Vacation is only 48 hours away and I am eagerly anticipating it. As a pastor you think that Easter or Advent are going to be the seasons that do you in, and each year they present their challenges, but summer always seems to be insane for me. It seems like I am always shuttling between mission trips, new service launches, conferences, vacations, yard work, and some unseen emotionally and physically draining project. So I am indeed excited about being out of the office for a week and a half, seeing friends, sleeping, having someone else watch my children and feeling the sweat heat of the South. So on with the ramblings…
Familiarity Breads Contempt
I was preaching out of Mark 6 yesterday, the stunning passage where Jesus goes home and finds out that indeed a prophet has no honor in his hometown. This is the only place in the gospels where we are told Jesus is amazed. And what is he amazed at? Their lack of faith amazes him. This passage really sat with me this week, that those closest to Jesus could somehow miss his true identity. I thought about all the churches I have been in that have proclaimed the name of Jesus but done little to show they actually know him.
It is a disturbing thought, that we who claim to know Jesus so well, could be those who amaze Jesus with our lack of faith. It is so easy to grow comfortable with our knowledge of Jesus and our understanding of the Gospel, but comfort really isn’t a word that should define our faith. We can be assured in our faith and salvation, but not comfortable. We need to be energized, amazed, set on fire, filled with zeal, and always seeking to better understand the remarkable truth of the gospel. I just pray we will learn to amaze Jesus with something other than our lack of faith.
Health Care
I wish I had an informed opinion on the proposed health care reform before Congress, but it is so large that I don’t feel like any of us really understand the ramifications of the legislation. That in and of itself makes me really concerned. Our health care system needs to improve. It is ridiculously expensive and I believe strongly in the institutional evil that is prevalent in the system, but how can we know if this will help it? Increasing debt doesn’t sound fun to me. Anything close to what Canadians experience doesn’t get me going, but this is not a truly nationalized health care we are talking about. Does anyone have good (as little partisanship as possible) resources that actually discuss the legislation? I would love to understand the fallout from this better.
Good for Lance, but I don’t really care
Lance Armstrong’s performance in the Tour de France was impressive for a guy who hasn’t raced in three years but I found myself without any part that cared. Lance’s story of over coming cancer, determination in a grueling sport, and competitive nature are truly amazing, but hasn’t this guy gotten somewhat of a free pass? It is as if because he had cancer no one ever talks about him leaving his wife and kids just as he got famous, his selfish behavior as a teammate or anything else negative about him. Great for Lance, way to go, but I have a hard time embracing this guy and I wonder why no one ever scrutinizes him?
Quick Hit on Films
With no new shows this summer, I have been working Netflix and Redbox hard at night. Here are my recommendations of interesting watching from a summer of working too hard.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – This is a slow western, but Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck are both amazing. Pitt’s performance as Jesse James is outstanding. This may bore some, but the craftsmanship is excellent
Hamlet 2 – This movie can and will offend many, but it is hysterical. The humor is cutting and true and has some great performances. You will be singing the song “Rock me sexy Jesus” but the end.
Seven Pounds – a bit formulaic, has some good sermon illustrations, pretty good performance from Will Smith. I enjoyed it but never want to see it again.
The Wrestler – Powerful, gritty, very raw (read profane) and gripping. This is not a film for everyone, but Mickey Rourke is amazing.
Rock N Rolla – This really made me laugh in a violence is funny for British mobsters sort of way. Surprising.
Appaloosa – Also a slow western, well acted, but not all that gripping. Vigo is very enjoyable. A realistic Western, closer to Open Range than 3:10 to Yuma
July 27, 2009 at 9:08 pm
The best I can give you is what Abbi has given me from her perspective from the insurance legal assistance job that she holds to pay the bills. I think they’re worried that they are going to be drained out by the bill. As for non-partisan in its truest sense, does not endorse the bill but only looks to education opinions and what the bill would do, I would look at CATO (libertarian perspective), Heritage Foundation (economic conservative), Brookings Institute (liberal), and even North Carolina’s John Locke Foundation (libertarian). (My friend Joe Colletti is the health expert for the old fort.)
To get a copy of the 1,000-page monster to read on your vacation, thomas.loc.gov.
July 28, 2009 at 8:26 am
Thanks Shannon, I will have to check out some of those resources, the details just don’t make sense to me. I think I get the big picture stuff, but the fallout I am ignorant of.
July 28, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Hope it helps. If not, you’ll have a place to go for night reading when insomnia hits. Have fun in Carolina!