missio

This post is the beginner post to a series that I’m doing during December to really wrap up 2006 in a nutshell from my point of view here in NC. I’m going to begin with something very obvious: media. Without further ado, my favorite books (read a lot), movies (saw very few), music (listen a lot), and TV shows (just two) of 2006, in no particular order of rank.

Books

• Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Mark Driscoll - One of the greatest books on the inner workings of a church I’ve ever read. It starts from the very beginning and takes the reader to present day. Great journey, great story, great encouragement.
• The Thinking Fan’s Guide to the World Cup by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey - Man, this book is insightful, informative, and very entertaining to read. If you like soccer, like I do, you’ll love this book. It contains great anecdotes of soccer from around the world, from each of the countries in this past year’s World Cup.
• Simply Christian by N.T. Wright - I don’t like his “perspectives” on Paul, but his outtake on Christianity as a whole is refreshing. It’s nice to see someone take a step back and explain why, exactly, Christians are Christian. It’s not just socialization; Christianity makes sense. Imagine that.
• Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer - A church planting book from the missionology guru. Great stuff, even if it’s adapted from an earlier book of his. A must-read for church planters.
• In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson - I know you’ve never heard of this book, but you should’ve. It’s the only book I know of that takes an obscure verse and expounds on it. It just goes to show you: preach the whole counsel of God. Mark’s exposition on facing fears and chasing lions is must-read for anyone in any type of ministry.

Movies

• Inside Man (Spike Lee) - If you haven’t seen this movie, stop reading now. Well, don’t, because I don’t think the DVD’s out yet. But wait for it. Then buy it. Then love it. Great movie.
• Happy Feet (George Miller) - It’s animated, it’s a musical, but it’s actually pretty good. Definitely a family-oriented movie; beware the religious overtones, however.
• The Nativity Story (Catherine Hardwicke) - It’s another winter movie, I know, but it’s a very faithful reproduction of the story of Jesus’ birth. Too bad Mary got pregnant afterwards, though.

Music

• Songs for Christmas (Sufjan Stevens) - It may be because it’s what I’m listening to lately, but this album is incredible. It’s a monster of an album too, but every song is solid.
• Once Again (John Legend) - Ok, so some songs are a little off, but for the most part, I love John Legend’s music. He has so much talent, it’s unbelievable.
• All of Shane and Shane’s New Stuff (Shane and Shane) - It’s unreleased, so technically, this is an illegal entry, but it’ll do. They’ve performed some songs live (Youth Specialties, on their tour, etc.), so it counts. And it’s my post, so there. But when their new album comes out, pick it up or get left behind.
• Hey Ya cover (Obadiah Parker) - Watch this. And fall in love. They’re a Christian band, too. Their original stuff is wonderful, too. Definitely worth a buy.

TV Shows

• Lost - February 7th. I’m waiting patiently. It’s like 40 days of fasting. It’s rough, man, it’s real rough.
• The Nine - Great new show to follow Lost. I’m pleased with Wednesday. Church, Lost, The Nine. Great series to cap my evenings.

Well, that’s it for 2006 media. How about that. If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment! Next post? Top websites and blogs of 2006!

This week I’m teaching through Matthew 15. The chapter starts out with one of my favorite criticisms of Jesus and His disciples: they don’t wash their hands enough. The great thing is that it’s a serious accusation in their culture. The ritual of hand-washing was performed to cleanse one’s self of any contamination caused by contact with anything considered ‘unclean’. The disciples were Jewish, they would’ve done this by nature and nurture. The very fact that they didn’t wash their hands showed that Jesus, somewhere along the lines, either told them not to do so, or asked why they did. And they just stopped.

So what does that mean for us? Well, how do we try to “stay clean”? We stay away from certain areas in our cities. We stay away from certain people in our neighborhood. We avoid watching certain things, we avoid listening to other things, we avoid discussing particular topics.  Avoidance has rapidly become our ritual of hand-washing. Jesus says to stop it! By avoiding things, we are breaking God’s command to love our neighbor. Avoidance is the opposite of love; it is passive hatred.

So what are we to do? Well, it’s actually the topic of my next book, Mud In My Eye. In John 9, Jesus gets down and dirty and works in the mud, just as the blind man sits in it. Jesus gets dirty with His neighbor, and addresses the man’s need face-to-face. In the dirt and grime of his situation. Contrast this with the hand-washing uproar the Pharisees bring up. And the washing of the hands by Pontius Pilate. Pilate very well could have done something to change Jesus’ predicament, but instead he “absolved” himself of responsibility by washing his hands. How often do we wash our hands as “clean” Christians?

In this article, I’m going to outline the things that there is no way possible for me to be, or even think about being.

• Compromised / Swayed
• Silenced
• Anything but who I am
• Deterred
• A “foreign” missionary (this is the only one subject to change- don’t tell God no)
• An evangelist, in the classic sense (not my calling)
• A youth minister, in the classic sense (been there done that, turned in the T-shirt)

What things are there that you just simply could not do? It makes finding your purpose and vision a little easier, if you know what you couldn’t do with the giftings and callings that God has already placed on and in your life.