Live from Denver

Ok, to be honest, I am not in Denver, although I wish I was. But not for the Democratic National Convention.

I am very politically minded, but I refuse to tell anyone where I stand politically. Suffice it to say this: I am a combination of the two parties, and I am ok with that. But as I listened to Hilary Clinton's speech tonight I came to a conclusion: Lots of promises often consist of hollow words.

Clinton called for the support and "salvation" of the American middle class. She spoke that the hope of the nation resides on the middle class. They are in need of a tax break, so that the receipts incoming can get ahead of the bills outgoing. She spoke of the need for universal health care, the end of American dependence on foreign oil by the support of renewal energy resources, and an overhaul of the American educational system. She also spoke of ending the war in Iraq, yet in the same breath mentioned Putin/Russia's invasion into Georgia. She spoke of greater support for our service men and women and a greater package of benefits for our veterans. She spoke of government for the people rather than the select few.

The problem she neglected to mention was the need for more money. She calls for tax breaks for the middle class; where will the funds come from to support these great overhauls? There is a need for universal health care so that all people will receive medical treatment. (AMEN to health care for all!) But...one small problem: where will these funds come from? These ambitious needs require a LARGE increase in taxes from ALL of the American people. She called for a need for economic growth and stability, yet also called for greater taxes on industry. How do these ideas coincide? Can we support business growth and expansion while simultaneously increasing the taxes demanded from said institutions? She calls for the need to reduce our dependency on foreign oil. A couple of small problems: By increasing our dependency on "renewable" energy resources like ethanol we inevitably drive up the cost of grain for the average consumer, placing a greater burden on the poor and middle classes. (If the cost of grain increases, then the cost of beef/meat increases due to the cost of feeding these animals...)

ALL of these platform issues require HUGE amounts of financial support. Clinton spoke of our dependence on monetary loans from the Chinese... If we can't support our failing economy now, how do we expect to do any better in the future with NO economic changes in the long haul?

While the Democrats expound a position of "Change," we must realize that it will take dollars (not just change) to make these policies a reality. Who will wind up bearing the burden of these costs? The very economy they espouse wanting to save... And, ultimately, the middle class individuals who are having to pay for those who refuse to take initiative for themselves...

Becoming a Jayhawk

I guess it is official: I realized today that I am slowly becoming a Jayhawk.

I know, I know... becoming a Jayhawk is not something I ever wanted to do. I am a Memphis Fan, for goodness sakes! I sing the Memphis Fight Song in my sleep. I threw things at the TV during the National Championship Game. I thought about tattooing "Derek Rose is my homeboy" on my left arm, but I thought it would look kinda tacky about my "I <3 MOM" tat.

But today I realized that things are beginning to change, and I am not sure I like them. Last night we did "Four Corners," where we went to the four corners of KU's campus and prayed for the faculty, staff, and students. We prayed for their spiritual health and well-being, and we prayed that God would make our ministry well-known on the KU campus. (I will post about my vision for KU later.) But as we walked from place to place there on campus, I engaged in a conversation that I am not too proud of. (Yes, I know I ended that sentence in a preposition; I am not too proud of that either. Strunk and White would beat me with a copy of their book...) I was talking to a group of Hawks students, and I started a discussion on "OUR" chances for the upcoming football and basketball seasons! Sigh.

For all of you back home in Memphis, I am sorry for letting you down. Megan, I am sorry for slowly becoming a Jayhawk when you are such an avid Wildcat Fan. If I could, I would repent in sackcloth and ashes. But I think I am allergic to ashes...

The Heart of Worship (Part 2)

My biggest pet peeve is this statement: "I just didn't get much out of worship today." (Ok, honestly, my biggest pet peeve is loud teenagers, followed closely by these statements...) Equally as annoying: "I loved worship today, because it was so upbeat and I loved all of the songs."

Most of us worry about what we will GET out of worship rather than what we BRING to worship. Worship has, in essence, become about us. We think worship revolves around what we like, either:
o Instrumental (because we like it), or noninstrumental (because we think you are wrong)

o Contemporary songs vs. Traditional songs

o Clapping/Raising Hands vs. Not

- Worship becomes a war

- Worship becomes a THING rather than a LIFESTYLE

o Worship is reserved for corporate, Sunday/Wednesday

o Worship becomes something we DO, rather than something we ARE

- Worship, in essence, can become an idol

Can I let you in on a secret? Worship isn’t about us! Sorry to burst your bubble. Ok, let me rephrase that differently: Worship isn’t about what we like or don’t like, what we are comfortable with or discomforted by, what makes us happy or “causes us to stumble.” It just isn’t. Worship isn’t FOR US; it is FOR GOD!

Worship comes down to the heart.

Worship: Reflection of the Presence of God (Part 1)

The next few blog posts will be on the nature of worship. I am beginning a new series in my ministry on the "Heart of Worship," and I am trying out a few ideas on this blog. Please let me know your thoughts through your comments and emails. Thanks!

~Daniel <><

_________________

Worship is acknowledgment that God is worthy of our praise. God is holy, other, set apart, distinct. The transcendence of God calls us to worship a God who reigns on high, who created the world and established its foundations, who creates and sustains life, who establishes the universe and sets all things into motion. This alone is cause to worship God. Yet it is only one facet of his character. We also worship a God who is immanent, who interacts with his people and intervenes in their lives.

Throughout the OT, we find God constantly interacting with humanity. Genesis 1-11 tells the story of YHWH's provision even for those who refuse to acknowledge him as God. Genesis 12ff tells the story of YHWH's interaction with humanity through the descendants of Abraham, a Chaldean who moves to Canaan at the command of the LORD. God tells him that God will bless him and increase his family/position/wealth SO THAT, through him, God might bless the whole world (Gen 12:3). God's story is an interaction with the people of Israel as he seeks to accomplish his purposes on the earth through them.

Rather than acknowledging their role in God's plan, the people of Israel find contentment within their own "achieved status." They were Yahweh's people, his chosen race, his kingdom of priests and holy nation (Ex. 19). They were God's favorites, and thus all other peoples were seen as inferior. God reminds them constantly that they were not chosen because of their greatness, their strength, their holiness, or their ability. God chose them specifically because they WEREN'T great, strong, holy, or able (Deut. 7-9). If God hadn't intervened, they would still be slaves in Egypt! But God chose them specifically to be a light to the world. They were to be priests, chosen ones who intervened for OTHERS who were not able to come to God on their own. They were called to be holy (1) because God is holy, and (2) so that the world will notice their distinctiveness and realize the God who causes them to be holy.

God’s charge to Israel was to be a revelation of the immanence of God, to be his presence among the world because he was present with them. Their worship was to be a life that was wholly devoted to the LORD their God. Their lives were to be an offering to God, and he demanded that every aspect of their lives, from their sacrifices to the condition of their homes to the proper way of treating others, and everything in between. Every aspect of their lives was done in worship of the God who created and who still sustains them. Their lives were to reflect the presence of God within their midst. Israel was not called to simply sit back, content in their salvation. Rather, they were called to reflect the presence of God.

Vintage Faith Connect '08

I recently returned from the National Campus Ministry Seminar in Golden, CO, and I will discuss some of my insights from there tomorrow. But... I wanted to share this quote said in worship this morning by Dean Barham:

"It's impossible to save our a__ (backside) and our face at the same time." -- AA Member, commenting on his perceptions of the church.

How true! We often put on such a great mask that we are afraid to take it down and let people see our authentic self. If there church is the place where authentic ministry takes place, then we need to take the whitewash off of our tombs and show the dry bones inside for our brothers and sisters to see. There is no fault in being sinful; the true fault lies when we pretend that we always have it all together. And when we realize that our lives have dry bones within them, we also realize that we serve a God who brought a valley of dry bones to life (Ezekiel 32). That's the kind of God we serve!

Resurrection Motif and the Gabriel Stone

Recently a new archaeological discovery has come to light from the Jordanian banks near the Dead Sea. A local antiquities collector purchased a large stone inscription approximately a decade ago that details (as one archaeologist claims) a messianic resurrection motif that predates the birth of Christ by a few decades. (For more on this story, see the TIME Magazine article at http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1820685,00.html, and the CNN video at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/07/11/wedeman.gabriel.cnn?iref=videosearch.)

The stone inscription is approximately three feet tall and consists of ink inscribed on the stone, and has been chemically dated to a few decades before the time of Christ. The stone theoretically describes the death of a messianic figure, followed by his resurrection after a short time by the archangel Gabriel. (This reading, however, depends on creative interpretation of a smudged passage on the stone, and thus is not at all conclusive for ascertaining the actual reading of the stone.)

Many scholars have argued that the credibility of Christianity was dependant on the unique nature of the Christian claim. The idea of a murdered Messiah was an anathema to the people of Israel, and was so audacious that the Christian claim had to be true! Thus, the reliability of the Christian message, at least as posited in their arguments, relies on the audacious uniqueness of the Christian message.

And indeed, the idea of a murdered Messiah would have been a shock to the Jews. Although Christians equate the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 (et al) as a reference to Messiah, there is no evidence that the Jews of the day had any similar ideas. The Messiah was the one who was anointed by God to be the Savior of the people of Israel, the one who would drive out the Romans (and any other conquerors), consecrate the Temple by reestablishing the holy worship of YHWH, and establish the eternal reign of God from Mt. Zion. The Messiah was to be God’s chosen instrument to bring peace to the world (and power to the people of Israel) through his military conquest of Israel’s enemies. God would once again reveal his power through his chosen people, and the Messiah would be his instrument of conquest.

(Note: There were as many different Messianic expectations as there were sects/individuals in Israel. These generalized statements sum up the gist of most of their expectations. For more on the Messianic expectations of first century Judaism, see John J, Collins, The Scepter and the Star, and Daniel McGraw, “Messianic Expectations of the Qumran Community in 4Q246 and 4Q521.”)

A few years ago a scholar claimed to have uncovered a Qumran connection to a Suffering Messiah, the Anointed One who died at the hands of his enemies. The passage, however, turned out to refer instead to the conquering Messiah who put his enemies to death, not a suffering Christological figure. Thus, the idea of a Messiah who suffers (or, even worse, dies) would be an anathema to the people of Israel.

The stone, however, has been verified as authentic (at least, at this time.) The question arises: How does the uniqueness of Christianity stand in light of this “new information”?

The Bible itself lends credence to the belief in a resurrection idea that developed during the Intertestamental Period, even a possible form of bodily resurrection. A group of Sadducees ask Jesus about the marriage of a seven-time widow in Matthew 22:23-33 (cf. Mark 12, Luke 20.) We are told here in this passage, as well as in Acts (4:1-3; 23:7-8), that the resurrection was not a concept believed by the Sadducees but was accepted by the Pharisees.

Two of the main sects within Judaism adhered to different ideas concerning the resurrection of the dead. However, none would have tied it to the Messianic figure. Not even the "Murdered Messiah" fragment from the dead sea scrolls (now proved to refer to the Messiah killing his enemies)would make such a claim...

But if it DOES indeed refer to a crucified messiah, does that negate the validity of Jesus' claim? God has already shown us that he works through the cultural and intellectual conceptions of humanity (i.e. Suzrainty treaty outline of Deuteronomy, the depiction of God as a Baal-like figure in Psalms, the similarities AND differences between Genesis 1-11 and other ANE literature.) Why couldn't God chose to work that way again?

What do you think? Log in and let me know your thoughts and responses.

My First Month as a Jayhawk

Dear Friends-

Hey, how's everybody doing? I hope this email finds you well! I thought I would give you an update on my life and what I have been up to! I have officially been in Lawrence for five weeks now and working for one month today. (for those of you who might not know, I am the new campus minister at KU.) The ministry consists of three actual undergrad students and a couple of grad/non-traditional students; when you add the whole group together (including those who are older but still do things with us), the group comes to approximately 12 or so.

Things are going well here. I am working on getting everything together for the incoming students; they begin arriving in three and a half weeks, which is insane! We are trying to get everything geared up for them to be here. I have 178 new contacts who are interested in our ministry. I know that not all of those will stick; in fact, MOST of them WON'T stick around. but if only 8% keep coming to things that doubles the amount of people within our group, which would be amazing! My goal is to have approximately 25 students by the end of the school year, but if God wants to send 150 I am going to be ok with that!

Right now I am teaching a class over Deuteronomy on Sunday mornings called "Advice for a New Adventure," examining how Moses' advice to the people in the midst of their time of transition fits the situation the Hawks for Christ are facing. They have new leadership, a new vision, and a new group of people, but they are still part of the people of God (much like the n ew generation of Israelites at the beginning of Deuteronomy!) I will be starting a class on either spiritual disciplines or the book of John on Wednesday evenings in August, and teaching on "The Life of Christ" in our Thursday evening Bible studies on campus. I also have a number of new students who are wanting to either host or lead Bible studies/prayer groups in the dorms and Frat Houses, which is awesome! ! I know God will do some great things through these endeavors.

I did my first baptism in Lawrence two weeks ago. Tim and Blair started coming to Southside frequently about the time I showed up; she had grown up in the church and he had grown up nominally Catholic, but had been attending with her for the past 6 years. He discovered that you didn't have to know everything to put Christ on in baptism, so I got the joy of baptizing him on Thursday, July 10th. It was kinda funny though; someone had cranked the heater on the baptistry up, so when I stepped into the water the thermometer read 120 degrees! We had to dump 4 10lb bags of ice in and then run cold water for 10 minutes before it was even cool enough to get into. We wanted to wash his sins away, not boil them out!

Right now I am just trying to get our ministry's name out and about on campus. I am working on some new ways to go about doing that, but if you have any suggestions they would be GREATLY appreciated!

That has been the last month, in a nutshell. In the next two weeks I am going to the Global Missions Conference in Dallas (so if any of you are going to be there let's do lunch), and the National Campus Ministry Seminar in Denver, and in between Megan comes home from five weeks in Japan. (I can't wait for that!) Three awesome things within a week!

I hope everything is going well and that God is blessing you guys in so many ways. Write back and let me know how things are going for you guys. I feel kinda out of touch, removed from all of you. God bless you as you work in his Kingdom!

In Christ,
Daniel McGraw
Hawks for Christ -- Campus Minister