hal moran.com

I’ve been somewhat dismayed with the approach to Sunday morning preaching for quite some time. (And, trust me, I’ve heard a lot in the last 50+ years.) Whether in a large or small church, most preaching I’ve witnessed consists of a pastor laying his or her exegetical outline over a passage, and maybe, just maybe a short story. In essence we expect them to have all the answers. And, I wonder if that is truly the best approach when addressing a large group of diverse people.

Is there a better way? Consider what is said about Jesus in Matthew 13:34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable.

When Jesus taught in public he taught in parables – always! He didn’t give them all of the answers. Some things were “hidden” from the followers. I believe Jesus raised more questions in the minds of the crowds than he answered. He wanted them to dig for the truth. To “hunger and thirst after righteousness”, that they may be filled.

We do know that he taught his disciples on a more intimate basis in a small group experience.

So, I wonder what would happen if pastors used Jesus as their model? Use story and parable to ask the questions with which we are wrestling. Then, provide some extra helps for digging into deeper truths or meaning in a family or small group setting.

It would take some work and imagination, but I believe they could engage their congregation at a much deeper level.

If you’re a pastor who’s tired of spoon fed sermons, why not give it a try. I’d love to hear if this is being done somewhere.

Below is an excerpt from an excellent article by Chris Seay, pastor of Ecclesia Church in Houston. Chris is one of the founders of The Advent Conspiracy - an alternative to the wreckless spending during the Christmas season. You can also read the full article here - http://www.theooze.com/articles/article.cfm?id=2347

… In these days it seems God has done the same for America: “You want wealth? I will give you obscene wealth — and it will lead to your destruction.” Ralph Winter, the founder of Frontier Mission Fellowship, writes: “The underdeveloped societies suffer from one set of diseases: tuberculosis, malnutrition, pneumonia, parasites, typhoid, cholera, typhus, etc. Affluent America has virtually invented a whole new set of diseases: obesity, arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, venereal disease, cirrhosis of the liver, drug addiction, alcoholism. . . . In saving ourselves we have nearly lost ourselves.”

This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen, or I should say heard, in a long time. Check out Daily Audio Bible at www.dailyaudiobible.com The audio recordings are of the highest quality. Poke around the website a bit. I know you’ll be blessed.

It’s my habit to get up and take a hike early on Saturday mornings. Yesterday was stunning! First off I set up my chair blind and camera gear by a pond in the woods. Right after sun up a pair of wood ducks landed on the glassy water and began to play. If you haven’t seen a wood duck before look one up on the web. But nothing compares to seeing them in the wild. Their beauty is a testament to their Creator. After a while I packed up my stuff and headed to another area. This time no blind, I’d just hike. After a mile or so I came to a very bushy area. Noticing several small birds flit about, I stood very still to catch a better glimpse. Hmmm? - birds I hadn’t seen in our area before. I knew they must have been on a migration path, and I decided to look them up when I got back home. (Turns out they were Connecticut Warblers) As I made my way to the nearby creek, I noticed a myriad of large spider webs being back lit by the rising sun. The dew glistening from the early morning light made them light up like a Christmas tree. Soon I reached the creek and took in many more wonders of creation.

Here’s what I don’t understand. The Bible says that “all creation declares that God is, therefore man is without excuse.” God has made himself known to us through creation, but yet, some still refuse to give recognition to our Creator for the wonders they see, hear, and take in around them.

How could they not get it? Psalm 19 might help.

Every now and then something comes along that is of such high quality that it has to be shared. I recently came across The Journey’s Project that was conceived and produced by Michael Belk, a fashion photographer with a heart for Jesus.

The quality, content, and messaging of this awe-inspiring work is incredible! To witness it for yourself click here - http://www.thejourneysproject.com/ You won’t be sorry.

The miracle of birth will happen once again! Our daughter and son-in-law are expecting a little girl in November. Julia is her name, which means “divinely youthful.” How fitting for a young lady to make her way into the new world.

As I did before Lauren was born, I’ve begun to not only pray for their family, but I’m also praying for the little boy that - God willing - she’ll marry one day. May he “grow strong in the Lord and the power of His might.” May he seek after God with all his heart and love Julia as “Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.”

Somewhere there’s a little boy out there…

Here’s a brief snippet on the state of the world’s youth. Very troubling.

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New research released ahead of the United Nation’s International Youth Day revealed startling statistics about the world’s youth including their views on personal salvation, virginity and attempts to commit suicide.

OneHope, a children-oriented Christian ministry, found that 91 percent of youths in Costa Rica say they do not believe they will go to heaven despite claiming to have accepted Jesus Christ.

In Spain, 74 percent of the youth say they do not want to be a virgin when they marry. And in Russia, 42 percent of the youth report having tried to commit suicide.

Click to read the entire article.  http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090729/ministry-finds-disturbing-statistics-about-world-s-youth/index.html

This just in from the Christian Post. Why doesn’t this make the mainstream press?

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By Derick Ho

CP Asia Correspondent

North Korea has publicly executed a Christian woman accused of distributing Bibles and “spying” for foreign countries, South Korean activists said Friday.

A mother of three, Ri Hyon-ok, 33, was accused of spying for South Korea and the United States and organizing dissidents, The Associated Press reported. She was executed in the northwestern city of Ryongchon bordering China on June 16, according to a report from the Investigative Commission on Crimes against Humanity published Friday.

Her husband, children and parents were sent to a political prison the day after her execution, the report states.

The report’s claims could not be verified.

But it follows testimonies by North Korean defectors and reports from human rights groups that have increasingly exposed the religious persecution and rights abuses in the communist country.

Last month, the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) was warned through an anonymous fax apparently by the North Korean embassy for Finland that “something very bad will happen” to VOM workers if the organization continues its project in sharing the Gospel.

The warning was in response to VOM obtaining fax numbers inside North Korea and sending faxes containing Christian messages and Scripture passages.

North Korea has been ranked the worst persecutor of Christians for seven years in a row in the annual Open Doors Watch List 2009.

North Koreans are forced to worship a personality cult that includes Kim Jong-Il and his deceased father. Any other religion, especially Christianity, is banned.

If someone is found to be a Christian or possesses a Bible, they are sent to the gulags (government administered labor camps) or face public execution.

It is believed that tens of thousands of Christians are currently suffering in North Korean prison camps, according to Open Doors. The regime is suspected of detaining more political and religious prisoners than any other country in the world.

There are a few churches in the capital, Pyongyang, but they are mainly for show. It is unclear if these churches are only open when foreigners visit or are used only by expatriates. Either way, the handful of churches are not for North Korean citizens, according to defectors.

The Investigative Commission on Crimes against Humanity, a coalition of 50 activist groups, is calling for North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il to be charged with crimes against humanity.

I’m outraged!
Those who know me know that I have a passion for sub-Saharan Africa. When I read stories like the one found at the link below - I’m outraged. What would it be like in our country if the statistics were the same? Would you be silent? Could you be silent? Would you become a victim? I know there are good relief agencies out there doing all they can to help. Find one and lend a hand!

READ, CLICK, DO

“…more than one in four South African men surveyed admitted to committing rape.”

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20090709/D99B4V981.html

Ever have your conscience seared? I mean to the point where it changed your perspective and you just had to do something? I have on many occasions. I think that’s part of what makes us human - created in God’s likeness. The following is a newsletter I just received from the International Arts Movement. Take a few minutes to let your conscience sear a bit by reading the article. Then click the link on the bottom. If this doesn’t do the trick, then I’m not sure you’re fully human!
READ - CLICK - DO - You can make a difference!

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Some wars make headlines; some do not. In Congo, the news can be found on the faces of thousands of women and girls who have been victims of sexual violence.

The Democratic Republic of Congo sits in the middle of what has become known as “Africa’s World War.” Officially at war from 1998-2003, there have been as many as seven neighboring countries invading the vast nation at one point. Many rebel military factions remain, preying upon poor villagers, especially women, for their survival. The rebels pillage, rape women, burn villages, and steal harvests periodically to maintain their own supplies.

Nestled in the hills along the Rwandan border, Panzi Hospital stands as the last hope for many of Congo’s victims of sexual violence. Every day women fight to regain and redefine their lives as they undergo delicate surgeries to heal from rape and mutilation at the hands of rebel militias and national military groups.

“Women in War Zones: Sexual Violence in the Congo” takes an intimate look into the lives of two young women who become sisters during their time at Panzi Hospital. Helene Wamuzila (22) and Bijoux Mateso (13) support each other in their struggle to maintain hope and dignity as they come to grips with their violent and tragic past. They look for hope in each other, God, and the upcoming presidential elections - the first in over 40 years.

See more about the film at http://www.womeninwarzones.com

Ever been to www.notcot.org? It’s an amazing collection of creativity that rotates daily. It makes for great therapy if you ever get creator’s block!

Great article by Erwin McManus. Makes me wonder how we lost focus over the last two millennia. Oh, well - some people get it!

“… At Mosaic we have no members only missionaries. There is nothing to join except a community on mission. We have little patience for self indulgent spirituality that insists on everything being about us.

And there are implications. We have a zero tolerance policy for religious jargon or Christianese. We have little room for traditions that mean something to us but nothing to a person searching for God. We will not forsake the Word of God for the traditions of men. We are committed to removing every non-essential barrier between God and humanity. We refuse to allow the Gospel to become lost in our nostalgia or to appear irrelevant because we are.”

Go here to read the full article.

http://originsproject.org/?p=409

This is goodness. Below is an email update from Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay. Kathleen and I have been helping drill fresh water wells with BWM for several years.

read - click - watch - act

There is much we are excited to tell you about this month. Today we’re writing you from the Cornerstone Music Festival in rural Bushnell, Illinois. We’ve had a great time this week connecting with people from all across the country. If you’re here, check us out at The Anchor Stage. Also, The amazing team of cyclists traversing the country in the Ride:Well Bike Tour are making a big impact. Already over $50K has been raised to support Blood:Water projects in Marsabit, Kenya. Thanks to everyone who came out to our city event in Phoenix. More city events are coming up soon in Dallas, Nashville, & Baltimore. Visit www.ridewelltour.org to find out more.

In this issue you’ll learn about an important and urgent piece of legislation on the World Water crisis that needs your support, along with a story of real change happening in northern Uganda. But first we want to highlight a new video showing the work of Blood:Water. Earlier this year we told you about Jars of Clay’s visit to several communities in Kenya where Blood:Water is working. Their new music video “Two Hands” seeks to take you to these places to see a bit of these incredible stories.

Several months ago we visited a church near our home for their new building Grand Opening. We expected a lot of pomp and circumstance and there was. However, I didn’t expect my eyes to hurt when we walked in the building! I’ll try to be as kind as I can here, but man, it was brutal. The aesthetics of the interior was that of a file cabinet. And the colors - wow! They were truly as assault on the visual senses. Granted their worship center was located in the multi-purpose building, but come on, you can at least choose some colors that don’t require sunglasses! And how about hanging some banners or some sort of visual breakup.

Anyway - here’s my question - how ornate should a church building be? I’ve been in some very ornate buildings and thought, “could some of this go to mission work?” YES! And then I walk into buildings like I mention above and think, “where’s the beauty in this?

So, I give up. I don’t have the answer as to how much you should spend on a building. (Disclaimer: I hold no affinity for church buildings) But, if you’re going to build, whatever you’re going to spend, do it with excellence. Because beauty does matter.

The following link is an excellent article on the essential role of the arts during tough economic times. It’s a quick read. If you’re an artist, I hope you’re encouraged. If you’re a patron of the arts – thanks!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/june/27.50.html

Have you ever gone to a movie or read a book where they didn’t turn out like you expected? Were you pleasantly surprised or disappointed? To be honest I’ve experienced both - the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in each setting.

The “thrill of victory” was quite a surprise for the women who went to the tomb to attend to the body of Jesus - but he wasn’t there!

Here’s my creative take-away, don’t have too many preconceived ideas the next time you create works of art or patron them. Allow wonder and surprise to be a part of your approach. After all isn’t that what creativity is all about?

 ¹ Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. ³ On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” ⁴ But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

 ⁵ When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, ⁶ but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!

Mark 15 is a gruesome recount of the crucifixion of Jesus. So how do I pull out an element of creativity in this chapter? Here’s how - in the text below Jesus faced the accusations of Pilate and the religious leaders - and what was his response? Nothing, nada, zero, zip, zilch! He didn’t utter a word in self defense.

To draw an analogy - art needs no justification!

To read more follow the link to an article by Hans Rookmaaker. He was a brilliant Christian and art historian.

http://www.patrickdodson.net/files/Rookmaaker.pdf

¹ Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council—met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

² Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

³ Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, ⁴ and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” ⁵ But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.

³ Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

⁴ Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. ⁵ “It could have been sold for a year’s wage, and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

⁶ But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?

.9..I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”

Sometimes doing something really creative demands extravagance. Not mediocre, good, better, or great - but extravagant! The greatest art is selfless. A pouring out of the soul onto the canvas, stage, film, music. Nothing left behind. Nothing left undone. Complete surrender. And that pouring out will be felt by everyone around. And in the case of this woman - for eons to come.

The next time you’re feeling a little creative - let it all hang out!

Read the verses below… Okay, here’s my take-away. In our culture we see very little originality. People trying to be “in” or “with it”, usually end up copying the look of someone else. Just look at the latest styles going around. Not only that - the “latest and greatest” seem to last about 15 minutes, then it’s gone and on to something else.

Jesus used the illustration below to tell his disciples that he was “the one and only.” There were no others like him - before or since.

Whether you’re an artist or not - what’s original with you? Don’t run around trying to copy the latest fad or design. Be to yourself and others who the Original Artist created you to be.

¹ As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”

² Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

³ Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, ⁴ “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”

⁵ Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, ⁶ for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.

¹ Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard….

In verse one we see that Jesus once again uses story as his mode of teaching. (when are preachers going to learn?) My purpose here isn’t to discuss this particular “story”. But rather to draw the comparison between Jesus’ prophetic teaching and creativity today. As you see in verse 12 below the religious leaders were upset with Jesus because he used the story to call them out.

¹² The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

Good for him! Jesus could have used many ways to find fault with them, but he used story. On a sad note, in today’s culture and media, all too often story is used not to convey truth, goodness, and beauty, but rather untruths and ugliness.