The Dogmatics of Aluminum Foil

I sometimes marvel at Jesus' patience with the dogmatism and intolerance of the religious leaders. They argued about inconsequential matters and made people follow laws that they themselves could not keep. It is this patience of Jesus and his ability to speak truth and life into situations-- despite his anger and frustration that amazes me. His example keeps me humbly asking for more grace to live the life that he offers.

In Luke 20 the religious posers are arguing with Jesus, asking him about marriage in heaven. What is so obvious in this scene is that it's a set up. They don't even believe in heaven, the afterlife and resurrection. They're just asking these questions to trip Jesus up and Jesus sees their trivial behavior so plainly.

Let me give you a little illustration from the realm of cooking. Ask any great cook about aluminum foil and you're bound to get an opinion on which side is "best." Some swear the shiny side must always be on the outside of a baked potato, while others condemn such nonsense and emphatically claim exactly the opposite.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer stays amused and gives a good lesson in dogmatism and tolerance.

When foil is made, it is rolled. One side of the foil gets shiny because it comes in contact with the heavy roller. The other side stays dull because it never makes contact with the roller. Both sides produce the same results!

Still many a family has become divided over the "shiny side out" dogmatism. Thanksgiving celebrations have been ruined and mother-in-laws left in shambles as the debate has raged on. In the meantime the foil is left in the cupboard, and the potatoes are left to rot because young emerging cooks are afraid to risk and possibly turn the wrong side out... So sad, so sad...

Okay, perhaps I'm exaggerating a bit... But I'm sure that's how Abba looks at some of the petty arguments we get into in church life. I'm sure he looks at us, sighs, and says, "Just bake the potato!"

A glimpse into my next book...

I've received a few emails asking if and when I will have a second book out. Well, I just finished writing the first draft last week! Of course that means that it goes to an editor at NavPress for an overhaul and rework. But I thought I'd share a bit with you. This section comes out of the chapter on "Doubt and Discouragement". Tell me what you think. Just be gentle, I'm fragile. :-)

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Jesus and Grover Together
As the steam dissipated from the mirror, I found myself gazing at someone whom I wasn’t sure I knew. I stood there repeatedly asking myself the same question, “Are you even saved?” The guy in the mirror had a freshly shaved face, a couple shiny new earrings, and thanks to his new Sonic Care toothbrush—some pearly white teeth. But underneath the cutting edge emergent pastor look there was a seemingly sewer pipe full of doubt bringing a stench to my spiritual air.

This was a real bad way to start a Sunday morning. I stood there looking into my own eyes and I couldn’t honestly say that I truly believed anymore. Today God felt like an imaginary friend. My son had his stuffed Grover doll, my daughter had her Polly Pockets, and I had Jesus. My kids could invite 3 or 4 friends over to play house or Sesame Street and I thought that was cute. But in 2 hours, I was inviting 200 friends over to play church—and that stressed me out. I felt like a total poser. Like agent Muldar of the X-files, I cried out, “I want to believe!”

Maybe my mind had just been playing tricks on me all these years. This morning God seemed so distant—so make-believe. And here I was promoting my own version of a Wonder-bra spirituality. I was trying hard to prop of my externals so that no one would notice the fear and unbelief brewing within.

Now don’t get me wrong. I was sincere. At least this morning I sincerely wanted to be sincere. Actually, I sincerely wanted to be sincere about my sincerity. Maybe that’s why this whole faith and doubt thing was getting so complex. I was becoming as complex spiritually as toddlers become pretendingly, if that’s even a word.

Follow me here for a moment. What we look at in toddlerhood as simple pretend play is actually a progression of some amazingly complex brain power. Watch a two year old play and you’ll notice they have an incredible ability to pretend they are something else—“I’m a kitty (meow)… I’m a bear (grrr)… I’m a fireman (woo, wooo) etc.” Pretty straight forward pretending—I pretend to be someone or something else.

Then toddlers take an intellectual leap. Soon they can take an inanimate object (like a doll) and pretend to talk to it and have it talk back. Yep, now I’m not only the one involved in pretending, but I get an object to pretend with me. Or give a kid a toy gun and suddenly he is pretend shooting at every moving object that walks by. But the complexity continues…
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Okay, so there is a piece. What do ya think?

Life's a test

Life's a test - and you're graded on a curve

At age 4, success is...not peeing in your pants.
...At age 12, success is...having friends.
......At age 16, success is...having a driver's license.
.........At age 20, success is...having sex.
............At age 35, success is...having money.
............At age 50, success is...having money.
.........At age 60, success is...having sex.
......At age 70, success is...having a driver's license.
...At age 75, success is...having friends.
At age 90, success is...not peeing in your pants.

On second thought I'd follow the advice of the old cliche, "Prepare for your finals: Read your Bible."

Have a great day!