soundandshape.com | 2009 March

Secret Salvation

March 29th, 2009 | Comments

God never makes private, secret salvation deals with people. His relationships with us are personal, true; intimate, yes; but private, no. We are a family in Christ. When we become Christians, we are among brothers and sisters in faith. No Christian is an only child.

-Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction

Entry Filed under: Blog Tags: community, found object, jesus

It’s Not Hip to Quote Bono

March 25th, 2009 | Comments

The thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma. You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Or in physics—in physical laws—every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions. Which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff. I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep shit. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity. I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness—and there’s mortality as part of your very sinful nature. And, let’s face it, you’re not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, so that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humble. It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.

-Bono

Entry Filed under: Blog Tags: found object, grace, jesus, karma

I Prefer 2Cor1:3-11 to Rom8:28

March 22nd, 2009 | Comments

God is sovereign and God is good.

Lately I have been tripping out on this. The two concepts get along great while everything is sunshine and lollipops. But when the shit hits the fan it is a real challenge to believe both of them at the same time. If God is sovereign, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the things that cause our suffering are part of his design. Sickness, war, injustice, loss, misfortune—he is able to stop them, but he doesn’t. How can God be good and still let these bad things happen?

When things go south, I am so not a fan of being hit over the head with Romans 8:28. Don’t get me wrong, that verse is a great encouragement to me—when I’m clear-headed enough to think it through. But the way it normally gets used sounds like Christianese doublespeak for saying Bad is Good. I don’t find that helpful. I mean, I’m wrong a lot, and I need to be corrected—but that’s just a flat contradiction of what I’m actually experiencing. Instead, serve me some 1 Corinthians 1:3-11. Plus, bad actually being good is just too tidy for me. I think the real triumph of good over bad is much richer, much more paradoxical.

My hope is in the paradox of the cross: The suffering and death of Jesus is the worst thing that ever happened; the suffering and death of Jesus is the best thing that ever happened. I believe both statements are absolutely true. The mystery that they somehow fit together is a deeper well of comfort than any attempt of mine to believe that bad is actually good. Because look, suffering is real—and I need to know that revulsion, avoidance and mourning are proper responses to bad things. I need to see Jesus in Gethsemane. But I also need to cling to the wonder that instead of erasing the suffering of the cross—instead of somehow making it go away—Jesus’ resurrection redeemed it in such a way that his suffering was caught up and made into the very centerpiece of God’s plan to rescue the world. Think about that. If God is able to turn the tables on evil—if he is able to transform the worst Bad into the greatest Good—then I can trust him to redeem anything, including my own suffering. Not erase it, not make it go away, but redeem it.

God is sovereign and God is good.

Entry Filed under: Blog Tags: jesus, write

Jeremy’s Mosaic

March 21st, 2009 | Comments

Today we went to the unveiling of Jeremy Wright’s incredible mosaic. The project covers the outside of God’s Extended Hand Mission, wrapping around the entire front of the building at 16th and Island in downtown San Diego. I say it’s Jeremy’s mosaic, but it is actually an amazing community project, created by over 90 people over the past four years, including homeless, students, neighbors and friends. It is truly magnificent to behold, and it was super cool to see it finally completed. Jeremy was on hand chatting it up, taking pictures and telling stories from the last four years of this project. He’s already making plans to expand to the intersection’s other three corners.

I stumbled across the work-in-progress about a year ago and immediately knew Mellie would dig it. We came back together and it turned out that she knew Jeremy’s mom from her north county days! Small world. We were super stoked when Jeremy invited us to join in. We went back a few times to add our little bits to the project and even brought Nate and Sarah along. It’s fun to think that the pieces we contributed will probably last longer than we do.

God’s Extended Hand is the oldest rescue mission in San Diego, and has been providing meals and shelter to homeless folks since 1925. Over the years the building had fallen into serious disrepair. When Jeremy showed up the city was threatening to declare it a blight and give it the wrecking ball. You know you look bad when you’re declared an eyesore in that neighborhood. I love the fact that this beautiful community art project adorns the ugliest building around, and has brought new life and hope to a pretty hopeless place. What a picture of grace.

Check out all the photos here!

Entry Filed under: Blog Tags: adventure, art, community, found, jesus, mellie