Why You Can’t Build a Church Out of Consumers

I love this.

Alan Hirsch: Disciple-Making [VERGE video] from Verge Network on Vimeo.

How to Turn Consumers Into Missionaries, Hugh Halter

This is one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time. I think I’ve watched it at least three times now, and I have copious notes to prove it. I so appreciate Hugh’s story, experience, and dedication to the mission outside the walls of the institutional church.

 

Great Vision from Fellow Vision 360 Planter Bill Jenkins

I love what Bill Jenkins has to say (admittedly in part because of his accent).

Vision 360 – Bill Jenkins from Urban Life Church in a Pub from Evan Chung on Vimeo.

JR Vassar on the Top and Bottom Line of God’s Story

The The Impotence of Proofreading by Taylor Mali

Intelligent humor seems to be a rare thing. I think Taylor Mali is something of a hybrid between stand up comedian and beat poet.

I should say, there is some- what I would call- fairly mild language and sexual innuendo in this video.

 

Living with a Truth-Teller

I’ve just stumbled across these guys. I have to say, their take on grace is pretty remarkable. I don’t recall seing anything so grace-focused in my life. Some of the things these guys say makes my inner pharisee foam at the mouth. But there’s a part of my heart that melts when they describe grace. Below, I’ve posted one of the videos from one of the TrueFaced guys.

The Air We Breathe: Consumerism and the Church

We are consumers, all of us. We’re humans, and humans are consumeristic. We’re Americans, and Americans are consumeristic. We live in the West, and the West is consumeristic.

Consumerism is normative:

:: All advertising assumes that consumption is both normal and necessary. You need the television, the car, the clothes, the makeup, the beer, the four hundred satellite channels, the fastest phone network, the sexiest partner (remember the State Farm commercial?), and the remodeled home.

:: Listen to how our economy is talked about. The declared assumption is that everything will be fine if we just start spending money. The economy’s blood pressure is retail spending and its cholesterol the real estate market (both assume consumption). Capitalism is the individual’s right to his/her own entitlement.

:: If something is wrong with you, you can purchase your remedy. We’ve surrounded ourselves with experts that we can pay to do anything we want, to fix any dilemma. All you need is the money to pay for the expertise.

:: The American Dream is a consumer’s dream- your house, your fence, your safety, security, success, solitude, and sanity. The American Dream is consumerism to the core. Even it’s noteworthy bits- hard work, diligence, etc.- are still rife with consumeristic entitlement.

:: Even our relationships are consumeristic. A consumer picks and chooses products, services, and vendors that best suit some desired outcome. The consumer’s loyalty is based on the ability to answer and keep answering consumeristic demand. Really, loyalty is dead. As soon as the better laptop emerges, it’s on to the next brand (or the newer version- that’s another post in itself). If the restaurant doesn’t treat us right, it’s on to the next one. And sadly, the same is true of most of our relationships. Marriages, friendships, business partners, they’re all subject to the harsh lens of consumerism. Do something- anything- to upset our demands, and your replacement is imminent.

:: I wish it were different for the Church, but it isn’t. It seems our discipleship has largely proven too short in reach to overcome our consumerism. The men and women in the Church are just as consumeristic as men and women outside the Church. We pick our church just like we pick our favorite restaurant. We leave our church just as easily and with as much self-assurance as we leave our cellular service provider.

I’m convinced that consumerism is the air we breathe. We’re so used to it, we can’t comprehend another reality (it’s like the Matrix). Attack consumerism and people will rise to defend her. Attack consumerism in the Church, and you’ll likely hear as much- or more- defense of entitlement, individualism, and materialism.

 

Discipleship from the Eyes of a Moto-Junkie and a Sword-Maker

I really enjoy all the Etsy videos. Kudos to whoever puts them together. Below, you’ll find two of my favorites. The really interesting thing is that both videos hit on disciple-making (something that ought be close to the heart of every Christian), even though neither video is about disciple-making. There are so many insights that can be gleaned from both videos; watch them back to back, and the juxtaposition in attitudes and actions is remarkable. There’s a lot to learn here.

Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles from Etsy on Vimeo.

Handmade Portraits: The Sword Maker from Etsy on Vimeo.

Possibly the Most Watched Video in Our Home Recently

We love this:

And here’s the whole thing in SC:

Anderson Silva Leading Prayer? Shouting “Jesus Christ”?

I try pretty hard to keep up with the UFC. There aren’t too many UFC events that I don’t watch, and I’d like to think that I am at least moderately fluent in the more noteworthy fighters and events inside the UFC.

For some time, I’ve wondered about Anderson Silva’s faith. There are occasional hints at Christian faith in him. On the other hand, there’s lots of trash talking, disrespect, and pride coming from Silva most of the time, too. That’s not exactly the character of Jesus.

There’s some interesting stuff in this video. First, Erick Silva (apparently if you’re a Brazilian you have a good probability of having the last name Silva) says some really insightful stuff for such a young fighter. Specifically, I really admire his admitting that he was not that great of a fighter naturally. He says that his current skill level didn’t come quickly or with ease. I really like that. There are some things I want to be good at, but I’m no natural. Second, Anderson Silva understandably steals the spotlight toward the end of the video. He’s leading prayer; later he’s yelling, “Jesus Christ” with his teammates. If you watch UFC at all, this is intriguing.