I remember grabbing Blind Melon’s self-titled debut album when I was living in Hollywood, California in the early ninety’s. I still love the tracks on that album, especially Tones Of Home, Change, and No Rain. Blind Melon would have been celebrated as a classic rock band someday, but singer Shannon Hoon died of a cocaine overdose in 1995 in New Orleans. Yesterday, I finally grabbed the album that was released shortly after he died so prematurely. It is a loose compilation of vault tracks by Shannon. The album is titled Nico, after the daughter he left behind. The album liner notes intros an education fund established for her too, in her name. It’s a great album. I really, really listen hard to the first track of the album, titled “Pusher” (penned by Hoyt Axton). It’s not about a drug pusher though … Here’s a lyric sample: “Snow flakes rolling over my ear, goose bumping weather » If I’m hungry at 4:30 in the morning » Pink Dot will deliver » And I’m oh so tired of you pushing that thorny crown down onto my head so hard » My knees are two inches in the ground » And I said, God damn, God damn that Bible pushin’ man » You know I smoked a lot of grass and I’ve popped a lot of pills » But I’ve never done nothing that my spirit couldn’t kill » And I walk around with these tombstones in my eyes » But I know the pusher don’t care, if you live or if you die » And I said, God damn, God damn that Bible pushin’ man.” Shannon is onto something in this song, I think. Don’t be just another cheap, plastic bible pusher. You know exactly the sort of person he is singing about too! A Bible Pusher doesn’t care about the person he’s pushing. He/she only cares about making the sale. Maybe if Shannon would have met someone different, his own story would have been different. Godspeed.
Monthly Archives: February 2007
Should God Damn the Bible Pusher Man?
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
This is a big recommendation for readers with children. Grab a copy of The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones and spend some time reading it with your children. Here’s a snippet from the book description: “Children ages 4 to 8 have a hard time grasping the concept of ‘God.’ But it can be done through the person of Jesus. Told in a wonderfully inviting style, this Bible storybook shares many beloved Bible stories and reveals how the news and message of Jesus unfolds throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament all the way through the New Testament. Jesus in the Story helps readers love and appreciate Jesus and begin their own journey of faith. Beautiful 4-color artwork throughout.” I love the illustrations in all of her children’s books. Tip: Between Two Worlds & Eucatastrophe.
Family Intentionality and Everyday Responsibility
My wife and I are very much aware of the meaning of “busy”. We are in that phase of life wherein a whole lot of building takes place. We are young parents of three robust, demanding, and increasingly needy children. My wife and I are trying to become self-fulfilled too, via our individual careers and educational pursuits. We have household responsibilities and family economics to deal with as well. Life is at its busiest at the moment. It’s not going to get any less busy any time soon! That’s just the way it is! We do realize we have to be very intentional as regards recreational family time and intentional and shared intimate moments. This will require the sort of house discipline that forces one to unplug the phone during table dinner times; completely black out Saturdays on the family calendar; and not schedule business over very important life/family occasions. Yes, intentionality is the keyword. Intentional ministry begins at home, in the family center. If I build a church of 10,000 and loose my family I am nothing but a clanging piece of tin. I will build that church, because I am called to do so, but I’ll build my family too, alongside of it, because that’s part of the calling too! Intentionality is as much a part of ministry as worship. Intentionality of this sort is, in fact, worship. So, it is with gratitude laden hearts that we worship and care for what God has so lovingly gifted us with – our family center. It is a lot of responsibility, but the most precious things God gives us in this life are saturated with tons of responsibility.
Family is the Priority of Life Ministry
Immediate family is the number one priority of life ministry. Take seriously the spiritual injunction found in 1 Timothy 5:8. The American Standard Version translates 1 Timothy 5:8 like this: “But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” Family is the center upon which all else is built, including the broader outside ministry to which all Christians are called. If the inner home is falling apart, the ministry outside will suffer. Family is the point of life ministry, not because we wish to use it as the means/ends to reach others in holistic and authentic ways, even though that happens too, but because God first calls us to love one another and treat one another as Christ would His church. A minister of the Gospel must do this in his home first, before he can go to the world. This is beyond important for life ministry.
Prioritizing Incarnational and Missional Relationships
An incarnational and/or missional approach to Gospel ministry should not be characterized by a singular focus upon correct doctrine. We should not be trying to “fix” doctrine, at least not initially (we are talking about un-churched people here, not mature brothers and sisters in the faith). We especially should not refer to such acts as the priority of our evangelism! Read More »
My Primary Drive Failure
My PC’s hard drive self-destructed late last night. It literally grenaded a few seconds after my wife and I finished our church planter’s assessment drafts. No, we didn’t have time to back any of it up. The primary drive failed as my wife was saving her brief biographical draft. So, we lost all of it. We were busy today - all day - just trying to get our technology back up and running. All is running smooth here again and we will begin re-writing in the morning. Technology is good, most of the time. It’s not so good when the hard drive blows up.
BIC Church Planters’ Cluster
The Atlantic Conference of the Brethren in Christ is throwing a Church Planters’ Cluster this Tuesday, 10 am! I am so there. The purpose for the next several gatherings: To sharpen our ability to be missional in our personal lives. This includes our marriages, homes, finances and the intentional development of our spiritual, emotional, and physical health and well-being. What a great program, and a great bunch of guys too!
Toward a Missional Convention by Stetzer
Ed Stetzer handily erases the needless “or” of the strangely false but somewhat understandable “Cultural Relevancy or Biblical Faithfulness” dichotomy. The one and true heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ need not be sacrificed in the name of a relevant and authentic missional practice. Too, methodological differences should not immediately result in suspect doctrine and/or ecclesiology.
Yes, some have seemingly gone off the theological deep end, by prioritizing method over a solid and Biblically faithful theology and practice, but authentic missional practice should not be sacrificed as a result of a few of the worst examples of bad prioritization, should it? I’m a believer in the Bible as our authority for Christian faith and practice (as far as my reliance upon the scriptures is concerned), and very hip to interpretive issues and critical hermeneutics, and completely dedicated to missional and emerging forms and methodologies. I’m not a member of the SBC, but I do know a really solid and relevant message when I hear one. Toward a Missional Convention may just be one of the most important statements on ecclesiology of our time.
Ecclesiology is coming into sharp, sharp focus, it seems. Messages such as this one helps the process a whole lot. I would especially suggest taking seriously Stetzer’s charge that all of “the creative people are being lost.” The brightest, young, creative leaders are being lost, and not just by the SBC. Denominations across the board are losing their best and brightest, and for a number of reasons too. Something to think about, no? Note: Ed Stetzer is a Missiologist and Research Team Director at the North American Mission Board and Co-Pastor of Lake Ridge Church in Cumming, Ga.
A Starbucks Mug for the Manly Pastor
My dear wife and precious daughters went out tonight for a few groceries and came back with an uber cool ceramic mug that looks deceptively like the oh-so common but so very familiar Starbucks cardboard to-go cup. I saw it coming and thought it was a run-of-the-mill coffee, in a common cup, but then I spied its handle! I was so confused! I thought to my self, “Why is that cup sporting a handle?” The ceramic took more than a few seconds to actually register in my mind. My precious wife and daughters got a big, hilarious kick out of the whole thing! Read More »
A Church Planter Assessment
Excellent! My church planter’s assessment is on for this Saturday, February 24th. I’ve been called to planting ministry from day one. In fact, my wife and I are listed in a 1996-97 Biblical Life Institute (formerly Transylvania Bible School) photo album as “Church Planters: Brethren in Christ”. So, a Saturday day trip to Philly for a church planter’s assessment is a welcomed event that carries us one step closer to a much anticipated realization of call. God is good. PS: Thanks Pletch!