brakes beat engines.

In a recent podcast I learned that the brakes in a car will (most) always stop a car. We're talking about lots of horsepower, with the accelerator slammed to the floor and the brakes will still stop the car even with the accelerator remaining down. 

(Side note, if you're accelerator ever gets stuck, stay calm, take your foot off both pedals and press the brakes - you'l stop.) 

Brakes always win. 

So do breaks. 

Don't let let a critic break your momentum with their empty opinions. They'll always stop you, if allowed.   

And remember, you can always stop - even when it seems you can't. Take a break, relax. It's never too late. 

paul.

He knew it all. He was at the top of the religious game. He, of course, had faith, belief, action, morality, and church attendance. He was as spiritual as you could ever hope to be. I assume he never once entertained the thought that he needed any further conversion. 

And yet, he was persecuting believers of a new faith - a sure sign you are always on the wrong track. 

The story says he was blinded by God - physically illustrating what was already true. 

If you think you know it all - and are persecuting (in any way) fellow humans - beware.  

the worst kind of cage.

Much worse than a cage, is living a trapped life, while believing you are free... and being content with the containment. 

Even calling the bars a blessing. 

sacked.

I once coached a kid who was a super star. 

He was a touchdown machine. 

He was the one... who would get the big scholarship someday. 

NFL? Who knows? 

And he'd never lost a game. 

I coached him one game. Arena football. 

The first half of the game he was sacked 5 times. We were losing. He was crying in the huddle. He'd never seen adversity. 

I once coached a kid who had potential. 

He could have been a touchdown machine. 

He could have been the one... 

He didn't know how to lose though. 

the finish.

Some of the most beautiful cathedrals and structures on our planet were built by people who never saw them completed. They would work their entire life and never see the finished project. 

I'll admit, there are a lot of things I don't start, because I don't think I'll see them finished. In fact, I might not even lay a brick. 

Fix the educational system?
Fix the mental health system? 
Fix the prison system? 
Fix poverty? 

Ridiculous. Too big. Out of control. 

Some of the most powerful accomplishments in our society were done by human beings content with not seeing the finished project. 

They continued to go to work every day. 

it's just a parable.

One day two women came to King Solomon, and one of them said:

Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long ago my baby was born at home, and three days later her baby was born. Nobody else was there with us.

One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby, and he died. Then while I was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of my bed. She put him in her bed, then she put her dead baby next to me.

In the morning when I got up to feed my son, I saw that he was dead. But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn’t my son.

“No!” the other woman shouted. “He was your son. My baby is alive!”

“The dead baby is yours,” the first woman yelled. “Mine is alive!”

They argued back and forth in front of Solomon,  until finally he said, “Both of you say this live baby is yours.  Someone bring me a sword.”

A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, “Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”

 “Please don’t kill my son,” the baby’s mother screamed. “Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don’t kill him.”

The other woman shouted, “Go ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.”

Solomon said, “Don’t kill the baby.” Then he pointed to the first woman, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”

Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly.

Sometimes we spend so much time on the surface level of a thing, that we miss the point. 

Of course, wolves don't dress up as grandmothers. 
Of course, wooden puppets don't come to life or have noses that grow. 
Of course, a good king isn't going to kill a baby. 
Of course, neither woman (most likely a prostitute) is going to believe that a king would kill the baby. 

Did it happen? Who cares?

How attached are you to your cause? To your baby? To the thing that was your idea? 

That's a different question. 

i know nothing and that is exciting!

If you've just found Cleaning Church Toilets, you might want to start at the beginning by clicking here. You can read this like a book by clicking the left arrow for a new chapter, all the way to this one, the last post in this book/blog/bloog experiment. Enjoy! 

--

I just posted thousands of words about where I’m at. My thoughts and opinions and lessons. One one hand this seems pretty arrogant:  here are my thoughts everyone. Listen. 

On the other hand, I realize I really know nothing. There is so much new out there. 

Nw science, new theories, new ideas, new perspectives, new interpretations, new species, new universes, new books, new people, and new experiences. 

I have an adrenaline rush thinking about them. 

I’m not afraid of not knowing. I hope you aren’t either. If you are, ask yourself why. Is the thing you’re holding on to that fragile? Do you have to hold on to it that tightly because it’s so threatened by everything out there? 

If so, how is that anything close to the creative power of the universe? 

Too many people have honestly decided that they know all there is to learn. They wouldn’t say it but they act it. If you bring a new way to look at the Bible and/or Hell and/or atonement and/or Jesus and/or the divine… and/or climate change, and/or atheism, and/or gun control…  they know it all. 

I don’t. 

I’m grateful for what I’ve learned, grateful that it will probably change, and excited for the journey in discovering more of this amazing thing called life. (And I look forward to continue blogging about it!)

I hope you are too because we all need to keep learning, talking, evolving, admitting, and adapting in order to keep swimming, including you.

This ends this little experiment of a blog and a book. I'll continue to blog daily and... I'm working on another project too. And I'm more excited about this project, than any project I've ever done. 

So, keep swimming... into the more and the new! 

the mystics.

I have a friend who grew up in Fallujah, Iraq. He has lived in the United States for a little more than six months. 

The other day I asked him if he knew about Sufism. He said he had heard of it. 

“Heard of it?” I responded. What? That’s it? Have you heard of Rumi?” We looked up Rumi and he pronounced his name in Arabic - it sounded cool. 

I continued, “Rumi was the man! He was an Islamic scholar and theologian. Sufis are the Islamic mystics. How can you not know about them?” 

My friend said, “Why do you know so much about these mystics?” 

I told him I was one. He asked if Christians had mystics and I said yes. He said what is a mystic? 

This whole problem is not just an Islamic problem. It’s Christian, Jewish and all faiths. 

I think part of the reason many struggle with Christianity is because they don’t believe in the Christian religion anymore. Many would, and do, believe in Christian mysticism. 

This all makes for some conflicts in language and thought. 

But, I think I’m in good hands. I don’t think Jesus was a fan of religion either. I think he was a mystic. Crazy how different it makes the gospels if you think of Jesus as a mystic. They make so much more sense. 

So what are mystics? Well all kinds of things but maybe the best definition I’ve heard is from a Jewish mystic, Rabbi Kushner: “A mystic is anyone who has the gnawing suspicion that the apparent discord, brokenness, contradictions, and discontinuities that assault us every day might conceal a hidden unity.”

They value experience over belief. 

Knowledge and experience matters more than logic and belief. 

We’re all connected matters more than we’re all individuals. 

Peace matters more than violence. 

God is everywhere in every thing. Every is a key word.

If you don’t get love of God, than it’s not worth going anywhere else. Love. Love. Love. 

You can see a sunset, you can understand a sunset, and you can actually be present in a sunset. Yeah that last one. 

Mystery matters. Paradox too. Not understanding is understanding. Awareness. 

Now. It’s all that matters. The past is a memory and the future is imagination. This is where God lives. Right now. 

If I imagine a bunch of religious people in a room, they are arguing. 

If I imagine a bunch of mystics in a room (no matter what religious language or culture they come from) I imagine them talking about experiences and where they’ve seen God and where God is in each of them. 

Christianity is my language and culture and ritual to get me to what matters: experiencing God.     

Others have different language that can help. 

Some might say, again, where is Jesus in that? I would answer, again, everywhere. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life... and Jesus got something beyond religion and encouraged others to do the same. 

But, the road is narrow. The mystic road has been narrow for centuries in every faith. Just ask my friend from Iraq. And most Christians. And most Jews. But the narrow road is the best at evolving. Or the evolving road. The seeking, knocking, asking road, unafraid of questions. 

Others are now saying mysticism is becoming more accessible than ever before. Diana Butler Bass uses the metaphor of the mystics storming the elevator shaft to Heaven (and tearing it down because that elevator shaft is a primitive view of the universe with God up there and us down here.) And I agree. Good things are happening. A spiritual revolution - or evolution - of sorts. 

Some names? I would call all of these people mystics, I don’t know if they would call themselves that. But read books and listen to these people.  

Anthony DeMello
Thomas Merton
Richard Rohr
Peter Rollins
Gregory Boyle
Alan Watts
Elizabeth Gilbert
Rob Bell
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Cynthia Bourgeault
Paul Coutinho
Jean-Pierre de Caussade
Pema Chodron
Russel Brand
Brené Brown

again.

Almost every week, I have these thoughts in some order or another… if you do as well, know you’re not alone. 

I think I’m going to quit. 
Someone else can do this job. 
I love this job. 
People are crazy. 
People are awesome. 
Let’s move to another country. 
I can’t believe I get to do this. 

This sermon is going to kick ass. 
Oh man, what am I going to say? 
I have nothing to say. 
This is not a sermon. 
How am I going to come up with that many things to say? 
These are just friends you’re talking to. No pressure. 
I hope everyone is here for this Sunday because it will be the best ever. 

That was the best sermon ever. 
That sermon was terrible. 
Why did I say that? 
I wonder if they heard that?
Did you hear that? 
Should I go and change the recording before it posts? 
Well next week I can be better. 
How can I be better than that?

worlds in worlds.

I assume you’ve heard of Gerek Meinhardt? 

How about Matt Pierce? 

Maybe Taylor Cummings? 

Interestingly enough, all three of these people were or are ranked number one in the world. 

Greek Meinhardt is a two-time Olympian and was the first U.S. foil fencer to earn the Number 1 World Ranking in 2014. 

Matt Pierce is the North American Champion and competed in the Catan World Championships for North America in 2014. Yes, the board game Settlers of Catan. 

Taylor Cummings won the Tewaaraton Award as the best woman’s lacrosse player in the United States. It’s the Heisman of Lacrosse. She was also the first sophomore to win the award. 

It’s amazing the worlds there are in the world. 

Running. Swimming. Biking. Chess. Jazz. Band. Choir. Debate. Investment. Drama. Dancing. 

The list goes on and on. There are rankings, there are training, there are camps, there are competitions, there are ways to get higher up the ladder. 

I meet the most interesting people who are doing some of the most amazing things who never get recognized for anything outside of their world because they aren’t in one of the worlds that matter to the larger world. 

It’s taught me to approach everyone with humility, curiosity, creativity, and the ability to listen… as I never know who I’m talking to. I may have no idea - and they may have no idea - how great we are.  

yep, save the planet.

If the world was an apartment building, I’m afraid there would be some really bad roommates and many of them would be Christians. 

Worse, they would say that God made the apartment building for us to do whatever we want with and we’re moving out in a few years so who cares… 

Worse, they would deny claims of science and responsibility because they are afraid of the cost of a little time, a little effort, a little comfort, and a little - or a lot - of money. 

Throw out all the theories and politics. The God I believe in, loves the Earth, dwells in the Earth, cares for the Earth and expects the human beings living on it and because of it, to feel the same way. 

The Earth does not belong to any of us. It belongs to all of us. When we don’t live to make this home better, we’re giving a giant middle finger to the divine power in it. 

Yes, I will type that again. If you don’t care about making this home better for the humans that live in it, you are giving a giant middle finger to the divine power of it.

plastic brains.

The brain is always changing. (Yes, one more thing to add to the list of things that is always changing - and to which religion and faith should proudly add its name.) 

The brain is growing, shrinking, and reacting to what you’re feeding it. This is one of the reasons that people are a tad worried about technology. It changes our brain and when many individuals’ brains change, society’s collective brain changes. 

That is a bit worrying, if I’m honest.  

But, this is not always bad. Before the printing press, people generally had a better ability to memorize. They had to. When humans didn’t have to memorize, humans could start putting brain power into other arenas. So less memorization but more technological advances.  

I wanted to give my sermons without notes. Not memorize per se, but just get up there and be present. In the same way, a good actor can actually start to act when they don’t have to memorize their lines anymore, I think a good speaker can speak when they don’t have to look at notes and when those notes have embedded in their consciousness. 

It was really hard at first. I gave myself little notes and cues and cheats. 

Years later, after giving up notes entirely, it’s amazing how easy it now is to memorize messages. And I don’t say that proudly, I say it amazed at how well my brain has evolved. My brain has actually changed and is now better at certain tasks. 

Pretty remarkable. 

Yes, the brain can fade fast. 

But, it can also do what you want it to do fast. 

There was a pretty large study done on eight Buddhist monks who had spent an average of 34,000 hours in mental training or meditation that found their brains were even more plastic, or more capable of change and resiliency. 

Meditation also helps.

it can be that good.

Sometimes we get too smart for ourselves. 

I've heard people say that since we humans want there to be something for us after we die, somewhere great, it would make sense that we would make that up and thus, it can’t be true, because that would just be too much like something we would want to be true.

I don’t know if heaven exists or not. I do know that just because I want it to and it seems like a great idea, is a terrible reason to believe it doesn’t. 

The same could be said for everyone on this planet having a decent life. Well, of course that can’t exist - that would be too good. It must be unrealistic. 

Just because there are these seemingly unattainable dreams, doesn’t mean we’re all fooling ourselves. It could mean we’re all being drawn to something more good.

stop. again.

Those people who were enslaved by a system of production and making bricks… Day after day? As they continued to make bricks, the quotas became larger. As quotas always do. 

As they continued making bricks and not reaching their quotas, they were called lazy. As we always are by a system that demands production. 

As soon as they were led into freedom they were given a list of words that were meant, in my opinion, to guide them to the discovery of the true gifts of the world. (Some calls these the 10 commandments - which is a terrible way to talk about these words.) 

Regardless, one of those words was, basically, “stop”.

Can you imagine how that felt? 

Stop making bricks. 
Stop listening to people who demand more. 
Stop listening to people who call you lazy. 

Let your brain stop. 

You’re okay. 

Of the massive list of things that the church is generally concerned with, stopping is rarely one of them. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s not even on the top 100 list. 

And yet, if we’re talking about sin in terms of what hides the divine nature of ourselves, not stopping is one of the biggest obstacles. At least according to the Bible. 

Walter Brueggemann talks about “Sabbath” as an active resistant to the systems of greed. 

I don’t know about you, but the systems of greed in this world drive me crazy and I don’t know what to do about them. 

Stop is a good start. 

Without stopping, there is no rhythm... or music... it’s all just more noise. 

When we stop we acknowledge the world will go on without us. Just fine. 

When we stop we realize we’re enough. We don’t have to do more. 

The Sabbath, which began as a day dedicated to stopping - because how else do we ever remember to -  began at sunset. I believe the idea behind it was that you would wake up and see that you’ve been doing nothing and the world is still going. Everyone doesn’t need you all the time. 

This past week I canceled three events in a row. It was incredibly difficult. I felt guilty. I felt as though I was letting people down. I felt as though Pharaoh was calling me lazy and that I was not producing my quota of bricks. 

And then I felt incredibly refreshed. I could think again. I could hear the whispers of the world and of the divine. 

I recently read that 42 percent of Americans feel guilty for relaxing.

There is still a Divine power leading us to a place of freedom and breath and refreshment... of stopping. The force has always been leading captives to freedom. 

bricks.

Let’s get back to Pharaoh for a second. 

Imagine a little scenario, if you will. 

You are living in Egypt as a Hebrew slave. You go to work every day to make bricks. Good-bye honey, off to make some bricks. Love you. 

Day after day. 

But, of course, some things change. 

Honey! I quit making bricks for those idiots. I’m now making bricks at a better spot. You should see these bricks. I mean they are so much nicer. And we cut them a little bit differently. It’s a much smoother cut. I think these bricks are going to be used on the new pyramid we are building! The really nice one! 

Oh, honey, I’m so proud of you. Do they beat you there? 

Oh, yeah, of course. But much less! Most people only get a few lashings! 

Day after day. 

But, of course, some things change. 

Honey, tough day at work. Things aren’t going well. They’ve raised the quotas. I’m going to be staying later. More work to do. These new bricks are really in high demand and Pharaoh wants more of them. He’s also informed everyone that he’s found us lazy. Apparently, he’s not been happy. It means later nights. 

I’m so sorry, honey. But, hey, at least we have meat and stew to eat for dinner! 

I know! You’re right! It’s so true.  I mean what’s our other option? Go wander around a desert and eat dew off the ground? Can you imagine how much we would miss that stew? It’s definitely worth it. Besides, this is legacy stuff. These pyramids will be around forever... and I was a part of it. 

Day after day. 

Now, thank goodness, none of us live this story today. No one would be so stupid as to trap themselves into certainty and paychecks and abuse in order to earn a living and pay the bills. 

I was going through this scenario with a friend and he looked at me and said “My girlfriend and I have been living in sin.” 

At first, I thought it was a little strange that he was going to tell me about his sex life but then he continued... “It’s what I do every day. Bye honey. Love you. Off to make bricks.” 

Some thoughts: 

If I were to sum up the entire Bible, I might say it’s a story of a God who doesn’t want people making bricks. And it’s not about freeing people so that they can then enslave other people - no it’s about no one making bricks under the tyrannical rule of power and certainty and comfort. 

All are mean masters. 

It’s about being free. 

Jesus shows up on the scene and his followers basically say, “Hey who are we going to force to make bricks for us now?” And Jesus answers, “No one, you idiots. Are you still not getting this? No one is making bricks!"

I came to set the captives free. 

If we can be bold with God about anything - and I do think there are certain instances where we are to ask and know that God will give us - it is about being free. No, it’s not about getting a new car or a parking spot. It is about being freed from making bricks. 

God doesn’t want anyone making bricks. Period. When you pray, if you pray, demand God get you out of brick-making and prevent you from forcing others to make them. 

Don’t be fooled. There are some very rich people making more bricks than some very poor people. It’s got little to do with dollar bills and more to do with addiction to the things that dollar bills provide. That’s why we don’t like the desert where those things are suddenly taken. And yet, that’s where we learn everything. 

Heroes go into the desert because they are tired of making bricks. 

One last word: the capitalistic beatings of America are tearing up our skin as bad as any of Pharaoh’s whips. Don't’ be fooled. Many of us are working to build monuments to power, to abuse, and to the elite. Arguably, at least Pharaoh was open about it and not hiding it under the less insulting names of free market individualistic pursuit of happiness. 

not working.

There is a huge difference in quitting because something is work and in quitting because something is not working. 

There is a huge difference in not quitting when something is work and in not quitting when something is not working. 

There are costs to both, but they are not the same costs. One will give you life and one will kill you. Sometimes literally. 

Some of the most inspiring stories are stories of people who work tremendously hard to make something happen. To make that dream come true. To write. To speak. To teach. To travel. To be a comedian. To get on stage. To travel to Mars. Their stories are always the same... filled with work. 

The other half of the most inspiring stories are stories of people who quit because they recognize they are prolonging someone else’s dream and putting effort and hours into something that simply doesn’t work. A teacher who quit to tend bar. A lawyer who quit to open a Yoga studio. An engineer who became a nudist. A neurologist who quit and opened a restaurant. Their stories are always the same... ending work. 

There is a massive difference in being afraid of work and being afraid of work that doesn’t work.

There are many voices, many who will benefit greatly from us working on a job that doesn’t work, who will tell us to keep working. Make sure it’s working.

lgbtq.

You are valuable, your are worthy, you are beautiful, you are powerful. You are love. There is nothing more that needs to be done or can be done to make the authentic you any more of those things. 

Believe it. Accept it. Have faith in it.

I do realize the church has not made it easy to believe, accept or have faith. For that, I hope you reject the church that has done that to you and not the light that shines inside of you, right now, just as you are.

real grace and mercy

100% grace and mercy... without any qualifiers... is...

...Hell to the ego. 
...Heaven to the Divine. 

marriage is...

…fading. Most of the statistics seem to point to less and less people getting married, which is a big worry for some. And that make sense. 

…The most amazing relationship that two people can have together, in my opinion. I absolutely love being married. Which is why I’m all for more people getting married. Gay, straight or anything else. If there is fidelity, freedom, commitment and love… well I’m all for more of it.

… not the end-all-be-all to make everything-good-with-us-and-God. It’s a consolation. It’s better than not having any marriage in a society, especially a society where women were treated like property so God came up with marriage. Hey, this will make things better. Perfect? No. Better? Hopefully. Is it still? I think? 

… never really modeled all that well, throughout the entire Bible, if you really think about it. Can anyone show me one example of a married couple in the entire Bible that would fit the description of a “good married couple” in today’s Christian society? 

… really really cultural. Someone was recently telling me that they think the United States is going to start having more polygamy. I don’t know if I agree but I do know that one of the wisest people to ever live according to the Bible had hundreds of wives.  (Man, that Bible gets tricky when you want it to be a guide book for human life.) 

… not the most important thing in life. If I’m honest, 90% of the most influential, inspiring, motivating, wise, people in my life were not or are not married. Okay, I don’t know if 90% is accurate but a lot of what has shaped me in my walk with God and life was thought of by someone who wasn’t married. Jesus included. 

... changing. That’s alright. It, like most things, has already changed quite a bit and will probably continue to.

sex.

As a pastor, I am often asked about sex. Ignoring the fact, I find that very strange - very rarely do people ask me to be on a panel about capitalism - it’s a reality of the job that I’ve come to accept. (Actually, I don’t know that I’ve ever even heard of a panel about capitalism.) 

So, admittedly, when the sex topic comes up, I have to check myself from becoming critical or arrogant. It is a thing and I do understand that. It is a powerful thing and I do understand that. I happen to agree with Jessica Valenti that the thing has been made into way too much of a thing by the church, but again, it’s a thing so it is worth talking about. 

Rob Bell, James Cordan and Russel Brand will be the featured speakers in my sex talk summary. 

Rob Bell wrote that “Sex is not the search for something that’s missing. It’s the expression of something that’s been found.” 

James Cordan wrote in Glamour Magazine that “Everything is always about sex but sex is always about something else.”

Russel Brand wrote “We have been told that freedom is the ability to pursue our petty, trivial desires when true freedom is freedom from these petty, trivial desires.”

And boom. 

That’s it. 

It’s never about sex, or pornography, or affairs. Sex is oil on the surface of the water when there is something else happening on the bottom of the ocean a thousand feet away. We see the oil so we try to spend time cleaning it up but there are bigger problems. 

There are no rules as to when to have sex and when not to. That’s just cleaning up surface oil.  

Married people have destructive sex. 
Unmarried people have redemptive sex. 

It’s always the something else. 

Brené Brown even makes the point that pornography is more often about shame than anything else. There is no fear of vulnerability and rejection when looking at pornography - and so it’s appealing. 

Now that’s root of the problem stuff. The something else. The freedom. 

Of course all of this takes time and self-analysis and puts the responsibly on us, so sometimes it’s easier to put together a nice and tidy rule we can or can not follow… and those can be helpful if you don't want to spend the time thinking. But search for the “something else” and you’ll know what to do with the sexuality - and how to be truly free.