pinakidion.*

I do have good news that I’ll share in another post.. The good news is that many people in my church attended a ‘black’ Church of Christ Sunday evening. There was a reception afterwards. A good time was had by all.

This morning feels weird and I think I figure out why. Just in time to take advantage of the post Da Vinci Code high, James Cameron (think Titanic director) claims to have found the tomb of Jesus and his family.

For the record, it is claimed that his son’s name was Judah. Some are already calling the disciple reclining on Jesus during the Lord’s Supper, Judah son of Jesus.

They did their homework, but you can judge for yourself on the Discovery Channel March 3.

Due to the vehement debate to follow in religious circles, no one will ever be able to substantiate this or disprove this with any certainty. Tis a shame, I guess. Moreover, some imaginary significance is going to be given to the cross symbol of the tomb purported to be Jesus’ tomb. And because this offers suggestions that Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ wife, I’m sure the whole issue of Dan Brown’s books being works of *fiction* will be endlessly hashed out.

Yet there is something that seems even more weird with today. I think that it is the knowledge that someone has invented a 101-gesture version of Rock,Paper,Scissors.

Between the two of them, I’m more worried about the Rock,Paper, Scissors game. It started with 5 gestures, but that appears to have been a gateway addiction. I can relate. Had he not done it first, I may have been tempted to try.

So if today feels especially strange, consider that Community (Sign 53) Gathers by Cross, Makes Money, Hunts Vampire, Finances Airplane, funds Helicopter, Plays Video Game and Survives Tornado, but Quicksand Threatens Community, Pit threatens Community, Rock solidifies Community, Death saddens community, and Wall surrounds Community. With 50 outcomes that win and 50 that loses, who can remember all of them.

Then again, Cross overcomes Death in this game and in real life. Maybe it’s not so strange after all.

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I found an article that parallels a lot of things I have experienced in my experience with the ICoC.

We Can’t Do Megachurch Anymore

Here was a church that dreamed big and got themselves into massive debt because they were going to be the largest church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yet, somehow it never really happened. Twenty years later, they are still trying to pay for it.

A new minister came in and the wave of new teaching and attitude was hoped to change things. In truth, things appeared to change. To those concerned with headcount, though, it could look like a disaster. They lost over a third of their membership.

Reading the article, I almost thought it was my experience all over again. Older members are leaving, there are issues with past leadership, the list goes on. Yet in the middle of this, there is still a great reflection on the way ahead for them. Considering steps 1,3, and 4, I think this is also the way ahead for the ICoC specifically, and any recovering megachurchaholics out there.

1. Be Honest with the Present Condition

From the article:

People kept asking: Why have our long-term members left? When are things going to get back to the way they were? What’s wrong with us?

Such questions can squelch even the most sincere brainstorming sessions. The hard truth we’ve tried to communicate through all of this is that the glory days of the past are exactly that—past glory days. We’re not to try to return to them. Garnett will never again be the church it once was. We have to do the difficult thing of letting go of our former glory in order to allow God to do a new thing in us.

Saying that the old days were better is considered unwise. Not just by this group of church leaders, but by Eccl 7:10. I agree with Wade that the worst thing during a brainstorming session is, “Let’s have an event like we used to have.”

2. (Gee, we never had a building)

3. The most life-giving activities of our church aren’t necessarily going to happen when we meet on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, D-Time, Leader’s Meeting, Prayer Breakfast, Evangelism Seminar, Teaching Conferences, Unity Delegation Events, etc. etc.

Again, from the article:

Church leaders in event-driven and personality-centered churches tend to gauge success by headcount, the number of people who show up. This is what leaders talked about, and subsequently members tended to judge success by how pews and collection baskets were filled.

Some things are just good to do for the sake of doing them. Jesus certainly didn’t have to turn water into wine. It saved the wedding couple from embarrassment. Isn’t it tempting to think, “Wasn’t there a better use of Jesus’ energy than saving a couple at a small wedding some embarrassment?”

Seriously, there’s the Open Door Mission in town that folks here have embraced for 10 years or more. That’s good stuff. I need to include these things into my Christian life. HOPE events are fine, but really, just be a part of something already existing. It’s important to join things like Habitat for Humanity or even smaller things as mentioned in the article. One of their events was teaching Spanish to local fireman. Where’s the headcount in a thing like that? Where’s the headline for a website or investment prospectus for these things?

4. Be a part of the community.

The Church of the English Majors loves jargon and bless their hearts, I’m sure it helps someone. Whatever living missionally means, or whatever being a missionary into your own culture means, what comes across is pretty straightforward: be involved in the community.

Being involved in the community helps us (me included) to *be* Jesus for others, not *do* Jesus for others. Again, from the article:

Anything aside from a Christ-centered approach is out in favor of teaching one another how to be incarnational presence of Christ, in practical ways in our jobs, neighborhoods, PTAs, and sports teams.

I know I quoted a good part of the article, but it is a good read.

I was reading the blurbs on Disciples Today and came across a breif description of ‘the sermon under the mount’. I didn’t read all of it, but what I did read was the same or similar to others like it I had read.

I tend to believe that the evil one is more subtle. Having once been an angel, I’m certain that he is smarter than me. But I thought about some of the lies that I have believed (or still believe!) and thought that if he were to pervert Matt 5 to confuse me, it would sound something like this.

Then he began to teach me by saying:

Blessed are the rich in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Blessed are those who mourn inwardly, for they are a comfort to others.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be vindicated. Blessed are the obedient, for they will be shown grace and mercy.
Blessed are those that live by their heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are those that fight for righteousness, for they will be called the soldiers of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

You are the salt of the earth. But when salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. Do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. Put it instead on a lampstand to give light to all in the house. In the same way, shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish but to fulfill. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do this will be called least on earth and in heaven, but whoever does them and teaches others to do so will be called great on earth and in heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent to fiery hell.

When you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, place your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled your Father in Heaven and then go reconcile with your brother.

Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not at all get out until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear both eyes out and throw them away. It is better to be blind than to have your whole body thrown into hell. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut off your entire arm and throw it away. It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.

It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord. But I say to you, avoid taking oaths at all-not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. For once an oath is spoken, you are bound to it.

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well and open your arms for an embrace.
And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, also give him your coat and sandals.
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two and cheerfully offer a third.

Give to anyone who asks you, and do not reject the anyone who wants to borrow from you.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they?

So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Scary, huh? Less than 2% of the original text was changed from the NET translation. That, for me, is how I get the most messed up. It’s the slight twist of a couple ideas that send me off into deep pits.

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A brief mention of Sunday’s events is in order.

350 miles - boredom, boredom, boredom. Kurt Busch once again leads the most laps until he and Stewart crash.

After that, all kinds of things happen. It’s not just crashes, it’s potential history in the making. Mark Martin in his 23rd Daytona could win one. (Keep in mind that Kyle Bush wasn’t born when Martin made his first Daytona run in 1977.)

On the last lap, Kevin Harvick wins by a nose - 0.02 seconds to win the Daytona 500.

I haven’t nothing against Harvick, but I was upset. I really hope Mark Martin would win.

So now we have a place for NASCAR-related comments. Details, I’m sure, to ensue.

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I do this everytime it snows and school is cancelled. So, I’m just going to get it out of my system before I jump into the car and battle 5 inches of unplowed snow:

When school is canceled, only essential personnel are supposed to report. Usually, this means one custodian and the principal. The custodian is there to take care of the building and check on it. The principal is there in case parents attempt to drop off any children. (And they do.)

Back at administration HQ, where I work, the argument over whom is essential and who is not created a tremendous vaccuum of leadership. In other words, rather than make a decision, it was decided that everyone at the administration building is essential personnel. This includes the folks with a job description to answer technical question from the schools only. So, 300 of us are all converging on one spot with only two different access points at roughly the same time from all over the city on unplowed roads.

If I cannot make it to work, I am charged a vacation day. If I don’t have a vacation day, I’m docked. (Cannot use a sick day.) I can opt to stay home and take a vacation day, but a department must have coverage. This was defined for us last year because coverage doesn’t mean one person in a department of 30. Coverage is approx 50% of your department. I’m in a department of 4, so rather than coordinate on the phone at 6am, it’s easier to just come into work.

Most other business have canceled their work day or allow employees to work from home. Times like this I ask myself why the VPN has been nixed for five straight years. The answer is not security, by the way.

So, off I go. Ugh!

Sorry to burden you with my complaint. I know, in my head, that others have it worse.

I am still here. First, let me get some business stuff out of the way.

I cannot check email at work except for my work address. My work email cannot accept email from outside of the company - nobody’s email can at the moment. It has been this way for a few days. We don’t use Outlook or any of the *nix products, it’s unique.

So, I love all of you, but you’ve had no way to contact me short of calling me, and I haven’t been well enough to answer the phone if you have. Not sick, just tired. Imagine staying awake for 72 hours, that is the equivalent of what it’s been like the past few days.

So, you can email me at a pinakidion address, but I can’t answer until nighttime. When my work email works again, I’ll let you know.

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Outside of that, I have spent the last three weeks finishing Lenga. The world is complete with some descriptive bits needing some attention. I’ve also come close to getting a prototype for the computer project I mentioned earlier. I say prototype because it is a *nix solution.

As mrtool pointed out to me, now I need a story to take place in this world of Lenga. Maybe this summer…

What I hope to talk about soon are:

We talked with one of the churches of christ in town and failed the test of fellowship. We are instrumental (though in theology only, the last time we actually *had* an instrument was long ago) and so we can attend their church as guests, not brothers. It’s okay, in building unity, these things will happen.

Alan did a great series on CENI, Command, Example, Necessary Inference. It is the hermenutic of most conservative churches of Christ. Discussing it and a model of spirituality at the church I attend gave me some food for thought that I’d like to share. They are related, really.

We had a heat wave here of 38 degrees yesterday. It is short lived as the snow and 10 below temperatures will return. For those that like the cold, all I will say is that you are welcome to pay my heating bill.

More later, just letting everyone know that I am, indeed, alive.

It has come to my attention that another role paying game used the term ‘Hesperian’ to refer to a Roman-based society in an alternate future. Although I came up with Hesberian independent of them, the folks at Steve Jackson Games came up with it quite a bit earlier than I did. I do not want to infringe on their trademarks at all. It’s obvious to me that as they have prior art (I know it’s not a copyright thing) I need to change.

So, the Hesberian Empire material I came up with will have its name changed again. I am making certain that there are no duplication of specific people mentioned in other products. Awrelius will have a name change to Cutelium, but others with different names should be okay.

Henceforth, the empire that dominated Dira and influences Lenga is known as the Bedrian Empire.

NKQB

Nabrolus Kenuraque Bedrianus

For the Senate and Ken of Bedriana

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