Posted by Chris on Sep 17, 2010 in
Life 
I write this post from Flipnotics, which I think of more as my living room than a coffee house. The rustic patio bar nestled in the hills of 78704 is a refuge for those trying to hold on to the hippie lifestyle, an office for freelancers and the hope of the open mic scene.
Recently, I ran into an old coffee friend here who asked me, “so, are you still religious?”
The other night I met a pastor’s prodigal son who has left behind his religion, but has embraced the teachings of Ken Wilber. As we discussed the differences between the concepts of integral spirituality and the claims of Jesus Christ, another friend chimed in “I respect religion, you know, culturally.”
It’s hard to respond to these statements. The more learn about Jesus, the more dangerous I see religion. I don’t claim that I’m some “spiritual but not religious” type, who strike me as wanting to feel something without having to live in community, tradition or authority. The “not religion but relationship” line sets up for an individualism at the expense of the surrounding world.
These questions took Jesus three years to answer, and when he did, it got him killed. You can know God, traditions are helpful, personal practices are transformative, and community is necessary. But that can be very different than religion: culturally bound, guilt inducing, creativity damping, and, most dangerously, a tool of the state.
Jesus spoke of a kingdom, demonstrated a deep love for others and cared for the poor. He had a deep respect for the stories of the Hebrew tradition, but not the religion of his day. His followers responded with a new way of living: a humble, communal lifestyle where you give everything away.
Joining the Kingdom, rejecting the trappings of your world, yet loving it deeply is fundamentally different than being religious. It’s also requires years of demonstration, something you can’t share over a beer.
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Tags: Austin, flipnotics, Jesus, mission, Missional, religion, spirituality
Posted by Chris on Sep 9, 2010 in
Life 
It’s pretty crazy to think that it’s been over a year since I made my return to Austin. I came here simply because I felt like I needed to stop hopping from city to city, job to job, and start growing up. If that’s the only task, then why not live in a city you love?
I came here in a broken down car with no job and not many connections. God sent the Brimberry family to take me in, and gave me a job at a fancy electronics retailer which will remain unnamed.
It has not been an easy year. I’ve survived well below the poverty line, and had to humbly ask for help in the basic ways of providing for myself. It is hard to make friends, to make relationships at church and know what to do next. It still is.
So, I made it my goal to do what I can. Pay off my debt, (Done. Woohoo!), get back into graduate school (here), run a marathon (4:41:34), and find ways to serve. We often think of being faithful to God as striving after some goal he’s given us. The past year has been less about being faithful to a what, like some life goal, and more about being faithful to a where, doing the best with what I’ve got, here and now.
And it’s been fun. Learning more about this city. Getting back into swing dancing. Seeing shows with accordions and stand up basses and clarinets. Discovering hole in the wall restaurants and eating new things. Dancing in people’s kitchen. Learning about the unique way God is at work in Austin.
With a year behind me, I feel a strange itch. It could be that wanderlust that I moved here to conquer trying to get me to pack the bags again. Or it could be a sign that God has even more planned for a second year in Austin.
So, I’ll keep doing my best to be faithful to where I’m at. Thanks for being along for the ride.
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Tags: Austin
Posted by Chris on Sep 3, 2010 in
Church 
“I think Austin might just be the US city furthest along the missional road.” Alan Hirsch, author of The Forgotten Ways
If my rantings about TV, Church and growing up aren’t enough for you, don’t worry, there’s other places to find me on the web.
I’ve been given the privilege of helping out the guys over at PlantR. PlantR is an Austin-Area church planting network, made up of great guys risking everything to create new missional communities. On the blog, you’ll hear about opportunities to live missionally and show Christ’s love to Austin.
Check out the blog at www.plantr.org, or follow on Twitter @austinplantr. Keep your eyes peeled for the first ever PlantR podcast later this month.
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Tags: Austin, church planting, plantr
Posted by Chris on May 5, 2010 in
Church,
Culture,
God 
Hey Austinites, I could use your help.
I’m considering a second blog, solely focused on Austin, with an eye toward missiology. Here’s the big idea:
Let’s talk about Austin. Things we love, like our favorite restaurants, local bands and festivals. Let’s talk about the people of Austin, what makes them unique and how to reach them. In the process we’ll discuss what God is doing in our city.
Think Yelp for missionaries.
This is just a tool to learn how to share about Jesus in our unique culture. Best practices, worst failures, lesson learned, and questions roused.
What would you like to know more about? What do you have to share?
I don’t plan to do this alone. I’m looking for leaders and lay people alike to share their two cents.
So, who’s in?
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Tags: Austin, Missional
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.
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Tags: Austin
I write this post from Flipnotics, which I think of more as my living room than a coffee house. The rustic patio bar nestled in the hills of 78704 is a refuge for those trying to hold on to the hippie lifestyle, an office for freelancers and the hope of the open mic scene.
