Return Of The Revolution

These are the lyrics to an OC Supertones song. Listened to it today in my car. Since I just watched the movie Luther again, some of this is still fresh in my mind. More later on my thoughts of return of the revolution...

There ain’t no stopping us now
I’d like to say that from the outset
Not up in this business just to get what we can get
But bet that
We gonna bring it to you loud and clear
How loud I gotta say it ’fore you people start to hear
I can name our problems
But I know a solution
Bring back the revolution.

The revolution comes and we all stand as one
Rises from the darkness and shines like the sun
As the sun gets higher, our church catches fire
Down from our pride and up from the mire.
It’s a dream that I’ve had and I hope it comes true
I forgot to say the revolution starts with you.

See wisdom and knowledge is one thing that we lack
You’ve been a christian how long and you’re still on similac
So I call on Martin Luther and all the reformation back
Then the common people couldn’t read God’s revelation
You had to be a monk or a priest to read latin
That was all before the revolution happened.

But the fire cooled down ever since that generation
We put down the Bible and pick up the play station
And we can’t defend our faith ’cause we don’t even know it
We say we love his word but pick a funny way to show it.
The world walks by and we don’t have a thing to say
I call ’em as I see ’em. And that’s what I see today

Chorus:
The revolution returns
The reformation lives on
The great awakening is now
Sleepers open your eyes
A war is on, our rally cry is no compromise
No compromise, yeah, no compromise
A war is on, our battle cry is no compromise
So throw your fist up and pray the revolution rise
A war is on, our rally cry is no compromise

Our hearts have grown so cold
And we’ve such numb souls
But shirts and bumper stickers
Man we got ’em by the truckload
Is true religion what you have around your wrist
What does the scripture say of this

They honor me with words
But their hearts are far away
I call ’em like I see ’em
And that’s what I see today
So I call on John Edwards
Who preched us all awake
We try to be emotional but here is our mistake
As a church we lack repentance and we lack true affection
Not only in our minds but our hearts need correction
And man that’s true religion, resignation and contrition
To love each other so much that we’d die before division

(chorus)

So what about you
Will you join us
Will you admit that the waters around us have grown
You better start swimming or you’ll sink like a stone
Do you stand with us or do we stand alone
It’s time that we stand up, enlist for the war
I’ve tasted battle and now I want more
I’ve known the truth and been cut to the core
But I’m back in the game to even the score
And I mean to go out with both my guns blazing
Amazed at a God who’s so truly amazing
To triumph in battle as the spirit enables
Can’t turn back the clock but we can turn the tables

Purity...Since when?

Had a thought today about peace, unity and purity. And what I got stuck on was purity. Since when has the church actually been pure? The early church struggled with the issue of circumcision. Did you have to be a Jew before you could be a Christian? How is it that the Gentiles were allowed to become a part of the church? The very act of bringing outsiders into the church blows the issue of purity apart does it not?

Purity makes me think of the countries that have destroyed groups of people in the name of racial purity (yes, I am reading a fiction book that has to do with the Nazis, so this is fresh in my mind). Is the church becoming so exclusionist, that we are willing to strive for "purity" at the expense of keeping those unlike us out? Or is the church to be a place where all are welcome at the expense of purity?

What do we mean by peace, unity and purity? Are we talking about tolerance, uniformity, and sameness? I think there are pockets of folk in the church that are. Tolerate other religions, they have the right to exist, but they are inferior; Uniformity of belief and thought, you have to think the same way I do; and purity should then follow. I honestly think this is where some people want the church to track.

The issue of biblical authority has been a hot topic all summer since there are those who feel that others have strayed. One of the things I have always valued about being Presbyterian is that there has always been room in the churches I have been a part of, to struggle with interpretation. I have never been told that this is what I have to believe, but have been given basic understanding and been allowed to wrestle and to dialogue with others. Am I always right? No. But the community with which I study is how I know that. I can bounce ideas off of them and if they are not received then I can dismiss them and learn from others. I like that!

I don't want to be in a church where everyone acts, talks and thinks the same. It is a bit redundant. I want to be with people who challenge me to open my mind and my heart and who will struggle along with me to see what God might be doing.

Think about it. What do we mean when we talk of purity? Is that really what we want?

Back in Austin

After spending the 4th at home with family, 4 days in North Carolina, and a week with the family...it is nice to be back in Austin. While I was home I went to the Oklahoma Historical Museum and the Sam Noble Natural History Museum with my nephews and spent time actally reading for fun.

I also preaching in 4 churches in 2 weeks. The largest congregation was 25 and the smallest was 7. Great fun doing pulpit supply though.

Now it is time to begin studying for ords. I am part way through Shirley Guthries "Christian Doctrine" and am reading the Book of Confessions again. Time to brush up all those skills that I have been learning.

Amazing Grace

At the beginning of one of the plenary sessions on Thursday, I saw a lady down the pew from me wearing a Montreat cross. I had seen them on the website and was going to get one to wear when I preach. I asked her if she had gotten that in the bookstore here. A conversation ensued with Mary and she asked if this was my first time at Montreat. We only spoke for a few minutes as the session began.

At the end of the session, she stepped toward me, extending her hand. She pressed the cross into my hand and said it was to remember my first Montreat experience by. I have worn the cross during the rest of the conference and will wear it when I preach. If nothing else to remind me of the amazing grace that abounds within the church. The church has become fragmented in the last couple of weeks, but there truly is still hope. We must be willing to reach out to others, even those we don't know, and extend a hand and the gift, the touch of peace.

Montreat views

This is the view looking over Lake Susan to Assembly Inn where I am staying. This is a gorgeous retreat site. The clouds hung low over the mountains this morning as we went to plenary session. It is peaceful, it rained last night, it is cool with a gentle breeze. Wish I could bottle it up and bring it home.

Sitting, listening to the frogs croak and the rain fall,
I notice how many sounds I miss most of the time.
There is too much other clutter in my heart, my soul, my mind.

A few days of simplistic life
Days of listening and thinking about God’s call
A chance to just be and to be in God’s presence

The majesty of the mountains,
The splendor of creation
The softly falling rain and the frogs lull me to sleep


Peace

Howdy from Montreat

Having never been to Montreat before, let me just say...WOW!!!!! Gorgeous views and wonderful camp site. I hope to post some pictures in the coming days and will post news(on the GA Blog) from the "Hope of the Church Conference" that I am attending. We started tonight with worship, led by Moderator Joan Gray.

Will post more when I decide to take a break from the gorgeous scenery. :)

Peace out!