for us irreligious...

A couple months ago, I was walking across campus, simultaneously reading "Velvit Elvis" (by Rob Bell) when a friend stopped me and asked me what I was reading. After I explained to him what the book was about (the title just isnt that self-explanatory), he became a little guarded and told me about his bad experiences growing up in a legalistic denomination. When I told him I was questioning a lot of things myself (the Americanized Christian culture just wasn't synching up with what I was reading about how Christ actually lived), he said something I haven't been able to stop thinking about.

He said, "I wish there was a place for those of us who aren't 'religious' to talk about spiritual things."

First off, I have to be honest with you... I absolutely despise that word... "religious." I don't know about you, but in my head its attached to all these other descriptors--judgemental, arrogant, self-righteous, hypocritical, etc. There are probably a lot of us who consider ourselves spiritual, but never want to be labeled "religious."

And then the other day I stumbled on some ideas that I totally connected with. Before Dietrich Bonhoeffer died, he started writing about "religionless Christianity," and I think he really had something there. Because the truth is, I really believe Christ came to eliminate our need for a religion, not to create another one in the world.

The religious are concerned with rituals, rules, temples, and priests. But ironically enough, the first century Christians were called "atheists" by the Romans because they emphasized the fact that they didn't need these things. In their minds, they didn't have a religion... they had a Person-- who knew them, and loved them.

So originally, prayer was never meant to be a ritual--it was just a conversation with a Friend. And worship wasn't a religious ceremony--but really just a natural expression of love. And Jesus didn't leave us with all these rules we had to follow--He just simplified everything down to "love God, and love each other." We don't need a temple because Christ left His spirit here with us and said He would be with us when two or more gathered together in his name. And we don't need priests because Jesus provided everyone with direct access to God's presence.

Maybe all the extra stuff is just man's attempt to make Jesus into a religion, and separate the sacred from the secular. When His original plan was to dissolve religion--and instead come and know us, to love us, and make sure we knew that everything was sacred.

jake

Its been a rough week, as our team (at ASU) has had to come to terms with reality of loosing our beloved leader/boss/mentor/ friend, Jake Kupiec, to the University of Nevada. Never in my professional life have I ever met anyone who was a better example of a servant-leader, a brilliantly articulate visionary, and a selfless "doer of good." This past year and a half, you have inspired and taught me so much, Jake.

One of my favorite authors once said, "By the power of your spirit, your life can reach out and become part of my life, you can empower me to do things and be things that i could never manage on my own, and this can remain true whether we are six feet apart of six thousand miles, six years or sixty." I have found that to be true, because you will always be a part of who I am, Jake-o... whether you are in Tempe, or in Reno. Thank you for that.

Peace, love and understanding, my friend...
for you always.

middle earth?

We took the fam on a whirlwind adventure to the Northwest last weekend. The trip was incredible. The best part by far was the Redwood forest... truly surreal. It didnt feel like you were on earth... well.... maybe middle earth. Above is a pic of our favorite spot (click on the pic for a larger view). The forest was carpeted with these enormous clovers... gentling rolling hills just covered with them... and the trees were beyond incredible. When you were there, enveloped in all the life (the thickest biomass in the country) and the abnormal beauty... it felt holy. Too hard to explain. You'll just have to go!! seriously... nothing compares to actually being there.

The Oregon coast was also beautiful... these huge monoliths jutting out of the beaches. We stopped and ate our breakfast on a cliff that overlooked the ocean. And once the seagulls noticed us, they were far from shy--they would actually eat cheetos out of my hand. It was an amazing feeling to have one of them hovering above you, with their back-lit wings outstreached so close over you... they almost felt angelic.

There were lots of thin places on this trip....
we all loved it.... just wish it wasnt so fast
(we did 3400 miles in 3.5 days).

more pics ...

not just dust

I've been thinking a lot lately about what a beautiful mixture we are of the mystic and the material... then I saw some beautiful images that spoke the same idea. I love this series, Steph... visual poetry, my friend.