch Scooby Doo 2?”

Hmmm… My wife and I are usually very careful about TV programs and movies we let the kids watch, especially when it has to do with monsters and ghosts (among other “Christian-questionable” content). But I also know that I’d always enjoyed the sleuthing of the Mystery Inc. crew.

My wife and I have talked quite extensively about what we let the kids be exposed to. Do we encourage Narnia, but reject Harry Potter? I’m still not sure that I have an absolute response to that one yet, but I do know that if my son wants to read the Harry Potter books, then I would want to read with him and discuss Biblical truths along the way.

Back to Scooby…

So I quickly searched Focus on the Family’s PluggedIn Online website for a Scooby Doo 2 review to help me decide whether the Spiritual content was appropriate or not.

As I scanned the review (while stalling with my response to the kids’ question), I came across something I thought was pretty awesome. It was this statement in the conclusion of the review…

In the last movie, director Raja Gosnell’s team deconstructed the characters and viewed them through a cynical, postmodern lens. Perhaps the filmmakers learned from that mistake, because Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma and the CGI Scooby are more likable and easier to identify with. They possess greater charm, mature as people and learn to appreciate their roles on the team (a chance for families to discuss Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:11-16).

So I had the boys read these Bible passages out loud, and we discussed very briefly what they mean. It wasn’t a long discussion. Just enough for them to understand the idea that everyone plays a different part in accomplishing the same mission.

Then I asked them to watch for this principle applied in the movie.

After they watched the movie, I followed up by asking if they could see what we talked about from the Bible in the story of Scooby and the crew with how they solved the mystery.

They thought is was really cool and in our short follow-up discussion, I could tell that they got the point. They learned an important Biblical principle that day with probably no more than 5 minutes of talking about the Bible and a movie. More importantly, they looked at a secular world with a Biblical lens.

Mission accomplished!

I’m glad I took that opportunity to teach them, and not let the moment pass without planting a seed that I pray will continue to grow and flourish in their hearts.

I don’t know that I’ll need a Bible study for every single TV show, but I feel like this may become a more regular practice where I can fit it in.

How do you shape and encourage a Biblical worldview in your children, especially as it relates to TV and movies (and even books)?

For the record, I hate talking about politics. Specifically, I hate how divided people become when talking about politicians and how they deal with the issues.

I know that ‘hate’ is a pretty strong word, and I rarely use it around here. But I feel like it’s important for people to understand that by sharing this, I am not trying to make a political endorsement or statement.

And like it or not Barack Obama is the leader of our great (and, yes it’s still great) nation, so what he says matters. Especially when he talks about the role of faith in impacting our country.

When I listened to what he had to say at the 2012 National Prayer Breakfast recently, there were a couple of things that struck me as important ideas.

He said:

“Our goals should not be to declare our policies as Biblical… Instead it is our hope that people of goodwill can pursue their values and … common good as best they know how, with respect for each other.”

Interesting, huh? I’m not sure how you take this, but I take it to mean that there is a Higher Law that should guide me. It’s something that transcends any earthly law or policy.

I can wrap my head around this.

Furthermore, it resonates deeply with me as it relates to my stance on various issues. For example, I’m not a fan of the current abortion laws. At the same time I recognize that those laws don’t impact me directly. My wife and I simply don’t consider abortion an option.

But… we do see investing in people as being an important aspect of our faith-walk. I’d rather put my efforts into reaching people with the Love of Christ than to protest laws I don’t agree with. You might say that I’m dreaming, but I think that the best way to get rid of abortion is to minister to the hearts of the people who feel like there is no other way, and not by legislating my moral values to others with a different worldview.

I’m not trying to debate the abortion issue here. I want to focus on the idea that our faith-based values should rise above any governmental policies and laws. Obama continues on this theme by saying…

“I think we all understand that these values cannot truly find voice in our politics and our policies unless they find a place in our hearts. The Bible teaches us to be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers. We are required to have a living, breathing, active faith in our own lives. And each of us is called on to give something of ourselves for the betterment of others, and to live the Truth of our faith, not just with words, but with deeds.”

This is where I agree with Obama the most in his speech. I think we (the Church) too easily get wrapped up in trying to be right, legislating morality, and talking about how bad things are. The truth is that we should be putting more of our energy into being the Church and ministering to the needs of others. The problem is that we somehow feel like the later is much more difficult than the former.

I certainly felt like this speech was a great reminder that we (the Church) need to focus on the right things… and that’s people.

What do you think? Do you get the same challenges out of this speech? What else did you get out of it?

During the month when my book finally came out in a print version, I’m not surprised that it was the best-seller in this month’s list of stuff that our readers are picking up.

But one thing I think is nice to see in this month’s list is a focus on three key themes…

1. Missions and missions preparation
2. Spiritual growth
3. Authentic Christianity

These themes would show that readers here are looking inward (personal/spiritual growth) for the purpose of pouring out into the world around them.

This makes me smile.

Check out what made this months list…

(Old School-Style) Print Books

1. The Unlikely Missionary: From Pew-Warmer to Poverty-Fighter by Dan King
2. The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage by Paul Elie
3. The Monastery of the Heart: An Invitation to a Meaningful Life by Joan Chittister

Kindle Books

1. The Unlikely Missionary: From Pew-Warmer to Poverty-Fighter by Dan King
2. Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft
3. Gracenomics: Unleash The Power Of Second Chance Living by Mike Foster
4. Uncensored Truth: A No-Spin Guide to the Christian Faith by Jud Wilhite
5. Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism by Colin Baker
6. Walking With The Poor: Principles and Policies of Transformational Development by Bryant L. Myers

What are you reading now that’s not on this list? Which of these books would you like to see more conversation about around here?

Other women love their churches and their people, but they know they aren’t being given the opportunity to think, strategize, innovate, and create new ways of doing church that both men and women find appealing. Often when they have expressed their desire for more influence, they were blocked, stonewalled, or stalled. These women have acquiesced to the powers-that-be who are more than willing to allow them to run the operation but not lead it. As a result, many have lost the desire to be creative.
- Pg. 3, The Resignation of Eve; Tyndale

Henderson describes a typical church. What would happen if all the women didn’t show up? I find it interesting that when he presented that scenario to the women in his book that no bulletin printing was a constant on their list. I am a church secretary (one of them) who designs and prints the bulletin. All of us church secretaries are women. Henderson is said to play devils advocate.

With that thought in mind, I could easily overlook, say the chapter where the woman in question teaches her children gender-friendly language when reading the bible and that God is an it, both a she and a he. I was disappointed not to see something about that under ‘My Take’ in that chapter. Still, he kept his focus on the topic at hand how women are viewed at church.

There are three roles women play in church in how they feel about the church’s viewpoint on women as a pastor or in influencing positions.

Resigned To

The ‘Resigned To’ group are women who, “have come to terms with the fact that they are not “allowed” to exercise all the gifts and abilities they’re capable of contributing in the church setting…They’ve accepted the idea that the same people who deny them the right to lead their churches would go door to door on their behalf if they ran for president.” Or they love their churches, but they aren’t given influence or leadership. “They can run the operation, but not lead it. As a result,” Henderson says, “many have lost the desire to be creative.”

Resigned From

Then, there’s the ‘Resigned From’ group. Henderson explains this group as women who, “were capable of leading, thinking, guiding, shaping, and forming a spiritual community but were denied the opportunity to do so? This experience leads some women to walk away from church, Christianity, and in some cases God.” Those stories were sad.

Re-signed

The last group, ‘Re-signed,’ Henderson says, “This is the decision some women make, knowing the limitations, knowing the risks, and knowing that things are not likely to change. Women who “re-sign” don’t quit or accept things as they are; they engage, lead, and influence. They make waves and stay connected. They’re engaged, but not owned, integrated within the church but knowledgeable about its inherent limitations and dangers.” I want to be one of those women. Henderson says, “They’re not world changers, but they’re contributors.”

The book was well put-together and on topic. After each story, he gave statistics, blogging reactions, and his take on the person’s story. At times, that was helpful. The book asks tough questions, presents the problem, without getting ultra-feminist on the rest of us.

Henderson’s points became very good fodder for discussion. When I posted a question about women in leadership positions at church on my Facebook account, I didn’t get one brave soul to comment. Most of the book, I could completely resonate with what some of the women said, and other times could see that their past heavily influenced their worldview.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and rated it five-stars in spite of some questionable viewpoints. The way Henderson allowed the women to tell their story without editing or softening it, while maintaining a biblical worldview impressed me. His book accomplished his intentions of making people think and talk about the issue.

I think both genders have issues. Men need to lead more and not be emasculated by women, namely feminists, and women need not be in competition with men. Both can work together if they follow Jesus’ teachings and love one another. But I’m still not sure where God stands with women as pastors.

This book was given to me to review by Tyndale Publishing. The book releases February 1.

On Thursday nights, our core team gathers to eat and plan and pray and dream about launching a second campus of our congregation. It’s the one meeting of my week that I’m not responsible for—the one church meeting that I can just attend. And I get to attend as the Sunday morning worship leader for this campus. But, on Thursdays? I just have to show up.

ahhhhh

My husband, the most handsome preacher this side of heaven, prepared a sacred space for us after our dinner. He called us to another side of the meeting room where he sectioned off a circle of seats with candles and tables.

I didn’t know he set up that space for us. And I didn’t know what was coming. He talked about us taking a moment to just reflect. Think. Breathe. He plugged his iPod into the system and played a song for us. He told us to just sit and think about the challenges we are facing right now. And we did. Then he read a passage of scripture to us and we listened. And he gave us a few minutes to share with the group. And we did.

The experience was magical. Invigorating. I felt like I was sitting in a moment that was bigger than myself.

Transcendent.

I miss those moments, those experiences where I don’t know what’s next and I didn’t “plan” it and I’m just along for the ride and I’m as surprised as the person sitting next to me.

I miss the “not knowing.” Actually, I miss the Knowing that comes from not knowing. I want the Knowing that comes from transcendent awe and mystery and anticipation and surprise. I think I’ve lost some of my Knowing in all this planning and knowing. And it’s all messy in my head and I can’t even find the right words to explain it adequately. The best I can do is say I want to feel like I’m a part of something bigger than me.

Am I allowed to say that Sundays don’t feel bigger than me? I don’t mean it in a prideful sense. I just don’t have another way to say it. Am I allowed to say it that way?

Because, it’s true.

Ok. If I’m not allowed to say it that way, let me say it in an acceptable way: I want to feel a sense of transcendence on Sundays, and the familiarity of planning and facilitating has removed a bit of the magic of anticipation.

And, I miss that.

God? Wow me.

Readers? Tell me: How do you experience Transcendence in life and in church? Or, do you?