Embrace the God Life

Thoughts about LOST Episode 6.1

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:00:00 -0500

I’ve never been a LOST blogger, but after last night’s season premier I thought I’d jump in for the final season. NOTE: If you are reading this I’m assuming you have watched the season 6 premier or that you don’t mind finding out what happened.

Questions Answered-ish
Since the season 5 finale, we’ve all wondered “Did the bomb go off? Or was the white flash a time travel jump? Did they keep the plane from crashing? Or will they still be on the island?” Well, keep wondering.

Early seasons of LOST told the story with flashbacks. Season 4 started using flashforwards. Season 6 begins with a new storytelling technique: concurrent alternate story lines. Which one is the real story line? Which one actually happened? Are they somehow both happening?

My first thought was that Season 6 is following along with Season 4, giving us the new story line of what happened in 2004 since the plane didn’t crash and flashing forward to 2007 where all the LOSTies end up on the island anyway. If this is the case, these two “alternate” story lines will eventually connect and conclude as one story line.

However, I’m starting to think these really are alternate stories, not one story that appears to be an alternate. Why?

The Title
The title of the episode “LA X, parts 1 and 2”. Notice it is not LAX, the airport, but LA X. This follows sci-fi convention for an alternate universe with alternate story lines.

The Book
As the LOSTies first enter the temple, I noticed a quick flash of a Kierkegaard book. Kierkeggard was an incredible Danish philosopher. And a Christian. So, even though it only flashed on the screen, I noticed it right away. The particular book shown is Fear and Trembling, Kierkegaard’s retelling of the Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac. In this book Kierkegaard addresses issues of God, faith, and ethics through four alternative retellings of the Abraham-Isaac story. HMMM, alternative rettellings of the same story as a way to address philosophical questions……

Nothing Subtle About This Allusion
On another note, we were given a not-subtle-at-all messianic allusion. Last night Sayid becomes a middle eastern man who is “baptized”, comes out of the water in the form of one crucified, dies, and returns to life. This is after we are told that there will be great trouble if Sayid dies. Oh yeah, and this all happens in the temple. Sound at all familiar?

Props to my wife
Congratulations to my wife who figured out the pseudo-John Locke was the man in black was the smoke monster….well before they made it obvious in the story. :)

What stood out to you in LOST Episode 6.1?

Book Review: The Sacred Meal, by Nora Gallagher

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:42:00 -0500

I didn’t grow up in a church tradition that valued Communion as a regular practice. Instead, communion was an event, saved for a few special times a year. Like the family’s fancy china dishes, Communion was ensured to be special by its infrequent use. In The Sacred Meal, Nora Gallagher calls us to a different way to see Communion—as a spiritual practice that transforms us, forming us into the people of God and sending us out into the world to serve.

Gracefully reflecting on the practice of Communion in her life, Gallagher walks the reader through a threefold path of practicing Communion: waiting, receiving, afterward. In waiting, we prepare ourselves to enter into the practice of Communion, examining how we have lived-or not lived-in the reality of the present kingdom of heaven. In receiving, we open ourselves up to the presence of God, not through our effort, but by simply accepting the gift of God. In afterward, we allow the experience of Communion to seep into every aspect of our lives.

The Sacred Meal is a fine addition to Ancient Practices Series. It does not address every element of the history or theology of Communion. There is, of course, much more to be said. But Gallagher’s reflections have enlarged my practice of this most sacred of meals. Thanks, Thomas Nelson, for the review copy.

"The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don’t just put off..."

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:46:17 -0500

“The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don’t just put off our lives today; we put them off till our deathbed. Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work.”

- Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

"None of us can imagine what God is capable of. Which means none of us can imagine what we’re..."

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:56:20 -0500

“None of us can imagine what God is capable of. Which means none of us can imagine what we’re capable of if we give God control of our lives.”

- Mark Batterson, Primal

2010 Resolution: The Year of the Dissertation

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:08:09 -0500

There are several goals I really want to make for 2010. You know the routine: health, finances, family, work. However, I am forcing myself to leverage the power of focus and making only one resolution this year. And I am following my own advice by making it public here.

I resolve in 2010 to finish my D.Min. dissertation.

Any tips for living out my resolution?

Goal: Read the Bible

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:52:01 -0500

Are you trying to read the Bible more consistently this year? Perhaps the reading guide I made for my New Testament courses will be helpful for you. It is designed to lead you through the entire New Testament in 14 weeks.

The Power of Habits

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:33:32 -0500

2009 was the year that, for the first time in my life, running became a habit for me. Running 2 or 3 miles at a time (and never more than 6), I managed to run 250 miles in one year.

That’s the power of habits.

What habit do you need to start in 2010?

The Path of Transformation

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:18:47 -0500

Had a great morning today speaking at the Saratoga Church of God about the Path of Transformation. I shared 4 steps along the path from who you are today to who God wants to transform you into.

I often get requests for a recording of this talk. Here’s a version I gave last January at Indiana Wesleyan Chapel.

Click here to listen to The Path of Transformation.

Living Your Resolutions: 4 Steps to Change Your Life

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:57:40 -0500

Living Your Resolutions: 4 Steps to Change Your Life

Thought for a New Year: You Have Everything You Need

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:16:08 -0500

Happy 2010, everyone! As we head into a new year and a new decade (depending on how you count), this passage from 1 Peter has been on my mind. It seems like a great promise for a new year.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if any of you do not have them, you are nearsighted and blind, and you have forgotten that you have been cleansed from your past sins.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

-1 Peter 1:3-11

Book Review: Primal by Mark Batterson

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:32:00 -0500

The good folks at Multnomah sent me an early Christmas present: Mark Batterson’s newest book, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity.

Primal is a “reimagining” of the Great Commandment, discussing what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

As with Mark’s first two books, Primal inspired me to live fully for God and to attempt big things for God’s Kingdom.

I was especially moved by Mark’s suggestion in chapter 3 that Christians establish an income ceiling. “What would happen,” Mark asks, “if every Christ follower gave away everything above and beyond their predetermined income ceiling?”

It’s what you do next that counts. This is even more true...

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:53:00 -0500

It’s what you do next that counts. This is even more true for Tiger Woods now than when this advertisement was shot. And it’s true for all of us. An important lesson for both life and leadership: how you handle failure is often more important than the failure itself.

Thanks to Doug Pagitt.

"There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not..."

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:59:00 -0500

“There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not the writing part that’s hard. What’s hard is sitting down to write.”

- Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards..."

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:14:00 -0500

“Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

- From C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory.
Shared in my IWU chapel talk What do you want for Christmas? Ask for more!

"My God, here I am all devoted to Thee. Lord, make me according to Thy heart."

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:16:35 -0500

“My God, here I am all devoted to Thee. Lord, make me according to Thy heart.”

- Brother Lawrence

Book Review: The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:11:21 -0500

Thomas Nelson recently sent me a copy of The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life by Sr. Joan Chittister. I was excited to receive the next volume in the very helpful Ancient Practices Series. In The Liturgical Year , Chittister opens the reader to the beauty of the liturgical year as a spiritual formation practice. She begins with several chapters that explain how the cycles of the liturgical year form both individuals and faith communities in the fullness of the life of Christ. Through the remainder of the book Chittister walks the reader through the seasons of the liturgical year, mining the depth of meaning and spiritual formation present in each season.

I didn’t grow up in a church that followed the rhythm of the liturgical calendar, but have slowly been learning the beauty of the liturgical life. Sr. Joan Chittister, though, has lived a lifetime being formed by the rhythms of the liturgical year. Reading The Liturgical Year is like having a conversation with a friend who is sharing her love for following the intentional rhythms of the Christian calendar. I am glad to have this resource on my journey into allowing the rhythms of the liturgical year to shape me in the life of the Spirit.

"I follow Christ not only because the resurrection happened, but because resurrection happens."

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:07:43 -0500

“I follow Christ not only because the resurrection happened, but because resurrection happens.”

- Pat Hannon

Happy All Saints Day

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:05:00 -0500

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

—Book of Common Prayer

Booktober Fest: The Big Giveaway

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:52:00 -0400

Here’s a number of books publishers have sent me to give away. Let me know if you’re interested in any of them. Any titles not claimed by 11:59 pm on October 31, 2009, will be released into the wild for the finding at IWU.

Here’s the available titles:

Hero: Becoming the Man She Desires

Mama’s Got a Fake I.D.: How to Reveal the Real You Behind all That Mom

Holy Roller: Finding Redemption and the Holy Ghost in a Forgotten Texas Church

Christ in Y’all: Following Jesus into Community

Embrace the God Life

Thoughts about LOST Episode 6.1

Book Review: The Sacred Meal, by Nora Gallagher

"The most pernicious aspect of procrastination is that it can become a habit. We don’t just put off..."

"None of us can imagine what God is capable of. Which means none of us can imagine what we’re..."

2010 Resolution: The Year of the Dissertation

Goal: Read the Bible

The Power of Habits

Top Ten Posts of 2009

The Path of Transformation

Living Your Resolutions: 4 Steps to Change Your Life

Thought for a New Year: You Have Everything You Need

Book Review: Primal by Mark Batterson

It’s what you do next that counts. This is even more true...

"There’s a secret that real writers know that wannabe writers don’t, and the secret is this: It’s not..."

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards..."

"My God, here I am all devoted to Thee. Lord, make me according to Thy heart."

Book Review: The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister

"I follow Christ not only because the resurrection happened, but because resurrection happens."

Happy All Saints Day

Booktober Fest: The Big Giveaway