Taking a Walk on the Human Side
Monday, March 10, 2008
Orlando, Fl
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“If you learn this you will know something about Jesus that many Christians do not know,” I told them. Continue reading »
10
March
Taking a Walk on the Human Side
24
July
Is it possible to think too much?
Last March, I commented on several chapters from a book titled the Culture Code. [Interestingly enough, last May I met the author's (Clotaire Rapaille) former Polo coach when he approached me because he had read my post]. Today, in an article –that collaborates Rapaille’s premise too well to ignore– titled “New Leaders Say Pensive French Think Too Much”, the New York Times quotes Finance Minister Christine Lagarde who “bluntly” advised “the French people to abandon their ‘old national habit.’ That old habit is a kind of “national laziness” and Lagarde hopes to push the French to work harder, earn more and maybe even get rich.
In a country where the rich are heavily taxed (and thus flee to greener pastures), the people expect a welfare state to take care of them, and the law mandates a 35 hour work week, it seems that the French want to eat their cake and have it too.
The article reports that some of the french elite can’t believe their ears. After all, France is the homeland of the Enlightenment, the land of Descartes dictum: I think therefore I am. Rappaille (who is also French) tells us in the Culture Code that the the single-word code that exegetes French culture is IDEA.
Maybe Lagarde brings an idea to the French whose time has come.
See the article here: “French think too much”
See my post on The Culture Code and the French
Enjoy. See you in the mystic…
Alex McManus
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8
April
This we know: the dead do not return.
Joyful Easter. Fifty thousand years of accumulated experience by the 70 – 100 billion Humans who have lived on this planet have led us to know at least one thing: the dead don’t return. Continue reading »
1
August
Is Mosaic a part of the Emerging Church?
Is Mosaic part of the Emerging Church?
I rarely pay any attention to rants against “into the Mystic…” The editorial early last spring by Brannon Howse was no exception. But, in light of the recent Calvary Chapel statement distancing themselves from the “emerging church”, I thought I would finally make a little comment about Brannon’s piece. I admit, Brannon’s piece made me chuckle and some of the comments made by some of Brannon’s posse have made me laugh out loud. In a weird sort of way, It was fun.
Continue reading »
23
June
The Future, The Cosmos, and The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
welcome back.
I’m reading an article titled, Cosmological Challenges: Are we alone, and Where? The author is Martin Rees, former professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at Cambridge.
The next frontier for the next fifty years in science, he claims, is to “seek firm evidence for, or against, the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence.”
Are we alone in the universe and thus destined to “seed” life throughout the cosmos? Or are we part of an even larger story of intelligent life in the universe?
In 5 billion years when our sun dies, and humanity is spread out throughout creation, diversifying as a species over the aeons? Will we discover that we have always been alone?
What do you think?
How do the scriptures inform your thinking here?
- Are you open and excited by this search?
- Are you incredulous and certain that mankind is alone?
- Where do most of the people we’re trying to reach land on this issue?
Updates: Apply now for the 2007 cohort of the International Mentoring Network
Register today for the IMN regionals –Chattanooga, Detroit, Montreal, Providence
See you in the Mystic,
Alex McManus
28
January
A Mystic Leader’s Crash Course: Darkness
Welcome back.
A Mystic Leader’s Crash Course: Part 1: Darkness
The church in the west acts as it does because it does not see the world as it is. How can 21st century leaders move people to enlist in the quest to save the universe? Let’s begin by lining up four images to help us describe the world.
What is required for the church to change?
The first of four images needed by 21st century leaders to describe the world we live in is Darkness. At a Harvard Business School address in 2002, Lou Gerstner of IBM stated:
” The transformation of an enterprise begins with a sense of crisis or urgency. No institution will go through fundamental changes unless it believes it is in deep trouble and needs to do something different to survive.” (source: Thomas Friedman, The World is Flat).
The church in the west acts as it does because it does not see clearly the darkness. Darkness is not about describing the present or any other moment in human history. Darkness is about pointing out human kind’s perpetual companion. Darkness is about the fact that human kind tends towards a darkness of ancient proportions. Even with the restraint of law or the release of grace, human kinds show a propensity towards great evil.
The church feels no urgency, no compulsion to change because it doesn’t care that the world is in deep trouble and needs to do something different to survive.
Ways in which culture helps us describe the darkness
During the second half of last century it was fashionable to talk about the secular future of the world. Many suspected that enlightened rationality would squeeze out the last vestiges of religion and superstition in the west, and eventually religion and faith would vanish from the face of the earth.
In the 20th century it was common to hear someone say, “more evil has been done in the name of religion than anything else.” Besides being false at face value, this way of seeing the world missed an obvious fact: the evil will impose their will in the name of anything and everything even religion if need be. Religion isn’t really the issue here. Evil is.
In describing the world, Christ following leaders must clearly described this fact: if religion were to disappear from the face of the earth, evil would remain because both the world and the human heart are dark places.
Without religion as the “fall guy” who and what would the secularist blame for the evil in the world? Republicans and the culture wars? Hollywood and the left wing?
Interstingly enough TV and film provide some help here. A few shows have tended to take a morally serious look at evil and the ethical dilemnas evil creates whether in a real historical sense (The Passion, The End of the Spear) or in a mythological sense (The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia) or in a dramatic action series (24).
Yes, we must call out the image of God that is part of man’s creation design. But we musn’t trivialize or reduce the malignant spirit of darkness embedded within the human heart and spread throughout human culture that eats away at the created order. The church will never rise to be that which she is called to be without clearly seeing how darkness has fallen upon the earth and devours her children.
Again, film helps here. Few things shake me to the core as the sight of children suffering. “Born Into Brothels” (2005) a documentary telling the story of the children of prostitutes in Calcutta and “Cidade de Deus” (aka City of God 2002) a Brazilian film based on the experiences of children growing up in an infamously violent housing project in Rio de Janeiro are two stories told on film that show us how too many children live.
How darkness may provide a clue to the meaning of everything
Ironically, Darkness may provide both those outside faith and those within faith the clearest view on absolute truth. Allow me to whisper to you something I have come to know and know deeply. I, and no one other than I, am responsible for my own evil. That is one thing I have come to Know. Let me whisper to you something else of which I have become convinced: If you will listen in on your own life, you’ll become convinced of the same thing about yourself.
The church will not rise with an appropriate primal scream unless she see’s the earth’s children all trapped in the dragon’s lair of evil, unable to breath until the gospel comes, and unless she experiences a gut wrenching deliverance from this power herself.
Personal note. From one mystic warrior to another: it’s a dangerous world but I know you are of the tribe that must enlist in the quest to save the universe. You are the ones who learn to feel your way forward in heroic attempts to reach those trapped in the dragon’s lair. Be careful. It’s dark out here.
What do you think?
into the mystic…
Alex McManus
27
September
What Atheists and Secularists teach us
Welcome back.
Here are two must read articles. Both are from the UK. The first is an obviously anti-faith and anti-America editorial published in the online version of The Times. The fact that it so biased against faith is why it merits consideration by those of us who want to understand the people we’re trying to reach.
The second article is from another British newspaper, The Guardian. It is written by an atheist who argues for the moral superiority of the average believer over the average atheist and is among the best short pieces I’ve read, as much for the main point as for the vantage point is gives believers to the intellectual challenge of atheism.
Both writers oppose faith and draw opposite conclusions about the merits of the function of faith within culture. What do you think? Sit back. Read the articles. Enjoy.
Article #1] Devout democracies more dysfunctional than their more secular counterparts.
Article #2] Devout people morally superior to their atheist counterparts.
into the mystic…
Alex McManus
27
September
American Policy and Hurricane Katrina
Welcome back.
Is Hurricane Katrina God’s punishment on the USA?
I suggest that Katrina and Rita are not God’s punishment but in fact what we call “hurricane season” and that what some believe to be “God punishing America” is in fact, well, weather.
What do you think?
Into the Mystic…
Alex McManus
22
April
Hospitality III
Welcome back.
Paul writes, “Don’t let the world squeeze you into it’s mold…” (Romans 12.2). Living lives of isolation and exclusion is one of the directions towards which the world squeezes us. Hospitality is about rediscovering human connection, about remembering that “I” am not the only character in this amazing story of the human-kind. The story of human kind is a “we” story.
As I’ve felt my way forward in the way of Jesus, I’ve brought into my home the poor and homeless. But, even though that’s immediately where our minds and hearts go when we begin to think of hospitality, the love of strangers, that’s not the whole or the most of it.
Hospitality begins in us: why are we on this journey through time and space together? Years ago, my wife, Niza, and I began to make a series of decisions that shaped our home. The first of these was that our home would a center for world mission. Our mission? To help others discover and remember that there is a cosmic connection waiting to be made. To help others resonate with the most primal reality of the universe. To make the world a better place for others. Those of you who’ve prayed with me have probably heard me say this: “May everywhere our feet touch the ground become an intersection between heaven and earth. And may everyone who walks with us feel the primal essence of the universe.” Those of you who know me understand that that is one of the ways I speak about Jesus, who makes all things new.
Hospitality does not mean automatially that we bring a street person into our home. It means that we begin to cultivate a sense of connection, a curiosity and a delight in discovering the human experience of those around us we do not yet know. [Just a note: some of us don't know our kids or our spouses and need to take steps -turn off the tv- asap to invite them into our lives.] Coupled with a craving to share how the story of Jesus intersects with the story of us.
Interestingly enough, I learned last night that my wife had posted without knowledge of what we’re talking about here, an entry on “hospitality.” Needless to say, it was a bit spooky. Here’s her blog: xanga.com/nizasings. Today she put up a second thought on this so you’ll hear it from her perspective.
Don’t let the world squeeze us…love strangers. Practice hospitality. By the way, you belong here.What do you think?
Photographs
Top: (Right to left) John Edgar Caterson, Pastor, Mosaic Rancho Cucamonga; Me and Bill Clark, Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan…having a terrific lunch today in LA and and an even better conversation.
Side: Bill and John discussing who’s going to pay for lunch. [Kidding].
Int the Mystic…
Alex McManus
Pasadena, Ca
© 2005
21
April
Hospitality II
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Currently Reading Fewer: How the New Demography of Depopulation Will Shape Our Future By Ben J. Wattenberg see related |
Welcome back
Hospitality is a key to evangelism in the 21st century.
Let’s distinguish hospitality from entertaining. Entertaining guests means that we put on a demonstration of our best to give a good impression. Entertaining is like our fine china. Nothing wrong with that. Hospitality, on the other hand, means inviting people into our lives. Hospitality is our paper plates.
Inviting others into our lives and homes is natural when we move from being strangers to becoming friends of God. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” said Lydia, “come and stay at my house.” (Acts 16.15)
Interestingly enough, sometimes it is often the prebeliever that has both the open heart and open home. My wife, Niza, and I are both seriously introverted and sometimes reclusive. When our first born was still small we lived in an apartment that shared a corridor with a second apartment directly across from us. Our neighbors, a young couple named Ernie and Rosie noticed we had a small child and provided us with extra diapers. I was traveling a bit in those days and my wife would tell me that whenever I was gone Ernie would always either come out or crack his door and peek out when someone knocked on my door. He was looking out for my family while I was gone. In fact, they served us so much and shared their lives so much that eventually we were able to lead them to faith in Christ. Yes, that’s a backward story. They served us and we were able to guide them to the kingdom. If you’ve ever seen Heaven’s Prisoner with Alec Baldwin, you’ve seen their daughter, Samantha. She played the little Salvador girl Baldwin rescues (even though she’s really half Filipina and half Mexican)
Hospitality is inviting others into your life …and sometimes inviting yourself into the lives of others. Evangelism can happen naturally when life is shared. Love strangers.
What do you think?
Photographs
Top: Friends and entrepreneurs Jaime and Belinda Puente visiting at our new place.
Side: Friend Dominic Massaro (graffiti61) performs at a house concert.
Into the Mystic…
Alex McManus
Pasadena, Ca
© 2005