Author: Jonathan Blundell

I'm a husband, father of three, blogger, podcaster, author and media geek who is hoping to live a simple life and follow The Way.

New terminology

photo by Hryckowian

Ever wonder if the terms you’re using just don’t cut it?

Ever feel like you’ve been telling folks something over and over again and they have no clue what you’re talking about?

I wonder if maybe sometimes in our churches we use “outdated” terms or terms that have a whole new meaning outside the church and folks misunderstand what we want to communicate.

I think there are terms that maybe we should re-use and re-define – but maybe we need to work harder at defining them.

I love terms and phrases like “the insurgency of love.”

We all understand insurgency thanks to our recent world conflicts, and when you tag that idea of love on it – it gives a completely different meaning and idea.

But here’s one I’ve been struggling with and trying to define to others.

“Leader” – a person who rules or guides or inspires others

I think we get this idea that a leader is someone who says passionate things, gets everyone gathered around them for a common cause and then wins a battle.

But I think in a community or church setting: A leader is one who loves. One who serves. One who gives.

Being a leader in church doesn’t mean you have all the answers. It doesn’t mean you have a seminary degree. It doesn’t mean you’ve read the Bible 4 times and understand the Greek and Hebrew translations.

It just means you’re willing to serve and give. It just means you’re willing to say, “I want to give of myself and love others.”

Karl Barth said “laity” is one of the worst words in our Christian terminology. With the introduction of this word we suddenly have two classes of people – the clergy and the lay person. Yet in Christ, there’s no division between white, black, Jew and Gentile. We may gladly admit that, but somehow we’ve gladly accepted the division between clergy and laity.

How can we better (re)define “leader” so that others may step up and say “I’m willing to follow Christ. I’m willing to give my life for others. I’m willing to love the unloved.”?

“I have decided to follow Jesus… Though none go with me – still I will follow…. no turning back. No turning back.”

Greed

EMI gave us several of Shawn McDonald’s Roots CD for the Something Beautiful podcast. We’ll be giving 2 away over the next couple episodes.

Really digging this album.

Listening to Greed (click to see a video) while laughing at all the hub-bub over Apple’s WWDC today.

Here are the words… good stuff….

Well take a look around and tell me what you see
We are consuming everything
And I must confess that I fall
Oh, Isn’t this the story of us all?

Falsely advertised
Into believing we need this stuff in our lives

‘Cause what we got is what we need
And everything else is only greed
It’s greener on the other side, Oh why can’t we be satisfied, oh

I’ve seen some with a little
And they seemed to be doing just fine to me
And I’ve seen some with alot
And they don’t seem like they ever want to stop

Falsely advertised
Into believing we need this stuff in our lives

‘Cause what we got is what we need
And everything else is only greed
It’s greener on the other side, Oh why can’t we be satisfied, oh

‘Cause what we got is what we need
And everything else is only greed
It’s greener on the other side, Oh why can’t we be satisfied, oh

Oil speculators driving up prices

Laurie had to see this one coming 😉

The Washington Post reported Friday that a big factor in the rising price of oil are oil investors who are less regulated today than they were 5 years ago.

That as these investors continue to buy long term investments on oil futures, the price of oil (and thus gas) continues to rise as a result.

You can hear a summary of the article from NPR or read the full story here.

According to more and more folks, the supply and demand of oil hasn’t changed that much over the last 18 months – especially not enough to make gas prices rise as rapidly as they have.

It would seem to me that as the US housing market has crashed over the last 18 months, investors are looking for other ways to spend all their “big pool of money” and are turning to the commodities market which they can invest in without many of the older restrictions.

And even still, at $3.85 a gallon, I can’t even fill my truck up with $75 worth of gas – but do you realize that’s more than billions of people around the world make in 75 days?! I don’t like paying high gas prices – but there are other options. I could ride my bike a lot more, I could walk, I can take public transportation, I could car-pool.

As Brian pointed out yesterday, if you make more than $35,000 a year in the U.S., you’re among the top 4% of the wealthiest people in the WORLD. If you make more than $50,000 a year – you’re in the top 1%.

Maybe we (I) should stop complaining and pointing fingers as much and start thanking God for my blessings.

Find out just how rich you really are.

Changing roles in ministry

Mike Blythe writes about his recent changes from being a physician at the hospital in Jos, Nigeria, to helping oversee much of SIMS IT work in the area.

It’s interesting how sometimes God calls us from one ministry to the other. He may call us to the front lines, only to later call us to move into a background role – in support of others on the front line. And vice-versa. Sometimes we’re willing and ready. Sometimes we go kicking and screaming.

Sometimes we have to be pulled and pushed by those around us as well just to even get started in a ministry. What frustrations, issues have you found as God moves you from one direction to another?

Twitters down — again

Twitters down again!

So in the interest of keeping things going, here are the things I’ve tried to post in the last hour or so… in 140 characters or less (or so I think).

“My Google Calendar is working again – too bad I can’t tell my Twitter buddies”

“Google has their own social networking site now? http://www.orkut.com Hmmmmm”

“Google Maps on Blackberry now gives you bus/transit directions! WOOT! http://tinyurl.com/649lm6″