The high school cafeteria

OK! So, we are on the second of our modern day parables. Inspired by Rob Bell and his take in his blog on random everyday situations

The kingdom of God is like…….

The high school cafeteria.
You have made it past the first two periods. The bell finally rings and finally……

It’s lunch time.

You snag your paper sack lunch packed with the perfect turkey sandwich. As you stroll into the lunch room you search the room for your friends and you spot them and move past the lunch line. You see the less than edible selections. 

What do they even make those mash potatoes with? 

You’re thankful your mom packed your lunch. You see all the kids settling into their regular groups jocks, artists and math nerds. Everyone, for the most part, including Greg. He's the principles son. Nice kid, good grades, plays basketball. Normally sits with the popular kids. As you over hear conversations about the latest

Fill in the blank. Sports score, technological gadget, controversy, video game, etc.

You see Colby making eye contact with Greg. Colby the ultimate math wizard and running for class president. You wonder is that about the intense debate that happened in political science class this morning around the governments system of health care. Both have their groups that they flex around to so it’s not odd for these two to be talking, but this lunch time routine today seems different.

 Colby goes over and stands next to Greg.

 Exchange a moment of silence. 

You catch Greg's dad principle Krumpski scanning the room ensuring the lunchroom is in order. He makes eye contact with the two boys and smile. Greg's makes room for Colby and begin to have a normal conversation about Saturday night. You unwrap your sandwich.

Here is what

Novitas church came up with

-Getting into the kingdom is the equivalent of eating your lunch and there may be obstacles and battles on the journey but eventually you will get the feast

(Love the focus around the food. Maybe there is not just one big one at the end maybe we experience the feast at multiple points along the journey as well. Interesting) 

-Everyone has their place in the kingdom, however there shouldn’t be any hindrances or rules dictating out place. There is natural order that we long for, and are also happy to see the evolution of this. 

(Everybody gets to play, everybody is a part of the kingdom)

-Gay romance between Greg and Colby. They are perfect together. Even dad approves. It’s a happy time.

- The kingdom brings together unlikely people. It is a break we look forward to in the middle of our day. You will find all kinds of people there. Some you expect and some you don’t but yet everyone from the school is still all there, together. 

-At certain moments we long for the comfort of the kingdom. Just like our sandwich 

 

- Everyone has their own spot, their own purpose. Longing for lunch time. Longing for the kingdom.

-It is full of individuals and groups of people. It is also a place to get fed both physically and intellectually. Each person has a part to play and their own contribution. Relationships are also found here.

Here is a little background to the story

What you don't know about Greg is that he's gay. The battles, the struggles for the past 4 years. Most have been accepting, friends and family but not his dad. You see Colby and Greg have grown up together. When Greg finally made his decision to accept who he was. Colby was the first person he told. He also was there as his best friend to help Greg tell his dad about who he really was. The two have grown apart since entering high school but still share the bond of Greg’s life changing experience of telling his dad about his homosexuality.
Just like the kingdom where everyone is invited. Everyone is accepted.

Bonus question:

What's the significance of Colby and Greg's conversation about Saturday night?

The kingdom of God is like.......

Have you ever been trying to explain an idea or a concept to someone and

 it's just not clicking?

You then try your best to relate it back to something in their world. A story, an analogy, something rateable.

This whole conversation we see Jesus having with people is about the kingdom. But to make it make sense he has to try and put it ways they will understand a little more and more. Jesus didn't just want to share the truth he wanted people to discover it

It's like a

       Treasure

                     A big party

                                    Mustard seed

 I don't know about you but I can't recall the last time I really pondered the mustard seed, hunted for treasure or sowed in a field.

Want to share some of my own parables. We will get to the meanings laters. I shared these small stories with my church community

Novitas church  

You guys rock for playing along!

 

 and they were awesome enough to take the time to shed some insight on how they related to the parable and what they thought the teaching point was. And if you weren't there or you have a new thought. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
  Rob Bell has been doing this similar thing in his tumbler blog post and it inspired me to do the same.

So here we go.........

The kingdom of God is like......
A pen cap
It gets lost, chewed on, kept out of children's mouths, wedged behind a desk, thrown everyone's junk drawer. It also has many uses such as a hair pin, a way to pick a lock, restart your DVD player, scratch off a lotto ticket impromptu guitar pic, and the ever infamous way to open a Capri sun when that dang straw just won't work.

We encounter the pen cap every single day without even realizing it. Whether it is cleaning out the minivan for weekend sport activities or entering your boss’s office to discuss a new business strategy.

Here is what we have so far-

-We always forget about the kingdom of God and lose sight of it 

-Pen caps are considered almost valueless, yet they are extremely useful and helpful at times. We often ignore them, yet when we need to use them they are available all around us. We abuse it often, but then later find a need for it. Likewise the kingdom of God. It doesn’t seem to have value in day to day life, but when we cry out for help, God is there to comfort us or send another person to help us.

- It can be simple but/and/or useful. It can be found in everyday, mundane or the magical. It is often right in front of us and we don’t even notice. 

(Mundane sometimes is the best parts)

-We use it to pick the dirt out of our finger mails or itch a particularly irritating itch. It’s used to accomplish many goals, but we never think about it in depth.

-People throw it away and don’t give the kingdom the attention it deserves.

-We don’t understand the kingdom signification 

(Me either!)

-We are surrounded by it, but we do not always take notice of it. However, if we truly need it, it always seems that we lose it or can’t find it until we are desperate for it.

-Even the smallest things can change your heart even the course of your life.

(It all has significance. We may not be aware in the moment but it all adds up in some way)

Here is what I intended it to mean

Drum roll……………………………..

The pen cap
completes the pen in the tiniest way. You don't need the cap to actually use the pen, but they are meant to be together. And it will dry out.  Just as the kingdom here on earth.  The cap and life on earth are meant to be together and even though you don't need the kingdom to live this life NOW....life will eventually end. Dry out. Run out. Until the cap is placed on the pen to keep it from running dry.

What are other uses of the pen cap?

Thus sayeth the Lord

In the spirit of keeping current, here are a few things I know I've heard lately that after looking at some scripture context Jesus definitely said .....probably

"Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter." Matt 26:40

"Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live."

 John 14:19

"But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." Acts 1:9

"He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." Mark 9:31

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27

"Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16

 “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” John 2:10

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." Exodus 20:8

“All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long." Numbers 6:5

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also." John 14:3

"So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables." John 2:15

In all seriousness though Jesus said lots of things. Some recorded and some not. The few words we do have of Jesus are contained in the New Testament, those who claim to be Christians would say it is limited to just that. I'm not so sure. All in all it seems to me that the few words we do have the message gets so twisted. To quote Rob Bell "Some things that are labeled Christian aren’t true, and some things that aren’t labeled Christian are true. Some atheists say lots of things that are true, and some Christians are full of shit.” In the constant search for what is truth and what is real I find myself singing a familiar tune of Christ asked us to love. Love God and others. So, in the end no matter what scriptures (canon or uncanon) say we must find a way to always take the words and filter them through the love of Christ.

Keep calm and love

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”- John 13:34-35

#yesallpeople

#yesallpeople 

The recent twitter craze #yesallwomen has gotten me thinking about a lot of things. About the power of social media. About the multiple views surrounding men and women topics. About the way women are viewed. About how men may not even realize what they are doing when they approach a woman. About how Americans live in a society that is sinking in a consumeristic mindset. About how people all started out as beautiful little creations and wondering how we end up with people like Mother Teresa and from the same process we end up with people like Hitler. 

In the mist of the Elliot Rodger shooting rampage, many women have turned to Twitter to share their experiences of harassment, fear and sexual assault under the hashtag #YesAllWomen. A powerful conversation starter that is happening right now across the twitter-sphere.

This blog blurb is in no way to take away from the fact that women have banded together to share their experiences and the intent is to raise awareness. I think it's great.  However, this got my thinking on a deeper level about men and women, about humanity, about all people. Many would say that social media is distancing us, however I think this hashtag proves that the opposite is true. A friend of mine shares a similar view on that topic.

You can read it here........

http://wordofawoman.com/2014/05/06/can-we-please-stop-with-the-technology-shamingscolding/

But I want to talk about what this hashtag could mean. It excites me because this could mean more conversations. This is a great hashtag. I've seen blogs encouraging men to just listen. I've seen valid points on how women feel just walking to their cars at night. I've seen this as a platform to be able to openly share that in this way all women feel this connection.

I see more hashtags like this connecting us. Not just as women, but as Christians and as people,humanity. 

#yesallchristians at some point or another all Christians have felt discouraged, doubtful, and even lost. This is why people have turned to the faith to fill this void from within. They have also felt a  hope within the faith that keeps them drawn to this man named Jesus.

#yesalllittlechildren at some point all little children have a dream of what they want to be when they grow up, they struggle, they fall, they are always curious about the world around them. Their surroundings are a huge playground to begin figuring out just how the world works.

#yesallexchurchgoers at some point all church attenders feel burnt out, used, and have even experienced the fizzling out of filling up the calendar with events. They feel abandoned or maybe even let down that the church didn't really reflect what Jesus said he was about. 

#yesallpeople  this hashtag shouldn't be about silencing women but rather be about how all people have the need to feel loved, to be important, to live a life that means something. To be right again, to have the best for their loved ones, and to be at peace. 

It's time to start talking. It's also time to start listening. We as humanity all have this deep connection. When we start making it OK to talk about it and realize that we have more in common than we think we begin to see a little heaven here on the earth. I look forward to these connections. I look forward to these conversations.

Because #yesallpeople want to be connected. We want it to be ok. We want to know that we are not alone.

Old, new, and now: random from the creation theory

Been watching the Bill Nye vs Ken Ham debate. I am beginning to record my thoughts here.

Why do creationist force believing in/following God with having to believe in a literal 6 day creation. Where does God state that I have to hold to a certain creation belief to follow him? Does he even discuss the way the world was brought into existence during his time here on earth?

Reviewing a Facebook conversation with many good points on a friends wall I made the following comment:
Kent Krabill the point you made "The fact that scientists who dedicate their life to science almost universally agree that it is old does not shatter my faith, because nothing in the Scriptures demands that I view the Earth as new." sums up how I am feeling about this subject. I'm watching the debate now. I find it interesting, but find it something that I would like to discuss at times rather than having it over take and distract me from my focus of how to live more like Jesus. Thanks for your thoughts. Still need to read The lost world book!!

Next, many Christians use the Grand Canyon and the flood to support their theory. The bible says a flood overtook the entire earth! Yes, in the bible it says earth....but what does the root word mean?


The word can mean total earth....but here it most likely means land. Mass amounts of land.


Next

Nye said scientists can track the age of stars based on their distance from earth.

"How could there be billions of stars more distant than 6,000 years, if the world is only 6,000 years old?" Nye asked Ham 

Science stats, like polls, can say whatever we want them to.  Reasonable that we see what we see and history is what we can't experience and that the bible has been translated over century's and is now is interpretation by others as what we base all beliefs on? 

A good blog that sums up different views in a simple and easy to understand blog-

http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2011/05/the-creation-evolution-debate-in-a-nutshell/


Books on my list
Genesis
Uncannon accounts of genesis
Genesis through ancient eyes John Walton
The lost world of genesis

Conclusion:
The age of the earth or how we got here  I find it interesting, but again find it something that I would like to discuss at times rather than having it over take and distract me from my focus of how to live more like Jesus. I can't go back and see. I can't go back and explain. I can truly speak on what's happening now and what is happening to me I don't have a test to show you. I think many of these culture war topics are here to distract us from restoring the kingdom. We must not get consumed in these topics. Rather we must strip away and get to the root of life. God restoring people to himself.

The father, son, and the Holy Bible

The father, son, and holy Bible

In the past I was taught that the scriptures were at the same level as the trinity. It may not have been said in those exact words but it was defiantly implied. The sacred words of Christ had been passed down through those men (no women of course cause that would be crazy) of true faith. They were inspired, god breathed and all that holy stuff. The scriptures were not to be questioned only the people presenting it. I was told to test what the pastor (you know those men,only men, who had the call of God) were teaching us from the front (the pulpit).

Side note: if those men of god had the true call of god on their life how could they ever give their flock misinformation?

Anyways, we were to test the presentation but not the content. But what about the content? Some of these verses said different things. Sometimes even to the point of being completely opposite. How could the scriptures say different things and be from God if God was everlasting and unchanging? This was all very confusing to me.
I was suppose to be submersed in daily reading. The purpose was to have faith in these books that proved themselves. This is true because the bible says so. The core idea here being that this was the best way to be as close to God as possible. But why didn't I feel that way? Why did I feel closer to God when I was in nature, at a concert, visiting a mosque, or having dinner with friends? Well, the answer was obvious: these things were fun so they couldn't possibly bring me closer to God.
Right?

Jesus challenged the scripture himself! He took us to the next step. He took us past the point of what the people thought they understood.

In Matt 5 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." Jesus is saying I know this is what you think this means but let me show you the new way. Let me show you what new life is like. Let me help you see things in the light of my kingdom where all those rules don't play a part in the bigger story.

Also in Matt 5 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[b] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" Jesus is saying forget what you thought you knew about how to interact with others. Instead of stoning them, love them! I know this may not make sense, but love those who hate you. Huh? But Jesus the Old Testament says......and he replies there is a new way. They continued to challenge Jesus in his day and he would respond back with he came to serve and to save not to condemn.

The reason that the Pharisees’ had antagonism toward Jesus was because he didn't fit the mold. He was ignoring hundreds of elaborate, petty rules that they had devised from the law of God. Not only did they devise these hundreds of man-made rules, but they had also tried to make those more important than the message of the awesome news!

Why we should challenge ourselves to read scripture differently? If you are putting scripture in place of what Jesus is really saying isn't that really just being a Pharisees? A religious person that gets so caught up in the word for word that they miss the context and the point completely? So, how should we view scripture? Well, I believe that scriptures point us to who Jesus is and has some amazing stories, but if that's where I stop I'm in trouble. The bible has some messed up shit in it but it's not always the wording but rather the story of how God is relating to his people. I am continuing to read scripture with 2 lenses:
1. With the Jesus lens - who did he say he was? How does this fit in with why he came and how he told us to live?
2. With common sense- how does this relate to me? How does this relate to my culture? Does God really want me to not sell my goat on certain days or cover my hair when in the church?

My relationship with God goes beyond just scripture. I can't stop there. Jesus has a message that is bigger than just the 66 books. There is value in scripture. There is value in the other gospels. There is value in some blogs I read. The main thing is how are those things propelling me to learn about Jesus and living in the kingdom. Now. Living in the kingdom now with the Jesus lens.