How do you see?

About seven months ago I got my first pair of “full-time” glasses. It’s amazing to me just how distorted my vision was before my glasses. Things far away became fuzzy, things up close gave me headaches, and everything in the middle just was not sharp.

Of course I didn’t really notice any of this until I got the glasses (except the headaches of course). Without the little warning sign of pain I would have gone through my life never being able to see everything clearly. Thanks to the miracle of science – I can really see well.

Yesterday, in my sermon, I made a statement about the role of Scripture (The Text, or the Bible – you choose the name you like best) in helping us see and understand our human experience. I said that the Bible is “the lens through which we interpret everything we see.” When we look at good art we see many things, but when we look through the lens of scripture a piece of art may say something completely different. When we spend time in Nature, we may experience transcendence and the lens of Scripture shapes that experience and helps us make sense of it.

Reading and studying scripture is like getting the right prescription for glasses. When we finally put on those glasses we can really see things for what they are.

The thing is, before we put on Biblical lenses – we were already wearing glasses. These glasses are the glasses of culture, personal experience, politics and others opinion. These other glasses, just like the lenses of Scripture, shape how we see.

So my question (this one rhetorical) is, “How do you see?”

Here are a few not so rhetorical questions that will help you answer that question…

How have the scriptures informed your politics, your view of others, your daily living? How has the Bible transformed you as you have grown in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ?

Missional?

This weeks post is not so much about the sermon as it is about a conversation held at the quarterly leadership meeting held at the Cordova last night. If you've been listening closely to my sermons, you have most likely picked up on a theme flowing throughout each message - and that theme is the theme of the mission of Christ and our calling to continue it.

Wikipedia offers a very clear and concise definition of Christ's mission and our calling to that mission. (If you missed it, just click on the colored wikipedia and it will take you directly to that page.)

After you've read that I'd like to discuss how we as Pullman Foursquare, at the Cordova Theater, near Washington State University, in Pullman Washington - can be on mission for God. I'd like you think of the specific area that you serve in, and answer the question: How can we the (Children's team, Youth Staff, Worship Team etc) shape our ministry to accomplish the mission of Christ on earth? What would it look like if every ministry in the church was working toward bringing the kingdom of God to earth? What creative ideas arise and what practical steps can we take to get there?

Comment away! - Jamie

The missing video - again.

Hi all -

This week we talked about the relationship of the Christian community to the world around it. As a closing I wanted to share a video, and through a series of unfortunate circumstance, the thumb drive containing the video wound up in my pocket - on stage.

So, here is the video. It is from Sojourn Church in Louisville and shares stories of how people have changed through community, because of Christ. Thanks to Sojourn for sharing - and, here's to hoping and believing for stories just like it to pop up all over Pullman!

Jamie

Stories Of Change from Sojourn Community Church on Vimeo.

A Short Video

Hi everyone.

I just plain forgot to play this on Sunday and it's so fun, I wanted to share it.

So here you go. Just a short illustration about what happens when true community is taken out of Christianity.

Jamie

object width="500" height="405">