iHajj

The Porpoise Driven Life

2009-12-08T11:48:00.000-06:00

Check out this great video about the Porpoise Driven Life. A great comment on evangelical craziness.

If you are reading this as a note on facebook, may I recommend you visit www.ThomasMcKenzie.com for the full service version?

Top 3s, So Far

2009-12-07T18:07:00.000-06:00

My buddy Andrew Peterson challenged those of us who write on the Rabbit Room to give him a list of our top three albums, books, and movies of the year. This is how I responded. How would you respond?

I took this very seriously and made three rules for myself. First, it had to be a piece of media that I have actually consumed. No claiming movies that I will probably love that haven’t been released yet. No claiming to adore the Hurt Locker, which I missed in the theater. Second, it had to be something that was actually released in 2009, not just something I read in 2009. Finally, I decided not to mention any Rabbit Room contributor so as to expand our horizons, and so as not to make Andy Gullahorn mad at me when I didn’t choose him. Not because I don’t love his music but because he shames me in bowling. So, I did TV instead of music. Cheating? Who cares?

Films

An Education: The film that you most likely haven’t seen but you really should, because it is just that funny/beautiful/thoughtful.
Inglourious Basterds Get over your prejudices and Tarentino’s silly showmanship, close your eyes 3 or 4 times, and watch the best picture likely to be made this year.
Up: Because if I can’t stop crying in a film, and I can’t stop thinking about it later, it has to be in this list.

Books

Justificiation by N.T. Wright: Not his best book, but better by far than any other theological book written this year (I assert having not read all those books). He is humanity’s greatest living theologian. Anglicans Rule!
Lost to the West by Lars Brownsworth: Based on a fantastic podcast, this history of Byzantium is well worth your time.
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller: Didn’t love the last half of this little book, but the first half unveils the heart of the Gospel.

Glee: Yes, it has its Christian bashing moments. But it is the one TV show guaranteed to make me laugh, smile, shed a tear, and feel all warm and fuzzy.
Battlestar Galactica, the final season: If you have not watched the new Battlestar Galactica from the beginning mini-series through the end, you are missing out on the best television show of this decade.
Mad Men: The music isn’t just the notes, it’s the silence between.

If you are reading this as a note on facebook, may I recommend you visit www.ThomasMcKenzie.com for the full service version?

ReOrdered

2009-12-07T08:30:00.002-06:00

When I’m upset about something, I can get into a bad headspace. Instead of living in the moment, I get focused about worse case scenarios. I can start to play these out in my head until all I see is a dark future. Instead of being thankful for my many gifts, I can only think of what I don’t have, or what I might lose. I start getting short tempered and difficult to live with.

I was in that place on a recent Saturday. I wasn’t feeling in the least bit social, and I wasn’t looking forward to worship on Sunday morning. I got up early that Sunday to spend time with the Lord, but my mood wasn’t improved.

I showed up at the church, I got my robe on, and I gathered with those who would serve at the altar. We prayed together. As I often do, I thanked God for this time to gather, and I praised him for his Word and Sacrament. I asked him to stir up his Spirit, and to reorder our hearts and minds as we worshipped him.

The Eucharistic Feast, the ancient pattern of worship we engage in, brings me away from the world of my feelings and my thoughts. Instead of living in a universe in which my own head makes reality, the Eucharist opens my heart and mind to the Truth. That day as I engaged in worship, from the opening words to the music to the reading of the Word all the way through the celebration of Communion, God did a work in me. I had arrived that morning with a disordered way of thinking. I went home recognizing that Christ was enthroned and that I was not the maker of reality.

Advent is a time for reordering. By grace, we stay focused on Christ and not on the things of this world. All the products that society has to offer begin to look more like the dust they are made from. The Lord is exalted as we look to him and allow him to put us back in alignment with Heaven.

I end this post with a prayer written about 1650 years ago by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, who’s feast day this is. I commend this prayer to your use when you are feeling disordered.

“Lord Jesus Christ, you are for me medicine when I am sick; you are my strength when I need help; you are life itself when I fear death; you are the way when I long for heaven; you are light when all is dark; you are my food when I need nourishment.”
--St. Ambrose of Milan

Promises, Promises

2009-12-06T08:03:00.013-06:00

Today at our church, I am preaching about God fulfilling his promise to David. In 2 Samuel 7:8-16, the Lord promises King David that the throne of his kingdom will be established forever. God does put David’s son on the throne. Then he gives the throne to David’s grandson, his great-grandson, his great-great=grandson and on and on.

Eventually, though, the sins of the Kings built up to the point that their nation was dismantled and their reign was over. Beginning with the deportation to Babylon, there was no descendent of David on the throne. In fact, there was no throne at all. Just the rule of foreigners in distant palaces.

God did not forget his promise. Jesus Christ came as ruler, and this son of David sits eternally enthroned. He reigns, and in him God’s promises are fulfilled. None of David’s other offspring could even have imagined such a glorious throne.

The promise did not come the way that many would have hoped, and it didn’t come in a way that was personally satisfying to thousands upon thousands of people. Centuries passed in which it looked like God had forsaken his promise. Generations lived and died and did not see the promise fulfilled.

Advent is a time when we expect the fulfillment of God’s promises. God always keeps his word, but he doesn’t necessarily do that according to our vision or our timing. He will do what he said he will do, but he may not do it the way we wish. He will provide for us, but maybe not give us what we want. He will save us, but may not make us feel good while he’s doing it. He will help us, but his help may bring us to some difficult places.

Our culture is populated by men and women who are selling instant success and instant happiness. Just read their book, or watch their show, or take their drug, or wear their jeans. Some of these people even claim to be Christians, some even use the church as their platform. At best they are self-deceived, at worst they are thieves and liars.

God does not promise instant anything. Advent is a time to be reminded of God’s promises, but it is also a time to be patient for them. Only by his grace will we be patient, because it is only in him and with his strength that we can hope to do any good thing. He is trustworthy to give us grace, and we must rely on that grace to stay peacefully expectant. He will fulfill his promises to his people and to his creation. And he will do it in his own time and in his own way.

One Moment at a Time

2009-12-05T08:08:00.005-06:00

Thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep;
He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you.
The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
“This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left.

Isaiah 30:19-21

The scripture above is from a reading assigned to this day. It is a promise from God to his people. In the time of the Messiah, God will treat them graciously. He will hear them and care for them. He will guide them and show them what to do.

Many of us long to hear God guide us and tell us what to do. We would love to have him walk behind us and tell us when to turn to the left or to the right. Sometimes we feel like he does this. Other times, we aren’t so clear.

I moved here to Nashville ten years ago this very day. I was 28 years old and had served as a youth minister and assistant priest in San Antonio Texas for about three years. I came her with my wife and our little 8 month old baby, Ella. I’m older now, my hair is thinner, my wife and I are closer and know each other so much better. That little baby is now in the 5th grade and has a little sister.

I have never had reason to doubt that God guided us here ten years ago. Certainly there have been many trials. Things have definitely not gone as I could have foreseen. I thought we would live here for four or five years, and then move on to some other church in a different city, and then to another, and then to another. I had no idea that I would leave my previous denomination and start a new church. I had no idea that I would come to love this city and the people in this community so deeply that I now want to stay here as long as I live. No one can see the future. All we can do is, by God’s grace, take his direction in small things as well as large things. One decision, one moment, at a time; choosing to do the next right thing.

You may be in a situation in which you are being called upon to make decisions, or live with decisions that others have made. You may clearly hear God’s voice, or you may be waiting and wondering. In any case, Advent is a time to remember that God is present to you. He has promised to provide for you and guide you if you will open your heart to him and listen to his voice. His provision may be hard to see, and his voice hard to hear. But this is a temporary condition. The Redeemer has come, and he will make himself known to you. One moment at a time.

The Coming Thief

2009-12-03T08:30:00.008-06:00

Jesus said “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:43-44

Two nights ago. At one o’clock in the morning, I was downstairs in our den. I had twisted the television set around so I could get behind it. Squinting, I was writing down the serial number written on the metal plate on the back side. For whatever reason (fear mainly) this seemed like a good thing to do in the middle of the night.

I live in Crieve Hall where we have had a number of homes burglarized recently. Just a few weeks ago, a family in our church had their home broken into and their valuables stolen. Last week, our friends who live just four houses down from us were burglarized in the same manner. The thieves hit in the morning, after both adults have left the house. They smash in the back door and then go for electronics and jewelry.

As a husband and father of two little girls, I am very aware of the threat of home invasion. We have an alarm system which we arm at night or whenever we leave the house. We have a dog. We have a fenced in backyard that I keep chained and locked. We lock our cars and our house. We are also capable of defending our home if we are present. And now I have recorded the serial numbers of all our major electronic devises. We are careful.

As careful as we are, however, I know that a person who really wants to break into my house can do it. With all the burglaries of the last few weeks, I’m even beginning to get this sick feeling that such a crime is inevitable. If not soon, then someday. Preparation is important, but ultimately I am not in control. There is nothing I can do to stop it.

In the Bible reading above, Christ compares himself to a thief who breaks in to someone’s house. Jesus says that if the home owner had known when the thief was coming, he could have stopped him. If my friend down the street had know what time the burglars were coming, I guarantee there would have been a shotgun waiting for them!

My friend didn’t know when they were coming, and we don’t know when to expect Christ. Advent is a time of preparation, but it is also a time to expect the inevitable. Yes, we can pray and fast and give and prepare our hearts for Christ. We should do these things. Yet Advent is also a time to be aware that we are not in control. No matter what we do, or don’t do, Christ is going to show up. He’s going to come into our lives whether we ask him to or not. We might as well get used to it.

I have a sign on the door to my office. It reads, in Latin (because I’m just that pompous) “Vocatus atque non vocatus Deus aderit.” Translated: “Called or not called, God is present.” The Christ who came as a baby, the Christ who will come as judge, and the Christ who comes into our daily lives will come, whether we call him or not. He doesn’t need our summons. I don’t know if that comforts you or scares you today. Maybe a bit of both. Either way, this Christ is the one who loves us. As C.S. Lewis said of Aslan, he’s wild but he’s also good. I welcome his coming.

Fasting by Giving

2009-12-02T08:03:00.004-06:00

The prophet Isaiah writes,

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free; and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—;
when you see the naked, to clothe them; and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn; and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:6-8

Advent is a season of fasting. Crazy, right? All around us is celebration, but the Church is called upon to fast. In the Book of Isaiah, the Holy Spirit counsels us that fasting is not just about giving up food. It is also about sharing with the poor. In the secular world, the Christmas season is about buying and receiving, as well as giving to those we love. In the Church world, the Advent season is about giving to those who are in need, and even giving to those whom we don’t know as an act of Christian love.

Today, I would like to tell you about Family Affair Ministries' Christmas Store. Each year, FAM provides the poor in East Nashville with an opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts. The blessing is that the gifts are free to those who come to the store. Yes, there is a great system in place which ensures fairness and prevents people from abusing the system.

All gifts in the FAM Christmas Store are donated, and many are given by members of the church I am a part of, Church of the Redeemer. This coming Sunday is the last day to bring unwrapped gifts to Redeemer so they can be ready for the Christmas store. You can also take them by Family Affair Ministries at 1600 Riverside Drive in East Nashville.

Let me invite you to consider giving a gift through FAM as a way of fulfilling Christ's command to minister to the "least of these."

Here is a list of items that the FAM Christmas Store needs.

Clothing Items: New coats, jackets, pants, pajamas, socks, shoes, gloves, scarves, etc. (any size…boys, girls, men and women)
Electronic Items: CD players, MP3 players, alarm clocks, etc.
Baby Needs: Diapers, bottles, rattles, strollers, warm clothing, etc.
Hygiene Products: Lotion, soap, deodorant, shaving cream, packaged razors, denture products, etc.
Household Items: Laundry detergent, fabric softener, towels, washcloths, etc.
Household Appliances: Irons, toasters, blenders, can openers, etc.
Sports Equipment: Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, basketballs, footballs, etc.
Children’s Books and Toys: Books, board games, stuffed animals, dolls, art supplies, puzzles, etc.
They do ask that the items be new. They also ask that we do not purchase items that are Pokemon, Digemon, Harry Potter, Bratz, or negative super heroes.

One Minute Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009-12-01T13:12:00.000-06:00

I have finally reviewed Fantastic Mr. Fox! Did George Clooney redeem himself after that Men Who Stare at Goats fiasco? Has Wes Anderson made a mistake by going into stop motion animation? Find out. Watch below, or follow this link: www.vimeo.com/7922577

One Minute Review: Fantastic Mr. Fox from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Looking for Christ

2009-12-01T11:56:00.001-06:00

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. On one hand, how is that even possible? After all, Christ’s coming has nothing to do with me. He came the first time without my permission. He likely won’t wait for me to get my act together before he comes the second time.

On the other hand, Jesus teaches us to “stay alert” at all times for his coming. (Mark 13:35) Yes, this means that his second coming might happen any time. But it also means that he might show up in my life in new ways at any moment.

During Advent, the Church is summoned to pay particular attention to Jesus' command to stay alert. So, how will I stay alert for Christ today? The best I can think to do is to begin with prayer. I take a moment to ask the Lord to keep me on the alert for his presence. I ask the Holy Spirit to fill me today so that I may be prepared for whatever God might do.

And then I watch. Maybe I'll hear him in a snippet of conversation, or see him in my wife's kindness. Maybe I'll run into him on the street or in my office or at the hospital. Maybe I will have a sense of his presence while I'm praying or listening to music or driving to pick up my kids.

If I don’t notice him, that’s OK. My task is to stay alert, he will do the rest.

St. Andrew's Day

2009-11-30T07:08:00.002-06:00

Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by your Holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Biographical Information From "Lesser Feasts and Fasts"
Most biographical notes on this Apostle begin “Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother,” and he is so described in the Gospels. Identifying Andrew as Peter’s brother makes it easy to know who he is, but it also makes it easy to overlook the fact of Andrew’s special gift to the company of Christ. The Gospel according to John tells how Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, was one of two disciples who followed Jesus after John had pointed him out, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Andrew and the other disciple went with Jesus and stayed with him, and Andrew’s first act afterward was to find his brother and bring him to Jesus. We might call Andrew the first missionary in the
company of disciples.

Though Andrew was not a part of the inner circle of disciples (Peter, James, and John), he is always named in the list of disciples, and appears prominently in several incidents. Andrew and Peter were fishermen, and Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus’ calling them from their occupation, and their immediate response to his call. Andrew was the disciple who brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus for the feeding of the multitude.

We hear little of Andrew as a prominent leader, and he seems always to be in the shadow of Peter. Eusebius, the Church historian, records his going to Scythia, but there is no reliable information about the end of his life. Tradition has it that he was fastened to an X-shaped cross and suffered death at the hands of angry pagans. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.

My Favorite Collect

2009-11-29T08:01:00.001-06:00

A "collect" (pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable) is a short form of Christian prayer. It is written to be used in public worship, and has several traditional elements. In the Anglican Church, we are given a collect for each Sunday of the Church year. So, Easter Sunday has a special collect, as does the Sunday closest to September 22nd, as do they all. These are called the "Collect of the Day."

Having grown up in this tradition, and having now been ordained (in a few days) for eleven years, I'm familiar with all the Collects of the Day. Since I was a child, my favorite of all of them has been the Collect for the First Sunday in Advent. It was written by the great Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer, and first appeared in the 1549 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. Here it is, as he wrote it:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

Advent, the season that begins this year on Sunday, November 29, is the first portion of the Christian Year. It is the time in which the Church prepares for both the First Coming of Christ (the Incarnation) and also for the Second Coming (the End of the Age). You see both of these in this collect. 'This mortal life in which Christ came to visit us in great humility" is his incarnation. "The last day, when he shall come again" is his second coming.

The poetry of the prayer is based in part on the New Testament reading that was appointed for this day back in 1549. Romans 13:12 says "The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light."

The prayer weaves together the reading, as well as the meaning of the season. More importantly, it asks God for a two fold grace. First, that by grace we will put away the works of darkness. With God's help we will repent, leave behind our wicked ways. Second, that by grace we will put on the armor of light, the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10 etc.

Both the First and Second Coming are about light coming into the world, as in John 1:4 etc. So the prayer uses the imagery of light and darkness, as well as other poetic use of the English language like "this mortal life" vs "the life immortal."

It is a beautiful prayer, a poetic prayer. It is a prayer that is founded in the Bible, as prayer is at its best. It is also a prayer that opens us up to God's special grace during this holy season. In the midst of all the shopping and driving and football and everything else that these last few days have been about, it is a door to the Reality of the season. I commend it to your use, but today and in the season to come.

Thanksgiving Service Tonight, and Advent

2009-11-24T10:00:00.000-06:00

Tonight is the annual Community Thanksgiving Service. It is sponsored by our church, Woodmont Hills Church of Christ, and Glen Leven Presbyterian. The service begins at 6:30 pm at Glen Leven 3906 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37204. The service will include music, prayers, communion, and a sermon from yours truly. An offering will be taken, the proceeds of which will go to the Campus for Human Development (a ministry to the very poor). All people, regardless of church affiliation or lack thereof, are invited to attend.

On another note, Advent begins this Sunday. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Advent is referred to as the "Lesser Lent." It is "lesser" mainly because it is shorter. It is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. As the secular culture can speak of nothing but "Black Friday," the universal Church is called upon to set out mind on the return of our Lord and culmination of history.

It is traditional for Christians to practice a special spiritual discipline during Advent. If you are a Christian, I would encourage you to consider a special action of fasting, prayer, or giving during this season. If you would like to learn more about Advent, and how to practice it, may I recommend coming next week Wednesday, Dec. 2nd, to our program "Practicing Advent" at 7 pm at Redeemer.

I have noticed that I'm getting a lot of special offers in my inbox as "Black Friday" approaches, and these will only increase as Christmas draws nearer. Everyone wants to e-mail me an opportunity to buy something. In an effort to keep our congregation focused on the Lord, I will be e-mailing out a short meditation each of the days of Advent. Some days it will be something I write, other days it will be something I have found that might be a blessing. In any case, I would like at least one of the daily e-mails they receive during this season to be devoted to Christ and his Kingdom, rather than simply marketing. I will be posting these meditations here on my blog, so that those who read it here or on facebook can follow along (if you'd like).

May the Lord richly bless you during this Thanksgiving holiday. We all have much to be thankful for.

One Minute Review: Men Who Stare at Goats

2009-11-20T18:52:00.000-06:00

With a cast like this, could it go wrong? Watch the review before deciding if you should spend the time and money on this one. See it below, or check it out here: www.vimeo.com/7733689 Remember that you can listen to the OMR on your iPod by searching "One Minute Review" in the iTunes store.

OMR: Men Who Stare At Goats from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

The One Minute Review Goes Omnimedia

2009-11-17T13:45:00.000-06:00

The One Minute Review was born on December 22nd, 2006. Originally, I conceived of it as part of a wider podcast called "HajjPod." This was meant to be the audio-blog companion of the written blog, iHajj.

Over the years, the One Minute Review was pretty much the only thing I used the podcast for. The service I use, gcast, allowed me to record by phone. So most of these reviews were done in the parking lot just after I walked out of the film. Talk about your snap judgments.

A couple of months back, my friend Andrew asked me to translate the One Minute Review into video format and put it on The Rabbit Room. I was more than happy to oblige. Doing the video versions has meant that my audio podcasting has slipped quite a bit.

Well, today I would like to announce that the One Minute Review is now going OMNIMEDIA. You can watch it on YouTube or Vimeo. You can watch it on Facebook via YouTube. You can watch it on the Rabbit Room. And now you can listen to it on your iPod, or on the internet. How cool is that?

The One Minute Review Channel is on Vimeo. vimeo.com/channels/omr
You can subscribe via RSS with this feed: feeds.feedburner.com/oneminutereview
The videos also hang out on YouTube, along with other stuff I've made. youtube.com/fisher4x
You can listen to the One Minute Review at GCast. gcast.com/u/ihajj/hajjpod

You can subscribe instantly to the audio OMR by clicking on this link. itpc://www.gcast.com/u/ihajj/hajjpod.xml
You can find the One Minute Review on the iTunes store. Just search "Thomas McKenzie." You'll see my happy picture there.

So many ways to get information about movies I've just seen. Boggles the mind. I must be really into movies.

I've been looking for a central way to deliver all this goodness, and perhaps to video podcast the OMR, and I have figured out two or three good ways to do it. But all of them would cost money. And, while I'm having lots of fun with this film-review hobby, I'm not at a place where I'm going to spend any money on it. Not yet.

I hope you enjoy the OMR! I enjoy making it.

One Minute Review: An Education

2009-11-13T18:24:00.000-06:00

Want to go to the movies? Check out my review of An Education.

One Minute Review: An Education from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

One Minute Review: A Christmas Carol

2009-11-09T19:13:00.000-06:00

The longest One Minute Review ever, for Disney's "A Christmas Carol." Check it out here, or view it here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDtzw_Y-7RU

One Minute Review: A Serious Man

2009-11-05T15:33:00.000-06:00

The Coen Brother's film can finally be seen in Nashville. Should you have a look? Watch the One Minute Review here, or at http://www.vimeo.com/7459416

One Minute Review: A Serious Man from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

One Minute Review: Law Abiding Citizen

2009-10-30T16:47:00.001-05:00

This is my review of the new Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler film "Law Abiding Citizen." Should you check it out? Better watch the One Minute Review and find out. You can watch it here, or follow this link to the One Minute Review Chanel on Vimeo: vimeo.com/channels/omr

One Minute Review: Law Abiding Citizen from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

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Power and Redemption

2009-10-29T13:14:00.000-05:00

I preached a sermon back in July that got a strong (mainly positive) response. Several people asked if I could provide a transcript. I have taken that sermon, had it transcribed, and have now turned it into an essay. It is a bit long for a blog post (3500 words), but I offer it to you here. Feel free to distribute (with citation) at will.

Power and Redemption
by Thomas McKenzie

When I was barely 22 years old, I moved to Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Ambridge is a small former steel town on the banks of the Ohio River just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the home of Trinity School for MInistry, where I was beginning seminary.

I had just graduated from the University of Texas, and had moved directly from Austin to Ambridge. I had never owned a car in Austin. I lived close to campus and rode my bicycle everywhere.   However, when I got to Pennsylvania I discovered that I was going to need to buy a car. I lived on one side of Pittsburgh but had found a job as a youth minister on the other side of the city. There was simply no way I was going to be able to do that job and not drive. So I started to look for a car.

Conveniently enough, there was a used car lot right across the street from the seminary. It was called the Ombres Brothers Auto Sales. It was unlike any other car lot I had ever seen. Instead of a one story glass building in the middle of a giant parking lot of cars, the Ombres’ place was a series of cramped rows of cars parked bumper to bumper in what would otherwise have been a vacant lot between two 100 year old storefronts.   The office was a little room near the lot, and I remember they had a couple of other lots in nearby blocks.

I went across the street to the lot, and I was met by one of the Ombres brothers. Mr. Ombres was this big guy with a full-sized Pittsburgh look to him. He had a thick mustache that hid his mouth beneath a fountain of dark, wiry hair. His off-white shirt was unbuttoned a bit too far, and he wore a gold chain around his nick. He looked pretty much what I expected him to look like.

I shook his hand and explained my situation to him. I told him, ”I'm a student at the seminary. I'm also a youth minister at a church over in McKeesport, and I need a car. I need the cheapest car I can find, really. I just need something to get me from point A to point B. I don't care what it looks like. I just need a good, reliable car to get me across town." He said, "Oh, I have the car for you."

He took me down the rows until we came to a Dodge Colt. This Colt was a stubby, brown thing. The upholstery inside was worn thin, and the body had several small rust holes near the wheels. I have no idea what year it was, but it was this small, incredibly ugly little beast. He said, "I can give you this car for $1,800." I said, "Wow, that's great. But I don't have $1,800." He said, "That's okay. We can finance it here on the lot. Don't worry about that."

I said, "Well, you know it's kind of rusty." "Oh yeah, it's Pittsburgh. All the cars are rusty." "Okay." I said, "Where is this car from, how old is it?" He said, "Oh, it was driven by an old lady who kept it in her garage. She just drove it back and forth to the grocery store and to church, and she passed away recently and we took it upon ourselves to sell it. This is a really great value on this car." You may have heard kind of line of bunk at a used car lot before, or maybe you think it’s so silly no one would ever use it. I’m here to testify that, at least at this lot in 1993, the tale was still in use.

At this point, I need to tell you something. I had never shopped for a car before. I had never even bought anything expensive before. Not a house, not a TV, not anything. I had no idea what I was doing; and Mr. Ombres could smell it on me. He could smell my incompetence, my inexperience. So he said to me, "Tell you what, I'm going to give you a piece of paper. You just go across the street to your seminary and get someone over there to sign it. The paper says you're good for the money, and we'll finance this car for you." I said, "Oh, that's great Mr. Ombres. Thank you so much."

So I left Mr. Ombres and I went across the street to the school. I found the office of the Director of Development, the Reverend Admiral Bruce Newell, U.S. Navy, Retired. Admiral Newell had been in charge of the nuclear submarine fleet of the U.S. Navy before he became a priest. He was, like Mr. Ombres, a big and impressive looking older man. LIke Mr. Ombres, he seemed to know what he was talking about. Frankly, he was about as intimidating as anyone I’ve ever known.

I came to his office and I said, "Bruce, I need to buy a car from Mr. Ombres. He told me I had to get someone over here to sign this piece of paper, so I’m hoping you can do that for me." Bruce took the paper from me, looked it over for a moment, and said “this is asking me to cosign a loan for you at 14 percent interest.” I had no idea what any of those words meant, so I nodded my head. He put the paper on his desk, removed his glasses, looked me in the eye, and began to ask me some questions.

Admiral Newell: "What year is this car?"

Me: "I don't know."

Admiral Newell:"What’s the mileage on this car?"

Me: "I don't know."

Admiral Newell: "Have you had this car checked out by a mechanic?"

Me: (shrugging) “no.”

Admiral Newell: "How does it drive?"

Me: "I don't know."

Admiral Newell:"What do you mean you don't know? When you test drove it, what was it like?"

Me: "I didn't test drive it."

Admiral Newell:"You didn't test drive it?"

Me:"No, Mr. Ombres didn’t say anything about test driving it.”

Admiral Newell: "Did you even turn the engine on?"

Me: (looking down) “No.”

Admiral Newell: "Okay, I'll tell you what. I'm going to take this piece of paper and I'll get back to you. Come back tomorrow." I said, "Okay, I'll come back tomorrow."

So the next day I came back into Bruce Newell’s office. He sat me down and said, "I'm not going to cosign this loan. Not because I don’t trust you, but because that car is a piece of garbage. It won't last, and it may not work at all. They're trying to rip you off. I want you to call your mom and dad, and tell them you need a car. If they won't help you buy one, I will. I will go to the lot with you and we will find a car. I will give you a down payment, and I will cosign the loan. But first talk to your parents." I said, "Thank you, sir."

I never went back to the Ombres’ lot, and I never test drove the Dodge Colt. It wasn’t that I was upset with Mr. Ombres, it was more that I was ashamed at being such a sucker. I followed Bruce’s advice, and my mom and dad helped me out. My mom found a used Nissan Maxima for $4000 in Ohio, and she bought it for me. I drove that car for 100 thousand miles before selling it for $2600 years later.

This story illustrates something important about power. It is the story of two men who had power over me, and the decisions they made about how to use that power.

Power is simply the ability to affect someone's life. Sometimes power comes from someone’s position. Parents have power over their children, you boss has power at work, a policeman has power when he pulls you over. Power can also be based in having something that someone else needs, like knowledge. Mr. Ombres had power over me because I didn't know what I was doing. He recognzied that and decided that he was going to use his power to manipulate me for his own profit. He decided that the best use of his power was to gratify himself.

Admiral Newell, on the other hand, also had power over me. My inexperience and incompetence gave him the ability to influence my life. Unlike Mr. Ombres, Admiral Newell decided to use his power to help me, to put himself out for me, to try to enter in to my life in a positive way.

Power is a factor in practically any relationship, form long term ones (like parents and bosses) to short term ones (like salesmen and their customers). Power is neither good nor bad, it simply is. However, power can be used in good or bad ways. You can use your power to gratify the self, to make yourself feel better, to take something that you want, to make something go your way. Power can also be used to care for someone else, to respect the dignity of another person, to build another person up, to love them. You can either use people with your power or you can love people with your power. It's impossible to do both at the same time.

All of us have some degree of power. We have power in relationships. We have power in our jobs. We have power at home. All of us have power and all of us have people over us in power. Power is part of the human condition and it is never going away. The way we use our power, for love or for self-gratification, is within our control.

Consider two examples from the Bible in which men have power and use it. The first is the story of David and Bathsheeba. It is a familiar story, and is found in the Bible in 2 Samuel chapter 11.

King David is often seen as a hero of the Bible. How many preachers have used him as an example of great faith or great courage? Children read of his exploits in Sunday school, and his victory over Goliath is one of the most famous tales in scripture. In this story, however, King David is seen as a man who uses his power over and over again to please himself.

Verse 1: “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab and with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army.”

In the time when kings go out to war, David stays home in his palace and sends out his general. While other kings are putting themselves in danger, leading their followers into conflict, David is hanging out at home. The ability to lead an army is power. Sending someone else out to do your dirty work is an abuse of power.

Verses 2-4: “One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The was woman was very beautiful.” David discovers that she is married, but still he “sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her . . . then she went back home.”

While David’s general is out doing his job for him, David has time and leisure to spy on women from his roof. He sees this woman, finds out that she is married, but summons her to come to him. The ability to see an attractive married woman and then have her brought to you so you can sleep with her is a display of power. It is also a terrible misuse of the trust and authority that belongs to the King.

David’s misuse of power only continues. When he finds out Bathseba is pregnant, he decides he doesn't want her husband to know what he had done. He brings the husband back from the front lines and then tries twice to get the husband, Uriah, to sleep with his wife (verses 6-13). When that doesn’t work, David orders his general to have Uriah killed by the enemy (verse 15) . Once again, summoning soldiers and then ordering them killed reveals both David’s power and his misuse of that power to satisfy his own selfish motives.

When messengers report that Uriah is dead, David uses his death as a rallying point for his general. He uses the news to encourage his army to press harder, turning his own crime into motivation to strive harder against the enemy (verse 25). This displays a deep cynicism on David’s part.

David is no hero in this story. In fact, every action that he takes in this chapter is heinous. He simply goes from one sinful act to another, all in the name of personal pleasure.

In this story of David, I hope we see ourselves. We are not kings, we don’t have David’s level of power. However, if we're honest with ourselves we recognize that we have sent other people out to do our dirty work for us. We have treated people as objects for our lust. Some of us have broken marriage vows. We have avoided responsibility for our actions. We have used our authority at home or at work to cover up our bad behavior. We have let others take the fall for our mistakes. We have used the authority given to us to please our selves.

When we compare David to Jesus, when we compare ourselves to Jesus, we see that we fall far short. Consider the kind of power that Jesus had. In John’s Gospel, chapter 6, he has the power to take a small amount of food and turn it into enough to feed an entire army. In that same chapter, he has the power to control the weather and walk across a body of water. Imagine if Jesus had chosen to use these abilities to make war on Rome. Imagine an army in the ancient world that could be fed with practically no supplies, that could travel with perfect weather, that could walk across rivers and lakes. Imagine an army in which the dead could be brought back to life, diseases driven away, wounds instantly healed. Such an army could have conquered the world. It is no wonder, therefore, that the people who witnessed Jesus’ actions wanted to make him King (John 6:15-16).

But Jesus was not interested in using his power to please himself or his followers. Rather, he came to serve, to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). He used his amazing power to “preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus never used his power to care for himself but only to love those around him.

We have two completely different examples of the use of power. On one hand we have King David’s use of power, Mr. Ombres' use of power. This is the kind of power that says, "I'm going to use what I have to get what I want." On the other hand, we have Jesus’ use of power, Admiral Newell’s use of power. This is the kind of power that says “I’m going to use my authority to better those around me, to build other people up, to bring those who are lower to a higher place, to love and serve others."

We have before us two different options, two different ways to live. At this moment in the essay, I have the power to do something. I could say, "therefore let us take Jesus and Admiral Newell as our examples, and use our power to do good. Let us be good, like them, and not bad like King David and Mr. Ombres.” I could say that, and we could all nod our heads and give thanks for this excellent example of goodness that they offer.

That's what I could do. If our religion was about being good, that's what I would do, but it's not. While it is better to be like Jesus than King David, while it is better to be like Admiral Newell than Mr. Ombres, the essence of the Gospel is not to found in acting in good or bad ways. Let me share with you what the essence of the Gospel is.

In Matthew, chapter 1, beginning in verse 1 we find the genealogy of Jesus. In that chapter, the Holy Spirit of God speaking to the Universal Church through Saint Matthew tells how it is that Jesus came into human existence. He follows the story of Christ’s lineage, beginning with Abraham. “Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob, etcetera, etcetera,” through the generations. We see how God is at work in human history to bring forth His Messiah, how he is putting everything in place by brining families together, by keeping the line going. Then, in verse 6, this happens. "And Jesse became the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife."

Wait a second. David misuses his power. He's corrupt. He's sinful. He takes a woman. He gets her pregnant. He kills the woman’s husband to cover up the crime. This woman, Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, is also sinful. She goes along with what David is doing. She does not warn her husband. We have no indication that she objected to anything the king did. Once Uriah was dead and her official mourning period was over, she married the man who had killed her husband and went on to have children with him.

We have these two people who have done these atrocious things, and out of them, out of that union, comes Jesus Christ. Out of one of the most sinful, dark, relationships you can imagine comes the bloodline that saves us all. Why? Because God redeems the fallen. That is the Gospel. The Gospel is not “be good, not bad.” The Gospel is the news that God come to us and become our Redeemer.

In the midst of sinfulness, God is still at work. In the midst of darkness, the Holy Spirit is still doing things. David had acquired Bathsheba and murdered Uriah through a despicable misuse of power. But God used the coming together of David and Bathsheba to bring forth the Savior of the world. Centuries after David died, Jesus Christ would be called by the honorary title "Son of David." (Matthew 9:7, etc.) Even though David and Bathsheba deeply sinned, God redeemed their union to offer salvation to us all.

I ask you, therefore, this question. If God can do that, what can He do with your brokenness? Think of your sin, your darkness, the mistakes you've made. Consider your regrets, your failings, the things you wish you had done differently. Is it possible that God can not only forgive you, but he can even use your failings to bring forth good?

If in the midst of all of David's ugliness, he can bring forth the Christ, what can He do in the midst of all your ugliness, or mine? The message of the Gospel is that God in Christ can bring forth great good even from our most miserable failures. His redemption is abundant. It is infinite. It is powerful. It is incomprehensible. It is beyond our understanding. It is beyond our choices. It is beyond our power.

The redemptive power of Christ is so great that not only can your sins be forgiven, but beauty can come from ashes. Glory can come from suffering. Good can come from what you and I meant for evil. That is the Gospel and that is the redeeming power of Jesus that He showed forth by dying for us on the Cross and by being raised again, by ascending to heaven, and by promising to return.

Each of us has our own burdens. We bear scars in our bodies and in our minds. We bear the burdens of the past. What the God in his Gospel says to us today is, "I can take those burdens from you, and I can do miracles with them.”

Jesus is still in the redemption business. Yes, it is better to use your power to treat people than to treat them poorly. But when we don’t do right, Christ is still here to redeem, as he did with David.

You are invited to come to Christ in prayer.   Thinking of your burdens, you can say to him "will you please do something with this because I can't." Let him do his work in you. That's what he longs to do. His love for you is so great that He will bring forth redemption from whatever circumstances you have found yourself in.

This essay is based on a sermon given by the Reverend Thomas McKenzie at Church of the Redeemer (Anglican) in Nashville, Tennessee on July 26, 2009. You can listen to the original sermon, or other sermons and teachings given at Church of the Redeemer, by going to www.RedeemerCast.net. You can learn more about Church of the Redeemer by going to www.RedeemerNashville.net. Thomas McKenzie's personal blog may be found at www.ThomasMcKenzie.com

All Saints and Halloween

2009-10-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

All Saints Day

This Sunday is All Saints' Day. On this day, we remember all those who have gone to their rest in the hope of the resurrection.

At our church, during the sermon time we are inviting those present to give a brief testimony. We are asking that people tell the congregation about someone who pointed them toward Jesus but who has now gone to their rest. We also have a candle lighting ceremony during communion.

Though we celebrate communion every Sunday, there is something particularly special about it on this day. I imagine the Communion Table as being only the small, visible corner of a vast table that stretches all around the world and throughout all time. Around the table are all those who have ever or will ever celebrate, the vast cloud of witnesses, the Communion of Saints. Christ himself is the host and we are his guests. It is the moment in which I get to celebrate with my heroes in the faith (with St. Mary and St. Columba and St. Augustine and St. Corrie etc.). I also get to celebrate with my father, whom I don't get to see again in this life.

All Saints' Eve

All Saints' Eve is this Saturday. There are Christians who feel that Halloween is an evil day and that it should not be celebrated. As there are some pagan roots to Halloween (as there are pagan roots to most Christian holidays), and as it is sometimes celebrated in an ungodly way, that position is understandable. I don't judge or mock those who don't feel they can participate in any way.

However, Halloween is also one of the very few days of the year, perhaps the only day of the year, in which getting to know our neighbors is encouraged by our culture. Even if you don't choose to decorate your house or wear a costume, let me encourage you to consider keeping your lights on and handing out treats to children who come by. Or consider going with children as they walk in the neighborhood, keeping them company and greeting neighbors. Consider seeing Halloween as an open door to love others, to bless them, and to get to know them.

For my part, I will be dressed up as one of the Crazy 88s from the movie Kill Bill, volume 1. Why? Because I have all that is required for the costume and I look as cool as I'm going to be able to look. My kids are goddesses, one Egyptian and one Greek. Because that's who they wanted to be. They are really into ancient cultures right now, and read about them all the time. I think that's great. So, I hope you give us . . . I mean them . . . some treats.

One Minute Review: Zombieland

2009-10-26T14:05:00.000-05:00

I finally saw Zombieland. And I made a one-minute review. Check it out here, or go to www.vimeo.com/7269348. Or, even better, subscribe to the One Minute Review channel by going to vimeo.com/channels/omr

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OMR: Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-17T15:44:00.000-05:00

The One Minute Review of "Where the Wild Things Are" is now available. Watch this review before taking your kids! Check it out here or at www.vimeo.com/7118036

Also, take a look at the NEW One Minute Review Channel on Vimeo. Go to Vimeo.com/channels/OMR

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Where the Wild Things Are Review

One Minute Review: The Invention of Lying

2009-10-10T11:41:00.000-05:00

Ricky Gervais and friends have crafted an atheistic romantic comedy for your viewing pleasure. Should you see it? Let the One Minute Review help you decide.

OMR: The Invention of Lying from Thomas McKenzie on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/6997008

This Week

2009-10-09T00:27:00.002-05:00

This has been quite a week. I thought it might be fun to let you in on some of what I've seen and done. In fairness, it has been unusually packed with evening events. But many of my weeks could be described as "unusual."

Sunday, October 4
In the Morning, I preached and celebrated at both of our worship services. The subject matter from the Jesus Story Year (www.JesusStoryYear.com) was "Christ our Passover." I preached about Christ in the Passover and the Exodus, speaking fairly personally about my own history with the Passover celebration.

In the afternoon, I went home and watched the Titans get slaughtered. Then I took a brief nap and headed back over to the church facility. At 4 pm, we had our 2nd Annual Neighborhood Bar-B-Que. Because of the rain, we had to have it inside; but it was a great experience. We were joined by a large number of our friends from Family Affair Ministries (www.familyaffairministries.com). The food was amazing, and the bluegrass music was a hoot.

One of the best things about the afternoon was moving all the tables, chairs, and beverages from the big tent on the lawn all the way back into the fellowship hall. You should have seen it. Men and women, young and old, black and white all spontaneously chipping in to move tons of stuff from one side of the property to another. Men drove their trucks up to the tent and filling them with chairs. The women formed a "water bucket line" to move chairs through the halls and back into the fellowship hall. It was just really cool.

Monday, October 5th
I was able to meet with a couple of great guys from my church, one for coffee and then another for lunch. It's so encouraging to sit with these men and hear about what God is doing in their lives. My daughters had gone with Laura to Birmingham to experience a day at Law School, so I had extra time to do some reading and writing, as well as catch up on the 100 or so e-mails that had piled up in my inbox over the weekend. I also finally upgraded my home cable service to HD. That night, I was able to go with all my ladies to the Macaroni Grille. A dear lady in our congregation had given us a gift certificate, which was a great blessing to us. By the end of the night I was celebrating wins in 4 of my 5 fantasy football leagues.

Tuesday, October 6th
I had some good pastoral care sessions on Tuesday, meeting with members of my congregation, sharing the Lord, and praying together. At lunchtime I got to lead my weekly Bible study. We spent our time talking about the Exodus. That is a neat group of people, and always welcoming to newcomers (Tuesdays at 12:10 pm).

That evening I had a unique experience. I was privileged to baptize a young woman named Kayla in the Little Harpeth River. Kayla and her boyfriend Kyle had come to a recent New Member's Seminar. I had told the group that to be a member of our congregation you must be a baptized person. Kayla had never been baptized, so we arranged to do it this evening. We were joined by a number of her friends, as well as the folks from the new Redeemer cell group she is a part of. It was quite an experience to wade into the fast flowing and muddy waters (it had been raining quite a bit) and to have the opportunity to obey Christ's command in this way. It was a great blessing to me. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the dinner that followed. But I did get to spend the evening helping my little girls with a ton of homework.

Wednesday, October 7th
After taking my girls to their school, I started the day leading Morning Prayer in our chapel (8 am, Monday through Friday). It is a lovely service, and a profoundly centering way to begin the work day. Later that morning I had a staff meeting. We have a great staff at our church. Our meetings are always a lot of fun, flowing between prayer requests, ministry updates, and personal sharing to talk about movies, books, and football. I'm so happy with our staff, and grateful to work with these talented and Christ-centered men and women.

At lunch I got to meet with a dear friend whom I haven't seen in a while, but who has just started to come back to Redeemer after a long absence. He is a really good man and it was a joy to be with him. That afternoon I spent working on my sermon before picking my girls up at school.

At 5:30 in the evening I was back at the church meeting with a couple and their first daughter. He is African, she is American. They are going to have their daughter baptized next month, and I was able to talk to them about faith, baptism, sacrament, and raising children in the faith. Then at 6:30 I led Evening Prayer in the chapel. At 7 pm I led the third part in a series called "Behind the Curtain: why we worship the way we do." A good sized group of folks met in the Sanctuary for a rousing conversation about liturgy. I greatly enjoyed the flow of questions and ideas.

The best part of my day, though, was spending the evening with my lovely wife. I love being with her.

Thursday, October 8th
Laura took the girls to school this morning, and I was at Morning Prayer. Most of the rest of the day was spent working on the Jesus Story Year, reading and writing and studying. I picked up my girls from school and took them to the dentist, and then bought my elder one some hiking boots for her upcoming three day school trip to the mountains.

In the evening, I was at church again for a sweet service of Praise and Healing. Led in large part by our Music Worship Pastor, Jenna, this was a time to call upon the Lord as well as give him praise. I had the opportunity to anoint people with oil and pray over them. I had several moments in which I felt that the Holy Spirit was leading me in what I was saying, speaking through me directly to these people. That is a crazy-cool feeling. Some folks also prayed over me, which was deeply honoring.

Coming home I got to see my wonderful girls and my amazing wife. Have I mentioned how much I love my wife and my kids? I do.

Friday, October 9th
Tomorrow is my day off. I intend to go for a run and go see a movie. And rest! My mother is coming into town, so that is always fun (especially for the girls!)

Wow, what a week.

OK, This One Got Me

2009-10-07T13:55:00.001-05:00

I don't pass this sort of thing along, but this one got me. Make of it what you will. Here is the link whence it comes.