Today’s lack of ambition

Featured Post from the Past:

Perhaps it’s because I just read Hewitt’s book about Christian ambition, or perhaps it’s because this epiphany of realization is so bright that I gotta wear shades, but the article called Get a Haircut and a Real Job by Mark Steele in the July/August 2006 issue of Relevant magazine was like a sun flare.

In it, Steele takes a long, hard look and offers biting commentary on today’s Christian “posers” who love to talk, critique, condemn and tear down established churches and Christendom without offering relevant (hey guys, where’s my commission for new subscriptions?), practical help to extending the kingdom of Christ in our day.

“You’re educated, you’re well read, you’re postmodern – and you speak negatively of everything. Big shocker. Welcome to the elite everybody.”

Steele decries this generation of pep rally, long hair-wearing, tatoo-boasting, edgy-arrogant believers who lack any holistic vision of making a difference in others’ lives for the Gospel of Christ. Not only do they demonstrate their supreme lack of biblical application (which far outweighs their immense biblical knowledge), but they often seem to simply drift. Their eyes are not on any prize to run for. They are simply taking up space.

For these un-followers, Steele says,

“I hate to break this to you, but if you talk big plans about your ‘mission’ or ‘calling’ but lack any forward motion, (spoiler alert) you are a massive tool. Sorry. I know it’s hard. The problem is that many people do not act because they await clarity. They expect God to speak through the wind or a self-help book or the mouth of Conan and reveal the intricate details of next steps. God rarely does that. Because that isn’t faith – it’s feeding a baby.”

To combat this lethargy, Steele offers six practical tips for siezing the day and getting on with it:

1. Don’t hit snooze. “…go to bed at a decent hour (one with two digits) and give yourself time in the morning to exercise, pray, and – here’s a new one: think! Some of your best and most original life-changing thoughts will come at the top of the day.”
2. Make a freakin’ move. “Take a long, hard look at your skill set, and then actually do something related to that skill set.”
3. Perhaps you are the poser. “Exercise. Pray. Expand your knowledge. Fast from meals – or fast from media… Put yourself in a a lifestyle pattern of growth…”
4. Opinionated is easy. “You have been placed on this planet to add something. Expend some energy on that.”
5. You can (really) go it alone. “Just because your dream is daunting does not make it untrue.”
6. …But not too alone. “Isolation is the opposite of the real plan.”

And I would add… while you’re getting a haircut, why not get them all cut?

Others commenting on the same article:

• Kairos/Equippers’ Blog
• The Mmmmm, that’s good coffee blog

More thoughts on Christian love..

This entry is pretty much a journal entry that became the message at Journey Church a few weeks back. The more I’ve studied the commands for followers of Christ to love in the New Testament, the more I’ve been struck by how believers are first of all to love EACH OTHER and then to love the world. So few churches and "Christian" gatherings demonstrate such authentic, selfless love for each other these days, that it’s no wonder that the world wonders if we’re for real…

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Uh, go Hogs…

I say this with great trepidation. Congratulations, Razorbacks! Really.

You’ll understand why when you review this post.

Aren’t you glad I wrote it? It was just what Houston needed to light a fire under him. I doubt they would be doing so well if I hadn’t called him out on the carpet…

Netflix anyone?

Anyone else out there doing Netflix? If so, you can link up accounts and become Netflix “friends.” I just need your email address that you use with Netflix to do so…

If you’re not with Netflix, and you want movies a lot cheaper than renting them at Movie Gallery (or your local video store), sign up today and refer back to me!

Schools, including Harvard, turning back to religion…

Most of our oldest and most prestigious universities in America were established by Christians. Yale, Harvard, and Princeton were all begun as training and education institutions for ministers. Time has obscured their original intents and cultural shifts have tried to sweep under the rug their distinctly Christian heritage; however, many schools are realizing and acting now to reintroduce religion into their core curriculum. A recent news article details Harvard’s curriculum review and decisions to implement studies of faith, heritage, and history in a religious curriculum.

After working on a college campus for 8 years as a collegiate minister, I applaud this direction. How can our American colleges and universities dare to claim to train tomorrow’s leaders without exposing them and allowing them to study and dialogue about religion? At the very least, every college student should be required to study World Religions; American History, Heritage, and Faith; and related subjects that allow them to learn about the immense effects religion has played on our world and our country, including its establishment.

Rather, it seems that many universities swung toward the left in the 60s and 70s and began to present a religion-neutered curriculum. This does nothing to prepare adults for a world in which they live. Today, we understand the immense implications of religion when we commemorate 9/11 or as we consider forces at work in the Middle East. Students should be able to explain and dialogue intelligently about the foundations and teachings of all major religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.

I would encourage folks who have influence in academic circles and curriculum committees at local universities to urge and work toward a holistic curriculum which will enable tomorrow’s leaders to be fully informed, educated, and trained. I’m not asking our universities to become seminaries. I’m asking that they become relevant.

Related Articles:
Christianity and Academic Soul-Searching

Human or PC user?

You know the guy in the new, funny Mac ads that plays the role of the PC? Well, there’s a great interview of him (aka John Hodgman) over at Engadget. You gotta go read it.

And if you haven’t seen the Mac ads yet… shame! Go here for them!

Use Bloglines… like yesterday!

If your blog reading list continues to grow, and you’re not using Bloglines yet, then you’re wasting a lot of point and click time. Simply put, Bloglines will save you hours of typing in address or scrolling through your favorite bookmarks.

Here’s a screen shot of what it looks like for me:

You simply add the URL of the blog you want to track. Whenever that blog has a new entry, it will show in bold in the left hand column. When you click on the name of the blog, the new entries will pop up in the right hand column. If you want to visit the actual blog, just click on the name on the blog in the right hand column (or the title of the entry you’re reading), and it will take you there in a new browser window. Bloglines will remain open behind the new window. You can review new comments, see new design, and then close the blog window and come back to Bloglines.

It’s so simple and easy. Set yourself up an account today, and begin keeping better track of your favorite blogs!

In But Not Of

Taking his cue from Jesus’ revolutionary teachings about how His followers are to engaged with the world without being absorbed by it, Hugh Hewitt written a book that falls into my recommended “must-read” list for Christians today. In, But Not Of is full of deeply insightful and immensely practical advice, Hewitt writes this book as “a guide to Christian ambition and the desire to influence the world.”

The chapters are remarkably short and an easy, though profound read. Hewitt writes as an influencer par excellence. Having served with Nixon and now a regular commentator on news shows and the host of his own show (The Hugh Hewitt Show), he is also a professor law at Chapman University School of Law.

Just a few of the chapter headings will give you insight into just how helpful and direct his writing is:

Assemble the Right Credentials
Learn How You Got Here
Master at Least One Area of at Least Passing Interest to Powerful People
Know What You Don’t Know
Disclose the Weak Points in Your Argument and Deal with Them
Fill the Gratitude Gap

If you have any influence over high school students or collegians, buy them a copy of this book! Today! It will be a valuable source of encouragement and insight, especially for the Christian young adult who is serious about being used by God to be salt and light in our world.

Football Fever…

I told Ryan over the weekend that I now understand how some folks get addicted to coaching. I’ve always been a sidelines parent who rooted for my kids but who never got too emotionally involved. Carolyn, on the other hand, has to restrain herself from bopping coaches and parents on the head with her high dollar camera at times.

However, this past weekend was literally one of those moments that changes how you look at sports. First off, you need to understand, I’ve been a second-stringer all my life. I’ve never played on a championship team in anything. I don’t have the memories and sights and sounds and smells of dynamic, final game win lurking in my mental canals.

Enter Mr. Bug’s Exterminators. They are a third-fourth grade Monticello Junior Football League team that I’ve coached for the last two years. We tied for second last year amidst four teams. (Actually, the bottom three teams all finished at 2-4). This year, we started the season 0-2. (Don’t get me started on how the football board handicapped some teams with some well-intentioned by misguided decisions).

This past Saturday, we faced the Ryburn Mustangs. Last year’s undefeated champions at 6-0. They were 2-0 going into Saturday. My son, Sam, and all his friends attributed their success to two words: Chris Owens – an exceptional fourth grade athlete. Needless to say, we were the underdog.

Here’s where it gets exciting… (and forgive me for reliving the game), but after a hard-fought game, the clock ran out with the score 18-18. We were headed to overtime, for Pete’s sake! The boys were overjoyed; the fans were wild. I was ecstatic.

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24 Season 5

Does anyone have 24, Season 5 on tape or DVD?