One of the movies that I have enjoyed this last year was the movie, Zombieland, a humorous look at life in a world that has been taken over by zombies. While I found the movie very funny, I didn't realize it was also a social commentary on consumerism and America's values.

In the movie, Woody Harrelson, a man who has lost family, is motivated by one thing: finding a Twinkie. In the loss of all substance and relationship in his life, his one desire is to find a Twinkie, a soulless lump of yellow cake that's shelf life exceeds the lifespan of a human being.

In the book, Kingdom Ethics, Glen Stassen and David Gushee have this to say about consumerism and comments on those ruined by its philosophy:

"(they) deteriorate into essentially soul-less creatures pursuing the
latest goodies with zombie-like intensity...who will never pause from
their quest for the latest redemptive gadget to consider the needs of the
least of these."(p. 426)

Zombies, in their nature, are consumed with the need to feed. In this way, our nation is children of these undead creatures...we too are consumed with the need to feed...on stuff. Like Woody's character, we live our lives in pursuit of things that are not good for us and will not satisfy.

As much as I love Mac, I have to wonder if there "Iworld" is damaging to us...do we need an Ipad, Iphone, etc to be happy? We think it does, but only until the next latest thing comes on line.

I am not saying you can't buy these things...but I do think that our pursuit of stuff should be balanced(actually, more than balanced) by a concern for others and using our resources for the benefit for those who are in need.

Relationships are what matter eternally, a lesson Woody's character learns when he finds the Twinkie. At that point in the film, he is willing to blow up a shack full of them to save the people who have joined him on his journey. He has learned that the creamy filling in a Hostess cake is nothing compared to the satisfying feeling that comes from being in community with others.

Last night we had another Ash Wednesday prayer walk. The thing I have noticed about these particular nights is that they allow you to see. What I mean is that you are forced to slow down and you become aware of the things in your life that the fast paced and busy lifestyles we all live keep us from seeing.

One of the stations that particular spoke to me was the Reclamation station. At this station, you took clay, and thought about the things in life that you want to reclaim in your life during Lent. For me, I want to reclaim balance and unity of purpose. I have been really scattered, and feel like I am bursting at the seams in not a good way. I feel like my identity as a husband, father, and pastor have really suffered in this scattered living. This Lent, I want to slow down and recapture my husbandhood, my fatherhood, and my pastorhood.

I want to rediscover the joy of simplicity and if that means I can't study obsessively...that will be okay....its more important to be with people, my family, and to rest.

As Julie and I talked last night, we both agreed that this season is going to be a season of reclaiming balance and purpose.

...May your Lent allow you to reclaim the aspects of your life that you have found slipping away!

A good friend of mine who is a pastor in Zimbabwe recently sent out his ministry update in which he included a number of ministry initiatives for the year. Among them were several concerning community based initiatives which are listed below:

-Provide loans and training to at least 20 households so they can start income generating projects and run them profitably.

-Help at least 50 families with food through our benevolence ministry

-Help at least 1,500 children through the schools and children’s ministry by providing feeding, educational supplies and spiritual and career guidance.

-Help four schools with allowances for staff, school supplies, equipment and renovations.

-Develop our medical ministry to where we are able to regularly provide supplies to the two main clinics in Mhondoro. These clinics are helping at least 100,000 people per year.

-Drill at least 8 boreholes and provide clean drinking water for more than 50 villages.

Looking at this list, I am wondering what might be the equivalent of some of these initiatives for us in the States?

How might we help schools with supplies, equipment and renovations?

How might we provide medical supplies and aid to clinics and those in need?

What might it look like for churches to provide loans for households to start businesses? What if someone could turn to a church rather than a bank for help?

....when i think about the possibilities with some of these ideas, I see the possibility for the church to make a real difference in a community..a difference that would show people the relevance of the gospel.

No...this is not a post about robots in disguise..rather this is a post about who we are to be as followers of Christ.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives his followers practical ways to live out the values and identity of the kingdom of God. At its heart, the Sermon is an invitation to a transformed life.

Where the Law says don't murder, Jesus calls us to something bigger- to break out of the very patterns of anger, resentment, and unforgiveness that lead to murder and characterize our world by seeking after reconciliation in our relationships the minute something goes sour between us and another person.

As followers of Christ, we are called to break out of the patterns of the world by pursuing the practices and disciplines that will transform us day by day more into children of God and citizens of his kingdom.

The great thing is that this transformation is a team project between us and the God whose grace empowers the transformation.

Isaiah 61 gives us many promises as believers, but among them is the promise that God will give us a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. This verse is a promise that God will transform our lives!

As we move toward Ash Wednesday and into Lent, I encourage you to think about the ways you long for transformation in your life, and to ask God to change you in significant ways during this season. And may our transformed lives proclaim God's kingdom for all the world to see!