Da Vinci Code Quote of the Day
May 25, 2006 Quotes
//MOOD: Hot
//NOISE: Snap Chirp
I am working on a message on The DaVinci Code right now, in case you wondered why I blog about it a lot. We are doing a summer series called “Choose Your Own Adventure” right now. We basically asked the church what they wanted us to teach on. Then, a bunch of us went through the popular themes and divvied them up. And when the dust settled, I get to teach on The DaVinci Code. And I get one week to do so. Hope everyone is ready for a 2 hour teaching… Ahem.
BTW, if you think you have the artistic ability to create a cool backwall image for that message (the weekend of the 10/11th of June), surf over to Riverview’s site and submit your work. Not only are the people at Riverview picking the topics, they are doing the artwork, as well. Kinda cool. The details are on the site.
With all of that said, here is a very interesting take on the book/ movie by Dana Stevens:
The Da Vinci Code is at heart deeply religious, and monotheistic at that: It wants us to believe that there is one secret truth that can change history, that that truth is knowable, and that only through Tom Hanks can we know it.
Technorati Tags: davincicode, riverview
Asians
May 25, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Married
//PODCAST: Coverville by Brian Ibbott
From djchuang.com:
“Asian Americans populate America’s elite colleges more than ever—and campus ministries even more than that…As a group they are hard-working—driven, some say—and morally conservative. Many come from ethnic churches—Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean, particularly—but culturally they are transitioning between their Asian roots and their American home. … some cultural challenges remain.”
Just checking to see if anyone is paying attention.
Get it?
Hicks Wins, Hasselhoff Weeps
May 25, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Honored
//ITUNES: No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley
Looks like Best Week Ever noticed the same thing as me…
It takes a lot to make David Hasselhoff cry. And by a lot we mean, a gray-haired white guy winning American Idol. Check out the grand finale of last night’s show. Taylor Hicks takes the title, but the Hoff steals the spotlight.
Technorati Tags: americanidol, davidhasselhoff, bestweekever
Remnant Dangers
May 25, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Inclusive
//ITUNES: Boot Stamping On A Human Face Forever from the album “The Empire Strikes First” by Bad Religion
There’s a great post over at Carnivorous Caribou about remnants of faith. I like what he has to say about the fact that remnants can exist, but there is a danger as soon as they realize they are one.
Here’s his thought, followed by mine:
If a remnant focusses on being a remnant, they then cease to look to God and no longer remain a remnant. Yet, if a person continues to submit himself/herself to the Word of God, they will find himself/herself in a minority. But the pride can not be in their minority standing, the pride and boasting must be in God. In Scripture, we see that God preserves the remnant. We also see that God desires to use the remnant as a change agent. They alone do not create the change, but God creates the change, using them. Therefore, the remnant must acknowledge the work of God in their lives, then must understand the work God desires to use them for in other lives. A remnant kept to itself is worthless, but a remnant focussed on itself is destructive…
A non-influencing remnant is pointless.
An arrogant remnant is sinful.
This makes tons of sense to me. It’s kinda like the pride / humility thing. As soon as you start to realize you are a humble person, you run the danger of becoming prideful.
I read so much online from different groups that claim to have some special corner on truth. Is that bad?
Well, when our proclamation of truth is on Jesus, as revealed in the Bible, that is a good thing. But what I see happen all the time is that the “remnant thinking” or “corner of truth thinking” often isn’t about Jesus at all. Instead, it’s about the “how” of following Jesus. Gray areas, practices based on principles, and other extra-biblical concepts are what separates us. And that is sinful and humanistic.
Technorati Tags: christianity, church
American Idol
May 25, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Sad…so sad
//ITUNES: Lightness from the album “Transatlanticism” by Death Cab For Cutie
OK. I confess that I watched the first and last episode of American Idol this year. And I’m sure I am not the only to have noticed the most earth shattering moment.
David Hasselhoff was in the audience and almost cried when Taylor won.
Technorati Tags: americanidol, davidhasselhoff
Team
May 24, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Good
//ITUNES: Fast as You Can by Fiona Apple
Reposted from: Kairos | Equipper Blogs.
This past weekend, the pastors at Riverview and a handful of other leaders went on a planning retreat. The whole time we were there, I kept thinking about these verses:
1Corinthians 12:12-21 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? Suppose the whole body were an eye–then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?
But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
Our team is pretty diverse, and each part is so necessary. I think in our culture, it’s too easy to value one body part or another as more valuable. Even our church structures do this, to a degree.
That’s why I appreciate being on a team of pastors. It keeps us from building the church on one person’s personality or gift. But that doesn’t make it easy. In fact, I think a team approach to leadership is one of the most difficult ways to structure the church.
Our team is…
…Outstanding.
…Frustrating.
…Encouraging.
…Strong.
…Dysfunctional.
…Gifted.
…Diverse.
…Discouraging.
…Forward-thinking.
…Stuck.
…Fun.
…Family.
Over the last few days, we…
…Laughed.
…Planned.
…Argued.
…Ate too much.
…Prayed.
…Argued some more.
…Worked. (In all senses of the word.)
That’s what a team is all about.
(BTW, a great artist on our team painted the image I used. You can download it as a background here.)
Apple Dei
May 24, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Cultic
//PODCAST: “Coverville” by Brian Ibbott
Brilliant. Freakin’ Brilliant. DaVinci Code meets Apple: iCryptex.com – Welcome to the Cult of Apple
Technorati Tags: apple, davincicode
Turn Your Mac Into A Jedi Weapon
May 24, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: You wish I would tell you
//PODCAST: “Coverville” by Brian Ibbott
Thanks to Blair for this: MacSaber: Turn Your Mac Into A Jedi Weapon
Jack Bauer Torture Report
May 23, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Great
//NOISE: Kids getting ready for bed
It’s over…but is it?
Elder Retreat
May 21, 2006 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
//MOOD: Hopeful
//NOISE: Printer Printing
Please pray for the Riverview elders (plus a few others). We are going to be gone until tomorrow night. Our goal is to pray and plan. Please take a minute (right now so you don’t forget) and pray for the following:
- That we would be unified as a team
- That we would hear from God as to the direction of the church
- That God would grant us wisdom in leading the church and planning for the future
- That we would cover a remarkable amount of ground in our time together
Thanks much. I will have blogging silence until Tuesday, as we don’t have internet access where we are going.
Oh, it would be super cool if you would post a comment here if you are taking time out to pray. It’s always cool to know who is praying and when during times like this.
