GLENN'S PODCASTS!

AN INFORMED & EXPERIMENTAL LIFE

I try not to spend huge bit of time with broader church controversies and also try to temper (bring balance) to discussions of such. My "ground of truth" is The Bible, mostly but not always what seems the common interpretation of it's texts based on study, what most believers have written over the centuries as well as presently about a topic/doctrine, church history, world history, anthropology and of course my own and my immediate friends' shared years of experience. All of this pretty well shapes my thinking and perhaps that of at least many Christ-followers.

The Christian streams of "emergent" and "emerging" (if you are thorough with your study you'll find they're not exactly the same though nearly so) -seem- largely focused on matters of conversation and relationship, mostly young, mostly white though not -all- are. Some -seem-
more focused on experimental, creative Christianity rather than hardcore information/doctrine.

Older traditional churches are often -seem- a great deal more focused on doctrine, propositional truth and what some would call rational thought, less focused on experiments and creativity.

Both may now be angry with me... but perhaps not- HA!

In any event, I'm interested not only what's presently happening but what -does- happen to the larger church as the old and new collide... and something other than either begins to... ah...err.... shall I say, "emerge"?!

Down the road, in fact currently, issues about such Bible doctrines as hell, universalism, homosexuality and others that perhaps aren't so very "side-issues" will (and are being) discussed.

As positions such as these affect our thinking and practice with relation to God, His Word,
our message and ability to influence culture rather than culture being the key "discipler" of either we or other, fresh, younger seekers and Christ-followers comes to mind. Such things will interest we who seek Jesus regardless of our own beliefs.

The Jesus Movement faced much of the same stuff: old and trusted information, biblical interpretations, established ways of being and doing "church" and of course methodology in terms of both gathered worship and outreach to those who were not yet linking up with the Lord
Jesus.

We were creative, emotional, seeking social justice in terms of the Vietnam war, military conscription, hunger, poverty, racism, gender and human sexual practice. Fact is, we were dealing all of those before AND after we began to follow Jesus and discover (or in some cases, discover afresh) the Bible and it's teachings.

Old clashed with new, the elders with the "youngers", the more experienced with the less experienced, "time-tested and proven" methods with what some still call the last seven words of a dying church: "we never did it this way before"!

Here's a phrase attributed to Jesus I think we'd all benefit from: Matthew 13.52 And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

Perhaps new churches/congregations/gatherings of followers of Jesus are now "scribing" via other art forms but The Bible is foundational and central to most as far as I can tell. Interpretations are key, and of course there is wide variance on many things among those who seek and follow Jesus... yet there must be respect for the Word... or my word/your words/somebody other than God's Word may well take a near-canonical position in our thinking. This in my view opens the door to something other than God's love, our humility and real growth as disciples (listeners and learners) of Jesus Christ.

Then again some of the Church's older members have long followed teachings of favorite Bible teachers and preachers, rarely studying daily to find out whether such things are true. Some seek comfort (just as many younger one's may) and are not committed to what I'd call solid, biblical truths central to the Christian faith and practice. It's one thing to learn to gracefully, kindly debate, another to lash out, harshly critique and finally separate over "disputes about words"...
and God knows we have often done so and been our own worst advert for what a Christian much less, what "the church" really is!

Somewhere between information and experimenting, between that truth we hold as truth and the ability to dream, create and try something new is a balance that it seems to me we need to find.

On what may seem like (in one sense, is) a tangent- I safely told a large number of people at our own Cornerstone Festival as well as a German fest a few years ago: there will be more who claim to follow Jesus who will (1) turn away from regular fellowship with people who challenge them to
believe and live out the simple and plain teachings of the Bible, (2) who will consider smoking dope equal with drinking alcohol, (3) who will not recognize any biblical prohibition to homosexuality, lesbianism or bisexuality. They will refer to themselves as followers of Jesus. Of course we have no record that Jesus practiced any of these, but in any case, all of this also happened in and toward the end of the Jesus Movement. I understand that in some minds "the jury may be out" on the content or percentage of alcohol in what Jesus drank was... but there's little argument regarding drunkenness in terms of the Bible's teachings.

In these I expect what was will be again and in some cases already is as I write in Jan. 2008.

Then again I also think discussions (and anguish, worry and our/my/most Christian aversion to teachings on things such as hell, who gets "into" heaven and so forth) are such hot buttons for most of us that in the use of language it is as important between followers of Jesus as it
would be between a current non-follower or shall I say semi-follower?! There is a very real sense in which we're all "in process", no? Yet such doctrines indeed -mean- something and of course we all think so or none of us would even be talking about them.

Thinking about "mean", used another way I would also posit that many of the older generation must take care that their own willingness and ability to be patient and listen, really listen- to what younger seekers and followers have to say may well hold merit and produce lasting biblical fruit. As in the Jesus Movement, for some the journey may be short but let's not make it shorter by our own arrogance, lack of kindness or impatience with their new "take" on what many consider old truths.

This is where BOTH older "experienced" and younger Christ-followers (and some of these may have a LOT of experience -only different... or may be far more studied on a given issue than the older believer) must pray and work hard at both patience and careful language in the conversation... or there will be something other than authentic conversation going on!

Certainly "heat" is easier to find than "light" among a passionate people. God help us!

If ancient, present or future history holds any meaning, if it has any value at all, we'd better not expect perfection but blunders on all sides of these debates. The deeper question is what sort of fruit our attitudes as well as information and experiments will produce. Time will tell.

ALL OF US need to grow in an informed AND experimental life... in authentic relationship with Jesus Christ as well as one another.

UNDER THE RADAR?

[Author's note- There's likely be a reader or two about to yell out "Don't taze me Bro.!" Please know that wasn't my intended purpose for writing it.]

This article will begin slowly for a reason... I apologize in advance :)

Those in the local churches world-wide... you -know- who you are!!

Years ago I wrote a column for JPUSA's Cornerstone Magazine called "Kaiz Replies". Due to the snail-mail REZ Band got and so many questions asked, many of them similar, the staff thought it good for me to answer via a public forum. This, by the way, is often core to my writing song lyrics, little books, blogs, etc..

Back in the day I wrote a Kaiz Replies dealing with people who wish to remain anonymous. More on this further down the page...

Many of you know I'm into Linux (open-source, mainly free computer operating system) and today I read an online internet technology source that dealt with the One Laptop Per Child project. Mr. Negroponte director of OLPC, a vision-become-project out of MIT posited that offering a very robust yet cheap subnotebook (small & light laptop) that took little energy, even offered with solar and/or handcrank power, etc., might be constructed for poor and mostly younger students in developing nations for perhaps a hundred bucks per unit! His motives are clearly about people and education. He cut costs, got governments on board, made deals and is still making 'em having shipped quite a few units to date.

As usual, there were and are corporate interests concerned about market-share, about potentially seeing the Linux OS (which is the initial operating system Negroponte is using, both for cost and stability reasons) garner more edge and spotlight- and of course they are likely thinking about "authority and competition problems for US... the BIG GUYS". So the main competitors put out a copycat laptop with their operating system on board.

Anyhow, I could write for days about what's wrong with all of this... but what's "right" in my view is that there are choices, people who care more about people than profit, creativity and even art involved. Time will tell but even with various problems re. OLPC and regardless of arguments about which OS should be used etc., there's a David vs. Goliath thing here. Let me say I've read both sides of the matter for many months. Let me also freely admit I come with my own bias.

One can also recognize positive results in that such initiatives are no longer being laughed off, disregarded, or the profit margins being quite as highly regarded due to Negroponte's vision. As in all things, OLPC has it's glitches... so does Windows Vista (!) and yep, even Mac... but that's another article.

As I read the article and all the responses there and on other sites, the raft of pro and con views and all I noticed how many people wrote under an alias (common on the Web of course, and from some angles, for good reason) or even anonymously.

As I was reading all this stuff I came across a pretty brutal, negative writ where Bill Gates was quoted... from many years ago no less... being severely blasted for his words.

Regardless of how you or I feel about Bill, Windows or even his specific comments in the past... what stood me up is the apparent (to me anyhow) double-standard of those writing anonymously who sit in judgment of the man publicly named/shamed for X, Y and/or Z. At times I even agree with them... but then few of either of us have come up with an innovative, working computer operating system, have we?

A common theme in my own life as well as to those I speak to (and I talk ALOT... I admit it) is: "Theory is nice. Strap in and fly that thing -let's see if it works. How truly committed are you to your concept?"

In terms of real love, trust and respect- the young often have a hard time with older people, ditto the older in considering the young. This is reality since the earliest history of humankind,

Those in power don't want to share real power with the young/fresh/new, and the young/fresh/new don't know if they CAN or even SHOULD respect the old. But when either or both "sides" refuse to sign off on the issue... they then avoid taking the responsibility of being a target. Their words won't return to them. But just as those who truly risk a lot in the matter, their apparent "successes" and indeed "failings" will follow them regardless.

This is why I think many people LOVE to fly "under the radar".

It's irresponsible... but such self-protection can also be lazy, vain, empty and in the end a recipe for a shallow and even bitter and lonely life. Where are you and I in terms of having the guts to sign our name to our convictions as well as a life that backs up our talk and our dream?

Then again, it's always easy to talk about walking while sitting like concrete in a comfortable, remote place.

Jesus lived what He spoke. When He spoke creatively and did creative stuff (a lot, if you read His Book carefully) He signed on to it. When people came against Him, tried to trap Him, were jealous of Him, did what they could to discredit Him (mostly due to their own desire for control, power, fortune and selfish desire fulfillment, partly due to fear, worry, ignorance and possible loss of "market share") His response was essentially "you know what I taught... and so do my disciples. I've spoken publicly, you can ask My followers, they know full well what my teaching is".

The seventh chapter of John's Gospel is loaded with this concept of jealousy, accusation, Jesus' response and owning what He had taught. It did not change the mind of the religious leaders present though He did have some admirers and even disciples in the crowd.

When Jesus was arrested all of His disciples fled. Nobody was willing to pay the price of knowing and serving Jesus or -with- Jesus in that stretch of time. Bless them, his mother and few women showed the most courage of all in being close to Him as He was crucified.

My point is not that you or I are Jesus (!) nor that people might wrongly accuse us of whatever, it's not even that there is a -cost- for following Jesus Christ when at times it seems most would rather not face that cost.

These women did not remain anonymous... but there came a day when most of His followers did.

Sure there's a cost for living out your convictions, but the cost is far greater and frankly, over time, can even end up a matter of hypocrisy in that it's easy to wag tongue rather than strap in and pay the price of doing things differently because in -some- places, among -some- people, at -certain- times, God has called, gifted and even appointed and commissioned you or I to do so.

I'm a fan of world and church history alike. I've lived long enough to both study and experience apparent "successes and failures" in various streams of the church including the one I'm in. At times I've been a by-stander and such anonymity has it's perks. It -feels-... and in one sense IS safer. It's a way of keeping distance from what may end up a spiritual Titanic! Then again, if one has nearly nobody and nothing worth dying for, who or what is worth living for?

In the end, that's what it comes down to.

Paul, speaking to the elders in Ephesus said "You yourselves know how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,"(Acts 20.20)

I have spoken many foolish and wrong words in my life, yes, as a Christian leader in public! There is and shall be loads of audio, video and written words of mine out there, some in public and some in private. In some cases I was wrong, or half-wrong, or clueless or you-name-it. But I was not and cannot be anonymous and fulfill my calling to share the Word of God best as I understand it (or understood it at the time). The same goes for my sharing of views that are at times unpopular.

This is also true regarding sharing and living the Bible out in everyday life to the point others get downright angry if not only uncomfortable. Certainly some folks will misquote or even lie about what I've really said or meant by my words. That's hardly surprising! Many wish to remain anonymous because there is pain involved, misunderstanding and at times, actual disagreement. But the fruit of your life and actual mission will also be apparent in time... therefore as a person and as a servant of others before God's throne, you will not remain anonymous on that day!

If our words have ceased to have meaning, might it not be due at least in part to the fact we love to discuss theory and concept more than the hard the work of living out those "beliefs" in daily life? No wonder so many remain anonymous. It's not always about humility and fame issues... is it?

If "flying under the radar" reveals a lack of love... or a core fear of rejection... perhaps this form of travel is something we ought to avoid.

JAN. '08 UPDATE

Greetings to all in 2008!

Hope you all had as excellent a Christmas as we did in our family and here at JPUSA & Project 12.

Right after New Years Day I flew to Germany for an excellent time with a national meeting of Christ-following musicians that has been going on annually for some 30 years, then up to a Sun. night service in Hamburg. GKB will be touring in Germany and Switzerland in a few months, and dates will be posted on this as well as the Grrr Records site as details are finalized.

So I write this from home in Chicago, about to teach Project 12 on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.

The beginning of next week, GKB will do daily work on each song prospect for the new cd. Roy has again written some brilliant stuff, I've added some and I think we have a great start on this project.

I keep saying I'll get fresh audio and even video blogs uploaded and I truly want to... but whew, it takes time and effort I've just not had. Eventually!

I've seen bits of the expected digitized footage from Rez XX Years Live and Tom indeed thinks Grrr Records will release it just prior to our Cornerstone Festival. You can go to the Cstone Fest website for all related info. on the fest. REZ will do a full reunion set, GKB will also play.

We are praying and working toward producing at least -decent- quality live webcasting of some of our teaching and preaching from JPUSA and Project 12 this year. We shall see, but it's totally on my list for this to become a reality, and it's mostly that infrastructure that needs to be settled. All in His good time! But we'll let the world know about all that via all our web sites soon as we're ready to "go live".

We have had a web presence (for quite a while now) on myspace, facebook, shoutlife and of course over at project12.us and glennkaiser.com. More -may- be added in time, but perhaps not, we'll see.

O.K., that's all for now- but I and we wish you the BEST year of service for Jesus, the closest of His arms around your life and a deeper sense of His love and purpose than ever!

Love and Hugs,
-Glenn