Sex with Bell...

Since I've had sex on the brain because of the "How To Have Great Sex" series at Watershed, I found this sermon of interest and thought you might too (look for the Oct. 23rd sermon entitled "Sexy on the Inside"). Rob Bell is one of my favorite teachers, so I found his talk on sex interesting. And in usual Rob Bell fashion, he takes the whole idea of sex and looks at it in a different and deeper way (pun not intended).

Unhappy Halloween

This isn't a very popular stance these days, but I hate Halloween. No, not because it is so commercialized (I actually like the candy). And no, not because it involves wearing costumes (I enjoy seeing my kids dress up and play pretend). I don't like Halloween, because the older I get, the more I realize that Halloween is a celebration of evil.

Our culture doesn't make sense to me on this day. We live in a day and age where we have seen the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the awfulness of war, genocide, picketing groups filled with hate, and more. Isn't this enough evil? So why do we need to celebrate it?

Why do we need to decorate our yards with stereotypical witches (I'm not talking about the witches of Wicca) who want to create potions designed to hurt children? Why do we dress up as vampires who, according to mythical legend, are the undead who "live" on human blood? Why do we enjoy the idea of dead mummies coming after people to take them to the grave with them? Why are we fascinated with fear?

I don't get it. Fear and death are the tools of Satan. Maybe our culture celebrates these things because some of them are his children? (Boy, I don't like writing that or thinking it, but what if it's true?)

Thankfully Jesus overcame both fear and death through the cross. So as for me and my house, we are going to celebrate life in Christ on this day. So we'll have fun dressing up (tonight will find a bunny, a princess, and a tiger in our house), we'll enjoy some candy, and we'll have fun as a family. But we will do it without taking pleasure in scaring others and celebrating evil.

What are your thoughts?

1 But now, this is what the LORD says?
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush [a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life.

Sex on the brain...

I've been teaching on sex at Watershed in the brazenly titled "How To Have Great Sex" series. If you want to listen to some of the things I'm saying, feel free to download the mp3s. My voice isn't the prettiest to listen to, but my English is at least understandable (most of the time).

In tonight's message, I'll probably reference a sermon I listened to this week that I downloaded to my iPod shuffle. If you'd like to hear that message or the other sex messages taught at Crossroads Community Church in Cincy, go here for those (thanks go to the big man, Zac, for the link!).

The "Most" Review

Christianity Today has a review of one of my favorite movies, a short film entitled Most.

Media Consumption

Much of this article didn't surprise me. While I don't consume much television, I use the Internet constantly in my job as a pastor: researching for messages, emailing people, finding information and advice so I can make wise decisions, staying somewhat connected to culture, etc.

But one thing did surprise me from the article:

Another suprising find is that 18 to 24-year-olds spend less time online than any other age group except for the over 65s, giving the lie to the idea that young adults are the most computer literate.

As I read the article, I was reminded of the 5th Nooma film "Noise" and the questions that film raises. Do you have so much "noise" in your life (and this includes visual "Noise") that you can't hear the voice of God? What do you need to ruthlessly eliminate so that you can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Ig Nobel Prizes

This one is just too funny not to take a moment to post. You've heard of the Nobel Prize. Allow me to introduce you to the Ig Nobel Prize.

My favorite of this year's winners is in Literature. :o)

Ready for storms?

Personal News
My family and I had a wonderful time in NW Arkansas last weekend. It was very relaxing and lots of fun to reconnect with people we hadn't seen for 10 years. The most fun was seeing everyone's kids! John Brown University's campus looks better than ever, and it made me wish I could be a student again!

Personal Thought
I have lots I've wanted to blog about this past week, but busyness has kept me from it. I'm squeaking out a minute I should probably use elsewhere to post a story I got in my email inbox. It is told by a Joe McKeever, Director of the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans. His website is a great place to keep up with what is happening in New Orleans, particularly among many of the churches. In a recent entry, Joe talked about visiting one church where the hurricane and resulting flooding literally tore the bricks off the church structure.

"How can a storm tear the bricks away from a church like that?" I asked Ed and Freddie, both of them builders. "Look here," one of them said. A quick inspection showed that the workers who constructed St. Bernard Church had not tied the masonry to the wood structure of the building. The metal ties were there, but it was a rare one that was fixed into the masonry. I said, "How can you be sure the workers are tying your brick and your house together?" They both answered, "Be there and watch it done. Or know your contractor."

"For years that little church has sat there looking strong. As sturdy as a brick house, we might say. Paul Gregoire, admissions director for our seminary, has been pastor of that church longer than any other minister in our association. When the storm came, it revealed a weakness in the construction no one had ever noticed. There's a sermon there. Life's storms do not cause the weaknesses; they reveal them. That's why in the good times, when we're well and the children are behaving and the bills are paid, this is the time to make sure of the solid construction of our lives, our faith, our relationship with the Lord. Because sooner or later, the storm is coming."

So what are you doing to get ready for the storms that will come?

Rest

Personal News
The Bird Family is taking off tomorrow for Homecoming and the 10th Graduation Reunion of my wife and yours truly at John Brown University (nobody believes me I'm old enough to have graduated college 10 years ago, but it is true). Not only am I looking forward to seeing the changes on campus and reconnecting with old friends, but I'm also looking forward to some rest and time with my family.

Personal Thoughts
In the midst of this crazy schedule I've had the past few weeks, I've been thinking about rest. Watching the Iowa State/Nebraska game, although a close game, was very restful because it got my mind off of the things I think about 24/7. But I've noticed that if I don't plan for rest, I end up getting rest, but in unproductive, unsatisfying, and unrefreshing ways (like watching The Waterboy on TBS this past weekend when I should have just gone to bed).

How about you? Are you being intentional about getting rest? Or are you getting it in a haphazard fashion? What are some ways you get refreshed?