World Champs...

Congrats to the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
But lets travel back 2 years, same city, same field, differet team.
Much happier times. Here's a quick recap of the 2004 Red Sox that someone put together.
I found it on a fellow Pastor/Sox Fan/Blogger's site.
Thanks go out to Bob Franquiz for bringing some joy to my day.
Posted By:Michael

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

In the time we have...

I have, for the better part of a week, had the lyrics to the song "On Your Wings" by Iron and Wine stuck inside of me. They make me think about the things that lead me farther from Him, away from his flame, away from the light that should guide my path. It also makes me think about the short time I have, and how I should spend it, and how I make the most of it...

"God, there is gold hidden deep in the ground
God, there's a hangman that wants to come around

How we rise when we're born
like the ravens in the corn
on their wings, on our knees
crawling careless from the sea

God, give us love in the time that we have

God, there are guns growing out of our bones
God, every road takes us farther from home

All these men that you made
how we wither in the shade
of your trees, on your wings
we are carried to the sea

God give us love in the time that we have"

Do you Google?

I read a quote today that hit me pretty hard. I forget where I saw it, I think it was on a blog, and I forget who said it, but it's been gnawing at me all day... "If people around you have to use Google to find out about God, what does this say about you?". Ouch. I wonder how many people I've sent to google because of my actions, attitude, words, fear, or lack of effort in sharing God's love for them. I don't know where I am being led with this, probably to a life more deliberately open to sharing the love of Christ, all I know is that I got my butt kicked today.

Games for the Ghetto...

In his book Roaring Lambs, Bob Briner describes the Christian subculture as the "Christian Ghetto". Why? Because a ghetto is an isolated segment of a society that is difficult to escape due to factors such as limited opportunities, self imposed or culturally imposed restrictions, etc... Miriam Webster dictionary actually defines ghetto as: "an isolated group b : a situation that resembles a ghetto especially in conferring inferior status or limiting opportunity."

There are things within each ghetto that keep people focused on being segmented and separated from the rest of society. These things are also seen by the surrounding communities, and the surrounding communities can't understand them, cause they are only relevant to those stuck in the ghetto. And if you've ever really been through a ghetto, you know that there is not much beauty to be found there, they are littered with trash and junk.

I am a firm believer that we as Christians have created our own "isolated group" or ghetto, complete with our own trash, I mean games, to keep us entertained. Here are a few of my own personal favorites...

Your Best Life Now Board Game












It's described as "an entertaining and educational way to take inventory of yourself and accountability of your actions." Really? Through a board game?

Or how about Left Behind The Board Game ?












"This unique game can give players a heightened awareness of the "end times."" Fantastic. Now I can defeat the antichrist with a roll of the dice and the move of my plastic marker. Who knew it could be this easy?

Or even take the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised land. Yes, you too can make it to where Moses never did when you play Exodus: The Game of Passover










I know that I sound cynical and jaded here, and I haven't even touched on the various candies (Testa-Mints, Scripture Chocolates, God's Gum, etc...), clothing, wireless phone services, T.V. stations, movies, etc... But I really think that we are abdicating our call as salt and light in this world. What good does it do us to lock ourselves away from this world, instead of engaging in it and being an agent of change in it? God wants to redeem this world and the lives of the people in it, through his people. The church is to be focused outward, not inward.

Some might argue that these "good" things battle against the evil in this world. I do believe that there is evil in this world, but rather than run from it, we should be trying to penetrate it. Rob Bell says in his book Velvet Elvis "Why blame the darkness for being dark, it's far more helpful to ask why the light isn't as bright as it should be."

So what are we doing about that? Are we penetrating the darkness? Are games like these bringing light to dark places, or simply helping barricade the doors of our ghetto? What do you think?

UPDATE:

The junk just keeps a comin! I just recieved this little bit of info... Left Behind the Video Game.