Archive for January, 2008
Who wants to see these movies?
Films are at best art and at the least, entertainment and a form of recreation.
My friend Ed Travis who writes for Hollywoodjesus is the one who helped me realize films are just that, movies. they are not right or wrong they are about something, they have purpose, you can disagree with what a movie is about or the purpose of it, but you can not say it is wrong.
Ok, there are some discrepancies, obviously porn is one of them, but the purpose behind pornographic movies is not to tell a story, it is to turn you on. I do not put porn into the same category as the type of film I am referencing. The reason I think it is important to look at films as art and not as right or wrong is because when we do that we limit the possibility of what can be used to open us up to God and bring us into relationship with the world/people we are relationship with.
With music, art and film I live in conflict with the part of my brain formed in the evangelical world view. It is hard for me to enter a story depicting evil and not feel ill, like I am doing something wrong.
A film made with the purpose of exposing humanity allows me to enter a story and have something revealed about myself, this something I have come to appreciate and value.
My favorite films of all time have very different values, and have changed through out my life, here are a few:
Magnolia, Life as a House and Legends of the Fall,
This is a film recommended to me by my friend David Decker, he is an artist and i enjoy hearing his perspective on most anything.
This may be the most anticipated movie of the year for me: young@heart there just are not a lot of feel good movies out there, I don’t find boring.
What I expect from movies like young@heart is:
To feel good when I leave.
A cathartic experience of hope, laughter and tears.
A memory with a friend.
The movies of 07 that stand out in my mind are, No Country for Old Men and There will be Blood
If you have not scene these two movies do not go expecting to feel good after words. but if you expect the portrayal of raw humanity and enter the story you might find a depth to your nature you where not aware of.
Why do you watch movies?
What are some of your favorite films?
Let the “No” define you and the “Yes” inspire…
I can not stop thinking about how good it felt after a sales meeting when a president of a local grocery store said, “I can not go with your coffee because It would be like shooting myself in the head.” What he was saying in my perspective is: you do not represent what I want.
Stop for just one min and contemplate that:
“Your product is not what I want.”
This is a phrase communicated though out the day in the economy of people. We are communicating all the time about what we want and what we do not want.
“Let the No define you and the Yes inspire you…” rang in my ear as I walked out that meeting late one night.
What people want defines who they are. When we cloud what we want with words from another vocabulary we miscommunicate to people. When we do not say what we mean we miscommunicate and confuse others. Then we become frustrated by the no, the passive aggressive no.
The metaphor of product as people is a bit controversial, and I enjoy entering in the conversation of consumerism a “buzz” word that interests me.
Here is what I hear when I listen to people talking about consumerism as bad.
I hear:
“you must watch what you buy”
“scrutinize every purchase”
“become a conservationist”
“don’t buy certain things”
I hear a generalization of the natural order of society, which is production and consumption.
I am a producer and people I sell to are consumers or customers. In order to make a transaction I need to connect to the basic need of that person, to consume what I produce.
What I am saying is this, most people are extremely picky about what they buy or do not buy, and in doing so, put people in catagories intentionally or unintentionally by what they buy. The conversation I have been apart of is more about categorizing people than it is about responsibility.
Here are some questions:
Is it more sustainable or socially responsible for a low income family to shop at Walmart?
Can the only middle and upper class families shop green?
A reflection on communion as talked about in the gospels/acts.
Jesus used the consumption language in communion and it dumbfounds me to this day.
Are we suppose to consume relationships?
Are we missing the point of relationships by categorizing people by what they consume?
For example:
Do we love overweight people less? (they consume a lot of food, right?)
Do we judge someone who wares a t-shirt that represents something we resent.
Have our judgments become resentments leading to categories for people? Affect they way we treat others.
Here is what I have observed.
People are starting to judge others and make cases against others,
The question being asked is who is in and out of their community.
Who is lost and does not get it?
Are they worth talking to and listening to what they say?
Is what they represent not what you are looking for and therefor like shooting yourself in the head?
Here is what I know:
Jesus brought those outside of the religious community in, and he even consumed or took part in unholly things, like wine and healing on the sabbath. I like how confusing Jesus becomes when we put him in our context and I like how simple the gospel becomes when we look at the gospel story literally.
Side note: I hope this was as fun to read as it was to write
What $1000 did for Bala
This is a letter sent from the director of NIFES, Bala Usman.
I am posting this because I want people to understand how much we have been given, and how much a little will do. This is a dear friend of our family and the reason we set off to start a coffee company, One Village Coffee, in order to support Non-Profit. We are currently working on starting an umbrella non-profit, Open Hand Initiative (OHI) for all the over looked people doing this kind of work around the world.
Right now there is a partnership forming with the MAMA project and the Nigerian leaders through my father. The reason we want to start this non profit which will be funded through One Village Coffee, grants, personal donations and other business’s is due to the rising interest in the involvement our family has internationally.
We are the connectors to communities around the world and it is time to tell the story of these amazing people do so much with so little.
Here the words of Bala:
Dear Hackman,
Warm regards to you and your family.
Beloved, you are the blessing that God has blessed to see that our vision and dream of transforming Africa through the Nigeria.
This is to personally and formally thank you for the timely gift you sent to help with our Coffee farm development which is a basis of enhancing
thousands being enhanced and empowered to make impact and reduce the poverty level of our people. The said amount came to N116, 300:00 because they gave me some lower denominations for $900@N119 (N107, 100) and the $80 @N115 ( N9,200) and the balance of ($20) was charged
as commission for the transfer from the USA. I feel deeply concerned for and loved by your act of mercy and care for the unknown. May his Love overwhelm you.
This is the summary and briefs for the total sum sent:
The sum of N72, 500 earmarked for the bore hole due to its dept and materials and labor. The boreholes work has started and will be finished by tomorrow.
The sum of N24, 000 earmarked for the cow dung manure, which has been supplied, and
The sum of N12, 500 to pay the workers for the month of December -January 2008.
The sum of N3, 500 earmarked for the fuel towards the watering.
The balance of N1000 I used it to buy phone card for phone calls and 2,800 gas for my car and movement for supervision.
These are the things that we are able to do at the school.
I used the balance to purchase 16 bags of cement @ N1, 530 and used it to floor the 5 classes (N24, 480). We also did deposit N 25,500: for the roof Hedges to cover the open areas of the roof and then fixed the window louver glasses costing N14, 160 against the cold weather to protect the children. The chicken birds were sold and we used them to settle our children fees (N135, 000: 00)
I WILL LIKE to APPRECIATE and keep thanking you for your graciousness and kindness to make us have less tension and more relaxed mind. I am humbled by your thoughtfulness.
I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE THOUGHT OF MOBILISING A TEAM TO HELP BUILD TH OTHER PART OF THE SCHOOL. You talked about working to gather the materials for the building. Sir, Can I know what and what I should begin to gather and put together? We are deeply overwhelmed over your desire and discussion to have people mobilized to support and come build or help work on the building in the school
Grace and I are praying and planning to have some time spending part of my Rest in 2008. Love to your wife and the Children.
When youtube becomes a preacher
Jim and Casper go to church on youtube is an off the map production.
There was a comment made at the end of this clip about how Casper is sure their are good things going on in some churches.
I am reminded of a life changing movie, “On the Waterfront” Here are some quotes:
Father Barry: Some people think the Crucifixion only took place on Calvary. Well, they better wise up!
Father Barry: You want to know what’s wrong with our waterfront? It’s the love of a lousy buck. It’s making love of a buck – -the cushy job – -more important than the love of man!
Edie: Shouldn’t everybody care about everybody else?
Terry: Boy, what a fruitcake you are!
Sometimes I feel like a “fruitcake”.
There is something stirring in my soul/spirit again.
My mind races with thoughts of friends in leadership at church’s around the country in crisis. Overall most people would say the American church is in Crisis, I tend to agree.
The clip from youtube gives me insight into what I have felt about the modern evangelical church.
There needs to be a response, a simple clear response like Father Barry confronting the Mob on the water front.
Father Barry: Isn’t it simple as one, two, three? One: The working conditions are bad. Two: They’re bad because the mob does the hiring. And three: The only way we can break the mob is to stop letting them get away with murder.
Or by confronting the religious complacency like Eddie:
Edie: What kind of saint hides in a church?
The movement needs all types of people:
Who will you be?
Is this another “Hotel Rwawanda”?
Will it take another Hotel Rwanda’s film from Hollywood for Americans to cry and cry out for these people.
Here are some excerpts from a letter sent to me through Elijah Kurich, the man who supply’s One Village Coffee Kenya Beans.
First watch this clip to know what this man is reacting to: Here the words of a Kenyan to his countries leader. A tale of betrayal and injustice.
AN OPEN LETTER TO SAMUEL KIVUITU, CHAIR OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF KENYA Mr. Kivuitu, We’ve never met. It’s unlikely we ever will. But, like every other Kenyan, I will remember you for the rest of my life. The nausea I feel at the mention of your name may recede. The bitterness and grief will not.
You had a mandate, Mr. Kivuitu. To deliver a free, fair and transparent election to the people of Kenya. You and your commission had 5 years to prepare. You had a tremendous pool of resources, skills, technical support, to draw on, including the experience and advice of your peers in the field – leaders and experts in governance, human rights, electoral process and constitutional law. You had the trust of 37 million Kenyans.
We believed it was going to happen. On December 27th, a record 65% of registered Kenyan voters rose as early as 4am to vote. Stood in lines for up to 10 hours, in the sun, without food, drink, toilet facilities. As the results came in, we cheered when minister after powerful minister lost their parliamentary seats. When the voters of Rift Valley categorically rejected the three sons of Daniel Arap Moi, the despot who looted Kenya for 24 years. The country spoke through the ballot, en masse, against the mindblowing greed, corruption, human rights abuses, callous dismissal of Kenya’s poor, that have characterised the Kibaki administration.
But Kibaki wasn’t going to go. When it became clear that you were announcing vote tallies that differed from those counted and confirmed in the constituencies, there was a sudden power blackout at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, where the returns were being announced. Hundreds of GSU (General Service Unit) paramilitaries suddenly marched in. Ejected all media except the government mouthpiece Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
Fifteen minutes later, we watched, dumbfounded, as you declared Kibaki the winner. 30 minutes later, we watched in sickened disbelief and outrage, as you handed the announcement to Kibaki on the lawns of State House. Where the Chief Justice, strangely enough, had already arrived. Was waiting, fully robed, to hurriedly swear him in.
A few paragraphs later
Do you think of the 300,000 Kenyans displaced from their homes, their lives? Of the thousands still trapped in police stations, churches, any refuge they can find, across the country? Without food, water, toilets, blankets? Of fields ready for harvest, razed to the ground? Of granaries filled with rotting grain, because no one can get to them? Of the Nairobi slum residents of Kibera, Mathare, Huruma, Dandora, ringed by GSU and police, denied exit, or access to medical treatment and emergency relief, for the crime of being poor in Kenya?
I bet you haven’t made it to Jamhuri Park yet. But I’m sure you saw the news pictures of poor Americans, packed like battery chickens into their stadiums, when Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Imagine that here in Nairobi, Mr. Kivuitu. 75,000 Kenyans, crammed into a giant makeshift refugee camp. Our own Hurricane Kivuitu-Kibaki, driven by fire, rather than floods. By organized militia rather than crumbling levees. But the same root cause – the deep, colossal contempt of a tiny ruling class for the rest of humanity. Over 60% of our internal refugees are children. The human collateral damage of your decision.
And now, imagine grief, Mr. Kivuitu. Grief so fierce, so deep, it shreds the muscle fibres of your heart. Violation so terrible, it grinds down the very organs of your body, forces the remnants through your kidneys, for you to piss out in red water. Multiply that feeling by every Kenyan who has watched a loved one slashed to death in the past week. Every parent whose child lies, killed by police bullets, in the mortuaries of Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret. Everyone who has run sobbing from a burning home or church, hearing the screams of those left behind. Every woman, girl, gang-raped.
Do you sleep well these days, Mr. Kivuitu? I don’t. I have nightmares. I wake with my heart pounding, slow tears trickling from the corners of my eyes, random phrases running through my head:
A few paragraphs later
Ee Mungu nguvu yetu
Ilete baraka kwetu
Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi
Natukae na undugu
Amani na uhuru
Raha tupate na ustawi.
O God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity
Peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders.
Rarely do we allow ourselves pauses, to absorb the enormity of our country shattered, in 7 days. We cry, I think, in private. At least I do. In public, we mourn through irony, persistent humor, and action. Through the exercise of patience, stamina, fortitude, generosity, that humble me to witness. Through the fierce relentless focus of our best energies towards challenges of stomach-churning magnitude. We tell the stories that aren’t making it into the press: the retired general in Rift Valley sheltering 200 displaced families on his farm, the Muslim Medical Professionals offering free treatment to anyone injured in political protest. We challenge, over and over again, with increasing weariness, the international media coverage that presents this as “tribal warfare”, “ethnic conflict”, for an audience that visualises Africa through Hollywood: Hotel Rwanda, The Last King of Scotland, Blood Diamond.
I wish you’d thought of those people, when you made the choice to betray them. I wish you’d drawn on their courage, their integrity, their clarity, when your own failed you. I wish you’d had the imagination to enter into the lives, the dreams, of 37 million Kenyans.
But, as you’ve probably guessed by now, Mr. Kivuitu, this isn’t really a letter to you at all. This is an attempt to put words to what cannot be expressed in words. To mourn what is too immense to mourn. A clumsy groping for something beyond the word ‘heartbreak’. A futile attempt to communicate what can only be lived, moment by moment. This is a howl of anguish and rage. This is a love letter to a nation. This is a long low keening for my country.
A VERY DISSAPPOINTED KENYAN CITIZEN – Shailja Patel.
This letter appears in Kalenjin Online.
Please pray for our friends in Kenya, may people in developed countries around the world wake up to the power they have in their voice and reach out to tell the stories of injustice, so that the awareness may overwhelmed the powers at work in our world.
Scott
In your love my salvation
This morning the prayer and the song became one. As I listen to Alexi Murdock’s “Orange Sky” I read from “>www.Sacredspace.ie, the site I visit for spiritual formation, I felt the salvation of my soul.
I read these words:
Lord, help me to be fully alive to your holy presence.
Enfold me in your love.
Let my heart become one with yours.
I heard these words:
“In your love, my salvation, in your love, my salvation.”
These are the words I hear when I read the gospels, when thinking of the church these words seem faint.
Salvation seems to have lost it’s relevance in the American society. With out a need for a savior we no longer look, or seek one.
Jesus is has become a pop icon and the church has become the irrelevant contribution to this mess.
Maybe I say this because of what I have been observing over the past couple months in my community.
This past week has been late night conversations about the kingdom, the church and frustration with the expectation of how the people of God should be… I am tired by the critique, I want to see the salvation, the return of the simple words of Jesus.
Those of you who are misplaced, sick and tired come to me and you will find rest.
Go into the world and follow me. I am already there. (A paraphrase of the theme I pull out in Christ’s words through out the Gospels)
There is a subtle story line of a God who has both come to heal, and come to fulfill the call. No longer do we have to see our own calling as a personal role, we can now enter a story beyond our understanding of a God/Man who is apart of the Father and has given himself to the world. As the Spirit remains we are the remembrance, we are the spirit. As we begin to trust in the end result of all things done by God for God we see ourselves a small and significant to the Mission.
May you hear the words of, “In your love my salvation, in your love my salvation.”
With love and peace in my heart…
Remembering the Dream
St Augustine, in a memorable phrase, insists that God is not ‘an absent father.’ “Non enim fecit atque abiit.” – (“He did not just make us and go away.” Confessions, Bk 4, Ch. 12). God works with us and for us, and we see God’s hand not just in the sunshine and obvious blessings, but even in the dark times, in our sorrowful mysteries. God is always present to us. The prodigal’s father stayed on at home even after the boy brought shame and sorrow on the family. His older son and neighbours (and maybe his wife too) would have seen him as foolish and fond for letting the younger boy loose with money. When the prodigal returned, his father was waiting and watching. As a good father, he was there when he was needed.
This quote from the www.sacredspace.ie is a perfect representation of where I am in my Theology.
After returning from my trip to Switzerland and Italy over the Holiday, I find myself in a new space of thinking. There is more to the Theological conversation than the Missional/Emergent language passed from one to another. There is a world beyond our comprehension. A presence of being beyond ourselves.
My experience has been, when surrendering to the unknown and inverting the anxious feeling which come in the morning and evening like waves on the ocean, I find peace. This peace goes beyond words I can explain, but there is a picture I see in this moment. Jesus in the middle of a storm with his friends, creates an space for them to see a reality outside of the human realm of possibility.
I am entering possibility.
This was the most exciting revelation of my trip to Europe: the convergence of pieces from the Missional/Emergent conversation I have been and will continue to be apart of, because it is the context I am in, to the history of the Church and the artistic expression illuminated on the inside of the Sistien Chapel. The context of Christianity has changed and with it, examples of what it means to be “Christian”.
I fell in love with the Christian story that day inside the Chapel. The Bible stories depicted on the wall like a beautiful Children’s book, my perspective changed and I fell deeply in love with this tradition of story telling. Everyone through time putting meaning to words for the community of followers carrying the dream of the Kingdom which has come and will come again.
