Media Leveraging and Missional Living

The past two weeks I have been immersed in the American culture through our various forms of media.  I enjoyed a movie night with my wife (Lion, 2016), a family drama with my family (An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong, 2009), and caught up on local and national news (First Take, ESPN) while getting my hair cut.  Each movie/show demonstrated many things that point to the undeniable truth that there are absolute rights and wrongs, that all people want to be loved, and that this world is a jacked up place in desperate need of deliverance.

Being in the barber shop gave me a great opportunity to engage.  After watching ESPN, I turned to my barber and said, “So what do you think of the Mayweather/McGregor fight?!”  The connection was so natural and smooth that I was able to transition to the spiritual flawlessly. “You know those dudes worship money though.  And when two dudes who worship money are in the ring fighting, things could go wrong real quick!?”  We connected and I'll be going back there for another haircut.

One of the greatest barriers I have had was my inability to roll with whatever conversation came my way.  In my youth, I judged people by appearance and lost opportunities for relationships.  Now I am drawn towards people and leveraging media for discussion has been amazing: “what do you think of that plot?” or “what do you think has gotten into Justin Bieber lately?” are great questions to cultivate an incarnational-missional mindset.

I could care less if a person smokes, chews, or has tattoos.  I’m just looking for opportunities to talk to real people who have real passions and real problems.  Movies, documentaries, MMA, UFC, Surfing, Skateboarding, Punk Rock, Jazz & Blues, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and functional fitness have been consistent avenues for living missionary/incarnationally.  The office and the locker room have been the most consistent contexts where I have made the most significant connections with others.  And I don’t see things changing anytime soon.

Staying abreast on what’s “trending” simply increases changes for making connections, building true spiritual community, and impacting lives.  To be in the world and not of it makes perfect sense to me.  It means living incarnationally with a mission mindset.

Why I'm Back on Twitter...

I told myself I would never do this, but today marks a new day - I'm back on twitter.  Check out the podcast...

Of course, I wanted to get back on to promote truth via FABcast, but first there were some pride issues that had to be "exposed and closed."  I'm back on social media to push truth, but also to put a bullet in this pride that grew in my heart.

For the past four years I was "social media free," which means I deleted the major social media sites.  At least the most time consuming ones.  The rest I just never logged on again - like twitter, which remained inactive since 2009.

During that time, pride was stewing in my heart.  My "freedom" began turning into pride.  I started taking pride in the fact that I was not following the trend. I would scan the room, the park, the restaurant, the classroom, the congregation and convince myself that I was better than everyone else who was on social media.  Well, not all of the time - maybe like 99% of the time.

Here's the scripture that best captures the flavor of pride I was harvesting.  Luke 18:9-14:

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Can We Auto-Correct Humanity?

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG." That was my response when I first watched this.  Just being honest :)

I checked a text message today and someone shouted, "Dude! is that a flip phone!?"  "Yup."

I'll never forget the day it hit me that my iPhone was causing more damage than good.  I was checking instagram one day and my son was tugging on my arm, "Daddy. Play swords with me."  "Hold on buddy" I told him.  "Daddy! Come on let's play swords!"  My voice went up a notch, "Hold on son!  I'm doing something."

Let's just say God opened my eyes that day.  A had a deep conviction and decided that I would get rid of that "smart phone" that fueled my stupid decisions.

Like Prince EA, I'm not saying anybody has to get rid of their phone, I'm just saying that my smart phone was enabling stupid decisions - and for that I choose to re-prioritize and put first things first.  There were many things in my life that surpassed God - Idols. Not sure if this guy is a Believer or knows the gospel, but this message is pretty good for what it is.

Speaking of, I better get off this blog and read my Bible...  peace.