I forgot

wow I have not used this thing for a while. That seems to be what everyone says on these things. It seems like noone is even using xanga anymore...is it MySpace, Facebook, what has people drawn away? Is the world of blogging dying a quick death for osme other cultural phenom? Perhaps.

Yes it is true...I am engaged to be married! To the most amazing woman I know, Ms. Whitney (as she is known by her kids at pre-school) We are getting married next december here in springfield! Rock on!

So driving home tonight after an amazing night out I hafta admit that I am really bothered...I mean BOTHERED by Christian music stations right now...."why?" you might ask simple....I ask why is it that all year long you hear the same groups over and over again with thier cheesy christian song about making it through life and now, at christmas, they change up the whole list and play ELVIS?!?!? I also hear Bing Crosby, Brenda Lee, Nat King Cole, and many other "secular" artists taking up airspace on listener supported radio...don't get me wrong I love all the people I just named. Yet, because Elvis is singing "Silent Night" it has become acceptable to play him. Why can't we hear "Unforgettable" by Nat King sometime in the middle of April. Or Bing singing a melodous crouning sonnet in september....why now? Is it becuase Christian stations are trying to fit in around the holiday's becuase nobody wants to listen to christian artists rehashing a newer upbeat version of "Jingle Bell Rock"

Funny also that these stations feel that people will continue to listen after the christmas season is over (funny enough they rarely use the word "christmas" on christian radio) I think that if I was a truck driver tuned into a christian station around christmas and then went BACK to "normal" programming...I would be ticked.

Why do christians feel the need to trick people into listening to christian radio. If Christians would not have retreated from culture about 50 years ago we would not have the "us against them" mentality in media that we do today....Just one of my pet peeves.

By the way, God be with the family of Dr. Vernon Purdy in a supernatural way. I am an official member of his xanga fan club and the other night he went to be with the Lord forever. He will be missed, his brillance with knowledge was unequal to many. He taught theology and did it very well. The man could remember everything he ready from scripture to theologians of the 14th century. Amazing.  

Cultural Evolution

I am a student of culture. This is something that I bagan about 2 years ago. It is very facinating to see shifts in culture and shifts in the church. I am beginning to draw the conclusion that the reason the church does not shift as well and really branch out to being creative in ministering to the culture (whatever culture that might be) is becuase there is something at stake....something very presious....no its not values, its not even traditions....its cash. Becuase the shifting church, emerging church, postmodern church, organic church, cell church, or whatever cheesy name one must ascribe to a new method...its not cost beneficial. For instance I thought about this. I know of missionaries (home missionaries) who have taken years to begin thier "church" because the culture they are trying to reach witht he story of Christ is not open, it might not be seen as a "cost effective venture" and so the business world influences evangelisim and people go to hell. Simply because the "new" way of doing church does not make tithing-doctrine adhearing-robots to fill the empty space in a preachers soul in search of validation, it is written off as unproductive and stupid. How much are souls worth really? Are souls worth money, time, and effort? I believe this should be the genesis of our prayer whenever we make any move to designing a new "people-bringing program"

These are just random thoughts because once again I find myself frusturated with Christianity, Christians, the church and evangelisim and yet I wonder if I have the guts to lead a (church) cultural revolution to shift the focus of the church off the physical stuff (surface level things such as building, clothing, language) and look deeper and wonder how much I would work at ministering directly to the heart of a person with the message of Jesus.   

Currently Reading Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: The Paradox of Personal Dysfunction By Gary L. McIntosh, Samuel D. Rima see related

Long time - no blog

OK folks here I am back again! You might be asking..."why doesn't the ever-impressive Pete blog?" the answer is simple...No internet in my apartment!! And ya know that is not such a bad thing....I have more time to devote to other things. Man the semester is off to an amazing start. Already thorugh prayer and fasting week and spiritual emphasis many students and faculty have been healed and lives changed. Its been great! How wonderful...could this be the year that CBC experiences a revival unlike ever before? It is begining to look that way!

I hope to be a big player in that revival. This tuesday I have the privledge of speaking in Chapel! Whoa. I can remember sitting in the balcony the very first time I ever heard a senior preach (mandy pokrant) and I was like "I am going to do this someday" and that day is tuesday. I will be following the theme of the week "Power in the Spirit" It will be great fun!

Well I am out for now. Tomorrow whitney and I are going to silver dollar city! Yea! and my mom and dad come in town so it will be great to hang out with them again.

Topeka people....you still have a daily spot on the front of my brain.