Last post in the 'Millennial' series on the EDOW blog

Today, we published the last post in a series on the Diocesan blog of which I contributed to. Here's a clip:

"I have conversations with Christian leaders who want help attracting young adults to their churches almost daily. Frequently, I ask why these leaders want to attract young people. Every once in awhile, I’m told it is because new tithing units are needed. But here rests the challenge: Young adults aren’t interested in financing institutions, nor can they. This generation has already accrued more debt and lower career-starting wages at their age than several generations to precede them. But, like I said, they want to change the world."

Read the rest here and share your thoughts.

video: What if you live tomorrow?

I've mentioned before my fondness for Todd Hunter. His journey towards Anglicanism precedes mine. Before that, he was a wonderful mentor to me in my years of starting missional communities in San Diego. I know this is basically an ad for one of his newer projects but I will never tire of hearing him talk about the Christian faith.

What if church was what Telos does at one of their retreats? Does your worship experience help you pause and discover how God is "organically connected" to your life?

soundcheck: Piñata Protest - Cantina

Piñata Protest is what happens when you mix traditional conjunto music and Against Me! ... At least, that's what they sound like to me. Dig it.

You can listen to my playlist on Spotify or Shuffler. Enjoy!

soundcheck: TTNG - Cat Fantastic

TTNG hails from the UK but would've fit in well with American emo/indie rock bands taking shape in the late '90's. Very reminiscent of the bands like Texas is the Reason, Sunny Day Real Estate and the Promise Ring. And I highly appreciate their sensitivity to gun violence and therefore changing their name. Take a listen to the entire release, 13​.​0​.​0​.​0​.​0.

You can listen to my playlist on Spotify or Shuffler. Enjoy!

icon(ic): Steve Brubaker

"Transfiguration" by Steve Brubaker

Throughout history Christians have used images to tell the biblical story we are attempting to live in to. I've had a folder in my web browser with links to images that move me for several years. These are typically images that harken to the biblical narratives yet honestly expose the artist's context and culture. Like my weekly "soundcheck" posts in which I share music I've recently discovered, I've decided to start sharing images I've discovered on a weekly basis that inspire me. Hope they do the same for you.

This image by Steve Brubaker is part of Old and New. Consider supporting artists and the project by purchasing prints here.

And here's a bit more on my thoughts on art and faith.

Another EDOW blog post

I mentioned recently that we've started a new blog series on the Diocese of Washington website. Take a look and share your thoughts:

"There’s no denying that the Internet has radically changed how we communicate. In fact, there isn’t much that the Internet has not had an impact on. Reading, dating, buying and countless everyday activities are much different than were a decade ago due to the web-based tools we have access to. It is safe to assume that how we engage the Internet has impacted the local parish as well. For millennials, navigating the Internet has become second nature. In the 1500’s the Anglican tradition used the technological advances at hand–the printing press, for example–to “proclaim” or communicate the Good News. In that tradition, how might we communicate with a generation coming of age with the communication technologies available to us?"

Read the entire article here.

soundcheck: Georgia Anne Muldrow - Popstopper

I've never quite understood why Georgia Anne Muldrow's 2009 release, Umsindo, didn't become as big as it should have. It's a weird, neo-soul, funk, hip-hop and R&B album that I really dug. She's been hit and miss since then but I dig this latest track with Dudley Perkins from her upcoming release, The Lighthouse.

You can listen to my playlist on Spotify or Shuffler. Enjoy!

And just a little more on the subject of worship

Still thinking a lot about the subject of worship. Recently, I've written a couple things on the subjet of "worship." And then I participated in a conference over the last few days in which attendees heard from Ruth Meyers on the same subject. One of the best aspects of any conference are the hallway conversations. In one this week, a clergy person and I were talking about worship as a journey. It brought to mind Elizabeth O'Connor's use of the terms that titled a wonderful book of her's, Journey Inward, Journey Outward. Journey's change us, change how we look at life–at least mine, moving across the country certainly did. There's something going on with worship that ought to take us somewhere.

I've shared before my love for the work of Rainer Marie Rilke. And as I've been thinking about worship these days and what happens during worship–no matter the formate/genre–I've found myself thinking about this favorite Rilke line of mine:

"You said live out loud, and die you said lightly, and over and over again you said be."—Rainer Marie Rilke, Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God

Rilke’s poem displays three important "aspects" of the act of worship. So, I hacked O'Conner's terms, was inspired by Rilke's poem and delved into some thoughts on worship as follows. All three aspects occur within the realm of real life–worship is never void of context. The intent is to change how we look at life’s journey–not replace it or delete it.

The first aspect is the journey together. Worship ought to “lighten” or diminish the impact of death. Death is isolation. When Jesus’ dies on the cross he cries out, “God, why have you looked away from me?!” He is alone. We die alone. Worship fights death by declaring that we are not alone.

The second aspect is the journey inward. Worship ought to assist us in simply being. We live in a world that measures our worth by what we do. When we worship we are reminded that we are as Eugene Peterson writes, “God-begotten” or as Henri Nouwen writes, “God’s beloved.” We can rest in that reality. Worship takes us out of the fray of doing and calls us to simply be in God’s presence in every moment.

The last aspect is the journey outward. Worship ought to take our declaration against death and confidence of presence before God and challenge us to “live out loud” before a watching world. By doing so, we display before others how life should be lived; or, in other words together we give a glimpse a God’s Kingdom--life lived how God intended us to.

Thoughts?