What if we are the ones the dead have been waiting for?

I am not sure I understand but if Jesus is supposed to come back, but the Church is the body of Christ then could it be that we are the ones the dead have been waiting for?

Are we the ones who are charged with embodying Christ in such a way that the kingdom of God (culture of God) will be made known? Why do we stand looking up to the heavens waiting for a superman/Jesus hybrid to "save" us?

It seems like God has more faith in humanity than humanity has in itself. Christ had no plan "B" as it were. He entrusted and had faith in the disciples to continue on.

What if the body of Christ is already here for the second time? What if the body of Christ is here and now?

Digital Natives and Immigrants - request to stop ignoring the others

In many respects, I feel like I am a digital native; that is I grew up with computers and the digital age and feel very at home in the “digital” world. Others might identify themselves as digital immigrants, in which they had to move from one world into the digital world.

And like the stories I read of immigrants moving to the United States, there is a strong desire of the “old world” customs and language and traditions to be upheld, respected and practiced. Those who emigrate from, say Mexico, and do not speak English will often desire their children to practice the traditions and language of Mexico. And it is very admirable, but it is also very difficult to navigate.

Building on this example, it is often the case too that the children surpass their parents in the use of the English language. This quickly turns the tables in the relationship. It is now the parent who is dependent upon the child to communicate to the teacher or to the soccer coach. The child is forced to live in two worlds – one they are born into (America) and one that is expected of them to live into (Mexican).

In many ways the digital native/immigrant is much the same thing. Often children surpass their parents in knowledge of how the internet and technology work. Adults are dependent upon the child to set up Facebook accounts or explain Twitter or even run a DVD/TV.

I surely not the first to point this out by any stretch of the imagination, but it is becoming very real in the UMC that the younger clergy are being asked to live in two worlds. We are asked to live in the “old world” with the customs and expectations that are a part of that and then we are expected to also be fluent in the world were born into which sometimes does not even speak the same language of our parents (search “L337 speak” and you will get the picture).

And so to my “old world” friends, do not decry the lack of respect of the “new world” or hint at how technology, while okay, is really the root of so much evil.

And to my “new world” friends, do not admonish the tradition and wisdom of the “old world” or hint at how older people, while okay, really are an obstacle to “progress”.

We are all learning together.

Where do you start?

Much of Christianity is rooted in the idea that is traced back to the "fall". The problem with the world is that people are sinners and we all need to be forgiven. So much of the teaching and preaching is a out forgiveness and getting others to be saved and reconciled with god. This results in generally viewing people as a problem that needs to be healed or fixed. We use words like people are primarily sinner and fallen. This understanding of the christian faith is biblical, but it is not the beginning of our story. Is it ever fair to assess things when you see them in the middle of the story? What would it look like to only know the story of Peter Parker only as spiderman and not as the awkward teenager who is dealing with identity and maturation? Knowing Peter Parker only as spiderman is not fair to the character of Peter Parker because you are not getting the whole story or even the start of the story. Likewise, to call human beings as primarily fallen and broken creators who need to be forgiven and reconciled is to not take seriously the beginning of the human story. The human story, from the Christian narrative begins not at genesis 3 but at genesis 1. Before we are fallen, we are called very good. Before we are broken, we are completely whole. Before we are insecure, we are comfortable in our own skin. Before we need reconciliation, we are in relationship. Before we are sinner, we a blessed saints. When we start at the beginning of our human story our posture changes. We see people as blessed and very good. We are not trying to save people but call people to live into their creative nature. We are do not focus on people's failing but on their potential and greatness. We are creating saints and not redeeming sinners. Where you begin, shapes the story you tell. Where you being shapes what story you tell. Where do you start the biblial story?

What percentage are you?

In case you missed the whole Occupy Movement, in a nutshell it was raising up the economic disparity in America. The chasm is great between the have and the have nots. As such, here is a little tool to help you see perhaps where you might fall into the income percentage in your area of the United States.

I am not sure if you are supposed to do your before tax income (I think that is the intention of this tool), but you can do your post tax income if you would like.

According to this my household is in the top 40% in my area. It makes me wonder if my socio-economic level pushes me farther away from the needs of people in other income brackets? It makes me wonder if I am in fact richer than I think I am.