PYM Day 3

Are you a cultural anthropologist? You should be. What is culture? Tony defines it as how human beings cultivate and symbolically organize their experiences. So does this mean all words and symbols are culturally constructed? If every media tells a story and as cultural anthropologist we are attempting to read the story what does it say? How do we then move from cultural anthropology to theology? How does our story demonstrate are theology?

PYM Day 2

Today was a rough day, I woke up with a headache and it hung around all day. When you are in a discussion concerning the topic of philosophy and theology your brain hurting is not a good thing. However, here are is some of the topics that came up that I have not contemplated about or still attempting to process. The first item is that there is no reality without language. The only way we know the store is because of the media. This one is big and I am processing what this means and coming to terms with this hypothesis. The second item is one that I have been thinking about for some time just not maybe put in these terms, am I in ministry to/for postmodern’s, with postmodern’s, or as a postmodern. The scene from the Matrix where Nero is deciding to take the red pill is where I find myself. However, unlike Nero the consequences of his actions only affected him. While I think I am ready to swallow the pill I am still assessing what ramifications of that action will have on my ministry and my family.

Da Bears

The Bears are going to the Super Bowl!!!! We have waited a long time for this day to return to the wind city. Lets go Bears!!!!!

Postmodernism in Youth Ministry Day 1

Postmodernism in Youth Ministry at Olivet Nazarene University with Tony Jones started today (Monday Jan. 22) and at the encouragement of some friends I will attempt to post some thoughts of each day’s class. Today we focused on Theology and Philosophy and the relation between the two. One question that came up at the end of the day that led to some very interesting debate, “What is on the table?” Is there anything that we are not willing put on the table of discussion? If we put everything on the table will the table collapse?

What does God want for me?

We left Nashvegas a little after an 11:00 this morning and had just gotten passed Bowling Green, KY when we came to a complete stop. Apparently there was a wreck up ahead, just the first of many we would see or get caught up in traffic related to them. After sitting and moving about 2 miles after an hour we got to an exit to bypass the wreck. It rained for almost the entire time, if not raining the road where very wet; but God protected us and we arrived safe just a little later than we hoped. Tonight we where challenged to love God with all of are heart and where asked to do a heart check up. Why not check yours? What are you passionate about? How do you spend your time? What do you buy with your money? What do dram about when you have some free time? What are you willing to suffer for?

The World Series

The World Series started this week between the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals. While I am not a big baseball fan I do enjoy watching it sometimes on TV and catching a major league game once in a while. My late grandfather was a big baseball fan and a big Detroit Tigers fan. My grandfather passed away in September 2004, but I remember many times him sitting his recliner talking about how crappy ( he used a little more colorful words) the Tigers where. I also remember the excitement in ’84 of the World Series win. It is amazing how you remember things and how the emotions of missing someone can come crashing in on you by the reminder of those shared memories. So whether your baseball fan or a Tigers fan or a Cardinals fan go make some memories with those that you love during this fall classic.

A Life in Flux

Why does life have to be so hard? Why does sometimes it just really suck? Why do people you trust let you down? Why do you let them down? Why do we hate confrontation? Is there ever time to be dogmatic? When and how? Random questions from a life in flux.

A Relationship with God

In a world that talks so much about relationships I some time wonder if we really know what that means or should look like. The places that I shop, my credit card company, my bank, they all say they want to have a relationship with me, but to what end. That I will use their service or shop from them, is that really a relationship if they only want it for what they can get from me. I agree with those that say we long for relationship, but I think we have lost sight of what that really means. If God really wants a relationship with me would I know what that should look like or feel like? Does the baggage that I carry from the dysfunctional relationships I have had hinder that relationship? If so what do I need to do about it?