So Nathanial (my son) and I spent the afternoon making his first movie: Star Wars Episode VII. He’s six, he loves Star Wars and when you watch the movie it is important to keep those facts in mind. I know the characters are mishmashed together from different episodes and the plot makes absolutely no sense but he loves it and that’s all that matters. We filmed it using a webcam, downloaded sound clips and using Windows MovieMaker.
Spelberg and Lucas watch out!
I found this story a few weeks ago which reports that in a new audio verion of the Bible Samuel L. Jackson will play the voice of God.
Seriously…my favourite actor is Samuel L. Jackson but the thought of listening to the Bible with his voice as God’s would give me nightmares. Can you imagine the same voice that did the character of Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction saying to Jesus: “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”?
So the last few days have been filled with pain. Not emotional pain but physical pain that I have to be honest would rival any pain I have ever experienced before. I have had a toothache like never before. In fact it is to the point now that I have been prescribed a narcotic to deal with the pain. I am not even sure this post will make sense to anyone but me, since I am “under the influence.” But the pain is now on the countdown to end as I am scheduled for a root canal tomorrow. Normally I don’t like the dentist but under the circumstances I am actually excited about it.
Without the option of a dentist in our modern society I know for a fact I would have taken some drastic steps. I have considered pulling a “Cast-A-Way” and like Tom Hanks pulled the tooth myself, although I probably would use something other than a figure skate. I have considered pain diversion theory and having my friend Greg punch me in the face to divert the pain (he actually offered but I passed). But in the end, I am incredibly thankful for whoever created the pain medication I am on. Although the meds have helped, they have not stopped the pain and I look forward to the two-hour root canal tomorrow with joyous expectation.
I have hesitated to post this for a while because, like many of my friends and colleagues, I am unsure what “Emergent” means and/or doesn’t mean. Let’s face it…it depends on who you ask and who is talking. From everything I have read or heard (from the leaders within Emergent), Emergent is basically a conversation of what it means to be a Christian (follower of Jesus) and the Church in our postmodern world. Therefore it’s a conversation that includes all aspects of the Christian life and community touching on theology, hermeneutics, methodology, etc. If that is the definition, which I think it is, then I would say, “I am a friend of Emergent.” The problem is that it depends on who you ask and how they define Emergent (problem of etymology). If Emergent isn’t just a conversation but instead is defined by a creed, formula, statement of faith/beliefs, then although I may fit into that category (depending on what it was), I wouldn’t want to – I’m just not interested in being a part of it if that is what it means. Part of what draws me into the world of Emergent is the shared experience of being fascinated, confused, awed, mystified, and perplexed with what it means to live the Gospel of Jesus in our ever changing global world.
I don’t know Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, etc. personally but I have read most of their books and have heard them speak on occasion. I have read/heard enough to agree and disagree on various points, but from all I can read/hear they are followers of Jesus, who are trying to navigate their way around our postmodern world.
So…I am a friend of Emergent (as I define it)…a fellow pilgrim on a common journey…confused, perplexed, and profoundly enthused about the future of the Church and the emerging leaders within it.
Imbroglio isn’t a spelling error or a made up word, but it means a complicated confused misunderstanding. I think that defines my theology and spirituality. I know a lot about the Bible, I know (or at least used to know) Greek, I have studied theology, and I have good sense of my tradition in my own church/denomination as well as the bigger Christian tradition and history. Even though all these things are true, I have come to the conclusion that although I think I know a lot about God, in reality I know very little. Although the pursuit is important and vital to healthy spirituality, I also have embraced the humility that I will never fully understand God. In fact, I think I have embraced it to the point that I know, and I don’t think there is a way around it, that I will, as everyone else on the planet, be faced with a complicated and confused misunderstanding.
I am not saying that I think God is trying to confuse us, but that as His creation it is impossible to every fully know Him. I think I can get a glimpse and although I think that glimpse may be accurate, it is only a glimpse and because I am human I will always have misunderstandings about God, my spirituality, and theology.
Imbroglio spirituality can bring freedom can’t it? I think it helps us be humble enough to recognize that we may not have everything understood and in fact may even be wrong on some things. This isn’t to say that Scripture, as God revealed, inerrant and inspired Word, isn’t true and accurate but our interpretations and perspectives may be skewed.
So I journey forward, with my faith in Christ, knowing I worship a God I will never fully understand or comprehend and as paradoxical as it may sound, I find ease and comfort in that.
