Sacred Harp and "Awake My Soul"

I feel as though I stumbled across a treasure last night while flipping channels. There was a documentary on PBS titled "Awake My Soul: The Story of Sacred Harp" (http://awakemysoul.com/). The documentary discusses the old southern hymnal, Sacred Harp, and shape-note singing. I had once heard of shape note singing a few years ago, but never had a chance to listen to it until last night. One of the men on the documentary put it well: "it is like a wall of sound." The best part of the show was definitely when the narrator mentioned the music's style in relation to the more aesthetically pleasing Southern Gospel music that would come to replace it in the South: "the critics and cities felt that the Sacred Harp was uncivilized because it preached nothing other than Christ crucified." Watching the documentary last night made me want to find one of these "singings" here in North Carolina...

Here's a video of the documentary's trailer and another video below it of an example of such a singing (as you can see, anyone can lead!)

Some Thoughts on "Expelled"

My friend, Patrick, and I went to see Ben Stein's documentary "Expelled" today. The film is Stein's attempt to investigate the Intelligent Design (ID) vs. Evolution (primarily atheistic evolution) in American academia, with a particular focus on how ID is not given a legitimate voice at the table of free discussion. Below is a long trailer that fills in the details if you haven't heard of it.



Here's my off the top of my head reaction to the film:

A Few Likes:

I was glad that the film was able to show many of the brilliant men and women out there (who aren't neccesarily religious) who don't take neo-Darwinism as a given when it comes to both scientific inquiry and understanding the origin of life. The film does a good job of showing that it's not as simple as intelligent people believe neo-Darwinism and the superstitious believe something else. When you see graduates of Cambridge, Oxford, etc. asking these questions, the debate cannot be as simple as intelligence vs. ignorance.

I thought the film did a good job of showing that American universities and academic communities are no longer a marketplace of free ideas. Many would respond that this is not the case and that ID simply is not legitimate enough to have a place in that marketplace. However, the film clearly shows that this is not a bunch of backwoods high school dropouts who are questioning modern scientific theory. Google someone like John Lennox - just reading his resume makes my head hurt.

One of the most criticized features in the film is the discussion of what happens when neo-Darwinism is taken to its logical conclusions (this was discussing Nazi Germany's survival of the fittest/ethnic superiority theory that led to the murder of the "inferior" races". Also included were the history of Eugenics (google this, not a very pretty picture) in relation to abortion and groups like Planned Parenthood). I am glad this was included. This is rarely understood in the American academic system. Also rarely taught is that this was not an isolated incident in history. Study Latin American history in the 20th century and you get many of the same sad stories.

A few dislikes:

I really wish they had used John Lennox more. Having just debated Richard Dawkins, he is emerging as one of the leading voices in this debate. I figure they decided to limit his time since he is a strong Christian, and the film tries to show more how non-religious scientists are questioning evolution.

My biggest dislike was that the film stooped too often to belittling those who are fundamentalist neo-Darwinians by interjecting a number of old movie clips after presenting the atheist-evolutionist argument. I don't think we have to go to that level. Just let the two sides make their argument and let people decide on their own. I think that when the Christian argument (not that this was a Christian film) is presented responsibly and lovingly at the marketplace of ideas then it will be victorious. We do not have to take low-blows.

In conclusion, the film was good and I would recommend it. It's certainly not perfect, but it does present the legitimate argument that evolution should no longer be assumed by the modern thinking person.

I'm Sailing!

Andy Metzger is now a blogger (http://cueimaginationplease.blogspot.com/). A "What about Bob?" clip is posted below in honor of this great occasion.

Journal-Blogging

A great idea that my new friend, Jonathan Parnell, had while in Mexico was trying to journal-blog through a book. This way we could both digest the book in a more thorough manner, but not have to find a time where we can get together every week with our schedules. The book we chose is Dennis Johnson's Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures. This book emphasizes the supremacy of Christ in all the Scriptures, especially in the Old Testament. This is expressed beautifully by Johnson when he writes:

Reading and preaching the Bible redemptive historically is more than
drawing lines to connect Old Testament types in ‘Promise Column A’ with New Testament antitypes in ‘Fulfillment Column B.’ It is recognizing that Adam’s, Abraham’s and Israel’s entire experience was designed from the beginning to foreshado the end, and that ancient believers experienced true but limited foretastes of sweet grace because in the fullness of the times, Jesus, the beloved Son, would keep the covenant and bear the curse on their behalf and ours (17).

Jonathan has already written an excellent summary of chapter 1, and I'll be writing a summary of chapter 2 in the next few days. If you've happened to read the book or have any thoughts about reading the Bible as narrative, feel free to include your thoughts at http://openedtous.wordpress.com/.

Great Commission Conversations

Something I feel strongly about is that the Christian's theological passions should be proportionate with the theological passions of Paul and Christ. Here's a brief portion of a journal entry I wrote about 2 Timothy for a New Testament class. This is the concluding application for Paul's exhortation to Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:1-26, particularly in respect to his commands to “not quarrel about words” (v. 14), "avoid irreverent babble” (v. 16), have nothing to do with “foolish, ignorant controversies” (v. 23), and to not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone (v. 24). All of this is geared towards God granting repentance to our peers “so they know the truth” (v.25).

Paul’s commands in respect to serving others
also offers challenges, particularly while in seminary. Recognizing that one’s words have such an impact on outsiders makes me realize that I must always sacrifice my desire to speak to the priority of whether or not my words are going to honor Christ in such a way that will also edify an outside listener. I do not have the right to always give my opinion in every controversial topic or engage any debatable issue. If the matter does not honor Christ then my lips should remain shut—this is where my passion should reside. No longer should we seminarians fly the flag of the non-essentials, but instead we should let all passions be dictated by what Christ is passionate for. Humility is really at the core of this command. Will my words be about me so that I can get in the last word or try to “win” some sort of theological debate, or will I let my words and passions be Great Commission words and Great Commission passions? Our words should reflect that the least important person in a conversation is ourselves. This is rarely the case in my own conversations, and this leaves me with a part of my life that must change.

A Brief Story...

Here is a brief excerpt from my reflection paper from my time in Mexico- this is discussing our team's mercy ministry visit to a man named Jesus who lived in the city:

While these more subtle cultural nuances existed, nothing was as challenging as the language barrier. As previously mentioned, I was unexpectedly asked to be the lead translator for the mercy ministry team of Gordon Loop, John Bradshaw, Nathan Akin, Jonathan Parnell, and Randy Alston. I say surprisingly because I came to Acuna three years removed from my most recent Spanish class. Even while taking Spanish in college I never took any classes beyond the introductory level or had a real conversation in Spanish. Needless to say, I did not expect to come to do any sort of translating. I prayed that I would have as much facility with the language as possible, and truly felt God’s presence and help with being able to speak the language and recall much of what I learned in my previous years of Spanish classes.

Despite being able to speak the language much better than I expected, I still did not feel entirely comfortable with going to a church member’s house as the most capable translator. Pastor Bernardo’s two daughters, who did not speak any English, joined us to help locate the house of Jesus, the church member we were visiting. John Bradshaw and I, along with Bernardo’s daughters, went into the house to see if there was way we could serve their family. After meeting us outside, he invited us into his home so that we could talk in the same room as his ill mother, who appeared in a great amount of pain as she moaned the majority of the time we were there. At first Jesus insisted that he did not need any help, however much pleading from the pastor’s daughters led to him acknowledging that he needed adult diapers for his bed-ridden mother as well as basic food items.

What was so powerful about this ministry experience was not that we were able to serve a man in need, although that was powerful in itself. What made this so emotive was witnessing four members of the body of Christ—myself, John Bradshaw, and the two pastors daughters—struggle together to communicate with Jesus and his family. John, despite not knowing any Spanish, helped by holding a dictionary and looking up words that I needed. The two girls helped by simplifying what Jesus said into more basic Spanish phrases so I could understand, and also took the basic Spanish phrases I said and reiterated them in a more sophisticated manner. I did not really understand what was transpiring at the time, but later that night I realized that four of us, from all different backgrounds and with all different language aptitudes, used our gifts and struggled together so that we could show a man and his mother the love of Christ in a real and practical way. I witnessed four people come together to function as the body of Christ in that room.

Some Pictures from Acuna, Mexico

Here are some pictures from the trip, with a little commentary underneath each one...

This is at the border as we crossed into Mexico from the U.S. The sign was welcoming us to Acuna.

This is the church that I spent most of the week at, along with a number of other guys. We planned there, went to church there, and slept there!

One of the very cute and friendly kids that lived by the church. Plus, he's got an awesome Mighty Ducks t-shirt.

This is a picture of the baseball camp. We are in the outfield doing stations, with this station being wiffle ball batting practice. I'm to the left throwing baseballs, while our new friend (and VT alum) Tanner is in good "ready position" to make a play.

This a picture of a wonderful man, Jose. He recently felt called to ministry and came to the church to be trained by our team. He spent the nights with us, and was a great help. One of my best memories of the trip was hearing Jose tell his testimony through one of our translators.

Here is Megan with her "crush" from the week - Jose Juan. I'm still a little jealous...

I have to admit it wasn't all business... as you can see we took a break to pick up a sprinkled cookie. Everybody made fun of me for getting it, and then wanted a bite.

Here's a picture of the whole team, as well as some of the Mexican children, local pastors, and missionaries.

As you can see, this was a wonderful trip where God did great, great things. Megan and I both miss Mexico, and these pictures remind us of how great it was to spend a week in Acuna.

Seeing the Gospel through Marriage

Here's my first post on Opened to Us - "Seeing the Gospel through Marriage"

http://openedtous.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/the-gospel-and-marriage/

Back from a Break...

Since returning from Mexico things haven't slowed down at all- I've been trying to catch up with work and spent last weekend in Winston-Salem for my cousin, Sam's, wedding. I will be writing some obersvations from Mexico in the next week or so, as well as posting pictures. I also am finishing up a nine page reflection on our mission trip today that I am thinking of posting in pieces to give more detail of what took place in Mexico. If anyone would like to read it in its entirety just email me at uscbarley@yahoo.com.

I also recommend checking out http://www.openedtous.wordpress.com. This is a new site that my new friend from the Mexico trip, Jonathan Parnell, started to discuss Biblical Theology. He's written some good stuff already, and I'll be writing occasionally on there as well.

Also, I seriously hope the Braves can pull it together before it's too late... more on that to come...