A child and yet a King

It’s the very first verse of Scripture’s Second Testament. And it picks up — majestically, beautifully — right where the First Testament left off, providing the genealogy of “Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

The rest of Matthew’s gospel and the whole of the Second Testament rests on this opening line. A Messiah has arrived, and this Messiah is the Son of David and the Seed of Abraham. He is the new Solomon, a rightful King for a Kingdom that, as explained by the prophet Nathan, will have no end. Unlike Solomon before him, this new King will lead Israel forward in their true identity as God’s people — to spread God’s favor to the nations, extending their blessing and fulfilling their covenant relationship with God inaugurated in Abraham. 

A blessing to the nations. A Kingdom that has no end. Such significance in that very first verse of Matthew’s gospel.

Merry Christmas.

NFL Week 16 predictions: Saints rebound, Jags and Bears pull upsets

Last week: 10-6

Season total: 152-72

Tennessee 34, San Diego 28

Philip Rivers tries to win it himself, and falls just short. Chris Johnson goes for 145 rushing and three all-purpose scores.

New Orleans 34, Tampa Bay 3

The Saints are a finesse team on offense, meaning they will need to get their confidence back after falling flat against Dallas. Look for Marques Colston and Robert Meachem to perfect that timing against the struggling Bucs.

Houston 24, Miami 16

Two teams on the outskirts of the playoff hunt. There are plenty of folks in Houston who are playing and coaching for their jobs. Urgency equals getting the ball to Miami native and U grad Andre Johnson early and often, to the tune of 11 catches for 170 yards and two scores.

Green Bay 34, Seattle 10

Fans in Seattle are finally realizing just how bare the cupboards have been over the past couple years. Rebuilding is an ugly word, a tough pill to swallow. Look for Green Bay to control the ball for 35-38 minutes in a well-balanced win.

New York Giants 23, Carolina 17

The Giants are playing to save their season, whereas Carolina might be floating after a surprising win against the Vikes. Ugly win in the Meadowlands behind Ahmad Bradshaw’s 80-100 yards and two TDs.

Cleveland 38, Oakland 17

Charlie Frye versus Derek Anderson might not sound significant at first mention, but consider that the two were once embroiled in a quarterback controversy, ending when Frye was shipped to Seattle immediately following the season opener — paving the way for Anderson’s Pro Bowl year, which now seems to be a one-hit wonder. A confident James Harrison keeps the magic going for another 150 yards against a respectable Raiders D.

Jacksonville 24, New England 19

The Patriots have only won in New England and Old England this year, but I don’t expect the friendly confines of Foxboro to spare them from a let-down against a Jags team that is fighting for playoff hopes. 

Cincinnati 20, Kansas City 13

After a spirited loss in San Diego and the trip to New Orleans for Chris Henry’s funeral, expect the Bengals to come out a bit deflated. They will hold their ground defensively enough to squeak out a “W.”

Pittsburgh 26, Baltimore 16

Tough game to call. Siding with the the towel-wavers in Heinz Field to make a raucous for Joe Flacco and Co. 

Atlanta 24, Buffalo 20

Just can’t love the Bills in a dome. Or with half of their roster moved to IR.

Arizona 27, St. Louis 13

Captain Kurt makes a few big plays against his old team in an otherwise flat game, and Beanie Wells pounds down enough first-downs to keep the one-man wrecking crew that is Steven Jackson off the field in a Cardinals win.

San Francisco 16, Detroit 13

Yawn.

Philadelphia 41, Denver 17

Two teams fighting for playoff existence and positioning. Two teams with vastly different talent levels taking the field.

Indianapolis 30, New York Jets 13

Here’s why Peyton plays the majority of this game: the Pats-Colts rivalry is real. The Colts can’t surpass the Pats’ total for Super Bowl victories, but what they can do and will attempt to do is run the table through the regular and the playoffs, making the 2007 Patriots team essentially forgettable in football history. Jim Caldwell will still want to rest Peyton and Reggie as soon as the game is sealed, so expect the Colts D to answer his call by shutting down a struggling Sanchize to create a formidable first-half lead.

Dallas 27, Washington 23

It just sucks to be Jim Zorn right now.

Chicago 27, Minnesota 24

Upset special. Lovie Smith likes being employed as a head coach in the NFL. Jay Cutler is not thrilled about his “fresh” start in Chicago mounting up such backlash and disappointment. And a big win against Minnesota on national TV will be a glaring spark of promise for an otherwise sad ‘09 effort in Chi-town.

NFL Week 15 predictions: free-fall continues for ‘Boys, Steelers

Last week: 11-5

Season total: 142-66

Indianapolis 24, Jacksonville 19

New Orleans 31, Dallas 27

Baltimore 20, Chicago 16

New England 19, Buffalo 17

Arizona 35, Detroit 10

Cleveland 31, Kansas City 16

Tennessee 24, Miami 17

Houston 35, St. Louis 10

New York Jets 28, Atlanta 24

Philadelphia 27, San Francisco 20

Denver 21, Oakland 20

San Diego 24, Cincinnati 17

Green Bay 20, Pittsburgh 13

Seattle 24, Tampa Bay 13

Minnesota 30, Carolina 13

New York Giants 23, Washington 17

Five albums for that deserted island we always talk about

To inject a little bit of life into this blog on a busy day, I’m provide for myself, and then respond to, one of the most cliche prompts known to humankind:

What are my five deserted island albums?

Sigur Ros, ( )

Pedro the Lion, The Only Reason I Feel Secure

Damien Jurado, I Break Chairs

John Vanderslice, Cellar Door

Death Cab For Cutie, The Photo Album

Bon Iver is incredibly close to making this list — I’ve become quite the addict — but the songs that I’m absolutely in love with are too spread between For Emma, Forever Ago and Blood Bank. Other honorable mentions include Sufjan Stevens’ Greetings From Michigan and David Bazan’s solo projects.

Maybe I’ll follow this up with a books section this evening…

Responsibility doesn’t depend on climate change

At some point, for Jesus-followers, the conversation of environmental stewardship ought to move beyond “Do you believe in climate change?” to “What is an appropriate relationship for us to have with all of creation?” I hear a lot of chatter from people who seem excited any time there is a finding that would seem to disprove the observation and/or prognostication of climate change. Maybe some of it is rooted in frustration toward the rise of scientism as the controlling narrative in the West. Still, why would the conversation of Christian environmental ethics be predicated by the climate change discussion? Isn’t the exploitation of creation reflective of systemic brokenness and death, and not systemic life?

Are those who celebrate any possible discrediting of climate change looking to be exonerated from a facet of faithfulness to God that doesn’t really depend on the climate change talk whatsoever?

Take a look at the image below. Why is this data a religious issue regardless of the threat posed to us by climate change?

NFL Week 14 predictions: unbeatens roll, Chargers win in Big D

Last week: 9-7

Season total: 127-61

Pittsburgh 27, Cleveland 17

New Orleans 42, Atlanta 10

Houston 35, Seattle 13

Green Bay 27, Chicago 20

Minnesota 31, Cincinnati 14

New York Jets 16, Tampa Bay 13

Jacksonville 20, Miami 17

Baltimore 20, Detroit 17

Kansas City 17, Buffalo 13

New England 23, Carolina 20

Indianapolis 31, Denver 17

Washington 24, Oakland 20

Tennessee 35, St. Louis 6

San Diego 28, Dallas 24

New York Giants 20, Philadelphia 16

Arizona 30, San Francisco 13

A missional question worth asking

Shawn and I are in the process of sketching out a ministry plan for our faith community (which is less about us providing answers and more about offering questions that lead toward community-generated solutions). I finally lassoed our thoughts and discernment into a single question, one that I think is very much worth asking:

What does it look like to give affirmation to already-present passions in our neighborhood, while subsequently empowering and humanizing our neighbors by modeling the potential of those passions as they intersect with, and are enhanced by, the Kingdom of the Living God?

If our community can begin to answer that question, as begin we succeed and fail actively in response to that question, I think we’re going to make a difference in Seattle.

The Justice Creed

I’m using The Justice Creed, written by Brian McLaren, in Paradigm’s liturgy this week because it touches on so many truths that are dear to the heartbeat of our young community — that the world in which we live is not the world as God would have it, but that we are invited to join the Trinity in a movement of reconciling creation (ourselves included). 

I like this creed so much that I wanted to share it in this space as well.

Check it out:

We believe that the living God is just
And that the true and living God loves justice.
God delights in just laws and rejoices in just people.
God sides with those who are oppressed by injustice,
And stands against oppressors.
God is grieved by unjust people and the unjust systems they create and sustain.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, and
God’s kingdom belongs to those willing to be persecuted for the sake of justice.
To God, justice is a weighty thing which can never be ignored.

We believe that Jesus, the Liberating King, came to free humanity from injustice
And to display the justice of God,
In word and deed, in life, death, and resurrection.
The justice which God desires, Jesus taught, must surpass that of the hypocrites,
For the justice of God is a compassionate justice,
Rich in mercy and abounding in love
For the last, the least, the lost, and the outcast.
On his cross, Jesus drew the injustice of humanity into the light,
And there the heartless injustice of human empire met
The reconciling justice of the kingdom of God.
The resurrection of Jesus proclaims that the true justice of God,
Naked, vulnerable, and scarred by abuse, is stronger
Than the violent injustice of humanity, armed with weapons, conceit,
deceit, and lies.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is here, now,
Convicting the world of sin and justice,
Warning that God’s judgment will come on all that is unjust.
We believe that the Kingdom of God is justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Empowered by the Spirit, then, we seek first God’s kingdom and God’s justice,
For the world as it is has not yet become the world as God desires it to be.
And so we live, and work, and pray,
Until justice rolls down like water,
And flows strong and free like a never-failing stream.
For we believe that the living God is just
And that the true and living God loves justice.
Amen.

NFL Week Thirteen predictions: Raiders blanked, Bengals stunned

Last week: 14-2

Season total: 120-54

New York Jets 20, Buffalo 17

Chicago 28, St. Louis 16

Detroit 24, Cincinnati 21

Carolina 17, Tampa Bay 16

Pittsburgh 27, Oakland 0

New Orleans 38, Washington 10

New England 20, Miami 13

Philadelphia 27, Atlanta 18

Indianapolis 27, Tennessee 17

Kansas City 20, Denver 17

Houston 31, Jacksonville 13

San Diego 42, Cleveland 9

New York Giants 23, Dallas 17

San Francisco 20, Seattle 17

Minnesota 35, Arizona 31

Green Bay 26, Ravens 24

Roxburgh and Boren explain being missional for the right reasons

Introducing the Missional Church: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Become One by Alan J. Roxburgh and M. Scott Boren is the most comprehensive book on missionality to-date. 

While there is no shortage of new works with “missional” in the title these days, many approach missionality as a growth model or trend (similar to the seeker-sensitive or house church movements, for instance). Being missional is talked about as a means of capitalizing on culture; many who are making missional products do not understand missionality as an ecclesial expression that is inherently, theologically superior to the expressions of American Christianity’s recent generations or that of Christendom as a whole.

Roxburgh and Boren are able to move beyond typical missional-for-growth fluff as they use two central chapters — “Why Do We Need Theology? Missional Is about God, Not the Church” and “God’s Dream for the World: What Is a Contrast Society?” — to explain that the shift toward missionality is not for the sake of the Church; rather, it is for the sake of God and a more faithful response to God’s objective, consistent desires for His people.

In the final third of the book, Roxburgh and Boren present the Missional Change Model, a strategy and timetable for encouraging existing churches to become missional ministries. This model applies to existing churches that could potentially turn toward missionality, but there are principles in this section that can be used by church planters and pastors of young churches as well.