BrianHimes.com » Religion

Here’s a Good Idea

Brian — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:04:41 +0000

You know what sounds like a good idea? Burning books.

You know what else is a good idea? Taking an extreme action to disapprove of a small subset of another group's actions.

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A Million Miles… Quotes and Thoughts

Brian — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:11:41 +0000

I had considered writing a few more posts about Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, but instead I think I’ll just share a couple more passages that jumped out at me as I was reading.

Here’s the truth about telling stories with your life. it’s going to sound like a great idea, and you are going to get excited about it, and then when it comes time to do the work, you’re not going to want to do it. It’s like that with writing books, and it’s like that with life. People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen. But joy costs pain. (pp. 99-100)

This really hit home. It’s really easy to have grand plans, but it’s tough to actually follow through with them. I usually get lost somewhere between planning and implementing.

I was watching the movie Star Wars recently and wondered what made that movie so good. Of course, there are a thousand reasons. But I also noticed that if i paused the DVD on any frame, I could point toward any major character and say exactly what that person wanted. No character had a vague ambition. It made me wonder if the reasons our lives seem so muddled is because we keep walking into scenes in which we, along with the people around us, have no clear idea what we want. (p. 113)

This also hit home. It’s a question I’ve been pondering quite a bit lately. What do I want? What is my story? What is my ambition? I’ll probably explore this more in a future post because it’s something I’ve been struggling with for a while.

If these thoughts intrigue you at all, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book. It’s a really good read. And, it’ll challenge you to take a look at your life and the story you’re living.

Service: A Religion for those without Religion?

Brian — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:10:47 +0000

I have been wondering lately what it is that drives people to serve. For me, it is my religious faith. There is a direct correlation between what I try to do and the example set by Jesus in the Bible. However, this is not the case for everyone who rebuilds houses destroyed by hurricanes, serves food in soup kitchens, or pulls weeds for elderly neighbors. So, what it is that drives people with no religious inclination to serve? I don’t know… but I’m interested in exploring the question.

Something that I have been tossing around in my head is that service has become a sort of “religion” for those without religion. If you think about it, it is a profound way for people to touch the lives of others and be touched in the process. While it may come from a different motivation than it does for someone like me, service provides a lot of benefits for the person performing those acts of service. It gives them a sense of connection and fulfillment. And, perhaps more importantly, it gives them the opportunity to lead a life of significance and meaning in a world where so many struggle to find significance and meaning.

I would argue that these people are still missing one vital piece of the puzzle, and that’s a connection with the divine, but it is interesting to think of service in this light. What do you think? Does this describe your experience?

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I AM…

Brian — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:29:54 +0000

I have been thinking a little about the Gospel of John lately. I am teaching the Jr. High at church this month and having been given full freedom to choose my own topic, I decided to talk about some of Jesus’ famous “I Am” statements. So, we’ll be studying gems like, I am the bread of life, I am the way, truth and life, and I am the good shepherd. Those statements taken by themselves are a little strange, and sometimes difficult to wrap your head around as an adult, so I cannot imagine what kids think when they hear those words in church or read them in their Bibles. That said, what I am having a difficult time wrapping my head around, as I prepare my lessons, is did Jesus know what he was saying when he used the phrase “I am”?

My best guess is, yes he knew. And, if that’s the case, it brings even greater meaning to those two simple words. “I AM” is the name used by God for himself when he called Moses to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. If Jesus is purposeful in his use of these words then he’s saying far more with the “I am” statements. He’s saying He is God. Would this have been evident to Jesus’ Jewish audience? Again, going with my best guess here, I would say yes. How mind blowing is that? How crazy is it that this guy went around using the name of God as his own as he taught?

It is easy to get lost in the simplicity of this but hear me out. Jesus is God, and God is Jesus and together as one they are the bread of life, the way, truth and life, and the good shepherd. Is that not amazing?

To All My Jewish Friends… And Everyone Else

Brian — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:33:00 +0000

(Don't read this until sundown) Happy Rosh Hashanah to all my Jewish friends!

And for everyone else, as in years past, I encourage you to take some time and think about last year's failings, shortcomings and sins. After you've done that cast them aside and ask for forgiveness.

For further reading on the subject, here are a few posts I've written in past years:

Rob Bell – Everything is Spiritual

Brian — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:56:00 +0000

Last night I watched a video of author Rob Bell giving a talk titled Everything is Spiritual and I was awestruck by the content of his lesson. If you have a chance to see it for yourself I highly recommend it. He weaves an interesting message combining the creation narrative with scientific theory and it comes off as totally mind blowing. I had never thought so much could be pulled out of that simple 7 day creation story.

Support Your Local NonProfit

Brian — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:33:00 +0000

Looking for something a little different this Christmas? Why not try supporting your local non-profit? It’s a tough fundraising year and organizations that rely on support from individuals to meet their budgetary needs are suffering right now. So, instead of giving that $50 Target gift card to your cousin, why not make a $50 donation in their name and give them a nice greeting card instead?

Here are a few local non-profits you might consider supporting if you’re in the Los Angeles area.

And, here’s a list of internationally reaching organizations that a friend of mine compiled in honor of the season.

Advent Conspiracy

Brian — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:30:00 +0000

Have you heard of Advent Conspiracy? It’s an interesting movement focused on bringing the focus of Christmas back to Christ. It was started by five pastors who were looking for a way to revolutionize Christmas and it’s been spreading since it’s inception in 2006. The underlying concept behind it is Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.

If you are looking to make this Christmas a little different I encourage you to check it out for yourself.

Prop 8 and Religion

Brian — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:47:00 +0000

I read an interesting article this morning titled Wielding religion as a weapon against gay marriage written by Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times.

And then I read another article, titled Religious Rhetoric and Gay Marriage, also in the LA Times by Sandy Banks.

It is really interesting to see the contrasting opinions of the churches mentioned in these articles and the general public in regards to this issue.

I Keep Coming Back to This: Love

Brian — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:42:00 +0000

I keep coming back to this. In all of my study, reading, discussion, everything. It all comes back to this one simple, yet amazingly complex and difficult concept. It is the essence of Christianity. And, it is precisely where Christians always fall short.

John 13:34-35 (The Message)
34-35″Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

I realize I just wrote a similar post to this last week in the context of evangelism, but I’m just struck by this thought tonight. We Christians need to love. It’s the answer to every issue we are faced with in our churches, in politics and in our lives. We need to love and let love guide our decisions.