Happy New Year to all those... close and a far. Know that we love you where ever you are...

(Hey... that rhymed.)

From the Woods

THE SEARCH FOR DAD.
(THE BEST PRESENT YOU CAN FIND UNDER YOUR TREE THIS CHRISTMAS)

As a Dad and a busy one at that...I have a feeling of mixed compulsion and guilt writing this blog... but none the less I think that this should stir some thinking.

Is it possible that the generation next (...that is so desperately searching for meaning and authentic spirit life...) is in that search primarily because the life bringer has not brought life. No I'm not talking about God...but rather his reflection here on earth. Good old Dad!

Dads have the ominous task to be the living breathing earth bound example of the heart of the Father God. Therefore if they are absent or MIA the consequences for an entire generation will be a loss of meaning in the heart of the culture and the heart of the family.

It is said that the average 6 year old will have already spent more time watching TV then they will spend talking with their father in their entire life.

IN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE!

How can a generation have the foggiest idea what loving God and being loved by God is like if their view of masculinity is so baddly marred. Is it possible that the culture war that is being waged for this generation is simply a battle for the hearts, passions and integrity of men?

Albert Einstein said, "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." Or as Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing."

I'm becoming more and more convinced as I talk to this culture and listen to their hearts that there is a cry for authenitic men...yet when they step up to the plate the criticism that the media throws at them for being men reduces them back to the shadows. FIND ME AN AUTHENTIC DAD... WHO LOVES, DISCIPLINES AND GUIDES THEIR KIDS IN THE MEDIA ANYWHERE... I CAN'T.



When asked, in a recent poll...most youth and young adults claim their example of a authenitic dad is Ozzy Osbourne...Lord help us.

Is it possible that this reformation that is occuring within the church is simply a search for Dad.

Comments?

AND THE TRAX PLAYED ON...

IRON SHARPENING VS THE ILLUSION OF COMMUNITY - PART II

This morning I saw over 370 children on a single stage in a single church singing songs about a child in a manger.
...Hundreds of pictures taken... and the cd trax played on.
...grown men crawling around on a concrete floor to gain a better photo shot location... and the cd trax played on.
...mothers crying though out the church as they watched their little Johnny, Suzy or what ever the kids name was...and the cd trax played on.
...Grandparents who had never been in church this year, thrilled to the sight of little Billy Bob swing his arms back and forth like a washing machine somehow mimicking the actions of a cradle...and the cd trax played on.
... and he/she (the kid) stood there like a deer in headlights ...and the cd trax played on...

I stood there watching this organized confusion...this chaos...this riot of children somehow attempting to form what could weakly be described as a choir, but more accurately described as a mob and I had no choice to respond... as only one who had a clear understanding of the challenge of the generation next issues could respond...

I smiled.

This community was alive and well... and the emerging generation where were they? They were all down at the Starbucks building a different community...with those who were just like them... They were sitting in a mindless circle supposedly expanding their thinking by talking about issues that "really matter" while their younger brothers... nieces...nephews... and entire families enjoyed the ritual of the Christmas concert.
Their explanation, was as simplistic as their hearts. It's too contrived one said... too planned... said another. Indoctrination...said yet another. Look Dave even the trax were controlled...it wasn't real music.

And yet it was real... you see often times under the guise of authentic community we underestimate the place of rituals and traditions. These timeless events score card for us the innings of our lives... They mark the moments of passage from childhood thru young adult thinking to maturity. And it is these very same traditions that provide the foundation upon which real honest appraisal and thinking can occur. For it is from the solid foundation of people who know where they have come from, that the ground breaking visionaries of the future can rise. Not the momentary flash in the pan thinkers, momentary genius glimpse's but the steady culture changing men and women who know and run to the battle because the have the ground leveled under them through the lives of those who have come before. Those brave forefathers have built the structure upon which real change and community can be formed.

and the cd trax played on...

But instead these "relevant thinkers" sat and discussed how they were not a part of the music...did not want to sing...and would never be a part of the community of people who sang to the trax.

I thought as I listened and reflected about the music cd which blared the background trax for the kids to sing along, how similar the trax is to the music of our lives. We all have the same background music playing... you know the tune... We live, we grow, we love, we let go and we die... yeah that music. Community is found in the music... in singing along with the trax that has gone on for decades

... the music of God.

How much of this vane struggle for community and being apart of something is simply an attempt by those seeking to avoid the bigger issues in life. And just like authentic relationships that will stand the test of time and struggle so will the music of our lives. Together we live our lives to the very same changeless melody of pending death. And it is against this backdrop that I sat this morning...smiling...

Have a great Christmas season...I'm going to get a candy bag from Mr Kuhn...just like I did when I was eight.

"Be near me Lord Jesus I ask Thee to say...close by me forever and love me I pray...bless all the dear children in Thy tender care and take us to heaven to live with Thee there."

IRON SHARPENING VS THE ILLUSION OF COMMUNITY

With all the merging generation pontificating about the mascarade that the church is at presently demonstrating...and with their communication that is being foisted on the church as authentic and real...relational and vibrant. Few if any really have the courage to build relationships that challenge and stand... people committed to each other come what may.

Even those Velvet Elvis groupies who somehow can vax on at infinitum about the woes and problem within the church and speak community until your ears turn blue and fuzzy...and yet...bolt the moment that someone has the courage to call them out and challenge them on their life, their ethics, or their morals.

How shallow our entire culture has become...we live in a low commitment, low impact world. Where we talk about "making a difference" and "standing up for others" when we in fact live shallow lives. Lives that are based on some vain idea that we are to be in happy bliss with those in the church... continually growing through some quiet move of God on our spirits as we merge with the eternal goodness of God ...and therefore somehow blend our personalities seamlessly and effortlessly with the goodness that He is.

Rather than the iron sharpening battle ready church community who have the guts to talk openly and honestly about who each of us are and more importantly who each of us are not.

I understand why we, the church used to describe each other as brother and sister... because brothers and sisters should be able to stand toe to toe and fight out the issues in a family without the chance that the relationship would be destroyed.

You see I am beginning to understand this issue better because I had the privilege to work with my brother in law, and although I hated it when he did it, he was able and willing to come into my office and challenge me on what I had done, said and even who I was. Man is that difficult to swallow when he said that I have screwed up and I need to fix it. But there is nothing that he can say (within reason) that can break our brotherhood. He will still be sitting at the table on the 25 of December and I will still be loving him...

So to all those who somewhere in your heart are chasing the rainbow of community I have a challenge for you... Stop running and searching for authentic relationships in others and find it in your relationship with God beginning by being honest with yourself. Yeah that's it....stand up and be honest... and let the shallow relationships fall by the wayside. The ones that remain will be the ones that are honest enough to matter for more then right here and right now. They will matter for tomorrow and forever.

Trust me...would I lie to you?