What you wear tells you a lot about the person underneath the clothing. It reveals what is or is not important to you. It gives a picture of your values - not complete, but a picture nonetheless. In Colossians 3:1-17, Paul paints a picture for us of the outward actions of our life as being like the clothing that we wear. In every culture, there are items of clothing that are appropriate or not appropriate at different times and in the life of the follower of Jesus there are actions that are inappropriate and others that should be “worn” often.

I’d like to encourage you to read this Scripture in The Message translation as I think it helps give further understanding to this picture that Paul is attempting to paint.

Questions I ask as I read this:

How do the outer garments affect or reflect the heart of the wearer?

Is it possible that the heart changes before the clothes are changed?

Will we be a community that allows those with unchanged heart and unchanged clothing to be a part of us?

This weekend we asked a question that I thought we would throw up here on the blog. I think it would be great to have a community discussion about it, so if you have thoughts, share them.

What does it mean to speak the language of our culture?

In our study through Colossians, I found some poetry in a book I am reading - Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. I thought it a fascinating way to bring Colossians into our culture with relevance - perhaps speaking it’s language? Some of it you might identify with, while other parts may not resonate, but I find it helpful all the same. It’s long, but worth your time to not just read, but to dwell on for a while. Grab a coffee and pull up a chair.

In an image saturated world
a world of ubiquitous corporate logos
permeating your consciousness
A world of dehydrated and captive imaginations
In which we are too numbed, satiated and co-opted
To be able to dream of life otherwise
A world in which the empire of global economic affluence
Has achieved the monopoly of our imaginations
Christ is the image of the invisible God in this world
in this world driven by images with a vengeance

Christ is the image par excellence
the image above all other images
the image that is not a facade
the image that is not trying to sell you anything
the image that refuses to co-opt you

Christ is the image of the invisible God
the image of God
a flesh-and-blood here-and-now in time and history
with joys and sorrows
image of who God is
the image of God
a flesh-and-blood here-and-now in time and history
with joys and sorrows image of who we are
called to be image-bearers of this God.

He is the source of a liberated imagination
a subversion of the empire
because it all starts with him and it all ends with him
everything
all things
whatever you can imagine
visible and invisible
mountains and atoms
outer space, urban space and cyberspace
whether it be the Pentagon, Disneyland, Microsoft or AT&T
whether it be the institutionalized power structures of the state,
the academy or the market
all things have been created in him and through him

he is their source, their purpose, their goal
even in their rebellion
even in their idolatry
he is the sovereign one
their power and authority is derived at best parasitic at worst

In the face of the Empire
in the face of presumptuous claims to sovereignty
in the face of the imperial and idolatrous forces in our lives

Christ is before all things
he is sovereign in life
not the pimped dreams of the global market
not the idolatrous forces of nationalism
not the insatiable desires of a consumerist culture

In the face of a disconnected world
where home is a domain in cyberspace
where neighborhood is a chat room
where public space is a shopping mall
where information technology promises
a tuned-in, reconnected world

all things hold together in Christ
the creation is a deeply personal cosmos
all cohering and interconnected in Jesus

And this sovereignty takes on cultural flesh
And this coherence of all things is socially embodied
in the church
against all odds
against most of the evidence

In a “show me” culture where words alone don’t cut it
the church is
the flesh-and-blood
here-and-now
in time and history
with joys and sorrows
embodiment of this Christ

as a body politic around a common meal
in alternative economic practices
in radical service to the most vulnerable
in refusal of the empire in love of this creation

the church reimagines the world
in the image of the invisible God

In the face of a disappointed world of betrayal
a world in which all fixed points have proven illusory
a world in which we are anchorless and adrift
Christ is the foundation the origin
the way
the truth
and the life
In the face of a culture of death
a world of killing fields
a world of the walking dead

Christ is at the head of the resurrection parade
transforming our tears of betrayal into tears of joy
giving us dancing shoes for the resurrection party

And this glittering joker
who has danced in the dragon’s jaws of death
now dances with a dance that is full
of nothing less than the fullness of God
his is the dance of the new creation
this is the dance of life out of death
and in this dance all that was broken
all that was estranged
all that was alienated
all that was dislocated and disconnected
what once was hurt
what once was friction
is reconciled
comes home
is healed
and is made whole
because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
everything
all things
whatever you can imagine
visible and invisible mountains and atoms outer space,
urban space and cyberspace
every inch of creation
every dimension of our lives
all things are reconciled in him

And it all happens on a cross
it all happens at a state execution
where the governor did not commute the sentence
it all happens at the hands of the empire
that has captured our imagination it all happens through blood
not through a power grab by the sovereign one

it all happens in embraced pain
for the sake of others
it all happens on a cross
arms outstretched in embrace
and this is the image of the invisible God
this is the body of Christ

Yep, one word describes my feelings about our birthday celebration last weekend. If you missed it, I’m sorry, cause it was completely off the hook. People everywhere. Food on top of food. People talking and laughing. I know that Leslie and I were totally blown away by the scrapbook that was put together of the first year of Pathways. It is something that we will cherish forever. If I had the time on Sunday to slow down and take it in, I’m sure I would have gotten emotional. God has been at work in our community and I can’t wait to see He has in store for us in Year #2.

Take some time to share your personal experience and feelings last weekend with us. Blog away!

I really like Switchfoot. On their last album, they had a song called, “The Shadow Proves the Sunshine”. It instantly became a favorite of mine as it places struggle in it’s proper perspective. Shadows can either hide us from the light or they let us know which direction to go in pursuit of the light.

God uses His interaction with the nation of Israel in the Old Testament as a “shadow” of what is to come. The tabernacle, the temple, the laws, the prophets, and constant struggle of the Israelites to keep up with God’s holiness all point to the true source of light found in Jesus. As we study Colossians 2 this week, Paul is going to identify many shadows for us as he points once again to Jesus - the true reality of God’s love and sacrifice.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I hide in shadows. Shadows are those things that maybe have a sense of reality to them, but they fall short and fail to fulfill their promise. Shadows are easier. I can hide in the shadows while bright light exposes me completely. Shadows don’t hurt my eyes.

What are some specific ways that we hide in the shadows; rather than running into the light?

I just wanted to send special thanks to all of you set-up team members and anniversary planning team members. What a privilege it is to be able to serve with you here at Pathways. I am amazed and humbled by your dedication and servant’s heart. This community would not be what it is without you. Thank you for what you do every Sunday, but for your extra time and effort to making today an amazing celebration.

One year ago, 46 people gathered to dream about what it might look like to be a community that asked a very simple quesiton, “What does it look like to follow Jesus in the world in which we live?” Who would have known that a year later we have seen God at work in so many different ways. Lives have been changed, worldviews have been altered, relationships have been built, and individuals have asked Jesus to be the director of their steps. All while I stand with my jaw dropped in awe of what happens when people join together seeking the heart of God.

This weekend we are turning 1 year old! Please join us for a celebration of what God has done and is doing within this community. We are going to do a community meal together, so come hungry. You are welcome to bring something or if you are not able to, that is not a problem as everyone is bringing plenty to share. We hope to see everyone there.

Christianity hangs and falls on the person of Jesus. The Apostle Paul states in 2 Corinthians 15:14-19,

”And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”

So who is this guy and why is what we believe about Him so important? This is the heart of Paul’s message to the church at Colossae and it is the heart of what we’re talking about this week. Read Colossians 1:15-23 and join us here in dialogue about who Paul tells us that Jesus is.

What are some of the claims about Jesus that jump out at you in these verses?
What do we learn about redemption and reconciliation from this passage?
In a time of Roman warfare and dominion, what would it have been like to hear that peace comes through a man willingly shedding His blood?

One last big question: Even as we declare that struggle and difficulty are a normal part of following Jesus, how do we integrate that idea into Paul telling us that in Christ “you (are) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation” Both are true and we must allow both to radically influence our lives.

I’m looking forward to interacting on this together!

This week, we begin to tackle the book of Colossians. It’s a lot to chew on, but ohhhh the flavor!!!!

So, what is the best way to dive into Scripture? In Community! In community, we hear others struggles with the text and listen as their perspective gives light to our own. We listen to questions others are asking, which spurs our own questions. I love questions, because it means that we are seeking truth and there is no better place to find it than in God’s story, found in ancient Scriptures.

All that to say, I want to ask you to help us with the asking of questions on the blog. What you post on this blog really does shape my thinking as I prepare for the message on Sunday. Read through the book of Colossians this week (It’s not long) and as you go, write down your questions. Post your questions on the blog - it doesn’t need answers, just questions. I believe that this will help each of us to fully engage in the text as we ask God to teach us and speak to us.

In many ways, today far surpassed yesterday! I guess that’s what happens when you give Donald Miller two slots in the schedule. I don’t know what it is about him, but he seems to speak my heart language. If you have not yet read “Blue Like Jazz” it is worth your time.

Donald Miller began the day by interviewing his pastor, Rick McKinley, from Imago Dei in Portland. There were several things that were said during this time that floored me. I’ll share two quotes - obviously out of context (but I did get the dvd’s if you want to watch them).

Quote 1: “It’s not a matter of ‘how to’ reach the world, it’s an issue of ‘wanting to’ reach people who are not like me.”

Quote 2: (I don’t have a direct quote here, so I’ll give you my best summary.) The church clings to and strengthens what we like and we ignore and hope dies what we do not like (in the world). It is Darwinian Theology - the survival of the fittest. We might as well teach Darwinianism in our schools if we are going to live it in our churches.” WOW!

Louie Giglio followed and he is always inspiring. It’s his gift. He reminded us that God is calling the church into danger, not ease. It should be the least safe place on the planet because it should call people to encounter a God who will radically challenge and change us and lead us to dark places where Christ’s light will make a difference. He also reminded us that it is okay to try and to fail. Fear of failure holds too many people back from ever trying.

Kevin Carroll was unique in that he was the only speaker who did not share out of a Christian worldview. He is a catalyst for change in corporations all over the world and inspires people to realize their own potential to instigate change. While what he said was inspiring, he came across too much as a self-help guru for me. I’ll leave it at that.

Donald Miller closed the day out talking about the importance of the church staying on course and not veering off toward culture. Now, what most people would hear in that first sentence would be a challenge to remain moral - as opposed to the culture. That was not his point. His point dealt with the issue of consumerism. We choose churches that we like and stick with churches that “meet our needs”. Consumerism. We offer the gospel to people by selling Jesus, rather than entering into personal space with people whom we love and egaging life with them. Instead, because they are not like us, we must “sell” them the cure in order for them to be like us and able to spend time with us. In this we miss the point of Jesus’ life. We are called to invite people to reingage with their Father.

It is obviously impossible to summarize our days in a few short paragraphs. My prayer is that God would passionately empower us to live out the convictions of our calling in relationship with each of you as we work side by side to reach a hurting and hopeless world. I can’t wait to get home and see you all this weekend.