Many of you know that I have a deep love of John MacArthur of “Grace to Who? Ministries” (note the thick sarcasm), so when I saw this on Joe Martino’s blog, I had to share it. I was given Johnny Mac’s new book “The Truth War” and I couldn’t make it past the introduction. I tried, I really did. But what a bitter, pompous old man. He was trying to deconstruct the post modern/emergent movement, but it was evident quickly on that he had no idea what he was talking about. You know the people that try to make arguments based on second hand information? They can be heard say things “I heard that them Mexicans are going to eat my social security check” or “proctor gamble is run by the anti-christ.” Johnny pretty much embodies that and does a good job here with missing the point. His main point always seems to be that he’s right and the rest of you can all go to hell, because he can back it with scripture. Needless to say that there’s not much love between Johnny and I.

But if you do enjoy, narrow-minded, dogmatic, misinformed, confused, creepy old men who lack humility… this book may be for you.

Yes, it’s true. I’ve tangled with Doug Pagitt today. This was a heated, sordid affair. Let me explain.

On my facebook, Doug Paget (a founder/leader of the Emergent Church and pastor at Solomon’s Porch) sent me a picture of a fuzzy, cuddly puppy. You know the ones I’m talking about. You get them forwarded/spammed from person to person for no apparent good reason. He’s really got some nerve!

I usually just delete them, but this being a fuzzy, cuddly puppy spam from prominent Emergent leader, Doug Pagitt, I couldn’t let this go unanswered. I couldn’t take it. Truth may be relative, but my theology on on spam/forwarding comes strictly from Dr. John “I hate everyone” MacArthur’s book of backhanded pimp slapping. That’s right I sent Mr. Emergent an email referring to him as a dirty “manwhore” and re-forwarded him back with said fluffy, cuddly puppy in triplicate.

Then to make matters worse, Pagitt apologized graciously and went back to yoga and contemplative thinking.

In my anger, I cursed Rob Bell and Brian McLaren, then went down to a street corner to proselytize anyone who walked by. Then I felt justified.

[Note: this post is to be read with thick sarcasm and in jest. Most of the events are true (including fuzzy, cuddly puppy, the interchange, and the graciousness of Mr. Pagitt).]

I think that if we’re really followers of Christ, we should be a restless bunch. Searchers. Seekers. Explorers. We should always be striving to follow after the wildness of Christ. Are we meant to be stable or stagnant? Hardly. It’s a journey that we’ll never fully arrive on, but one in which we must keep moving. We have to keep moving. Our soul depends on it.

I was working today and listening to the radio (www.pandora.com) and heard an old song by U2 - I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. It really spoke to those restless places in my heart. So how many of you are searchers and seekers? How many are burdened by the feeling that ‘there’s more.’ I love the fact that the Gospel is too big to live in our hearts and constantly forcing us to search and seek and live bigger. Let us not settle. Let us keep exploring.

I have climbed highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing fingertips
It burned like a fire
This burning desire

I have spoke with the eternal angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

I believe in the Kingdom Come
When all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well, yes I’m still running

You broke the bonds
And you loosened the chains
Carried the cross
Of all my shame
all my shame
You know I believe it

But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

Okay here’s the assignment. Read the quote, watch the video. Give your impressions. I really want to see a dialogue started here. Agree or disagree, let’s talk.

Quote of the week:

 ”Times change. God doesn’t, but times do. We learn and grow, and the world around us shifts, and the Christian faith is alive only when it is listening, morphing, innovating, letting go of whatever has gotten in the way of Jesus and embracing whatever will help us be more and more the people God wants us to be.”

Rob Bell - Velvet Elvis

Video of the week:

Solomon’s Porch. Check this video out, it’s really interesting. Solomon’s Porch one of the more well known emerging churches.” Interesting ideas here, both good and bad. {saw this video thanks to Virgil}

My input: I agree with Bell on many levels, but there’s a danger/fear in changing. What will happen? What will things look like? Will I still feel comfortable with the new changes? And after watching the video, I embrace some of this sense of freedom, but feel real uncomfortable with the “whatever goes” feeling as well. I’m quite torn.

We are creatures of habit. We hate change. Some change we should hate, others are good for us.

Once upon a time, in a land of boredom and drudgery, exciting news spread: “There is going to be a race! And all who run this race will grow strong and they’ll never be bored again!” Exciting news like this had not been heard for many a year, for people experienced little adventure in this ho-hum land, beyond attending committee meetings, waiting in lines, sorting socks, and watching sitcom reruns. 

Excitement grew as the day of the race drew near. Thousands gathered in the appointed town, at the appointed place. Most came to observe, skeptical about the news. “It’s too good to be true,” they said. “It’s just a silly rumor started by some teenaged troublemakers. But let’s stick around and see what happens anyway.”  

Others could not resist the invitation, arriving in their running shorts and shoes. As they waited for the appointed time, they stretched and jogged in place and chattered among themselves with nervous excitement. At the appointed timethey gathered at the starting line, heard the gun go off, and knew that it was time to run. Then something very curious happened. The runners took a step or two or three across the starting line, and then abruptly stopped. One man fell to his knees, crying, “I have crossed the starting line! This is the happiest day of my life!” He repeated this again and again, and even began singing a song about how happy this day was for him. Another woman started jumping for joy. “Yes!” she shouted, raising her fist in the air. “I am a race-runner! I am finally a race-runner!” She ran around jumping and dancing, getting and giving high fives to others who shared her joy at being in the race. 

Several people formed a circle and prayed, quietly thanking God for the privilege of crossing the starting line, and thanking God that they were not like the skeptics who didn’t come dressed for the race. 

An hour passed, and two. Spectators began muttering; some laughed. “So what do they think this race is?” they said. “Two or three strides, then a celebration? And why do they feel superior to us? They’re treating the starting line as if itwere a finish line. They’ve completely missed the point.” A few more minutes of this silliness passed. “You know,” a spectator said to the person next to her, “if they’re not going to run the race, maybe we should.” “Why not? It’s getting boring watching them hang around just beyond the starting line. I’ve had enough boredom for one life.” 

Others heard them, and soon many were kicking off their dress shoes, slipping out of their jackets, throwing all this unneeded clothing on the grass. And they ran—past the praying huddles and past the crying individuals and past the jumping high-fivers. And they found hope and joy in every step, and they grew stronger with every mile and hill. To their surprise, the path never ended—because in this race, there was no finish line. So they were never bored again.