Not Much to Say

I have been told more than once in my life that if you haven't got anything good to say, then don't say anything at all. Something else I learned while taking speech class in school was this simple idea: It easy to talk for 30 minutes and say absolutely nothing, but what is difficult is to say something worthwhile in five. Both of these concepts seem to have been lost on most pastors in America.

Well, for me lately I haven't had much to say. Actually I have been spending a lot of my "blog time" over on other sites, reading what my friends (and others) have been writing and thinking. They are saying things so much better than me right now. Certainly I have about four or five things I would love to write about, but they are works in progress. I am reading some new books, sorting through some personal things and, as always, trying to navigate my way through life and faith and relationships.

So, nothing new here to offer from me...and for that I apologize. Lately the best I can do is pass on some things I have seen or read and get your feedback. That in and of itself has been enlightening and it seems it has inspired some other conversations on other sites...which is always fun to be a part of.

With that said, let me suggest some blogs you should check out. These guys are throwing out some fresh stuff. Check it out!

badchristian.com - What's the Big Idea About Church?
edgeoffaith.com - Closer
faithgambler.com - Jesus/God

Oh, and this one just for fun... and I love this site and the way these ladies write....funny, funny, funny! Go to: Go Fug Yourself

Jesus Loves Porn Stars

From politics to porn in one week...only at Stupid Church People.

No doubt you have heard of XXXChurch and the way Craig and Mike over there are making a difference in their little corner of the web. Actually it isn't such a small corner as these guys have blown up and are doing some very, very innovative ministries within the porn industry. I mean, you can't get any more "controversial" than showing up at a porn convention in Los Angeles as a Christian and talking with people about Jesus and porn.

So the guys over at XXXChurch have some ideas. First, they are sponsoring National Porn Sunday, which they describe this way: "PornSunday seeks to drive the conversation about pornography in our churches, families and lives. PornSunday wants to bring healing and recovery to those struggling with pornography."

Second, they have put together an "R-rated" documentary entitled "Missionary Positions" chronicling their ministry and discussing the porn industry, the effects it is having on our culture and their experiences in dealing with "porn people".

Finally, and probably most adventurous, is a new venture called the "Trinity Project" which they hope to use to assist girls involved in the porn industry with help in getting out. Now this got my attention. The project is based on a girl that they have gotten to know named Trinity who currently works in porn but wants out. The guys are trying to develop assistance and programs to help these girls in tangible ways.

Now while we at SCP have often joked about things of this nature and had some fun with the topic of strippers and stuff, we wholeheartedly support the ministry of XXXChurch. They are doing and talking about things that the church should be involved with in our opinions. They are risking their reputations and ministry careers in serving a population of the world that the church just wants nothing to do with.

With the "Trinity Project", Craig and Mike have definitely taken XXXChurch to the next level. Here's a crisp dollar bill for each of you!

God's Politics

Nothing like a mix of religion and politics to get us going on a Monday morning. I was reading this weekend from "God's Politics" by Jim Wallis and thought I would share this section with you for discussion.

The politics of God is often not the same as the politics of the people of God. The real question is not whether religious faith should influence a society and its politics, but how.

As the Democratic candidates for president attended religious services during the 2004 election campaign, their worship was tempered by an uncomfortable fact: Churchgoing Americans tend to vote Republican.

An overwhelming majority of Americans consider themselves to be religious. Yet according to a study released in late 2003 by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, people who attend church more than once a week vote Republican by 63 percent to 37 percent; people who seldom or never attend vote Democratic by 62 percent to 38 percent. This was borne out by the 2004 exit polls--people who attend church more than once a week voted 64 percent for President Bush to 35 percent for Senator Kerry; those who never attend voted 62 percent for Kerry to 36 percent for Bush.

This disparity should concern Democrats-if not as a matter of faith, then as a matter of politics. More important, it should concern anyone who cares about the role of religion in public life. By failing to engage Republicans in this debate, the Democrats impoverish us all.

This chapter goes on to detail the two histories of faith based movements in our country's recent history: The black-led civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's and the Religious Right movement of the 80's and 90's. Both advanced their "moral agendas" based in faith and sought to influence the direction of American life and culture.

The Civil Rights Movement operated first and foremost from a morally based and politically independent foundation. The Religious Right Movement sought immediately to gain political power and, in short, it's desires were to "take over" the Republican party.

So here's the questions (and I am sure there are more which we will get to).

1) What role, if any, should an individuals faith play in politics?

2) What role, if any, should the church have in politics?

SCP Sightings

Check out some of the recent "Stupid Church People" sightings. Whenever I see something "stupid" I try to document it. From time to time, we plan on sharing those things with you. We feel it is our responsibility....plus it is just really, really fun to point out the "stupid" things among us. It gives even more pleasure to find church people being stupid...Josh and I included.

Some things I find are funny stupid and then other things are scary stupid. But it's all stupid. So check out the recent pics here at SCP Extras .

By the way, you are all official "SCP Deputies" and I commission you to find the stupid things around you that church people do, take a picture and email it to us. We will share it on our site with the world.

Who Are "The Lost"?

Here's a comment from the Rev. Rick Mason, who was the subject of the recent "Theology on Tap" post. He commented on that thread but I thought I would share his comments here for you to see and respond.

I want to thank all of you for your comments. I am the Rev. Rick Mason of the original Montgomery (AL) newspaper article. I have gained some insights into how to continue to approach "Theology on Tap" from what many of you have said. Believe it or not, one of the questions that is troubling me today is how do we, as Christians, define "the lost"? I think the answer to that question may go a long way toward determining how we approach faith & evangelism.

Just a note on the initial gatherings at the Pratt Pub. We are very excited about the folks who have been taking part. There have been people from both inside & outside of the church who have serious questions about the church & faith. We have had everything from totally unchurched to devout Episcopalians & Calvinists to a recent convert to Hinduism, who commented that after 14 years in Prattville it is wonderful to finally have a place where she can talk about her faith without the fear of being put down.

This is a work-in-progress (as is the faith life itself), so please remember us in your prayers. And thanks again!

Thanks Rick for your feedback and update. So, that's a good question Rick asks of us. Now it's your turn. How do you define "the lost"? Or do you?

Dad

Please excuse this self-indulgent post to pay tribute to my Dad on his birthday. His birth name is William M. Chastain but all his friends knew him as Bill. My dad passed away in 1975 when I was 12 years old. He suffered a major heart-attack and never fully recovered.

The thing I remember most about my Dad was his gentle and loving affection to my mom and to us three kids. My brother, sister and I were never shorted when it came to Dad's hugs and kisses. I am very fortunate for this since I know that in the 50's and 60's, fathers could sometimes be distant from their children. It was a time for "tough men" but I am so glad my Dad wasn't one of them.

The other thing I loved about my Dad was his passion for people. He enjoyed being around people so much. He liked to make people laugh, he relished in telling story after story, and he never wanted to leave a place as long as there were more people there to talk to.

Finally, one more thing Dad enjoyed was teaching. He taught a Sunday school class at the church and would spend much of his time on Saturdays preparing for that class. It was an adult class and he would spend time creating flip charts (his version of Powerpoint) and writing everything out so he was ready to share the lesson and get people involved. I used to like watching him work so hard to make everything just "perfect" for his class.

My Dad wrote me a letter before he died. He had the foresight to share with me on paper his love for me so that I could remember it forever.

Well Dad, although you will have been gone 30 years in September, I just want to let you know that your impact on my life is not forgotten. I am hoping that I am able to fulfill your legacy of love through your grandsons (I wish you could've have met them). Many times I miss not having you to guide me through some of life's challenges. I certainly could use your wisdom in my life now. But the things I learned from you in just twelve years were the foundation for a life that I hope, in the end, will be pleasing to you and to God. I love you Dad.

In Memory.....
WILLIAM M. CHASTAIN
b. August 12, 1927
d. September 25, 1975

The Lies of Religion Game

In my previous post, Theology on Tap, a pastor will be holding a discussion in a local bar regarding "The Seven Great Lies of Organized Religion". So I was thinking I would ask and see what you people would put on your list of lies you feel organized religion portrays or communicates.

I would suggest that you make your list of seven prior to reading anyone else's list on the comments. So make your list, submit it here and let's see what we come up with together...and I am certain it will be more than all agreeing on the same seven lies.

But I have only one rule on this post, stick to your list of seven (please do not comment on anyone's else's list for now) and then after about a week we will have a thread to discuss all the submissions.

So let's start LYING to each other!

Theology on Tap

Found this on another site and thought I would share it. This is from the Mongtomery Advertiser .

The Rev. Rick Mason has a mission to reach those who have given up on church to show them what they're missing. But he knows that those are the hardest people to lure.

That's why Mason, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Prattville, has decided not to try to bring the unchurched to church -- he's bringing the church to them.

Or at least, he's bringing it to where they hang out.

On Tuesday, Mason is starting a new program called Theology on Tap, scheduled for the first, third, fourth and fifth Tuesdays of each month, where people can gather to talk about scripture and faith issues.

And this new program will be -- where else? -- in a bar.

"I wanted a way to reach out to the unchurched, or as I like to call them, dechurched," Mason said. "It's for those with questions who don't feel comfortable enough asking in a church atmosphere."

Mason said he got the idea from something he learned while teaching evangel classes in South Carolina.

"Someone once told me that there's nothing in the Bible that says build a building, put my name on it and wait for the people to come," he said. "We need to be going out and meeting people in a place that they'd feel comfortable."

On Tuesday, that place will be the Pratt Pub in Prattville next to Bama Lanes. Mason said the Pratt Pub is the kind of place "Jesus would have hung out in to find people."

Mason knows a lot about those people -- he was one of them.

Mason spent 20 years out of the church -- a time that he says was God's way of preparing him for this mission.

"I still have some issues with organized religion and I know how hard it is to go back," he said. "I think this is easier -- neutral ground."

Some of Mason's issues will be discussed in the first Theology on Tap on Tuesday, when the subject will be "The Seven Great Lies of Organized Religion." Mason says the discussion will deal with some of the things the church says and does that puts people off.

Mason said this week would mainly to see who comes and what they want to talk about.

"I don't want to hit anyone over the head with a Bible. I want it to be comfortable," he said. "I'm not going in with any preconceived notions of who is going to be there or what questions they're going to ask."

I thought this was interesting...what do you think?