Glorious Mud

I have only been on a two float trips that I can remember.  On both  occasions , I floated past some sorry souls passed out on the river bank after having consumed too many jello shots.  They were lying there getting fried in the sun and drooling as we floated past - laughing, splashing water on each other, and looking for the next rapid or cliff to jump off. It struck me (deep thought time) you kind of have to be awake to enjoy the day. Related thought (trust me, it will come together): Darrin Patrick used an illustration once from his seminary days.  He said that one of his professors told them that there was only one thing the church could do here that it would not be able to do in heaven.  It will be able to worship, learn about God, grow in community and joy - but it won't be able to share the good news of God's grace with those who haven't yet believed.  That is a pretty sobering thought, even for a Calvinist.  Most of us simply do no...

I am showing The Passion of the Christ (yes, the whole thing) this Friday night at our Good Friday service. If you were to come, you would enter a dark room lit by candles. You would enter in silence and sit meditatively - expectantly. The night will start with a brief explanation of the series of events of the passion week, so everyone knows how Good Friday fits in to the broader progression. You would then be led through worship music and scripture meditation to consider the cross. You would then hear a brief message on the purpose and value of substitutionary atonement followed by communion, silence, and then a showing of the movie. I know - old news - the movie has been around for over 5 years now. I know churches have been showing clips of it every Easter since. So, here is my confession. I didn't watch the movie when it came out - or when it was recut and re-released the next year...or when it came to DVD. In fact, I didn't watch it until this week. Why? Lot'...