The Gospel According to Glee

I'm not Gleek (a term to describe Glee fanatics of the show), but last night's episode was a telling snapshot of spirituality in this current generation. It all started when a character from the show, Finn, makes a grilled cheese in which suddenly he suddenly sees the face of Jesus in the bread. The "Grilled Cheesus". He begins to pray to the Grilled Cheesus, which is a whole misguided fiasco in and of itself. At the same time, Kurt, another student's father is lying comatose in a hospital bed. Kurt is gay and a self-proclaimed atheist. And while the other students share Finn's gravitational pull into spirituality through Kurt's crisis, Kurt doesn't share the same sentiment. Having sensed this, Sue Sylvester (the resident self-serving Cheerio coach) descends on Kurt in a vulnerable moment to get him to lodge a complaint againts the glee club for singing spiritual songs at school-their way of dealing with all thats going on with Finn, Kurt, and especially their way of trying to be there for Kurt. Another episode all over the place, but then all of them are.

Embedded in this episode are all kinds of indicators of the spiritual climate of our students today. Finn's prayers are all self-serving (from making quarterback on the football team again to making out with his girlfriend Rachel) and are steeped in the Moralistic Therapuetic Deism that is indicative of student cultute today. MTD's basic belief system is one we see creep even into the beliefs of our Christian students today - God created things and watches over us and the world; He wants people to be nice, fair, not fight and get along like the Bible and most of the world's religions would say (thus the Christianity confusion we see in alot of students today and the relative idea all religions lead to the same place); The basic goal in life is to be happy and feel good about one's self; God really doesn't get involved in things unless he needs to fix a problem or provide something for us we want (the brunt of Finn's interaction with Grilled Cheesus); and Good people go to heaven when they die.

On top of the examples of MTD, we also see in the episode the conflict with other faith systems (Judaism, Sikism, Islam), unbelief, and antagonism toward and disappointment with the God of the Christian faith. All Kurt's friends want to do is be there for him, and he eventually sees this and warms back up to their help and their prayers. He even agrees to go to church with Mercedes, a traditional black church in which she encourages members prayers that day to be interceding for Kurt's father. As the episode began to wind down, I noticed one thing. No matter where the different characters fell on the spiritual spectrum during the hour, in true Hollywood fashion toward the end of the show, they gravitated toward one thing everyone so desperately wants: Hope. Now understand me, the show was definitely not giving a nod toward Christianity. If anything, it applauded the religious pluralism and unity this generation is embracing. But, for us believers who work with students, we need to help them understand that Hope is the what the Christian faith is all about and what sets it apart from every other faith system and belief that is out there. A God who created us to be in relationship with him gives us hope. The cross and it's significance is all about hope. The resurrection more than anything bleeds hope.

I'm not saying Hollywood has turned a corner in their view or thoughts on God. They are still very propagandish (is that a word?). But shows like Glee, which students in your youth groups and mine are watching, are helping to educate our students, even Christian ones, in a false Gospel and a false hope. They are also great windows into the soul of our student's culture to help us stay on top of their pulse. Use them to start discussions with your students on the character, attributes, and mission of the one true God so they will be equipped to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15). It's good homework for you to.

First Day of the Month Awkwardness

I read this blog entry from Bryan Allain this morning about the awkwardness of what to say when people ask "Can you believe it's ________ (put any month here) already??!! We know we've all been there-on both sides. Bryan has some pretty hilarious comebacks that I want to use next time I'm challenged to a response. You can read them by clicking on here. Stinking funny! Try some of them next time and have fun with people just to see what they do . . . Just for fun, try pulling it off by adding your favorite obscure holiday, just for kicks. ("Can you believe it's Extraterrestrial Abductions Day already??!!) What weird day would you pull on people? Have some fun and write what you would do in the comments below . . .

Were You Blessed on Father's Day?

Yesterday was Father's day and my family blessed me hugely! I had a typical Sunday morning full of ministry, but later we just chilled. My kids and wife took me to a movie and then out to eat. Just hanging out and having a lot of fun as a family. No better gift!

Which brings me to the thought - why do we place so much more importance and emphasis on Mother's Day as a society (and even as churches) and not Father's Day? Most of us Dads feel like we get the shaft overall on our special day. Even in our churches we plan and execute activities that take away from enjoying and being with Dad (like meetings and setting up for VBS). We wouldn't even think about planning anything of the sorts on Mom's day. Mom's and Dad's both need to be honored and appreciated. My family honored me significantly yesterday. Mom is invaluable, but leadership and responsibility-physically, emotionally, and spiritually-are all placed on Dad.

My buddy, Chris Stevens wrote some good thoughts on Dad. Here is a short snippet from his blog: (Thanks for the thoughts, Chris)

I wonder why Mother’s Day is a huge deal and Dad’s Day comes and goes without much fanfare? Dads, do you ever feel slighted? Sometimes I think of us guys like Archie Bunker. That is not how God sees dads. I have never thought about it before, but He calls us the same title He gave Himself – FATHER!!! That is a big honking deal, don’t you think?

No matter what happens this Father’s Day we must never forget the power of the father! There is a reason that God placed the dad as the spiritual leader of the home. If a mother takes her kids to church, about 15% will continue to go to church after they are grown. If the dad takes the kids, about 75% of the kids will continue to go after they are grown.

Dads can affect their kids’ lives forever, for good or for bad! That is how God designed it. Here is another amazing fact I found today while preparing for the message this weekend. In Malachi 4:6 we see the mark of a major move of God. “The hearts of the children will be turned to the fathers and the fathers to the children.” I could think of a lot of marks of revival and never would I have come up with this. God did! Dads can change the world!

Beach Week Musings

Last week we had our annual Beach Week with our high school students in Panama City Beach, Florida. Amazing week! I love our students and love seeing and hearing what God is doing as a result of this trip. Instead of being redundant and posting a report, our Girl's Ministry Director, Lindsee Eddy (who rocked the Tuesday night message, by the way) has posted a great report of the week on her blogsite that I recommend you guys check out. Here's the link: http://www.lindseelou.blogspot.com.

Photos From India Trip

Here are some pics from our adventures on the India trip (in order):

Our digs at HBI in Chennai; my bag and it's condition when it finally arrived; the train we traveled to K. Kota on; the surrounding countryside in K. Kota; HBI's regional learning center in K. Kota; Some of the youth workers I trained (yes, they ARE youth workers); our room in K. Kota; the large group of pastors, wives, and youth workers that all attended the training sessions; my class of youth workers and my translator Isaac; eating traditional Indian celebration dinner with hands; HBI campus; fun day in Chennai; St. Thomas Mt.-traditional site where Thomas the disciple was martyred and is buried; Stanford Bridge-Chelsea football stadium; look kids-Big Ben, Parliment!; Tower Bridge in London.

India Thoughts

Thanks for being patient! Between jet-lag and getting caught up at the office I am just now getting some thoughts together to share on India. I will also have some pics scattered thgroughout as well.

What an incredible journey! The travel part was definitely the hardest. We were 10 1/2 hours ahead of Houston but the hardest time to deal with it was after we returned home. Half our team was bumped that Friday from our original flight and had to wait until Saturday to leave. We arrived in Chennai about 1 am Monday morning. The half of the team before us only arrived about six hours before due to late and missed flights in Frankfurt. They had to fly to Mumbai, wait 5 hours and then fly to Chennai. After our group arrived, we found out that one of my bags and all the luggage of one of our lady's was left in Frankfurt and wouldn't be in Chennai for 24 hours. She had nothing. I had my clothes in a carry on but did not have toiletries and snacks. Steve, our leader, and I would leave a few hours later for K.Kota so I would not get my bag unitl the end of the week. Donna and I were dealing with the airline until 3 in the morning at the airport, then finally we went to our digs at HBI in Chennai. As steve said, we went from flexible, to fluid, to being "poured out as a drink offering" pretty fast!

After a short amount of sleep and orientation at HBI (Hindustan Bible Institute), Steve and I left for K.Kota, a village in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh, about a 9 hour train ride through the night. The original plan was to leave the night before, have a day at the HBI Learning center in K.Kota to get ready, and then began teaching on Tuesday. Due to our flight changes, we arrived Tuesday morning and went straight to teaching! Steve trained about 100 pastors and I trained about 25 youth workers. And I mean "youth" workers! their average age was 15-23, but they looked anywhere from 10-17. These youth also preach, teach, and have major leadership roles in their churches. Amazing! Our training looked at the discipleship strategy of Jesus with his "small group" (disciples), basic Bible Study Methods, and basic training in how to do small group ministry. Isaac, my interpreter, was amazing and became a good friend. He is a pastor with a heart for youth and runs a school as a ministry of his church in his little village. Santha Kumar, our HBI host who went to K.Kota with us, sat in on my classes. He works with the youth in his church as well as over 250 slum kids in Chennai. No one else with reach out to these untouchables, Dalits, the lowest of the low in the caste system. But Santha loves on them in the name of jesus every week. These guys are rapidly becoming my heroes! It was a grueling experience, teaching with a translator ov er six hours each day, but an incredible experience to see the body of Christ in action and so different on the other side of the world.

We left Thursday evening by train for Chennai and arrived back at HBI in the middle of the night. Went through debrief Friday as well as a ministry tour of HBI and a authentic Indian celebration dinner together. Saturday was a fun day of sight-seeing and shopping in Chennai. We saw the traditional site where Thomas the Disciple was martyred and buried. Sunday at 4 am we boarded a plane for London amidst the British Airways strike, but still made to London on time. Sunday was a fun but quick day around London. Exciting for me since I've never been to that side of the pond. I've gotta take Anna there sometime, it's avery cool place. The highlight for me was seeing the Chelsea football stadium, Stanford Bridge. I got me and Ben a Chelsea jersey. No game there that day, though.

Now, Some not-so-random thoughts and lessons from the trip:

1. God is alot bigger than the "American" box we put Him in. He is also working in huge ways in India and alot of other places much greater than we see Him moving in America. I understand even more about "contextualizing" to your culture that God has placed you in to reach them.

2. India youth workers are hungry to learn how to get into God's Word and disciple in greater ways. I mean, Hungry! My group even skipped state exams in school to stay for the final day of training. In comparison, we feel very satisfied.

3. Curry-based food is exotic and very good, but nothing beats a good burger. Burger King in London on Sunday night was a huge blessing.

4. The train ride from K.Kota was the hardest thing for me. I was very hot and tired and dirty, and sharing a small sleeper car with 5 other ppl was not fun. Especially for 9 hours. We Americans like our personal space. In the Eastern mind, there is no such thing.

5. Never under-appreciate the power of a hot shower. Or air-conditioning. Or sanitation.

6. 150 personal movie choices sure make a 10-12 hour plane ride go faster and more bearable. I got huge insight into youth culture by watching "Twilight: New Moon". Although I'll never get that two hours of my life back. Ever.

7. The bond of the body of Christ is strong and vital when you meet other brothers and sisters and see what God is doing on their side of the world. We will have a part in every person they lead to Christ. Awesome!

The next post will be pictures of the adventure. Maybe later today or tomorrow am. I just tried and blew about 45 minutes trying to get them on this post and then losing them.

Thank you all for your support, prayers, and encouragement during this trip. If I get the chance to return and continue the investment in the youth workers in K.Kota it will be worth it!

Last Day In Chennai

The work is done. So much to tell but cannot right now. Off to St. Thomas Mount and a day in Chennai. Leave at midnight for London. Much to post later. Blessings!

Finally!!

Well we made it to Chennai about 24 hours later than planned. 2 of us had luggage that didn't make it so it will be here tomorrow morning . . . as I'm on the train up to K-Kota. Just can't seem to re-unite with my peanut butter!

One half of our team made it here about 12 hrs before us. All finally together and after a day of orientation ready to get to work. I'll travel tonight by train to the village and start teaching in the morning.

We've all learned the meaning of flexibily and waiting on Gods timing, so were glad to get to work now. I'll be "dark" electronically while in K-Kota but will be back on blog, Twitter, & FB when I get back to Chennai Friday morning.

Check out our teams blog as well at http://cbcindia2010team.blogspot.com

Pray for the work!

And Away We Go!

Well, it's here. I'm tired and excited and I didn't sleep well last night. I think my last supper at Del Pueblo didn't set well with my allergies. Or maybe it was just the cooler weather. All the same, it's probably better so I can sleep on the plane tonight.

In about 4 hours I will head to the airport to embark on my biggest adventure (well, not counting marriage . . . and parenthood . . . and youth ministry). About 2 am Houston time I will arrive in Frankfurt, scramble to catch the next 9 hour leg, and arrive in Chennai about midnight Sunday morning (11:30ish Saturday morning Houston time). Yep. Already lost a day.

So many people have graciously supported this chance in gifts and prayer, and I am deeply grateful to all of you who have invested in one way or another so I can have this opportunity. I look forward to what God is gonna do both in my own life and in the lives of the nationals we minister to in India.

This will be my last regular blog until I get back, unless-I have a machine I can update on in Chennai. We will have wifi so I can Twitter and Facebook, so periodically check my page out here and on FB to see if I've been able to have any activity. In the middle of the week I will not be able to have internet access but will be able to again when I get back to Chennai at the end of the week. The team in Chennai will have a blog of their own: cbcindia2010team.blogspot.com

Please pray for the many things we have talked about on this blog and in my prayer emails to you. Especially remember my family while I am gone.

I look forward to sharing with you everything that God does.

Peace of Christ.

The Crunch Is On

It's the last day before I leave and I'm scrambling trying to get everything done at TSMAC and home before I head out. I'm excited to see what God is going to do and how he is going to use me to help equip youth workers on the other side of the world.

Today's prayer focus is for the folks we are going to minister to and train. Part of our team will be out in local orphanages, schools, and hospitals ministering with drama, prayer, and service. Part of our team will be training leaders and educators at Hindustan Bible Institute in Chennai and working to update their network and training their tech guys as well. Another pastor and I will be travel to Kamavarapukota in the state of Andhra Pradesh to train pastors and youth workers. Pray for all these folks that we encounter to see the love of Christ if they do not know him. Pray for the folks at HBI that our help and training will be beneficial and equip them to good works for the body of Christ in India. Pray the same for the pastors and youth workers we will see upstate as well. Pray for our team to work and love each other as a team and we strive to be the hands and feet of Christ while we are there and for there to be no strife or division. Pray that we will be good witnesses everywhere we go. Pray for opportunities to share Christ to people we meet on the plane, in town, and during our travels.

Thank you all so much for sharing in this adventure with me! Talk to ya tomorrow!

Is It Time For Your Medication or Mine?

I took my first Malaria pill this morning. I hear that over time as you take them kinda mess with you, although the daily brand that I'm taking is a lot milder on your system than the weekly brand. I also just looked up Malaria on Wikipedia. Yeah, shouldn't have done that (don't look it up honey). I did read that India has done very well though at eradicating it more than alot of other countries. It's funny how this has been in the back of mind all morning instead of final prep work, to do lists, and work. The Enemy can get you side tracked and worried about nothing often.

So my prayer focus I'm asking you to join in today is for health issues. Not just protection from Malaria and other little mean parasites that prey on pasty white tourists, but other things that could be more damaging. Pray that my Diabetes stays regulated. Rice and chicken will be the staple where we are going, and rice is starchy and turns into glucose which can wreck havoc on a Diabetic system. Pray for some healthier alternatives if possible and for God to supernaturally oversee my circulatory system. Pray for sleep at night so I can stay healthy-it will be hard being 12 hours ahead on Houston time. Pray for protection from cold, sinus, and flu strains. Not good things to have in a foreign country unless you have an unhealthy obsession with quarantine.

I know I will be fine, God is going ahead of us on this trip and is in control. Continue to pray for peace of mind for Anna, Kelsey, and Ben while I am gone and for their safety in Houston as well. It's easy not to feel fully safe when Dad is gone. It will help having some family in for the week and good friends and neighbors right there.

I appreciate all the prayers-feelin' em! God is gracious!

JJ

You're Flying Over Where??!

That was my wife's reaction when I told her I traced out the flight pattern that we most likely will take this weekend when I fly to India. If I'm correct, it takes us over some of the more . . . interesting places in the Middle East and Asia. Houston to Frankfurt is a no-brainer. From Frankfurt, we should fly over such exotic ports o' call as Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Now I know we are in international airspace and will perfectly fine, but not much of a comfort to Anna until I get to Chennai and she hears from me. Add to that the fact that India is almost 12 hours ahead of Houston, and that makes it a long wait.

Which brings us to my prayer focus today: safety for our team. Pray for safe, uneventful flights to Chennai and on the way home as we stop-over in London. Pray for safety in Chennai for our team and in K-Kota where Steve Noris and I will be. Safety from harm, but also safety from fatigue, disease, sickness, pride, and attacks from the Enemy. Pray for peace of mind for our families and for them to feel God's goodness and presence during this time.

Thanks for all your prayers-I sure feel them!

Monday Before India

T-minus 4 days and counting until I leave for India. With a short week it's going to be hard to get everything done to take care of TSMAC and church stuff as well as family responsibilities before I go. Spending today getting last minute travel items as well as trying to enjoy at least part of the day as a Sabbath since it will be the last one for about 3 weeks. Still have to finish my last lesson for training as well.

Which brings us to todays prayer focus: Time. Pray that with time beginning to crunch I'll have enough to get everything done. That I'll be able to focus, prioritize and take care of things according to importance. It's really hitting me now that I really will be traveling all the way around the world into a vastly different culture than I've ever been in. Getting a little nervous and anxious. Starting tomorrow, 3 full days is not a of of time to get everything done, pack, and still spend generous amounts of time with Anna, Kels, and Ben. Pray that I will be able to make the most of these last 96 or so hours. And pray this for the other 7 members of the India team as well. Thanks.

Heading to the Far Side of the World

One week from tonight I will be arriving in Chennai, India on a mission trip to train Indian youth workers. I feel like a cross between Tully Mars in a Jimmy Buffett novel, Indiana Jones, and Hudson Taylor. (The latter being the only one non-ficticious.) But before I begin my trek to the Far Side of the World, I want to take the next few days to bring to mind some things to pray for as I get ready for this amazing adventure for which I am hugely grateful for to God and all of you who've helped me get this far.

Today the prayer focus is for the Bania people of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The Merchant Class of people. These are primarily the folks we will be ministering to in the area where I am going. Although we fly into Chennai, I will go with another pastor to a village in Andhra Pradesh to teach for the week at a local Bible Institute.

The Merchant Class run most of the business in India and is part of the Hindu and social caste system. The caste system include the very wealthy and prominent, the Brahman, all the way to the lowest, the Untouchables. Seldom does each caste class reach out to those in the caste systems below it. Merchants can become very self-sufficient and wealthy, money is their god. Their loyalty lies with the Hindu goddess who brings wealth.

Pray for the one true God to show the Merchant Class that only He can satisfy that longing of fulfillment they are trying to fill with wealth. Pray for the pastors and youth workers we will be training that they will have the skills and relationships they need to minister to the Bania.

My plan is to blog every day until I leave next Friday about a specific prayer need or fact of India. I am so excited to see what God is going to do. Check back here everyday through next Friday and please comment or shout out some prayers!

What I'm Giving Up For Lent

Lent is upon us and this is really the first time in my life I am seriously making an attempt to observe the full six weeks of it. I appreciate the beauty and gravity of the liturgical order and service, but in the vein of some of those who have gone before, I am laying out for all to see what I'm giving up for Lent. For, you know, accountability as well as shameless publication for all two of you who still check on my blog. Be very jealous.

STUFF I'M GIVING UP FOR LENT

my Backyardigans habit
making Pasedena TX smell better
Scandinavian clogging
Celine Dion songs
my magnetic personality
speedos
the Downhill Slalom
back hair
Subliminal bullying
the pursuit of my private island where I can be a pirate
saying "yar"
my search for Hogwart's
CTU training
yak milking
cutting my fingers with a papercutter
flying to Dublin to jam weekly with Bono and the boys
underwater basket weaving
bromances
thongs
astronaut training (NASA's being cut anyway)
goiters
Martha Stewart
my Rolls Royce collection
Luby's
my Lane Kiffin fan club membership
alligator farming
roadkill (this is a stretch since I am from Tennessee)
having my art on display at the Louvre
playing 1st base for the Astros (Lance can have it back)
Canasta with Bigfoot
gnat breeding
dreaming in color
Uber-Hyper-Nomadic-Super-Ultra-Phlegmatic Calvinism

All kidding aside, I really am observing Lent this year and do have some things I am doing without. But, as you can see, my resolve is strong and I do pretty well at abstaining. But like I said, I was just inspired by some other bloggers who had gone before me in this charted territory. So, like in their case, feel free to make some suggestions of other things I could also give up for Lent - I'd love to hear them in a comment . . .