Q&A

Since my last post, entitled “Two Friends—After the Election”, I have received, literally, hundreds of emails asking various questions about a host of topics. A few of them stood out---

Have you ever taken a spiritual gift assessment? If so, what are your spiritual gifts? I liked this question, because, yes, I have taken a spiritual gift assessment, and, no, no one has ever asked the results. So, “thank you”. My top three spiritual gifts (as noted by NETWORK) are Faith, Teaching and Leadership. I am “least gifted” in Mercy, Speaking in Tongues, and Craftsmanship. I am working to improve on two of the three.

What are you hobbies and interests? I have always secretly envied people who get this question, so I want to thank Beth from Wisconsin, who finally asked it. I am an avid golfer (10 handicap) and love pretty much every sport (even the ones he doesn’t understand—like Curling). I also love books, reading, movies, Meet the Press, and politics. And, I just mastered my DVR! But, more than anything, I love my girls (all of them--- included the tallest one who has been the love of my life for the past 20 years!).

What books have you read lately, and who are your favorite authors? I have read a lot of books lately and, when I finished the list, was surprised by some of them (You’ll see what I mean). But, here is what I have read in the last three months. :

Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren, His Excellency: A Life of George Washington by Joseph Ellis, The War Within by Bob Woodward, Deadly Viper Character Assassins by Marc Foster and Jud Wilhite, Paula Deen by Paula Deen (no, I am not kidding!), The Shack by Paul Young, The Language of Sex by Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham. 1776 and Truman by David McCullough (re-reads),

Now-- my favorite authors.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer--- he just amazes and humbles me.
Brennan Manning--- same as above, and, he changed the way I viewed the mission of the Church.
David McCullough--- anything he writes is “fine as wine”-- though I don’t condone drinking (the official pastor answer).
Lisa Samson--- she is the best thing since Cheeze Whiz, and I do condone the use of that.

“I read your evotion about the Election--who is YOUR favorite President-- AND, who do you consider to be the best President-- AND are you a Republican or a Democrat?” This was part of a long email exchange that involved several questions. David from Memphis, the author of the questions, knew I had a degree in Political Science and was a PoliSci nut. So, we had a great exchange. Okay--- answers to a few of the questions. I am an Independent who is either characterized as a Lincoln Republican or a Truman Democrat. Truman is my favorite President (and I believe one of the best). I believe Lincoln was the most significant. Both of these are open for debate.

And, finally, this next question really intrigued me.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing the Church today? Trying to be too relevant… I am one of the early sinners in the movement to make the Church “relevant”. The books Ragamuffin Gospel and Jesus in the Margins really changed the way I looked at the life and purpose of the Church. The Gospels are a story of unique, uncommon, exceptional intercession by the Creator of the Universe into the unbelievably common, unexceptional, imperfect Creation. This is big news! It doesn’t go without notice, and, it does not necessarily fit into the culture all the time. We are supposed to be different, to express a new point of reference that, ultimately, reconnects our roots to the One who “brung us” instead of making that One look more like us. Okay, so I like choruses, media and technology, but, to me, Holy Communion is still the best illustration ever used and still the best way for us, as insignificant as we are, to become significant for the world. It really all comes down to this for me-- Love Jesus, Love Like Jesus. The rest is textbook fodder and window dressing. I don’t necessarily want to be relevant; I just want to be His.

So, thanks for letting me share some of the questions I received over the past couple of weeks. I enjoy the dialog and the opportunity to think about things I don’t normally put into words.

Enjoy the Holidays.

And, remember-- Be Salt and Light--- You Matter!

Shane

After the Election-- Two Friends…
By Shane Stanford

In the last 10 hours, two friends called me. One was ecstatic. The other very worried. One friend supported Barrack Obama. The other supported John McCain.

My Obama friend talked of a new hope and brighter days. My McCain friend spoke of difficult times ahead and fears about tomorrow.

My Obama friend said that Obama would change everything. My McCain friend said the same thing, but for different reasons.

My Obama friend gushed at Obama’s victory as though the stars seemed more in line. My McCain friend recoiled at Obama’s victory as though the heavens had fallen.

My Obama friend considers Obama a magnetic personality, poised to the change the world. My McCain friend sees Obama as a polarizing personality… poised to change the world.

I simply listened to both of them and thought about the morning…

For you see, this morning… the world still suffers from the broken edges of our humanity. 8,000 people will die today from AIDS. 14,000 children will die from conditions that we could have prevented. Young men and women on various sides will die as a result of various conflicts around the world.

This morning… the complexities of our world still transcend the efforts of one man, one party or, even, one nation. People will do unspeakable things because they say they love their country or their God.

This morning… families from all backgrounds will struggle, marriages will fail, and parents will worry about their children. The most local of our circumstances and problems will still seem overwhelming and hopeless for so many, no matter what the political landscape looks like.

This morning… the poor are still poor; our prisons are still full; our schools are still in need. People still judge too many of our brothers and sisters because of the color of their skin. People still awaken to lonely homes and even lonelier lives. And, people still believe that one more dollar, or one more purchase, or one more title, will make the ache go away.

This morning… our brothers and sisters in the faith still fight over the least of what we can agree upon. And, people continue to believe that our answers exists somewhere among our own abilities, gifts and graces—a lie told, and believed, from the Garden until now.

And, so, this morning… we need not create another Satan. That job remains taken.

But, on this morning… we need not create another Messiah either. That position is also filled.

And because of that, this morning… the solutions to our problems remain vested in our ability to look past our differences and trust the best of what we can agree upon.

This morning… the Table remains, as it has for 2,000 years and through countless elections, as the real center of hope for both how God sees us and for how God intends for us to see each other. While the world casts its hope in the extraordinary—buildings made of marble and granite; God delights and offers real hope in the ordinary--- bread, juice, and places made of straw and hills made of jagged rock.

This morning… the message of the Good News remains for those who have and have not, for those who vote left or right or not at all, and for those who consider faith a burden or a crutch.

This morning…. the family of God remains bigger than boundaries and nationalities and ideologies. And, we still pray that men and women of all ages, nations and races, will make good decisions for the good of the world for the right reasons. Because, our hope remains in something more sacred than even an election, a president, a congress or the concept of democracy.

This morning… our God still reigns, still loves unconditionally, still offers forgiveness, still calls us to do good and seek justice, still encourages us to live faithfully, still insists that we make peace, still favors the poor whether of material or spirit, still comforts those who mourn, still draws close to those who hunger and thirst for Him, still believes in the communion of the saints, and still prepares a place for when the journey is over.

Yes, this morning… much is different, but little has changed.

And, so, for my two friends… and for all of us… the real question on this morning… or any morning… is what shall we do with THIS DAY… that the LORD HAS MADE---I say let us rejoice and be glad in it---

Be salt and light… you matter.
Shane