The Da Vinci Crock, er, Code

I received a paper from one of our college students at the church who had written a great paper on “The da Vinci Code.” It’s a great paper, and she had one quote that caused me to laugh out loud. It was a quote from Mark A Finley, with the Adventist Church, who said, “'The Da Vinci Code' is a suspense-filled, spine tingling read that blends fiction with fiction.”

The other good quote is from Roger Ebert, who wrote this about “The da Vinci Code” when reviewing the movie: “Dan Brown’s novel is utterly preposterous; Ron Howard’s movie is preposterously entertaining.”

Is Dan Brown’s book and the movie by the same name a threat to Christianity? Not if you take the advice of the movie advertising and “seek the truth.”

Managing Change

Sometimes you have to do something, even if it's wrong.

I had a professor at seminary tell a class that, it stuck with me. I know I can get so paralyzed by analysis, gathering information, that I don't make any kind of change at all. With my perfectionist tendencies, I can keep working on getting things right and never move. Analysis is good, but there comes a time when we have to move on.

But I find that I'm not alone, especially in a church setting. We don't like anything to change, even if it's worn out furniture, paint, etc. The church can be filled with those who are the keepers of the status quo. We might offend so and so, because they donated that, or they painted that, built that, and the list goes on. "The former pastor liked to do it this way." When I was a youth minister, I replaced a youth minister who had been released at a church. One of the youth told me, "that's not the way Mark (former youth pastor) did it." My reaction: "I'm not Mark."

I like this quote: The church that fails to change fails to impact the culture of change. It becomes a dinosaur, a memorial to a world that no longer exists. That which is to be the salt of the earth turns tasteless, and its light flickers dimly if at all. Aubrey Maphurs, “Planting Growing Churches”.

There are enough dinosaurs.

Change is good!

One of the most difficult things to get a church (or people, for that matter) to change. Few people really like to change. They like the status quo, whether it is beneficial or not. This quote is one I use often in reference to change:

Galbraith's Law of Human Nature: Faced wtih the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everybody gets busy on the proof.

I like change, in fact, I get uncomfortable when things have stayed the same too long. Which is one of the reasons for the name of the blog, it has to do with change. Embrace change, for it shall happen whether you like it or not.

Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Favorites list: Kentucky Derby winners

This is Secretariat, winning the Belmont Stakes.

I have wanted to do some fun stuff on Fridays, so with the Kentucky Derby coming up, I'll start with that. I love watching horses run, especially these big races. I'm not really a horse racing fan, but there have been some horses through the years that have been stand outs to me, so here they are, in no particular order.

My Favorite thoroughbreds ( in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby):
Seattle Slew: cool name, great horse to watch
Secretariat: I remember watching the last leg of the Triple Crown, and seeing him pull away to an over 30 length lead, it was phenomenal.
Riva Ridge: the first horse race I remember watching. He became my first favorite.
Funny Cide: great story of a "everyman" horse, trainers, and owners who made their dreams come true
Affirmed and Alydar: these two had epic battles all through the triple crown races, so I had to put both of them together.
Man O’ War: first great horse of the last century. I remember reading about him when I was growing up.
Whirlaway: I just liked the name.

Sea Biscuit: loved the movie, the horse with the big heart

Listening and Prayer

One of my dream trips would be to do what this guy is doing, riding in the mountains. When I was growing up, I would often ride alone for long stretches of time (although where I rode, in Kansas, it looked nothing like this picture!)just to think, pray and listen. The older I get, the more I realize why Jesus gave us the example of going to quiet places to pray. We need down time or alone time, time to contemplate and more importantly, to listen. I just read an article from a business leader who emphasized the importance of taking alone time and contemplating. As a Christian, I know there is more to contemplation, I have to listen to what I believe the Lord is saying. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice." Its hard to hear Him when we're too busy to listen.

prayer of agreement

Matthew 18:19 If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for your by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

The word “agree” is derived from a root from which we get the word symphony – to be of one mind and purpose, or to be in harmony. Harmony comes when we line our lives up with the desires of the One we serve, Jesus Christ.

Generally, we’re all for agreeing, as long as someone realizes I’m right. It’s more difficult when others don’t see the brilliance of my insight. Alright, I’m being a little facetious, but that’s what many think when this Scripture is quoted. But that’s not the point. There is power in people agreeing together, and even more so when the agreement lines up with the ways of God. Jesus taught us to pray, “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The point is, what I want needs to line up with what God wants, and He wants heaven to invade earth. He wants to radically change people so that they take on the characteristics of Himself: to love and serve. Prayer is, as Karl Barth said, an uprising against the disorder of the world. The prayer of agreement, especially to be in harmony with what God desires, can and will change the world.