Occasio

Christmas Service

In an attractional model of ministry we try to coax people into our sanctuaries (otherwise known as the "bait-n-switch"). Many churches work very hard and invest enormous resources in this method at Christmas and Easter. In a missional model we seek to be individuals and communities who represent Christ while engaging in and serving the world. The sanctuary and the Sunday morning service become secondary to the service we can be to those outside the church walls.

For those who read "Taking the Plastic Christ out of Christmas" and found yourself agreeing, I think you'll really like this Christmas message. It's a healthy but cynical look at the attractional model.

U2 in Hawaii: Vertigo

On December 9 in Aloha Stadium, U2 gave us a near trademark opening: "Lights," "Vertigo" and "Elevation." Our group of nine stood next to the left ramp, at the bottom of a funnel lined with 47,000 people.

Though many might feel it has been over-played and over-exposed, I still like "Vertigo." In fact, it keeps growing on me, particularly after experiencing it in a stadium. U2's stadium show features a video wall that comes alive on "Vertigo" and other songs (more about "Window in the Skies" later). Visuals perfectly complemented the lyric by reinforcing the spinning chaos through hot colors and psychedelic designs. The song calls forth feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and fear in a world out of control. This is made even more poignant in the Jacknife Lee mix of the song. In this version, the line "A feeling so much stronger than a thought," is replaced with "And fear has taken over every thought." The emphasis is clearly on a preoccupation with fear.

Studio Version

Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head
Can't rule your heart
A feeling so much stronger
Than a thought
Your eyes are wide
And though your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Jacknife Lee Version

Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head
Can't rule your heart
And fear has taken over
Every thought
Your eyes are wide
Although your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Here's a few pictures from December 9 that help us see it as well as hear it. You can't view the graphics in their original morphing and swirling motion, but try to use your imagination. "Your love is teaching me - how to kneel."

Just Back from the U2 Concert

It was an unbelievable show with U2, Pearl Jam, Rocko and the Devils, and a surprise appearance by Billy Joe Armstrong from Green Day. It's late (or early), I think about 4:00 AM. Had to walk around Waikiki and have some pancakes with Craig and Amber before going to bed.

I'll comment more over the next few days. Here's one pic. Can you guess which song?

Christmas in Hawaii

No news about U2 or meeting odd people tonight, just some personal thoughts.

Here's Christmas in Hawaii, or at least in our hotel.

Here's a few pics.

 

Thursday night at Duke's feasting on Hula Pie

Today at Hanauma Bay; I swam with a Hammerhead Shark!

Fish Tacos at La Cucaracha

Tomorrow is the big day. We'll be at Aloha stadium for the U2 concert by 7:00 AM. Then it's cards, conversations, pizza and grading papers. The stadium opens at 5:00, Rocko and the Devils at 6:30, then Pearl Jam and finally, U2. I've had these tickets in my hand for almost a year. It'll sure be good to use them.

On the Beach

Earlier today I said one of the best things about going to a U2 concert is the people you meet.

Today on the beach I met Eddie Vedder. Wellll, I kind of met him. I was standing about ten feet away as several college-aged folks were chatting and taking a picture. At that point I didn't recognize who he was. He'd just been for a swim in the ocean and was on his way back to the hotel next to ours. After he left I asked the small group who they were taking their picture with. "Eddie Vedder, he's the lead singer for...." I stopped them. I know, I know. That would have been a fun chat.

That's my "I didn't meet Eddie Vedder" story.

Remind me later and I'll tell you my "I didn't meet Bono" story.

Here's a picture of Craig, Tracy, me and Amber (from left to right) at Planet Hollywood this afternoon. The guy who took this picture is another U2 fan I met at the table next to us. He is a member of a Mennonite Brethren church in Canada and had spent time in Fresno during a 110 degree heatwave several summers ago. All he remembers about his trip is staying in the dorms at FPU while he was suffering from heat sickness. The people you meet are worth the trip itself....

Sitting in the Airplane

I’ve been listening to the last two singles U2 released, “Window in the Skies” and “The Saints are Coming.” I’m really struck by the similarities and the differences of each song. Both songs are remarkably poetic and spiritual, yet both present contrasting theological statements.

“Saints” functions as a psalm of lament for me. “I cry to my daddy on the telephone, How long now?” This is a favorite line of Bono’s and of the ancient psalmist. Psalm 6:3 is an example: “My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?” Walter Brueggemann would call this a “psalm of disorientation.” Something’s not right here; this is not how things are supposed to be. Where are you God! The feeling of disorientation is punctuated even more by the images that accompany the video of this song. As military vehicles move down streets and aircraft drop emergency food and supplies the caption on the fictitious news reel reads, “U.S. Iraq troops redeployed to New Orleans: thousands of troops flood New Orleans with relief” (I love the flood metaphor). The chorus screams with irony and desperation,

The saints are coming
The saints are coming
I say no matter how I try
I realize there's no reply

On the other side of the coin, I hear “Window” as a psalm of praise and thanksgiving, the kind that Brueggemann might call a psalm of reorientation – the kind that refocuses our attention on the wonderful ideals of the kingdom. It’s a beautiful expression of what God has done, specifically through the resurrection, and what he will continue to do. It’s an Easter song, a song of testimony and celebration, a song of hope.

The shackles are undone, The bullet’s quit the gun
The heat that’s in the sun, Will keep us when there’s none
The rule has been disproved, The stone it has been moved
The grave is now a groove, All debts are removed

I’m reminded of one of Bono’s favorite passages of thanksgiving.

What can I give back to God
      for the blessings he's poured out on me?
I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!
      I'll pray in the name of God;
I'll complete what I promised God I'd do,
      and I'll do it together with his people.
Psalm 116:12 (The Message)

Bono fulfills his vows, proclaiming the goodness of God to all who will stop and listen:

Oh can’t you see what our love has done
Oh can’t you see what our love has done
Oh can’t you see what our love has done
What it’s doing to me

Oddly enough, U2 played “Saints” and then “Window” back-to-back in the final set of the Tokyo concert on December 4. I think this pair of psalms belongs together (in Hawaii?).

In the Airport

We’re in route to Honolulu for the last show of the Vertigo tour (December 9).

I already met a guy named Tim in the airport who is also on the way. He’s a white guy with long blond dreadlocks and a scruffy beard. He has started a non-profit organization to train firefighters in countries that haven’t had much instruction in emergency safety protocol. I asked him if he had been to any other concerts on the Vertigo tour. “Yeah,” he says, “it was in between Bolivia and Columbia. I made it home to Maine for awhile and my cousin called to see if I wanted to go to the show in Chicago.” He went on to tell me that it took him two days on a Greyhound bus to get there! I don’t know how I knew he was a follower; it must have been the giant U2 by U2 book he was reading in the airport.

One of the best things about going to a U2 concert is the people you get to meet.

World AIDS Day

I just came from the chapel presentation our Theology, Culture and U2 class did in College Hour at FPU. I can't begin to say how moved I was by the students' presentations. Those of you who are reading this and were in attendance, thanks for coming. You continue to inspire me and give me hope for the future. Please leave a comment!

Here is a quick summary of the chapel and some associated resources.

Jessica M. began with an introduction and a corporate prayer, "Advent Call to Worship."

Hector introduced Bono's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, foreshadowing the theme, "It's not about charity, it's about justice."

We watched about 12 minutes of Bono's NPB speech from February 2, 2006.

I gave a ten minute message focusing on two texts: Malachi 3:5 and Luke 3:7-14. Here's a teaser.

We are here today, World AIDS Day, not to ask the question, “What is the cause of the AIDS crisis in Africa?” but instead to ask the question, “Why has the church been so slow in responding to the AIDS crisis in Africa?” Read more....

Lawrence then gave a wonderful summary of the ONE Campaign and issued the challenge to sign the Declaration.

Caitlin was next, with a keen introduction to concert footage from Vertigo 2005 Live From Chicago. She reminded us of Martin Luther King, Jr's commitment to equality (Pride), the juxtapositioning of despair and hope in "Streets," and the challenge of "One."

After viewing the live concert clip we moved immediately to a time of silent prayer. Jessica M. and Hector sounded the djembe every three seconds, representing those who had died of a preventable disease during the time of the prayer.

Finally, Jessica W. concluded with Isaiah 61:1-2 and a corporate prayer.

During the lunch hour we signed 70 people up for the ONE Campaign! We'll continue this effort periodically next semester.

Well done students!

Here are few more resources for this day of remembrance.

World Aids Day

AIDSinAfrica.net

The ONE Campaign to make poverty history

Kaiser Family Foundation (excellent educational flash presentation)

Mennonite Central Committee

The Age of AIDS (Frontline)

The aWAKE Project: Uniting Against the African AIDS Crisis (a great book of essays) - read Tony Campolo's introduction to the book