Not what I expected...

These words from St. Paul have thrown me for a loop as I ponder their implication for my theology of the church. Ephesians 3:8-10 "Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rules and authorities in the heavenly places." This last sentence caught me off guard, I must admit. It is stunning in its simplicity and power, and has a profound message for Christians everywhere. I really don't know what to say about it. What about you?

Keep Christ In Christmas

My take on the "Keep Christ in Christmas" battle cry.....In case you can't read it, the top phrase says, "A Free God Is A Dangerous God" and the bottom "Keep Christ In Christmas." Christ is unhappily imprisoned in Mammon Mall. I drew this in about 30 seconds this morning. I am not an artist. It was inspired in part by my sermon preparation for the fourth Sunday in Advent as well as the movie What Would Jesus Buy?. And also by all the "Keep Christ in Christmas" crap available online. My personal favorite vacillates between the "Keep Christ In Christmas Inspirational Journey Handbag" and the "Vintage KKK 1950s era Keep Christ in Christmas Greeting Card". I only wish I was making this stuff up. Yeah, we keep Christ in Christmas alright. We keep Christ in Christmas by importing (pun there but not intended) him into our consumeristic narrative and then baptizing him into our faith in commerce by dunking him in a bowl of eggnog. We keep Christ in Christmas by making him captive and servile to “our most sacred holiday”. When I really stop and think about it, the statement, “Keep Christ in Christmas” is nonsensical. It does not compute, which is why answers to the question of “How can we keep Christ in Christmas?” are so very ineffective. You know the old saying, “Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.” And even if I was to try and answer, sometimes I wonder which Christ it is that we would like to keep in Christmas. Is it the same Christ that we celebrate when we participate in the Eucharist? I would like to propose to you that we are asking the wrong question. I would like to go even further and propose a few, ahem, more pertinent questions Christians should be asking ourselves this advent season. We celebrate more than anything, I believe, God’s faithfulness to his covenant people, to his promises given through the prophets, and to his own redemptive purposes. So.... 1. What kind of lives are we to live in light of God’s past, present, and future faithfulness to his promises? 2. What kind of lives are we to live in light of God’s redemptive mission? 3. How can we, as David Bosch brilliantly puts it, prolong the logic of the life and ministry of Jesus? Not complete. Not perfect. This is just how my brain works when I muse on the misguided phrase, "Keep Christ In Christmas."

Expecting Someone?

We are! Jess and I are proud and excited to announce the impending arrival of the little bundle just barely visible in the eight week ultrasound seen above. The due date is October 11th, although I must admit that I wouldn't mind if it was a week earlier so that it might fall on my birthday, October 4th. The ultrasound was a rather surreal experience, especially because we were able to see a tiny beating heart. It is hard to believe that a baby the size of a lima bean has a fully functioning heart, a heart that must be no bigger than a grain of sand. Truly it is a miracle!

Thought provoking media

Just in time for another consumer Christmas - here are a few of the books and movies that have been occupying my mind lately (make sure to pick them up for your loved ones): "Eyes of the Heart: Seeking a Path for the Poor in the Age of Globalization" by Jean Bertrand Aristide. Aristide is the exiled (yet democratically elected) President of Haiti. The more I learn about Haiti, especially concerning American foreign policy towards this impoverished nation, the more I am ashamed of myself and my country. But I digress. This short book is very readable and profound in its simplicity. A brief quote: "We begin with what is in front of us. I cannot see God, but I can see you. I cannot see God, but I see the child in front of me, the woman, the man. Through them, through this material world in which we live, we know God. Through them we know and experience love, we glimpse and seek justice." I am also reading his autobiography "Jean Bertrand Aristide: An Autobiography." My favorite quote so far is, "The gospel in its raw form could act like a stick of dynamite." Speaking of globalization, go rent "Life + Debt." This documentary uses Jamaica as a case study of the effects of the lending policies of the International Monetary Fund. For example, because of the devaluation of Jamaica's currency (one stipulation of a loan), it is cheaper for Jamaicans to buy cabbage imported from the United States than it is to buy cabbage grown in their own backyard. Yikes! Not to mention the large corporations that seek to take advantage of a country that is put in a tight spot......and the contrast the director places between visiting tourists and local farmers is very disarming. Speaking of large corporations, go rent "The Corporation." No, it is not a typical anti-corporate rant. I was impressed with the depth of research done for this film. Heck, its based on a book written by a law professor/legal theorist. A compelling case is made that most corporations act according to the clinical definition of a psychopath. The film (and bonus disc) is filled with interviews from people like Noam Chomsky, Milton Friedman, and Howard Zinn, as well as CEOs, commodities traders, activists, consultants, and news reporters. I am definitely buying this one. Watch the trailer here. Lastly, let me recommend a website. I learned about the National Labor Committee while watching "The Corporation." I was very impressed with the interviews I saw with NLC Director Charles Kernaghan. Their motto is: "Putting a Human Face on the Global Economy." If you are concerned about sweatshops and worker's rights, check these guys out. OK, one more. Speaking of the global economy, the next time you need a gift idea go and buy something from 10,000 Villages. They may even have a shop near you. An operation of the Mennonite Central Committee, 10,000 Villages sells unique fair trade gifts and handicrafts from around the world. They have some really cool stuff, and it is rather affordable to boot. Peace be with you, Tim

I Can Only Imagine....

...what it must feel like to be receive a kick in the ribs from an officer of the law as my wake up call..... to arrive at a place of mental illness through combat, sickness, poor diet, or loneliness.... to wash my hands and never get all the grime off..... to be ignored..... to have "responsible folk" form opionions of my work ethic, intelligence, integrity, ingenuity, and worth..... to never receive a Christmas card..... to accept charity..... to find no one to provide or fight for my basic human rights.....to not be able to take my dog to the vet after she gets hit by a car....to find a job doing hard labor only to be cheated out of my wages by a greedy foreman....to pay for my meals by collecting scrap metal....to eat out of a garbage can when no scrap metal is found.....to have no one ask me my name....to keep my guard up all the time.....to sleep in fear of being robbed or beaten or freezing to death....to watch my comrades succumb to drugs and alcohol.....to watch myself succumb to drugs and alcohol.....to be a kid who doesn't walk through a front door after school like all my friends do.....to be an object or an issue instead of a human being....TO BE HOMELESS IN A BIG CITY.

thoughts and travels

Apparently many people are reading my blog without leaving comments, so I guess that means I should update it more often as an act of faith. :) The week before last found me and my best friend Adam attending the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Washington D.C. The meeting itself was overwhelming - hundreds of really smart middle-aged white guys (mostly) talking about the latest and greatest in the world of evangelical theology. Fortunately, the theme of this year's meeting was "Christians in the Public Square", so I was able to attend a number of talks that held practical value for me as a pastor. I was most impressed and moved by Shane Claiborne and Chip Anderson (see the link to his paper on "Widows in our Temple Courts"), neither of whom are theologians by trade. Shane is an activist and Chip works for an economic development firm in Norwalk, CT. Shane's book, The Irresistible Revolution, will rock your world. What gave weight to them over everyone else is the fact that they are out there doing the things that they are talking about and not simply talking about them. Hmm. Don't get me wrong, I believe that there is a place for good Biblical scholarship and theology, but I have to admit that I left the conference both comforted and disturbed. Comforted by the fact that there was more diversity there than I had expected (theologically speaking) and disturbed by some of the inner politics and, to be crass, the pissing matches (mostly one-sided) between the old-guard and new-guard. To paraphrase Greg Boyd, why can't we get past the fact that there are good, Bible-believing Christians who come down on different sides of big issues and get on with our job of being Jesus to a hurting and hopeless world. Novel idea! But I'm guilty here as well..... At any rate, I had a great time hanging out with Adam and seeing the sights and sites of our nation's capitol. I was most moved by my visit to the Holocaust Museum. I left with the overwhelming sense that I share in the guilt of human rights abuses around the world by my apathy and silence. I found time to continue my practice of walking Capitol Hill and trying to connect with the down and out. How convenient for me that my vacation took me to a very different Capitol Hill than the one I'm used to in Denver! I walked past a homeless war vet who sat on the sidewalk near Union Station. I was very hungry and trying to find a place to grab a bite. Instead, I curbed my appetite and bought him a hot dog and a coke. I sat down next to him to offer up a small dinner and he seemed to tolerate me for the first minute or two. Then he said, "Alright, what's your spiel? What do you want with me?" I told him that I wanted nothing more than to share his company for a half hour or so. Tears immediately began to fill his eyes. "No one ever wants to just sit and talk" he replied, "Everyone has an agenda." My mind went back to a man in Denver who, in the middle of a conversation about everyday life, blurted out "Ok, now when are you gonna tell me about Jesus and try and get me saved?" My heart just goes out to both of these men. They were so used to being treated as commodified objects that an outsider who just wanted to get to know them was outside of their frame of reference. Food for more than just thought, that's for sure. I got to attend church with one of my wife's best friends, Kristin Bailey. She attends a beautiful little church called New Community. There were maybe 40 people in attendance - just enough but not too many for everyone in the room to share praises and prayers and connect in a very personal way. Kind of like a big small group. They truly were a community and embodied Christ to each other and their neighborhood. I have been doing a bit of reading lately - "The Irresistible Revolution", "Mountains Beyond Mountains", and "Four Views on Hell". I've already mentioned "The Irresistible Revolution." Buy it. Shane Claiborne is a guy who takes Jesus at His word and is doing all he can to usher in the kingdom of heaven. "Mountains Beyond Mountains" tells the incredible story of public health pioneer Paul Farmer, a true advocate for the poorest of the poor. He is adamant in his claim that there is a direct relation between extreme poverty and health epidemics of the worst sort. Check out this book as well as his organization, Partners in Health. "Four Views on Hell" is not exactly light reading, but it is very revealing, at least to me. Zondervan has published a number of books with similar titles on subjects such as Creation vs. Evolution, Canannite Genocide, the Rapture, etc. The basic format is to take four theologians with differing views on important topics and let them each plead their case. After each presentation, the other authors are given a chance to respond to each other. The books are great not just for the subject matter, but for giving a very revealing insight into the interpretive methods and presuppositions that each author brings (or doesn't bring) to the table. Well, if you are a theology geek like me you may like them! Musically, I cannot get enough of Traindodge!!! As their website states, they will melt your face with their rock 'n' roll death grip! Amazing musicianship, tight grooves, a strong sense of melody, and gut puching power! I had the privilege of seeing them live about six years ago and they left my jaw on the floor. Not for the faint of heart, but check 'em out if you are so inclined. Their double disc, The Truth, is in heavy rotation in the Dunbar household. Oh! My favorite band, Hammock, has a new record out called "Raising Your Voice...Trying To Stop An Echo". Hammock makes the most beautiful and sacred sounding music I've ever heard. A link to their website is on the main page of this blog.

Two weeks of walking

Well, we have been walking Capitol Hill for two weeks now. The first Friday there were six of us and we picked up trash. Lots. It was fun and it was gross. Most people ignored us although a few interesting conversations were had along the way. "Yes, I'm doing public service. No, I'm not on parole." This past Friday we set out with pens and paper and one question - "What can we as a church do to better serve the Capitol Hill community?" We asked everyone from business owners to pedestrians to street people to half-crazed war vets. Chicago, a former Navy Seal, told us "There's nothing you can do." When we asked why, he replied, "Because you can't." Somehow, I knew what he meant. He then went on to tell me the story of his divorce and how he lost everything he had worked for and gained the streets of Colfax in exchange. He told me about all the killing he had seen in the military and how it lead him to believe that there is no God - when you die, you die, and that's it. We met Jeremy, a street evangelist of sorts who admitted being a bit hungover from the night before. He told us that our quest would take us to some dark places, "the tip of the spear" as he called it, where spiritual battles were being fought in very real ways. I could see in his eyes that he knew what he was talking about. Bruce, a hilarious and poor veteran who called himself "the rambler" because of his prodigious story telling ability, invited us up to his place. Along the way he gave two bucks to a homeless man who offered to help him carry up his stuff. When we entered his apartment, he had but a sleeping bag and could only offer us turned-over five gallon buckets to sit on. He then pulled out his scrapbook, regaled us with stories of better days, and gave us each a gift before we left (two scarves and an enormous pair of pants that the VA had given to him). He didn't have any answers for us but I'm pretty sure that he was just glad to have our company. The most common answer we got went something like this - "Help the poor out. Isn't that what Jesus would be doing?" What can you say to that except "You're right. We will do our best." A number of people asked about programs that help poor and homeless folk get jobs. I know there are places in existence, but I wonder how many of them sit with their doors open all day waiting for someone to come in because nobody knows that they're there. Do they ever go out and advertise in the right places? Do they walk the streets looking for people? I don't know. Another sad story is that many homeless folk who are able to find work end up getting taken advantage of by employers who promise to pay them and then don't. I heard that story several times. How can they find a reputable employer? I began praying about this. I have an idea, but I need to run it by the people I met first. George MacDonald said, in Lilith, "Stupid philanthropist! Before you can do good to people you must first find out how not to do evil to them!" For example, I just came from a presentation made by an organization that provides access to safe drinking water in developing countries. They often found water pumps built by well-meaning Westerners who used supplies from the U.S. with which to build. After a year, the pump broke down. Where were the locals to get parts? They couldn't. Stupid philanthropists! I don't want to be one.