Still Here
So I have been absent from the blog scene for while and for that I apologize. I have either been too busy, too lazy, or too confused to blog over the last couple of weeks. Anyway, I’ll just throw out a spattering of various thoughts I’ve had that I’m still in the process of mentally refining into blog form.
So I’ve been thinking about…
+the Church. the means by which Biblically we are called to see social change and justice implemented. how could we do church differently, more creatively?? should we adhere the structure of services and buildings to accommodate the lost or should they continue to contort themselves to fit into the pre-established norms (not all of which are necessarily Biblical)?
+Dirty, Sexy Money: Inspired by the show, which I have never watched, and its slightly ridiculous title that uses taboo words to lull in viewers, I have been rethinking what a redeemed sexuality and redeemed finances could look like. Under the premise of cleanliness and uncleanliness from the Bible, how have sexuality and our use of money been distorted from God’s design and how can we partner with (through/in) God to continue to redeem these aspects of our lives. I think one such venue is by being more explicit about such matters, sex and money are quite often discussed in the Bible but seldom discussed in the church (aside from a list of condemnations or something). Crazy questions like would it be Biblical if the church actively helped each other get out of debt (which I believe may be the greatest detriment to the mission life, debt!!) (Expect a post on this soon)
+Racism: I read and discussed more on white privilege and am in the midst of defining what racism means and what I (as a white, middle class, man) ought to do about it.
+My beard. Going on two months since I’ve shaved and my beard really does look fantastic, just a little maintenance, and I look like a mountain man. Sorry for the lack of Facial Hair Awareness Campaign updates, I’ve been too busy living it!!
+What happens next year. Stay in Philly, back to Akron, or somewhere else? Teach, preach, non-prof, church, school, academia?
+Excited for the Watchmen movie to come out as well as The soloist. The former a sweet comic book now hopefully awesome movie, the latter a great read, hopefully great movie about homelessness and mental illness.
+Lots of thoughts on foolishness. Presently reading 1 Corinthians again with a smattering of Gospel excerpts to supplement, (as if 1 Corinthians needs supplementation haha) Considering what a foolish idea the whole of Christianity is. Not in the sense that, “this is foolish, thus we abandon it” but rather in the “this is the foolishness that only God could come up with!!”
+Presently reading: The Ragamuffin Gospel and What am I suppose To do With My Life, (and Ultimate Spiderman volume 12)
Whew, that seems to be a pretty good expression of the majority of the thoughts that I have been having of late, I am excited to expound on some of them soon and eagerly hope for your comments and feedback
Grace and Peace
joditucker said,
January 19, 2009 at 5:04 pm
We love you, Joe Tucker, the thinker, the doer, and the Christ follower!
Adam Haynes said,
January 19, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I don’t get to read your blog as much as I would like since I am often away from the Internet, but it is nice to catch up. Also, even though my actions (through not writing back) do not demonstrate my appreciation, I do appreciate being mailed your newsletter.
Recently, I have been noticing the need in my life for refinement–my immediate idea, whenever I realize a need for change, is to start doing something new, or to drastically change. Get new friends, new career, new hobbies and a new place to live. It always seems easier to me to try to start new than to work on what is already in place. Of course, every time I make changes outside my heart the ‘fix’ lasts a little while, but eventually falls apart once my heart catches up to the situation.
I’m too wordy.
En masse, groups of young people see issues and respond in like fashion: “We’re discontent with church… let’s remake it.” The real question shouldn’t be, “How can we remake church to better suit an ideal we identify with?” We should ask what church looks like biblically. Not thinking about remaking but refining. Identify what is biblical and what is not.
(Of course I shout out to Torah.)
All my rambling to say, “good question,” but better looking to the distant past, than trying to create some new future in our own image.