Alter Boyz

I believe we can't take ourselves too seriously. The ability for humor (especially self-deprecating humor) is a must. Maybe that's why I like reading Matthew Paul Turner so much...(I am still hoping he has time to write an endorsement for my upcoming Bible Study amidst the flurry of activity of his new release...) There is way too much tragedy in the world to get hung up on the "small" stuff. I find myself reflecting a lot these days on the big picture: God, grace, hope, mercy,justice and the ways we superimpose our views onto those things or filter them through a sieve of the small picture: whether I can watch an R rated movie with a group of girlfriends, how going to Neighborhood Bunco (Omigosh, a card game involving money, isn't that gambling?But before all Christians who think gambling is a sin yet still plan to vote for McCain just realize that he has very strong lobbying ties to the gambling industry), or how I can laugh at a hilarious performance of a production of the Alter Boyz, and still firmly hold onto my faith.

Obviously there are some long standing impressions that are still stuck inside the cobwebs of my head and I am working diligently to shake them loose and live a life without judgement that reflects the love of Christ.

For me, last night that included laughing hysterically at a production of a show called the Alter Boyz, that was performed at Bucknell University. It absolutely made fun of several stereotypes, beliefs, even of faith, but yet rung so true. Yet I found myself reflecting on yes, my new favorite author MPT (and he reads a guy called David Sedaris, so now I need to pull his work out...) and suspected that he would have been laughing right along with me...I will have to email him and ask. But for so long I felt like if I laughed at something like that there was something wrong with me...I was dissing Jesus and heaven's what might others think? I also suspect and said this to Howie, as we left, (having shared a really fun evening together...) I wonder how several of my Christian friends would have responded to this show. Contempt? horror? at least a lot of squirming...yet there was so much truth in many of the points they made, and I did have some true moments of poignancy as a lover of Jesus. Howie didn't agree with me on that one, but that's totally OK.

I can totally see how this show, "sacrilegious" as it was could, can and I suspect will be a point of conversation with those who only know that side of Christianity, and there are plenty. And not nearly enough who experience the grace and the desire to be a representative of Christ here on earth. But I believe it is totally possible to embrace both. And am finally becoming more comfortable doing just that.
But that begs a different set of questions...more for me to ponder myself at this point than share...

But what it does do is reconfirm for me the passion of pursuing a non-traditional church plant, which is something our home congregation is doing. A place where I can laugh alongside fellow congregants at fringe things, keep an Obama magnet on my car without getting too nervous, or believe that we can serve God on Sundays even if it means swinging a hammer. (A reference to our recent Faith in Action Campaign where "work" projects were moved to Saturday in observance of resting on the Sabbath...) And enjoy a glass of Merlot. But most importantly model, represent and introduce people to Jesus.

Yet it is my church home, the place where I met the real deal Jesus. But...and I don't want to be judgemental, I am just reflecting about thoughts that are swirling around in my mind about having a strong, strong faith and yet enjoying and embracing many different things...sorry, rambling.

Who'd have thought sitting through a show like the Alter Boyz would have been such a Spiritual experience...