Anyway, one reason I am on this kick is that I am obsessed with two of his songs in particular.  One is “Casmir Polanski Day,” which I have repeatedly proclaimed one of the greatest Christian songs ever written even though it is horribly melancholy and  in the end the song’s character is really questioning his faith.  The other is “To Be Alone With You,” (lyrics below.) A song that sounds like any ordinary sweet love song until you listen to the lyrics.

He is a singer who often writes of a questioning faith, and he puts his relationship with Christ in very human, honest terms. Do you think there is a lot of value in this?  I think that one of  the reasons that “Christian Music” is so often praise music is that folks are afraid to really allow themselves the freedom to express doubt or questioning or anything that might look like weak faith.  What other writers or singers or artists do ya’ll know that can effectively express a relationship with Christ from an interesting angle or talk honestly about their walk with God?

I'd swim across Lake Michigan
I'd sell my shoes
I'd give my body to be back again
In the rest of the room
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you

You gave your body to the lonely
They took your clothes
You gave up a wife and a family
You gave your ghost
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
You went up on a tree

To be alone with me
You went up on a tree

Here are links to some of his videos:

To Be Alone With You:

http://youtu.be/4vgy5g-djuA

Casmir Polanski Day (live)

http://austincitylimits.org/component/seyret/video/105/Sufjan-Stevens#tabs-2

And I promise something more cheerful next time!

Maybe this will make it better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqYWiypaatM

Are you worried?

The truth is, no one knows what will happen next.  The economy seems to be on a daily roller coaster that is being built daily, and the future is impossible to predict.  I’ve had conversations with people about how to prepare for such an uncertain future, and suggestions of what to do have run from doing nothing differently, to some comical “end-of-the-world” preparations, and all points in between with some ideas I found pretty level headed.

We have all given it some thought, and when I search for something in the Bible to compare it to, my mind went immediately to the storm at sea the disciples experienced with Jesus asleep in the back of the ship.  The story is found in Matthew chapter 8 and Mark 4, but some points about their situation jump out at me as being similar.

First, they had a very huge problem come upon them suddenly.  This was not a theoretical, political, or personal problem.  This problem was tangible, it was immediate, and it threatened their very lives.  For their part, there was nothing they could do.  The ship was full of water, and their future was in great doubt.  Second, they went to Jesus, but finding him asleep bemoan that He does not care for them, and that they may die.

Ever been in a situation where life is turned all upside down and it seems God is asleep at the wheel and/or does not not care about what is going on in your life?

As this economy plays out, there are some people out there in ships that are sinking.  Their problems are not theoretical, political, or personal.  They have very real problems that require very real answers.  They have gone to God, and from their point of view, it seems God is asleep.  They have cried out in their hearts, in their prayers at night, in frustrations and anxiety of an uncertain future “Carest thou not that we perish?”

Their concerns and fears are no less real than the concerns and fears the disciples had while on that ship in the middle of a raging sea that threatened to destroy them, and I think Jesus’ response to the disciples would be no different for us today.  Mark 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”  The difference being that Jesus calmed a very real storm in their lives before uttering those words.  His actions showed what the intent of His words were.  He was always in perfect control of the situation.

Sometimes we simply want the storm to stop, and then we will be thankful.  I know that is where I would be in my mind.  We want to see the storm abate to know God is still in control.  Strange.  Why do we believe God is control when things are good, but when things go bad we doubt His sovereignty?  When things are good, faith is easy because we perceive the good blessings of God’s provision, but it is when things are not so good when our faith is tested.

The God in control of our lives in good times, is still in control when things go haywire.  When things are good, it is easy to give God control of our lives.  We should be equally prepared to surrender control in our lives when things are not so good, or downright terrible.  The way I see it, with all the uncertainty I have about the future, I think I’d rather have faith in God who really does control everything than trust myself.  It’s not easy.

Like being the passenger in a car heading into trouble, the impulse is to wrest control of the steering wheel away from the driver, but if the driver is an expert, and we really do trust him, faith dictates we be prepared to surrender control.  Now, you can start by taking your hands off the wheel.

What makes a man a man? When does a boy separate himself from the child like shackles that keep him on the playground and move into manliness?

I ask because I feel like it’s something I feel like I am still coming to grips with. A 32 year old with 8 years of marriage under my belt and 2 children (although 1 is still maintaining residence inside my wife). Am I a man yet?

I haven’t killed an animal with my bare hands and then enjoyed it for dinner. I haven’t withstood days of tough challenges given to me by the men around me or been pierced or branded showing their acceptance of me. I wonder if the switch has taken place. I’m sure some of this comes out of my misconceptions of what a man is (a cowboy, a soldier, a pirate), but I just don’t feel like a man.

I do feel like there are some folks in my life who would add me to the category but I feel like me feeling like a man is a pretty important quality of being a man. I feel like some sort of ritual or right would be a nice outward sign not only to a boy but also to perform it in the presence of men who’s view and treatment of the boy would change from boy to man.

What about you what do you think? What makes a boy a man? Are rights and rituals necessary or worth wild? Women is this a problem for you?

The first is the Holy War that is brewing on Reddit. It seems that the Christians and the Atheist groups are having a (so far) friendly competition to see who can raise the most money for their respective charities on this Christmas/Holiday season. You can read some about it Here

For those of you with delicate constitutions, remember, it is Reddit and there is a bunch of cussin’ once you start to navigate around on the site. My favorite part of the war has to be the cross-donating that is going on. A lot of folks are donating to the “enemy” side!

The next article is about a study done in determining how much branding can serve the same psychological needs as traditional religion. You can read about it here. I can’t imagine that he study is without fault and I don’t know exactly what it proves, but I do know that our love of the material is way more dangerous than a lot of the temptations we face. After you red the article, I would love to hear how everybody responds to it.

Enjoy the reading and have a Merry Christmas!!

Full-Scale Replica of Noah’s Ark Coming to Ky. Theme Park

The article is about a theme park in Kentucky that is building a full scale replica of Noah’s Ark.  It is REALLY hard to even write about this without being unkind, so I will keep it short.   If you go to the Ark Encounter website, you will be able to read about all the plans for this theme park.  My favorite areas of the proposed park are the Tower of Babel 5D theater (a concept that couldn’t have more irony if it tried) and The Walled City which offers “plenty of shopping and food.”  The cost of the entire project? $125 million.  Just to build the ark will cost $24.5 million.

This project, along with the Holy Land Experience, the Creation Museum and the Precious Moments Chapel among others  just make my skin crawl.  I am sure that most of the folks involved mean well and aren’t at all interested in reaping profit while presenting a glossed over “replicated” and particularly toothless religion.  Often these kinds of places say that they are just “educating” people or that they are a ministry.  But, really, how many people are led to Christ or faith of any kind by looking at an exhibit of Adam standing next to a velociraptor?  I guess what really irks me is the knowledge that these kinds of places are pretty much just another way that we Christians get to be just like everyone else in our search for leisure and new and inventive ways of wasting God’s cash while at the same time getting to claim that we are different” because we have our theme parks feature the crucifixion instead of the “Pirate Show.”

But even as I write this, I realize how hypocritical I am being.  I am a huge consumer of secular media and pop culture.  I also buy a lot of Christian books and what good Christian music I can find.  I do not go home every night and spend hours in study of my bible and in prayer.  Am I any better when I waste my money buying music and going to movies and visiting Six Flags than a person who wastes money on traveling to a Christian museum or theme park or buying really bad Christian music that exists only to sound exactly like the current top 40 songs?

I understand the desire for we as Christians to develop a culture of our own.  I understand that even Christians get to relax sometimes and maybe once in awhile enjoy ourselves.  And it is only probably my inner curmudgeon (always present throughout the month of December) that gives me cause to rail against all this.

My questions for ya’ll are:  At what point do we stop creating a worthwhile Christian message or worldview that can be shown to people and begin succumbing to the pleasures of the world while cloaking it under the thin veil of “Christianity” or a “ministry?”  When does the message begin to get lost in the medium?  Is it a matter of degrees? Do you think that these kinds of ventures (theme parks, museums and other big ticket items) are or could be useful to Christians and non-believers?

]]> http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/10/lord-spice/feed/ 1 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/10/no-fear-for-the-future/ http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/10/no-fear-for-the-future/#comments Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:00:36 +0000 JohnB www.MenRising.com http://www.fracturedsaints.com/?p=1771 Was reading an article in my latest issue of Popular Science magazine titled “Can This House Save You From The End Of The World?”  It’s about a guy who is converting atomic bomb shelters and outdated missile silos into habitats that are “compact but luxurious” and sport some pretty tricked out amenities . . . such as . . . . . . “enough food and clothing to sustain 135 people for at least a year” at one facility, and can “withstand a 50-megaton nuclear blast 10 miles away, 450mph winds, a magnitude 10 earthquake, 10 days of 1,250F degree surface fires, and three weeks beneath any flood.

Already I know what you’re thinking.  “What about a flood that lasts a little more than 3 weeks?!” or maybe “What if the nuclear blast is 51-megatons and 9 miles away?  What then!?!?!?”  At least that’s what I was thinking when I read that line.  The guy’s pitch?  He’s selling “life assurance” not life insurance.  The cost for this peace of mind?  $5,000 down payment with the other $45,000 payable when your abode is ready for occupation – not that you’ll be using it anytime soon, if ever, but don’t you feel all warm and fuzzy now that you have “life assurance”?

Crazy thing is, people are forking over the bucks for it – 75 have signed up so far, which brings two things to mind.  One – who ARE these people?  Two – there is a very real sense of the future people feel unprepared for – and they are willing to pay very handsomely to be prepared.

However, the irony is that, in all probability, these very same people have not prepared for the future beyond this life.  THAT kind of preparation is very simple and easy for us to come by, because it’s great price tag has already been paid.  For that future, I am already well prepared, and have no fear for that future.  In fact, I’m quite looking forward to it.  Are you?

]]> http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/09/howl-le-lu-ya/feed/ 3 http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/08/authentic-christian-cool/ http://www.fracturedsaints.com/2010/08/authentic-christian-cool/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:03:27 +0000 tmamone http://www.fracturedsaints.com/?p=1646 For the past couple of weeks I’ve been reading Brett McCracken’s book Hipster Christianity. It’s a pretty good book overall, although I personally think Brett could have done more research for the chapter on the emerging church. And he does suggest that social justice is just another fad. But Brett does bring up some good points.

For example, near the end he explains the differences between authentic Christian cool and being a self-righteous hipster jerk. Hipsters, as Brett explains, are all about individualism. Everything they do is a self-conscious attempt to be better and cooler than the average square (do people still say “square?”). Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to be other-centered instead of self-centered. He’s less concerned about how “cool” you are than how loving you are. Jesus says the world will know we are His disciples if we love one another, not our Macbooks or our TOMS shoes or our iPods full of Sufjan Stevens tunes (all of which I own, by the way).

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I can be a hipster snob. I’m not one of those kinds of people who want all eyes on them, like Paris Hilton and Michaela Salahi. But I don’t want to fade into the background, either, so sometimes I consciously pick out clothes that I hope will make people think, “Wow, that guy’s cool!” But why should be so concerned about looking cool, when I’m supposed to show God’s love before anything else?

Of course, there’s the other extreme, and that’s getting so wrapped up with church culture that we don’t know how to communicate the Gospel to our peers.

I think the thing to remember is balance. Paul often used culture to help preach the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19-23), so I don’t think it’s wise to completely divorce ourselves from culture. I love my Macbook, TOMS shoes, and Sufjan Stevens records just as much as the next guy. However, at the end of the day I don’t serve those things. My main job is to love Jesus and love others, period.

Even though I know that is true I still buy things in hope that owning them will produce results. I wonder how many bowflexs and thigh masters are sitting in a closet gathering dust right now. I wonder what percentage of folks look like the guy in the bowflex commercials or have thighs off…..iron? And then there’s the shake weight, I’m sure that flew off the shelves for mothers day… never mind.

I feel the same way as a Christian here in America. I feel like we have the most Christian resources at our disposal between the book stores, tv & radio stations, and even our own music industry. But from what I hear we are also the most stagnant church, the slowest to help those in need, the slowest to love past our areas of comfort. So I guess my question is do we need more Christian resources or do we need less stuff and more Christ?