harbarger theory: christ is not in any danger of being left out of christmas!

The irrascible Joe Blundo wrote a great article in the Columbus Dispatch about Christmas. Among his many wonderfully pithy (and I'm not writing with a lisp here), he challenges this silly modern idea that Wal-Mart cash register clerks are ruining Christmas for the whole world. Poppycock!!

As a Christian, I claim Christmas as a holy season in my life. As a pastor, I claim Christmas as a REALLY busy season in my life. As a shopper of gifts both well-thought through and bought in haste with dubious taste (hey, that rhymed!), I find Christmas a fun time to give to others. I could care less what the weary ones who check me out say to me. Instead, I offer a cheery Merry Christmas to THEM!! After all, if this season is MY faith's season, then it should be MY responsibility to share the cheer, don'tcha think?

I've said it before, people like Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh would become flaming liberals tomorrow if it paid better and Howard Stern would become a moralistic high grounder tomorrow if it paid better. These guys are not true believers ... they are opportunists who are cashing in on the conservative fear that is bandied about so freely and act as breeder reactors for the anger that seems to be simmering.

My friends, be gentle and loving to the weary retail clerks. They work way too many hours for way too little money. Be generous to people who are confused about what to say in this season for fear they may offend. If Christmas be your holy season, then proclaim your joy to all around. After all, isn't this what witnessing is SUPPOSED to be about? We proclaim the joy of our faith and what better opportunity than this season where people's heads are already turned Christ's way?

As the old carol sings, "O come let us adore Him! O come let us adore Him! Christ, the Lord!" Merry Christmas ... Happy Holy-days ... Feliz Navidad ... May the joy of the One birthed this season be yours forevermore!

harbarger theory: christ is not in any danger of being left out of christmas!

For God's Sake!

harbarger theory: God is not limited by our ignorance.

I saw an article in the paper (Assoc Press article in the Columbus Dispatch) about Dale and Leilani Neumann who were convicted of reckless homicide for "praying" their child to death.

Let me say from the get-go that I fervently believe in miraculous healings and curings. They happen. But, they are EXACTLY that ... miraculous. If I (or you) could call down a miracle at our whim, then they would NOT be miracles. We call that a skill, not a miracle. If a plumber can fix a leaky pipe, that's not a miracle, that's a skill. If a carpenter can saw a straight line (while that may be a miracle for ME), that's not a miracle, that's a skill.

Miracles happen OUTSIDE the control of humans and OUTSIDE the normal processes of our planet. Miracles are ... MIRACLES!!

We are blessed by God to have amazing medical facilities and equipment and knowledgeable medical personnel to use them. That is a gift from God!! We have medicines and therapies that can literally heal and cure people. Those are gifts from God!!

While I believe that God does the healing, God might choose to heal my flu through medicines and medical intervention ... or through a slow healing process ... or by a whiz-bang miracle. But, all of those are God's intervention, just via different avenues.

I have consistently been amazed over the years of reading the Bible, that it seems that Jesus NEVER healed this person like any other person he healed. They were ALL different. Amazing!! God loves diversity and abhors boredom!

So, why do we (and I'll count myself in with these whack-jobs!) try to FORCE God to do stuff OUR way and OUR way only? Why? Hubris, I believe. We want to show the world ... show ourselves? ... show God? ... that we can control God. We want "God In A Box!" Hubris, that's what that is.

Neumanns (joel harbarger) ... shame on you and, indeed, your child's death IS on your hands. You claim to trust God, but only if God will work YOUR way in YOUR timing and for YOUR consequences. Who do you/we think you/we are, anyway??

We need to learn the deep lessons of letting God be God and knowing our place. And our place is lower than the angels and a little higher than cocker spaniels (but not every day, I suspect!!).

For God's sake, let's take the blinders off and let God be sovereign over the cosmos and let's stop trying to muck it all up!!!

harbarger theory: God is not limited by our ignorance

Appearances Are Deceiving

harbarger theory: objects in the mirror really ARE closer than they appear!

In the past few months, we have been witnesses to some appalling behavior, haven't we? First, we have people coming to Town Hall Meetings and, in some cases, screaming hysterically at congressfolk. Now, granted, sometimes they NEED to be screamed at, but isn't that why we vote them into and out of office? Isn't the voting booth the most effective way to get our point across? I think so.

Adding fuel to the fire, we have Joe Wilson, an elected representative to the US Congress (albeit a guy who is a Son Of The Confederacy and fought hard to keep the Confederate Flag as a herald of his home state of South Carolina ... [note to self - find a way to convince these knuckleheads that the Civil War has ALREADY been fought!]), yelling out in the middle of a speech by a sitting president to a joint session of congress! Holy moly!

Finally, we have Kanye West, whose money and popularity has made him think that we care what he thinks! He crashes the stage to make a stupid statement about something that matters to a few, but completely sucks the joy out of a moment for the honoree. Some days, Beyonce gets the lauds and some days Taylor Swift gets them. That's the way the MP3 crumbles. Ya know?

But, more importantly, we have somehow opened the door for people to forget that we should be civil to each other. Should we disagree? Sure. Should we voice our disagreement? Of course. Should we be hateful, disrespectful and immature about it? I should hope not!!

Some have laid the blame at the feet of people like Jerry Springer, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity or the myriad Rant "Journalists" out there. I'm not willing to go there. They may encourage it and model it, but my behavior is MY responsibility, good, bad or ugly.

Therefore, let us covenant together that we will disagree openly, vigorously, but respectfully and in ways that are appropriate for adults. Like the Apostle Paul, let us put away childish things and ways and become adults. Let us learn new ways of discourse that produce more light than heat and more respect than self-righteousness.

It's time to grow up, America!!! There are big issues at stake. Put on your big girl panties and let's talk ... and listen.

harbarger theory:be careful what you pray for

harbarger theory: be careful what you pray for ...

We always prayed that our kids would be people who are strong, independent and world-changers. We raised them to have wings.

Dang it ... sometimes you get what you pray for!!!

Our son is doing wonderful things at his work and with the men and boys that he coaches. He works hard and plays hard ... and OH, SO independent. He's a good friend. He's a role model. He's the kind of guy that other guys want to be. As for the wings ... he lives in California. We live in Ohio. Some strong wings there, eh??

Our daughter is doing exciting things in her life as well. She is now in her last year (or so!) in college earning her baccalaureate degree in two majors. She spent a semester in Japan and succeeded in so many ways. For a pale, sorta redheaded appalachian girl, she's become kinda japanese, now!! In a month or so, she'll be heading to Beijing as a reporter for a couple weeks!!! She and a friend started Winter Camp at Camp Otterbein. She has friends ... I mean REAL friends with people all over the place. As for wings ... she goes to school in Missouri, but, I think she'll be a citizen of the world. Talking about strong wings!!

God answers prayers. Always. And sometimes, God says, "OK ... you asked for it!!", and we get it. We got it.

And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Well ... sometimes we would, but it's our fault!!! We asked for it, didn't we?

harbarger theory: be careful what you pray for ...

We're moving!

harbarger theory: ain't nothin' constant but change!

After 10 wonderful years as a pastor in New Lexington, we're moving!!

Sometime in late July, we'll be moving into our new home in The Plains, Ohio, where I'll be a pastor at The Plains UM Church.

We are grieving as we contemplate leaving our friends-who-have-become-family in New Lex. We've had a WONDERFUL ministry here in Perry County among some of the best people on earth, but we look forward to another wonderful ministry among more of the best people on earth!

We wanted to move closer to my folks in Jackson, so as to take better care of them. The Bishop and Cabinet have graciously agreed and found a wonderful place for us to work and serve and do ministry.

I have been saying for years from the pulpit, in bible studies and casually that the only people who actually LIKE being changed are babies and most of the them cry through the whole process!!! But ... change is constant, isn't it? The law of biology is that we either change or die. Change or die.

So ... lots of changes ahead of us. We are dreading them and are eager for them. We grieve and we are so excited. We are sad and we are happy. Reminds me of "Two-Face" from the Batman movies and comics! He was always "of two minds" about things. I am of two minds about things right now.

Pray for us. We've never moved without the kids. We've been in this one place (New Lex) longer than any other times in our married lives. It's all about the changes!!

harbarger theory: ain't nothin' constant but change!

Whitewater Rafting

harbarger theory: leadership is like guiding a whitewater raft



I LOVE whitewater rafting. I've been down the New River a whole bunch of times, the Gauley a couple times and a few other rivers, too. I love it. I love it. Did I mention that I love whitewater rafting? I really do!!


As I have pondered leadership, I see many connections between navigating whitewater and leading (especially the church).


You see, a whitewater raft guide's job is to balance the demands of being safe and having fun. It is finding that sweet spot where you are able to experience the flash and excitement of riding that line where you are experiencing the heart of the rapid while not getting yourself, your raft and those on your raft into too much danger. Some danger, but not too much danger.


Most raft guides work on rivers that change water levels daily (maybe during the same day), so they hit different rapids at different water heights. And the techniques that they use to guide the raft differ for different rapids. Some are so gentle that the guide can simply let the paddlers take the raft where it wants to go. Other times, the guide has the paddlers stop paddling so s/he can do all the work and, most of the time, it's a balance between these where the guide expects the paddlers to offer propulsion and some steering (with direction) while the guide uses her/his paddle as a rudder to guide the boat. It's a complex mix of brute force, river reading, artistry, innate knowledge of river dynamics and seat of the pants decision-making.


I've been blessed. I've only had one incompetent guide and another who was fine until he got stoned at lunch and then didn't care the rest of the day.


Leadership is like this. We study; we train; we think; we act; we "read the river" as we look for trends that are coming up; we think outside the box; we lead alone; we let the church do it's thing; and we do a mix of both. To lead a church is a mix of force of will, reading the reality around us, artistry, innate knowledge of what's good for the church and seat of the pants decision making. All of it is needed. Sometimes all at the same time.


I love whitewater rafting. I love leading the church. It's all a rush. It's all exciting. It's all lots and lots of work! Woo hoo!!!!

harbarger theory: leadership is like guiding a whitewater raft

Easter

harbarger theory: empty can be good!

This is one of my favorite Easter stories. In fact, I told it as the Children's Moments yesterday. Sorry, I didn't blog yesterday. With 3 service after a busy loooong weekend and fixing dinner for my parents (it turned out WONDERFULLY!), I was pooped.

So, here's my Easter post.

Mrs Adair, who was a Sunday School teacher, wanted to teach her kids about the meaning of Easter, so she gave each of the kids an empty plastic egg (a big one like the ones that L'Eggs pantyhose used to come in, remember?). She asked them to go outside and fill them with something ... anything that told the Easter story.

So, the kids stormed out of the building picking up various flotsam and jestam around the church yard. Mrs. Adair called the kids back into the Sunday School classroom and asked them to open their egg and share what they had found.

Millie opened her L'Egg and inside was a dandelion. Millie talked about how the flowers die every winter and rise again every spring. Mrs. Adair complimented her on how well she understood Easter.

Freddy opened his L'Egg and inside were some blades of grace. Freddy talked about how the grass goes brown and then, miraculously in the spring turns green again. Again, Mrs Adair showered Freddy with praise about how well he understood the Easter story.

Ling opened her L'Egg and insde was a rock. Ling shared about how the stone was rolled away from Jesus' tomb on Easter morning. Mrs. Adair was beaming over how well her class was understanding the Easter story.

And so it went around the room until they got the last kid. Craig had multiple learning deficits. He was in special classes at school and would never develop intelligence that would get past a 5 year old. He was a sweet kid, who loved everyone and everyone loved him back. But, he could be a distraction in a classroom of "normal" kids.

Finally Craig opened his L'Egg and inside was ... nothing. Nothing at all. Mrs. Adair was so concerned that Craig didn't understand his assignment, or that she should have gone with Craig to help him, or kept him with her so he wouldn't be embarassed, or ...

But, because Mrs. Adair trusted God and had an inordinate courage, she pressed ahead. "Craig," she said, "tell me about your Easter Egg."

Craig did. In his halting and child-like way, he shared. "My egg is empty," he started, "because it's Easter and Jesus' tomb was empty!" And he beamed the most beautiful smile you could imagine.

And Mrs. Adair cried grateful and joy-filled tears and hugged Craig with a fiercely loving hug.

harbarger theory: empty can be good!

Holy Saturday

harbarger theory: sometimes funny stuff is serious

When I was in seminary at Drew University Theological School in Madison New Jersey, I had (and still have, thanks to Facebook!) a good friend, Dave Jones. Dave was (and I suspect still is!) kind of unique fellow. Odd humor. Odd perspectives. Well, just odd. But a good friend.

On this day of the year, Holy Saturday ... the day between Good Friday and Easter when the church stops moving so fast (except for the saints prepping for Easter morning!). This is the day of Jesus' entombment.

Dave used to greet everybody on Holy Saturday (actually he would start sometime on Friday evening) with "Well, ... He's dead!"

Holy moley!!! That took me aback for the first couple times he said it. But, it stuck with me. He is dead. Jesus ... was ... dead!!

You know, as much as we would like to jump straight from Palm Sunday to Easter, we might acquiesce to jumping from Maundy Thursday to Easter or maybe even from Good Friday to Easter. But, it takes fortitude to trudge through Holy Saturday, doesn't it? After all, he's dead.

On Friday, he died, all day Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath), he's dead and on the third day (Sunday, the first day of the Jewish week), he's alive!!! But, let's stop here. Today ... he's dead.

Yea, Dave was funny. Dave is still funny. But, this time, Dave's humor was pretty serious. Because, ya know what? He's dead.

harbarger theory: sometimes funny stuff is serious

Good Friday

harbarger theory: good ain't always easy

Today is Good Friday. It's the day that Jesus was crucified. It was the day Jesus died. It was a sad, sad day. The world cried. The sun went dark. The dead walked. The curtain that separated the Holy of Holies in THE Temple tore in two. Behind the curtain of the Holy of Holies was where the Jews believed that God lived. So, either the tearing of the curtain was a reference to the Jewish tradition of tearing one's clothing when a loved one dies, or it was a graphic representation of God becoming available to the whole world through the redemptive act of Jesus on the Cross.

Personally, I like the third option ... all of the above. The goodness of Good Friday is that redemption has come to the whole planet through the "Cross Event." By the very thing that made God grieve brought life and redemption to the whole planet.

But, that redemption came at such a dear price. The only perfect human being who fully encompassed love, grace and joy died. He really, really died. He really, really felt pain. He really, really did the whole thing. He didn't sorta die. Indeed, he was a fully human being who went through all that he went through.

For you.
For me.
For the people we love.
For the people we hate.
For our enemies.
For the people who scare us.
For Adolf Hitler ... for Saddam Hussein ... for Osama Bin Laden
For the jerk who cut me off in traffic


He died for every single human being on the face of the planet.

This is why the worst day on the planet is Good Friday.

Have a Good Friday.

harbarger theory: good ain't always easy

Maundy Thursday

harbarger theory: ya gotta do what ya gotta do!!

Today is Maundy Thursday, the day where we celebrate the very FIRST communion. The word Maundy comes from the Latin "mandatum", the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"), the statement by Jesus in the Gospel of John (13:34) by which Jesus explained to the Apostles the significance of his action of washing their feet.

As a pastor, I LOVE serving communion, The Lord's Supper, Eucharist, what-have-you. It is a truly holy time. I remember a story where Martin Luther, while in the midst of his conflicts with the Church as a monk, was serving the Mass and while holding the elements, he had such a conflict because of his great unworthiness that he put the elements back down and ran out of the church because he was unworthy to even hold the elements of the communion. I've been there. Well, I've never actually run out of the church, but I have felt, oh, so unworthy.

But, that's the issue. It's not about my worthiness as a pastor or as a person. It's not about what I FEEL like doing. As a pastor, I serve the sacraments. It's part of my role in the Kingdom of God. As a person, sometimes I just gotta do what I gotta do. I don't have to enjoy it. I don't have to like it. Sometimes, I just have to do it. End of story.

It's part of being a grown up. Sometimes I just have to put on my adult underpants and do the thing. You know what I mean?

Jesus didn't want to die the way he did. But, he did what he had to do.

Lord help me to be faithful, even when I don't want to do it!!!

harbarger theory: ya gotta do what ya gotta do!!

Holy Wednesday

harbarger theory: it is i!

In today's gospel reading from John 13:21-32 (that you can read here) we hear the whole controversy and discussion about who is going to betray Jesus. This, of course, spurs the questioning, "Is it I?" Only one knew that he had already planned to do so (Judas), but the rest weren't sure. Hmmmm.

How sure are we of our fidelity? I enjoy watching NCIS where Mark Harmon plays Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a retired Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps where he was Marine Recon and a Sniper. He's a tough so-and-so who expects a lot from Marines and offers them much respect. Of course, their motto is ... what?? Yes, very good there in the back of the room .... Semper Fidelis or "Always faithful."

Are we? Are we Semper Fidelis to our God. Well, maybe you don't have the foibles and lack of restraint that I do. I can't answer for you, but my answer is a "NO!" said with my head bowed and a blush on my cheeks. I'm embarassed to say that I am NOT always (usually?) faithful to God. I go my own way, do what I want, etc, etc, etc, WAAAAYYY too often. How about you?

Today is the day that we repent of our unfaithfulness and come back home (from however far away we have wandered). Today is the day that we re-establish our relationship with God.

Today is the day that I admit, "It is I, Lord! It is I who have betrayed you!" I betrayed you for a candy bar. I betrayed you for a second look at that woman who is not my wonderful wife. I betrayed you for the trappings of acceptance and being liked for a moment. It is I who betrayed you. I am sorry and want to be always faithful ... forever faithful ... always holding you first in my heart.

harbarger theory: it is i!

Holy Tuesday

harbarger theory: sometimes we ARE called to the hard stuff.


The gospel reading for today is John 12:20-36. You can find it here. Jesus is offering a powerful teaching about suffering and destiny. In it, he says, ""Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"


It reminds me of that "Name it and claim it" garbage that is part and parcel of the Prosperity Gospel heresy. There is a strain of thought in the church that if we are faithful, then God will give us an easier time. What a load of hooey! If JESUS didn't get an easier time, then why should I? Why should you?


Nope. Here's the truth. We are faithful because we love God. We do what is needed ... because it's needed. It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about God. It's about my neighbor (both next door and across the globe). It's about having a servant's heart. It's about being like Jesus. It's about serving; about loving; about being selfless; about being like Jesus.


My friends, let's be willing servants!!! Let the world know that Christ changes us!!!


harbarger theory: sometimes we ARE called to the hard stuff.

Holy Monday

harbarger theory: the poor need nard



I'm gonna try to post each day this week. This is Holy Week (the week just before Easter) and it's a powerful week. Of course we celebrate the big days like Maundy Thursday (the first communion service ... ever!), Good Friday (the day of the crucifixion) and the REALLY big day, Easter (the day of the resurrection), but the other days are powerful as well.



Today, the bible reading is John 12:1-11. Here is a link to it on Bible Gateway. It's about the instance where the woman breaks into a dinner party and pours an obscenely expensive jar of ointment on Jesus' feet. Nard, in Jesus' day, was the kind of ointment that only vastly wealthy women could afford to use. We don't know how this woman got it (some scholars suggest that she was a high-priced hooker ... but we don't know). But, she extravagantly shared this expensive potion on someone that she felt was worth it!



Judas (who is described as dipping his greedy little fingers into the Disciples' money bag) complained that this Nard could have been sold for a whole bunch and the money given to the poor. Jesus responded that we'd always have the poor, but they would only have him for a little longer. Not surprisingly, he was right. Jesus indeed left them when he died (and then resurrected, of course, and at that point didn't need freshening up!).



So, the question stands in my mind ... What do the poor need with Nard? Do the unwashed need some scent-management? Do the hungry need a little beauty treatment?



Here's what I think. We need to give Nard to the poor. You see, so often, when we have a food drive, we reach into the back of their cupboard and pull out some can of bizarre/out-of-date/unwanted stuff and give it to the poor and feel so good about ourselves. When we have a clothing drive, we give away the stuff we're too fat/too thin/too fashion-forward to wear anymore (our unwanted items) and we give it to the poor and feel so good about ourselves.



What if ... we gave them the Nard? What if we gave them the GOOD stuff? What if we found a way to effectively "anoint the poor with Nard?" What if we gave them good food, real jobs, decent clothing, genuine respect, actual eye contact, true compassion? What if we treated them like Jesus did? What if we treated them as if they were Jesus? What would that look like?



Yea, yea, yea ... we need to be good stewards of our resources. We need to stretch out dollars to meet as many needs as possible. I know all that. But ... is there a way to be a good steward AND treat the poor as if they were Jesus? I think so. I'd love to spend time in conversation and THEN action trying to do exactly that!!



What if we started a Nard Initiative where we acted like Christians toward the poor? Hmmmm

harbarger theory: the poor need nard

harbarger theory: God is STILL calling women and men to share life together.

I just read Mark Driscoll's blog about "Complementarianism." Mark is the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Mark has done a great job growing a church in a town that's tough to be a Christian in. He also did an EXCELLENT job in the Nightline Debate about whether Satan exists. Watch it here.

But, Mark and I don't agree on the role of women in life and in the church. While I agree that Mark's view is not as extreme as some who would relegate women to very minimal roles in the church, I'm not sure how he deals with the Apostle Paul (as opposed to my buddy Paul) having Lydia and Priscilla/Prisca lead churches. Those don't seem like complementarian roles. I'm not sure how he deals with Deborah being a Judge way back in the pre-monarchical days of the Hebrew people. I'm not sure how he deals with the Acts passage that quotes the Joel passage about young men and young women will prophesy. Those don't seem like complementarian passages.

New Calvinism (or even Old Calvinism) aside, these are not Calvinist/Arminian arguments. These are ways that we see the freedom of God's Spirit to call people as the Spirit will. Why, oh why, would God not allow women to do the job that God has called all of us to do? If women are not fit to carry the gospel to men, then why, oh why, did the angel tell the WOMEN at the tomb to tell the MEN about the resurrection? The very, very FIRST preachers of the gospel of the resurrection were ... wait for it ... women. Sure, the men dismissed them as being silly women ... but the gospel was STILL TRUE!!!

Mark, I pray for you. I support you in your work. But, let God be God. Let the Holy Spirit go and move and call whoever the Holy Spirit will call. God will call who God will call.

Therefore, I stand here. God calls men to do great things. God calls women to do great things. I am honored to stand beside my colleagues and partners in ministry and will do my part and will do what I can to support my colleagues in their ministry, regardless of their sex.

harbarger theory: God is STILL calling women and men to share life together.

harbarger theory: faith is easier sung than done

harbarger theory: faith is easier sung than done



Some accuse praise music as being 7-11 songs. You know ... the same 7 words sung 11 times. And some are. Some find this vacuous and others find this to be a modern version of the chant that allows the singer to be transported into the presence of God. I can agree both ways. But some old hymns are just as vacuous and just as transporting, aren't they?



It's not about the music STYLE, as much as it is about the singer's perspective, the quality of the lyric, the ability of the music leader and the distractions or lack-thereof.



As for me, I like powerful modern worship music. As time goes on, I find I like the more modern stuff better than the 80's and early 90's stuff, but some of that has power as well.



However, I agree with Brian McLaren that we need less "I love Jesus" music and more "I serve the world" music. Not only should it transport me into the presence of God, but the music should also kick me out the door into serving the world.



All that being said, it's so much easier to sing about loving God and even about loving my neighbor (near, far and really, really far) than it is putting that into action in my everyday life. But, that's the rub, isn't it? I sing about it. I read the Word about it. I hear (and preach) sermons about it. And then ... I need to DO something about it.



Yep, that's my theory.

harbarger theory: faith is easier sung than done

BTW: this excellent cartoon is the wonderful work of Jon Birch, a Brit who creates a brilliant cartoon blog at The Further Adventures Of ASBO Jesus. Check it out!

something completely different

I like Monty Python. They had a show "Now For Something Completely Different." This is not that drastic, but I liked it. This is not my usual "harbarger theory," but that's the thing that's different. A blog I like to read is "Don't Eat Alone" and the blogger (Milton Brasher) posted this . I liked it. I hope you do, too. Those rascally AIG'ers.

harbarger theory: lent is not lint.

From my Appalachian heritage and speech patterns, I don't make a pronunciation distinction between "lent" and "lint." I don't say a difference. I don't hear a difference. If I somehow stumble into saying "lent" instead of "lint," then you can just know that it was unconscious and unnoticed.

But, in my heart, there is a tremendous ... world-changing ... difference between Lent ... this season of preparation where we forsake a beloved pasttime or add a new discipline to our lives to help us to get our heads around (in a very, very small way) of the sacrifice of Christ ... and lint ... this fluffy stuff that grows in our dryer filter or in our belly-buttons. Lint is stuff we can discard (or collect to start campfires with!) and Lent is a tool that helps us focus our hearts.

A good and wise friend (thank you Naomi!) e-mailed me this week suggesting that maybe ... just maybe ... we should NOT pick up those things that we lived without during Lent, since most of them are things like caffeine, chocolate, etc and then next year, getting rid of another destructive habit. A commendable idea, I might say!!

But, let me share with you why I don't do it that way. If you remember my post about Messy Foods then you'll know that I believe life is to be live OUT LOUD with fun and hilarity and stuff on my shirt. I believe that God gave us all kinds of wonderful things like mud and chocolate and coffee beans and that we are to use them and to revel in them.

John the Baptist came preaching austerity. Jesus came preaching abundance. Fasting is a good thing. But, I don't believe that we are to live "fasting lives." We are to live abundant lives biting into juicy peaches and letting the nectar run down our chins.

Therefore, when Lent is over, I'll be back to having the occasional "high-test," that is caffeinated latte. I urge you to fast when it's appropriate and to feast when it's appropriate.

Lent is powerful and important. Lint is trash. But, Lent is not life. Life is life.

harbarger theory: lent is not lint.

harbarger theory: better to have it and not need it

harbarger theory: it's always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

I have to admit that my long history in the Boy Scouts drilled this into me, but I still live by this rule. Whether it's packing for a trip (I always bring my leatherman and a flashlight) or for an outdoor concert or whatever, I tend to prepare for the unexpected.

I recently had a great time at coffee with an old friend and former Superintendent and I wondered what he wanted to talk about. It turns out he just wanted to pick my meager brain (not much there anymore, I'm afraid!), but I ran through so many scenarios before we met. I wanted to be prepared.

But, isn't that a life lesson? If we are prepared for the unexpected ... then, don't they become the sorta expected? Aren't we then even MORE primed to deal with what we don't expect? I think so. We plan, we think ahead and then we dance to whatever music is playing. The more dance moves we have, the better we dance. (Not that I can dance, but I can sling a metaphor!)

Noah built the Ark in the desert. He planned ahead. He did what needed done to get the job done even when it looked silly. It doesn't have to be raining when you start preparing for the flood. That's what I say!!

We don't know what the future holds. The economy is still getting worse. Loved ones still get sick. War rages on and on. But, we can prepare ourselves to deal with it though loving God and loving our neighbors with all we have. Maybe loving is all we really can hang onto in the end, eh?

Anyway, I try to plan for rain and hope for sunshine.

harbarger theory: it's always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

coffee friends

harbarger theory: friends are like good coffee ... strong, comforting and enery-giving

I was recently blessed to spend most of a week with one of my oldest and best friends, Schuyler. We talked ... we laughed ... we dreamed about the future ... we challenged each other ... we even got into an argument (although we were saying the same thing, as it turned out). It was good ... very, very good.



I have many buddies and even more acquaintances, but relatively few friends. I think it's because I expect emotional transparency and an intimacy that I just can't sustain with a whole bunch of folks. But ... I hold my good friends very dearly and would move heaven and earth for them. It's more than loyal. These people hold my life in their hearts and I hold theirs.



That life-holding requires a lot of strength, because we don't always agree (nor do we need to!!). It requires a lot of strength, because we do this over a long time (and for Schuyler and me, over a long distance). It requires a lot of strength, because sissies aren't transparent with each other. Transparency is only for the strong!



Friendship also is comforting because these are people who know me ... really, really know me ... and still love me. Wow. That's amazing!! And comforting. I know that, although they may be disappointed or even confused with me, they will ALWAYS have my back. That's real comfort right there. Real comfort.



Friendship is also energy-giving. Maybe BECAUSE I know that they have my back, that by being with them, I get energy. Together, we are more than a sum of our parts. Together, we can (and have) taken on the world and win. Energy is what we all feed from. It is the power-plant of the cosmos. Friendship ... real friendship ... gives us energy.

harbarger theory: friends are like good coffee

harbarger theory: nobody but babies like to be changed ... and even babies usually cry the whole dang time!

I'm currently at a national conference for preacher-types and have heard some amazing people share from their heart ... Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Bill Hybels, among others. I am blessed to be attending this and rooming with one of my best and longest tenured friends, Schuyler. It's a wonderful thing. Schuyler and I went to seminary together and have stayed close ever since.

What's wonderful is the sharing of a wonderful time like this with powerful messages, inspiring speakers and a whole raft of great resources with a deep friend from whom very little if anything is hidden. We can agree. We can disagree. We can even argue. But, in the end, we love each other like what brothers ought to be. Thanks be to God.

But, I find myself challenged and, if I rise to the challenges, changed. And, although the change (to follow the above metaphor) will rid me of the poopy and messiness of my past. Somehow, I am loathe to do this. Maybe it's the devil I know instead of the devil I don't. Not sure. But I loathe change.

But, as Bill Bryson made so very clear in his wonderful book "A Short History Of Just About Everything", we, who are organic, either change ... or die. So, change is a part of life, isn't it? I need to change and be a better pastor ... a better leader ... a better husband ... a better father ... a better son ... a better Christian ... a better man.

So, begins my next step into change. Man, what is that stink, anyway? Oh yea, it's the stuff that needs to be gotten rid of in the change!! But, I'll still cry all the way through it, I suspect. What a big baby!!!

harbarger theory: nobody but babies like to be changed ... and even babies usually cry the whole dang time!

Messy Food

harbarger theory: messy food is great food. the messier the food, the better it is. never trust food that is too tidy.

Really good food is messy. Great burritos drip down your arm. Great peaches get all over your face. Great honeybell oranges have to be eaten while leaning over the sink so it doesn't get on your shirt. Great ice cream sundaes spill over the sundae dish and onto the saucer under it (or onto the table if it's not!).

Life is like that. Messy. Relationships are not tidy. Wonderful things happen. Mistakes happen. But, if we stick with it, then the relationships get stronger and deeper. Faith is messy. Our lifestyle gets in the way of our inner growth. But, if we keep trying to make our inner life and our outer behavior consistent, then our faith gets deeper and more life-giving. Work is messy. Some days are really great and we succeed. Some days are like running through quicksand ... slow going and dragging us down. But, if we are doing good things for good reasons, then the messiness becomes all worth it.

Life & faith, like great food, is messy. Sometimes it spills over the edge of the bowl. Sometimes it drips down your arm or gets it on your shirt. But, that's what makes it great!

harbarger theory: messy food is great food.

harbarger theory: we allow ponds to form in quarries BECAUSE humans like to throw rocks into water. Over the years of being a dad and being around kids, I realized that people LOVE to throw rocks into water.

Therefore, it stands to reason that since quarries produce a lot of rocks (duh!), that we allow ponds to form to facilitate throwing said rocks into said pond.

But, don't we LOVE to throw rocks in general. As a leader, I've had my share of rocks thrown in my general direction. You probably have, as well. I think we humans (or at least, we Americans) just love to build someone up so we can knock them down. We love to have heroes, but we can't let them stay heroic too long. Maybe it's because we think so little of ourselves that we first need someone who's bigger than us, smarter than us, more talented than us ... then we turn and decide that having someone else bigger, smarter or more talented diminishes us, so we throw rocks.

Wouldn't this world be a better place if we just allowed the bigger, smarter and more talented among us to simply be who they are and we took our place by their side (not under and not over them, just simply alongside) and allowed them to use their giftedness just as we use our giftedness to make this world a better place.

I know, I know ... it would put a lot of people out of work. You know, like "reporters" at the National Enquirer, E! News, etc. But ... on the other hand, that would be a good thing, wouldn't it? Let them also make the world a better place ... and by better, I mean less petty, less snarky, less obsessed with the minutae of someone else's life.

So, throwing rocks is cool. But, let's save it for stuff that deserve the rock-throwing, like ponds, quarries and maybe the occasional tree trunk!

harbarger theory: we allow ponds to form in quarries BECAUSE humans like to throw rocks into water.

the best conversation

harbarger theory - The best conversation ALWAYS occurs over table of dirty dishes. Think back to one of those great meals where the food is pretty good and the conversation is fun and loud and thoughtful and filled with laughter. Then ... someone has the bright idea to move the group to the living room "where we'd all be more comfortable" and suddenly the conversation seems to dry up. We're always more comfortable just sitting at that table picking at the carcasses of the nearly empty plates, playing with our coffee cups and laughing and talking and arguing over the causes of the world or whether Brad and Angelina are gonna have more kids.

harbarger theory - The best conversation ALWAYS occurs over table of dirty dishes.