Posted by Chris on Mar 9, 2010 in
Culture,
God 
What is the What is an engrossing tale that straddles wars, decades and hemispheres. It follows Achak Deng, a real life Sudanese refugee from his days as a child in southern Sudan to his struggles adjusting to American Life.
The book really has it all: tragedy, war, love stories and hope. Dave Eggars narrator captures the voice of African refugees, with their zest for the small things in life and their deep understanding of tragedy.
The book makes it clear that refugee camps don’t go away. Achak grows up in a refugee camp: a tent city built on a barren desert plain. With no agriculture and little schooling, and the only economy at the mercy of the foreign aid workers, there is little to do but wait.
Although Achak seems indomitable, he can’t help but struggle with theodicy. Having lived through wars only to arrive in the U.S. and experience continued tragedy, he asks the question “does God have a problem with me?” Neither Achak or Eggars ever answer the question directly, yet the hero never gives up, neither on his faith or his desire to build a better life.
This question is one that we have all asked in our lives, and What is the What is a reminder that there are many who have persevered through much more difficulty than we can imagine.
It is also an invitation for Christ followers to respond from the very core of their faith. From the time of Abraham, God’s people have been refugees in a world not their own. God loves them, and has given us the privilege of demonstrating that love.
Have you read What is the What? How should we respond to stories of orphans and refugees?
Tags: 40 Books in 2010, Dave Eggars, orphans, refugees, theodicy, What is the What, widows
Posted by Chris on Mar 8, 2010 in
Church 
It seems that Lent is the perfect season for fish.
Three churches whose podcast I listen to regularly are all teaching through the book of Jonah.
Andy Stanley, king of the one-liners, can be heard at the North Point podcast. Rob Bell, with his new teammate, the pop-mennonite Shane Hipps, are exploring the depths at Mars Hill Bible Church. Austin’s own Gideon Tsang is lending a hand to Chris Seay at Ekklesia Houston.
Why do you think that so many teachers are gravitating to Jonah at this time? What have you learned from the story of the reluctant prophet, the giant fish and the great city?
Tags: Andy Stanley, Chris Seay, Ekklesia, Gideon Tsang, Jonah, Lent, Mars Hill, North Point, Rob Bell, Shane Hipps
Posted by Chris on Mar 4, 2010 in
Culture,
Life 
On Monday night I experienced Highball for the first time. It is really unlike anything else I’ve seen in Austin, yet has the distinct feel that it could only happen in Austin.
The club is located on South Lamar, in a part of town known for cheap chic. My favorite coffee houses, with their patio seating, exposed ceilings, and rickety tables maintain the bohemian steet cred. But Highball doesn’t even try.
Instead they go for classy. Leather paneling and chandeliers, high priced food and drinks make me put on a fedora and pretend that I’m somebody. Then Highball throws you a monkey wrench, or actually a ten pound ceramic ball. Bowling lanes and skee ball may seem to evoke “family fun centers” aimed at suburban teenagers., but actually add an element of interaction not found in your average club. Hidden in the back are private Karaoke rooms.
Then there’s the events, whose sheer level of creativity sets the place on it’s own plane. Everything from Geeks Who Drink trivia, to 90’s dance parties, to Oscar watching parties, to hip-hop karaoke.
I went by Monday night for Big Band night, which is where my only complaint comes in. The music selection was over the top, brassy and to slow for most of us Swing Dancers (although, it seemed perfect for the surprisingly high number of gray hairs cutting a rug.) The most fun we had on the dance floor was actually during the DJed breaks in between sets.
That being said, I’ll definitely give them another chance at the next Big Band night, and bring a few quarters for Skee ball.
Tags: Austin
Posted by Chris on Mar 2, 2010 in
Life 
Knowing that God has called you to be an underdog is a release to everything except your imagination.
Our new task is to imagine a Jesus way of life, true to who he is, yet meaningful in our context. We now ask ourselves, what about our culture’s way of life is valuable, godly and should be affirmed? What must be abandoned altogether?
The modern mindset would have us do this by breaking the world into categories. It asks questions like “What is Christian music/family values/politics/personal finances/sexuality/entertainment?” These are good questions which we may address later.
This categorization divorces relevant issues from the way in which we encounter them in life. No one says “from 8am-2pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday I will listen to the radio.” Instead, they listen to the radio as a part of their rhythm of life. They listen in the car, or while they cook and clean. The tactic has been to tell people to listen to the Christian radio station. Rather than imagining what Jesus would do with a TV or computer, we put porn filters on our computers and try to find family friendly movies.
What if we asked questions like: “Why do I like porn so much?” or “Why do I turn the TV on the second I get home?” We need to move from avoiding behaviors to addressing the way of life we have bought into: our daily, weekly and yearly rhythms, and the nature of our relationships. Which we’ll dive into soon.
Tags: A Jesus Way
Posted by Chris on Mar 1, 2010 in
Life 1. Read the whole Bible. I’ve definitely lost steam on this. Should have Isaiah and Mark knocked off soon. Need to be more intentional.
2. Run a full marathon. Check.
3. Climb a 14,000′ Mountain. Need to start planning for this. Want to go?
4. Visit somewhere I’ve never been. Considering going to Florida for the Exponential Conference. Any donated airline miles can be considered helping towards my kingdom goals.
5. Find a full-time job. Actually have an interview this week. Please keep praying!
6. Take at least one graduate course. Yeah…must complete 5 to do 6….
7. Read 40 books. Lost some speed here as well, but check out reviews for 7 and 8 soon!
8. Volunteer at least 1 time a month. Got the chance to help out at the Verge Conference. Directed parking, then went inside to learn.
9. Pay off all debt, except school loans. Looks like I’ll knock out the credit card with my upcoming tax return. Pretty excited about that.
10. Share my faith regularly. Had a co-worker approach me recently about this. Looking forward to sharing.
11. Begin leading and/or hosting a regular gathering for skeptics and Christians to study the Bible. Still working on making the apartment the kind of place one might invite others too. Need something for people to sit on.
12. Write daily, including journaling, blogging and working on a book. Really gotten off track on this one. The move has killed my rhythm, and writing suffered greatly. Hope this will pick up soon.
What are your plans for the year?
Tags: 12 Plans for 2010
What is the What is an engrossing tale that straddles wars, decades and hemispheres. It follows Achak Deng, a real life Sudanese refugee from his days as a child in southern Sudan to his struggles adjusting to American Life.
