On the newstand

I really dislike grocery shopping. I don't believe I've ever met someone who really loved it, but I do enjoy it more because I shop at Wal-Mart. I know it's the evil empire. I don't care. It became the evil empire because it's very, very good at what it does...mainly combining auto parts and fresh produce and a million other things you might never expect to see in your neighborhood grocery store. I always buy something I shouldn't when I grocery shop, usually a book or magazine. Those I love to shop for.

A week ago I did my shopping on a Sunday evening which is unusual for me. My usual is Friday evening because "date night" in Saline County can be pretty interesting at the local Wal-Mart. Anyway, I was surprised at how long the lines were. I had too much time to peruse the last minute items and magazines, in the lane I was in and the surrounding lanes. And that's where I found a new magazine, Purpose Driven Connection. I bought the first issue, featuring Rick Warren front and center out of curiosity.

I did a little research to find out that the plan is to produce a quarterly magazine which is centered around the idea of community and there are multimedia resources to support it. This first issue came with a CD and Bible Study, 40 Days of Love, bound in. It's been an interesting read, not because I've learned anything new. Most of the material from Rick Warren is stuff that I've already read through the daily devotional. What is most interesting is the idea that the world is ready for a Christian magazine to be available at the checkout line. Is it? I'm not sure.

This is what Rick Warren says about it:
"There's a flat-out segment of Americans who are unashamed followers of Jesus Christ," Mr. Warren said. "We're not trying to make this a magazine for everybody."

Researching online, I found plenty of listings for the magazine. And it appears that the world is just about as ready for it as it has been for centuries which is to say not at all. The Rick Warren bashing in the comments by readers of the articles is pervasive, mainly on the themes of either money-grubbing or megalomania. And of course, Pastor Rick must have expected as much. I thought it strange that his letter stated so clearly that he makes no money from this magazine, but I understand better. And the megalomania...I was a little uncomfortable with Rick Warren as cover boy, but the inside pages have more to do with a collection of everyday people and other Christian bestsellers. And those bestsellers like Max Lucado and Lee Stroebel are bestsellers for a reason.

The magazine is only so-so to me. There are other Christian publications that I prefer...but they aren't there in the checkout newstand. I'm curious to see how this does.

UPDATE: I changed this a little because the attacks I read weren't in the articles but in comments left by readers. And Straight Talk...I completely agree with your comment. I hope the magazine does very well and I think if anyone can pull it off, it may just be Rick Warren. His book changed how I view life here and I hope the magazine can accomplish great things who can find it on the newstand at Wal-Mart.

52 Blessing Week 9: Darcy Dog

So I got a new photography toy and poor Darcy is my best model. She really is a blessing and she may actually turn up for more than one week because I take photos of her/afflict her when I have the chance. It's a burden that she bears. Usually, cheefully, but then sometimes, not so much. That's when the Milk Bones come in handy!

Romans 12:12 (NIV)

12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

52 Blessings Week 8: Reminders

Romans 10:17 (NIV)
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

I went to the best conference thing this weekend. The stated purpose was to find out more about mentoring, but the study is just really so very good. I mean it. When I got the book on Thursday, I started the homework assignment and I was reminded how simple faith really is. I need that reminder. It's so easy for me to get caught up in thinking too much, to worry that I don't have all the answers so I can't really speak to anyone about what I believe, to fear the future, to regret the past, to falter and lose focus. And that's just where the "tripper" wants me to be, hampered, confused, and afraid. Having faith doesn't mean having no doubts. Having faith is about a choice.

We've been challenged to find someone else to go through the book with us, a short five-week study, so if anyone wants to do this with me, let's talk. As I went through this, I remembered the feelings I experienced as I read The Purpose Driven life for the first time. Simple truth that is life-changing at the same time, that's the faith I have. And the PDL Daily Devotional today is about just this subject, Start with the Faith You Have. This choice that we all have to believe the Bible is true and live that way is simple and life-changing.

52 Blessings Week 7: Facebook

Yeah, I'd never have guessed it either, but Facebook has turned out to be one of those things that I get talked into that I really enjoy (I believe I have Mundane Jane to thank for that. She gets me into most of these internets obsessions). I've been on Facebook for a while now, but really didn't spend/waste much time there, but now it's moved right up the list of things I have to check. Why? Because now I know some faithful Facebook friends, people who post and comment and write on your wall and send you flair. And it's almost instant. And you can chat with any friend who happens to be online, whether that's a friend from across the street or around the world and whether you talked to them last at lunch or 1991.

Yesterday was my birthday and it was fun to get so many wishes on Facebook. I'm surrounded by great friends now and my family never forgets, so the Facebook friends are an added bonus.
Of course, I understand it's not all happiness and light. There is my looming word game addiction to worry about, but I'll think about that some other time.

(And this is a not-so-secret ploy to add to my Facebook friends. If you'd like to be my virtual friend, look for me! Seriously. And if you can't find me, comment here and I'll find you! Seriously! I'm all about adding the Facebook friends.)

Just thinking of you today...

So, I have another favorite message. In addition to "I saw this and thought of you", I'm also loving "Just thinking about you. Have a happy day." I got these flowers today, unexpectedly, from my brother. How sweet is that? So in addition to being an unexpected gift, which we know I love, I also got flowers! I love flowers. Well, not the actual planting them in the ground and weeding and watering and stuff like that. If they need all that from me, they're going to die. It's a harsh fact of life, but fact nevertheless.

So here's another lesson I need to learn from that...other people need to know I'm just thinking about them and that I want them to have a happy day. I've been on a sort of (internal) rampage lately, briefly interrupted by my conviction delivered via email yesterday in words I wrote myself. Being reminded that someone loves me and wants me to have a happy day helps. It really does.

Six Flags over Jesus

I was emailing with someone this weekend and the subject of religion came up. He said he wasn't much into the whole "six flags over Jesus" thing and felt like it was just more important to be a good person. Really? (Warning: stepping up on the soap box.)

Never heard "six flags over Jesus" before? Me, either (and I would remember because it's a pretty clever little phrase). Basically, it refers to a mega church, which has services like...a coffee shop...a gym...a bookstore...gasp. And it collects money. And has a membership of 20,000 and 8 parking lots...and it's all orderly. And then get this, from the pulpit, you get messages, you know, like maybe a preacher might deliver. In a church!

I've been to a couple of mega-churches...that were not evil, cash cows looking to sucker the masses in to support the man. They were successful. They are successful in reaching people, in drawing them in and, clearly, in getting support and building a connection.

Six flags over Jesus...man, that's cynical, but the world's cynical and ready to enlighten any "poor" person who might believe in the possibility of good in people and hope for the future. Churches are supposed to be poor and struggle, right? Not be successful and powerful and alive. Oh, and you shouldn't enjoy worshiping either, so let's be suspicious.

And trying to be a "good" person...where does the standard come from? There's absolutely no way to be good enough and, in fact, the reason we have mega-churches in the first place is that there are a whole lot of people who realize they will never be good enough. And that's OK anyway because they can still be accepted and still serve and accomplish God's purpose...through His church, no matter the size. What you did matters less than who you know and what you can do.

Whether you worship in a mega-church or a country church or a countryside, that's religion. To me, faith is a relationship. Yes, worship is important, but that relationship, that's life and death. When you realize that just being a good person isn't enough, that there's more to this world than what you can get for yourself, and you reach out to begin that relationship with Jesus Christ, that's faith. And that's critical. And letting something silly like an aversion to mega-churches or televangelism or, even worse, all the hypocrites (or politics or fill in the blank) that fill churches today keep you from that relationship is just a cop out. And it's dangerous. And sad.

But I didn't say any of that. Yet.

I just thought it.

The proper response isn't defense, and really, it's OK to choose to worship somewhere besides the big church. I don't think it's really fair to judge them until you know more about them, and "six flags over Jesus" seems pretty judgmental. What's really more important is the whole "focus on being a good person" argument.

Wonder what I'll say about that? My answer is still pending...

Romans 3:22-24
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

(stepping down off the soap box now)

52 Blessing Week 6: Time Saving Devices

My usual time saving device involves a drive-thru and disposable silverware, but in the effort to turn over my new leaf...I've been cooking. And that means dishes. I think my dishwasher has gotten more use in the past week that maybe the year before combined. (And this is not my dishwasher...either the dog or the household appliance but it sorta goes with the dog chef on the other blog.)

So in the past week, I've eaten out twice.

And cooked all the OTHER NIGHTS! I can't believe it myself. And exercised just a little: up to 10 pounds.

And I bought some jewlery.

Diet Cokes...yeah, well, this may be the first resolution to die.

The book...just outlined a little. I need to get serious about this one.

Soul mate...thank goodness I have a dog. And a dishwasher.