It was great to see that Crash was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar for this year’s Academy Awards. Crash was by far the best film I saw last year and probably one of the best films I’ve ever seen. Look deep---it’s full of grace and peace and Jesus. It’s rated R for good reason, so don’t take the kids, but for everyone over the age of 18, I think this is a must-see movie. Obviously, Crash had a profound impact on me. Which films have effected you greatly?

“Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.”
-from the Book of James (chapter 1, verse 27.)

I’ve heard a lot of talk during the last few years about how so many people throughout the world are fed up with religion. The conversation usually ends with someone saying how people don’t really have a problem with Jesus, they just don’t want anything to do with religion. I think I understand at least a little bit how these people feel. I’ve even found myself thinking at times that Jesus could have such a profound impact on this world if religion wasn’t always getting in the way. But after reading what James has to say, I’m inclined to think that it’s not religion, but rather my definition of religion that causes a problem for others. See I’ve mistakenly labeled everything from institutional church to Christian bookstores to “inspirational” t-shirts to televangelists as religious. James reminds me that you can’t separate Jesus from religion. Religion, real religion, is living in the way of Jesus. It’s doing the things that Jesus did. More specifically it’s standing up and caring for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Now, I may be wrong, but I think that’s the kind of thing that most people in the world could get on board with.

I confess.....I watch American Idol. And I really do like it. But after four years I still cannot understand how so many people who can't sing a lick have convinced themselves that they are the best singer on the planet. But then again this is the "land of opportunity" where anything is possible.

Many out there are claiming that this is the best blonde joke ever. Check it out for yourself.

There's a book I've been reading lately, The Shaping of Things to Come. It's bold, brazen, and it is great! It's the kind of book you have to put down every few pages just to think about and ponder what you just read. I believe these thoughts will have a profound impact on the future of the church and Christianity in the West.

Check it out, but be warned, it may take you places you don't want to go.
Here's a quote-

We can no longer afford our historical sentimentality, even addiction, to the past. Christendom is not the biblical mode of the church. It is/was merely one way in which the church has conceived of itself. In enshrining it as the sole form of the church, we have made it into an idol that has captivated our imaginations and enslaved us to a historical-cultural expression of the church. We have not answered the challenges of our time precisely because we refuse to let go of the idol. This must change! The answer to the problem of mission in the West requires something far more radical than reworking a dated and untenable model. It will require that we adopt something that looks far more like the early church in terms of its conception of the church (ecclesiology) and its core task in the world (missiology).

So I took a little blog vacation for a few weeks, ok actually the whole month of December, but hey it's a very busy time of year, and we moved into a new house, and I had to go skiing in Colorado, and a bunch of other stuff.

The end of November and the middle of December provided me with three more chances to see U2 in concert. All four shows I saw on the Vertigo Tour were outstanding. I am depressed that it has finally come to an end. Lots of people put together "favorites" lists at the end of year, so I thought I'd give my Top 5 list of favorite U2 albums while I mourn the end of Veritigo Tour '05:

5. Pop
4. War
3. Achtung Baby
2. All That You Can't Leave Behind / How To Dismantle (tie)
1. Joshua Tree

I think the best part of seeing those U2 shows last year was the people I got to see them with. Some I've known for many, many years and some I met the night of the concert. Some great conversations, some great worship, some great fellowship, some challenging thoughts from Bono, some joining of resources to help those in need.....all shared together. You might say it was kinda like church.....or maybe it was church.