Some people like to isolate certain verses and then wield them like a weapon to support their doctrine of choice.

Have you noticed this?

I call it, “drive-by Scripturing.” I’m no better or different. That’s why I’m trying to switch to the “long division” method of Scripture citation.

I’ve found that it’s almost never helpful to pull individual Bible verses out of their given context. Fortune cookie Scripture reading lends itself to easily to the building up (and tearing down) of lifeless straw men. That’s why I’ve become a fan of citing really long portions of Scripture. It may not be the most efficient method of communication, but it certainly is the safest.

If you take a verse out of it’s context, you can make the Bible say anything you want. Many cults do this. When you isolate Scripture verses from their context, it’s like taking diamond out of an engagement ring. Sure, the ring is nice by itself–it is gold, after all–but the real “SHAPOW!” comes when that gem is nestled nice and tight into it’s setting.

Can I ask a favor? Don’t do a “drive-by” here, on Twitter, Facebook, in your church or anywhere else. People could get hurt.

Tonight will mark a significant change in my personal ministry and the ministry of my church, Lutheran Church of Hope. Tonight will be the last night of Immersion, our young adult ministry that has been going in some form since early 2001.

Why the change?

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My faith was stoked at the conference I just went to. Maybe that’s why they called it “Faith Lift“. In the true sense of the term, it truly did lift my faith.

There’s a particular manifestation of that lifted faith that’s been following me around since the closing hours of the conference. The display? Audacity. Specifically, audacity in my prayer life.

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“Simplicity is the heart of the universe.” A quote that is credited to the ancient Christian mystics.

Do you believe it?

Reggie McNeil shared this with those of us at Faith Lift in the Twin Cities these past few days. He was making the point that “church people” (his words) make it do difficult for people to get to church.

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I read this passage from Romans this morning:

[Do not] give any parts of your bodies over to sin to be used as instruments of evil. Instead, give yourselves to God, as people brought to life from the dead, and give every part of your bodies to God to be instruments of uprightness.

Do you know what I instantly thought of? My brain. Yeah. Brain. The grey blob of tissue that swims around in my dome.

God says to not use my brain for evil. Use it for “uprightness,” which is a churchy word for “stuff that’s really good.”

Certainly this implications for what we think about.

When I think about using my brain for an instrument of life, it means thinking the best about people.

It means believing that all people are made in God’s image.
It means believing that Jesus likes everyone. Yes. Everyone. (How do you treat people you not only love, but also like?)
It means thinking with the mind of God, letting him teach you about the reality he’s created.

Not only that, but I think it means letting God fill your mind with all the amazing things he wants to do through you. Allowing him to speak to the potential that resides inside of us. This isn’t some “touchy-feely-self-help-Stuart-Smalley-gosh-darn-it-people-like-me” reality. This is a reality that says, “You are filled with the Spirit of the living God. He can do anything. Now, through him, you can do anything.”

Solid.

So I pledge to not use my brain for evil. I will give my brain to God as an instrument of uprightness–and instrument of “stuff that’s really good.”

What about you?

We all know name-droppers. People who flagrantly attach their names to others in hopes of appearing important:

• “Johnny Football Hero is my best friend. He wrote in my yearbook and told me to ‘Have a nice summer!’”
• “Not doing much today. Just going to hang with Suzy Popular Pants and listen to her tell me how awesome I am!”
• “Went to the Most Popular Band Ever concert tonight … They asked me come backstage and do my magic show for them. I’m so in demand!”

Yeah. Like that.
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For the true multi-sensory experience, listen to this song while reading today’s post.

The show is over. LOST is complete. Everyone is okay.

That’s what I took away from last night’s LOST series finale: they were all okay. That was my thought as the curtain closed on LOST. “They all made it.”

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You know what gives me hope? My brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s what gives me hope.

I recently received an email from a friend. She had set up a fund at her church to help a mutual friend pay for her son’s cancer treatments. This email outlined how I could help with the effort, complete with mailing address and how the whole process was going to work:

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I actually really enjoy this video. There’s a purity at work here. Just one guy giving his craft over to God.

You’ve been given a life that God calls a “work of art.” What does your canvas show? So go on, people, create!

A time is coming, and indeed is already here, where you will need to decide between comfort and conviction. People are being put to the test all around you, every day. Some choose cowardice. But some … some choose courage.

This post is dedicated to Alex.