bible quiz - John Mayer Edition

Throughout this summer we are looking at how the band Coldplay communicates biblical truth throughout their music.  The creativity of musicians/writers always astounds me.  I bet that if you were asked, you might not be able to tell the difference between what is the Bible and what are the lyrics.  Let's give it a try...

(Much thanks to Jon Acuff for originally posting this quiz.)

1. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Then they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,

2. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Belief is a beautiful armor, but makes for the heaviest sword

3. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Now we see everything that’s going wrong, with the world and those who lead it

4. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

I dare to believe that the luckless will get lucky someday.

5. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

She takes you in with your crying eyes, then all at once you have to say goodbye

6. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

You should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes, it brought me back to life

7. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

I’m tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating … on the flood of my tears.

8. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Take all your wasted honor, every little past frustration, take all of your so called problems, better put them in quotations.

9. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

She says the bible is all that she reads and prefers that I not use profanity

10. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

And I will walk outside on my own into the light, the kind of clarity that only comes to me on Sunday’s shine, Sunday’s shine

11. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue.

12. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

He comes up empty. A string of zeros.

13. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Someday I’ll fly, someday I’ll soar

14. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

Nightly he strolls in our garden, delighting in the flowers, until dawn breathes its light and night slips away

15. Is this passage John Mayer or the Message Bible?

You tell me where to go and though I might leave to find it, I’ll never let your head hit the bed without my hand behind it

How did you do? Did you score a perfect 15 for 15? Check your answers at http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2008/01/answers-to-the-john-mayer-bible-quiz/

lost and found

I once was lost, but now I'm found.

What an interesting picture to describe salvation.  Jesus gave us the original example in the story of the lost son.  Luke 15 is a beautiful chapter that speaks of three lost things; a sheep, a coin, and a son.  The first two have value to the contextual listener, but even more so for them and us, is the value of a son (or daughter).

I desrire for the places, people, time, and opportunities that I lost to be regained or found again.  This is what the hope of the gospel tells us.  "all that was lost can be found."  We are a people that even though we have lost things/people, they can be found.

This moment right here is one we can't suspendYour breathe and mine tells me just where I have beenYou know the song of long lost causeWe're running in circles and coming back again
Now could I go the long wayTaking the easy way down?If I was wrong would you show meWhere all that I lost can be found?
'Cause you can shoot me straightStraight to the heart 'cause you already have itSay what you wanna say, we're coming out of the grayWhat goes around now is coming back down todayYou can shoot me straight away
Don't wanna fight and you don't wanna lose controlWe're losing light and the night is getting coldEveryone wants to hear their story toldWe're not the only ones, we're not the only ones
And now could I go the long wayTaking the easy way down?If I was wrong, would you show meWhere all that I lost can be found?

dreamed of paradise

I still have dreams, they're not the same
They don't fly as high as they used to
I saw my friend, he's in my head
And he said, "You don't remember me, do you?" - John Mayer: Born and Raised


Normally, I don't like to comment upon music with another quote from music, but this one is just too good.  This past week we talked about the Woman at the Well (John 4: 4-26) in light of Coldplay's insight about a woman who dreams of paradise.  


"When she was just a girl
she expected the world
but it flew away from her reach
and she ran away in her sleep 
and dreamed of paradise." 


I wonder if our dreams begin to soar less because of the passing time or disappointment in our lives?  There is something that calls us to dream, but also life calls us into the reality of the moment where often our dreams are so far away it wouldn't even be productive to attempt to dream again.  We change as people.  We age, we become frustrated, or simply we just develop different priorities.  Our dreams do not fly as high as they used to.  We do not even remember who we once were or who we had hoped to be.  This is what life can do if we are not connected to the One who is life.  


I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.


"When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near." - Andy Stanley


Start dreaming again. 

follow me.

"The most common invitation of Jesus in the Gospels is: 'Come, follow me.' He does not say, 'Figure out who I am' or 'develop a right set of beliefs and an impressive theology.' He does not even say, 'You must have complete faith.' No, he says, 'Come and follow me.' 

The invitation of Jesus is an invitation to come along with him on the journey of faith, to learn along the way, to be tested, and to be stretched (after all, walking is good exercise). To follow Jesus is to walk with him, to discover that he is the way, the truth, and the life.

Want to be a Christian? Then put on your walking shoes and get going. Don’t wait until it is convenient or understandable. Don’t wait until you think you are worthy, and for God’s sake don’t tell anyone else on the journey that they are not worthy – if Jesus invites them, that’s good enough. Just get going. Follow Jesus.

And, walk, walk, walk."

- excerpt from Michael Coyner.

you're crazy.

You're Crazy.  When was the last time someone said that to you?  (Now hear me - this is in no way trying to be insensitive to those who have mental illness, or struggle with the pain and frustration that it brings.)  But this is an expression that we use isn't it?  I have a feeling that we don't regularly hear this word because we are not doing anything that would justify its usage.  We are a safe people.  From my perspective (as a pastor) this is something that I wish people would say more often to me.  Trust me - they have said it, and if they haven't said it, then they have felt it.  But I wonder if I (like many of us) have reached a place of safety in our decision making and leadership?  

Similar to this - what was the last thing that you failed at?  If you can't easily think of something, you are not trying enough new or creative ideas in your work/home/job/ministry/community.  Sentimental Contentment leads to Apathy.  We have to keep trying or we will become trapped in the same places of which we know.  The safety of our decisions and our actions will lead us to a place where we are liked by all, but the mission of the church may not advance.  This is a major issue in our church today. We are creating priests but we have lost the prophetic voice.

A pastor is seen as one who just takes care of the sheep... the problem is that we have forgotten that in taking care of the sheep they have to be led somewhere.  Remember the whole "he leadeth me beside still waters" thing?  The Good Shepherd is taking us somewhere, and as Pastors our calling is not to take care of the status quo to ensure another year of appointed ministry.  We have to lead our people.  In my opinion, our leading requires some decisions that will make our people feel sometimes uncomfortable, scared, and even for them to doubt our sanity.  I know that there are a lot of pastors that are great caregivers and their gifts vary much like the body of Christ.  I am not saying that all pastors need to fit into the same mold or box of leadership, my point is that they have to be people who are willing to take their people somewhere.  We can become so busy taking care of where we are right now that we forget to move our people to a place of still (and I would add) living waters.  If you doubt this - then see General Conference 2012.  In my humble opinion: Too much time was taken trying to figure out what we are doing now that they forgot to make decisions that will help our future.

So - where are you taking the people under your care?  My hope is that the following would be an epitaphic summary of my ministry.

"And his wife told his kids he was crazy, and his friends said he'd fail if he tried."  John Mayer (Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967)    

John Mayer.

I dig John Mayer.  I love music.  Not a shock to the two of you who actually read this blog.  

(shout out.)


But what I really love is the connection that music makes with faith.  While some authors have no desire for an intentional connection, the truth is still there.  John Mayer just released his new album - "Born and Raised."  I considered using him as part of my Gospel and ___ Series, but in the past few years John became a bit more synonymous with being a jerk and saying stupid things rather than his incredible talent for writing and performing.  So he was put on the back burner.  Well... who knew that redemption would come to even John Mayer?  I am not speaking in the full salvific weight of the term (though one never knows...), but more so in his enlightenment as a human being.  This is clearly seen in his new style and album.  


John moved to Montana to get way for a while.  You can note his new Montana style in his hair, clothes, and even guitars.  Everything is stripped down, rustic, and free.  Born and Raised is similar in style.  Freedom has come to John and this is clear in his first single "Shadow Days".  (See Below for full lyrics).  
Isn't it fascinating that through retreat, John was able to find himself again?  Maybe he didn't 'find himself' but discovered who he was supposed to be for this time in his life.  As Christian, this act should not be foreign to us.  We are a people who, like our Savior, practice the spiritual discipline of solitude and silence.  We need to take the time to evaluate our souls, and in our busy world, we rarely take that chance.  Unfortunately the church has not helped this discipline because in order to get people to on the 'retreats' we fill them with fun activities that everyone will enjoy.  Instead of silence, prayer, reflection, and solitude, there is shopping, games, fellowship, and food.  I believe in the core principle of fellowship- don't get me wrong.  But when Jesus went off to pray, he went off to pray.  It wasn't about who was going with him, what they were going to do, or where they were headed.  John, like Jesus, just went off into the wilderness.  He came back a new person.  This is what happens when we take some time to take a good hard look at our souls.  We see our need for grace and live into this reality.
  
Shadow Days-

Did you know that you could be wrongAnd swear you're rightSome people been known to do itAll their livesBut you find yourself aloneJust like you found yourself beforeLike I found myself in piecesOn the hotel floorHard times have helped me see

I'm a good man, with a good heartHad a tough time, got a rough startBut I finally learned to let it goNow I'm right here, and I'm right nowAnd I'm open, knowing somehowThat my shadow days are overMy shadow days are over now

Well I ain't no troublemakerAnd I never meant her harmBut it doesn't mean I didn't make it hard to carry on
Well it sucks to be honest
And it hurts to be real
But it's nice to make some love
That I can finally feel
Hard times let me be

Changeless & Change

There is great insight when one can know the difference between what is changeless and what can be changed.  Below is some reflection from the teaching of Dr. John Ed Mathison.  I am grateful for his leadership and time that he has taken to invest in younger leaders.  

What is changeless when it comes to the church?

The Man  - Hebrews 13:8

The Message – John 3:16

The Mission – Matthew 28:19

What can be changed then?

Mindset – Philippians 2:5

Methodology- 1 Corinthians 9:20-22

Ministries – Acts 10:45

Let us not be confused that if we change the things that need to be changed that we are in any way changing the core and fundamental truths about who Christ is, what he has come to do, and now the calling that He has given to us as His body. 

Methodism began as a movement and it has now become a monument... how can we recapture our movement again?