You're Welcome

Here's this week's action from Tim and Eric Awesome Show. I have to say this was probably the weakest episode thus far, but it's still like comparing two amazing sandwiches (meatball and philly cheesesteak, for instance) as opposed to comparing an amazing sandwich (perhaps the Big Abe) with a plate of applesauce.

A Nice Change

One of the pastors at Southern Gables went to a recent celebration at DU. I don't remember exactly what it was for, but it was put on by the Vietnamese Student Club (I'm sure that's not exactly the name of it). One of the things he relayed they did there really seemed incredible to me.

At one point they played and sang the Untied States' national anthem. Then they played and sang the Vietnamese national anthem. After that they had a moment of silence. Our pastor was told that the moment of silence was to remember and show respect to everyone who died in the Vietnam War.

This seemed like a response that could be affirmed by Christians. No matter our views on war we can all agree that it's horrible (yes, I stole that from Donald Miller, but at least I admitted it). Anyway, I just thought that was great and that I'd share it.

Domination Station

Last night we had some pals over to watch the Oscars. As per the custom, we had an Oscars contest and here are the results.

We guessed 12 different categories:
T4. Beth Osberg - 2
T4. Erica Morrow - 2
T3. Eric Osberg - 3
T3. David Morrow - 3
2. Erika Lee - 6
1. Ryan Lee - 8

LEE'S DESTROY! You know it's hard-core because I hate all caps and exclamation marks. David accused me of cheating, but there's no way. Oz was watching me as I entered everyone's guesses including mine. And with Lydia's crying, David kept track of the last half of the winners, so he saw that my answers were in.

The only prize in this contest was my ability to go on here and tell the world that I completely ruled the contest. I had more than double the points of anyone else (except Erika).

This post may seem arrogant, but I have to cling to what few victories I amass in this life. So here's to me.

Question of the Century

Since Ryan has been introducing new features on the blog, I thought I'd join in and introduce one myself. I am calling it "Question of the Century" (read in your head with lots of reverb).

Here's how it works--every one hundred years I will ask a question and you will answer it--either with a comment or in your head. I hope this makes sense, I know it's difficult.

This century's question is--What is your favorite candle scent? Why?

I know that's two questions, but cut me some slack, it's once a century.

Hip-Hop is on Life Support

I was just flipping through the channels and the little info pad at the bottom on CNN said "The State of Hip Hop," so I stopped because I love me some hip-hop. As I'm sure you know, I only like certain types of hip-hop, the likes of which are almost never on the radio (except Nas, Kanye, Ghostface, Common, Outkast).

Regardless, they had a DJ from HOT 107.9 in the ATL, which is THE hip-hop station for the whole world. This guy used to have a giant show, but he was very disillusioned with the example hip-hop was setting for the youth, especially those without a father in their home. He became a Christian and started a ministry called The Spirit of Hip-Hop. Apparently this show is blowing up, but the sweetest thing (you will see this in the blurb) is that they not only try to redeem hip-hop, but they are also an active presence in the community, providing meals and doing other sweet action.

I'm not trying to be judgmental jeff, but a lot of times, it seems like celebrities compromise their influence when they become Christians by reducing the gospel to personal salvation. But with the Spirit of Hip-Hop, they have some good dang theology. In the interview, the lady asked if he tries to change the people he works with. He said, "I can't change people and that's not my job. That's God's work." He also hasn't established this "us vs. them" mentality that seems to infiltrate celebrity ministries. It seems to be kind and loving enough that HOT 107.9 advertises them and works with them. Anyway, I was super-impressed and you should be too...for the kids.

Hulk-a-mania

As we speak, my pal (police athletic league) Shalom David is studying for comps. Naturally, this means that he started a blog to figure out some way to have short distractions from the peeing-into-the-Atlantic-to-raise-the-water-level task that is studying for comps. So please go check it out.

Also, you will see this link along the side these days. What do we have if we don't have each other in this life, right? It's the dogpound.

Theological Humility

Every now and then I just have to get something off my chest. I just finished browsing a blog discussion about women in ministry on the Jesus Creed blog. There were about 150 comments! But in reading it I became more and more frustrated with a couple people promoting the traditionalist position on this issue. My frustration didn't stem from their position so much as an assumption that was driving their comments.

Stated simply--God gave me a better brain which is why I am 100% right and you're completely deluded!

They made comments that can be summarized as--"Why don't you go read the Bible?" Or "You just care about your position so much you read into the Bible whatever you want." I am so sick of theological arrogance like this. When people are seriously engaging the Scriptures to see what they're saying and then are told they're wrong without any reason other than, "I read the Bible right and you don't," it just drives me nuts! I am all for engaging each other's opinions and having debates about issues. And I don't believe that everyone's opinion is equally close to truth, but we still need some humility in how we engage each other.

Despite what people may say we cannot disregard the culture in which the Bible was written. We cannot disregard the assumptions we bring with us to our reading of the Scriptures today (we all have them!). We cannot disregard church history (though that doesn't mean it's always right). We cannot disregard the way the Holy Spirit works through the body of Christ as a whole (communal knowledge versus individual knowledge).

The reality we live with is that no one will ever have an exact grasp on truth. We do our best and continually strive to understand the revelation God has given us, but we're just too imperfect to flippantly tell others they're wrong.

More Sweet Nectar

I'm listening to stuff from Rob Bell from Sunday and there are a couple super-pals. Perhaps not things I haven't thought before, but well put. He's talking about how the Church should be a blessing to its community.

"If our church was taken out of our city, who would protest? What if we were the kind of church where people who want nothing to do with God or church would say, "You all, please do what you do." When Jesus comes to town, things should get noticably better."

Also,

"A church is the only organization that exists for the benefit for its non-members."

I dig. Dig dug. Dig'um. Didgeridoo.

Weekly Nugget

I have a feeling this may become a weekly ritual, but here's one of my favorite moments from Tim and Eric this week.

I'm Special

On Sunday evening, I was given the task of constructing Isaiah's crib in Lydia's room. This was actually no problem at all. We did this instead of adjusting the height of Lydia's crib, and I am still convinced that it was easier and took less time than adjusting the height of Lydia's crib. Anyway, as I was working on this, Isaiah wanted to help. I thought it would be a good chance for bonding. And it was. We had a great time, and it probably took twice as long with Isaiah's "help" than if I would have done it without him.

This brings me to introduce a new feature at the Brother Lee...Question of the Week. Each week, I will inquire upon a topic, and you will respond. This week's question...

What is your favorite memory with your father?

The reason the first paragraph leads to this question is as follows. There is currently a commercial for some product/store (I don't know what) where this dad is working under the sink. A seven-ish year old kid walks in and asks if he can help. The dad says, sorry this is a one-person job. The kid starts walking away dejected, and the dad says, actually, could you hold the flashlight for me? Every time this commercial is on, it makes me very emotional because this is exactly what happened with my dad and me (except the initial rejection part) when I was growing up.

There were many days when dad was working on a project and my mom said I should go ask him if he needed help. So I would go and dad would have to figure out some way for me to help that would keep me from being in harm's way. And like Isaiah's help with the crib, some projects probably took longer with my help, especially when I was younger. But these are some of the best memories I have with my dad.

My New Fave Show

Here are the first 6.5 minutes of the premiere episode of my new favorite show...Tim and Eric's Awesome Show Good Job. What a gift from the comedy patrol. If you are not familiar with Tim and Eric, they created Tom Goes to the Mayor, which is an entirely highlarious show on Adult Swim on the cartoon network (now notorious for putting up little Mooninite signs around Boston that Boston thought were bombs...for my thoughts, well, I'm sure you can figure it out). So this is their new show on Adult Swim that rules school. Enjoy. Enjoi. Forever.

Hoo-Zah

I thought I would stop and take a moment to share...I HATE working on my thesis. I don't dislike it. It doesn't stink. It's the greatest obstacle in my life to date. I know I'm being a huge whiner, but I'm pretty okay with that. The more I work on stuff, the more I realize that there is no way to actually draw a solid conclusion. Everybody interprets my passages based on their commitments to fill-in-the-blank interpretation. I'm doing the same thing. There's no way to get around it with the stuff I'm working on. I know that if it was clear-cut, there wouldn't be discussion on it anymore, but it's not that if you study it hard, it leads to a particular conclusion...or even that one conclusion is slightly more likely than another. But I guess I should take the advice Erika gives to her Kindergarteners...

You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit.

B(ritney) S(pears) Be Funny

I'm embarassed to post this, but it made me laugh to hard not to. I give credit to Cory for sending me a message. Just do it and you will give people laughs. Go to this site and follow the directions.

A Little Sumpin for V-Day

It's only right to give Cupid the respect he deserves on this day. Make sure to get out and buy some crappy chocolate for someone!

Sex God

After enjoying Velvet Elvis and recommending it to many people I was looking forward to Rob Bell's new book Sex God. Now if you're about to make some joke about how this book is about you, you're too late. Unofficial statistics from the Denver Seminary bookstore (David) are that about 63% of people who see the title make that joke.

The book is actually about the connections between sex(uality) and God. Here's my thoughts on it.

The Good

1) As he usually does, Rob (we're on a first name basis, he just doesn't know it) brings out some very interesting points. He spends a lot of time unpacking Hebrew concepts that bring life to biblical concepts.
2) This would be a good book for someone who doesn't have much biblical or Christian theological background. He does a good job giving accessible descriptions of concepts like "oneness."
3) He does a good job working through the submission issue.
4) So often in Christian circles we communicate, "Don't have sex until you're married. God says so and that settles it." But for anything God tells us to do there are good reasons. He wants what's best for us. Rob presents clearly many of the reasons why a Christian sexual ethic is best for us--not just random rules to follow.

The Bad (at least for me)

1) "Our sexuality is all of the ways we strive to reconnect with our world, with each other, and with God." This statement just seems way too broad to me. From this statement and other parts of the book I get the sense he's saying, "anything relational in any fashion is sexual." I suppose you can redefine sexuality in this way, but then what does it really mean? There are some relationships that are sexual and others that aren't. I suppose a relationship with a good friend could be related to sexuality in that it is or isn't sexual based on our sexuality, but now I'm confusing myself!
2) This seems to be a collection of a number of things he wanted to talk about that aren't all that connected. He strays from his stated purpose for the book. Although assuming the broad view of sexuality in #1 I suppose it's all related.
3) There wasn't much substance. I think some of the concepts are great but probably could have been covered in an article or two. There really wasn't enough to warrant a book.

So having said all that--it's a quick enough read that it's worth picking up. I'd love to hear reactions to the book as you read it.

Liquid Lunch

As I was at the caffeine pedaling mega-corporation today getting my overpriced fix this morning I noticed something I probably should have noticed many other times. The way they sell their drinks disposes you to buying the largest one they offer--the venti (best said with an evil English accent). You pay $3 for the small, and then for the large (probably double the amount of liquid) it's only about a buck more. That's too good a deal to pass up!

And then I realized that this tactic is a staple of American culture. King Size It for 39 cents. At 7Eleven the smallest soda and the gallon bucket are the same price. And we figure we might as well get the deal. Never mind the fact that this is a major contributor to our obesity and overindulgence in general. We're taught to be financially savvy over moderate.

Can You Say Whack?

From the land of freakin' crazy things comes this picture.



Do I really need to comment?

Props to Bob Hyatt on who's blog I saw this for the first time.

Gosh Dang II

And I listened to Jesus Wants to Save Christians VII by Rob Bell. He once again blew my mind with nuggets of beauty that I hold in my palm. Of the tons of raging sweetness, there is this on eternal life and stuff..."There is a religious tendency to not only be happy that we are in, but to find satisfaction in others being out."

Ouch city. Here's another one, "How will you earn the love of a God who loves you exactly as you are?" That one hit me in the chest. Like Trevor when I was seven years old. Except this time it was in a good way. This was great because such a thing is something I believe but constantly forget. So seriously, check out Jesus wants to save Christians vols. VI and VII. Similarly, there is the Wii which looks like it is really fun. I know that makes me sound like a kid, but I don't care. I want to play some Wii tennis against Trevor.

And on a funny note, he talks about having a pastor's hangover on Mondays from doing so much on Sundays. "You're tired, your head hurts, and you keep thinking, 'I said what?'" Yeah.

Gosh Dang

So I subscribe to Greg Boyd's and Rob Bell's podcast of their sermons each week. Mostly I like how subversive Greg is. Up to this point I listened to four of Rob Bell's and I thought they were average or so. Not bad or wrong, but not freakin sweet like Boyd...until just now.

I just listened to "Jesus Wants To Save Christians VI". One of the best tidbits was that he talked about the story of the Good Samaritan. He described how much Jews hated Samaritans to pretty great detail and then said that when the teacher of law asked Jesus who his neighbor was, Jesus telling this story was his way of saying, "Who do you hate?" That gave me some chills.

I was also seriously impressed with the ideas Rob expressed here, especially with how he talked about Jesus saving us from our hate, because he has been the victim of a decent amount of hate from ultra-conservative evangelicals. What a great message that we all need to here. Check it out on podcasts. It's free.

Just Sad

It wasn't really my intent to get too controversial or anything on this blog, mostly to have fun. Sometimes you just have to say something though and I thought if Ry got ahold of this info first he might smash his keyboard or something, so I'll take it on.

I was watching the news a few days ago and saw that G-Dub has announced that he'll ask Congress for $100 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan this year and $140 billion next year. As I write that it makes me want to cry. The most wealthy nation in the world is going to spend (at least if the pres gets his way) $240 billion in the next two years on war. We could end starvation with that kind of money. We could build millions of homes for the homeless around the world with that kind of money.

Lord, let your kingdom come when our efforts will be given to redemption!

How to Shower: Women vs. Men

The first half of this is kind of funny, but hang in there until the "how to shower like a man" part.